Is the view that much more amazing when driving down than it is dirving back up?

I'm sure they're both great, just trying to plan for the best!

Thnaks

you might what to be more specific on what part of the PCH, i'm guessing Big Sur? If Big Sur we've done both ways and it's great either way. When going south you are along the water side so you do not have to look over the traffic for the views.

We've done both ways and always pulled off at almost every opportunity to look at the spectacular scenery, so it really didn't matter. People who have issues with edges, might want to do the trip northbound and folks who worry about the hill sliding down would opt for southbound.

Thanks guys!!!

We are travelling from San Francisco to Morro...

I like southbound too - better views and easier to get to the turn outs.

Well, IMHO, driving south on Hwy 1 (as it is called from San Francisco north)
ought to involve a designated driver. This is also true for
some sections of the PCH, though I do not recall
any quite as vividly as the drive on Hwy 1 south from Elk to Jenner.

This designated driver must be a person so solidly
sober that she/he will not take her/his
eyes off the road for a nano-second. Let's call this person
Person 1, in honor of the census.

The passenger, Person 2, can then feel free
to describe the scenery, complete with
real-time-mind-boggling-drop-offs into the Pacific, as well as the
occasional backseat/arm-chair coaching comments
that will "help" Person 1 perform their duties behind the wheel.
Such comments may include:
"YOU'RE TOO CLOSE TO THE EDGE !!!"
or
"YOU'RE HALF IN THE OTHER LANE !!"
or
"SLOW DOWN ON THE CURVES !!!"
and a personal favorite
"LET"S PULL OVER..............Umm.........
HERE !!!...................................HONEY ??..........
........................YOU MISSED IT !!!"

Don't say you weren't warned.


R5

I sort of agree with razzledazzle. Although I was once a great mountain driver (if I say so myself), I have lived in a very flat part of the country for the past 25 years and find the outer (southbound) lanes of PCH/Highway 1 a bit airy in places, especially for trying to sightsee while driving.

If I drove them every day, it wouldn't be a problem. I found the northbound lanes just fine.

As the person who usually drives visitors up and down 1 between SF and Big Sur, I prefer driving N because I get a better view of the scenery. I don't find driving 1 to be particularly difficult (except for getting frustrated when stuck behind an RV) but then again I have driven it more times than I can remember.

Hwy 1 is designated the PCH in Southern California and "The Cabrillo Highway" along the Central Coast. See Section 635 -

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/di...0&file=300-635

Driving in either direction should be fine if you are used to Mountain driving. If you want to keep the sun out of your eyes, drive south in the morning and north in the afternoon although sun problems vary with time of year, model of car, and weather conditions.

Here's a nice link to check out about the Highway. It's for motorcycling but there's a lot of good info and some striking photographs and maps.

http://www.pashnit.com/roads/cal/Hwy1BigSur.htm

Those are great photos and great info that pashnit has. We look forward to seeing it all next month. Thanks for including it.

Well, SAB and pashnit both call the coast road south
of SF Hwy 1 instead of the PCH,
so there you are...
Guess we'll have the real Hwy 1 all
to ourselves in a few days !


R5

I personally prefer driving northbound than southbound when I am in the driver's seat -- not because I'm closer to the sea than the passenger side, but because afternoon, but particularly late afternoon you get hit in the eyes with the sun and can get a little blinded. Especially in winter months when the sun is far to the south in the sky, but even in summer -- and especially so if you're driving in a convertible or have a sun roof.

To me, I can see places ahead going north easier, so I have more time to say, hey, let's stop at the turn out up ahead. Crossing the road for that purpose is pretty easy to do.

Actually anything between Big Sur and Malibu is called "The 101." Cabrillo Highway isn't used... at all.

Any minute someone will pop on here and give the "local lingo" for the WHOLE state... but I can't because I'm not sure of anything north of San Francisco...lol.

I think you're confusing US 101 and CA state hwy. 1. These are two distinct routes, although in some areas they are coincident. See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_Route_1

to music..."Deadmans curve....deadman's curve" Jan and Dean ... sorry, just had a flashback... out

Im not confused... on the Central Coast Hwy 1 and 101 run together sometimes... and sometimes not. Sometimes Hwy 1 is one lane each way with miles of stop signs and not the best to travel on if you're actually trying to get somewhere.

Hopefully letsgo508 will have a map! lol