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You can then take 101 up most of the way, and if anything cut back over to the 1 to hit the stretch through Mendocino before cutting back over to 101 (looking at a map makes this easier). In the city of San Francisco, Hwy 1 is a street: 19th Avenue. trip dates & more! These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Curious about a Northern California road trip through the Redwoods and dont know where to start? To say this area is a park is a little bit of a stretch. Highway 1 in southern Marin County is said to be more twisty than along the famously winding Big Sur Coast, so expect to maintain an average 20 to 25 miles per hour. Katie from Los Angeles asked:What is your favorite restaurant in Eureka (California)? This gorgeous waterfall is an easy detour from the Redwood Highway at Orick and takes you through a relatively easy hike that starts from the parking lot (free parking BTW) into a lush green paradise of ferns and old growth Redwoods on a moderately easy trail. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. c. Trees of Mystery: This is one super popular roadside attraction that is quirky, fun and not to be missed, starting right from the huge Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox statue in the parking lot (I went to grad school in Minneapolis, MN and so I have a natural obsession with this giant lumberjack whose first statue is in Bemidji, Minnesota). Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip {25 Stops - California Through My Lens d. World Famous Tree House: This is an actual house inside a giant Redwood with the entrance accessible from the adjacent gift shop. Golden Gate Bridge, Marin, Sonoma, and Mendocino. They have many great sandwich options, and you can sit on the porch and overlook the water while you eat. Hwy. 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. ROUTE CHOICES AND DETOURS ON THE REDWOOD HIGHWAY, BEST TIME OF THE YEAR TO DRIVE THROUGH THE REDWOODS, OTHER (IMPORTANT) THINGS TO NOTE FOR THIS NORTHERN CALIFORNIA REDWOODS ROAD TRIP, c. I personally did not have too many issues with signal and maps along the Redwood Highway (although it does get spotty in several places), but its always better to download an offline map or use, REDWOODS ROAD TRIP IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA: A DETAILED 7 DAY ITINERARY, Your journey through the Redwoods beings in, Start your day with breakfast at either Garden Bakery or Goodlife Cafe and Bakery, Soak in the spectacular ocean views with a hike at Point Mendocino trail (this is also a, Stop by Mendocino Botanical garden if you have time-get on the scenic south trail with fantastic views of the ocean, Get lunch at Trillium Cafe or Little River Inn. I hope you enjoyed reading this detailed guide on planning a Northern California road trip to remember and are inspired to see the majestic Redwoods. Drive defensively. Day 1. If we take the coastal highway instead of 101 from SF to Eureka, how long should the drive take approximately? Crescent City has been on my radar ever since I heard of Battery Point Lighthouse that is detached from the mainland and is accessible only during low tide. For reference, Mendocino lies 168 miles and Crescent City is 376 miles to the north of San Francisco. Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip - Visit The USA I only spent a short time here, but it was refreshing to see the oyster shells washing up on the beach and the bay from up close. 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. Pacific Coast Highway Driving Tips Pacific Coast Highway driving tips for this great American road trip include finding cheap gas, watching the speed limits, and allowing plenty of travel time. Pets are welcome in this place but I highly recommend not bringing them on the suspension bridges cause it can be pretty unnerving. 2023 California Through My Lens About Privacy Policy, After grabbing coffee at a local shop, I hit the road for a day of driving. Even if you are not a fan of oysters, you owe it to yourself to try the oysters at Hog Island. property and stock agents act 2002 purpose Thank you for sharing. Let this extremely detailed guide on all the best stops along the Redwood Highway help you plan the most magical road trip in California. When you park, you will wait in line for your oysters, which they pull right from their tanks in the back. 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. because there's an entire community of travelers talking Dress in layers if visiting in Spring because it does get cold, chilly and foggy. 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. Check its condition. Driving Directions to Eureka, CA including road conditions, live traffic updates, and reviews of local businesses along the way. Back near Garberville, you will drive northwards towards your next destinations, i.e. Google Maps says that route would take about 7.5 hours, but realistically it will be much longer. You can also find some cool day trips or get away for a weekend. However, spending one night is enough to enjoy its vista points and black sand beaches. You can tackle it in sections, pick just part of it to see or make the journey into a week-long road trip. This rule is more important than ever on the curve-filled sections of the highway where visibility is limited. The Ultimate San Francisco To Portland Road Trip: 50+ Stops To Make It's okay, you can start planning your This will ensure that the mighty Redwoods are preserved for the enjoyment of future generations as well. If 1 day, I would suggest doing 101. I even converted my wife to liking oysters after visiting here, so you need to check Hog Island out. 40 AMAZING things to do in Humboldt County, California Combining the two Note that if you set . stay for about 1 hour and leave at 12:53 pmdrive for about 53 minutes, 1:46 pm Humboldt Redwoods State Park Thank you for supporting free content on this site! A Northern California Road Trip Through the Redwoods: The Ultimate 7 day Itinerary, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ROAD TRIP: DRIVING THE REDWOOD HIGHWAY, PLANNING A REDWOODS ROAD TRIP IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, 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. From the bustling beaches of Southern California to the wild,. Its southern terminus intersects with Highway 5 and its northern terminus merges into Highway 101. Here is the days itinerary: a. Mackerricher State Park: fantastic spot for grey whale migration in Spring. 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. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. So there you have it, my Pacific Coast Highway trip from San Francisco to Mendocino. There is a lovely scenic stretch of redwoods west of Navarro River to where Highway 128 meets Highway 1. c. I personally did not have too many issues with signal and maps along the Redwood Highway (although it does get spotty in several places), but its always better to download an offline map or use Maps.me to store an offline version of your Google Map. 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. If youre starting out from San Francisco (or even further south) and this is your very first road trip from SF northbound ever, I highly recommend taking the scenic route (Highway 1) all the way to Mendocino. The fastest way to get to Mendocino from San Francisco is via the inland Highway 101N (2.5-3 hrs). Complete California Coast Road Trip from Tip to Tip - 2TravelDads 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. Go wine tasting at Pacific Star Winery that is perched right on the coast. Highway One begins in the town of Capistrano Beach in Orange County. As per Wikipedia, "Eureka is the regional center for government, health care, trade, and the arts on the North Coast north of the San Francisco Bay Area. Avoid dangerous situations and allow plenty of distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you. BEST STOPS ON THE REDWOOD HIGHWAY FROM TRINIDAD TO CRESCENT CITY. Scribe Winery (4 mentions) The drive through wine country and the redwoods (Avenue of the Giants, etc.) Humboldt Redwoods, Patrick's Point and Ft . I did not stop here other than to kayak, but it is a good place for lunch if you are hungry. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. The Charles M. Schulz Airport (STS) in Sonoma County (right below Mendocino county) is a smaller one with fewer flight options, but this is the nearest big-ish airport to Humboldt county. Consider breaking up the trip into three parts: from Sausalito to Bodega Bay; from Bodega Bay to Gualala; and from Gualala to Leggett. Right across the street is the World Famous Grandfather Tree (an 1800 years old Redwood) and a gift shop. From the parking lot itself, you can hike up to the overlook (0.5 miles trail) and go further down to a secret, black sand beach that you can spot from afar. The taffy was great, and the price was low, so it was a good stop. California's Coastal Gems: Navigating the Best Drive Along the Pacific My first stop was the Muir Beach Overlook. The Classic Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip | ROAD TRIP USA 3 Things to Do Between SF and Santa Cruz. Search for RV campgrounds. 4:06 pm arrive in San Francisco. 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. Total driving distance = 408 miles California's Central Coast You could live in San Francisco and still miss out on the highlights, but the Pacific Coast Highway south from here includes the best of the best. This Redwood Highway road trip comes with a major detour towards an under-the-radar beach town in Humboldt County with some of the most wild, stunning black sand beaches known to humans. packing lunch from Eureka/Arcata. The top cities between Eureka and San Francisco are Napa, Calistoga, Mill Valley, Fort Bragg, Healdsburg, Sonoma, Mendocino, St. Helena, Santa Rosa, and Yountville. During the summer, be prepared for damp, windy weather on this road, and in the winter you may encounter storms. Drive from Los Angeles to San Francisco on Highway 1 Find the best hotels, restaurants, and attractions based on the 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. Bottomline is this-include Shelter Cove in your road California trip through the Redwoods; you will thank me later! The Perfect Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Itinerary (25 Stops + 3 Time on this road because there are many wonderful places worth stopping for along the way. Back near Garberville, you will drive northwards towards your next destinations, i.e. Here are all the details of this Redwoods road trip in Northern California covering a full 7 day itinerary! The parking is very sparse here, but the views are just incredible as you practically look down on the bridge. Post lunch, get some delicious Kulfi ice-cream at Frankies, Get on the Skunk train from Fort Bragg to Willits and back for a fun ride through the Redwoods, Spend some time on Glass beach or Noyo Beach. Looping back to the Highway 1 and the Pacific Coast, the next stop on this San Francisco to Big Sur drive should be the chilled-out city of Santa Cruz. I recommend spending at least one full day in Mendocino/Fort Bragg. After an entire day of admiring the gigantic trees, it is now time for a late lunch plus some rest for those achy feet and for this you gotta make a detour to Ferndale, a charming town with many well preserved and colorful Victorian homes and stores. Alternatively, United Airlines flies from San Francisco to Eureka twice daily. Winding its way along nearly 650 miles (1,040 km) of California coastline, Highway 1 is one of the world's greatest road trips. The more scenic route (that takes invariably longer) is the Pacific Coast Highway (aka Route 1/Highway 1/Shoreline Highway) filled with amazing stops and detours detailed in this post. Camping along the way? Longer routes along the Pacific Coast Highway or the Sierra Nevada and the Cascades are 900 and 820 miles long taking 17 to 18 hours. This area can easily take half a day if you park and explore all the beaches, but I just stopped and took pictures whenever something caught my eye. On this leg of the trip, there are no gas stations for almost 30 miles between, so prioritize getting gas in Sausalito, Mill Valley, or Point Reyes. dry season). If you have to do this in one day, just stick to 101, which is a straight, 4-6 lane freeway most all the way. On this leg of the trip, there are no gas stations for almost 30 miles between, so prioritize getting gas in Sausalito, Mill Valley, or Point Reyes. 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. (707) 925-6456. The Ultimate Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Itinerary (2022) Disclaimer: This post may contain some affiliate links. Healdsburg (25 answers) It runs from Capistrano Beach in Orange County to Leggett in northern Mendocino (Dana Point), a total of about 650 miles. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. You can walk down the path near the cafe to see a lighthouse and a fascinating statue of an old fisherman with his net rising out of the water. A port city in northern California, Eureka will remind you of a Victorian-era town. Apr 18, 2022, 2:55 AM. 1 merges with 101 at Leggett and from there to Crescent City is better known as the redwood highway, since it goes through the magnificent redwoods INLAND until it reaches Eureka and again most of the way to Crescent City. Before arriving in Mendocino, you will reach the Pygmy Forest, which is 3 miles off Airport 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. drive for about 53 minutes, 11:53 am Drive-Thru Tree Park The next decent stop for food will be a long way away in Garberville where youll turn west on Briceland Road/Shelter Cove Road towards Shelter Cove. You get a prize if you can do it in 8 hours. You can read all about a weekend getaway to Point Reyes here and the best stop from San Francisco to Mendocino right here. Planning a West Coast Road Trip. Drive from Eureka to San Francisco - Fodor's Travel Talk Forums Looking for ideas for more destinations within driving distance of San Francisco? Gas. There are very few options to divert from 1 to 101. You can check it out if you have time. San Francisco to Los Angeles. See Google Map below for all the places mentioned in this post. Salt Point State Park (Bluffs Trail, Sentinel Rock, and Fish Cove) (30 minutes). Its the first photo of this post. Visit Humboldt County on Highway 1, where you're surrounded by seven state parks on this stretch of Pacific Coast Highway. This drive follows the scenic Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), also called Highway 1. You will definitely need two full days to explore everything in these towns and the natural beauty surrounding them (think beaches, Redwood Parks and hikes) in this 7 day itinerary of your road trip in Northern California. San Francisco to Eureka - 4 ways to travel via bus, car, and plane After lunch, you will be driving for a little while until you reach the town of Point Arena, which is home to one of the most famous lighthouses on PCH. I first visited in 2015 & every year after that. Read aboutmy journey from, Lower Eagle Falls in Emerald Bay State Park, Marshalls Beach: An Epic San Franciscos Sunset Spot, Malibu Farm Pier Cafe: Farm Fresh Food on the Malibu Pier, Folsom Powerhouse State Historic Park & Raindbow Bridge, The Big List of 100+ Strange, Fun & Unique Attractions in Southern California, 25 Best Day Hikes in California: From Easiest to Hardest, Los Angeles to Las Vegas Road Trip Guide (25+ Stops on the Drive), Pacific Coast Highway: Where to Stop on Your Road Trip, Californias National Parks and National Monuments. I am going to do a trip from San Diego to Oregon, so this will definitely come in handy for the northern part of our trip! Truett Hurst Winery (2 mentions) Driving California's Scenic Highway One - TripSavvy Much like the Road to Hana in Maui, Santa Fe to Taos , San Francisco to Mendocino, San Francisco to Carmel , San Francisco to Lake Tahoe or the Big Sur road trip along the coast, the journey is what matters and not the final destination. Read all about my fantastic time kayaking on the Russian River in Jenner, After lunch, you will be driving for a little while until you reach the town of Point Arena, which is home to one of the most, Before arriving in Mendocino, you will reach the, So there you have it, my Pacific Coast Highway trip from San Francisco to Mendocino. If you want to have lunch, you can stop at Cafe Aquatica. On the return trip, you can take the faster route, Highway 101, and pass through Sonoma County, one of the best wine regions in the United States. Driving from San Francisco to Mendocino is one of the longer drives you can do on the Pacific Coast Highway. The 6th (and penultimate) day of your Northern California road trip involves driving up north, all the way to Crescent City in Del Norte county, the very last county in NW California before you hit the Oregon border. Along the way, it reveals much of the state's coastal character and impossible beauty. Once in Ferndale, I highly recommend the following: After a few hours of exploring Ferndale, youll drive off to your next destination for the evening-which are the three towns of Eureka, Arcata and Trinidad-all within 25-30 minutes of driving distance to each other. These towns lie south of the vast network of Redwood National and State Parks. Napa is the most popular city on the route it's 5 hours from Eureka and less than an hour from San Francisco. The Best Road Trip: San Francisco to Mendocino What's the best neighborhood in Eureka (California) for a first time visitor? The Trinidad Head trail starting from one end of the beach is a scenic hiking path to explore, Spend some time at Trinidad Harbor (it has its own beach), Fishermans Wharf (a small pier) and see the small, red domed Trinidad Memorial Lighthouse (replica of the Trinidad head lighthouse), Indulge in some wine tasting at Moonstone Crossing Winery, Spend a few hours at Patricks Point State Park with scenic coastal hikes and ocean views as well as, Go for a leisurely stroll along Arcata Bay at, Stop by the delicious Ramones cafe (a local bakery chain) for some mouthwatering baked goods and coffee, Much like Ferndale, Eureka too has some serious Victorian architecture to boast off. Scopa is beautiful. Your dreamy Redwood Highway road trip starts on day 2, but not without a detour which will take you right to a tiny beach town on the north coast known as Shelter Cove. Trunk Organizer | With any road trip comes lots and lots of stuff to pack. Plus, you have a slice of Lost Coast history in the form of a lighthouse guarding the shores. e.g Portalnd, Mt . Greyhound USA operates a bus from San Francisco Bus Station to Eureka Bus Stop 5 times a week. Hwy. Fremont Diner 1 is a 2 lane road almost the whole way - curvy, cliffside, and inevitably behind someone who's going 35 mph. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Battery Spencer is one of my favorite viewpoints for the Golden Gate Bridge. The vantage point at the top is worth the price, though, and they will tell you a lot of information on the history which I enjoyed as well. Its southern end is at I-5 near Dana Point and its northern end is at US-101 near Leggett.