California is known for its many sights and attractions; some are built by people and take a few years — think Hollywood and the Golden Gate Bridge—while others are the work of nature and take eons. But there’s one particular California experience that combines human engineering with the state’s natural beauty, and that’s the scenic Pacific Coast Highway or “PCH” for short.
What Is The Pacific Coastal Highway?
If we’re technical for a moment, PCH is the designation of only a portion of the whole of State Route 1 (SR1), a highway that runs north-south in California along the beautiful Pacific coast. SR 1 is the longest state route in California and the second-longest in the entire US, right after Montana’s Highway 200. Some limit the name PCH to a portion of SR 1 in Southern California, where it also runs concurrently with US 101. Neither State Route 1 nor the PCH continue south to San Diego and the international border because Interstate 5 takes over as the coastal highway there. While not considered to be the PCH, stops along the I-5 in San Diego County are also added in many guides for tourists wanting to visit the entire California coast. So even if the definition of the Pacific Coast Highway varies, most California residents, and for the purpose of this guide, will take it to mean the entire portion of SR 1 that connects the San Francisco Bay Area with Greater Los Angeles and Orange County. The special regulations and advice we offer are meant for the narrower, more scenic road. Starting from Dana Point in OC in Southern California, where its official name is Coast Highway for a couple of miles, the scenic route is responsible for generating billions of dollars in revenue for the state’s industry. Movies, shows, books, stories, and photos from all over the world featuring California never miss an opportunity to show off the PCH. It’s also an important artery that connects several of the state’s most notable attractions and sights. We’re here to give you the best tips and guidelines for safely going up and down our beautiful coastline.
Tips for Safety Along The PCH
Visitors to California will undoubtedly want to experience at least a few miles of driving along the coast. It’s an exciting adventure that, however, should include some preparation in the form of reading guides like ours. The basic driving rules for California are about the same as you would expect from any state in the nation, with perhaps some differences and extra restrictions on matters like cellphone usage while driving and speed limits. On top of that, there are unique pieces of advice to take into consideration before driving on the PCH. For example, don’t expect a fast, four-lane highway speeding along the coast. State Route 1 and U.S. Highway 101, which make up most of the PCH, are in some parts just a simple two-lane roads that will limit your speed and test your patience.The PCH also includes several steep ledges, high cliffs, sharp curves, and sections without guardrails that will force you to hit the breaks and navigate carefully. Our friend Victoriah Arsenian wrote a post about safety tips for the PCH a few years ago that we think are still very useful:
- Take your time. The PCH is the most scenic but not the fastest route through the state. If you want to rush from San Francisco to L.A., take the I-5 along the Central Valley. Weather conditions will also change without much notice going north to south.
- Be on the lookout for quick changes in speed limits while in rough weather, especially if you bump into the coastal fog California is known for.
- The PCH is a road, even if it’s a narrow one, so there will be no streetlights in many areas with sharp curves and steep ledges.
Close Encounters of the Wildlife Kind On The PCH
Driving along the Pacific Coastal Highway will likely take you through more rural or undeveloped areas of the state, which means some wildlife will make an appearance on the road. This can be surprising to some drivers who were just a few miles ago passing through downtown Santa Barbara or Los Angeles. It’s common to see raccoons, foxes, coyotes, deer, skunks, and even some birds catch you off guard, especially at night. When an animal is on the road, then:
- Stop and honk.
- Wait until it’s moved out fully of the road.
- And stay in your car. Don’t approach wildlife.
How To Drive On The PCH
As we said, laws for driving in California aren’t that different from anywhere else. But the PCH is a popular scenic road that nonetheless presents challenges to drivers accustomed to multi-lane highways. The PCH is meant to be traveled slowly for several portions of it. Most drivers, especially in California, might be used to passing slower drivers and not suffer them, thanks to highways with more than two lanes in either direction. The PCH will put that to the test with its two lanes. You will either be too slow or too fast for someone most of the time, so practice patience. Be hyper-aware of when you can pass or move over to be passed by a faster driver that’s riding your tail. Going too slow is also another problem on a scenic road like the PCH. It might be tempting to slow down to a crawl when going over the Bixby Creek Bridge in Big Sur, but you shouldn’t, and you are required to pull over whenever possible to let those behind you pass when you have five or more vehicles having to slow down because of you. Avoid too many drivers honking at you by pulling over and planning your stops instead of slowing traffic down. California also has a lot of variance in speed limits depending on the area the road is passing through. This can be a challenge to visitors. Stay attentive to the speed limits posted on signs so as to avoid speeding violations. Speeding tickets in California are expensive.
Watch Your Fuel Level
The PCH isn’t well serviced by fuel stations as major highways are. Any road trip comes with the risk of running low on gas or battery power, especially on the California coast, where the narrow road can go on for miles along the cliffs, and there are no rest stops or even places to pull over much less a fuel station. The PCH also passes through several rural areas along the coast, so you will have to fuel up more often than usual, and don’t risk waiting until you’re almost empty. Also, use apps or GPS to keep track of the nearest fuel stations everywhere, like GasBuddy.com, which focuses on the cheapest gas stations along our route. Plan your route ahead of time and mark the fueling spots so you can be assured you will never be too far from one.
Keep Your Eyes On The Road
Remember: don’t drive and use your phone. It’s illegal in California to handle your phone or be distracted by any other device while you drive, so either you just leave the phone on the dashboard and let it give you instructions by voice or hand it over to a passenger to act as your navigator. It might also be tempting to take pictures as you go or quickly stop and create some content for your Instagram account. As we said, be careful with slowing down too much or stropping abruptly for a good look or photo shoot.
Safety Gear To Take On The PCH
We don’t mean helmets or first aid kits (although those are always good to have around wherever you drive), but simply remember that seatbelts should be worn all the time while in care. They’re mandatory in California for both the driver and every passenger. If you have small children under the age of 8 in the car, they should be in safety seats as well as wearing seatbelts. Children with seatbelts are a combination many parent drivers know can be very difficult to maintain, especially on long drives like on the PCH. But it’s for your and their own safety. Under California law, the parent or guardian is responsible for the safety of the child and to ensure they are restrained at all times. If the parent or guardian is not present, then the driver is responsible. Keeping everyone’s seatbelts on is more challenging for those who are exploring the PCH for the first time and might not be familiar with it—all the more reason to take precautions and this advice to heart. When on a motorcycle, safety can be even more important. California law stipulates that all motorcyclists wear a helmet at all times.These measures and regulations might be too much for many people from out of state. Still, California has a huge number of vehicles on the road, and the PCH is unique, so don’t underestimate these safety measures and laws. Every Californian respects them for a reason, and that’s because they do save lives and money.
Take advantage of carpool lanes.
There’s a good chance you won’t be traveling alone. If you’re with friends and family in a vehicle, carpool lanes are a great option. California carpool lanes require at least two people in most counties and cities, although there are some exceptions like San Francisco, which requires a vehicle to have a minimum of three people in them.Keep an eye on the signage for carpool lanes, because in some areas it can be a bit tricky. Los Angeles carpool lanes, for example, can be confusing to visitors with their different entering and exiting zones and special exclusive lanes.
The PCH Is The Best Way To Explore The California Coast.
Despite what may seem like a guide full of dire warnings, we want to emphasize that the PCH is probably the best way to explore California, especially if you have the time. Just keep a lot of our advice in mind, prepare a bit, and enjoy the ride. Road trips are the most fun when you plan ahead and feel safe by knowing the rules of the road and how locals also drive. We at Ticket Snipers can also help if you do end up getting a speeding ticket, a citation for driving too slowly, or any other traffic violation you might be burdened with while driving on the PCH. Call us and we’ll be happy to help at any moment.