Quickest route from Cambria to Pt Lobos??
 

Would appreciate any advise on the "quickest" route from Cambria to Point Lobos? Would it be highway 1 or the inland route of 101? Reason I ask is would liketo see Point Lobos on the way to the San Franciso airport and plan on seeing parts of big sur south of Point Lobos during our stay in Cambria. Many thanks for any advise and suggestions

Considering your criteria, then 101 would be the quickest.

P/L is quite close to B/Sur I think you already know.

Taking 101 will involve some backtraking to get to Point Lobos, i.e. heading south on 68 then 1 to Point Lobos then heading back up 1 to whichever route you intend to take to SFO. If I really, really wanted to see Point Lobos I would either see it as part of your Big Sur expeditions or would take 1 up from Cambria and then head to SFO. I don't think 101 is any faster IF you aren't stopping to see views on 1 AND you are not dealing with summer RV traffic!!

Thank you to both of you for your replies, seems like I should/WILL TAKe highway 1 since we will not be stopping along the way(just pt lobos and maybe hurricane pt/bixby bridge) back to SFO, Looking very much forward to visiting your state this is the last leg of our trip!

Do not take 1 all the way up towards SFO, after you visit Point Lobos, that would make for an even longer day. I would take 1 to 156 to 101N and stay on 101N to SFO. Try to get through the San Jose area before at least 4pm if you are doing this on a weekday.

After you get on 101 north, do not stay on it to get to the San Francisco airport. You will run into a lot of traffic.

Instead, use a couple of the newer freeways which bypass this.

1) At Gilroy, look for an exit to Hwy 85. This is an uncrowded freeway which runs up the valley. Then watch for the exit to Hwy 280, which is an 8 and 10 lane freeway with little traffic through the foothills in back of the peninsula. Called "the most beautiful freeway in the world". Watch for the exit to the airport...Hwy 380, and take it down and follow the signs.

2) If you should miss this exit, then watch for the Hwy 280 exit south of San Jose, and proceed as before.

SAB,you must have been reading my mind I was just thinking of what would be the best/quickest way to SFO from pt lobos, we are staying the night at SFO before our departure the next day but still want to get to the hotel at a reasonable time to chill after a 16 day trip through ca. thanks again and will follow your advise on that route to SFO from lobos!

jtrandolph, thank you for the valuable "tip" on saving some time and possible headaches will follow our advise!

jrandolph-you just described my usual route, but for newbies taking 101 the entire way is sometimes just simpler, hence the recommendation.

SAB...I think OP will be able to find the way, following the directions. It is such a much more pleasant drive, and faster with the new freeways. I HATE 101 from San Jose north.

With your description of the drive on this freeway sounds as if it will be a beautiful "last" drive through your state. With your directions I am sure I will be able to do it (was in the army 20 yrs) as long as my wife is not driving she is horrible at directions thsnks again I do appreciate the responses only received one on trip advisor (the highway 1 rt to py lobos)