Driving from SFO to Carmel

Oh yes, the Route 1 (Cabrillo Highway) is breathtakingly beautiful. The most beautiful section is between Pacifica and Half Moon Bay.

Agree. We've used 101 when time was a factor, but Rte 1 is definitely preferable in terms of scenery.

It makes for a very long drive and not that scenic between SF and Carmel so it does not make a leisurely drive. Hwy. 1 is "breathtakingly beautiful" south of Carmel - Big Sur. If it was me, I would drive as fast as I could between SF and Monterey and spend my time in Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur.

Sure - Hwy 1 is a lot more scenic than 101 (anything is more scenic than 101). Note, however, that 280 parallels 101 to the west and is actually a very scenic freeway till you get to San Jose.

Stop half-way in Pescadero. There is funky/interesting restaurant there that is quite famous/popular. I forget the name. Artichoke soup is their specialty. The restaurant is an interesting place. Pescadero is actually about 2 miles inland from Hwy 1. You'll turn off #1 on Pescadero Creek Rd & go 2 miles, and then turn left into the village. The restaurant is the first building on your right (north) that looks like a restaurant. Pescadero is kinda interesting itself - have a drive-around (it is very small).

Stu Dudley

>>It makes for a very long drive and not that scenic between SF and Carmel <<

Compared to Hwy 1 south of Carmel, it is not as scanic. However, the stretch between Half Moon Bay and Davenport is very beautiful.

Stu Dudley

>>The most beautiful section is between Pacifica and Half Moon Bay.<<

IMO, there is only 1 small section that is rather scenic between Pacifica & HMB - Devil's Slide (appropriatly named). Don't have the driver look at the views while driving. Someone went over the cliff last week or so. Montara Beach beyond devil's slide is OK. Between HMB & Davenort, it is almost 100% unobstructed scenic ocean/shoreline views.

Stu Dudley

<<<There is funky/interesting restaurant there that is quite famous/popular. I forget the name.>>>

Duarte's - and if you stop there, don't miss the ollalieberry pie, a house specialty.

The other choice is to have lunch and a stroll (nice main street) in Half Moon Bay. You could have sandwiches at the San Benito House Deli, or there are any number of "nice" restaurants.

How long a drive is it for each? We'll be making the same trip, with children, and I'd like to consider the time factor.

We like this section of the coast and think it is definitely worth the time to take the drive - it is different from the coastline south of Carmel. This section of coastline is more open with sweeping views and accessible beaches, sand dunes, creeks that flow into the ocean, small farms, little towns, etc. Big Sur is very rocky and rugged, the route is very curvey, and most of the road is high above the water with few access point to the ocean.

I would budget 2 hours from SFO (airport, not city) to Carmel if you take the following route: 280/85/101/156/1. If you want to go along the coast, I would budget closer to 3 hours.

Phil's Fishmarket would be another good place to stop for lunch. It's about five minutes west of Hwy 1 in Mosss Landing. It's a very casual concrete-floor place on the edge of the Monterey Bay. There's a map on the website:

http://www.philsfishmarket.com/index.html

If you want to get to Highway 1 from the San Francisco Airport, here's the way to go:

As you leave the airport, stay in the right-hand lane and go NORTH (101) following signs towards San Francisco/San Bruno and "380 to 280".

The road will take a big left turn and you'll find yourself on I-380 which is very short.

Stay in the right lane and after a couple of miles take I-280 NORTH to San Francisco.

Stay in the right-hand lane which will automatically place you at the first exit "Avalon and Westborough."

As you exit the freeway, go about a mile on Junipero Sierra Blvd to the SECOND traffic light and turn LEFT (WEST) onto Westborough (which at this point may be marked as "Sharp Park Road").

Stay on Westborough all the way west (about 4-5 miles) to Highway 1.

Believe at this point you have to make a LEFT turn to get onto Highway 1 heading SOUTH towards Santa Cruz.

It sounds more complicated than it actually is. Use google if you're uncertain.

Easytraveler's directions are correct if you want to take Highway 1 from north TO Half Moon Bay. If you just want to go from Half Moon Bay south, from the airport take Highway 101 South (towards San Jose). Exit Highway 92 west (towards Half Moon Bay). Follow the signs to Half Moon Bay. Go all the way through Half Moon Bay (sans traffic, about 20 minutes from 101) to Highway 1. Turn left to go south.

Actually, I thought of an easier way.

Stay on I280 northbound for about a mile/two more.

You'll come to the junction of I-280 and Highway 1. Take the exit saying "Pacifica". That should put you on Highway 1 southbound.

If you go sf7307's way, then you will have missed "Devil's Slide" - the more scenic part of this segment of Highway 1.

If you are going to miss that segment of Highway 1, then you might as well skip that part of Highway 1 altogether and take I-280 SouthBound all the way to Monterey as November Moon has detailed. This part of I-280 is a beautiful drive from SFO to San Jose. At San Jose you change to 85/101/156/1.

This is why I gave the alternate south-from-Half Moon Bay route:

"Compared to Hwy 1 south of Carmel, it is not as scanic. However, the stretch between Half Moon Bay and Davenport is very beautiful.

Stu Dudley"

and more from Stu:


"IMO, there is only 1 small section that is rather scenic between Pacifica & HMB - Devil's Slide (appropriatly named). Don't have the driver look at the views while driving. Someone went over the cliff last week or so. Montara Beach beyond devil's slide is OK. Between HMB & Davenort, it is almost 100% unobstructed scenic ocean/shoreline views."

Actually, the drive on 92 from 280 to Half Moon Bay is also very scenic. If you are driving south on 280, get off on the Hayne/Black Mountain Road exit (which is the exit just north of the 92 exit). Turn right at the stop sign, then left and continue on the pretty road in the same direction you were traveling on 280. Just follow the signs to Half Moon Bay. There is only 1 road around this area. You'll pass a huge resevoir, which holds the water for San Francisco. It is directly on the San Andreas Fault. Take a righ turn at the 92 intersection (stop light), and then proceed on this lovely drive to Half Moon Bay. When you get to HMB, turn left on Main St - which will be the first stop light. Drive through the cute shopping district of HMB. Keep going & you'll end up on Hwy #1 heading south.

To get there from the airport, I would take 101 north to 380, then 380 west to 280, then 280 south to Hayne/Black Mountain road

Stu Dudley