Need Information about Pacific Coast Highway Trip

Agree about August and September being better. In coastal California, there's something we call "June Gloom". It sometimes starts in May.
And Highway 1, between Carmel and San Simeon, is very slow going. 101 in Oregon is also slow going.
You may have some issues with lodging, in California.

Definitely go north to south. We drove south to north and southbound traffic often blocked the view.

Fog can be an issue. I planned on getting an early start each day only to suffer fog that didn’t lift until late AM or early afternoon.

We have been several times. We went back and spent a week looking around the Monterey area. Pebble Beach drive.

While the pullouts are nice, most of them are accessible from traveling both directions when traffic is not heavy, especially in Oregon. But it gets very heavy after Labor Day.

The nice thing about north to south is that Washington US 101 will not disappoint too much. Very little is sea coast driving. And what is, there is usually a berm and very deep natural area between the road and the water. Only a few locations have the majestic views.

Agree Deception Pass is a must. From the Peace Arch Crossing to Burlington in WA, I was surprised by the number of oil refineries. Kind of like southern Louisiana along the Mississippi.

The Oregon coast is spectacular, and they do a much better job with scenic turnouts than I have seen in any other state.

California is lovely. Now our trip was south to north, and my wife was especially pleased with the spring flowers and new growth for much of the trip all the way to Olympic NP in early June.

The bridge out at Big Sur stopped us from taking the complete Hwy 1 route, but as I've said about some other stops on the trip, it took me over 65 years to get there, and I don't regret a dollar, an hour, on any missed sights. I only want to go back again!!!

May or even August of this year sounds like a lot of wishful thinking. May is almost here and with all the precautions Covid is just starting to spread throughout the country.

Stay two nights at Plaskett Creek USFS campground between Monterey and Morro Bay, California. Must have reservations.

August, as earlier along the WA and OR Coast you may find it socked in with fog.

rollexx has a nice route planned out!!!

Can't miss out on Deception Pass!!!!!

First off, May probably would be too early given the current situation and also the weather. Aug. would be a better bet. North to South would be best for better views. I would start by heading down
I 5 to hwy 20 toward Anacortes. Take 20 to the Port Townsend ferry, stopping at Deception Pass to check out the views. Port Townsend a very historic town, worth checking out. Continue down 20 to Hwy 101.
Head West to Port Angeles. Drive up to Hurricane Ridge in Olympic NP. Continue West on 101 to the Hoh rain forest. Continue south on 101 and cross into Oregon to Astoria. Lots of cool little towns along the coast. Seaside, Cannon Beach, Depoe Bay,. Great lunch/ Dinner spot in Depoe Bay, Tidal Raves. Watch whales right from your table.
Newport, Florence, Bandon all worth a stop. Continuing south into Ca. thru the Redwoods. If you’re into Victorian architecture a side trip over to Ferndale west of Fortuna is a cool little town.
At Leggett hit Hwy 1. Glass beach in Fort Bragg is worth a stop. Mendocino is nice.
Then just follow 1 all the way down. Bodega Bay if you’re a Hitchcock fan. Muir Woods near San Francisco. Monterey, Carmel, 17 mile Drive, point Lobos, Big Sur,. Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, waterfall right into the ocean. Hearst Castle. And that’s as far as we have gone on hwy 1

Man.....you will need at least 5 years to see everything along PCH. There are just too many sites along the way. You'll be stopping every 1/2 mile. And that's just in Southern California.

Here are my thoughts. There is no right or wrong to what you're asking.

Mid May is great convertible weather where I live. Oregon and Washington, maybe not so much. You do have a top on your car so I would pick May or mid to late September. Between those months it's hot where I live in Nor Cal.

I would go north to south for the reasons Enblethen said. You can pull off to take pictures without crossing the highway lane. Not that that is a big deal in a car.

What to see is up to you. Lots of beautiful scenery along the way. Lots of glass shops and wood shops if your into that type of thing.

There is a lot of good web sites to punch into to get things to see. If you like weird things like I do this is for sure my favorite. Roadside America.

When your between Eureka Ca and Garberville Ca be sure to get off of 101 and go onto the "Avenue of the Giants." Super, super pretty in there. It would be even better in a convertible.

Good luck, have fun and be safe.
BTW great car you're doing this in. Very nice!

I would travel north to south taking advantage of pull offs on ocean side.
Weather in May is questionable. Late July into mid Sep would be better.
Time depends on what you want to see.
Current conditions don't allow to travel. No restaurants. Some motels are closed.