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U.S. Route 101 | |
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South end | I-5 / I-10 / SR 60 in Los Angeles, CA |
How many miles is a Highway 101 road trip?
Unlike a PCH road trip, you can cover a lot of ground on a Highway 101 road trip without a huge investment of time. We’ll be starting our trip at the beginning of Highway 101 in Los Angeles, and driving 165 miles to our first stop on California’s Central Coast.
What is the northern terminus of US 101?
The nearly 1,550-mile-long (2,500 km) highway's northern terminus is in Tumwater, Washington: the route remains along the Olympic Peninsula 's coastal perimeter west, north, and east; the northernmost point on the highway is in Port Angeles. The southern terminus of US 101 is in Los Angeles at the East Los Angeles Interchange,...
Is US 101 a national road in California?
U.S. Route 101 in California. US 101 was also one of the original national routes established in 1926. Significant portions of US 101 between the Los Angeles area and the San Francisco Bay Area follow El Camino Real, the historic road connecting the former Alta California 's 21 missions .
What is the difference between Highway 1 and US 101?
Then US 101 takes an inland route through the Salinas Valley, while Highway 1 heads northwest, running along the Pacific coastline in California, parallel and to the west of US 101. A steep segment (7% grade) between San Luis Obispo and Atascadero is known as the Cuesta Grade.

Where does Hwy 101 begin and end?
U.S. Route 101 (US 101) is a major north–south United States Numbered Highway, stretching from Los Angeles, California to Tumwater, Washington.
How many miles long is Highway 101?
1,540 miU.S. 101 / Length
What cities does Highway 101 go through?
US Highway 101 - traveling to and from Central California most often involves a drive on the 101, the main north-south route through the area. We'll look here at the sights and cities along the way....Inland Cities from South to North:Buellton.Solvang.Santa Ynez.Lompoc.Santa Maria.Nipomo.Arroyo Grande.San Luis Obispo.More items...
How long does it take to drive the entire Highway 101?
If you were to drive non-stop, the total time it would take to drive Highway 101 is 30 hours, or about 1,600 miles. When planning a road trip up Highway 101, budget at least five days to get from one end to another (though a week or more is better for sightseeing and exploring).
What is the longest highway in the world?
The Pan-AmericanThe Pan-American is the longest highway in the world. This epic route, first proposed in 1889, runs south to north, or north to south, whichever way you prefer to travel. From Prudhoe Bay, Alaska in the U.S., all the way to the port city of Ushuaia, Argentina in the Tierra del Fuego.
What is the most scenic part of the Pacific Coast Highway?
One of the most scenic stretches of the Pacific Coast Highway is the route from San Francisco to Big Sur.
Is it better to drive north or south on Highway 1?
Driving the route from north to south is ideal, as you'll be on the ocean side of the road the entire way, allowing unobstructed views of the jagged coastline below.
What is the longest highway in America?
I-90 (3,102 miles) U.S. Route 30 (3,073 miles)...The longest road in America runs through 12 statesThe national highway system was first created to a common standard in the 1950s.U.S. Route 20 is the longest road, beginning in Boston at Route 2 and runs through to an intersection with US 101 in Newport, Ore.More items...•
What is the difference between Highway 1 and Highway 101?
This 50-mile section is sometimes called the Cabrillo Highway. You could drive it if you want to cover every single inch of the famous highway, but there's little of interest if you're just sightseeing. From Pismo Beach to San Luis Obispo, Highways 1 and 101 are the same.
Where can I sleep on the Pacific Coast Highway?
Best Hotels Along Pacific Coast HighwayThe Brewery Gulch Inn (Mendocino)Nick's Cove (Marshall)Pelican Inn (Muir Beach)Stanyan Park Hotel (San Francisco)Bella Notte Inn (Santa Cruz)Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa (Monterey)Candle Light Inn (Carmel-by-the-Sea)Fernwood Resort (Big Sur)More items...
Is Highway 1 worth the drive?
It's rightfully rated as one of the top road trips in the world. This is a particularly breathtaking drive, especially through Big Sur where the Santa Lucia mountains plunge into the sea, and the surf and wind relentlessly pound the rocks and shore below and bend the native cypress trees into otherworldly shapes.
What city is halfway between Seattle and Los Angeles?
Redding, California is halfway between Seattle and Los Angeles and it's our recommended overnight stop…
What is the longest highway in the United States?
I-90 (3,102 miles) U.S. Route 30 (3,073 miles)...The longest road in America runs through 12 statesThe national highway system was first created to a common standard in the 1950s.U.S. Route 20 is the longest road, beginning in Boston at Route 2 and runs through to an intersection with US 101 in Newport, Ore.More items...•
Can you drive an RV on 101?
All of Highway 101 is absolutely *fine* for big RVs. There are some slow spots, and some narrow sections here and there, but you'll see full sized tractor/trailer trucks on that highway. No worries in a large motorhome, just slow down for the narrow parts. There are plenty of warning signs on the highway!
Are Highway 1 and 101 the same?
California State Route 1 (Pacific Coast Highway) and US Highway 101 are two separate highways. The highways are often confused because they both follow the western coast of the United States and even connect at several points.
What is the speed limit on Highway 101 in Oregon?
The maximum posted speed on U.S. 101 is 55 miles per hour; the actual average speed is usually 50 mph or less.
Where is US 101 in California?
US-101 technically has two southern ends. There's one in California in downtown LA at the East LA Interchange and one in Olympia, Washington. The highway loops around the Olympic Peninsula in Washington, reaching its northernmost point at Port Angeles.
Why is US 101 not an interstate?
So, in short, to answer the question, the reason US 101 wasn’t made into an interstate is that it quite literally cannot be done.
How fast can a truck carry a tank on an interstate?
A truck can carry a tank on it’s flatbed at 60 miles/hour without damaging the road.
What is the name of the highway that runs east-west?
The numbering scheme is uniform (north-south roads have odd numbers, East-west roads have even numbers) and the numbers make sense (Interstate 10 runs along the southern states, with interstate 20 just north of it, then 30, 40, etc. Interstate 90 runs East-west along the northern states. It’s a massive grid.)
Where is Highway 101 in Washington?
Ironically, I now live in Port Angeles , Washington, and I'm near the other end of US 101. This highway is a complete anomaly of the US highway system as it was designed around 1926. Highway 101 north of forks Washington becomes designated as an East-West route over the top of the Olympic Peninsula. It serves to connect major hubs of the Northwest Peninsula, including Forks, Port Angeles, Sequim, and Discovery Bay. At Discovery Bay, the State Highway 20 directs traffic to Port Townsend and the ferry system to the northeast. 1 mile later, State Highway 104 picks up eastbound traffic utilizing the Hood Canal Floating Bridge, headed for the biggest cities with Seattle-influenced ferry traffic as well as roadway vehicle traffic for the Tacoma and Bremerton areas. US 101 then does an ironic turn upside down and becomes marked north-south in the other direction, south to Olympia for its so-called northern terminus.
When was Highway 101 decommissioned?
As the Eisenhower Interstate System was implemented, Interstate 5 was designed to carry much of the traffic of old Highway 101 south of the Cloverleaf, and that part of the 101 was decommissioned in the 1960s. I grew up in Mission Viejo, California, where the 101 used to pass by and now it is multiple lanes of the Interstate 5.
Which highway runs north-south along the west coast?
US101 which runs north-south along the west coast is one of those numbered federal-aid roads.
Where is US 101?
U.S. Route 101 ( US 101) is a major north–south United States Numbered Highway, stretching from Los Angeles, California to Tumwater, Washington. The California portion of US 101 is one of the last remaining and longest U.S. Routes still active in the state, and the longest highway of any kind in California. US 101 was also one of the original national routes established in 1926. Significant portions of US 101 between the Los Angeles area and the San Francisco Bay Area follow El Camino Real, the commemorative route connecting the former Alta California 's 21 missions .
Where is the south terminus of the 101?
The south terminus of US 101 is in Los Angeles, about one mile (1.6 km) east of downtown Los Angeles at the East Los Angeles Interchange, also known as the "Commuters' Complex". This southernmost portion is named the Santa Ana Freeway, inheriting that title as the northerly extension of the roadway now known as I-5. US 101 heads north for 2 miles (3.2 km) before merging with the western end of the San Bernardino Freeway (I-10) .
What is the name of the freeway that runs through San Francisco?
In the San Francisco Bay Area, US 101 was originally divided. US 101W followed the same general right-of-way of today's US 101 through the region, primarily along what was originally signed as Bayshore Boulevard. US 101E then generally followed the right-of-way taken by today's I-880 from San Jose to Oakland, then across the Carquinez Bridge to follow what is now SR 37, joining US 101W. The US 101E designation was removed by the 1940s and became SR 17 (later designated as I-880 and the westernmost section I-580 ), running from San Jose to Oakland and then across the Richmond–San Rafael Bridge. Meanwhile, Bayshore Boulevard was later redesignated as the US 101A bypass and then eventually upgraded to what is now the Bayshore Freeway. The first stretch that was completed between Redwood City and South San Francisco was the Bay Area's first freeway when it opened in 1947. After the entire Bayshore Freeway was completed in the early 1960s, the old alignment along the peninsula was renumbered and renamed as SR 82 /El Camino Real.
What is the name of the freeway that crosses the Pajaro River?
US 101 crosses the Pajaro River into Santa Clara County as a four-lane highway, with an interchange at SR 25 a few miles later. Upon reaching Gilroy, it becomes the South Valley Freeway (as in South Santa Clara Valley ), and at the same time, it expands to three lanes in each direction. It then enters Silicon Valley when reaching Morgan Hill, and shortly afterwards expands to four lanes in each direction, with an HOV lane in the middle, before reaching San Jose. From San Jose to San Francisco, US 101 is known as the Bayshore Freeway as it passes through Palo Alto and the other major communities along the San Francisco Peninsula .
What is the 101 highway?
The US 101 Highway is part of the auto tour route of the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail, a National Park Service unit in the United States National Historic Trail and National Millennium Trail programs. In 2005, Caltrans began posting signs on roads that overlap with the historic 1776 Juan Bautista de Anza trail route, so that California drivers can now follow the trail.
Where is 101 West?
From the Hollywood Split, US 101 is an east–west highway (until it reaches Gaviota State Park in Santa Barbara County where it shifts back to a north–south alignment). It meets with I-405 in Sherman Oaks, an interchange which holds claim to the most traveled intersection in the nation. The east–west geographical alignment of the Ventura Freeway and the north–south designation which appears on the freeway signs can be confusing to visitors; the same freeway entrance can often be signed as "101 North" and "101 West"; this is most common in the San Fernando Valley where the local E/W signing does not match the Caltrans' proper statewide N/S designation.
Where is the Hollywood split?
US 101 passes right next to the Universal Studios Hollywood and then intersects with SR 134 and SR 170 at the interchange known as the Hollywood Split. Here, the alignment of US 101 shifts to the alignment of SR 134 (i.e. heading northbound, the road's alignment turns left, or westbound) and thereafter is referred to as the Ventura Freeway until it reaches Ventura. Though confusing, the "Hollywood Freeway" name continues northward from this interchange on SR 170, and the "Ventura Freeway" name continues eastward to SR 134.
How long does it take to drive 101?
If you were to drive non-stop, the total time it would take to drive Highway 101 is 30 hours, or about 1,600 miles. When planning a road trip up Highway 101, budget at least five days to get from one end to another (though a week or more is better for sightseeing and exploring).
How long is Highway 101 from Los Angeles to Seattle?
Our Los Angeles to Seattle Highway 101 road trip will take you through striking landscapes, fascinating places, and diverse histories over its 1,540 mile span.
Is Seattle on the 101?
While it’s not technically on the 101 , Seattle is only an hour away from Tumwater (where the highway ends), and is the perfect place to end your adventure. A bustling big city with stunning natural features, Seattle has something for every visitor (just be sure to bring your rain jacket).
Is Highway 101 the same as Highway 1?
The Pacific Coast Highway (otherwise known as Highway 1 or PCH) is not the same as Highway 101. Although they meet briefly in Central California, Highway 101 and PCH combine for good in Northern California and continue up through Oregon and Washington as Highway 101.
How long does it take to drive the Pacific Coast Highway?
Although the Pacific Coast Highway and Highway 101 are mostly one and the same, there's a stretch of this route roughly between Salinas and San Luis Obispo when 101 goes inland. Going that way is about 126 miles, or about 2 hours of driving. Taking the coast route is about 150 miles and will take about 3 hours, as it's a slower route.
Can you cut across the Pacific Coast Highway?
Note that if you set off from either end along the Pacific Coast Highway then there's no easy place to cut across to the freeway and make up time . What you gain in time you'll lose in getting to the freeway to begin with, as it doesn't run close to the coast.
How many stops does the 101 bus have?
101 (Oceanside) is operational during everyday.#N#Additional information: 101 has 69 stops and the total trip duration for this route is approximately 108 minutes.
What time does the 101 bus start operating?
Services on the 101 bus start at 5:28 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.

Overview
U.S. Route 101 (US 101) is a major north–south United States Numbered Highway, stretching from Los Angeles, California to Tumwater, Washington. The California portion of US 101 is one of the last remaining and longest U.S. Routes still active in the state, and the longest highway of any kind in California. US 101 was also one of the original national routes established in 1926. Significant portions of US 101 between the Los Angeles area and the San Francisco Bay Area follow El Cami…
Route description
US 101 is part of the California Freeway and Expressway System, and is part of the National Highway System, a network of highways that are considered essential to the country's economy, defense, and mobility by the Federal Highway Administration.
Portions of US 101 are eligible to be included in the State Scenic Highway Syst…
Tolls
High-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes along US 101 between SR 237 in Mountain View and Whipple Avenue in Redwood City opened on February 11, 2022. These express lanes are planned to be extended further north to I-380 in San Bruno, and south to I-880 in San Jose.
As of February 2022 , the HOT lanes' hours of operation is weekdays between 5 a.m. and 8 p.m. Solo drivers are tolled using a variable pricing system based on the time of day. Motorcycles and …
History
The US 101 Highway is part of the auto tour route of the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail, a National Park Service unit in the United States National Historic Trail and National Millennium Trail programs. In 2005, Caltrans began posting signs on roads that overlap with the historic 1776 Juan Bautista de Anza trail route, so that California drivers can now follow the trail.
Future
The proposed Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing is a vegetated overpass spanning the Ventura Freeway and Agoura Road at Liberty Canyon in Agoura Hills. If built, it will be one of the largest urban wildlife crossings in the United States, connecting the Simi Hills and the Santa Monica Mountains over a busy freeway with ten traffic lanes (including exit lanes).
The Richardson Grove section of US 101 has been proposed for a bypass for many years, but Cal…
Major intersections
Except where prefixed with a letter, postmiles were measured on the road as it was in 1964, based on the alignment that existed at the time, and do not necessarily reflect current mileage. R reflects a realignment in the route since then, M indicates a second realignment, L refers to an overlap due to a correction or change, and T indicates postmiles classified as temporary (for a full list of prefixes, see California postmile § Official postmile definitions). Segments that remain unconstr…
See also
• California Roads portal
• National Register of Historic Places portal