If you’re a road warrior, the Pacific Coast Highway has probably been on your bucket list. If not, it should be! The PCH is US 101 that runs along the coastline from Olympia, Washington, to San Diego, California. There’s plenty of sights to see, beaches to enjoy, and must-stop locations. Here is your guide to making the most of your PCH venture.

Drive South

While you're planning your trip, make your starting location as far north as you’d like to go and drive south. The Pacific will always be at your side, without a row of cars impeding your view. It’s a simple tip, but it’s an easy way to make the most of the sights.

Service is Spotty

While you’re on the road, count on losing cell service at a few spots. Plan ahead by downloading your music playlists or podcasts instead of counting on streaming it. You’ll also want to take a look at directions to make sure you know where you’re going, stopping for gas, and ending for the day.

Plan Time For Fun

While you’re plotting your course, leave time to stop and explore. There’s so many great places to explore, state parks to enjoy, and restaurants to try as you drive the PCH. While you’re considering how far to drive each day, include time to stop and play, as well as time to make the most of your nightly destination location.

Seasonal Sights

Depending on the time of year, that might change how you plan your trip. During the spring you’ll have wildflowers and Elephant Seal Beach will be packed fin-to-fin with hundreds of seals. If you’re traveling in summer you might need to keep track of fires farther north but you will also have more daylight to play with.

Must-See Spots

Ready for the good part? What makes the PCH such an epic road trip is the scenery and the amazing stops. You can bike the beaches in Santa Cruz, wander the Redwoods, and eat fresh crab on the foggy coastline all within a few days of each other. Here’s a quick list of what we consider the must-see locations on your road trip:

• Astoria
• Redwood National Park
• Half Moon Bay
• San Francisco
• Santa Cruz
• Monterey
• Bixby Bridge
• Big Sur

Store & Go

At the end of your trip you might need a spot to stow your camping gear or park your Sprinter van. StorQuest can help with that. Check out a location close to you, so your next adventure is always right around the corner.