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      04-26-2020, 04:05 PM   #1
E92inNC
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Pacific coast trip

Short version- 4 days from Phoenix to Oregon, looking for tips on scenic/curvy side roads, places to eat (love seafood), anything worth a stop, etc

Long version- Heat wave is rolling over AZ plus I'm bored so I'm itching to get out for a few days, thinking four is good. Looking to just get out, drive some good roads and eat good seafood for a few days.

Day 1-Phoenix to LA via I-10, spend day around LA and night at Ventura or Santa Barbara.

Day 2- Get up to Northern Cal/lower Oregon. Stopping whenever I feel like its good enough but definitely want to make it past San Fran.

Days 3&4- Make way down to San Diego and take I-8 home, hitting spots and roads I missed going north.

As far as I know, I can still drive through Cali and can rent hotels. At first I thought I wouldn't be able to rent rooms and didn't mind sleeping in the car but having a bed and shower is certainly preferred. Any tips and advice much appreciated.
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      04-26-2020, 04:46 PM   #2
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Looks like your trip would be mostly driving. Not sure if that’s what you’re looking for though.
Those first 2 days would be at least 6 hours driving each day, and that’s not including stopping for lunch.
And lower Oregon to Daygo? That’s gonna be a whole day of driving!
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      04-26-2020, 04:48 PM   #3
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I’m surprised hotels are open to guests. Not sure what else will be open. I’ll let the locals weigh in.
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      04-26-2020, 05:12 PM   #4
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Not sure why you would risk taking a multi state trip.
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      04-26-2020, 05:13 PM   #5
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I agree, round trip to Oregon in 4 days and hoping to see much of anything is hoping too much. But then again, not much is open, and hoping for fine meals and winery visits is probably out. So:
Day 1- Leave early spend the night in Santa Barbara.
Day 2- Drive up 101 to Paso Robles, and cut over Hwy 46 towards Cambria, and then go as far North on Hwy 1 as you feel like driving. Maybe Monterrey, or even Half Moon Bay?
Day 3- South on 1 to maybe Santa Barbara again? I like Solvang as a night stop too. Cool little town.
Day 4- Cruise control on home.
Getting to the coast highway North of Cambria is critical for a fun drive. In any case, have fun! Sounds great!
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      04-26-2020, 05:15 PM   #6
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I did the same thing with my son in 2015--few to Phoenix, bought a Porsche Cayman S, then drove it home to Seattle. On the way home we went through the mountains and over to Vegas, went up through Death Valley, went through Area 51, got buzzed by a pair of F15s in the middle of nowhere, saw 152 mph on the speedo with lots more where that came from, bolted west, hung a hard right up through the Big Sur, over to San Fran, and then up the coast.

It would be an interesting trip under the current conditions. I personally would not be comfortable sleeping in hotels or eating in restaurants along the way. But it would be interesting to see what life is like along the way.

Be safe.

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      04-26-2020, 05:39 PM   #7
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Yep, I plan on this being mostly be a pure driving trip along the coast and detours for curvy hill climbs. Zero interest in touring anything or tourist spots like walk of fame, etc. Getting drive-thru or carry out and eating in the car. I’ll stop to just chill and walk around and enjoy the scenery so I’m not in the car all the time. Don’t plan on much socializing, I’m perfectly happy not to run into anybody.

I did an impromptu 750 mile trip last October around the eastern side of AZ in 15 hours, only stopped once for breakfast and twice for gas. Mount Lemmon in Tucson, route 191 going to Alpine and the downhill through the mountains coming home was fantastic. Been itching for another ever since. Was planning the PCH this fall but with the roads clear, no better time as I hate going through Cali traffic.
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      04-26-2020, 05:54 PM   #8
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You are a road warrior! Sounds like you aim to get to Oregon, and that is what you should do! Please report back when complete, would love to hear about it.
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      04-26-2020, 05:54 PM   #9
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I was actually considering making a similar trip to Eastern Washington in the M3, but I am not a big fan of sleeping in the car or, for that matter, eating food someone else has cooked.
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      04-26-2020, 09:12 PM   #10
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Would be a great trip up the coast. I know the route well. Did my Residency out there and made many road trips to Santa Barbara.
The problem for you is that everything will be closed. You might be able to sleep somewhere, but all food will be pick up or worse, drive through.
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      04-26-2020, 10:47 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NorthCountryGuy View Post
Would be a great trip up the coast. I know the route well. Did my Residency out there and made many road trips to Santa Barbara.
The problem for you is that everything will be closed. You might be able to sleep somewhere, but all food will be pick up or worse, drive through.
Any recommendations on must-drive roads that won't take me far away from the highway?
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      04-26-2020, 11:15 PM   #12
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you might want to check a thread i ve asked for opinions earlier..

https://www.xbimmers.com/forums/show....php?t=1655409 ..

for my personal point of view.. roads on the coast around Cambria is really fun to drive.. not for the passenger though.. as far as i remember there wasnt a phone signal though maybe around more northern part of Cambria, definitely around Bixby Bridge you better keep that in mind..

Mendocino, Big Sur (there is a great place to eat if you can wait for the line), Carmel, Pfeiffer Beach, San Clemente, Laguna Beach, Monterey,... many nice places as long as you have time.. and eating at Neptune's Net d be great on sunset..
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      04-26-2020, 11:55 PM   #13
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You have it on your list.
I always liked the rolling ride on the 46 between PCH (route 1) and the 101.
For you, I would keep to the PCH north for the duration. It is a very cool drive.
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      04-27-2020, 12:27 AM   #14
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LA is dead right now. Beaches are closed, stores are closed, parks and hiking are closed. I hit Mulholland between the 110 and 405 last week which is always an option. I do think you can park along PCH in Malibu and hang out, but I'm not sure if the beaches there have been opened.

My recommendation is to go to Orange County. Laguna beach is closed but the most of the other major beaches are open. I was in Newport myself this weekend. San Clemente is further south but the area is less commercialized. Pacific Coast Highway feels like any other day...people out and about enjoying their lives.
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      04-27-2020, 12:58 AM   #15
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Your want scenery? Take highway 101 north. And take highway 1 when possible. Particularly from Los Angeles to San Francisco. The 1 rides the coast and is a beautiful drive.
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      04-27-2020, 06:54 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by turboawd View Post
Your want scenery? Take highway 101 north. And take highway 1 when possible. Particularly from Los Angeles to San Francisco. The 1 rides the coast and is a beautiful drive.
+1 I would add to stay on highway 1 North of SF into Marin County, they film car commercials there because the scenery is stunning. Also those roads are crazy fun to drive.
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      04-27-2020, 01:09 PM   #17
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When you get to Ventura, take 33 North over the top, thru Cuyama and back to 248/1 and look to stop in Solvang/Buelton
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      04-27-2020, 08:25 PM   #18
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Thanks for the suggestions. I’ll definitely look into taking 46 while heading north and 33 coming back. Hopefully they have elevation change, I love hill climbs.
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      04-28-2020, 12:18 PM   #19
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Here is a drive that I have done before that was simply amazing. Some of the best quality and least crowded driving roads you'll find. While Hwy 1 is unquestionably beautiful, it is often plagued by campers and sightseers that can make for a frustrating drive.

If you really want to drive and have fun, I would suggest the following route once you get to far northern CA:
  • 36 east from Fortuna
  • Pick up 3 north
  • Take 3 north all the way to Yreka
  • Pick up 96 west/south all the back down to 299 in Willow Creek
  • Take 299 west back to Arcata/Eureka

These are beautiful and well maintained 2 lanes roads with plenty of opportunity for some spirited driving. Check out google street view along the route.
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      04-28-2020, 01:00 PM   #20
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Speaking to San Diego, Pacific Coast Highway is a great drive. Be warned though, beaches are closed along with any parking lot near the beaches and the police are aggressively enforcing the closures/traffic laws. A few weekends ago I tried to get a few pictures of the sunset. Parked my car in what I thought was a discreet location and got rolled by Highway Patrol in about 30 seconds.
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      04-28-2020, 01:10 PM   #21
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i think your timeline is ambitious, having made most of the drives you might be contemplating. Phoenix to Orange County 6 hours with a stop in Newport Beach overnight. Newport Beach to Cambria-another long drive-one day. Cambria to Big Sur and beyond to Monterrey (scenic drives aplenty) another day's drive. Monterey/Carmel to LA-6 hours, LA to Phoenix-6 hours.

That's about 5 days without Oregon.
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      04-28-2020, 04:22 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RRedline View Post
Here is a drive that I have done before that was simply amazing. Some of the best quality and least crowded driving roads you'll find. While Hwy 1 is unquestionably beautiful, it is often plagued by campers and sightseers that can make for a frustrating drive.

If you really want to drive and have fun, I would suggest the following route once you get to far northern CA:
  • 36 east from Fortuna
  • Pick up 3 north
  • Take 3 north all the way to Yreka
  • Pick up 96 west/south all the back down to 299 in Willow Creek
  • Take 299 west back to Arcata/Eureka

These are beautiful and well maintained 2 lanes roads with plenty of opportunity for some spirited driving. Check out google street view along the route.
That road looks like an absolute blast to drive. I'm not gonna make it up there but I'd definitely drive it on the way back if I ever buy a car from the NW.
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