Are you intending to continue up the Oregon Coastor to some other ultimate destination? I recommend spending at least one full day in Mendocino/Fort Bragg. Trinks is a great sandwich and salad place in the town of Gualala that I enjoyed. Plus, I am really fixated with lighthouses in California, their Fresnel lenses and history which sometimes is as tumultuous as the coast they guard. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND driving up Avenue of the Giants because not only is it insanely scenic with the road snaking through the towering Redwoods, but also because there are many vantage points from here that make for great photos. Get our travel tips Delivered to your inbox. While the miles themselves are not overly long, the drive is on many windy roads that will take a while to complete. Maybe try typing in a faraway location like London, Hong Kong, From attractions like Point Reyes and Muir Beach to charming cities like Mendocino and Eureka, this itinerary for driving Pacific Coast Highway will leave you spellbound. stay for about 1.5 hours. We even saw some locals swimming there. California's Highway One is a state highway. You can continue down to Fish Cove if you are looking for a majestic beach to relax at or loop back to the car. The entrance fee is pretty steep of $20/person but is worth it since you spend at least 1-2 hours here in the Redwoods grove with several trees featured on Ripleys Believe it or Not. Avoid dangerous situations and allow plenty of distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you. Featuring some of the best road trip attractions in Northern California, including Humboldt County, wine country, beaches, and redwoods, as well as Eugene, OR. My first stop was the Muir Beach Overlook. Plus, unbeatable views of the coastline from the bluffs on hiking trails. You will still need to rent a car to drive around once you arrive at Arcata-Eureka Airport. New Jersey: No vanity license plate if you had a DUI within the past 10 years. Keep reading to learn all about the best routes, places to stop and things to see along the way. Confusion Hill. Buckle up! I highly recommend doing the former, i.e. While many might not care about this, I was excited to see it and found it to be a short, fun stop. The Falls is about a mile away and across from a bridge; you can even climb down from either sides of the bridge to get closer to the Falls. The taffy was great, and the price was low, so it was a good stop. I even converted my wife to liking oysters after visiting here, so you need to check Hog Island out. I recommend finishing breakfast at either Eureka or Arcata and packing lunch for the road. This staircase winds down from the edge of the cliff to a beautiful vista point that overlooks both Muir Beach and the coastline above it. There are great hiking trails along the coast too. Best Steak in Sonoma? Can you tell me where the wall art is located of the girl laying down with a book? Pygmy Forest in Van Damme State Park (20 minutes). The return trail back into the gift shop is lined with wood carvings featuring Paul Bunyans life story (from when he was a baby) and other whimsical creatures. Back near Garberville, you will drive northwards towards your next destinations, i.e. Lol* I have some of the same pictures. 110,000 acres of old growth forests remain (Oregon-California central coast). I am glad you could relive your trip through this post. When are you doing this? You might consider stopping for the night at Timber Cove Resort Advertisement. Shopping. San Francisco to Mendocino: Pacific Coast Highway Roadtrip Guide Driving from San Francisco to Mendocino is one of the longer drives you can do on the Pacific Coast Highway. Minnesota: In Minnetonka, driving with tires or wheel wells clogged with dirt that sheds onto the road is forbidden . Yes, even this step is optional, because if you're on vacation Highway One runs from southern California, at Dana Point in Orange County, all the way up the California coast to Mendocino county. I am also curious about your Crescent City destination. The fastest route is by taking the US-101 all the way there. Hwy 1 hugs the coast through Ft. Bragg and Mendocino. The Pacific Coast Highway runs along two highways: US 101 in Washington, Oregon, and parts of California and California Highway 1 in the majority of California. Clicking on them may earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you for the product. For example, here are some questions people have asked about Eureka (California). Hwy. drive for about 54 minutes 2:30 pm Healdsburg stay for about 1 hour and leave at 3:30 pm drive for about 1 hour 4:45 pm Willits stay overnight and leave the next day around 11:00 am day 1 driving 3 hours find more stops Day 2 11:00 am leave from Willits drive for about 53 minutes 11:53 am Drive-Thru Tree Park stay for about 1 hour And despite the charm of the famous drive along the Pacific Coast Highway that almost always steals the limelight, there are several other road trips in Northern California that are just as alluring and with totally different sights to entice your senses. You'll follow the water south to Santa Cruz, a small city with youthful flair. Fun facts about coastal Redwoods in California (Sequoia sempervirens)*. I cant even tell you where the best place to turn out is as there are so many, and it is pretty much up to you to pick which one you like. This lighthouse is a must-visit, and for $7.50 (as of 2017), you can get a ticket to climb to the top. "Go" when you have a chance. What is your total itinerary over how many days? Just take a slow drive along this section and take in the scenery. The coastal US Highway 101 (or "the 101") runs the length of the entire West Coast, spanning 1,540 miles of open road from the southernmost part in East Los Angeles to the northernmost part in Tumwater, Washington. North of the Golden Gate Bridge, the official highway name of Highway 1 is Shoreline Highway. Although this means veering way off the Redwood Highway, I highly recommend going off the beaten path to experience the beauty and solitude of this pint sized town with an overnight stay. And if you know San Francisco well, please help your fellow Allow plenty of time. Take highway 380 over Skyline drive over to Pacifica and head south on Highway 1. This includes places to stay, towns to see, secret beaches to explore, waterfalls to chase, kitschy roadside attractions, serene Redwood groves and outdoor adventures that will help you enjoy your Redwoods road trip to the max! If you have a lot of time to work with, you may even consider taking a few side trips along the way to places like Muir Woods, the Point Reyes National Seashore, or Dillon Beach. Although that is a very convenient (and familiar) starting point, I have chosen to use Mendocino (nearly 170 miles north of San Francisco) as the southernmost point for this road trip to keep the focus on Redwood Highway alone, because there are tons of things to do and see along this stretch on its own. Only about 14 miles further north on Highway 101, on the Eel River, is a north coast marvel, the majestic, elegant, Benbow Historic Inn, truly one of the great gems of the entire North Coast region. Willits (3 answers) For first-timers, we recommend driving the California Highway 1 or PCH 1 from San Francisco to Los Angeles for multiple reasons. You'll have warmer, sunnier weather in SoCal, no doubt, but getting time up on the rugged northern coasts of Sonoma County and Redwoods National Park is amazing. Click the button below to explore more questions If anyone in your party suffers from motion sickness, be prepared. Check your gas gauge. You'll find gasoline stations and restaurants in Bodega Bay, Jenner, and Gualala,and restaurants at Timber Cove Resort and Sea Ranch Lodge. Disclaimer: This post may contain some affiliate links. Back near Garberville, you will drive northwards towards your next destinations, i.e. I could go on & on but I do think everyone should explore the 101, starting in San Francisco first. You get a prize if you can do it in 8 hours. If we take the coastal highway instead of 101 from SF to Eureka, how long should the drive take approximately? It's also a California law, but only do it when you can pull over safely. For an extra 5 dollars, you can get them picnic-style and take them to the picnic tables where you can shuck and eat them while looking over the bay. Want to plan the trip back? California law requires it for the driver and all passengers. Stop for wildlife. Shelter Cove (in south Humboldt County) is perched at the southern end of what is known as the Lost Coast, i.e. Highway 80 - San Francisco to North Lake Tahoe (Tahoe City, Kings Beach, Incline Village, Homewood, Palisades/Squaw Valley & Sand Harbor) With either, you'll pass through Sacramento before heading to either the north or south end of the lake. I passed the. Id love to see it in person! Right near Garberville is where youll take exit 639B towards Shelter Cove and reach this beach town after driving 24 miles along a somewhat twisty road. drive for about 53 minutes, 11:53 am Drive-Thru Tree Park ca. Search for RV campgrounds. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. There are very few options to divert from 1 to 101. The iconic roadwaywhich extends for more than 650 miles from Dana Point north to Leggett offers endless vistas overlooking the Pacific, with plenty of redwood trees and wildlife sightings along the way. It ends north of Rockport, where it turns inland toward Leggett and disappears. Day 4: Redwood State Park, CA to San Francisco, CA. You can check out the flights directly into Humboldt county via Fly Humboldt. Salt Point State Park: The Complete Guide, 16 California Lighthouses to Visit on Your Road Trip, The 9 Best Day Trips From Napa and Sonoma, Mendocino Lodging: How to Find a Place to Stay, Scenic California Drives: 7 Routes That Will Make You Swoon, Los Angeles to San Francisco on the Pacific Coast Highway, The Best Beach Camping in Northern California, Los Angeles to San Francisco on US Highway 101, Sonoma Coast State Park: The Complete Guide, The 9 Best Things to Do in California's Marin County. If you're planning a road trip to Eureka (California), you can research locations to stop along the way. A port city in northern California, Eureka will remind you of a Victorian-era town. In case sights of homelessness (which sometimes can be unsavory) make you uncomfortable, old town Eureka and the other spots mentioned above are your best bets to visit. Grocery. The nachos here are called killer nachos, and it is easy to see why. Napa is the most popular city on the route it's 5 hours from Eureka and less than an hour from San Francisco. If you're going to stop at one, I'd recommend Greenwood State Beach in the town of Elk, about 45 minutes north of Gualala. Show driving directions. Plus, you will find larger crowds everywhere. Right across the street is the World Famous Grandfather Tree (an 1800 years old Redwood) and a gift shop.