Driving from San Jose to SLO

Our flight lands in San Jose, I think I read on a mileage chart it is around 178 miles to SLO. Now if taking the coast highway I know traffic is slower, How long do you think it will take us to get there? 4 hrs or so? We do want to stop and see the sights along the coast like Big Sur area.

Driving from San Jose to SLO

The PCH south of Monterey is very cliff-hugging, curvaceous and vertigo inducing! Even if you were determined not to stop at all, top speed for the most part would be about 40 mph, and many stretches would be slower than that because of the curves. I would suggest half a day at least.

What time of year are you coming? The Big Sur coast is also prone to landslides from winter rains. Winter closures of the PCH in this area are common.

Driving from San Jose to SLO

I plan on visiting the end of July-august 4th:) so realll soon. And this may be a dumb question..but I am coming from Phoenix where we are roasting..is it standard to have a/c there in the restaurants and hotels? Does it get chilly there where its not needed in the summer? I think if anything I am used to the sound of the A/C or white noise of some sort..lol. I am just glad to be getting out of the heat!

It%26#39;s a 3 1/2 hour drive from Monterey to San Luis Obispo without stops. San Jose to Monterey should take 1 1/2 - 2 hours, depending on traffic.

Agree that you need a good part of the day for this journey due to the slow going on Hwy 1.

What time does your flight arrive? If it%26#39;s late in the morning or later, consider spending your first night in Monterey or Pacific Grove.

Otherwise, the most direct route is straight down the 101 Freeway... about 3 hours.

Oh yes, it get%26#39;s chilly along the coast in the summer. Not all hotels have A/C but many do, so if that%26#39;s important to you be sure to ask before booking. Fireplaces are probably more popular and we used ours in Big Sur the week of July 4.

Bring warm clothes for layering. It might be quite warm in San Jose, then drop 20 degrees by the time you reach the coast.

Thanks! we are planning to bring a few pairs of jeans and maybe a light jacket. Mostly we are packing shorts and capri%26#39;s.

My schedule so far...

We got a room at the Blue Sail Inn in Morro Bay.

7/30:Our First day:

Our flight lands at 8 am in San Jose.Then picking up the rental car at the airport. So I think we have some time..yes? I wanted to get to Morro Bay by at least 4 or 5 pm. I figured I can view a few places along Big Sur, maybe stop at the bakery or Nepenthe..then catch more on the way back toward Santa Cruz . Am I going overboard?

7/31:On our second day thinking of going into the beaches in SLO like Pismo,Avila or Shell. Any other idea%26#39;s for our family in this area would be great! Maybe a visit to Doc Burnsteins Ice Cream Factory..I hear the kids like this. I am not familiar with this area.

8/1:The third day we are doing Hearst Castle the first tour. I have no idea how long this tour is. If anyone can help me out with this that would be great because I want to purchase advance tickets. Also to Cambria to see the Elephant seals...I think its like a 40 minute drive from Morro Bay. Not sure.

8/2:The 4th day we are going to do more exploring of the area.Checking out of the Blue Sail Inn. And heading up toward Santa Cruz..would love to go to the boardwalk or see Mystery Spot. Our flight does not leave until the next day at 6pm So maybe we can do something like Mystery spot then.

8/3:Staying in San Jose close to the airport..My flight doesnt leave until 6 pm, so I diddnt make the Hotel reservation yet. Rooms are a fortune in Santa Cruz, thought about making a reservation near the SJ airport then driving to and fro..Is that a bad idea?

8/4: Back to the HEAT of Arizona.

Sorry for the long itenirary(sp)..I posted it so I could get some feedback on if it was possible to do and OPEn to suggestions.

Your plan looks fine.

On that day you%26#39;re doing the beaches, take a short detour on Avila Beach Drive to the Avila Vally Barn. They sell fresh produce, baked goods and homemade ice cream... yum!

If your kids are into the ';Pirates of the Caribbean'; movies, take them to Rancho Guadalupe Dunes. This is where they filmed the Jack Sparrow rescue scene in the latest film. There is a boardwalk out to the dunes as well as an information center.

If you want to something you can%26#39;t do on any other California beach, take a drive.... that%26#39;s right! You can drive on the beach... for a small fee of course. Just use the Grand Ave or Pier St ramps off Hwy 1. Be sure to stay on the compacted sand so you don%26#39;t get stuck. You can drive from one ramp to the next (about a mile) and then get back on the highway to see Cypress Ridge and head out toward the Guadalupe Dunes.

I don%26#39;t know how to do a quote but you asked:

8/3:Staying in San Jose close to the airport..My flight doesnt leave until 6 pm, so I diddnt make the Hotel reservation yet. Rooms are a fortune in Santa Cruz, thought about making a reservation near the SJ airport then driving to and fro..Is that a bad idea?

I wouldn%26#39;t advise staying in San Jose (especially near the airport) on a Friday night then driving back to Santa Cruz Saturday morning. There will be lots of traffic going over the hill. I would stay in or nearby Santa Cruz instead. I thought there were quite a few reasonably priced motels in the area...