Mar 12, 2026

Highway 1

California

by

Laura Kiniry

Alex Treadway—Getty Images

California’s epic coastal route, Highway 1—also known as the Pacific Coast Highway—reopened in its entirety on January 14, restoring one of the great American road trips. Stretching roughly 655 miles along the Pacific coastline from Dana Point in Orange County to Leggett in Mendocino County, the highway has been partially closed since January 2023, when multiple landslides and a road collapse shut down a 90-mile section. The disruptions affected one of Highway 1’s most scenic legs—a narrow ribbon of road winding between the dramatic mountains of Big Sur and the planet’s largest ocean. While the traffic-free pavement proved a boon for cyclists, the three-year shutdown forced drivers onto long inland detours and cost local businesses nearly $500 million in lost revenue. Following extensive stabilization work—including reinforced slopes and cable-net drapery designed to catch falling debris—Highway 1 once again links some of the state’s most iconic landmarks, from Carmel-by-the-Sea to the opulent Hearst Castle. It also offers full access to Big Sur, celebrated for its redwood forests, remote wilderness, and legendary coastal views.

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