Lazar Odonnell
US Route 101 is a north-south highway that traverses the states of California, Oregon, and Washington on the West Coast of the United States. The highway runs for over 1,500 miles (2,400 km) along the Pacific Ocean and is also known as the Oregon Coast Highway and the Olympic Highway in Washington. The highway is a popular route for road trips, offering scenic views of the coastline, national parks, and unique attractions.
When travelling north on Highway 101 in California, there are several notable stops and points of interest. Here is an introduction to some of the highlights along the way:
- Gaviota Pass: This dramatic entrance to Central California is marked by a tunnel and is considered the northernmost end of southern California.
- Salinas: A city associated with author John Steinbeck, known for works such as The Grapes of Wrath.
- Monterey and Carmel: Popular tourist destinations known for their beautiful coastal scenery.
- San Francisco: The iconic city offers attractions such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Palace of Fine Arts, and Lombard Street.
- Redwood National and State Parks: A stretch of old-growth coast redwood forests and home to various species, including the elusive Bigfoot.
- Crescent City: A coastal city in Del Norte County, known for its proximity to Redwood National and State Parks.
- Oregon Coast Highway: Beginning near Brookings, this scenic drive takes travellers through small towns and offers views of the rugged Oregon coastline.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Route | North-South |
| Length | 1,540 miles |
| States | California, Oregon, Washington |
| Cities | Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles |
| Terrain | Coastline, National Parks, Cities, Towns, Redwood Forests |
| Road Type | Freeway, Divided Highway, City Streets |
What You'll Learn
Hearst Castle
The castle was built between 1919 and 1947 and is now a museum open to the public as a California State Park and registered as a National Historic Landmark. The castle is known formally as La Cuesta Encantada, which is Spanish for "The Enchanted Hill".
The castle has 165 rooms, including 42 bedrooms, 61 bathrooms, and 19 sitting rooms. It also features 127 acres of gardens, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts, a movie theatre, and an airfield. The castle is surrounded by the 82,000-acre Hearst Ranch, which is the largest single-source supplier of free-range, grass-fed and grass-finished beef in the US.
The castle has attracted many notable guests over the years, including President Calvin Coolidge, Winston Churchill, George Bernard Shaw, Charlie Chaplin, Clark Gable, Hedda Hopper, Charles Lindbergh, Cary Grant, the Marx Brothers, Greta Garbo, Buster Keaton, Mary Pickford, Jean Harlow, and Orson Welles.
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Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge that spans the Golden Gate, a one-mile-wide strait connecting San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. The bridge is recognised as one of the Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers and is one of the most internationally recognised symbols of San Francisco and California. It is also one of the seven wonders of the modern world.
The idea of a fixed link between San Francisco and Marin was proposed in the late 19th century but only became feasible in the early 20th century. The bridge was designed by Joseph Strauss, Leon Moisseiff, Irving Morrow and Charles Ellis, and opened to the public in 1937. At the time, it was the longest and tallest suspension bridge in the world.
The Golden Gate Bridge is part of U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1, and is equally popular with hikers, cyclists and runners. It is also one of the most photographed landmarks in the world.
The bridge is anchored by towers that reach 746 feet skyward and was once taller than any building in San Francisco. To support the suspended roadway, two cables—each more than 7,000 feet in length and containing 80,000 miles of wire—stretch over the top of the towers and are rooted in concrete anchorages on shore.
The bridge is popular with pedestrians and bicyclists, and was built with walkways on either side of the six vehicle traffic lanes. The main walkway is on the eastern side, and is open for use by both pedestrians and bicycles in the morning to mid-afternoon during weekdays, and to pedestrians only for the remaining daylight hours. The western walkway is open only for bicyclists and only during the hours when they are not allowed on the eastern walkway.
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Salinas
The city is known as the "Salad Bowl of the World" due to its large and vibrant agriculture industry. Its marine climate is ideal for the floral industry, grape vineyards, and vegetable growers. The Salinas Valley is also famous for its cattle ranches, which once formed a thriving trade in cattle hide shipments.
U.S. Route 101 is the major north–south highway in Salinas, connecting it to the rest of the Central California region and beyond.
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Santa Barbara
Highway 101 is the main north-south route through Central California, and it passes through Santa Barbara County. The highway provides access to several notable destinations in the region, including the Gaviota Pass, which marks the southern boundary of Central California, and the El Camino Real Bells. The highway also passes through or near several inland cities, including Salinas, Paso Robles, Solvang, and San Luis Obispo.
In recent years, there have been efforts to widen Highway 101 near Santa Barbara to address traffic congestion and narrow portions of the road. The project aims to add carpool lanes and expand the highway to three lanes in each direction from Montecito to Carpinteria. As of 2020, some phases of the project were already completed, with construction on other phases ongoing or scheduled to begin by 2027.
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San Francisco
The 101 is also known as the Bayshore Freeway as it passes through San Francisco. The highway traverses the city on city streets to reach the Golden Gate Bridge, which is a tolled suspension bridge and an iconic landmark.
The highway is a great way to see the city, with the route passing through the SoMa neighbourhood, and the city streets of Van Ness Avenue and Lombard Street. The 101 also passes Candlestick Point and San Francisco International Airport.
The 101 is a great way to see the best of San Francisco and the surrounding area, with the route passing through Silicon Valley and other major communities along the San Francisco Peninsula, including Palo Alto, Redwood City, and San Mateo.
The 101 is a good option for those looking to travel north from San Francisco, with the highway passing through the Golden Gate and into Marin County, where it is known as the Redwood Highway. The route then continues north through Sonoma County and beyond.
The 101 is a great option for a road trip, with the highway offering a scenic route through California and beyond, with the road passing through incredible national parks, alongside giant redwoods, and next to scenic coastlines.
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Frequently asked questions
The length of Highway 101 differs depending on the route and destination, but it is approximately 1,540 miles long.
Highway 101 is also known as the Oregon Coast Highway in Oregon and the Pacific Coast Highway in parts of California. In Southern California, it is commonly referred to as "the 101".
There are many attractions along Highway 101 in California, including Hearst Castle, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Palace of Fine Arts, the Madonna Inn, and the Arroyo Burro Beach.
Some popular places to stay along Highway 101 in California include Fort Bragg, Trinidad, Jedidiah Smith State Park, Pismo Beach, and Paso Robles.
Yes, Highway 101 is a north-south highway that traverses California and continues into Oregon and Washington. It is a major north-south link along the Pacific coast.
