What is the most scenic stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway?

Taking the PCH through Big Sur offers one of the most famous and beautiful drives in the world. In fact, the Condé Nast Traveler named this particular stretch of the PCH as one of the ten most famous streets in the world, right next to NYC's Broadway and the Champs-Élysées in Paris.



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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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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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The Highway 1, aka Pacific Coast Highway, road trip that passes through Big Sur on California's Central Coast is perhaps the most famous scenic drive in the Golden State. But it's not the only scenic, unforgettable road trip in California—by far.

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If you want to do the whole thing, you'll need at least 14 days. However, if you're low on time, you can rush through it in 10 days (I really don't recommend this!) There are a few Pacific Coast Highway stops where I suggest spending 2 days, while others are quick stops along the route.

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Even spring and fall can bring cold weather, and some snow. Our advice is to plan your PCH drive for the summer months of June through to September, when you're more likely to have warm days, with temperatures in the 70s and 80s.

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Known by locals as “the One”, the most popular stretch of this highway runs between San Francisco and San Diego, meandering in twists and turns through quaint coastal towns, pristine beaches, breathtaking views, and plenty of historical places, making it one of America's greatest road trips.

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1. Most famous road. Linking Chicago and Los Angeles, Route 66, also known as the Main Street of America, has been immortalised in song and on screen and is certainly a candidate for the title of world's most famous road.

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The Tianmen Mountain Road or 99-Bend Road in China has exactly 99 hairpin turns and curves. The road features no guardrails as it reaches the top of the Skywalk at Tianmen Mountain Zhangjiajie National Park.

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10 of the Most Scenic Drives in North America
  • TRAIL RIDGE ROAD | COLORADO. ...
  • ROUTE 12 | UTAH. ...
  • BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY | NORTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA, VIRGINIA. ...
  • SEA TO SKY HIGHWAY | BRITISH COLUMBIA. ...
  • U.S. 1 | FLORIDA KEYS. ...
  • VERMONT ROUTE 100 | VERMONT. ...
  • PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY | CALIFORNIA. ...
  • 89-A | ARIZONA.


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If you want to drive the Pacific Coast Highway then you can do it in half a day. Officially it's less than 130 miles long, running between Dana Point and Oxnard in southern California. This is the stretch of Highway 1 which has been legally designated the Pacific Coast Highway by the California state legislature.

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