Pacific Coast Highway by Motorcycle: The Real Planning Guide
Highway 1 is bucket-list riding. Here's how to plan it properly: direction, timing, stops, and the sections most people skip.
MMNM
The Pacific Coast Highway is everything they say it is. Ocean views that don't stop. Curves that demand attention. The kind of riding that reminds you why you own a motorcycle.
It's also more complicated to plan than most people realize.
The Basics
"PCH" technically refers to different highways depending on who you ask. For motorcycle purposes, we're talking about the coastal route from Southern California to Northern California, primarily Highway 1.
The full ride from San Diego to Crescent City covers roughly 750 miles. Most riders focus on the Central Coast section between Los Angeles and San Francisco, which is about 400 miles and contains the most dramatic scenery.
You can blast through in a day. You shouldn't. Two to three days minimum for the LA-SF section. Four to five days for the full route if you want to actually experience it.
Which Direction
North to South (the common recommendation):
The ocean is on your right, putting you on the cliff-side lane. Better views. Easier to pull off at overlooks. The sun is behind you in the afternoon, reducing glare.
Most guided tours run this direction. Most motorcycle articles recommend it.
South to North (the contrarian choice):
You're in the inland lane, which means better visibility of oncoming traffic on tight curves. The Pacific sun can be brutal in your eyes going southbound in the afternoon.
Some riders prefer this for safety reasons, accepting the reduced view access.
The verdict: Go north to south if it's your first time. The views are the point.
When to Go
Best months: September and October.
The summer fog clears. The temperatures moderate. The tourist crowds thin after Labor Day. The light is spectacular.
Acceptable months: April, May, early June.
Spring brings wildflowers and green hillsides. But fog is more common, and some mornings you'll wait for it to burn off.
Avoid: July and August.
The fog is relentless. "June Gloom" extends through summer on the coast. You'll ride in gray soup for hours, missing the views entirely.
Also avoid holiday weekends. Traffic through Big Sur becomes parking-lot slow.
Weekdays beat weekends significantly. The difference in traffic volume is substantial.
The Route
Southern Section: San Diego to Los Angeles
Often skipped, but worthwhile. Beach communities, Marine base scenery, and a warmup for what's ahead.
Stops: La Jolla, Oceanside, San Clemente.
This section is faster, flatter, and less dramatic. Consider it the appetizer.
LA to Santa Barbara
Malibu coastline. Beautiful but often congested. Sunday mornings are the only time you'll have room to ride.
Past Malibu, the road opens up. Ventura and Santa Barbara offer good overnight stops.
Santa Barbara to Big Sur
The road gets serious. Narrow lanes. Blind curves. Significant elevation changes.
This is where the PCH delivers everything you imagined.
Stops: San Luis Obispo, Morro Bay, Cambria.
Big Sur
The crown jewel. Bixby Bridge. McWay Falls. Cliffs dropping straight to the Pacific.
The road is technical. Take your time. Stop at the pullouts. This section alone justifies the trip.
Warning: Big Sur regularly closes due to slides and road damage. Check CalTrans conditions before you go.
Big Sur to San Francisco
The drama eases. The road straightens. You're entering the Bay Area.
Monterey and Carmel are worth stops. The 17-Mile Drive adds time but delivers scenery.
Cross the Golden Gate Bridge. You're done.
Northern Section: San Francisco to Crescent City
Often overlooked, genuinely spectacular.
The Mendocino coast is quieter and wilder than Big Sur. Redwood forests replace ocean views as you go north.
Fort Bragg, Mendocino, and the Lost Coast region reward riders willing to go further.
Gear and Prep
Layers are mandatory. Coastal California swings 30+ degrees from morning to afternoon. You'll start in 50-degree fog and end in 80-degree sun.
Rain gear. Even in summer, coastal moisture happens. Pack it even if the forecast looks clear.
Sunscreen and lip balm. The ocean reflection intensifies UV exposure.
Fuel planning. Big Sur has limited gas stations at premium prices. Fill up before entering the section.
Phone service. Spotty to nonexistent through Big Sur. Download offline maps.
Lodging reservations. Big Sur and Carmel book up. Reserve ahead, especially for weekend nights.
Pro Tips
Start early. The fog burns off by mid-morning. Traffic builds after 10 AM. The best riding happens before 9 AM.
Don't rush Big Sur. It's tempting to maintain momentum. Resist. Stop at every overlook that calls to you. You may never be back.
Watch for sand. Coastal wind deposits sand on the road. It collects on the outside of corners. Treat it like gravel.
Respect the cyclists. The PCH is popular with road cyclists. They're often on narrow shoulders with no escape route. Give them room.
Check road conditions. Highway 1 closes regularly. Landslides, fires, and construction can ruin a trip. Check CalTrans the day before and the morning of.
Skip the RV trains. If you catch a line of RVs on a no-passing section, find a pullout and let them gain distance. Riding behind them ruins the experience.
Fuel up before Big Sur. Seriously. The last reliable gas before the stretch is in Cambria. The first reliable gas after is in Carmel. Plan accordingly.
Final Thoughts
The Pacific Coast Highway is worth the hype. The views are real. The riding is excellent. The experience delivers.
But it requires planning. The weather, the crowds, the road conditions, and the logistics all need attention.
Get it right, and you'll understand why this road appears on every list of great motorcycle rides in the world.
Get it wrong, and you'll spend your trip in fog, stuck behind RVs, wishing you'd done more research.
Plan it properly. Ride it respectfully. Enjoy one of America's best motorcycle roads.
