West Coast Highway

RedCard said:

South. Ocean views are closer and pulling over for scenic views easier on your right.

Always check road conditions for Hwy 1: Road Conditions

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Yes, particularly note Hwy 1 south of the bay area....been closed for a while.

I've found this site incredibly useful in finding and seeing road closures:


Set the filters and you can see a map of every closed road in the state...a lot easier than reading text reports.

Robert_W said:

Not if you want to see the pacific ocean! 😁

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I'd still take an East-West road out of the mountains. Far better views, no traffic and cool roads.

Dangeruss said:

I've done the entire west coast, from Neah Bay WA to San Diego. Don't discount the Oregon coast especially from Tillamook south, it's quite nice and typically easy traffic. Just my preference, but personally I would not venture any further south than Santa Barbara, unless you are willing to ride in city traffic from there to San Diego.

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That's somewhat true, but two of the nicer sections of PCH where you're riding right along the ocean are just a little south of Santa Barbara:



This above section of PCH from south Carpentaria to Ventura is very cool. There is nothing technical here, but it's scenic and relaxing. You're almost right on top of the water. I always enjoy it after coming off the twisties on Hwy 150 around Lake Casitas to Carpentaria.

The next section is just bit further south:



Point Mugu to Santa Monica is a nice stretch. Again, it's not very technical, but the scenery is pretty impressive. If you had a dollar for every car commercial filmed on this section, you could have a very expensive meal in a top tier Malibu restaurant. If it's technical you're looking for, some of the north/south canyon roads across the Santa Monica Mountains (the green area above PCH) has some of the best riding to be found anywhere in the US.

But I agree that once you get to Santa Monica, go inland. You've reached the end of the line.

J &J said:

Good day everyone : I am currently putting together a west coast highway trip within the next year originating in either San Diago and going north or at Oregon border going south. I am asking for preference as to which way is the better option to do. I am also looking at either riding out or shipping the bike and meeting it out there from Indianapolis. It will be a ride back home after seeing the sites. Any information would be helpful.

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California has a lot of good roads.
Highway 1 along the Pacific coast will provide beautiful scenery from San Diego up through Oregon (Big Sur, Monterey/Carmel, San Mateo coast, Marin County, Mendocino, Lost Coast). Try to enjoy some of the coastal mountain roads running east to west. Or, another option is Highway 49, Gold Country, western side of the Sierra. Not to forget the Southern Sierras with Sequoia National Park, Yosemite National Park with highways 120 (may not open this year due to the snow), 88, 108 or 4 (crossing the spine). And, not to forget a bucket list road of 395 along the east side of the Sierras up to Carson City, Nevada. 395 Starts in the high desert passes Death Valley, Lone Pine, Manzanar (WWII Japanese interment camp), Bishop and climbs to over 10,000. And don't forget Lake Tahoe and it's ring road. Northern Sierras, out of Truckee there's Highway 89 up to Lassen National Park and further north, the lava beds and lava tubes where the local indians hid from the U.S. Cavalry.
Plan for temps from 50+ along the coast with possible fog, to 100+ inland. Typically after April the weather is dry.
BTW, limit your time in Los Angeles and San Francisco. They've become dumps with high crime and not worthy of any efforts.

I've only done from SFO -> Jenner and SFO -> Carmel, so take this as an extremely small experience of CA coast. I prefer north of Golden Gate Bridge on highway 1, once you get out to the coast. The views are really nice, the small towns are really friendly and the twisties are enjoyable. The one downside of being on the west coast is that it can get pretty windy/gusty. Someone mentioned fog, I've only gone up 3 times and have been fortunate not to have experienced it. Summer, good chance you hit it but the spring and fall have a tendency to be clear around here.

I just took a peek of Big Sur and that road is closed until 12/2023, so that'll mess up the coast ride flow. I heard a lot of good things about that section of coast, so I'll have to experience that after it opens up again. This last wet winter really gave the roads around here a good beating, so be careful and ride safe.

Edit: Forgot to mention that in that section I mention above GG, there are 2 small sections where traffic has to single file thru. There wasn't much traffic every time I went thru, but just thought I'd mention it.