CA Pacific Coast Highway (Hwy 1) Anaheim to Crescent City

I can't believe nobody has mentioned Hearst Castle yet! Or swinging through Solvang and checking out the area.

I would also recommend checking out Big Sur, the avenue of the giants, and boondocking on The Lost Coast.



My family settled in Santa Monica in the 40's and I grew up exploring the PCH in my grandfather's old Winnebago. I look to do this again in retirement soon.

In the northern Redwoods, Gold Bluffs is beach side camping. It's in a state park, but no hook ups. And nearby Fern Canyon will make you think you are in Washington or BC (large Sitka spruce, etc).

We've driven the PCH many times, and whenever possible, I like to drive the highway going south then take the interstate going north. Since most of the pullouts are on the water side, it's easier to pull over and merge back in when I don't have to cross a lane. It's a minor thing, but just a thought.

Have fun, it's a great trip.

We'll be researching everything in the coming weeks. We love boondocking and rarely use hook-ups, so I'm especially excited to check out some of the camping opportunities. Haven't traveled the PCH since I was a kid, so we're really looking forward to the trip. Thanks for all the great suggestions!

We sometimes do the PCH from Oxnard to the 10 to the 405. Getting back on 101 north in Oxnard is an easy follow the signs experience. In Santa Barbara you can take 154 over the pass to Lake Cachuma. Just after you crest the hill at Painted Cave and before the Cold Springs Bridge there is a left turn onto a road that takes you to the Cold Springs Tavern (if you miss that left just after the bridge is a road to your right that will also take you to the tavern). 1890's stage stop that on many weekends is packed with people enjoying bands and the weather. 154 returns to 101 north of Buelton. Inland until Pismo Beach, then in San Luis Obispo you can either take Los Osos Valley Road west to South Bay Blvd., then right to Hwy 1. at the east edge of Morro Bay. Morro Bay has two state parks, one with water and electric in about 19 sites, on a golf course and across a two lane local road from a small marina. Morro Strand State Park in at the north end of the town, right on the beach and no hookups. Several private campgrounds. Depending on the time of year, reservations at all campgrounds are highly recommended.

From there you will have the ocean on your left for most of the trip to Monterey. Ragged Point Inn is a scenic place to stop if there is no fog. Just make sure you fill your tank in SLO or Morro Bay as from Morro Bay north to Monterey gas/fuel is expensive. There is a COSTCO just after leaving 101 for Los Osos Valley Rd.(maybe 1/4 mile).

San Simeon State Park (east of Hwy.1 but a short walk to the beach), no hookups.

Safe trip.

IMHO, Emma Wood State Beach is boondocking best, no road traffic like Rincon. It's just at the northern edge of Ventura, reservations start May 15, weekends are probably mostly booked but during the week you could get in. You can ride your bikes or walk to downtown Ventura to shops & restaurants or to the Ventura Pier and eat at Ericsson, great views & food. From the cg it's probably 1.5 miles to downtown and maybe 2 miles to the pier, great bike or walking path. We volunteered as park host for 5 seasons at Emma Wood, love the Ventura area. There is a state park in Carpenteria right on the water (tight sites but have hookups) and 2 just north of Santa Barbara, El Capitan and Gaviota, they are right on the water. Be really careful in So California traffic, it can be a real headache, travel mid morning to avoid the worst in the am & pm (by 3) rush

North of San Francisco the road can be narrow and twisting but should not be a problem with your rig. Some sights to see would be Fort Ross, an old Russian fur trading post. Fort Bragg has a nice train ride through the forest and Noyo harbor for a seafood dinner. After Hwy 1 meets up with 101 be sure to get off the highway and take the Avenue of the giants. This is the old highway and takes you through some nice redwood groves.

When passing by Monterey, the Monterey bay aquarium is nice.

SCVJeff wrote:
IF IT WERE ME....
I would get off PCH in Ventura, and no later than Santa Monica. It's just too dang crowded further south to do anything but watching your lane and who's going to cut you off next, and there's nothing to see but traffic and houses. The freeway isn't great either but the better of two evils

X2 start in Santa Monica...Take the I-405 north to I-10 west which becomes Hwy 1 when it gets close to the ocean. Be advised you will be in traffic from the time you leave the 405 until you make your way through Malibu.

A favorite spot of ours is just north of the city of Ventura on old Hwy 1 called Rincon Parkway. It's a Ventura County RV Park that sits on a 10 ft high bluff above the beach. It's boondocking at it's finest. A great spot for a stop over if you can find a spot.

Next great stopover spot is in Buellton at Flying Flags RV Resort. Nera by is Solvang a Danish City tourist destination.

I should have added that we'll be taking I-5 South to Anaheim, stopping in San Francisco and Los Angeles before spending a few days at Disneyland. THEN we want to meander slowly North on the PCH as we work our way home. Maybe we should get on HWY 1 in Santa Monica?