Wanted to drive the PCH next week but the weather is only supposed to hit low to mid 60's for the next 10 days. Is that normal for this time of year? I wanted to avoid the summer crowds yet still have warm weather so I waited until after Labor Day

It has been a cooler than average summer on the coast, but temperatures that low aren't unusual. The CA coast doesn't really have warm summers - anything above 80°F is considered a warm day and if there are 2 days in a row that warm, it is considered a heat wave. September is generally the warmest month with the least amount of fog.

Mid 60's is within the normal range for PCH weather, so don't despair. You have definitely made the right decision to avoid the Labor Day traffic congestion!

Are you asking about Northern Calif or Southern Calif. The PCH is only in Southern Calif & Hw #1 becomes the Cabrillo Highway in most of Northern Calif. The scenic section from San Simeon to San Francisco is the Cabrillo Highway. Don't know why you would drive the PCH - except for a few scenic sections around Laguna Beach, Malibu, etc.

Stu Dudley

My mom always told me she loved Hwy 1(PCH) I guess I never asked her for specifics. But she is gone now. Maybe I need to investigate it a little further. I was thinking of flying into San Francisco and flying out of San Diego. Having never been to California I thought it was a place to start

The part of PCH you want to see is between Santa Barbara and Carmel.

Since you are driving from SF to San Diego, take the part of Hwy 1 starting from Santa Cruz and stay on it until you get to San Luis Obispo. Then from there, you can get on Hwy 101 and then take the major freeways down to San Diego. The prettiest part of the drive will be from Carmel to Moro Bay.
The best route with the most scenery and least traffic from SF to Santa Cruz is:

Hwy 280 to Hwy 85 to Hwy 17 to Hwy 1

One more thing about traffic. To avoid horrible commuter traffic congestion:

Don't go through the San Jose area between 7-9 am or 3-6 pm.

Don't go on Hwy 17 between 3-6 pm.

Try not to drive anywhere between Ventura and Dana Point during the commute hours of 7-9am and 3-6pm.

How many days do you have for this trip? Unless, you have more than 2 weeks, I would recommend just visiting all the sights between SF and Big Sur. And flying in and out of SF.

>>Try not to drive anywhere between Ventura and Dana Point during the commute hours of 7-9am and 3-6pm.

Yes, Stu, that's one of the reasons I left SoCal. Glad to be out. Never going back.

Thank you so much MonteryBob and Stu Dudley. Exactly the detail I needed. 7 days is all I can take right now. I had hoped for a little warmer weather but hopefully the sun will be shinng