Our base camp was Trinidad and we called it a night with dinner from Lighthouse Grill on the tiny stretch of Main Street (truth be told, it is more of a congregation of stores rather than an actual street). This particular road trip covers 247 miles along the Redwood Highway (also known as Highway 101) from Mendocino in the south to Crescent City in the north, spanning three counties (Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte) with the majority of the trip being focused on Humboldt county, the heart of the old growth Coastal Redwoods, the tallest trees in the world! It is magical, life changing, unbelievably breathtaking and unforgettable, in the most clich way possible. It leads to the Golden Gate Bridge. A California Highway . Although the entire Redwood road trip can be covered in 6 hours or so, that is absolutely no fun because the Redwood Highway passes through some of the most beautiful towns, beaches, waterfalls, hikes and Redwood groves that you absolutely need to explore to make the most out of this road trip. Theres plenty of room for passengers if you dont fancy traveling solo. Subscribe to my blog to get super awesome pet-friendly travel updates, foodie finds and insider guides to San Francisco. Even though it's only 31 miles, the drive could take a few hours if you decide to get out of your car and ponder the trees. If you are driving Highway One in only one direction, go from south to north if you can. Curious about a Northern California road trip through the Redwoods and dont know where to start? This is where your journey through the heart of Redwoods begins and here is the best way to go about it: Once you are back on the Redwood Highway (101N) near Garberville, you have two choices driving north. I drove a 2015 Kia Forte which handled the curves perfectly. 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. The entire area which includes Big Sur, Carmel by the Sea, Pacific Grove and lots more, is stunning. 24 miles of undeveloped shoreline that is only accessible via some serious hiking. Shelter Cove (in south Humboldt County) is perched at the southern end of what is known as the Lost Coast, i.e. VERY top tip: do not head north from LA towards Pacific Grove/Big Sur on Hwy 1 after dark! Highway 1 is a gorgeous drive along sprawling cities, charming coastal towns, beautiful beaches, majestic forests, and stunning landscapes. Here is how to enjoy a day at Mendocino (or you can read my entire Mendocino/Fort Bragg post here for more ideas). I have to wonder where exactly you were. You can read all about a weekend getaway to Point Reyes here and the best stop from San Francisco to Mendocino right here. This 1,650-mile (2,655 km), mostly two-lane route takes in everything from temperate rainforest to near-desert. Any help would be appreciated. After L.A. we have two free days to get to Las Vegas where we drop off hire car and have booked 4 nights before heading home. What is your suggestion what to see and for how many days travel. North of Oxnard, CA Hwy 1 merges with US Hwy 101. This is a two-lane mountain road. The falls used to drop into the ocean but due to a landslide several years ago now drop on the sandy cove. d. Black Sand Beach: This unmarked beach is just north of the Yurok loop trail (marked on the map at the very end of this post) and is visible from the highway. Great weather almost 365 days a year, a laid-back attitude, and scenery that has inspired romantics, creatives, explorers, and adventurers for centuries any time of year is a great time to take the Ultimate California Road Trip. Its the oldest continually operating lighthouse on the west coast and is on the National Register of Historic Places. ooooh lovely! Can you tell me where the wall art is located of the girl laying down with a book? We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Here are my tried and tested recommendations: a. Trillium Falls: If youre bummed out for giving Fern Canyon a miss, then let Trillium Falls make up for it! My road trip was sponsored by Kia and See Monterey. California's Highway One is a state highway. Just look under destinations, Californai. This particular road trip post is all about discovering the Redwood Highway, a magnificent road meandering through Redwood National Parks, waterfalls, roadside attractions and scenic views in Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte counties in California. 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. Hi Dana, Yes I did the drive both ways. Drive Highway 1 north of Fort Bragg until the road turns inland to connect with U.S. 101 after about an hour of driving. I did not know most of them. Got a ticket on my way back but it was such a wonderful expression of freedom at such a young age, Im baffled thinking about it. Disclaimer: This post may contain some affiliate links. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. BEST STOPS ON THE REDWOOD HIGHWAY FROM TRINIDAD TO CRESCENT CITY. We are thinking perhaps we should postpone the trip and go on september or novemeber, would it be better? Id love to go back and stay there a couple of days though you arent close to anything except nature so you have to prepare. Napa, St. Helena, Calist. This way, the passenger is overlooking the ocean without another lane in the way (and all those cars in high season) and the driver has a better view too. 21780 Highway 1, Jenner; (707) 847-3231 . Whether its taking a walk, taki, Last night I led a group of about 10 wine enthusia, From Italy to Portugal and back wine has taken me, Im still digesting the year, working on a list and, 6 Fascinating Dark Tourism Sites In France You Shouldnt Miss, 5 Reasons To Visit Malibu Any Time Of Year, Castello di Amorosa, An Italian Castle in Napa Valley, Sustainable Winemaking at Utopia Vineyards, Willamette Valley, Discover The Best of Hungarian Wine with Tasting Table Budapest, Lodging Options Along California's Central Coast, Cambria to Carmel, Best Baby Boomer Travel Blogs - Gold List for 2022 - Getting On Travel, The 45 Best Boomer Travel Blogs to Follow in 2018! The stretch of 101 between Oxnard and Santa Barbara is especially scenic, with views of the Channel Islands offshore. We decided by committee, and surrendered by heading inland at San Luis Obispo, with cuts back to 101 then up I-5 the rest of the way north. From there you can drive to Morro Bay and Cayuga, a beautiful stretch of highway. Honestly, Id not have done it in my own car, a gently worn Nissan Sentra it just doesnt have the same turning radius or get up and go as the Kia. Carmel is also known as "the little town in the forest by the sea," which is a lovely and quaint description. The shore area is dotted with large lava rock, and it can be hard to distinguish the seals from the rocks when they are in the water. Youll see that a lot of people do, but I think it could be dangerous; theres plenty of parking in the park itself, at least in the off-season. 3. The statue and plaque nearby are dedicated to the lost fishermen at sea here, BATTERY POINT LIGHTHOUSE IN CRESCENT CITY, Crescent City is the largest town in Del Norte County and home to, The lighthouse harks from 1856 and is still functional! Check your gas gauge. Well probably be in SF on March 20. The restaurant and surrounding land have been in the family for over 50 years. Entrance fee is $2 at the giftshop to access the door code. Theres more info, not the same . Google Maps doesn't show this route so directions will help Thanks The best parts of that route are from Laguna Beach to Naples (just south of Long Beach) and from Santa Monica through Malibu to Oxnard. I highly suggest sticking close by to the Avenue of the Giants as you drive north because there is plenty to cover along this route. Maybe decide where you want to go and add up the costs individually compare to the passes? Answer 1 of 9: I am driving from San Diego to Fremont, i want to cover the scenic places alonf the way via Highway 1, but dont want to drive a lot. However, by 11:12 p.m., the CHP said they were preparing to close the Grapevine again as the snow was starting to stick to the road, causing dangerous driving conditions. Mendocino is 169 miles north of San Francisco on Highway 1, a 5 hour one way drive. Buckle up! CA Hwy 1 is prone to closure due to landslides, especially during rainy winters. There are no place left to rent for the. I would love to explore this side of the states as Ive only been to the East coast before. These tips and ideas will help make your trip more pleasant: It's always good practice to follow these safety tips, but they become even more important along busy CA Hwy 1: Los Angeles to San Francisco on the Pacific Coast Highway, Weekend Getaways in California: 34 Trips You Can Take, The 12 Best Destinations on California's Central Coast, Best of the West: Top Tourist Destinations, Los Angeles to San Francisco on US Highway 101, How to Travel From Los Angeles to San Francisco by Train, Bus, Car, and Plane, 16 California Lighthouses to Visit on Your Road Trip. We drove from LA up to Carmel-by-the-Sea and then back down the same way we came. I am taking my husband for the first time to Monterey Bay on September 3, and I am so excited!! Your drive back from Eureka/Arcata/Trinidad to Mendocino should be pretty uneventful unless you want to stop by at a few attractions, such as the Big Tree Area on Mattole Road that you may have missed during your drive north. This is a particularly breathtaking drive, especially through Big Sur where the Santa Lucia mountains plunge into the sea, and the surf and wind relentlessly pound the rocks and shore below and bend the native cypress trees into otherworldly shapes. Especially, Trinidads beautiful Beach* And Humboldt County has the humblest people? Have questions? Im afraid Im not clear exactly what youre doing but I can say that I would spend at least 4 days in the Monterey/Big Sur area. In addition, it is flanked by several Redwood Groves (part of the Humboldt Redwoods State Park) for short hikes and also some cool roadside attractions. Thank you for supporting free content on this site! The distance from Cambria to Big Sur is only 60 miles but it takes at least two hours depending on how many stops you make, not to mention the curves in the road make the distance pass a little more slowly. I am glad you could relive your trip through this post. But if you stayed near Cannery Row or some other more urban touristy areas then I cant really comment. Im sure you will love it. You can drive from the north to the south (Monterey to San Luis Obispo), or south to the north. [], [] Willow City Loop is one of the prettiest drives anywhere and I should know. Love your pic of the indoor pool thats one of my favorite places in the castle, too. The fastest way to get to Mendocino from San Francisco is via the inland Highway 101N (2.5-3 hrs). This is another good reason to go off-season, or a weekday. These photos brought back some wonderful memories of when my friend and I made this tour. Do the drive during the day when you can be properly terrified! It is a bit tricky to get to the latter and access is closed during Spring, the wettest season which is when we visited (best time to go is Summer and Fall, i.e. Near Cloverdale until Apr 1. Access to Big Sur from the north from the Monterey and Carmel areas is set to remain open and most Big Sur businesses remain open and accessible throughout the closure. The Monterey Bay area has a good selection of places to stay from bed and breakfasts to cottages and modern hotels. Either way, once you get to Mendocino take Highway 1 to Leggett, from where the two routes (Highway 1 and Route 101N) merge to become a single highway, aka Redwood Highway, that leads all the way to Crescent City, only 26 miles south of the Oregon border. So looking forward to the drive down the PCH isnt fully booked yet as trying to cram so much in. The lighthouse harks from 1856 and is still functional! Riiiiiggghht; yeah, no. You can either continue along this same highway or take the more scenic route, aka Avenue of the Giants, a 32 mile stretch of road that parallels the Redwood Highway and passes through Humboldt Redwoods State park with the Eel River meandering alongside of it on the west. You may see quite a few homeless people huddled in the Plaza at Arcata (only in that area) and spot homeless as well as drunk people passed out on the streets in Eureka, which definitely feels a bit rough around the edges. There are two things to keep in mind before leaving for Shelter Cove: First, fuel up/get a bellyful of lunch or heavy breakfast at either Mendocino or Fort Bragg. A Northern California road trip is something that you must experience at least once in your lifetime. You can get through town more easily by merging with I-280 north of Pacifica or by taking CA Hwy 35 north and following the coastline. I am reading an excellent book about Steinbeck and Monterey by author Susan Shillinglaw, A Journey Into Steinbecks California. Best wishes to you, [] Cambria, about 60 miles, youll come to the coastal area known as Big Sur this is the ultimate Highway 1 experience. Thanks! Hello Penny, thanks for the feedback! Year of the Monkey is the participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. aery aviation lawsuit, For the all about a Northern California road trip was sponsored by Kia see. Your suggestion what to see and for how many days travel while you navigate the! Bragg post here for more ideas ) passengers if you can Francisco on Highway 1 of. Highway 101N ( 2.5-3 hrs ) and insider guides to San Luis Obispo ), or a.... Trip is something that you must experience at least once in your lifetime traveling solo km,... 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