Mapquest doesn't seem to want to give me alternative routes. We will be going from Carmel to Los Angeles (West Hollywood, actually) on a Monday next summer. We've driven Big Sur several times and one of our passengers isn't too crazy about that drive. But is that the quickest, easiest route, or should we do 101 most of the way down, or as Mapquest says go clear over to I-5 and down. Help? Total time involved?

Given that one of your passengers isn't too fond of Hwy 1, I'd opt for Hwy 101. It's a fairly direct route and goes a lot faster than Hwy 1. I-5 is a terribly unscenic drive.

The quickest route will be 1 north to 156 east then 101 south and over to interstate 5 south. Of course the 101 and the 5 aren't scenic, that route should take about 6 hours, depending on the traffic. J Correa's suggesstion to take 101 all the way down is also a viable option.

Thanks to both of you. I've done variations of each of those routes. Mapquest suggests a combination of these, not hitting I-5 until near Bakersfield, but on the map it just seemed like it would be longer than staying on the 101 route.

101 is much more scenic than 5, you will be able to take 101 all the way to West Hollywood.

Be careful of travel times as traffic can be very tough anywhere in Southern Calif.

Not sure what your time will be, but if you want quick, go to i-5. If you want pretty, go 101

101 is only about 20 min slower than 5 yet much nicer. You can get off of 101 at Oxnard and drive 1 the rest of the way through Malibu and then take Sunset Blvd. to West Hollywood. Have fun.

Definitely take 101 straight south. You could stop in Santa Barbara if you want or somewhere in Malibu. The I5 is extremely ugly, smelly and the you have to deal with the Grapevine down the mountain. Mapquest can get majorally crazy when it come to California. Don't go to the 5.

Definately the 101! From Carmel, yo will pass through the best of the Central California Coast! (San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara!) The 5 would be going out of your way... plus it's ugly and boring. (How's that for honest? Keep your passengers happy and go the 101. However, plan your trip so that you are not driving through Santa Barbara between 4 and 6 PM, especially on a Friday... their freeway goes to just two lanes in parts and tends to gridlock. Enjoy!
Lynette

Almost forgot, you'll be ready for a pit stop in King City... stop at Keefer's ( not sure of the spelling.) It's family owned, been there forever, and dosen't look like much, but i\t's very clean and the food is good... much better than a pit stop at the fast food places!

I've been driving that exact stretch repeatedly since the early 70's. The other noters here are absolutely correct - definitely take 101. I-5, for that route, is pointless and boring. You'd save almost no time by cutting over, if any. Mapquest is very useful - I like it and use it often, but it doesn't weigh all the factors. Enjoy your trip

Wow, I'm not sure when I've ever seen such a uniform consensus of answers. Looks like 101 it is. Thanks to all.

Don't waste stopping in King City for a pit stop for lunch. Head further south and stop in San Luis Obispo for a nice meal.