California State Route 1
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Highway 1, legislatively deemed California State Route 1, runs along the Pacific coast for most of the length of the US state of California. In Southern California it is known as the Pacific Coast Highway or P.C.H., and in parts of central California, it is known as the Cabrillo Highway.
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Route Description (north to south)
The highway is famous for some of the most beautiful coastline in the world, which contributed to its designation as an All-American Road. From the north, the highway passes through the cities of Ferndale, Fort Bragg and Bodega Bay before joining with U.S. Highway 101 and entering San Francisco over the Golden Gate Bridge. The highway continues south on the west coast of the San Francisco Peninsula, passing through Devil's Slide, on through Half Moon Bay to Santa Cruz and Monterey. Several miles south of Carmel, State Route 1 crosses the Rocky Creek Bridge and then the scenic Bixby Creek Bridge, a reinforced concrete arch with a 320-foot span that passes over the Bixby Creek gorge. The highway then continues south through the cliffs of Big Sur, then past Hearst Castle, and on to the coastal cities of San Luis Obispo, Pismo Beach and Lompoc. Route 1 joins US 101 south of Buellton and passes through Santa Barbara.
About 3 miles south of the Santa Barbara County line, California State Route 1 separates from US 101 to travel along the beach from the Mobil Pier Undercrossing to Emma Wood State Beach where it rejoins US 101 and travels through Ventura.
California State Route 1 then separates from US 101 as it enters Oxnard and connects to such Southern California beach cities as Malibu, Pacific Palasades, Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach and Torrance.
South of the Los Angeles area, "PCH" winds through cities which include Long Beach (where it intersects with Lakewood Boulevard CA-19 and Los Coyotes Diagonal at the "infamous" Long Beach Traffic Circle), Signal Hill, Seal Beach, Sunset Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Corona del Mar, Crystal Cove, Laguna Beach, South Laguna, Monarch Beach and Dana Point.
In the "downtown" section of Dana Point, State Route 1 splits into two one-way avenues for approximately one mile (1.6 kM). The northbound traffic continues along the original PCH alignment whilst southbound commuters are diverted onto Del Prado Street at the intersection of Street of the Blue Lantern. Del Prado Street and Pacific Coast Highway parallel each other until they are rejoined at the intersection of Street of the Copper Lantern. There are a number of businesses and services (including the Dana Point Post Office) that are located in between the north- and southbound lanes. Caution needs to be observed when exiting their parking lots – remember to always turn left !
For most of its length, from roughly San Luis Obispo northward, State Route 1 is a winding, two lane road with occasional passing lanes, except between Watsonville and Santa Cruz, where it is a multi-lane freeway, between Colma and Daly City, where it is co-signed with Interstate 280 and again a multi-lane freeway, and in San Francisco, where it is six-lane wide 19th Avenue and Park Presidio Boulevard, a major approach to the Golden Gate Bridge. State parks and small coastal towns can be found amongst hundreds of miles of wilderness. Along the southern length, PCH is a wide, multi-laned boulevard and is even part of a freeway as it is co-signed with U.S. Highway 101 in Ventura.
State Law
Legal Definition of Route 1: California Streets and Highways Code, Chapter 2, Article 3, Section 304
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Route 1 is part of the Freeway and Expressway System, as stated by section 253.2 of the California State Highway Code. |
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Route 1 is part of the Scenic Highway System, as stated by section 263.2 of the California State Highway Code. |
Other Names
- Blue Star Memorial Highway: From Junction with I-5 at Dana Point in Orange County to State Hwy Route 101 at Leggett in Mendocino County. Sponsored by the National council of State Garden Clubs, Inc. as a tribute to the men and women of the Nation's Armed Forces.
- CHP Officer John Pedro Memorial Highway: From Harkins Slough Road to Pajaro River Bridge. Officer Jon Pedro was killed in the line of duty in a traffic collision.
- Los Angeles County Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway: Portion in L.A. County.
- Louis J. Papan Highway: From Interchange at Skyline Boulevard to Southern City Limits of Pacifica. "Assemblyman, chair numerous committees, aided poor."
- Orange County Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway: From San Juan Capistrano to Golden West Street in Huntington Beach.
- San Simeon Highway: From San Luis Obispo to Monterey. Named by historical and long local usage in the County of San Luis Obispo.
- U.S. Submarine Veterans of WWII Memorial Highway: From Golden West St in Huntington Beach to Orange County Boundary.
- Ventura County Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway: Portion in Ventura County.
Source: 2004 Named Freeways, Highways, Structures and Other Appurtenances In California
