U.S. Route 101 stretches for over 800 miles from Los Angeles to Tumwater, Washington, boasting endless natural splendor the entire way. In our humble opinion, however, it’s the section that stretches along the North Coast that we believe to be the most beautiful. If you ever feel like an adventure, it’s easy to hop on this highway and hit the gas until you land somewhere you want to explore. There’s a lot to see on this scenic highway in California, so take a look at what beauty awaits.

U.S. Route 101 begins its journey on the North Coast when it crosses into Mendocino County from Sonoma County. You'll get the first taste of redwood country as the highway passes through small, charming communities such as Ukiah and Willits on its way to ascend Ridgewood Summit.
David Seibold/Flickr
The highway then follows the Eel River to its mouth near Fortuna. This section of the freeway marks the transition into dense pine forest from open and airy oak forests and grasslands. Passing through the town of Leggett, your adventure into the redwoods has officially begun.
Don Barrett/Flickr
Upon entering Humboldt County, the highway stretches right through the heart of Richardson Grove State Park. Continuing north, the highway continues to pass through Humboldt Redwoods State Park, home to the largest remaining old-growth redwood forest in the world.
Wayne Hsieh/Flickr

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It seems like the beauty never stops! Next, the highway winds through the Avenue of the Giants, a destination for its towering, centuries-old redwood trees. The trees completely surround the highway for over 30 miles, making for a remarkable windshield view.
Redwood Coast/Flickr
The next section of the highway goes through the towns of Fortuna and Eureka before bearing east along Humboldt Bay. After passing through Arcata, you'll get your first full view of the ocean as Route 101 reaches Clam Beach and continues north to Trinidad.
Jeff Moser/Flickr
Up next are even more giant coast redwoods! Route 101 becomes an undivided freeway as it passes through Redwood National and State Parks, arriving in the town of Klamath at the mouth of the stunning Klamath River.
Rawpixel Ltd/Flickr
On its final stretch through California, Route 101 - specifically the Redwood Highway portion - makes its way through Crescent City and intersects with US 199. It then continues along California's North Coast before reaching the Oregon Border.
Ken Lund/Flickr

When was the last time you set off and explored this scenic highway in Northern California? Share your adventures with us in the comments below! Don’t forget to check out our Road Trip Essentials Packing List & Guide before you take off!

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U.S. Route 101

Christy Articola | November 28, 2022

I'm thinking about driving all of U.S. Route 101 from beginning to end. How long should I expect that to take?

That's great! It will take you a very long time, but it will certainly be an adventure that you will never forget and one that will stay with you for a lifetime! The entire length of U.S. Route 101 from Los Angeles to Washington State is 1,600 miles, so if you drove it without stopping, it would take you about 30 hours. But who wants to drive it all without stopping? Since you'll surely want to take your time, rest, and see lots of amazing sights along the way, you should plan at least a week for this road trip - and maybe even more.

This Northern California section of U.S. Route 101 sounds amazing! What other parts are travelers' favorites?

This route is really special from beginning to end and you'll never get bored along the way. However, with that said, there are some parts that people are very fond of, and it's likely that you will be, too! Here are a few to get you started:

 

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