1 / 5
Pacific Coast Run
A 7-day all-drive sweep down the West Coast, with the best ocean pulls, forest detours, and one easy stop each night.
7days
23stops
Day 1: Olympic National Park → Astoria Column → Portland
3 stops
Olympic National Park
11:00
Astoria Column
15:30
Portland
18:00
Day 2: Depart → … → Crescent City
4 stops
Depart
08:00
Crater Lake National Park
12:00
Redwood National and State Parks
17:30
Crescent City
18:00
Day 3: Avenue of the Giants → Mendocino → San Francisco
3 stops
Avenue of the Giants
11:30
Mendocino
15:30
San Francisco
18:00
Day 4: San Francisco Golden Gate area → Monterey Bay Aquarium area → Big Sur
3 stops
San Francisco Golden Gate area
10:00
Monterey Bay Aquarium area
13:00
Big Sur
16:30
Day 5: Depart → … → Los Angeles
4 stops
Depart
08:00
Santa Barbara
11:30
Malibu
15:30
Los Angeles
18:00
Day 6: Laguna Beach → La Jolla Cove → San Diego
3 stops
Laguna Beach
11:00
La Jolla Cove
14:00
San Diego
17:30
Day 7: Torrey Pines State Natural Re… → Coronado → Cabrillo National Monument
3 stops
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
10:00
Coronado
13:00
Cabrillo National Monument
17:00
Heads Up
- 1. start early on the long hauls
- 2. keep one overnight in a practical town after each big driving day
- 3. don't overstack Highway 1 with too many stops if you want the views to stay fun instead of exhausting
- 4. Day 2: 9h driving — plan rest stops
- 5. Day 3: 9h driving — plan rest stops
- 6. Day 5: 8h driving — plan rest stops
- 7. Day 2: 12h driving — plan rest stops
- 8. Day 3: 6h 18m driving — plan rest stops
- 9. Day 5: 12h driving — plan rest stops