Is Highway 1 a nice drive?

California's coast-hugging Highway 1 is what dream drives are made of. The iconic roadway—which extends for more than 650 miles from Dana Point north to Leggett—offers endless vistas overlooking the Pacific, with plenty of redwood trees and wildlife sightings along the way.



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California's coast-hugging Highway 1 is what dream drives are made of. The iconic roadway—which extends for more than 650 miles from Dana Point north to Leggett—offers endless vistas overlooking the Pacific, with plenty of redwood trees and wildlife sightings along the way.

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The Highway 1 road trip is one of the most iconic and scenic drives in the world. For the past few years, we've mainly done day trips, driving down the Monterey Peninsula from the Bay Area.

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Busier roads can make it more stressful and dangerous. Although this is listed as a major highway, there are stretches of the road with just two lanes (one in each direction) and you'll encounter many hairpin turns throughout the drive as the road hugs the coastline.

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Big Sur. At Big Sur, the most spectacular portion of the Pacific Coast Highway 1 begins, where huge, rugged cliffs and forested inlets overlook the pounding surf below. Whale-watching is popular here at certain times of year; depending on the season you can see blue, gray or humpback species breeching off the coast.

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Given the stunning views and iconic cities along this route, Highway 1 is a hugely popular drive, but some drivers might find the long sections of two-lane road on this route, combined with steep cliff edges, scary. There's also a risk of landslides, which can often cause damage on this scenic but exposed highway.

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California Highway 1 in the Big Sur region is one of the state's most dangerous highways, even in good weather. It is narrow (almost entirely one lane in each direction), and travelers who are driving slowly or have stopped entirely, directly on the highway, to admire the view can pose hazards to other drivers.

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According to the California Highway Patrol, the man was driving a black Subaru Outback north of Scott Creek Bridge in Davenport when he drove off the roadway and down a steep cliff. The car overturned multiple times and came to rest partially submerged in the ocean below.

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You may also be served with a parking violation from law enforcement. Camping, camp fires, and sleeping overnight in vehicles are not allowed along Highway 1. When entering Highway 1 from a turnout, accelerate rapidly and safely until your speed matches the traffic speed.

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It's best to travel from north to south as you'll be on the right side of the road for uninterrupted views and to pull over to take photographs. Parking in cities can be expensive. It's better to leave your rental vehicle and use public transport.

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Big Sur. This is one of the most well-known areas of Highway 1 and it's considered a destination in and of itself. Big Sur is a designated American National Scenic Byway and the views explain why. Wildlife-watching is big here; expect to see anything from whales to elephant seals.

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Everyone has different preferences, of course, but we'd highly recommend driving the Million Dollar Highway in Colorado if you get the chance. The 25-mile stretch of highway between Silverton and Ouray is one of the most gorgeous drives in the United States and features plenty of places to stop along the way.

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CHARLOTTE — A road in North Carolina has been named the #1 Scariest Drive in America, according to SAVOTEUR. The Tail of the Dragon, which begins at the Deals Gap on the Tennessee/North Carolina state line, is a remote, long, twisting road with 318 curves, 11 bridges, and few guardrails.

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Big Sur encompasses roughly the area between San Simeon and the Carmel Highlands along Highway 1. Though the boundaries are not fixed, many people consider Malpaso Creek the northernmost point of Big Sur, and Ragged Point the southernmost entrance.

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North Yungas Road, Bolivia That this route from La Paz to Coroico is also known as the 'Road of Death' (or El Camino de la Muerte in Spanish) gives you some idea why it is included on our list of most dangerous roads. In fact, it has often been dubbed the most dangerous road in the world.

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First, we found the deadliest single mile in the entire United States – a one-mile section of I-95 in Fort Lauderdale, FL. This section of I-95 is the deadliest mile in the United States. From 2000 and 2019, 23 fatal crashes (and 24 deaths) occurred on this one-mile stretch of highway.

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