U.S. Route 101, 101, the 101: whatever name you wish to call it by, this highway is certainly a staple for all road-trippers and beach bums looking to experience the majestic Pacific coast. 

Stretching from Washington State all the way down to Los Angeles along the coast, this highway is an iconic piece of California’s history and West Coast tourism. Here’s how the famous route came to be and, of course, what makes it so special!

The story behind the iconic U.S. Route 101

U.S. Route 101’s early beginnings

The story of scenic Route 101 starts back in the 1920s when the U.S. Numbered Highway System was first established — which, by the way, is also when Route 66 first came into existence! Originally envisioned as a series of connected state roads, Route 101 was designed to run along the entirety of the West Coast from San Diego to Olympia, WA, a distance of over 1,650 miles!

As the route was slowly pieced together, planners made sure to add several well-established routes that already existed in California at the time. Among these was a section of the El Camino Real, the historic Spanish trail connecting the 21 major California missions and which served as the major north-south route between San Francisco and San Diego until the 1920s. There was also a section that followed the scenic route known as the Avenue of the Giants, which passed through the massive redwood trees in the Redwood National and State Parks — today, the current route runs just parallel to the Avenue.

Oregon and Washington States completed their coastal highway systems in the 1930s —namely, the Oregon Coast Highway and the Olympic Loop Highway — which would connect all the major coastal sections north of California and complete the total length of Route 101. 

The majority of adjustments to the original plan for Route 101 happened in California between the 1930s and ‘40s, thanks to a surge in highway development in the southern parts of the state. The construction of freeways between San Francisco and Los Angeles caused several reroutes along Route 101, but it wasn’t until the construction of Interstate 5 between San Diego and Los Angeles in the 50s that officials began restructuring the state’s highway system. In 1963, Route 101’s southern terminus was moved from San Diego to Los Angeles, since Interstate 5 had all but replaced the section of highway anyway. 

Today, Route 101 still retains its coastal charm in many areas, though it occasionally deviates inland to connect major cities and bypass congested sections. With the interstate highways and freeways providing the efficiency required for necessary travel to and from major cities, Route 101 is free to do just what it was designed to: hug the coastline, pass under redwoods and follow the sunshine!

Scenic Route 101 today

As you cruise up Route 101 in Southern California, you'll encounter a diverse range of charming coastal cities, each with its own unique character.

From the bustling terminus in downtown Los Angeles near our Southern California apartments, the highway twists up and west through Hollywood, past Universal Studios and along the north side of the Santa Monica Mountains through Woodland Hills and Thousand Oaks. At Ventura, Route 101 hits the coast and hugs it all the way through Santa Barbara, after which it turns up through Gaviota State Park and continues through the mountains to Pismo Beach and San Luis Obispo. From here, the highway takes a stunning route through the Salinas Valley to Salinas, up to San Jose, San Francisco, Santa Rosa and then through the Northern Coast Mountain Ranges to Humboldt Bay on the Pacific Coast. 

From here, Route 101 follows the coast closely, passing through the dense, ancient forests in the Redwood National and State Parks and Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park. 

Route 101 continues northward through Oregon and Washington, offering equally scenic journeys along an increasingly wild and rugged coastline. In Oregon, the route is known as the Oregon Coast Highway, and it follows the strip of land between the dramatic shores and the snowy peaks of the Cascade Mountain Range. The highway passes through charming towns like Tilamook, Cannon Beach and Seaside before hopping over the Columbia River on the magnificent Astoria-Megler Bridge into Washington. 

In Washington, Route 101 becomes the Olympic Highway and encircles the lush, rainforest-covered Olympic Peninsula. The moss-lined road borders the Olympic National Park and passes by the Hoh River, through rainy Forks, alongside icy Lake Crescent and, finally, down the peninsula’s east shore to Olympia, where the iconic highway ends at its northern terminus — almost 1,540 miles away from its warm, sunny SoCal start.

Today, U.S. Route 101 is much more than just a transportation route. It's a symbol of coastal living, a testament to the beauty of the Pacific coast and a popular destination for road trips and scenic drives — no matter where you begin! So hit the road this weekend and see what all the hype is about; if you like it, follow it all the way up to Washington!

Have fun!

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Featured photo by Will Truettner on Unsplash