Fog along the coast
 

We will be leaving LA (Silver Lake area) to drive to San Luis Obisbo, Wednesdayday, July 23, and overnight.

To the Hearst Castle for multple tours, to the SLO Thursday farmers market and overnight, July 24.
Then up through Big Sur to Carmel on Friday, July 25, overnight. Saturday, July 26 visiting Carmel attractions and the Monterey Aquarium.

Finally, Sunday continuing to arrive San Francisco in the evening.

If I take Rout 1 from Santa Monica (at 7:30 am) through Mailbu to Santa Barbara will the cost there be socked in fog? If so would it be better to take 101?

Also if I leave early from San Luis Obisbo will the fog negatively impact the morning part of the trip? We are two adults.

Thanks.

July generally - and I emphasize "generally" as the weather is getting crazier and crazier - does not have a fog problem and very little marine layer to speak of. What there is will burn off quickly.

You should be in for a beautiful drive.

IMO the only bad thing that might impact a trip up Route 1 is being stuck behind some slow-moving vehicle.

OTOH, the last time I traveled on part of 101 I thought the "repairs" in the pavement were going to knock all of my teeth out.

California's coast is known for early morning fog that tends to burn off in the afternoon. It then can return with a vengeance, so much so that visibility is reduced to a matter of feet.

In July, gb944? If so, I stand corrected, but that has not been my experience.

Generally speaking LC, there is more fog in June in southern CA (hence the southern CA use of June gloom) , however up here in northern CA and the Bay Area we can get fog in the mornings anytime in summer. Sometimes that includes the Central Coast and Big Sur, sometimes not.

Not that I've driven along the west coast that many time's, but a little fog actually adds to it, IMOP. Each time we have encountered pathcy fog in the mornings. Meaning, you might drive a few miles in it and then out of it for a few miles.
One of my favorite trips was at Point Reyes and it was what I would call a blowing fog--really cool to see.

Hmmm . . . I guess I have been lucky then. :) Sorry for the misinformation, Allen.

Keep in mind: it is the weather, nothing you can do about it. So just adjust as you go along and have a great time!

What you want is for it to be mild inland. If its in the 80's or low-ish 90's there likely won't be much fog to speak of except for a bit in the early morning. But when it gets very hot in the central valley (and over 100F isn't unusual) - that is when it gets colder/foggier on the coast.

Except last week it was hot inland AND hot on the coast--the north coast that is, the Mendonoma Coast, as they say.

MichelleY has it right, I think!

Yes, if you get an on shore flow pattern or just generally an area of high pressure that sits over the coast combined with a heat wave inland, you can get warm temperatures on the coast. Generally speaking though, heat inland creates fog along the coast.

>>Except last week it was hot inland AND hot on the coast--t<<

Yes that can happen -- but is unusual. Normally 100F+ inland means high 50's low 60's-ish and foggy.