Go west on Avenue I from Pacific Coast Highway, then turn north and stay as close to the water as you can (Esplanade to Catalina Avenue). On the west side of Long Beach, the road will even take you past an oil refinery.įor a better ocean view and a more scenic glimpse of Southern California beach life, take a detour in South Redondo Beach. What it does give is a peek at a cross-section of southern California life as it passes used car lots, car washes, apartment buildings, and strip malls. However, it seldom gives even a glimpse of the Pacific Ocean. North of Los Angeles International Airport, the highway becomes Lincoln Boulevard through Marina Del Rey, Venice Beach, and Santa Monica. From here, you will continue another 35 miles to Santa Monica.Īs you pass through Long Beach and Torrance, the Pacific Coast Highway runs inland going west, then turns north through the South Bay cities of Redondo, Hermosa, and Manhattan Beach, where the road changes its name to Sepulveda Boulevard. North of Seal Beach, the PCH crosses the Los Angeles County line. The road name changes back to Pacific Coast Highway through Huntington Beach and Seal Beach. Once you reach Huntington Beach, you can see the oceanfront all the way to the Los Angeles County border. After a quick drive to the end of the Balboa Peninsula, return to Coast Highway to continue.
Houses and businesses between the road and the shore block your view much of the time.įor a fun detour along the way in Newport Beach, take Balboa Boulevard (if you are going south) or Jamboree Road (if you are going north) to the Balboa Peninsula and Balboa Island, taking the charming little three-car ferry boat between them. People in Newport Beach seem to think it is better to live on the beach than to see it while driving by. The first glimpses of the Pacific Ocean start in south Laguna Beach. Going north from Dana Point, California State Route 1 is called simply Coast Highway through Laguna Beach and Newport Beach. It runs 40 miles between there and the Los Angeles County line just north of Seal Beach. Pacific Coast Highway's southern terminus is at Interstate 5 in Dana Point. Technically, Orange County is considered a suburb or part of the LA Metropolitan area.