Touring - San Fran to Santa Barbara-best time to do it

I'm interested in doing the pacific coast route from San Francisco to Santa Barabara. I have some free time in February, but when is the best time to do this trip?

I'm interested in doing the pacific coast route from San Francisco to Santa Barabara. I have some free time in February, but when is the best time to do this trip?

In September, right after Labor Day. The tourist crowds are (largely) gone, but you still have beautiful weather. I would expect February to be cold and rainy.

In September, right after Labor Day. The tourist crowds are (largely) gone, but you still have beautiful weather. I would expect February to be cold and rainy.

+1


Riding in Feb. I'd bring wool, rain pants, jacket and goretex socks. Stay at motels or carry a very nice tent. But then again it might be clear and breezy 55degrees.

Yeah, best time May-October. Cut out summer if you are concerned about traffic. Feb=possibly wet & cold, short days. You could do it, but I would decide at the last minute based on the forecast for the particular week, and be prepared to back out if the forecast is bad.

I agree with the posters above. I've done that stretch in both late May and early October and have generally had very good weather and no traffic problems. But the weather forecasts are usually pretty good on significant storms coming in from the Pacific so going earlier in the year would probably be fine if you have some flexibility to wait until the forecast looks good. There's also the issue of road closures due to rock slides. Last spring Hwy. 1 was closed for a short time north of Big Sur and for an extended period at Gorda - such closures aren't uncommon on the coast route so being flexible on the trip timing would be good.

Yeah, best time May-October. Cut out summer if you are concerned about traffic. Feb=possibly wet & cold, short days. You could do it, but I would decide at the last minute based on the forecast for the particular week, and be prepared to back out if the forecast is bad.
+1 Exactly what I was going to say.

I've always done it in mid-April, trying to catch the coastal wildflowers. Normally I'd start just south of SF, in Montera, so I don't have to ride over the Devil's Slide part of Hwy 1. One year, due to a land slide on Hwy 1, I had to get a ride all the way down to Paso Robles, ride to the coast from there, and then down.

It often is foggy in the morning and evening on the coast in April. Like everyone said above, postpone it if there is a storm coming through.

Ray

I'd wait, especially if you plan to camp. Short days will mean long, long nights in the dark at night. There are accommodations at scattered locations south of Monterey (Big Sur, Lucia, Gorda) but they're usually breathtakingly expensive. Winter can be beautiful -- calm, clear and crisp days in the 60s. But when you do get weather, the prevailing northwesterly winds (tailwinds for the southbound) back around to southerly, meaning you'll get whatever it throws you right in the face. I've ridden it in different seasons, and my hands-down favorite is end of September, after schools are in session. It's also nice to time it if you can so that you leave Monterey on a weekday early in the week, so the next few days don't intersect with heavier weekend traffic.

Any other possibilities you have in mind? Baja California? If you're planning to fly and looking for nice weather and longer days, you can easily put together a week on the island of Hawaii, if that appeals.

Best for weather,summer.....Best for traffic,winter.....Best overall,1st week after Labor Day.

Best for me.....ANYTIME!

In September, right after Labor Day. The tourist crowds are (largely) gone, but you still have beautiful weather. I would expect February to be cold and rainy.

+1 That is when I did it. Very little traffic.

Thanks. Looks like I'll have to make arrangements to do it later in the year.