A Highway 1 road trip down the West Coast of the United States covers temperate rainforest, ancient redwood groves, desert light and endless Pacific coastline, connected for long stretches by a single road. This route runs roughly three weeks from Seattle to San Diego.
Washington and Oregon
Starting in Seattle, the Olympic Peninsula makes a worthwhile detour before the Highway 1 road trip properly begins. The Hoh Rainforest’s moss-draped trees feel almost prehistoric, and Ruby Beach’s sea stacks are best seen at low tide. Continuing down the Oregon coast, Cannon Beach’s Haystack Rock and the sand dunes near Florence break up the drive.
Into California: Redwoods to Big Sur
Crossing into California, the redwoods around Avenue of the Giants deserve a full day on foot, walking among trees that predate the Roman Empire. From there, Highway 1 proper starts to earn its reputation: Big Sur’s cliffside curves, McWay Falls dropping straight onto the beach, and Bixby Bridge as one of the most photographed spots on the entire route.
San Francisco to San Diego
San Francisco makes a natural halfway point, before the coastline turns more agricultural through the Central Coast: Santa Barbara’s Spanish colonial architecture and Solvang’s Danish village make good overnight stops. Los Angeles and its sprawl mark the shift into Southern California’s desert light, and the drive finishes in San Diego, with easy access into Baja California.
Practical Notes
- Late spring or early autumn avoids both winter storms on the northern coast and peak summer crowds in Big Sur.
- Driving the northbound stretches early morning keeps the light soft for photography.
- Some sections of Highway 1 close periodically for landslide repair, so check conditions before setting out.
Our Highway 1 21-day route plan has the full day-by-day breakdown, and the destinations page covers the rest of our routes. For current trail and road conditions in the redwoods, see the official Redwood National and State Parks site.
