Driving On Highway 1: San Jose To Santa Barbara Via Carmel?
I am trying to take a road trip with friends on Highway 1 in order to drive as much as possible by the ocean. We’d like to leave San Jose early in the morning, have breakfast in Carmel, and proceed to Santa Barbara. Could someone please help us out with detailed directions on where to get to Hwy 1 and how long to stay on it, etc.? All directions websites suggest taking 101 which is faster but far less scenic. Thank you so much and happy Thanksgiving to everyone!
dima1976 on Wed, 25th Nov 2009 5:50 am
I wouldn’t do it. I would go as far as Monterey, then, catch 68 to 101, take 101 south, it eventually catches back up to Hwy 1. I know the purpose is to drive down Hwy 1 and spend a lot of time seeing the ocen, but going that route takes FOREVER and if you get stuck behind someone slow it takes FOREVER AND EVER. If you go the way I suggest, you will have time to stop in Carmel, Pacific Grove and Monterey, walk on the beach, get some lunch, play 9 holes of golf and maybe still have time to stop by the Aquarium and still get to your destination faster.
So if you love sitting in the car on winding roads with steep drop offs.. follow the signs to HWY 1 from the SJ Airport. (Exit the San Jose Airport via the main exit onto Highway 880 South, toward Santa Cruz it will continue as Hwy 17, in Santa Cruz take Highway 1 South toward Monterey then you will be on Hwy 1, just stay on it. Bring water, gas up in Monterey. There are some beautiful sights. It will take you all the way down the coast.
Good Luck
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If you stop in Solvang, it is known for their pastries.
If you go to Hearst Castle, it fairly expensive but worth it.
Stop in Pismo Beach for Clam Chowder
Stop at Morro Bay jus to look at the rock
Real Estate Dawn on Wed, 25th Nov 2009 6:17 am
If I were you, if your flying into the San Jose Int. Airport, Instead of trying to traverse across very winding and time consuming back roads, (especially with children who may tire from the detour and become nauseated from all the twisting curves), stay on 101 south until you get to the 156 (Monterey) split which will eventually become Hwy 1 aka “The Cabrillo Fwy”. This takes you past Monterey which has the scenic 17 mile drive (is a fee road) that borders the famous Pebble Beach Golf Courses. Also it’s well worth the side trip to take the family to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Check to see what the holiday hours are ahead of time. There are plenty of places to eat on the “Historic Cannery Row” district that the Aquarium is only blocks away from. Nice educational point if the kids are old enought to have reads any books by John Steinbeck. I would not recommend Carmel as a “kid friendly” type of attraction. While the scenery is lovely, the downtown is comprised mostly of trendy shops that get boring for kids to visit. Definately no touchy-feely shops, more like “you broke it, you bought it!” And most of the touristy type of articles they have are very pricey! Once you get on Hwy 1 from Monterey, it’s easy to return from side trips. I would recommend Hearst Castle (San Simeon State Park) and Big Sur as a side trip as well. The city of Solvang is right off hwy. 1 off 154. Nice side trip because the whole town looks european and if you go, be sure to stop at Anderson’s Split Pea Restaurant! The best soup I have had! There are several Missions that are linked to Hwy 1. I have provided links for these and other sites mentioned as well. If you plan on having a time schedule, then you may not be able to fit in all these places to stop. From say Monterey to Santa Barbara plan on at least an 8hr. trip with stops and meals. Hopefully the weather will be fine. Be alert for some very heavy and road hugging fog! The 10 day weather outlook is great with maybe a few showers on Wed. in the Santa Barbara area. Have a great time!
Sumanitu Taka on Wed, 25th Nov 2009 6:51 am
The only problem is that there is road work ongoing on Hwy 1 I just heard about this week that will close part of Hwy 1 for a LONG time. I would take 101 to Hwy 1 and drive along the Hwy from around Pismo down.
♥monamar on Wed, 25th Nov 2009 7:28 am
You want to take route 17 (which is also 880 west) through the mountains. It will get you to RT 1 in Santa Cruz. Use mapquest to put in the cities and addresses. For example if you live in San Jose put in your address, then put in Santa Cruz, then Carmel and then the address of the place you are going to. That will create a rute down 17 and through the coastal Rt 1.
Sarah B on Wed, 25th Nov 2009 7:29 am
Try mapquest.com
Dave on Wed, 25th Nov 2009 8:08 am
From San Jose, the shortest way to 1 is via 17 to Santa Cruz and drive south from there.
Alternatively, to save a bit of time, you could go 101S to 156 West. This takes you directly into Carmel/Monterey.
After that, you can head down 1, but this is probably a 4-5 hour drive out of Monterey. In parts, 1 and 101 are the same road, such as near San Luis Obispo and then further down by Lompoc. They are the same road into Santa Barbara from there.