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Pacific Coast Highway Stops
Pacific Coast Highway stops include big city vacation destinations like Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego, and smaller places like Monterey.
For the basic information about driving the highway,
take a look at our main driving page.
Pacific Coast Highway stops range from remote beaches and pretty little towns to the big city vacation destinations of Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego. You might want to choose one of these airports as your gateway to make a fly-drive holiday along the west coast, taking in as much of Washington, Oregon, and California as time allows.
But if you want to avoid big city traffic and busy places, don't worry. There are lots of beautiful small towns where you can make overnight stays. You could spend every night of your west coast vacation watching the sun set in the Pacific Ocean, and drive quickly by the big cities without stopping.
If you want to get an idea of what to expect from the Oregon coast, take a look at the great images on the
Photograph Oregon website.
Also have a read of this blog of
Things to Do on the Oregon Coast
from our friends at Just Go Travel Studios.
Here are links to further information for some of the main stops along the Pacific Coast Highway, in alphabetical order with Washington first, then Oregon, and finally California. Unless otherwise indicated, the link takes you to our own page about the place.
Scenic Spots
Don't miss our choice of the best Scenic Spots on the Pacific Coast Highway.
Pacific Coast Highway Stops in Washington
Hoquiam:
City of Hoquiam Official Website
Pacific Coast Highway Stops in Oregon
Coos Bay/North Bend/Charleston:
Oregon's Adventure Coast
Lincoln City:
Lincoln City Official Website
Newport:
Newport Official City Website
Pacific City:
Pacific City Chamber of Commerce
Port Orford:
Port Orford Visitor Center
Reedsport/Winchester Bay:
Chamber of Commerce
Seaside:
Seaside Visitors' Bureau
Pacific Coast Highway Stops in California
Balboa Island:
Official Balboa Island website
Del Mar:
Official City of Del Mar Visitors Website
Eureka:
City of Eureka Official Website
Fort Bragg:
Official Fort Bragg City Website
Half Moon Bay:
City of Half Moon Bay Official Website
Long Beach:
Long Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
Some of our driving pages
Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Guide
Pacific Coast Highway Travel reviews the Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Guide book covering the drive from Vancouver to San Diego.
Pacific Coast Highway in California
The Pacific Coast Highway in California book shows in historic photos the building of the Pacific Coast Highway from its earliest beginnings in 1911.
Driving the Pacific Coast Highway
Driving the Pacific Coast Highway is made easier with Road Trip USA by Jamie Jensen, a good handbook for the west coast drive.
Pacific Coast Highway Drive Times and Distances
Drive times and distances on the Pacific Coast Highway or the quickest routes from Seattle to San Francisco to Los Angeles to San Diego.
Driving the Pacific Coast Highway in Two Days
Pacific Coast Highway Travel's advice on driving the Pacific Coast Highway in two days, including the best places to stay, and the best things to do and see.
Coastal California Guidebook
Lonely Planet's Coastal California guidebook is the ideal travel guide for driving or cycling the Pacific Coast Highway from the Oregon border to Mexico.
Pacific Coast Highway Driving Tips
Pacific Coast Highway driving tips for this great American road trip include finding cheap gas, watching the speed limits, and allowing plenty of travel time.
When to Drive the Pacific Coast Highway
When to Drive the Pacific Coast Highway depends on whether you want to drive in Oregon and Washington as well as California, and on the weather.
Oregon Coast Charging Stations
Pacific Coast Highway Travel's guide to Oregon coast charging stations for electric vehicles, from Brookings in the south to Astoria in the north.
Driving the Pacific Coast Highway in Three Days
Pacific Coast Highway Travel's advice on driving the Pacific Coast Highway in three days, including the best places to stay, and the best things to do and see.
Ways to Go
Here are links to the different ways you can go along the Pacific Coast Highway, one of the most popular drives in the world but you can also cycle it.
Route 66 Meets the Pacific Coast Highway
Historic Route 66 winds from Chicago to LA, going through Los Angeles, meeting the Pacific Coast Highway in Santa Monica, California, at the Santa Monica Pier.
Driving the Pacific Coast Highway in Five Days
Pacific Coast Highway Travel's advice on driving the Pacific Coast Highway in five days, including the best places to stay over, and the best things to do and see.
The 17-Mile Drive between Carmel, Pacific Grove, and Monterey
Pacific Coast Highway Travel takes the 17-Mile Drive from Carmel to Pacific Grove and Monterey, stopping to see the Lone Cypress and beautiful coastline views.
San Francisco to San Diego
Driving from San Francisco to San Diego has two main options, the fast way on I-5 or the scenic route along the Pacific Coast Highway.
Epic Drives of the World
Epic Drives of the World from Lonely Planet describes 50 of the world's most exciting road trips, including, of course, the Pacific Coast Highway.
California Coast Charging Stations
California coast charging stations are so numerous that the Pacific Coast Highway is one of the best US road trips to drive in an electric vehicle or EV.
Pacific Coast Highway Road Trips: Lonely Planet Guidebook Review
Review of the Pacific Coast Highway Road Trips book from Lonely Planet, which includes a California Driving Guide, by the Pacific Coast Highway Travel website.
Drive the Pacific Coast Highway
Here are the basic facts if you plan to drive the Pacific Coast Highway, including which is the best direction and when is the best time to go driving.
California Driving Laws
If visiting California and planning to drive the Pacific Coast Highway it's important to know California driving laws in case they differ from your own state.
Washington Coast Charging Stations
Pacific Coast Highway Travel's guide to Washington coast charging stations for electric vehicles along Highway 101 from Oregon and around the Olympic Peninsula.
West Coast RV Parks
One of the best guides to West Coast RV Parks, covering campgrounds in California, Oregon, and Washington, is West Coast RV Camping from Moon Guides.
LA to Hearst Castle
Pacific Coast Highway travel offers advice on driving from LA to Hearst Castle, including distance, journey time, and route.
Maps of the Pacific Coast Highway: Free Driving Maps of the PCH
Road maps of the Pacific Coast Highway or PCH are essential for anyone planning to drive the trip, and detailed routes are available for free.
Best Time to Drive the Pacific Coast Highway
The best time to drive the Pacific Coast Highway is when you have the most time to spare, but late spring and fall is when you'll get the best weather.
Recent Articles
-
Expect Delays: PCH Lane Closures in Malibu Begin Friday and One Lane Closure Continues Next Week
Nov 17, 24 11:21 AM
Caltrans Schedules Rock Scaling Work, Announces a Week-Long 24/7 Lane Closure -
Think Big Sur Is Thrilling From the Road? Try Paddling It in a Winter Storm
Nov 16, 24 10:17 AM
A highway closure along the wildest stretch of California’s Central Coast inspired three dauntless paddlers to try another route. Here’s how that four-day odyssey went. -
New Hotels in Los Angeles
Nov 12, 24 05:40 PM
Pacific Coast Highway Travel lists the new hotels in Los Angeles, and those refurbished and renovated, and all open for business in 2025.
FTC Disclosure: If you make a purchase via a link on this site, we may receive a small commission on the transaction - at no added cost to you. Thank you!
LATEST BOOKS
Take a look at our latest books: 101 Best Things to Do on the Pacific Coast Highway and 101 Budget Hotels along the Pacific Coast Highway. Click on the covers to learn more.
LATEST NEWS
Recent Articles
-
Expect Delays: PCH Lane Closures in Malibu Begin Friday and One Lane Closure Continues Next Week
Nov 17, 24 11:21 AM
Caltrans Schedules Rock Scaling Work, Announces a Week-Long 24/7 Lane Closure -
Think Big Sur Is Thrilling From the Road? Try Paddling It in a Winter Storm
Nov 16, 24 10:17 AM
A highway closure along the wildest stretch of California’s Central Coast inspired three dauntless paddlers to try another route. Here’s how that four-day odyssey went. -
New Hotels in Los Angeles
Nov 12, 24 05:40 PM
Pacific Coast Highway Travel lists the new hotels in Los Angeles, and those refurbished and renovated, and all open for business in 2025.
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Buy an inexpensive journal to record your own Pacific Coast Highway adventure!
If you're planning a PCH road trip, take a look at our guide to hotels along the way:
FOLLOW OUR PCH VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE
The Best PCH Guide
We've read lots of guides to the Pacific Coast, and easily the best one is the Moon Handbook. You can read our review here, or buy it through the Amazon link below.
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