Half Moon Bay to Santa Cruz - Timetable
Feb 4th, 2008, 10:13 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Half Moon Bay to Santa Cruz - Timetable
Our ultimate goal is to get from San Francisco to Pacific Grove and we basically have all day to get there. I think that we have decided to take Hwy 1 from Half Moon Bay down to Santa Cruz, possibly visit the Boardwalk and then go on from there. My question is in regards to the amount of time that it will take to get to Santa Cruz from Half Moon Bay. I've seen posts that suggest 3-4 hours, but Yahoo maps shows 1.25 hours (breaking it down from HMB to Davenport and then to SC - Otherwise Yahoo wants you to take the freeways). Can someone give me an idea of what I'm missing? Is the difference due to traffic? Winding roads? Thank you!
Feb 4th, 2008, 11:56 AM
#3
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There really isn't much on this drive besides absolutely BEAUTIFUL coastlines. My only advice is to stop every once in a while just to take a look at the ocean.
About halfway down from HMB is a small cove that you can walk down a steep path to, or walk around the cliff edge. I think you will see a few parking spaces on the side of the road...but you mostly just have to look for it.
About halfway down from HMB is a small cove that you can walk down a steep path to, or walk around the cliff edge. I think you will see a few parking spaces on the side of the road...but you mostly just have to look for it.
Feb 4th, 2008, 12:11 PM
#4
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,110
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I do the drive in about an hour, but then Yahoo maps assumes you do the speed limit, so 1.25 hours is reasonable 
The road is fairly straight for that stretch - there are curves, but nothing like north of HMB or south of Carmel. I often cruise along at 70 without even realizing it.
As for traffic, you will hit traffic once you get into Santa Cruz - highway 1 comes right into the west side of SC and becomes Mission St, which is just a regular city street. You follow that for awhile before the highway returns to a freeway. That freeway can be fairly slow going depending on the timing (commute traffic or beach traffic). There shouldn't be much traffic between HMB and SC though.
The road is fairly straight for that stretch - there are curves, but nothing like north of HMB or south of Carmel. I often cruise along at 70 without even realizing it.
As for traffic, you will hit traffic once you get into Santa Cruz - highway 1 comes right into the west side of SC and becomes Mission St, which is just a regular city street. You follow that for awhile before the highway returns to a freeway. That freeway can be fairly slow going depending on the timing (commute traffic or beach traffic). There shouldn't be much traffic between HMB and SC though.
Feb 8th, 2008, 06:21 PM
#14
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Couldn't resist and put in my two cents....used to live in La Honda- in the hills east between Half Moon Bay & Santa Cruz. It's an hour drive from HMB to SC if you're driving, if you're driving for pleasure and possible stops- can take two hours...up to you. There is a beautiful "pebble beach" (what we called it then, perhaps it isn't the correct name), small and beautiful tiny pebbles, like an aquarium. North of Pescadaro Lighthouse.
It's a beautiful area, and in Pescadaro there is a restaurant that serves traditional artichoke soup! mmm...so good!
It's a beautiful area, and in Pescadaro there is a restaurant that serves traditional artichoke soup! mmm...so good!
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Lenore
United States
13
Jan 26th, 2006 04:36 PM
