Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > United States
Reload this Page >

Driving along Pacific Coast at Night

Search

Driving along Pacific Coast at Night

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 14th, 2014 | 04:32 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Driving along Pacific Coast at Night

I want to leave LA around 7pm and head towards Morro Beach. How is the highway at night?
stephaniea is offline  
Old Mar 14th, 2014 | 05:28 PM
  #2  
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 12,849
Likes: 26
Presumably, you mean Morro Bay. Hwy 101 is a major highway, divided and at least 2 lanes in each direction as far as San Luis Obispo, as is Hwy 1 in the section that continues on to Morro Bay. You can have a look on Google Maps Streetview.
MmePerdu is offline  
Old Mar 14th, 2014 | 05:37 PM
  #3  
Community Builder
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 26,498
Likes: 4
Which route, or where's the starting point in L.A.?

I don't understand the question. It's multi-lane all the way, sometimes with a center barrier (sometimes not), sometimes divided/separated (sometimes not), etc. Depending on the day of the week and time of year, the first part (getting out of greater L.A.) will still be in heavy traffic to Santa Barbara. You'll likely reach the more scenic part of the drive after the sun goes down, so you'll miss that. A full moon might compensate a little.
Jean is offline  
Old Mar 14th, 2014 | 06:30 PM
  #4  
 
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 11,752
Likes: 17
Unless you are well rested and driving your own car, I would not want to go much farther than Santa Barbara after dark.
There is a Pacific Surfliner train that leaves Los Angeles Union station shortly after 7PM that goes to Santa Barbara.
There is an Amtrak bus that goes onward to San Luis Obispo.
tomfuller is offline  
Old Mar 14th, 2014 | 07:04 PM
  #5  
 
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 11,375
Likes: 0
Piece of cake. Little over 200 miles - three and a half hours?
Tomsd is offline  
Old Mar 14th, 2014 | 07:21 PM
  #6  
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 13,616
Likes: 0
The question is totally reasonable. People always recommend not driving Hwy 1 in the dark, but they are taling about Big Sur, not Hwy 101 south of Morro Bay.
november_moon is offline  
Old Mar 15th, 2014 | 02:36 AM
  #7  
 
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 11,375
Likes: 0
Good point November.
Tomsd is offline  
Old Mar 15th, 2014 | 05:28 AM
  #8  
Original Poster
 
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Thank you so much. I did mean Morro Bay. I was worried about being tired and it being dark. Im going to do it
stephaniea is offline  
Old Mar 15th, 2014 | 06:54 AM
  #9  
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 13,540
Likes: 2
It's not the night you arrive from the east coast, is it? Your body clock will be at 10pm, not a good idea.
clarkgriswold is offline  
Old Mar 15th, 2014 | 08:41 AM
  #10  
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 17,801
Likes: 0
FWIW, most people don't find a three hour time difference to be that big a deal; a lot depends on whether you can sleep on the plane, how early you had to get up, and a host of other factors. 101 is easy driving.
NewbE is offline  
Old Mar 15th, 2014 | 08:47 AM
  #11  
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,496
Likes: 0
Not sure what Tom Fuller means about not driving past Santa Barbara, still a divided highway all the way to San Luis Obispo where you will get off to go to Morro Bay. Easy drive. Seven is a good time to leave, you should miss most of the heavy traffic getting out of LA. Notice, I said miss most of the traffic, it will still be busy probably until you reach Ventura County.
paula1470 is offline  
Old Mar 15th, 2014 | 09:49 AM
  #12  
Community Builder
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 26,498
Likes: 4
Seven is a good time to leave unless you actually want to see the scenery past Santa Barbara.
Jean is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
josephmcninch
United States
23
Apr 19th, 2013 09:07 AM
Ashwini_Karnik
United States
14
Jul 3rd, 2012 07:35 AM
MiamiBeachMomma
United States
25
Nov 21st, 2011 04:16 AM
milford88
United States
14
Mar 28th, 2011 05:05 PM
ccofchatham
United States
4
Nov 20th, 2005 10:02 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement -