Romantic Road Trips: The Pacific Coast Highway

Let’s face it, it’s been a tough year for couples. No matter how strong your connection might be, months and months of close contact in quarantine will have made it hard to keep the spark alive. Since whirlwind getaways to faraway places are off the table for the moment, we’ve distilled our vast wealth of vanlife knowledge with you in mind, bringing you America’s most romantic road trips – guaranteed to give that flame a bit of fresh air and room to grow.

Of course, there’s no better way to roll these roads in style and comfort than in a Moterra luxury campervan, so book now! Still, even if your rig is more Mad Max than mad comfy, this guide will not steer you wrong.

Start: San Francisco

Kick off your adventure in the Golden City of San Francisco with its dramatic sloping streets and bay views, then cross the legendary Golden Gate Bridge into the lush wetlands, plunging cliffs, and pounding surf of Point Reyes National Seashore. Explore the unique coastal rain forests. Relax on the beach. Then, drink in the soft briny flavors of Tomales Bay’s famous native oysters as the sun seeks repose somewhere behind the Pacific. Coastal campsites can be found just 20 miles north in Bodega Bay.

Cruise: The Pacific Coast Highway

In the morning, wake, stretch, and start your engine for one of the world’s greatest roads. The PCH covers the majority of the Golden State but hits its peak on the sweet curves of Marin County. The road winds its way over hundreds of miles of beaches and bluffs offering up jaw-dropping vistas and secret nooks that beg you to pull the van over and explore. Look for first-come first-served campsites at Salt Point, Gualala, or Manchester State Parks. Although these sites aren’t usually full, you’ll want to arrive early to ensure a spot. If that makes you nervous, contact our itineraries department for the pure relaxation of a fully planned and customized trip.

Stay: Mendocino

This coastal paradise stretches all the way to Alaska, so how far you go is up to you, but couples searching for a place to breathe should go at least as far as the iconic seaside town of Mendocino. Perched high on a bluff overlooking the Pacific sunset, this famous hideaway offers up perfect picnic spots on beaches of smooth sea glass, ocean adventures through kelp forests teeming with sea otters, and the best bed and breakfasts imaginable. We recommend taking a break from the road in this tranquil hamlet before continuing on up the coast or turning inland for new sights, sounds, and flavors.

Taste: Wines of Napa and Sonoma

Had your fill of ocean spray and sun-soaked beach days? Turn inland from Mendocino on the sun dappled, forest-bound road south into the morning mists of Anderson Valley and Pinot Noir Country. Next, jet down highway 101 towards Sonoma, Napa and the world-renowned vineyards of Sonoma’s Valley of the Moon Highway. Wine and wineries of this part of the world deserve a more comprehensive guide than just one paragraph. Suffice it to say that you will want to make sure you leave some time for tastings and tours as you wind your way through these golden hillsides and back back to the city.