California's Hwy. 1
Mar 9th, 2015, 07:56 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
California's Hwy. 1
Can anyone suggest a bus or bus/train combo from LA to San Fran that would allow us to enjoy the views and that makes some sightseeing stops? Thank you so much for any help you can give us.
Mar 9th, 2015, 08:18 AM
#2
The coast is not really a bus/train route. There is a train - the Coast Starlight - that is very nice but it is only on/near the coast between San Luis Obispo and Ventura. It can't really be used as a hop off/hop on because it only runs once a day.
Mar 9th, 2015, 09:54 AM
#3
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,315
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The best you're going to be able to do is to ride the #22 city bus from Monterey south to Big Sur, and then back to Monterey on that same bus. This pdf gives details on that bus:
http://www.mst.org/wp-content/media/22.pdf
To get to Monterey; you can ride the #55 bus from downtown San Jose, or the #20 bus from Salinas.
This URL has a map with all the routes for this area.
http://mst.org/maps-schedules/system-maps/regional/
Note that these are city buses for commuters, NOT tourists. Don't be surprised if the bus doesn't slow down just because you want to get a photo.
As noted above, once in San Jose or Salinas, you can ride to LA on Amtrak.
http://www.amtrak.com/coast-starlight-train
http://www.mst.org/wp-content/media/22.pdf
To get to Monterey; you can ride the #55 bus from downtown San Jose, or the #20 bus from Salinas.
This URL has a map with all the routes for this area.
http://mst.org/maps-schedules/system-maps/regional/
Note that these are city buses for commuters, NOT tourists. Don't be surprised if the bus doesn't slow down just because you want to get a photo.
As noted above, once in San Jose or Salinas, you can ride to LA on Amtrak.
http://www.amtrak.com/coast-starlight-train
Mar 9th, 2015, 12:23 PM
#4
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,287
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You really need a rental car to see all of highway 1, or maybe a tour, but their dates may not fit with yours. It is truly a beautiful drive, and not scary because the speed limit is very low until you get to Cambria.
Mar 9th, 2015, 06:13 PM
#5
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,959
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If the main goal is to explore the coast and not get to SF, Amtrak also has the Pacific Surfliner that runs from San Diego to San Luis Obispo, and it parallels Hwy 1 for almost the entire route. North of SLO your train and bus choices are more limited, and jamie99 is correct about needing a rental car or specific tour.
Mar 9th, 2015, 06:26 PM
#6
The Surfliner doesn't really help much -- The only difference between it and the Coast Starlight is it runs twice a day (beyond SB).
Now if they wanted to travel between SD and SB -- then sure the surfliner is an option.
Now if they wanted to travel between SD and SB -- then sure the surfliner is an option.
