Need Information about Pacific Coast Highway Trip

[okhmbldr]

West coast folks I need some input; I live in Oklahoma City and plan to drive the Pacific Coast highway (101 and 1) from the Vancouver, BC area to San Diego this year, either late May (if possible) or late August in a Mercedes SL500 convertible, so no camping, just driving….just a few questions:
With a convertible what are the best months to travel?
Would you start at Vancouver and head South, or start in San Diego and go North?
What are some must see sights along this Highway? (15 years ago I drove from OKC to San Francisco then up to the Redwood Forest and into Washington). I’ve never headed south towards San Diego.
It will take about 3 days drive to get to the West Coast, and 3 days to get home. For a two week trip that leaves me 8 days to drive the coast highway, is that too many days or not enough?
Any additional suggestions are appreciated. I know this topic isn’t about RV’s or camping, but the members of this board have the best knowledge about travel tips. Thanks, Geo.

[Lwiddis]

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

[Cummins12V98]

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!!!!!

[rollexx]

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

[jdc1]

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.

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

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!

[enblethen]

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.