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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
22stops
DAY01
Olympic National Park → Portland
Overnight in Portland
- 11:00Olympic National Park· start
- 15:30⭐ Astoria Column
- 18:00Portland· overnight
Accommodation
central Portland
DAY02
Depart → Crescent City
Overnight in Crescent City
- 08:00Depart· start
- 12:00Crater Lake National Park
- 17:30Redwood National and State Parks
- 18:00Crescent City· overnight
Accommodation
Crescent City waterfront area
DAY03
Avenue of the Giants → San Francisco
Overnight in San Francisco
- 11:30Avenue of the Giants· start
- 15:30Mendocino
- 18:00San Francisco· overnight
Accommodation
north or central San Francisco
DAY04
San Francisco → Big Sur
Overnight in Big Sur
- 10:00San Francisco Golden Gate area· start
- 13:00Monterey Bay Aquarium area
- 16:30Big Sur· overnight
Accommodation
Big Sur or nearby Carmel-by-the-Sea
DAY05
Depart → Los Angeles
Overnight in Los Angeles
- 08:00Depart· start
- 11:30Santa Barbara
- 15:30Malibu
- 18:00Los Angeles· overnight
Accommodation
Santa Monica or West LA
DAY06
Laguna Beach → San Diego
Overnight in San Diego
- 11:00Laguna Beach· start
- 14:00La Jolla Cove
- 17:30San Diego· overnight
Accommodation
Little Italy or the Gaslamp-adjacent area
DAY07
Torrey Pines State Natural Re… → Cabrillo National Monument
- 10:00Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve· start
- 13:00Coronado
- 17:00Cabrillo National Monument
Food
- seafood meal · one good seafood meal
Heads Up
- Day 2: 12h driving — plan rest stops
- Day 3: 6h 18m driving — plan rest stops
- Day 5: 12h driving — plan rest stops
- start early on the long hauls
- keep one overnight in a practical town after each big driving day
- don't overstack Highway 1 with too many stops if you want the views to stay fun instead of exhausting