West Coast of the United States: Tips for a memorable Road trip
The 144 km that connect the Big Sur area with the city of San Luis Obispo are the most famous and traveled section of Route 1. But there is much more.
Traveling the West Coast of the United States by car gives you a memorable experience, which you can do in one or two days, in a week or even in a month. It all depends on how much you want to know and how many days you want to enjoy each section of a route with beautiful places.
West Coast United States
The ideal is to take several days to make a memorable road trip through California . It is important not to do it running and try to plan by spending a few days to be able to visit essential places.
There is a lot to see and go around and you should choose to go all the way around, or if you have a few days, choose between the coast or the tour to the Grand Canyon .
The West Coast of the United States , West Coast, or Pacific Coast, are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the western United States, including California, Oregon, Washington , and Alaska .
West Coast United States by car
Route 1 is a state route that contains the most famous and traveled section of the area: the 144 km that connect the Big Sur area with the city of San Luis Obispo.
To the north and south of that stretch, intersecting with the 101 National Highway, there are other points where you will not be able to stop stopping.
What to visit on the west coast of the United States
- Yellowstone Park.
- Teton Park.
- Bryce Canyon.
- Zion canyon.
- Monument Valley.
- Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend.
- Grand Canyon (one of the essential things to see on the West Coast of the US)
- Las Vegas.
- Death Valley.
- Yosemite and Mariposa Grove.
- San Francisco.
- California Route 1 (Big Sur).
- The Angels.
San Francisco - Los Angeles Route
Route 1 from San Francisco to Los Angeles is one of the most spectacular highways in the world. It borders the entire West Coast. It is the mythical highway of the Pacific and it is a constant surprise at each curve, due to its incredible landscapes that magnetize whoever travels the road.
Halfway along the route, near Piedras Blancas, you can find a colony of Sea Lions calmly positioned on the sand.
The routes and towns that border the Californian coast between San Francisco and Los Angeles make those 550 km one of the favorite rides for those who travel through the United States by car.
It is a journey that you can do in one day, but you will certainly regret not having given it a little more time.
Sea views, forests of giant trees, friendly towns, luxury mansions, incredible hotels, castles, fabulous cliffs, endless beaches, landscapes and sunsets will make you want to stop at every turn and take the trip easy.
In order not to be so extensive, I will name just some of the wonderful places that you can visit on the tour, from Los Angeles to San Francisco or vice versa.
Saint Barbara
It is a gem on the beautiful Pacific coast. The climate of this original city gives rise to a series of natural attractions. The beaches have their own charm. Fresh seafood can be found at many of the restaurants on Stearn's Quay.
Cambria
Continue your trip and enjoy a night in the San Simeon area , choosing a small town that is on the coast, such as Cambria .
If you slept in that area, in the morning, after purchasing tickets online, be sure to visit the Castle of Hearts . You will really be impressed by the extravagant mansion built by media mogul William Randolph Hearst, whose life is featured in the famous Orson Wells film Citizen Kane.
If you have one more night, before arriving in San Francisco do not hesitate to stop and if possible, spend a night in the artistic town of Carmel by the Sea , called by its inhabitants simply Carmel, which is located on the south side of the Monterey Peninsula.
Walk the white sands of Carmel Beach, or discover the mosaic of wave-lashed cliffs and wind-bending trees at Point Lobos State Reserve.
Then return to the city of Carmel, with streets lined with galleries, pubs, and cozy accommodations.
Be sure to take the tour of the famous and scenic “17-Mile Drive”.
Run by a private company (fee per car), this winding road from Pacific Grove to Pebble Beach will take you through a forest of wind-sculpted cypress trees to a rocky shoreline dotted with some of the most envied by the whole planet.
You will also visit great golf courses.
In the spring, stop at Fanshell Overlook to see the seals and their pups (they can generally be seen from April to June). You can have a picnic there on the small beach of Spanish Bay or you can treat yourself to a meal at the elegant Lodge on Pebble Beach.
