About This Route
The Pacific Coast Highway, often called PCH or Highway 1, runs along California's coastline from San Francisco to Los Angeles. The road hugs sea cliffs for hundreds of miles, cuts through redwood forests, passes working fishing towns, and drops you into wine country before flattening out toward LA.
The route covers about 650 miles of two-lane highway with limited passing zones, tight curves, and pullouts every few miles. It's slow driving by design. Big Sur is the centerpiece: 90 miles of cliffs, bridges, and no cell service. North of that, you get Monterey's aquarium and Cannery Row. South, you get Hearst Castle and the Santa Barbara coast.
Spring and fall are the best windows. Summer brings fog and crowds. Winter brings rain and occasional landslides that close sections for weeks. Check Caltrans before you commit to dates.