Viktor150

Good time!
I and my son are biking from SF to LA.
Before that we fly to LAX (09.30.2017) with our bikes in carton boxes and go to SF. Please, what is the best way to go to SF (bus, rent car, ...)?
Thanks in advice.

TakingMyTime

Try Amtrak, if not that I would just rent a car. You get unlimited mileage and can make it in a day easily. The only thing is that you'll probably be charged something extra for not dropping it off where you rented it.

FBinNY 

Renting a car may be somewhat costly. You'll be hit with airport fees at both ends, plus a one way premium. I just checked, and Avis would run shy of $200 as a one day rental, more if you keep it a few days. Add about 20% to that in taxes, plus fuel on the road.

Bus and train may be less costly, but there'll be time and expense in the transfers at both ends. One thing to check is the airport to downtown options at both ends, and whether they take bikes.

It's probably too late now, but the easiest and possibly cheapest way would have bought the air tickets through to SF, with return from LA.

skidder

Just fly up to SFO from LAX. There are plenty of flights between the two airports, so it should not be a problem, but book ahead of time (like right now) to make sure you get a seat, and that the airline will transport your bicycles. Domestic airlines that have flights are UNited Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and others; contact those airlines (maybe websites?) and see what's needed to fly a bicycle on one of their planes. It will probably be the same box you pack it in on your initial flight into the USA and they will probably charge you a fee.

I presume you are coming in from a foreign country? You might want to stay one night at a hotel near LAX then fly to SFO the next day so you don't miss a flight due to slow immigration/customs or late arrival. You can also use the hotel shuttle to move your bicycles.

skidder

Also, be aware that the coastal highway (Highway 1 / Pacific Coast Highway) is closed due to a bridge collapse near Pfieffer State Park (just south of the Monterey/Carmel Valley area), AND a huge landslide farther south that took part of the road into the ocean. It won't reopen before the end of September. You might want to look at going down the Salinas Valley (Highway 101) which is just east of the coast.

Viktor150

Thank you very much! Your information is very usefull.
What do think about a biking from SF on the Pacific Coast Bike Route? Will it possible on October 5? Pfieffer State Park is the part of our route.

Tycho Brahe 

Definitely not. It will be years before that section of the Pacific Coast Highway will be open. Unfortunately, that is perhaps the best section of the PCH and the interior detour is neither scenic nor has amenities.

FBinNY 

I don't know about the landslide, but I hear that there's a bypass open for the bridge. It may involve some portage, but is reported to be workable.

I suggest the OP check local sources for up to date info, and/or consider either an alternate route, or a different ride altogether, maybe one that doesn't need transport form LA to SF.

Maybe a SoCal local might suggest an attractive circular ride of the same length out of the LA area, or starting and ending close by.

curbtender

https://www.amtrak.com/bring-your-bi..._group=Baggage

Viktor150

I thank all answered.
National parks the Big Basin, Big Sur and Pacific Coast are our purpose. Therefore we will try to do it)
I think that after 13 hour flight, Amtrak is not the best option, sorry. Therefore we will choose between the rented car and flight. Of course the night in hotel will be. Plan B is the return to SF or going to 101.
We have the tent, sleeping bags and camping equipment, so I hope no problem will be.
What do you think? It's important to me to know your opinion.

Darth Lefty 

Here's the California Department of Transportation website for Highway 1 conditions. This site will have short term maintenance, long term repairs, and whatever traffic reports (for example right now it's showing an overturned truck). The only intractable problem is the bridge out near Big Sur which has no detour or end date.

Current Conditions

Here is the California tourism board page showing suggestions which way to get around the closures. Focused on cars, of course, but at least it's not intractable.

How to Visit Big Sur During Highway One Road Closures

Tycho Brahe 

From that very page: It has been discussed recently, there is simply no way to use the PCH from Carmel to Cambria: https://www.bikeforums.net/southern-c...onditions.html

You can reach Big Sur if traveling south from SF, but you must backtrack all the way back to Monterey in order to take the 101 (not ideal for cyclists) south.

Viktor150

I thank Darth Lefty and Tycho Brahe.
I'll look at Current Conditions and I'll take into account the possibility of a backtracking to Monterey.
I've received a letter from Caltrans District 5 Public Information Officer. She wrote:
"You will have limited access; the bridge at Pfeiffer Canyon may have access then, but we won't know for sure for another week or so."
Therefore we will hope for the best and try to realize our plans)

skidder

I started this thread not too long ago about riding through the Salinas Valley rather than going along Hwy 1, it might prove useful:

https://www.bikeforums.net/northern-c...ll-length.html

If the link doesn't work (the BikeForums software can be a little fickle at times), go to the Northern California subforum and search for 'Salinas Valley' (which starts the thread). Its still on the first page if you just want to scroll down and find it.

skidder

If the SFO to LA ride doesn't work out, you could take the Amtrak 'Surfliner' train up to San Luis Obispo, then ride down from there to San Diego, then take the Amtrak Surfliner back up to Los Angeles. Options here include going north from San Luis Obispo to Paso Robles, taking Hwy 46 or 41 out to the coast to connect to Hwy1/PAcific Coast Hwy, then riding down to the Los Angeles area. Also: The route south of Los Angeles is a lot of developed suburbs, and you also have to register a few weeks in advance to ride through the Camp Pendelton Marine Base (between the towns of San Clemente and Oceanside), and bring Identification (passport would work) if you do try to go through the Base as they do have checkpoints.

The Amtrak station is in downtown Los Angeles (Union Station) and quite a ways from the airport, so just need to get transport to there (ask at your hotel when you arrive).

travelinhobo

I don't understand any cyclist who would WANT TO bike along the coast road where there is NO shoulder to bike in, one lane each way, contains big RVs and fast drivers and tourists!! I just did this section that the OP will be doing and my plan was never to stay along the coast after Monterey due to the lack of a shoulder. And I am a very experienced touring cyclist. The ride down from Salinas was quite fine (much safer than the San Joaquin Valley!!), however be warned that Salinas is a sketchy city and you should be careful when leaving your bikes alone.

caloso

What travelinhobo said. The only way I would ride Hwy 1 is with a full road closure.

Tycho Brahe 

I lived in Monterey for a few years and I would NEVER bike to Big Sur. Too many distracted tourists, no shoulder, camper vans.

Antartico

I rode from the golden gate to Santa Monica pier and Big Sur was the best part!

3949dxer

Me too and it was fantastic. I rode in the Fall and started early in the mornings when traffic was light. No problem at all. But for now this is a moot point because as explained above, the coast section is closed for the foreseeable future. And as I recall, bikes are not allowed on the walk-around detour north of Big Sur.

Viktor150

It's a time for biking on the HW 1 between Pfeiffer Bridge and Mud Creek Slice! There's no traffic! One auto in 3-5 min.
You can go to southern side of the Pfeiffer Bridge through camground, trail and 10 min upstairs. It's great!