SF to Monterey - PCH or other more direct route?

We are spending one night in Monterey en route to from SF to LA via the PCH. As we will only have this one afternoon/eve in Monterey should we take the quicker route allowing us max time in Monterey or are we missing out by not taking the coast route between SF and Monterey? We are a couple with two teenagers.

SF to Monterey - PCH or other more direct route?

I am sure there will be many opinions on this but I think you will have plenty of beautiful scenery on PCH from Monterey south to SanLuis Obispo. The ride south from SanFrancisco through the peninsula on I-280 is actually pretty too. Whether you go along the PCH really depends on how much time you want the ride to take and how much scenery is enough for you. ';Missing out?'; is a personal choice. I wouldn%26#39;t feel that way but others might.

SF to Monterey - PCH or other more direct route?

You will have to take the more interior route on 280 from San Francisco at least as far as Hwy 92, if you%26#39;re coming any time in the next few months, so that may figure into your plans. You would have to cut over across the hill on 92, and that route has been jammed at rush hours of late, since everyone who lives on the coast now has to commute that way to get north.

The coast is lovely enough between SF and Monterey, or at least SF and Santa Cruz, but not quite as dramatically breathtaking as the Big Sur coast south of Monterey, which you absolutely should not miss. The inland route via Hwy 280 is scenic enough, through rolling hills between Pacifica and Saratoga about 50 miles, so it%26#39;s not a horrible route.

By the way, the coast route is not called the ';PCH'; in this area. It seems logical that it should be, but it isn%26#39;t. PCH is down south between Ventura and LA/Orange County.

I agree with the above posters that between SF and Monterey, the highway is less spectacular than the Big Sur PCH. A direct route would be 280 south, 85 south, 17 west, which puts you just south of Santa Cruz. We always take this way. If you take this way be prepared to drive a fast, curvy highway, that from time to time gets crashes which shut it down for hours, and there is construction just south of it so check the road conditions with this great link:

http://www.dot.ca.gov/caltrans511/

or local news

another direct route that takes about 1/2 hr to 45 minutes longer is 280 south, to 85 south, to 101 south, to 156 west, to 1 south.

Thanks for the info. I didn%26#39;t know about the road closure! Thanks again,

Roadwork said.. ';280 south, 85 south, 17 west ......';If you take this way be prepared to drive a fast, curvy highway,';....

This sounds like a good route for us, but just how fast is fast - is this a dangerous road by Californian standards? We usually find driving in the US is better than in the UK, but just want to be prepared!

Thanks

Those directions are a little misleading. You would take 280 S to 880 S, which turns into 17 S. In Santa Cruz, you%26#39;d pick up 1 S into Monterey. The only curvy part of that route is the section on Highway 17. It%26#39;s a four lane road, and you go over a smallish mountain pass. There will be trucks and some people drive it rather fast. But you can always stay in the right lane if you want to take it more slowly. Given your short time in Monterey, you might want to take the fastest route: 101 S to 156 West to 1 S.

Hwy 17 has barely a shoulder to speak of, and you can see the traffic going in the opposite direction. Those two factors give you a feeling of confinement.

also since it is curvy, it is hard to change lanes when you need to.

the speed limit is ~55 and less around some curves

Therefore if you stay in the slow lane it should be fine. If you are braver, like us at times, you will go in the fast lane all the way.

PGDenizen; thank you for double checking, but we take the route I mentioned above all the time. Hwy 85 is a relatively new highway and is shown by a dashed line in some old maps, i.e. the proposed hwy. Here is a link showing it. There are others if you want to double check. Hwy 85 is a nice hwy, wide lanes, clean, and good visibility.

http://www.pedisubacute.com/location.htm

...the new word out is that hwy 1 north of halfmoon bay will be closed until at least sept.

and no matter what route you take make sure hwy 17 is your last choice.....