From Barstow to PCH101
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
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From: Western Canada
From Barstow to PCH101
What is the safest route to the Pacific coast hwy from Barstow CA? My friend and I just want to stay on the PCH all the way to Canada and avoid any of the hi population areas.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 333
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From: Cal., work in Saudi
Technically the PCH ends at the Ventura/Santa Barbara County line, but that's nit picking on my part.
Not sure about the safest but head west through the Mojave area, Tehachapi, bypass Bakersfield to CA 166 to US 101. You will miss Santa Barbara that way. On the other hand if you want to see SB do the same route but pick up Ca 33 southbound towards Ojai then 150 to 101. I haven't been to Ojai in about 100 years or so but it is a pretty cool town to browse around and have lunch in. The next nice town to spend half a day, or an overnight in is San luis Obispo. From there you can get off of US 101 and take Ca 1 up through Big Sur.
Look at mapquest or whatever map you use, 33 is a wicked (in a good way) bike road but will cost you almost a day compared to staying on 166. Either way there is not much gas west of Maricopa on the way to the coast. There is no good way to stay on or near the coast and miss San Fransisco or Seattle though. Weekends are highly recommended for those two.
That should be a great trip. I hope you have more than a week to get to Canada!
Not sure about the safest but head west through the Mojave area, Tehachapi, bypass Bakersfield to CA 166 to US 101. You will miss Santa Barbara that way. On the other hand if you want to see SB do the same route but pick up Ca 33 southbound towards Ojai then 150 to 101. I haven't been to Ojai in about 100 years or so but it is a pretty cool town to browse around and have lunch in. The next nice town to spend half a day, or an overnight in is San luis Obispo. From there you can get off of US 101 and take Ca 1 up through Big Sur.
Look at mapquest or whatever map you use, 33 is a wicked (in a good way) bike road but will cost you almost a day compared to staying on 166. Either way there is not much gas west of Maricopa on the way to the coast. There is no good way to stay on or near the coast and miss San Fransisco or Seattle though. Weekends are highly recommended for those two.
That should be a great trip. I hope you have more than a week to get to Canada!
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Stellar HDF Member
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From: Western Canada
Going to be the last leg of a big trip.
We'll be riding from Vancouver BC to Montreal and then south into the states. Down to St Louis and west from there on as many of the scenic hiways as possible. Take in a bit of old 66 and then onto the west coast. We will be riding the PCH all the way up on the way back to BC.
Thanks for the info.
Thanks for the info.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
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From: Western Canada
Thanks softtail
That sounds pretty easy to follow. We want to avoid any of the problem areas if possible. Don't want a flat tire and find ourselves in Watts or something like that.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
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From: lakeside ca.
the 210 should be no problem it goes on the north side of la and you miss most of the trouble traffic
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2009
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I210 is safe but it would be 100 miles of suburban freeway with not much to look at. I would suggest that you take I15 south towards San Bernadino but head west at Victorville (still high desert) and go to Vincent/Palmdale on Rt 18. Take the freeway to I5 and then jog over to CA 126 through Filmore. It will end at the PCH up in Ventura. It makes little sense to go south from Barstow, through LA, just to head north again on PCH (actually US 101) unless you are dying to ride an LA freeway. Once you get north of Santa Barbara, you can either stay on US 101 or follow the coastline on US1 (the real PCH) all the way up to Mendicino. North of Mendicino, US101 is the coast route for the rest of the way through OR and WA.
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Ultimate HDF Member
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From: Escondido, CA
From Barstow catch the 58 west. Past Edwards, west coast shuttle landing strip, over the Tehachipis and into Bakersfield. North on the 99 to the 46 west. Past the I-5 and intersect with the 41. Take the 41 into Atascadero (south on the 101 an exit or two is Gary Bang Harley) stay on the 41 to the 1 north through Big Sur. Best part of the 1 in the entire state. At Monterey you can head over to the 101 or stay on the 1 all the way to San Francisco.
Alternate route would be to stay on the 46 past the I-5 and go into Paso Robles and catch the 101 north. You'll miss the best coast ride you'll ever want to see but it's a little faster.
If you do the 1 take a few minutes to ride into Pacific Grove and check out the coastline. You can't do 17 mile drive on a motorcycle but the ride around PG is just as nice. Bring a camera.
Alternate route would be to stay on the 46 past the I-5 and go into Paso Robles and catch the 101 north. You'll miss the best coast ride you'll ever want to see but it's a little faster.
If you do the 1 take a few minutes to ride into Pacific Grove and check out the coastline. You can't do 17 mile drive on a motorcycle but the ride around PG is just as nice. Bring a camera.
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Joined: Apr 2009
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From: Long Island, NY
Sounds like a great trip and you've gotten some good advice. Last year on the last leg of our ride we rode from Barstow to San Diego.
Had to laugh at your post about avoiding "problem areas". The most dangerous part of the trip was our night out in Barstow. There were fights breaking out in each of the three bars we went to.
If you don't mind my asking, why are you starting from Barstow?
Had to laugh at your post about avoiding "problem areas". The most dangerous part of the trip was our night out in Barstow. There were fights breaking out in each of the three bars we went to.
If you don't mind my asking, why are you starting from Barstow?