Route Overview
About this Tour
The Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) is one of the world's most legendary coastal roads, connecting the green rainforests of the Pacific Northwest with sunny Southern California beaches. This route passes through three states, past rugged cliffs, secluded beaches, giant redwoods, and iconic cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles. For campervan travelers, this is the American dream in its purest form.
Your Journey in Detail
🌉Seattle to San Francisco
Seattle is the perfect starting point – one of America's coolest cities with an unrivaled coffee scene (Starbucks was born here!), the legendary Pike Place Market, and the Space Needle with panoramic views. From here, follow the Oregon coast, a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. Cannon Beach with its iconic Haystack Rock is a postcard motif; the dramatic cliffs and dunes at Cape Kiwanda invite amazement. Portland is worth a stop – quirky, alternative, and full of craft breweries. The Redwood forests of Northern California are breathtaking: the tallest trees on Earth (over 100 meters!) form cathedrals of green. Drive the 'Avenue of the Giants' through these giants – a humbling experience. San Francisco is the first major highlight: the Golden Gate Bridge (walk across it!), the streetcars (Cable Cars), Fisherman's Wharf, and the mysterious prison island Alcatraz.
🌲Big Sur – The American Amalfi Coast
The stretch between Monterey and San Simeon is considered one of the world's most spectacular coastal sections. Big Sur isn't a place but a feeling: 145 kilometers of steep cliffs plunging into turquoise-blue sea, winding roads with breathtaking viewpoints, and a remoteness that has become rare in California. The Bixby Creek Bridge is the quintessential postcard motif – an art deco concrete bridge over a deep gorge. Pfeiffer Beach with its purple sand (mineral deposits!) and Keyhole Rock is picturesque. Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park offers a waterfall that drops directly onto the beach – McWay Falls, only visible from above, but unforgettable. Campsites in Big Sur are legendary and coveted: Kirk Creek and Plaskett Creek offer clifftop camping with ocean sounds. Book months in advance!
🎬Los Angeles to San Diego
Santa Barbara, the 'American Riviera', welcomes with Spanish colonial architecture, palm trees, and relaxed beach lifestyle. The pier at sunset is cinematic. From here, head to Los Angeles – the 'City of Angels', which isn't really a city but an endless patchwork of neighborhoods. Hollywood and the Walk of Fame, the beaches of Venice and Santa Monica, the Getty Museum overlooking the city – a few days barely suffice. For campers, Malibu is a dream: sites right on the beach, surfers in the morning, dolphins on the horizon. San Diego, the final destination, is California's relaxed beauty: the Gaslamp Quarter with its restaurants, the legendary Zoo, the beaches of La Jolla, and proximity to Mexico (Tijuana is walkable!). The climate here is perfect – 300 sunny days per year.
💡Practical Tips
- ✓RV rentals in the USA: Cruise America and El Monte are the largest providers – book early for better prices!
- ✓Big Sur campsites book 6 months in advance on recreation.gov – they sell out quickly!
- ✓Gas in the USA is MUCH cheaper than in Europe – enjoy the freedom!
At a Glance
Duration
10-14 Tage
Distance
2.500 km
Difficulty
Moderate
Highlights
- ⭐San Francisco
- ⭐Big Sur
- ⭐Los Angeles
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