pacific coast highway drive times?
 

We are planning to drive from LA to San Francisco during a trip to California this summer. We want to stop at Hearst Castle, then continue on to Carmel/Monterey to spend the night before going up to San Francisco. We are guessing it will take 4-5 hours to get to San Simeon/Hearst Castle from LA and then another 2 hours to get to Monterey after that. Does that sound accurate? We plan to leave LA VERY early in the a.m. cause we know we will want to take in the scenery - maybe stop for an hour or so at Pismo Beach. Do those times sound accurate? Is this doable for a one-night stop over or do we really need 2 nights along the way?? Thanks

OK - a problem w/ your plan -- all that gorgeous scenery you hope to see w/ your early departure: More likely it will be a gray, foggy blur. In summer there is often a heavy fog bank along much of the coast that doesn't burn off until afternoon (and sometimes not then)

Driving the entire coast from LA to SF w/ only one overnight is doable but definitely not something I'd choose to do.

Thanks - but isn't the most scenic part of the drive starting at around San Luis Obispo? If that's the case, by the time we get there it will be much later in the morning - should the fog be much of a problem then?

Take 2 nights to come up if you want to take more than a cursory look-see. Hearst Castle is an all-day activity, and you'll probably be worn out afterward. SLO is a great little town and worth spending the night. Don't worry about the fog. Yeah, maybe it'll be foggy, but it'll be beautiful anyway. I was in SLO last July and it was warm, sunny and gorgeous. You never know what the weather's going to be like, so it's ridiculous to plan around it.

oh - I didn't mean to not drive it - only that the early start may defeat the whole purpose.

I would do what I needed to do (either cut a day from SF or from LA - or both) to have enough time to take at least 3 days/2 nights to make the drive. And IF you want to tour San Simeon you almost HAVE to take 2 night/3 days to make it work.

How long would it take to get from LA to San Luis Obispo?? How is the drive on highway 101 at that area? Is it really curvy like around Big Sur? How would it be to drive it in the late afternoon/early evening?

Thanks!!

Just read your original plan and it sounds like you have a good one with the accurate times. You might want to add in more time for meals, gas and stops to take pictures. Make sure you leave San Simeon early enough to have a daylight drive to Monterey. Spend two nights so you can really see the Monterey area - heaven on earth.

If you need advice on narrowing down where to spend the night in Monterey, I can help.

LA to SLO is not curvey like Big Sur. It is a freeway, and although you will have some hills north of SB, it is still a freeway, so curves are minimal. No problems driving it late in the day.

Yes, MDMom, IF (a big IF because you never know) there is fog in the morning, it usually burns off around noon and rolls back in around 5:00 so you should be fine. It's not a thick California valley tule fog, it's a coastal fog - big difference when it comes to seeing the views. Just don't drive the Big Sur area at night and you'll be fine.