Planning a road trip along the breathtaking California coast is an excellent idea. You’ll find some of the best beaches, views, hiking spots, and more during your travels. However, you’re probably wondering about the best coastal road to take through California to find all these great attractions. 

At Escape Camper Vans, we’re here to help you with all your travel needs, from finding the right destinations to securing a comfortable and affordable California camper van rental. In this article, we’ll break down everything you should know about the best coastal roads in California. 

What Is the Most Beautiful Coastal Drive in California? 

When you ask residents and travelers alike about California’s most beautiful coastal drive, you’ll commonly hear people say the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) is the ideal choice. 

The PCH, also known as Highway 1, is a 600-mile road along California’s coastline. Traveling along this road, you’ll find many popular cities and attractions that draw tourists’ attention year-round. Some of the most popular cities along the PCH are San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. 

What Is the Famous Road in California by the Ocean? 

If you’ve heard about the famous road in California by the ocean, that’s also the Pacific Coast Highway. Referred to California’s locals as “The One,” it’s the primary road you’ll take to access some of California’s best sights, beaches, and historic attractions. 

Some of the best sights and attractions you’ll find along the PCH are:

• • The Santa Monica Pier has some of the best sights looking over the ocean. 
  • Solvang Restaurant for some of the top traditional Danish cuisine. 
  • McWay Falls offers an expansive waterfall view along Big Sur. 

• Hearst Castle is a 127-acre historic home you can tour.  

• The Golden Gate Bridge is a treat to drive across or admire from one of the surrounding parks or boulevards. 
• Treasure Island Beach is surrounded by golden sand and palm tree-lined bluffs for an authentic California coast experience.

What Is the Nicest Road in California? 

When trying to find the nicest road in California, the PCH is still the top choice. Some of the other nicest roads you can choose for a sunny California road trip include:

• Tioga Pass is the road to Yosemite National Park, and it offers great views of mountainous scenery and tall redwood trees. 

• Interstate 5 is similar to the PCH in that it crosses through most of the state of California. However, on this one, you get to explore the north and middle of California, which offers excellent views of famous mountains, natural reserves, and some quiet stops to take in the sights. 
• Route 66 is a popular choice to explore the lower half of California. Many of the cities in this area are more rural and desert-like, but it’s a fun choice if you like exploring smaller towns with lots of history and quieter atmospheres.

What Is the Most Beautiful Coastal Highway? 

When you’re seeking the most beautiful coastal highways around the world, you have many popular options, including:

• Great Ocean Road in Australia
• Amalfi Drive in Italy
• Atlantic Ocean Road in Norway
• Cabot Trail in Canada
• Calanches de Piana in Franc

However, the Pacific Coast Highway stands out when you want the top choice in the world or the U.S. It’s one of the best travel destinations year-round with California’s sunny and consistent weather, not to mention all the great destinations you’ll find along the way during a road trip. 

Rent from Escape Camper Vans During Your California Coast Road Trip

When taking an extended road trip along California’s coast or throughout the U.S., you need reliable transportation and sleeping space. Our camper vans at Escape provide both at affordable prices and one way campervan rentals in California. You can rent a camping car in San Francisco or get an LA camping van rental for your coastal road trip, along with nine other pickup and drop-off locations throughout the U.S. 

Some of the helpful features in our camper vans are:

• Queen size beds
• Refrigerator
• Propane stove
• Sink with a water tank
• Foldaway tables and benches
• Extra storage
• And mor

You can reserve yours today or contact us with any other questions.