Visitor driving down CA-1 (San Diego, San Jose: legal, beach, parking)

[Lariat]

I plan to fly out to San Jose on the 24th. From there I will drive down CA-1 to Big Sur then south to San Diego.

I'd like to know if there is anything else to do around the area? And what kind of traffic/tourists I can expect towards the end of April? Are there any parking spots where I am allowed to sleep overnight? I hear CA is unique in regard with many legal overnight parking.

Lastly, exactly where does CA-1 ends? I will drive towards Arizona and New Mexico.

Thanks y'all.

[EscapeCalifornia]

CA-1 runs along the coast down to Morro Bay where where it turns inland and merges with US-101. From there to Oxnard, 101 mostly stays along the coast. You can pick up CA-1 (Pacific Coast Highway) in Oxnard and head through Malibu if you want to stay coastal. But once you get into LA, CA-1 is just another urban street. Its not scenic and it'll take forever to get through LA. I'd just take the 405 even though it sucks, its still probably quicker than PCH. You can pick up PCH again in Long Beach and take it through Orange County. It'll merge with I-5 in Dana Point and that'll take you all the way down to I-8 which goes to Tucson.

[Charles]

Another option, if done in the middle of a weekday is take Highway 1 to Santa Monica then to Ocean Avenue/Neilson Way/Pacific to Brooks and Abbot Kinney/Washington/Lincoln (sounds confusing but it is really easy). Then take the 90 and catch the 405 south. With this route you can drive through Venice. A slight deviation is to cut one block east (maybe at Ocean Park or Pico) and take Main to Abbot Kinney.

Something like this:

CA-1 S to CA-90 E - Google Maps