We will be traveling Friday morning mid Sept, returning on a Sunday. What routes would you advise? No time constraints to concern us.
Thanks.

If I were making this trip, I would drive to Monterey via Half Moon Bay and return via Route 9. This would afford spectacular ocean views on Highway 1 and the possibility of visiting Henry Cowell Redwood State Park when returning on Scenic Route 9.

I'd definitely do happytrail's route if scenery was my goal and I didn't have time constraints.

So basically, leave SF on Hwy 280, then cut over to the coast on Hwy 92 and take Hwy 1 the rest of the way down to Monterey.

On the way back to SF, take Hwy 1 to Santa Cruz and then Hwy 9 over the mountain to Saratoga. From there, Hwy 85 north to Hwy 280 back to SF.

We just did this and Highway 1 is definitley worth it!

Thanks so much for feedback!

I would take hwy 1 from Pacifica rather than taking 92 over to Halfmoon Bay. From 280 the exit to Pacifica is well marked.