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Interstate 238 and State Route 238 (California)

2025-10-26T16:40:53Z

2600:1700:6180:6290:99B3:3194:B6F1:9840:

{{Short description|State highway in California}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox road
| state = CA
| type = ISR
| route = 238
| section = 538
| maint = [[California Department of Transportation|Caltrans]]
| map = {{maplink-road|from=Interstate 238 and State Route 238 (California).map}}
| map_custom = yes
| map_notes = I-238 highlighted in red; SR 238 in purple; the gap represents the relinquished portion
| length_mi = 11.20
| length_round = 2
| length_ref = <ref name=trucklist /><ref name=bridgelog>{{Caltrans bridgelog|date=July 2007}}</ref>
| length_notes = Portions of SR 238 have been relinquished to or are otherwise maintained by local or other governments, and are not included in the length.
| history = Designated 1934 (as SR 9) July 1, 1964 renumbered SR 238<ref name="cah 238"/> Northernmost portion designated I-238 in May 1983 by [[Federal Highway Administration|FHWA]]<ref name="cah Interstates">{{cite web |first= Daniel P. |last= Faigin |url= http://cahighways.org/itypes.html |work= California Highways |publisher= Self-published |title= Interstate Highway Types and the History of California's Interstates |date= December 25, 2013 |access-date= December 25, 2013}}{{Verify credibility|failed=y|date=December 2013}}</ref>
| allocation = {{Plainlist|
*{{jct|state=CA|SR|238|nolink1=y}} from [[Fremont, California|Fremont]] to [[Castro Valley, California|Castro Valley]]
*{{jct|state=CA|I|238|nolink1=y}} from [[Castro Valley, California|Castro Valley]] to [[San Leandro, California|San Leandro]]
}}
| direction_a = South
| terminus_a = {{jct|state=CA|I|680}} in [[Fremont, California|Fremont]]
| junction =
*{{jct|state=CA|SR|84}} in Fremont
*{{jct|state=CA|SR|92|SR|185}} in [[Hayward, California|Hayward]]
*{{jct|state=CA|I|580}} in [[Castro Valley, California|Castro Valley]]
| direction_b = North
| terminus_b = {{jct|state=CA|I|880}} in [[San Leandro, California|San Leandro]]
| counties = [[Alameda County, California|Alameda]]
| previous_type = CA
| previous_route = 237
| next_type = SR
| next_route = 241
}}
'''Route 238''', consisting of '''State Route 238''' ('''SR 238''') and '''Interstate 238''' ('''I-238'''), is a mostly north–south [[state highway|state]] and [[List of auxiliary Interstate Highways|auxiliary Interstate]] highway in the [[San Francisco Bay Area]] of [[California]]. The southern segment is signed as SR 238 and is a divided multilane surface highway that runs parallel to the Hayward hills between [[Interstate 680 (California)|I-680]] in [[Fremont, California|Fremont]] and [[Interstate 580 (California)|I-580]] in [[Castro Valley, California|Castro Valley]]. The northern segment is signed as I-238 and is a six-lane freeway that runs more east–west between I-580 and [[Interstate 880 (California)|I-880]] in [[San Leandro, California|San Leandro]].

The numbering of I-238 does not fit within the [[Interstate Highway System#Auxiliary (three-digit) Interstates|usual conventions]] of existing three-digit auxiliary Interstate Highways, where a single digit is prefixed to the two-digit number of its parent Interstate Highway as I-38 does not exist. The I-238 number was specifically requested by the state of California so it could match the California Streets and Highways Code and because all three-digit combinations of [[Interstate 80 in California|I-80]] (the primary two-digit Interstate in the Bay Area) were already being used in the state.

Though some maps and signs mark SR 238 as continuous through [[Hayward, California|Hayward]], control of most of the route within the city was relinquished to that local jurisdiction and is thus no longer officially part of the state highway system.

==Route description==
Route 238 is defined as follows in section 538, subdivision (a), of the [[California Codes|California Streets and Highways Code]]:<ref name="CSHC538">{{Cite web|url=https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=SHC&sectionNum=538.|title=Section 538|work=California Streets and Highways Code|publisher=California Office of Legislative Counsel|location=Sacramento|access-date=August 24, 2025}}</ref>

<blockquote>Route 238 is from [[Interstate 680 (California)|Route 680]] in [[Fremont, California|Fremont]] to [[California State Route 61|Route 61]] near [[San Lorenzo, California|San Lorenzo]] via [[Hayward, California|Hayward]].</blockquote>

Route 238 was never fully constructed to extend to near San Lorenzo as it is defined, as was [[California State Route 61|SR 61]]'s proposed southern extension from that highway's current southern terminus in [[San Leandro, California|San Leandro]]. Also, former portions of Route 238 have been relinquished by the state to the city of [[Hayward, California|Hayward]]. However, section 538 subdivision (b) further mandates that the city must still "maintain within their respective jurisdictions signs directing motorists to the continuation of Route 238". In addition, subdivision (c) permits the state to relinquish the remaining conventional highway portion of Route 238 located in Hayward to the city.<ref name="CSHC538"/>

Only the constructed segment of Route 238 from [[Interstate 580 (California)|I-580]] in [[Castro Valley, California|Castro Valley]] to [[Interstate 880 (California)|I-880]] in San Leandro is considered an Interstate Highway according to the [[Federal Highway Administration]] (FHWA)'s route logs.<ref name=fhwa-nhs /><ref name="FHWA">{{cite web|title=Table 1: Auxiliary Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System Of Interstate and Defense Highways|url=https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/interstate_highway_system/routefinder/table02.cfm|work=FHWA Route Log and Finder List|publisher = [[Federal Highway Administration]]|date=January 2025|access-date=August 24, 2025}}</ref>

Route 238 is part of the [[California Freeway and Expressway System]]<ref name="cafes">{{CAFESystem}}</ref> and is part of the [[National Highway System (United States)|National Highway System]],<ref name=fhwa-nhs>{{FHWA NHS map|region=sanfrancisco|access-date=September 4, 2017}}</ref> a network of highways that are considered essential to the country's economy, defense, and mobility by the [[Federal Highway Administration]] (FHWA).<ref name=NHS-FHWA>{{FHWA NHS}}</ref>

===SR 238===
SR 238 runs from [[Interstate 680 (California)|I-680]] in [[Fremont, California|Fremont]] to [[Union City, California|Union City]], [[Hayward, California|Hayward]] and [[Interstate 580 (California)|I-580]] in [[Castro Valley, California|Castro Valley]] parallel to the Hayward hills. Until I-680 was completed in the area and supplanted it completely as a through route, SR 238 extended south to [[San Jose, California|San Jose]] at its intersection with [[U.S. Route 101 in California|US Route 101]] (US 101). Locally, it is designated '''Mission Boulevard''' from I-680 to the intersection with [[California State Route 92|SR 92]] and [[California State Route 185|SR 185]] (which continues as Mission Boulevard) in Hayward. It is designated as '''Foothill Boulevard''' in northern Hayward from A Street to I-580.

In [[Downtown Hayward]] immediately north of SR 92, northbound traffic continues along the original SR 238 alignment on Foothill Boulevard, while southbound traffic is diverted onto A Street and Mission Boulevard. This [[One-way pair|loop of one-way streets]] is known as the "Hayward Loop".<ref name="Hayward Loop">{{cite web|url=http://www.haywardloop.org/|title=The Hayward Loop|access-date=March 18, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130702190937/http://www.haywardloop.org/#|archive-date=July 2, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====Mission Boulevard====
{{redirect|Mission Boulevard (East Bay, California)|the segment connecting I-880 and I-680, just to the south|California State Route 262|the segment north of SR 92|California State Route 185}}
[[File:CA 238 approaching CA 84.jpg|left|thumb|SR 238 approaching SR 84 (Niles Canyon Road) in Fremont]]
Mission Boulevard, the former [[El Camino Viejo]] and [[El Camino Real (California)|El Camino Real]], is the road that passes in front of [[Mission San José (California)|Mission San José]], the historic [[Spanish missions in California|Spanish Mission]] founded in 1797, for which the road is named. Mission Boulevard proceeds in both directions from the Mission, but mainly northwest (the former El Camino Viejo) through Fremont, Union City, and Hayward. At the north end of Hayward, it changes its name to East 14th Street, which continues as a major thoroughfare going through [[San Leandro, California|San Leandro]] and [[Oakland, California|Oakland]]. Since it runs along the base of the hills, Mission Boulevard nearly coincides with the [[Hayward Fault]], a major earthquake fault, for almost the entire length of the Boulevard. The southern direction from the Mission San José is the former El Camino Real route to [[Mission Santa Clara de Asís]].

Mission Boulevard joins the historic centers of the [[Mission San Jose, Fremont, California|Mission San Jose]] and [[Niles, Fremont, California|Niles]] districts of Fremont (formerly independent towns), the Decoto district of [[Union City, California|Union City]] (formerly an independent town), and [[Hayward, California|Hayward]].

===I-238===
[[File:Eastern End of Interstate 238.jpg|thumb|right|Eastern end of Interstate 238 at the interchange with Interstate 580 in Ashland]]
Although the {{convert|2.23|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} I-238 goes in an east–west direction from [[Castro Valley, California|Castro Valley]] to [[San Leandro, California|San Leandro]], the [[California Department of Transportation]] (Caltrans) officially signs it as a north–south freeway since the rest of SR 238 is more north–south. The southern (geographically eastern) terminus of I-238 is at its interchange with [[Interstate 580 (California)|I-580]] and SR 238 in Castro Valley. From there, it enters into the southern portion of the [[census-designated place]] of [[Ashland, California|Ashland]], running parallel to its border with [[Cherryland, California|Cherryland]]. Then, after entering San Leandro, I-238 ends at its northern (geographically western) terminus with [[Interstate 880 (California)|I-880]].

I-238 and I-880 are used as an alternate truck route between Castro Valley and [[Oakland, California|Oakland]]; trucks over {{convert|4.5|ST|t LT}} are prohibited through the latter on I-580.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/engineering/trucks/routes/restrict-hist-580.htm |title= California Interstate Route 580 Special Restriction History |publisher= California Department of Transportation | access-date=April 7, 2011}}</ref>

====I-238 numbering====
I-238 does not follow established [[Interstate Highway System#Numbering system|rules for numbering Interstates]] as there is no I-38. As it connects two auxiliary routes of [[Interstate 80 in California|I-80]], it would normally use a three-digit number ending in 80, but, of the nine possible numbers, two ([[California State Route 180|180]] and [[California State Route 480|480]]) were in use by State Routes (the latter an Interstate until 1968 though SR 480 was deleted in 1991), and the remainder were already in use by other California auxiliary routes. ([[Interstate 880 (California)|I-880]] was designated at the same time as I-238.) I-238 is treated as an auxiliary route of I-80 instead.

==History==
===State Route 9===
{{main|California State Route 9#History}}
{{infobox road small
|state=CA
|type=CA 1957
|route=9
|location= [[Fremont, California|Fremont]]–[[Santa Cruz, California|Santa Cruz]]
|formed=1934
|deleted=1963 north of [[California State Route 17|SR 17]]
}}
Before California massively [[1964 state highway renumbering (California)|renumbered its state highways in 1964]], SR 238 was part of [[California State Route 9|SR 9]], which extended south to [[San Jose, California|San Jose]] and [[Santa Cruz, California|Santa Cruz]].<ref name="cah 238"/>

===Canceled Foothill/Mission Freeway project===
For several decades, SR 238 from [[Interstate 680 (California)|I-680]] in Fremont to Hayward was planned to be upgraded to a freeway, called the "Mission" or "Foothill" freeway.<ref name="cah 238">{{cite web | first= Daniel P. |last= Faigin |url= http://cahighways.org/233-240.html#238 |work=California Highways |title= Routes 233 through 240 |publisher= Self-published |access-date=January 26, 2013}}{{sps|certain=y|date=December 2013}}</ref> The segment was submitted to the Interstate Highway System in October 1968 but was rejected.<ref name="cah Interstates"/> Then, after years of various lawsuits and appeals, [[California Department of Transportation|Caltrans]] decided to cancel the project in 2003 and sell off the property it had acquired in the name of [[eminent domain]] along the proposed route.<ref name="cah 238"/><ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-02-21|title=Even freeways that don't get built leave a scar. How one Bay Area city is healing|url=https://www.latimes.com/homeless-housing/story/2022-02-21/hayward-freeway-caltrans-homes|access-date=2022-02-22|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}</ref>

As an alternative, SR 238 was proposed to be expanded from two lanes in each direction to three lanes in each direction along the majority of its width. Various other improvements began in July 2010.<ref>[http://hayward-ca.gov/forums/rte-238/pdf/Route_238-Four_Page_NOP_11-21-05.pdf Route 238 Corridor Improvement Project] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061029162728/http://hayward-ca.gov/forums/rte-238/pdf/Route_238-Four_Page_NOP_11-21-05.pdf |date=October 29, 2006 }}</ref> The [[California State Legislature]] then relinquished control of the segment of SR 238 within Hayward between Industrial Parkway and the Castro Valley border/Apple Avenue to local control in 2012.<ref name="cah 238"/> In March 2013, the routing in Downtown Hayward was changed to include a one way circulation known as the "Hayward Loop", designed to improve traffic flow between SR 238, SR 185, and SR 92.<ref name="Hayward Loop"/>

===I-238 segment===
The section of road that is now I-238 had no signed number before the [[1964 state highway renumbering (California)|1964 renumbering]]; it was [[pre-1964 Legislative Route 228 (California)|pre-1964 Legislative Route 228]] (along with an unbuilt extension west to unbuilt [[California State Route 61|SR 61]], which is still included in the SR 238 definition). The segment was then built as a freeway in 1956.<ref name="bridgelog"/>

When I-880 was added to the Interstate Highway System as a renumbering of part of [[California State Route 17|SR 17]], the short piece of SR 238 connecting I-880 to I-580 was also added; both were non-chargeable routes (not eligible for Interstate Completion funds). Both numbers—I-238 and I-880—were approved by the [[American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials]] (AASHTO) on July 7, 1983.<ref name="cah Interstates"/> The interchanges with I-580 and I-880 were rebuilt from 1988 to 1994, in part to add missing ramps between I-238 and I-880 toward the south.<ref name="bridgelog"/> Prior to the completion of the ramps, access was provided by Hesperian Boulevard.

On July 7, 1983, while approving the designation, AASHTO said:
{{quote|This is to inform you that your application for the elimination of [[Interstate 180 (California)|Route 180]] and extension of Route 580, and the establishment of Route 880 and Route 238 have been approved.{{br}}However, since the I-238 designation does not fit the overall national numbering sequence and was necessitated only because all [[Three-digit Interstate|three[-digit] combinations]] of I-80 have been used, the Committee has a further option to offer for your consideration. If the I-580 designation [were] continued from Castro Valley to San Lorenzo and then used in place of the proposed I-880 designation northerly to Oakland and over existing I-180 between Albany and San Rafael, then existing I-580 between Castro Valley and Oakland could be designated I-180. The Committee does recognize this option would involve considerable resigning, however.}}

On July 27, 1983, Caltrans responded:
{{quote|We already have a [[California State Route 180|State Route 180]] in our Fresno area, and this route is separated from I-580 in Castro Valley by about {{convert|100|mi|km|disp=sqbr}}. We are therefore unable to recommend the designation of existing I-580 between Castro Valley and Oakland as I-180.<ref>{{cite web |author= Casey |url= http://gbcnet.com/roads/I-238/ |title= Indigestion 238 |publisher= Casey's Roads and Highways Page |access-date= January 26, 2013}}{{sps|certain=y|date=December 2013}}</ref>}}

With the decommissioning of SR 480 in 1991, the "480" designation was once again made available. However, there has been no push since then to renumber I-238 to I-480.

In September 2006, a project began to reconstruct the entire length of I-238, including a reconfigured interchange with I-880 and an added travel lane in each direction. Additionally, almost all the bridges and overpasses were replaced with new ones meeting current [[earthquake]] resistance standards. The project was completed in October 2009, six months ahead of schedule.<ref>{{cite press release |first=Phyllis |last=Moore-Lewis |url=http://dot.ca.gov/dist4/newsreleases/238rc_nr091009.pdf |title=Caltrans Celebrates Widening of Interstate 238 With Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony |access-date=September 14, 2012 |date=October 29, 2009 |publisher=California Department of Transportation |archive-date=March 30, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100330073237/http://dot.ca.gov/dist4/newsreleases/238rc_nr091009.pdf}}</ref>

===Canceled northwestern extension===
There were plans to extend Route 238 from I-880 to [[California State Route 61|SR 61]]. SR 61 itself was originally planned to extend south from San Leandro, and across present-day open [[San Francisco Bay]] or wetlands, to as far south as the [[Dumbarton Bridge (California)|Dumbarton Bridge]]'s east approach. The SR 61/238 interchange would likely have sat atop landfill; as public opinion shifted against filling in the bay, completing the remaining portions of both highways also fell out of favor.<ref name="cah 238"/>

==Major intersections==
{{CAinttop|exit
|county=Alameda
|length_ref= <ref name=trucklist>{{Caltrans trucklist}}</ref><ref name=bridgelog>{{Caltrans bridgelog|date=July 2007}}</ref><ref>[[California Department of Transportation]], [http://traffic-counts.dot.ca.gov/ All Traffic Volumes on CSHS], 2005 and 2006</ref>
|exit_ref=<ref name=calnexus>{{cite web |date=October 19, 2018 |publisher=[[California Department of Transportation]] |work= [[California Numbered Exit Uniform System]] |url=https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/safety-programs/documents/exit/f0017868-238-a11y.pdf |title= Interstate 238 Freeway Interchanges |access-date=October 17, 2020}}</ref>
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Fremont
|lspan=4
|mile=0.00
|mspan=2
|road=Mission Boulevard
|notes=Continuation beyond I-680; former [[Interstate_680_(California)#Historic_routing|SR 21]] south
}}
{{CAint|exit
|mile=none
|road={{Jct|state=CA|I|680|city1=San Jose|city2=Sacramento}}
|notes=Interchange; southern end of SR 238; I-680 exit 16
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=concur
|mile=3.31
|road={{Jct|state=CA|SR|84|dir1=west|name1=Mowry Avenue|city1=Centerville District|city2=Newark|city3=Dumbarton Bridge}}
|notes=South end of SR 84 overlap
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=concur
|mile=3.64
|road={{Jct|state=CA|SR|84|dir1=east|name1=Niles Canyon Road|city1=Sunol|city2=Livermore|city3=Niles District|road|Niles Boulevard}}
|notes=North end of SR 84 overlap
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Union City
|mile=6.78
|road=Decoto Road – [[Decoto, California|Decoto District]], [[Dumbarton Bridge (California)|Dumbarton Bridge]]
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Hayward
|lspan=6
|mile=9.32
|road={{Jct|state=CA|road|Alquire Parkway, Industrial Parkway|I|880|to2=yes}}
|notes=Northern end of state maintenance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|mile=9.94
|road=Tennyson Road
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|mile=11.20
|road={{Jct|state=CA|road|Harder Road|to2=yes|SR|92|I|880|location1=[[San Mateo–Hayward Bridge|San Mateo Bridge]]}}
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|mile=12.61
|road={{Jct|state=CA|SR|92|to2=yes|I|880|name1=Jackson Street|city1=San Mateo Bridge|city2=San Mateo|city3=San Jose}}
|notes=No northbound access; south end of "Hayward Loop" [[one-way pair]] where northbound traffic continues on Foothill Boulevard and southbound traffic joins from Mission Boulevard
}}
{{CAint|exit
|mile=12.61
|type=incomplete
|road={{Jct|state=CA|SR|185|dir1=north|name1=[[Mission Boulevard (East Bay, California)|Mission Boulevard]] north|road|A Street west}}
|notes=Northbound access is via a left turn on A Street; southbound traffic turns left from A Street west onto Mission Boulevard south
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|mile=13.12
|road=A Street
|notes=North end of "Hayward Loop" [[one-way pair]] where southbound traffic is diverted onto A Street west
}}
{{CAint|exit
|mile=14.08
|location=Hayward
|location2=Castro Valley
|place=Southern end of state maintenance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Castro Valley
|lspan=5
|mile=14.10
|mspan=2
|type=incomplete
|road={{jct|state=CA|I|580|name1=[[MacArthur Freeway]]|dir1=west|city1=Oakland}}
|notes=Interchange; northbound exit and southbound entrance; I-580 exit 34
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|mile=none
|road={{jct|state=CA|I|580|name1=[[MacArthur Freeway]]|dir1=east|city1=Stockton}}
|notes=Interchange; northbound exit only
}}
{{CAint|exit
|mile=14.50
|road=Castro Valley Boulevard, Mattox Road
|notes=Interchange northbound and at-grade intersection southbound
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=trans
|mile=14.74
|place=Northern end of SR 238; southern end of I-238 Freeway
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|mile=14.74
|exit=14
|road={{jct|state=CA|I|580|name1=[[MacArthur Freeway]]|city1=Oakland|city2=Stockton}}
|notes=Southbound left exit and northbound left entrance; I-580 exit 34
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Ashland
|mile=14.98
|exit=15
|road={{Jct|state=CA|SR|185|name1=East 14th Street, Mission Boulevard}}
|notes=Mission Boulevard not signed northbound despite the name change when SR 185 cross I-238
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=San Leandro
|lspan=4
|mile=15.22
|exit=16A
|road={{Jct|state=CA|I|880|dir1=south|name1=[[Nimitz Freeway]]|city1=San Jose|location2=[[San Mateo–Hayward Bridge|San Mateo Bridge]]}}
|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance; former [[California State Route 17|SR 17]] south; I-880 north exit 31A
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|mile=15.46
|exit=16B
|road=Hesperian Boulevard – [[San Lorenzo, California|San Lorenzo]]
|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|mile=15.70
|exit=17A
|road=Washington Avenue
|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|mile=15.96
|exit=17B
|road={{Jct|state=CA|I|880|dir1=north|name1=[[Nimitz Freeway]]|city1=Oakland}}
|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance; northern end of I-238; former [[California State Route 17|SR 17]] north; I-880 south exit 31
}}
{{Jctbtm|col=6|keys=concur,incomplete,trans}}

==See also==
*{{portal-inline|California Roads}}
*{{Portal-inline|San Francisco Bay Area}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book|first=Sherman|last=Lewis|title=The Rise and Fall of Hayward's Route 238 Bypass|publisher=Hayward Area Planning Association|year=2021|isbn=979-8753811523}}

==External links==
{{Attached KML|display=inline,title|from=Interstate 238 and State Route 238 (California)}}
{{commons category multiple|California State Route 238|Interstate 238}}
{{CASR external links|I|238}}
*[http://www.cahighways.org/233-240.html#238 California Highways: SR 238]
*[http://kurumi.com/roads/3di/ix38.html I-238 California]: Kurumi
*[http://www.aaroads.com/california/i-238_ca.html California @ AARoads.com - Interstate 238]
*[http://www.aaroads.com/california/ca-238.html California @ AARoads.com - State Route 238]
*[http://gbcnet.com/roads/I-238/ Indigestion 238]: A history of the route and a full explanation of its numbering

{{I-80 aux}}
{{interstates}}

[[Category:Interstate Highway System|38-2]]
[[Category:Interstate Highways in California|38-2]]
[[Category:San Francisco Bay Area freeways|238]]
[[Category:Auxiliary Interstate Highways|38-2]]
[[Category:State highways in California|238]]
[[Category:Roads in Alameda County, California|State Route 238]]

California State Route 39

2025-10-26T16:38:10Z

2600:1700:6180:6290:99B3:3194:B6F1:9840:

{{Short description|State highway in California}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox road
|state=CA
|type=SR
|route=39
|section=339
|maint=[[California Department of Transportation|Caltrans]]
|map={{maplink-road|from=California State Route 39.map}}
|map_custom=yes
|map_notes=SR 39 highlighted in red; gaps indicate the unconstructed or relinquished portions
|length_mi=54.19
|length_ref=<ref name=trucklist/>
|length_round=3
|length_notes=SR 39 is broken into pieces due to an unconstructed portion, and the length does not reflect the gap. Also, portions of SR 39 have been relinquished to or are otherwise maintained by local or other governments, and are not included in the length.
|established=1934<ref name="cah 39">{{cite web|url=http://cahighways.org/033-040.html#039|title=California Highways (www.cahighways.org): Routes 33 through 40|website=Cahighways.org|access-date=21 May 2018}}</ref>
|direction_a=South
|section1=Southern segment
|terminus_a1={{jct|state=CA|SR|1}} in [[Huntington Beach, California|Huntington Beach]]
|junction1=
*{{jct|state=CA|I|405}} at the Huntington Beach–[[Westminster, California|Westminster]] line
*{{jct|state=CA|SR|22}} in Westminster
*{{jct|state=CA|SR|91}} [[Buena Park]]
*{{jct|state=CA|I|5}} in Buena Park
|terminus_b1=[[Whittier Boulevard]] / [[Harbor Boulevard]] in [[La Habra]]
|section2=Northern segment
|terminus_a2={{jct|state=CA|I|10|CR|N8}} in [[West Covina, California|West Covina]]
|junction2={{jct|state=CA|I|210}} in [[Azusa, California|Azusa]]
|direction_b=North
|terminus_b2={{jct|state=CA|SR|2}} in [[Angeles National Forest]]
|restrictions=The segment from north of Crystal Lake Road to its northern terminus at [[California State Route 2|SR 2]] is closed indefinitely to public highway traffic
|counties=[[Orange County, California|Orange]], [[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles]]
|previous_type=SR
|previous_route=38
|next_type=I
|next_route=40
}}

'''State Route 39''' ('''SR 39''') is a state highway in the [[U.S. state]] of [[California]] that travels through [[Orange County, California|Orange]] and [[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles]] counties. Its southern terminus is at [[Pacific Coast Highway (US)|Pacific Coast Highway]] ([[California State Route 1|SR 1]]), in [[Huntington Beach, California|Huntington Beach]]. SR 39's northern terminus is at [[Islip Saddle]] on [[Angeles Crest Highway]] ([[California State Route 2|SR 2]]) in the [[Angeles National Forest]], but its northernmost {{convert|4.5|mi|km|adj=on}} segment (including the connection with SR 2) has been closed to public highway traffic since 1978 due to a massive mud and rockslide.

Officially, the highway is broken into pieces. Caltrans has not adopted or signed the segment between [[La Habra, California|La Habra]] and [[West Covina, California|West Covina]]. Caltrans has also relinquished segments of SR 39 within the cities of [[Anaheim, California|Anaheim]] in 2024,<ref>{{cite web| title=Anaheim's Beach Boulevard will see new affordable housing community, Dutch Bros and other eateries soon |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2025/04/15/anaheims-beach-boulevard-will-see-new-affordable-housing-community-dutch-bros-and-other-eateries-soon/|website=[[Orange County Register]]| date=April 15, 2025 |accessdate=18 September 2025}}</ref> [[Buena Park, California|Buena Park]] in 2013, [[Azusa, California|Azusa]] by 2010, [[Covina, California|Covina]] by 2010, and [[West Covina, California|West Covina]] by 2013, although some maps and signs may still mark SR 39 as continuous through these cities. Since 2001, a portion of SR 39 that runs through the city of [[Stanton, California|Stanton]] has also been considered for relinquishment to the city.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/tpp/corridor-mobility/documents/d_12_docs/route39.pdf |title=Route 39 and Caltrans|website=Dot.ca.gov|access-date=20 May 2018}}</ref>

Major places of interest along SR 39 are [[Knott's Berry Farm]], an amusement park; [[Adventure City]], another amusement park targeted for children; Huntington Beach, a local beach; a [[Medieval Times]] location; the Buena Park Auto Center; and the Westridge Golf Course in [[La Habra, California|La Habra]].

==Route description==
SR 39 begins at [[California State Route 1|SR 1]] (Pacific Coast Highway) in [[Huntington Beach, California|Huntington Beach]] and runs north along Beach Boulevard to [[Whittier Boulevard]] in [[La Habra, California|La Habra]], with the exception of two stretches: the segment between Stanton Avenue and [[Interstate 5 in California|Interstate 5]] was relinquished to the city of [[Buena Park, California|Buena Park]] in 2013, and the segment between the [[Stanton, California|Stanton]]–[[Anaheim, California|Anaheim]] line and Stanton Avenue was relinquished to the city of Anaheim in 2024. SR 39 briefly enters [[La Mirada, California|La Mirada]] and Los Angeles County near [[Rosecrans Avenue]], then goes back into Orange County at the [[La Habra, California|La Habra]]–La Mirada line. SR 39 then turns east along Whittier Boulevard to Harbor Boulevard, taking over a former segment of [[California State Route 72|SR 72]], while the remaining segment SR 72 remains on Whittier Boulevard west of Beach Boulevard.

The segment from the Whittier–Harbor intersection to the [[San Bernardino Freeway]] ([[Interstate 10 (California)|Interstate 10]]) in [[West Covina, California|West Covina]] is not officially designated by Caltrans (as indicated by an "END 39" sign at the Whittier–Harbor intersection). Under [[s:California Streets and Highways Code, Chapter 2, Article 3, Section 301-635#Route 39|California Streets and Highways Code § 339 (d)]], the traversable route takes SR 39 along Harbor Boulevard north, Fullerton Road north, and then Colima Road west to Azusa Avenue in [[Hacienda Heights, California|Hacienda Heights]]. SR 39 would then continue north on Azusa Avenue through the [[City of Industry, California|City of Industry]] to Interstate 10.<ref name=SB1318>{{cite act |type=Section|index=17|date=2010|article=491 |article-type=Chapter |legislature=[[California State Legislature]]|title=An act to amend Section 14556.40 of, and to repeal Section 14529.15 of, the Government Code, to amend Sections 21669.6, 24908, 29034.7, 29035.5, 99221, 99313.1, 99633, and 132820 of, and to repeal Section 132352.6 of, the Public Utilities Code, to amend Sections 149.5, 301, 302, 319, 339, 358, 371, 372, 374, 379, 383, 384, 411, 444, 451, 460, 464, 470, 560, 30914, and 30914.5 of, to add Section 575 to, and to repeal Section 301.5 of, the Streets and Highways Code, and to amend Sections 2800, 5201, 14611, 21754, 21755, 22452, 22511.55, 24400, 26100, 26101, 26505, 29004, 34518, and 40802 of, and to add Section 667 to, the Vehicle Code, relating to transportation.|url=http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=200920100SB1318}}</ref>{{Disputed inline|Segment between La Habra and West Covina|date=April 2021}}

Adopted SR 39 then resumes and signs for SR 39 appear on Azusa Avenue from its junction with Interstate 10 in West Covina, and through [[Covina, California|Covina]] to First Street in the city of [[Azusa, California|Azusa]] just north of [[Interstate 210 (California)|Interstate 210]]. The route then runs as a [[One-way pair|couplet]] (composed of two one-way streets), with northbound traffic on Azusa Avenue, and southbound traffic on San Gabriel Avenue, to Sierra Madre Avenue where the two one-way streets converge to form San Gabriel Canyon Road. Although Caltrans relinquished the entire route in the cities of West Covina, Covina, and Azusa, SR 39 shields remain on this segment of the highway.

State maintenance of SR 39 begins again along San Gabriel Canyon Road at the north limit of Azusa. The highway winds through the [[San Gabriel Mountains]] in the [[Angeles National Forest]] for {{convert|22.6|mi|km}} until it reaches a gate barring the road {{convert|0.25|mi|km}} north of Crystal Lake Road in the [[Crystal Lake Recreation Area]]. The last few miles of the route, including the connection to [[California State Route 2|SR 2]], are closed to public highway traffic, as the roadbed has been closed since 1978, due to major rock slides that year and again in 2005 which damaged more of the remaining roadbed.

A replacement of the section north of [[East Fork Road]], in the next canyon to the east, was partly built in 1936 and 1961, but was never completed. The section includes one bridge and two tunnels; it was never used by automobile or truck traffic. In one local hiking guide the section is identified as the "Road to Nowhere" and the "Convict Road", although the official name is the Shoemaker Road and was planned to be an escape route in times of nuclear warfare.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wejc.com/photo_gallery/the_convict_road.htm |title=The Convict Road |access-date=2010-04-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110117030054/http://www.wejc.com/photo_gallery/the_convict_road.htm |archive-date=2011-01-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref> A ca. 1967<ref name="bridgelog" /> replacement, much closer to the existing alignment, was also stopped prematurely, and so the middle of the segment between East Fork Road and the closure gate, with its many [[hairpin curve]]s, still exists.

SR 39 is part of the [[California Freeway and Expressway System]],<ref name="cafes">{{CAFESystem}}</ref> and the urban portions of SR 39 are part of the [[National Highway System (United States)|National Highway System]],<ref name=fhwa-nhs>{{FHWA NHS map|region=losangeles|accessdate=October 15, 2017}}</ref> a network of highways that are considered essential to the country's economy, defense, and mobility by the [[Federal Highway Administration]].<ref name=NHS-FHWA>{{FHWA NHS}}</ref> SR 39 is eligible for the [[State Scenic Highway System (California)|State Scenic Highway System]],<ref name="scenic">{{CA scenic}}</ref> but it is not officially designated as a scenic highway by the [[California Department of Transportation]].<ref name="caltransscenic">{{Caltrans scenic|accessdate=October 15, 2017}}</ref>

==History==
===La Habra to West Covina connection===
Although defined to be a continuous route in the California Streets and Highway Code, the segment from Whittier Boulevard in [[La Habra, California|La Habra]] to [[West Covina, California|West Covina]] is not officially adopted or signed by [[Caltrans]]. This is indicated at the intersection of Whittier Boulevard and Harbor Boulevard, where an "END 39" sign appears.

Prior to the present before reaching Harbor Boulevard, SR 39 continued north from Whittier Boulevard along Hacienda Road to the Los Angeles/Orange County line then north on Hacienda Boulevard and Glendora Avenue to [[U.S. Route 60#Historical California alignment|US 60]], [[U.S. Route 70#History|70]], and [[U.S. Route 99 in California|99]] ([[Garvey Avenue]], now [[Interstate 10 in California|Interstate 10]]) in West Covina.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.socalregion.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/los_angeles_1939.jpg |title=Map of Los Angeles and Vicinity, 1939}}</ref> It then continued east with US 60, 70, and 99 to Azusa Avenue where it turned north to follow the present alignment as described beginning in the fourth paragraph of the preceding section. The Hacienda Glendora segment can still be seen as Route 39 on some maps.

Prior to 1991, Harbor Boulevard became Fullerton Road northbound from the Los Angeles/Orange County Line, through the Puente Hills as a one-lane winding road into Rowland Heights. However, due to complaints of nearby residents due to the increased volume of traffic, a straighter, wider stub was built slightly to the east, and was named Harbor Boulevard. This route is under consideration to become part of SR 39 to complete the gap.

The new Harbor Boulevard was opened to the public early in 1992, and is now the primary corridor between Orange County and Rowland Heights, although the original winding Fullerton Road segment still exists as a strictly residential street.{{Cn|date=June 2025}}

The definition of Route 39 in the California Streets and Highway Code was thus changed accordingly, and the traversable route to fill the Route 39 gap would be via Harbor Boulevard north, Fullerton Road north, and then Colima Road west to Azusa Avenue in [[Hacienda Heights, California|Hacienda Heights]]. Route 39 would then continue north on Azusa Avenue through the [[City of Industry, California|City of Industry]] to Interstate 10 in West Covina.<ref name=SB1318/><ref name="Whittier to I-10">{{Google maps|title=Driving directions from Whittier Blvd to I-10, via Harbor Blvd and Azusa Ave |url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/N+Harbor+Blvd+%26+E+Whittier+Ave,+La+Habra,+CA+90631/34.0722482,-117.9075506/@34.010572,-117.9092076,13.67z/am=t/data=!4m19!4m18!1m15!1m1!1s0x80dd2aacd1b7f68d:0x21f2d91aafd87cb9!2m2!1d-117.9330543!2d33.9391834!3m4!1m2!1d-117.9250481!2d33.9906149!3s0x80c32a787e56db13:0x295988bdbcd62a0f!3m4!1m2!1d-117.9316698!2d33.9909965!3s0x80c2d585f752638f:0xcc81eae5e65e73b9!1m0!3e0 |access-date=April 16, 2021}}</ref> This segment however has yet to be officially designated by Caltrans.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cahighways.org/ROUTE039.html|title=California Highways (www.cahighways.org): Route 39|website=www.cahighways.org|access-date=2021-04-16}}</ref>

===Closed northern segment to Islip Saddle===
[[File:California-highway-39-south-closure.jpg|thumb|left|250px|SR 39 closure in the [[San Gabriel Mountains]]]]
[[File:Islip-39.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Locked gate at northern terminus of Highway 39]]
[[Image:SR 39.svg|thumb|right|75px|SR-39 closed and incomplete section is between the black circles; the ca. 1967 reconstruction is shown in blue]]
After the road's completion, there were frequent closures along SR 39 through the [[San Gabriel Valley]].<ref name="sgvt"/> During the winter of 1978, following a period of heavy rainfall, a [[rockslide]] damaged the northernmost {{convert|4.5|mi|km|adj=on}} stretch of SR 39 near [[Crystal Lake Recreation Area|Crystal Lake]] to the road's terminus at [[California State Route 2|SR 2]], at [[Islip Saddle]]. This resulted in the permanent closure of a {{convert|6.1|mi|km|abbr=on}} portion of SR 39. In 1990, [[California Department of Transportation|Caltrans]] started maintaining the damaged sections by restoring [[Culvert|culverts]] and adding [[Berm|berms]]. The transit agency offered the closed portion of the road to the [[United States Forest Service]], which would only accept it if the road was returned to a wild state, a proposition considered to be more costly than reconstruction. During the [[1997–98 El Niño event]], heavy rainfall caused another rockslide that damaged sections still under construction. Following a Caltrans study, which determined that the road's reopening would not harm the environment, the closed portion was reopened as a [[Frontage road|service road]] and emergency route in February 2003. In June 2006, California authorized funding to conduct a three-year-long [[Environmental issues|environmental impact]] report. It was predicted that a reopened SR 39 would reduce travel time by around 50% between [[Mount Waterman]] and [[Pasadena, California|Pasadena]], shortening the drive from about two hours to one. According to Caltrans, work could begin in 2009 on reconstruction, as well as the installation of safety features to prevent future slides from damaging the roadway.<ref name="sgvt">{{cite news|work=San Gabriel Valley Tribune|title=Closed by a slide nearly 40 years ago, when will a gap in a San Gabriel Mountains highway reopen?|author=Steve Scauzillo|date=October 15, 2017|accessdate=January 30, 2024|url=https://www.sgvtribune.com/2017/10/15/closed-by-a-slide-nearly-40-years-ago-when-will-a-gap-in-a-san-gabriel-mountains-highway-reopen/}}</ref><ref name="caltrans">{{cite web|date=April 27, 2016|title=San Gabriel Mountains National Monument Transportation Workshop|publisher=National Forest Foundation|url=https://www.nationalforests.org/assets/pdfs/2016-04-27-SCAG-SGM-Wkshp-FINAL-NoVideo.pdf}}</ref><ref name="pt06">{{cite news|title=Report to assess status of forest's Highway 39|date=June 10, 2006|author=Marianne Love|accessdate=January 30, 2024|url=https://www.presstelegram.com/2006/07/10/report-to-assess-status-of-forests-highway-39/|newspaper=Press-Telegram|location=Long Beach, California}}</ref><ref name="inside7">{{cite newsletter|last=Gish|first=Judy|date=October 2008|title=Highway 39: Caltrans vs. Mother Nature|url=http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist07/Publications/Inside7/story.php?id=283|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170324153151/https://dot.ca.gov/dist07/Publications/Inside7/story.php?id=283|archive-date=March 24, 2017|work=Inside Seven|publisher=Caltrans}}</ref>

The environmental impact statement was completed in 2009, estimating the project's cost at $32 million (over $45 million in 2023, adjusted for inflation).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Inflation Calculator {{!}} Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis |url=https://www.minneapolisfed.org/about-us/monetary-policy/inflation-calculator |website=Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis}}</ref> After the report was released, [[California Department of Fish and Wildlife|California Fish and Wildlife]] informed Caltrans that the road's reconstruction would negatively affect the subspecies of [[bighorn sheep]], the [[Desert bighorn sheep|Nelson's bighorn sheep]], a protected species in the state. In September 2011, Caltrans canceled plans to reopen the closed portion of SR 39. By that time, the maintenance cost for that portion of the road was $1.3 million per year.<ref name="sgvt"/> Thereafter, the agency tried to transfer responsibility for the entirety of SR 39 north of postmile LA 17.81 (including the closed section) to either the [[U.S. Forest Service]] or [[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles County]], both of which declined for financial reasons, even though both the USFS and the county deemed the route "essential". Abandoning the route would not be cost-effective for Caltrans due to, among other reasons, federal environmental restoration requirements related to the presence of bighorn sheep.<ref name=walkingaway>{{cite news|last=Sahagun|first=Louis|title=Walking away from a highway|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2012-jan-29-la-me-caltrans-highway39-20120129-story.html|access-date=October 20, 2017|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=January 29, 2012|issn=0458-3035}}</ref> The proposal was abandoned after opposition by local residents and the county, as well as substantial legal pressure by the Forest Service, who threatened to enforce an old contract that requires Caltrans to completely deconstruct the highway should it refuse to maintain it.<ref name=walkingaway/> After lobbying from the cities of [[Azusa, California|Azusa]] and [[Glendora, California|Glendora]], and support from congresswoman [[Grace Napolitano]], Caltrans restarted plans in 2011 toward reopening the closed section of SR 39. Benefits for the project included another evacuation route for Azusa.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Caltrans considering a new plan to reopen Highway 39 all the way to Wrightwood|author=Steve Scauzillo|date=October 17, 2016|accessdate=January 30, 2024|url=https://www.sgvtribune.com/2016/10/17/caltrans-considering-a-new-plan-to-reopen-highway-39-all-the-way-to-wrightwood/|work=San Gabriel Valley Tribune}}</ref> On December 15, 2022, Caltrans held a meeting to consider several proposed plans to reopen SR 39. Proposals include a full restoration, minimal restoration for emergency services, a single-lane road, or recreational use. Under the recreational use proposal, the restored route would be closed to general traffic, but would allow for hiking, biking, and other recreational activities.<ref>{{Cite web |date=n.d. |title=SR-39 Reopening Project |url=https://dot.ca.gov/DOT/caltrans-near-me/district-7/district-7-projects/d7-sr39-reopening |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219051611/https://dot.ca.gov/DOT/caltrans-near-me/district-7/district-7-projects/d7-sr39-reopening |archive-date=December 19, 2022 |website=Caltrans}}</ref>
{{Clear}}

==Major intersections==
{{CAinttop|post_ref= <ref name=trucklist /><ref name=bridgelog>{{cite web|title=California Log of Bridges on State Highways: District 7|website=[[Caltrans]]|publisher=California Department of Transportation|url=http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/structur/strmaint/brlog/logpdf/logd07.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524201943/http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/structur/strmaint/brlog/logpdf/logd07.pdf|url-status=dead|date=January 2011|archive-date=May 24, 2011|accessdate=September 20, 2019}}</ref><ref>[[California Department of Transportation]], [http://traffic-counts.dot.ca.gov/2006all.htm All Traffic Volumes on CSHS] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721033203/http://traffic-counts.dot.ca.gov/2006all.htm |date=July 21, 2011 }}, 2006</ref><ref>[[California Department of Transportation]], [http://traffic-counts.dot.ca.gov/1996all.htm All Traffic Volumes on CSHS] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721033239/http://traffic-counts.dot.ca.gov/1996all.htm |date=July 21, 2011 }}, 1996 (the last year before it was updated to remove the relinquished part)</ref><ref name="Whittier to I-10"/>
}}
{{CAint
|county=Orange
|cspan=11
|county_note=ORA 0.00-17.26
|location=Huntington Beach
|postmile=0.00
|road={{Jct|state=CA|SR|1|name1=[[Pacific Coast Highway (California)|Pacific Coast Highway]]|city1=Long Beach|city2=Newport Beach}}
|notes=Southern terminus; former [[U.S. Route 101 Alternate (Los Angeles, California)|US 101 Alt.]]
}}
{{CAint
|location=Huntington Beach
|location2=Westminster
|postmile=5.80
|road={{Jct|state=CA|I|405|name1=[[San Diego Freeway]]|city1=Long Beach|city2=Irvine|city3=San Diego}}
|notes=I-405 exit 16; former [[California State Route 7 (1934–1964)|SR 7]]
}}
{{CAint
|location=Westminster
|postmile=8.48
|road={{Jct|state=CA|SR|22|name1=[[Garden Grove Freeway]]|city1=Long Beach|city2=Santa Ana|city3=Orange}}
|notes=SR 22 exit 8
}}
{{CAint
|location=Stanton
|location2=Anaheim
|postmile=11.6
|place=North end of state maintenance
}}
{{CAint
|location=Anaheim
|postmile=12.71
|road=Lincoln Avenue
|notes=Former [[List of deleted state highways in California#State Route 214|SR 214]]
}}
{{CAint
|location=Buena Park
|lspan=6
|postmile=14.38
|road={{Jct|state=CA|SR|91|name1=[[Artesia Freeway]]|city1=Riverside|city2=Artesia|city3=Beach Cities}}
|notes=SR 91 exit 23B
}}
{{CAint
|postmile=15.07
|road={{Jct|state=CA|I|5|name1=[[Santa Ana Freeway]]|city1=Los Angeles|city2=Santa Ana|city3=San Diego}}
|notes=Interchange; south end of state maintenance; I-5 exit 116; access to and from northbound I-5 via Auto Center Drive
}}
{{CAint
|postmile=15.08
|road=Auto Center Drive
|notes=Formerly Manchester Avenue and former [[California State Route 42#History|SR 10]]<ref>{{Cite web|last=Pak|first=Ellyn|date=2005-10-08|title=New street name isnt up their alley|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2005/10/08/new-street-name-isnt-up-their-alley/|access-date=2022-06-18|work=Orange County Register|language=en-US}}</ref>
}}
{{CAint
|postmile=15.57
|road={{Jct|state=CA|I|5|to1=yes|dir1=north}} / [[Artesia Boulevard]]
|notes=Alternate southbound access to I-5 north via Artesia Boulevard west<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.google.com/maps/@33.874845,-117.9983088,3a,37.5y,170.12h,95.53t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sCux_n6b5rXFfcoobD-Jn5g!2e0!7i16384!8i8192|title = Beach Blvd - Buena Park, California|work = Google Street View |date = March 2021 |access-date = 24 July 2021 }}</ref>}}
{{CAint
|postmile=15.63
|road=Stage Road / Cascade Way
|notes=Stage Road was formerly [[California State Route 26 (1937–1964)|SR 26]]
}}
{{CAint
|postmile=16.38
|road={{Jctname|state=CA|CR|N8|noshield=y|name1=La Mirada Boulevard}} / Malvern Avenue
|notes=Southern terminus of Los Angeles County Route N8
}}
{{CAint
|county=Los Angeles
|county_note=LA D17.26-D18.44
|location=La Mirada
|postmile=D17.34
|road=[[Rosecrans Avenue]]
}}
{{CAint
|county=Orange
|cspan=3
|county_note=ORA 18.44-22.66
|location=La Habra
|lspan=3
|postmile=19.17
|road={{Jct|state=CA|SR|90|dir1=east|name1=[[Imperial Highway]]|city1=Brea|city2=Yorba Linda}}
|notes=Western terminus of [[California State Route 90|SR 90]]; Imperial Highway was former SR 90 west before being relinquished to local jurisdictions
}}
{{CAint
|postmile=20.72
|road={{Jct|state=CA|SR|72|dir1=north|name1=[[Whittier Boulevard]]|city1=Whittier}}
|notes=Former [[U.S. Route 101 in California|US 101]]; Whittier Boulevard was former SR 72 south before being relinquished to local jurisdictions
}}
{{CAint
|postmile=22.66
|line=yes
|postmile2=0<ref group="N" name="not signed">Indicates that the mileage represents the distance along the traversable route under [[s:California Streets and Highways Code, Chapter 2, Article 3, Section 301-635#Route 39|California Streets and Highways Code § 339 (d)]] that [[Caltrans]] has not yet officially adopted.{{Disputed inline|Segment between La Habra and West Covina|date=April 2021}}</ref>
|road=[[Whittier Boulevard]] east / [[Harbor Boulevard]] south
|notes=North end of Orange County segment, as adopted and signed by [[Caltrans]];<ref name=SB1318/>{{Disputed inline|Segment between La Habra and West Covina|date=April 2021}} former [[U.S. Route 101 in California|US 101]] south; former SR 72 south
}}
{{CAint
|county=Los Angeles
|cspan=12
|county_note=LA 10.70-44.40
|location=Rowland Heights
|postmile=4.0<ref group="N" name="not signed"/>
|road=Fullerton Road north / Colima Road east
|notes={{Disputed inline|Segment between La Habra and West Covina|date=April 2021}}
}}
{{CAint
|type=concur
|location=Hacienda Heights
|location2=City of Industry
|postmile=5.5<ref group="N" name="not signed"/>
|road=Colima Road west ({{jct|state=CA|noshield=yes|CR|N8}}) / Azusa Avenue south
|notes=South end of CR N8 overlap
}}
{{CAint
|location=City of Industry
|lspan=3
|postmile=5.9<ref group="N" name="not signed"/>
|road={{Jct|state=CA|SR|60|name1=[[Pomona Freeway]]|city1=Los Angeles|city2=Pomona}}
|notes=SR 60 exit18
}}
{{CAint
|type=incomplete
|postmile=6.8<ref group="N" name="not signed"/>
|road=Chestnut Street
|notes=Interchange; northbound exit and entrance only
}}
{{CAint
|postmile=6.9<ref group="N" name="not signed"/>
|road=[[Valley Boulevard]]
|notes=Interchange; access via connector roads
}}
{{CAint
|location1=South San Jose Hills
|location2=Valinda
|location3=West Covina
|postmile=8.1<ref group="N" name="not signed"/>
|road=Temple Avenue
|notes=North end of state control, as defined by [[s:California Streets and Highways Code, Chapter 2, Article 3, Section 301-635#Route 39|Streets and Highways Code § 339 (d)]]<ref name=SB1318 />
}}
{{CAint
|type=concur
|location=West Covina
|lspan=2
|postmile=11.5<ref group="N" name="not signed"/>
|line=yes
|postmile2=10.71
|pmspan=2
|road={{Jct|state=CA|CR|N8|dir1=ends|noshield1=yes}}
|nspan=2
|notes=South end of Los Angeles County segment, as adopted and signed by [[Caltrans]];<ref name=SB1318 />{{Disputed inline|Segment between La Habra and West Covina|date=April 2021}}; north end of CR N8 overlap; I-10 exit 36; former [[U.S. Route 99 in California|US 99]]
}}
{{CAint
|mile=none
|road={{Jct|state=CA|I|10|name1=[[San Bernardino Freeway]]|city1=Los Angeles|city2=San Bernardino}}
|notes=none
}}
{{CAint
|location=Azusa
|lspan=2
|postmile=14.05
|road={{Jct|state=CA|I|210|name1=[[Foothill Freeway]]|city1=Pasadena|city2=San Bernardino}}
|notes=I-210 exit 40
}}
{{CAint
|postmile=17.81
|place=Bridge over [[San Gabriel River (California)|San Gabriel River]] South end of state maintenance
}}
{{Jctplace|exit
|state=CA
|location=none
|postmile=39.90
|place=Northbound road closure gate
}}
{{CAint
|location=Islip Saddle
|type=closed
|postmile=44.40
|road={{Jct|state=CA|SR|2|name1=[[Angeles Crest Highway]]|city1=La Cañada Flintridge|city2=Wrightwood}}
|notes=Closed; northern terminus
}}
{{Jctbtm|keys=closed,incomplete}}
{{reflist|group="N"}}

==See also==
*{{portal-inline|California Roads}}
*{{portal-inline|Greater Los Angeles}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Attached KML|display=inline,title}}
{{commonscat}}
{{CASR external links|SR|39}}
* [http://www.aaroads.com/california/ca-039.html California @ AARoads.com - State Route 39]
* [http://www.cahighways.org/033-040.html#039 California Highways: SR 39]
* [http://www.socalregion.com/highways/la_highways/sr-39/ Michael Ballard on SR 39]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110725205548/http://www.crystallake.name/temp/SR-39DED01.23.09FINAL.SIGV2.pdf SR 39 EIR]

[[Category:State highways in California|039]]
[[Category:Roads in Orange County, California|State Route 039]]
[[Category:Roads in Los Angeles County, California|State Route 039]]
[[Category:Angeles National Forest]]
[[Category:Anaheim, California]]
[[Category:Azusa, California]]
[[Category:Buena Park, California]]
[[Category:Covina, California]]
[[Category:Transportation in Fullerton, California]]
[[Category:Garden Grove, California]]
[[Category:Huntington Beach, California]]
[[Category:La Habra, California]]
[[Category:La Mirada, California]]
[[Category:Stanton, California]]
[[Category:Westminster, California]]
[[Category:West Covina, California]]

California State Route 160

2025-10-26T16:29:00Z

2600:1700:6180:6290:99B3:3194:B6F1:9840:

{{Short description|State highway in California}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox road
| state = CA
| type = SR
| route = 160
| section = 460
| maint = [[Caltrans]]
| map = {{maplink-road|from=California State Route 160.map}}
| map_custom = yes
| map_notes = SR 160 highlighted in red; the gap represents the relinquished portion
| length_mi = 49.75
| length_round = 2
| length_ref = <ref name=trucklist/>
| length_notes = Portions of SR 160 have been relinquished to or are otherwise maintained by local or other governments, and are not included in the length.
| history = State highway in 1910 and 1933; became [[California State Route 24|SR 24]] in the 1930s and SR 160 in 1964
| tourist = [[File:California Scenic State.svg|20px|alt=|link=]] River Road between the Contra Costa–Sacramento county line and the [[Sacramento, California|City of Sacramento]]<ref>{{Caltrans scenic|access-date=March 27, 2019}}</ref>
| direction_a = South
| terminus_a = {{jct|state=CA|SR|4}} in [[Antioch, California|Antioch]]
| junction =
* {{jct|state=CA|SR|12}} near [[Rio Vista, California|Rio Vista]]
* {{jct|state=CA|SR|220}} in [[Walnut Grove, California|Walnut Grove]]
* {{jct|state=CA|CR|J11}} in Walnut Grove
* {{jct|state=CA|CR|E9}} near [[Paintersville, California|Paintersville]]
| direction_b = North
| terminus_b = {{jct|state=CA|BL|80|dab1=Sacramento}} in [[Sacramento]]
| counties = [[Contra Costa County, California|Contra Costa]], [[Sacramento County, California|Sacramento]]
| previous_type = SR
| previous_route = 159
| next_type = SR
| next_route = 161
}}

'''State Route 160''' ('''SR 160''') is a [[state highway]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[California]] consisting of two sections. The longer, southern section is a [[scenic highway]] through the [[alluvial plain]] of the [[Sacramento River]], linking [[California State Route 4|SR 4]] in [[Antioch, California|Antioch]] with [[Sacramento, California|Sacramento]] via the [[Antioch Bridge]]. The northern section, separated from the southern by Sacramento city streets, is the '''North Sacramento Freeway''', running from the 16th Street Bridge over the [[American River]] to [[Interstate 80 Business (Sacramento, California)|Interstate 80 Business]] towards [[Roseville, California|Roseville]].

This northern section was erroneously deleted from the definition in the Streets and Highways Code in 2003 when the relinquished portion through [[downtown Sacramento]] was removed; the segment was restored in a 2010 amendment to the code. Although it is no longer officially part of the state highway system, some maps may still mark SR 160 as continuous through the city.

==Route description==
[[Image:Sacramento river drawbridge p1080768.jpg|thumb|left|The 1949 [[Three Mile Slough Bridge]], which carries SR 160 over the Three Mile Slough]]
State Route 160 begins in eastern [[Antioch, California|Antioch]] at SR 4 as a four-lane [[freeway]]. After two interchanges, SR 160 becomes a [[two-lane expressway]] and rises onto the [[Antioch Bridge]] over the [[San Joaquin River]]. It cuts north across the center of [[Sherman Island (California)|Sherman Island]] as a two-lane surface road, reaching the [[Sacramento River]] on the opposite shore. From there to Sacramento, SR 160 remains near the river, first following the east [[levee]] over the 1949<ref name=bridgelog/> [[Three Mile Slough Bridge]], a [[lift bridge]], across the Three Mile Slough and past [[Brannan Island State Recreation Area]]. SR 160 intersects with [[California State Route 12|SR 12]] near [[Rio Vista, California|Rio Vista]], right before SR 12 crosses the Sacramento River via the [[Rio Vista Bridge]]. After passing [[Isleton, California|Isleton]], SR 160 crosses the Sacramento River on the [[Isleton Bridge]], a [[bascule bridge]] built in 1923,<ref name=bridgelog/> and runs along the west shore on [[Grand Island (California)|Grand Island]], where it meets the east end of [[California State Route 220|SR 220]]. The [[Walnut Grove Bridge]] carries SR 160 and [[County Route J11 (California)|CR J11]] east [[Concurrency (road)|concurrently]] across the river to [[Walnut Grove, California|Walnut Grove]], and, at the north end of the island, SR 160 crosses the 1924<ref name=bridgelog/> [[Steamboat Slough Bridge]] onto [[Sutter Island]] and then the 1923<ref name=bridgelog/> [[Paintersville Bridge]] across the Sacramento River to the mainland, both bascule bridges.<ref name=maps>[[Google Maps]] street maps and [[USGS]] [[topographic map]]s, accessed December 2007 via [http://mapper.acme.com/ ACME Mapper]</ref>

On the mainland, SR 160 once again runs atop the east levee, now {{convert|1|–|2|mi|km}} west of [[Interstate 5 (California)|I-5]]. The final bridge over the river is the Freeport Bridge, which carries [[County Route E9 (California)|CR E9]] to the west levee, where it turns south to return to SR 160 at the west end of the Paintersville Bridge. About {{convert|1|mi|km|}} beyond the Freeport Bridge, SR 160 leaves the levee, enters the city of [[Sacramento, California|Sacramento]], where the southern portion of SR 160 ends and state maintenance and control ends. It then passes under I-5 and enters into a more suburban landscape. Here the former SR 160 is known as '''Freeport Boulevard''', a major surface road that passes the [[Sacramento Executive Airport]] and [[Sacramento City College]]. Freeport Boulevard turns to the northwest at about 4th Avenue. It was formerly a one-way pair with 21st Street with Freeport Boulevard heading one-way southbound and 21st heading one-way northbound. The city converted these streets back to [[two-way street]]s for [[traffic calming]] purposes in 2008.<ref name="sacbj">{{cite news |title=Freeport Boulevard and 21st Street two-way conversions scheduled |url=http://sacramento.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2008/01/28/daily30.html?surround=lfn |work=Sacramento Business Journal |publisher=American City Business Journals, Inc. |date= 2008-01-30|access-date=2008-04-05 }}</ref> After a short distance on Broadway, former SR 160 turns north on the one-way pair of 15th (southbound) and 16th (northbound) Streets and enters [[downtown Sacramento]] after an interchange with [[U.S. Route 50 in California|US 50]].<ref name=maps/>

15th and 16th Streets lead traffic north past the east side of the [[State Capitol (California)|State Capitol]] grounds, which lie between L and N Streets. At F Street, the path of southbound former SR 160 turned west for three blocks on F street before turning north again on 12th Street; both 12th and 16th Streets pass under the [[Union Pacific Railroad]]'s [[Martinez Subdivision]], where B Street would be, in four-lane [[subway (underpass)|subway]]s, but 15th Street meets a dead-end after its intersection with C Street. 12th Street remains a one-way southbound roadway while the two-way [[SacRT light rail]] occupies its east side. 12th Street turns northeast at North B Street, and the two directions of former SR 160 come together at Richards Boulevard, just south of the [[16th Street Bridge (Sacramento)|16th Street Bridge]] over the [[American River]] and the south end of the state-maintained North Sacramento Freeway. The light rail, which crosses the river between the two directions of SR 160, soon leaves at the [[Del Paso Boulevard]] interchange as the four-lane freeway turns east, ending at the Capital City Freeway ([[Interstate 80 Business (Sacramento, California)|Interstate 80 Business]]) at [[Arden Way (Sacramento, California)|Arden Way]], near [[Arden Fair|Arden Fair Mall]].

The northern portion is also part of the [[California Freeway and Expressway System]], and so is the piece south of [[California State Route 12|SR 12]] near [[Rio Vista, California|Rio Vista]],<ref name="cafes">{{CAFESystem}}</ref> though only the southernmost piece of SR 12 in Antioch is built to [[freeway]] standards. The northern and southern pieces south of SR 12 are also part of the [[National Highway System (United States)|National Highway System]],<ref name=fhwa-nhs>{{FHWA NHS map|region=sacramento|access-date=September 24, 2017}} {{FHWA NHS map|region=californianorth|access-date=September 24, 2017}}</ref> a network of highways that are considered essential to the country's economy, defense, and mobility by the [[Federal Highway Administration]].<ref name=NHS-FHWA>{{FHWA NHS}}</ref> The entire southern portion from SR 4 to Sacramento is eligible to be included in the [[State Scenic Highway System (California)|State Scenic Highway System]]<ref name="scenic">{{CA scenic}}</ref> and is officially designated as a scenic highway by the [[California Department of Transportation]],<ref name="caltransscenic">{{Caltrans scenic|access-date=September 24, 2017}}</ref> meaning that it is a substantial section of highway passing through a "memorable landscape" with no "visual intrusions", where the potential designation has gained popular favor with the community.<ref>{{Caltrans scenic info}}</ref>

==History==
{{imageframe|width=200|content=[[Image:Sacramento River levee road before.jpg|200px]]
----
[[Image:Sacramento River levee road after.jpg|200px]]|align=left|caption=The county road along the Sacramento River levee in 1916 and 1919}}
In the late 1910s, [[Sacramento County, California|Sacramento County]] improved the [[county road]] along the [[levee]] of the [[Sacramento River]] between Sacramento and [[Rio Vista, California|Rio Vista]], which crossed the river twice on free [[ferries]] near [[Paintersville, California|Paintersville]] and [[Isleton, California|Isleton]].<ref name=blow>Ben Blow, California Highways: A Descriptive Record of Road Development by the State and by Such Counties as Have Paved Highways, 1920 ([https://archive.org/details/californiahighwa00blowrich Archive.org] or [https://books.google.com/books?id=osgNAAAAYAAJ Google Books]), pp. 206-208</ref> A [[toll road|toll]] ferry across the [[San Joaquin River]] connected [[Sherman Island (California)|Sherman Island]], south of Rio Vista, with [[Antioch, California|Antioch]], where drivers could head west through the [[Broadway Tunnel (East Bay)|Broadway Tunnel]] to reach the [[San Francisco Bay]], but the road between Rio Vista and the ferry was poorly paved.<ref>[[Oakland Tribune]], October 16, 1925: "There are three ferries between Antioch and Sacramento of which only one is a pay ferry, and the fare is 75 cents for the automobile and 15 cents for each passenger. With the exception of about {{convert|8|mi|km|spell=in}} on the Sherman island road, the route is paved all the way."</ref><ref>[[Oakland Tribune]], River Road Scenery is Interesting, November 9, 1919: "Upon reaching the Sherman Island terminus of the Antioch ferry, poor road confronts the motorist..."</ref> In 1922, the Victory Highway Association selected this "Netherlands Route", though locally promoted as the "Netherlands of America", for the [[Victory Highway]] west of Sacramento, as it was both shorter than the [[Lincoln Highway]] route via [[Stockton, California|Stockton]] and more scenic. In particular, the river district would "impress [the motorist] with the enormous productive resources of this state as well as supply him with an unmatched scenic drive", and the Broadway Tunnel approach to the bay would bring him "over the Victory Highway to the end of his journey in such a fashion that he will never forget the view spread before him as he first comes into sight of the San Francisco Bay region".<ref>[[Oakland Tribune]], "Netherlands Route" Selected as Victory Highway Path into Oakland, September 17, 1922</ref>

[[Image:Isleton Bridge.jpg|thumb|The 1923 [[Isleton Bridge]]]]
Two [[bascule bridge]]s—the [[Paintersville Bridge]] and [[Isleton Bridge]]—replaced the free ferries in 1923, and are of a type patented by [[Joseph B. Strauss]], who went on to design the [[Golden Gate Bridge]].<ref>Erin Hallissy, [[San Francisco Chronicle]], [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/07/04/MNG4T7GMRR1.DTL Kings of Swing], July 4, 2004, p. A1</ref><ref>[[Sacramento Bee]], Raising the Standard, August 7, 2000, p. B1</ref> Local businessmen [[Aven Hanford]] and [[Oscar Klatt]] replaced the toll ferry with the tolled [[Antioch Bridge]] in mid-1926,<ref>[[Oakland Tribune]], Antioch Bridge Opening, June 17, 1926</ref><ref>[[California Department of Transportation]], [http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/esc/tollbridge/Bridges1.html Toll Bridge Home > Bridges], accessed December 2007</ref> almost a year before they opened the larger [[Carquinez Bridge]] to the west.<ref>[[Oakland Tribune]], Carquinez Bridge Opened Early to Frustrate Suit, May 19, 1927</ref> The counties of [[Contra Costa County, California|Contra Costa]] and Sacramento organized a joint highway district in November 1925 to fund an improvement of the northern approach from Rio Vista;<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=Wac3AAAAIAAJ&q=%22garden+highway Journal of the Senate, Legislature of the State of California], 1942, p. 54</ref> the concrete highway was completed in July 1927, creating a fully paved continuous route between Sacramento and the [[Bay Area]].<ref>[[Oakland Tribune]], Completion of Victory Road, July 31, 1927</ref>

[[File:Highway 160 (7383985298).jpg|left|thumb|Looking south along SR 160 on Sherman Island. The Antioch Bridge can be seen in the distance as well as Mount Diablo.]]
The legislature added this road to the state highway system in 1933, and it became part of [[Legislative Route 11 (California pre-1964)|Legislative Route''' '''11]], which had stretched east from Sacramento along [[U.S. Route 50 in California|US 50]].<ref>{{cite CAstat|year=1933|ch=767|p=2036}}: "Walnut Creek-Stockton Road near Antioch to Sacramento."</ref><ref>{{cite CAstat|year=1935|ch=29|p=275}}: "Route 11 is from Route 75 near Antioch to the Nevada State line near Lake Tahoe via Sacramento, Folsom, Placerville and Sportsman's Hall."</ref> This part of Route 11 was not assigned a sign route number in 1934,<ref>{{cite journal |first = T.H. |last = Dennis |date = August 1934 |url = https://archive.org/details/californiahighwa193436calirich |title = State Routes Will Be Numbered and Marked with Distinctive Bear Signs |journal = [[California Highways and Public Works]] |volume = 11 |issue = 8 |pages = [https://archive.org/details/californiahighwa193436calirich/page/20 20]–21, 32 |issn = 0008-1159 |via = [[Archive.org]] }}</ref> but, by 1937, when the new [[Broadway Low Level Tunnel]] opened, it was part of [[California State Route 24|Sign Route''' '''24]]. That route had initially begun at [[Woodland, California|Woodland]] and traveled northeast and east through the [[Feather River Canyon]], and was extended southeast from Woodland along [[California State Route 16|Sign Route''' '''16]] to Sacramento and then south and west via Antioch to the [[San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge]] approach in [[Berkeley, California|Berkeley]].<ref>[[Fresno Bee]], New Bay Area Tunnel is Modern Traffic Unit, December 15, 1937</ref><ref>[[H.M. Gousha Company]], [http://members.cox.net/mkpl5/hist2/sfbay-1941.jpg San Francisco and Vicinity] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080625112327/http://members.cox.net/mkpl5/hist2/sfbay-1941.jpg |date=2008-06-25 }}, 1941</ref> The [[California Freeway and Expressway System]] was formed in 1959, and included in the planned upgrades was the road between Antioch and Rio Vista. (North of Rio Vista, the present [[California State Route 84|SR 84]] was also part of the system.)<ref>{{cite CAstat|year=1959|ch=1062|p=3112}}: "Route 11 from Route 75 to Route 53."</ref> The entire length was included in the [[State Scenic Highway System (California)|State Scenic Highway System]] in 1963.<ref>{{cite CAstat|year=1963|ch=1788|p=3603}}: "Route 11 from: (a) Route 75 near Antioch to Sacramento..."</ref> In the [[1964 renumbering (California)|1964 renumbering]], the Antioch-Sacramento roadway was split between two routes: [[Route 84 (California)|Route 84]] from Antioch to [[California State Route 12|SR 12]] near [[Rio Vista, California|Rio Vista]], and Route 160 from SR 12 to Sacramento.<ref name=law-renumbering>{{cite CAstat|year=1963|ch=385|p=1183}}: "Route 160 is from Route 84 near Rio Vista to Route 80 near North Sacramento via Sacramento."</ref> However, the entire route was marked as SR 160,<ref name="renumbering">{{cite journal |url= http://www.gbcnet.com/ushighways/history/1964_route_renumbering.pdf |title= Route Renumbering: New Green Markers Will Replaces Old Shields |journal= California Highways and Public Works |date=March–April 1964 |volume= 43 |issue= 1–2 |pages= 11–14 |issn= 0008-1159 |access-date= March 8, 2012}}</ref> and in 1981 the legislative definition was changed to reflect so.<ref>{{cite CAstat|year=1981|ch=292|p=1418}}: "Route 160 is from: (a) Route 4 near Antioch to Route 12 near Rio Vista. (b) Route 12 near Rio Vista to Route 51 via Sacramento."</ref>

The part of SR 160 through and north of downtown Sacramento began as part of [[Legislative Route 3 (California pre-1964)|Legislative Route''' '''3]], which was added to the state highway system under the first bond issue, passed in 1910,<ref>Howe & Peters, [https://books.google.com/books?id=G0w7AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA3 Engineers' Report to California State Automobile Association Covering the Work of the California Highway Commission for the Period 1911-1920], pp. 11-13</ref> and left the city on the [[16th Street Bridge (Sacramento)|16th Street Bridge]] over the [[American River]], following [[Del Paso Boulevard]], El Camino Avenue, and [[Auburn Boulevard]] to [[Roseville, California|Roseville]].<ref name=blow/><ref>[http://www.sacramentohistory.org/search.php?imageid=749 Map showing roads proposed for permanent improvement by Sacramento County Highway Commission, 1914]</ref> (The short piece from the end of Route 3 near the [[State Capitol (California)|State Capitol]] south to Broadway and Freeport Boulevard was [[Legislative Route 4 (California pre-1964)|Route 4]], which followed [[California State Route 99|SR 99]] towards [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]].<ref name=sac1963/>) Route 3 between Sacramento and Roseville was also part of the [[Victory Highway]], and was marked as part of [[U.S. Route 40 in California|US 40]] in 1928<ref>[[California Highways and Public Works]], [http://www.gbcnet.com/ushighways/history/1928_highways.html United States Numbered Highways], January 1928</ref> and [[U.S. Route 99E (northern California)|US 99E]] in 1929.<ref>[[Fresno Bee]], Two Sacramento Valley Highways to be Numbered, August 28, 1929</ref> The North Sacramento Freeway opened on October 6, 1947, bypassing this route from the bridge to Auburn Boulevard near [[Ben Ali, California|Ben Ali]].<ref>[[California State Automobile Association]], [https://books.google.com/books?id=cVIPAAAAIAAJ&q=%22It+was+opened+to+traffic+on+October+6%2C+1947. Motorland], unknown date</ref> In 1955, the [[Elvas Freeway]] opened from the midpoint of the North Sacramento Freeway to the east side of downtown,<ref>Steven M. Avella, Sacramento: Indomitable City, 2003, p. 122</ref> and US 99E was moved off the south half of the older North Sacramento Freeway and onto the Elvas Freeway.<ref name=sac1963>[[Division of Highways (California)|Division of Highways]], [http://cahighways.org/maps/1963sac.jpg Sacramento], 1963</ref> The North Sacramento Freeway was included in the [[California Freeway and Expressway System]] SR 160 in the [[1964 renumbering (California)|1964 renumbering]].<ref name=law-renumbering/>

By 2000, the city of Sacramento maintained the non-freeway portion of SR 160 within the city limits under a contract with Caltrans. However, since Caltrans's main goal is to move traffic efficiently, the city was not able to carry out [[pedestrian-friendly]] projects that they and local residents wanted. Under a law passed in July 1999, Caltrans was authorized to relinquish any part of Route 160 within the city limits to Sacramento.<ref>[[Sacramento Bee]], Caltrans Considers Giving Up Highway, January 13, 2000, p. N1: "Under a contract with Caltrans, the city Public Works Department maintains State Highway 160 from the American River Bridge south to the city limits."</ref><ref>{{cite CAstat|year=1999|ch=172}}</ref> The two agencies agreed, and on October 19, 2000, the portion from the south city limits to the American River became the full responsibility of the city.<ref name=slowing>Mike McCarthy, [[Sacramento Business Journal]], [http://sacramento.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2001/11/12/story4.html City ponders slowing down Highway 160], November 9, 2001</ref> A 2003 amendment to the Streets and Highways Code erroneously deleted not only this part, but the North Sacramento Freeway as well.<ref>{{cite CAstat|year=2003|ch=525}}: "Route 160 is from Route 4 near Antioch to the southern city limits of Sacramento."</ref> A subsequent 2010 amendment corrected the mistake by adding the line, "The American River in the City of Sacramento to [[California State Route 51|Route 51]]".<ref>{{cite web |title=Senate Bill No. 1318 |url=https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=200920100SB1318 |website=California State Legislature |date=September 29, 2010}}</ref>

A project to convert the former southbound-only Richards Boulevard access just south of the American River to a standard [[traffic signal|signalized]] intersection was completed in August 2007; this improves access to existing and future development in the area, including redevelopment of a former [[rail yard]],<ref>[[Sacramento, California|Sacramento]], [http://www.cityofsacramento.org/cityman/documents/NewsRelease.final.updated080707.pdf News Release: Project streamlines traffic flow, enhances road safety] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091210171208/http://www.cityofsacramento.org/cityman/documents/NewsRelease.final.updated080707.pdf# |date=2009-12-10 }}, August 7, 2007</ref> while slowing northbound traffic heading for the bridge and freeway.<ref name=slowing/> Another project converting Freeport Boulevard and 21st Street south of Broadway into two-way streets was also completed. 21st Street has carried northbound traffic since 1974, when Caltrans took it over. It is designed to calm traffic while improving the intersection at the south end of the former [[one-way pair]], which the [[SacRT light rail]] now crosses 21st Street just to the north of.<ref>[[Sacramento Bee]], [http://www.sacbee.com/editorials/story/327451.html Editorial: Times change, and so do some midtown streets] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20070528105317/http://www.sacbee.com/editorials/story/327451.html# |date=2007-05-28 }}, August 16, 2007</ref><ref>Sacramento Engineering Services, [http://cityofsacramento.org/transportation/freeport-21/index.html Freeport Boulevard/21st Street Two-Way Conversion] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071018054813/http://www.cityofsacramento.org/transportation/freeport-21/index.html# |date=2007-10-18 }}, accessed December 2007</ref> In addition, the three blocks of F Street that carried southbound SR 160 from 12th Street to 15th Street have been calmed by the addition of a [[roundabout]] at 13th Street.<ref name="maps"/>

In 2012, [[California State Route 4|SR 4]] was re-routed to go further south to bypass Oakley and Brentwood. The southern end of SR 160 was then extended south to cover the part of the freeway that is no longer designated as SR 4, from Main Street, where SR 4 originally exited the freeway, to the fork of the new SR 4 (formerly known as the State Route 4 Bypass, or Bypass Road).

In 2014, construction began at the interchange with SR 4 to complete the two remaining ramps that would link southbound SR 160 to eastbound and westbound SR 4 to northbound SR 160. Construction was completed in March 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://4eastcounty.org/projects/sr160-highway-4-direct-connector-ramps |title=SR160 / Highway 4 Direct Connector Ramps |access-date=2015-04-16 |archive-date=2015-04-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416103402/http://4eastcounty.org/projects/sr160-highway-4-direct-connector-ramps/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2025, the Sacramento City Council approved a $1.2 million fund for a new project aimed at reconnecting the area north of the northern portion of SR 160 (North Sacramento Freeway) to [[Downtown Sacramento]]. It is aimed to help connect the two areas and reduce traffic. The project is funded with a $1 million [[Federal grants in the United States|federal capital grant]] and $200,000 from the [[Vision Zero]] Safety Program.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-21 |title=Sacramento looks to reconnect Old North Sacramento by reimagining Hwy 160 |url=https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/sacramento/sacramento-reconnect-old-north-sacramento-by-reimagining-hwy-160/103-f4755542-cf71-4743-a008-01c1c9168204 |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=abc10.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Major intersections==
{{CAinttop|exit|based_on=the alignment as it  existed at that time|post_ref= <ref name=trucklist>{{Caltrans trucklist}}</ref><ref name=bridgelog>{{Caltrans bridgelog|date=July 2007}}</ref><ref>[[California Department of Transportation]], [http://traffic-counts.dot.ca.gov/2001all.htm All Traffic Volumes on CSHS] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050905222146/http://traffic-counts.dot.ca.gov/2001all.htm# |date=2005-09-05 }}, 2001 (the last year before it was updated to remove the relinquished part)</ref>|exit_ref= <ref>[[California Department of Transportation]], [[California Numbered Exit Uniform System]], [http://www.dot.ca.gov/trafficops/exit/docs/160.pdf SR-160], accessed December 2007</ref>
}}
{{CAint|exit
|county=Contra Costa
|cspan=5
|county_note=CC L0.00-1.33
|location=Antioch
|lspan=5
|postmile=L0.00
|pmspan=2
|exit=—
|road={{Jct|state=CA|SR|4|dir1=east|city1=Stockton}}
|nspan=2
|notes=Southern end of SR 160; SR 4 exit 30
}}
{{CAint|exit
|mile=none
|exit=—
|road={{Jct|state=CA|SR|4|dir1=west|city1=Martinez|city2=Oakland}}
|notes=none
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=0.00
|exit=1A
|road=Main Street, East 18th Street – [[Oakley, California|Downtown Oakley]]
|notes=Former exit 1B southbound; former [[California State Route 4|SR 4]] east
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=0.49
|exit=1B
|road=Wilbur Avenue
|notes=Former exits 1 northbound and 1C southbound; last free exit for northbound traffic
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=none
|place=Northern end of freeway<ref>{{Google maps|title="Freeway Ends - Reduce Speed" sign on northbound SR 160 between Wilbur Avenue and the Toll Plaza|url=https://www.google.com/maps/@38.0060891,-121.7533926,3a,75y,319.88h,78.79t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sC67q19lrTC0v2Id2uEW87A!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D11.209999999999994%26panoid%3DC67q19lrTC0v2Id2uEW87A%26yaw%3D319.88!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDQyMy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D|access-date=April 25, 2025}}</ref>
}}
{{Jctbridge|exit
|state=CA
|type=etc
|river=[[San Joaquin River]]
|postmile=1.33
|postmile2=L0.00
|bridge=[[Antioch Bridge]] (northbound toll only)
}}
{{CAint|exit
|county=Sacramento
|cspan=24
|county_note=SAC L0.00-47.05
|location=none
|postmile=L6.98
|bridge=[[Three Mile Slough Bridge]] over [[Three Mile Slough]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|postmile=L10.78
|line=yes
|postmile2=0.00
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|SR|12|city1=Lodi|city2=Rio Vista}}
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|postmile=5.95
|bridge=[[Isleton Bridge]] over [[Sacramento River]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Ryde
|postmile=11.46
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|SR|220|location1=[[Hogback Island (California)|Hogback Island]]}}
|notes=Eastern terminus of SR 220
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Walnut Grove
|postmile=14.16
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|CR|J11|county1=Sacramento|name1=[[Walnut Grove Bridge]]|city1=Locke|city2=Thornton|city3=Stockton}}
|notes=Western terminus of CR J11
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|postmile=19.76
|bridge=[[Steamboat Slough Bridge]] over [[Steamboat Slough]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|postmile=20.87
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|CR|E9|county1=Sacramento|name1=Sutter Slough Bridge Road}}
|notes=Southern terminus of CR E9
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|postmile=20.98
|bridge=[[Paintersville Bridge]] over [[Sacramento River]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|postmile=34.07
|exit=
|road={{Jctname|state=CA|CR|E9|county1=Sacramento|noshield=yes|name1=[[Freeport Bridge (California)|Freeport Bridge]]|city1=Clarksburg}}
|notes=Northern terminus of CR E9
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Sacramento
|lspan=15
|postmile=35.05
|pmspan=2
|place=North end of southern segment of SR 160 at [[Sacramento, California|Sacramento]] south city limit
}}
{{CAint|exit
|mile=none
|exit=
|road=Freeport Boulevard
|notes=Continuation beyond the Sacramento city limits; former [[California State Route 24|SR 24]] / SR 160 north; access to [[Interstate 5 in California|I-5]] is via Pocket Road
}}
{{jctgap}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=R44.37
|exit=
|road=North 12th Street
|notes=Continuation beyond Richards Boulevard; former [[U.S. Route 40 in California|US 40]] west / SR 160 south; northbound entrance accessible from North 16th Street
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=R44.37
|exit=
|road=Richards Boulevard
|notes=Connects to [[Interstate 5 in California|I-5]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=R44.46
|pmspan=2
|place=South end of northern segment of SR 160 Southern end of freeway
}}
{{CAint|exit
|mile=none
|place=[[16th Street Bridge (Sacramento)|16th Street Bridge]] over [[American River]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=R44.62
|exit=46A
|road=Northgate Boulevard
|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=R44.98
|exit=46B
|road=Del Paso Boulevard
|notes=Northbound left exit and southbound entrance; former [[U.S. Route 40 in California|US 40]] east
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=45.60
|exit=47A
|road=Leisure Lane, Canterbury Road
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=46.16
|exit=47B
|road=Exposition Boulevard, Royal Oaks Drive
|notes=Exposition Boulevard not signed southbound
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=46.33
|exit=—
|road=Tribute Road
|notes=Northbound entrance only; serves traffic from Exposition Boulevard to I-80 BL east because there is no direct ramp
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=46.58
|exit=48
|road=[[Arden Way (Sacramento, California)|Arden Way]]
|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=47.05
|exit=—
|road={{Jct|state=CA|BL|80|dab1=Sacramento|dir1=east|name1=[[Capital City Freeway]]|location1=[[Reno, Nevada|Reno]]}}
|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance; no access to I‑80 BL west; former [[U.S. Route 99E (northern California)|US
99E]] north / [[Interstate 80 (California)|I-80]] east; northern end of SR 160; I‑80 BL west exit 9B
}}
{{jctbtm|exit|keys=etc,incomplete}}

==See also==
*{{portal-inline|California Roads}}
*{{portal-inline|San Francisco Bay Area}}
*[[Transportation in the Sacramento metropolitan area]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Attached KML|display=title,inline}}
{{Commons category|California State Route 160}}
{{CASR external links|SR|160}}
*[http://www.bayareafastrak.org/ Bay Area FasTrak] – includes toll information on the Antioch Bridge, and the other Bay Area toll facilities
*[http://www.aaroads.com/california/ca-160.html California @ AARoads - California 160]
*[http://www.cahighways.org/153-160.html#160 California Highways: SR 160]

{{Crossings navbox
|structure = Crossings
|place = [[Sacramento River]]
|bridge = Paintersville Bridge
|bridge signs = [[File:California 160.svg|20px]]
|upstream = [[Freeport, California|Freeport]] Bridge
|upstream signs =
|downstream = [[Walnut Grove, California|Walnut Grove]] Bridge
|downstream signs =
}}

{{good article}}

[[Category:State highways in California|160]]
[[Category:Freeways in California|160]]
[[Category:Roads in Sacramento County, California|State Route 160]]
[[Category:Roads in Contra Costa County, California|State Route 160]]
[[Category:Transportation in Sacramento, California|State Route 160]]
[[Category:State Scenic Highway System (California)|160]]
[[Category:San Francisco Bay Area freeways|160]]
[[Category:Antioch, California]]
[[Category:U.S. Route 99]]
[[Category:U.S. Route 40]]

California State Route 72

2025-10-26T16:26:12Z

2600:1700:6180:6290:99B3:3194:B6F1:9840:

{{short description|State highway in California}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox road
|state=CA
|type=SR
|route=72
|section=372
|maint=[[California Department of Transportation|Caltrans]]
|alternate_name=[[Whittier Boulevard]]
|map={{maplink-road|from=California State Route 72.map}}
|map_custom=yes
|map_notes=SR 72 highlighted in red; the gap represents the relinquished portion
|length_mi=0.72
|length_round=3
|length_ref=
|length_notes=Portions of SR 72 have been relinquished to or are otherwise maintained by local or other governments, and are not included in the length.
|direction_a=South
|terminus_a={{jct|state=CA|SR|39}} in [[La Habra, California|La Habra]]
|junction={{jct|state=CA|CR|N8}} in [[Whittier, California|Whittier]]
|direction_b=North
|terminus_b={{jct|state=CA|I|605}} in Whittier
|counties=[[Orange County, California|Orange]], [[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles]]
|previous_type=SR
|previous_route=71
|next_type=SR
|next_route=73
}}
[[Image:ca72m.jpg|thumbnail|Former eastbound SR 72 on [[Whittier Boulevard]], entering Whittier.]]
'''State Route 72''' ('''SR 72''') is a state highway in the [[U.S. state]] of [[California]]. It forms part of [[El Camino Real (California)|El Camino Real]] in the [[Greater Los Angeles|Los Angeles area]]. Since 2025, the route consists of two short segments of [[Whittier Boulevard]]. The first segment begins at [[California State Route 39|SR 39]] (Beach Boulevard) and runs west to Valley Home Avenue on the [[Orange County, California|Orange]] and [[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles]] county line in [[La Habra, California|La Habra]]. The second segment begins at Lockheed Avenue and runs northwest to [[Interstate 605]] in [[Whittier, California|Whittier]]. Though some maps mark SR 72 as continuous through Whittier, control of most of the route within the city was relinquished to that local jurisdiction and is thus no longer officially part of the state highway system.

==Route description==
Route 72 is defined as follows in section 372 of the [[California Codes|California Streets and Highways Code]], last amended by the [[California State Legislature]] in 2020:<ref name="CSHC372">{{Cite web|url=https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=SHC&sectionNum=372.|title=Section 372|work=California Streets and Highways Code|publisher=California Office of Legislative Counsel|location=Sacramento|access-date=August 17, 2025}}</ref>

<blockquote>Route 72 is from [[California State Route 39|Route 39]] to [[Interstate 605|Route 605]] in [[Whittier, California|Whittier]]</blockquote>

Subdivision (a) of section 372 also states that Route 72 will be deleted from the state highway system upon completed construction of [[California State Route 39|Route 90]], also known as the Slauson Freeway, from [[Interstate 5 in California|Route 5]] to Route 39, but Caltrans has abandoned all plans to finish the freeway. Subdivision (b) states that the relinquished former northwestern segment of Route 72 through [[Montebello, California|Montebello]] and [[Pico Rivera, California|Pico Rivera]] is no longer officially part of the state highway system, but those cities must still "maintain within their respective jurisdictions signs directing motorists to the continuation of Route 72". Subdivision (c) also permit the state to also relinquish the portion of Route 72 located in Whittier and unincorporated [[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles County]].<ref name="CSHC372"/>

The relinquishment in Whittier and unincorporated [[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles County]] was approved in 2025. Prior to, Route 72 officially began at the junction of [[Interstate 605|I-605]] in [[Whittier, California|Whittier]]. The route followed [[Whittier Boulevard]] for its entire length, heading southeast through Whittier as a four-lane arterial street. SR 72 crossed with [[California county routes in zone N#N8|Los Angeles County Route N8]] at Colima Road and ended at the intersection of [[California State Route 39|SR 39]] (Beach Boulevard) in [[La Habra, California|La Habra]]. Whittier Boulevard is a major commercial corridor in Whittier, though it does not go through the city center, which is north of the highway. Now with the 2025 relinquishment, Route 72 officially consists of two short segments along Whittier Boulevard: between SR 39 and Valley Home Avenue, and Lockheed Avenue and I-605.

SR 72 however is still defined in the state highway code as a north–south state route. This reflects the original alignment and length of SR 72 before the highway was shortened over the years. From I-605, SR 72 then formerly continued west under a railroad bridge near [[Pío Pico State Historic Park]] and then over the [[San Gabriel River (California)|San Gabriel River]] as it entered [[Pico Rivera, California|Pico Rivera]] and met [[California State Route 19|SR 19]] at Rosemead Boulevard. After about a mile and a half, the route crossed a narrow steel bridge over the Rio Hondo into [[Montebello, California|Montebello]]. There, it continued towards [[Atlantic Boulevard (Los Angeles County)|Atlantic Boulevard]]. From there, it continued further to its end at Downey Road. Whittier Boulevard itself continues past Downey Road towards downtown Los Angeles. Those segments were relinquished back to the cities of Pico Rivera and Montebello by 2010, and are not included in the length of SR 72. And prior to 1981, SR 72 extended further east along Whittier Boulevard to [[Harbor Boulevard]], where it then turned south to meet with [[Interstate 5 in California|I-5]] in [[Anaheim, California|Anaheim]] {{Crossreference|selfref=no|(see {{slink|#History}})}}.

SR 72 is part of the [[National Highway System (United States)|National Highway System]],<ref name=fhwa-nhs>{{FHWA NHS map|region=losangeles|accessdate=October 13, 2017}}</ref> a network of highways that are considered essential to the country's economy, defense, and mobility by the [[Federal Highway Administration]].<ref name=NHS-FHWA>{{FHWA NHS}}</ref>

==History==
California's historic [[El Camino Real (California)|El Camino Real]], which connected the [[Spanish missions in California|Alta California missions]], ran along what was then [[U.S. Route 101 in California|U.S. Route 101]]. Before 1964, U.S. Route 101 continued past today's end near the [[East Los Angeles Interchange]] east onto Whittier Boulevard and south on Harbor Boulevard until it met its bypass in [[Anaheim, California|Anaheim]]. (What is now Route 5 from Los Angeles to Anaheim was the U.S. Route 101 Bypass.)

In 1964, the U.S. Route 101 designation was removed south of the East L.A. Interchange. Its routing on Whittier and Harbor Boulevards became Route 72 and was initially defined to run from Route 5 (the former bypass) to an unbuilt State Route 245, hence the route's lackluster end at Downey Road. (Route 245 was to have been a bypass connecting Route 5 with Route 60, a function that was eventually assumed by an extended [[Interstate 710 and State Route 710 (California)|Route 710]].)

In 1965, with Route 245 deleted, the definition was clarified to have Route 72 end at Downey Road, which was parallel to the planned Route 245.

In 1981, the portion from Route 5 to Harbor Boulevard (current SR 39) was deleted, and the portion from Harbor Boulevard to Route 39 was transferred to [[California State Route 39|SR 39]].

In 1992, the portion from [[Atlantic Boulevard (Los Angeles County)|Atlantic Boulevard]] to Downey Road was deleted.

In 2010, SB-1318 Sec. 20 deleted the segment between I-605 and Atlantic Boulevard. It also states that Route 72 will be deleted when "[[California State Route 90|Route 90]] freeway is completed from Route 5 to Route 39."

[[wikisource:California Streets and Highways Code, Chapter 2, Article 3, Section 301-635#Section 635|Cal. S&HC § 635(b)]]
includes unspecified parts of Route 72 in '''[[El Camino Real (California)|El Camino Real]]'''.

On May 15, 2025, the [[California Transportation Commission]] (CTC) approved a deal between the [[California Department of Transportation]] (Caltrans) and the city [[Whittier, California|Whittier]], for Caltrans to relinquish the segment of SR 72 between Lockheed Avenue and Valley Home Avenue to the city.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hernández |first1=Cato |title=Whittier will finally own its namesake boulevard. Why didn't it? |url=https://laist.com/news/transportation/la-county-whittier-boulevard-caltrans-city-history |access-date=June 30, 2025 |work=[[KPCC (FM)|LAist]] |publisher=Southern California Public Radio |date=March 9, 2025}}</ref>

==Major intersections==
{{CAinttop|post_ref= <ref name=trucklist /><ref name=bridgelog>{{Caltrans bridgelog|date=January 2011}}</ref><ref>[[California Department of Transportation]], [http://traffic-counts.dot.ca.gov/ All Traffic Volumes on CSHS], 2005 and 2006</ref><ref>[[California Department of Transportation]], [http://traffic-counts.dot.ca.gov/2000all.htm All Traffic Volumes on CSHS], 2000</ref>
}}
{{CAint
|county=Orange
|cspan=1
|county_note=ORA 11.42-11.92
|location=La Habra
|postmile=11.42
|road={{Jct|state=CA|SR|39|dir1=south|name1=Beach Boulevard|city1=Buena Park|city2=Huntington Beach}}
|notes=Southern terminus; [[Whittier Boulevard]] continues east as SR 39 north
}}
{{CAint
|county=Orange
|county2=Los Angeles
|location=La Habra
|location2=Whittier
|postmile=11.92
|line=yes
|postmile2=0.00
|road=Valley Home Avenue
|notes=Northern end of state maintenance<ref name=relinguished group=lower-alpha>The state has relinquished, and turned over various segments of the highway to local control.</ref>
}}
{{CAint
|county=Los Angeles
|cspan=4
|county_note=LA 0.00-6.66
|location=Whittier
|lspan=4
|postmile=1.80
|road={{jct|state=CA|CR|N8|name1=Colima Road}}
|notes=
}}
{{CAint
|postmile=4.2
|road=[[Washington Boulevard (Los Angeles)|Washington Boulevard]]
|notes=Eastern terminus of Washington Boulevard
}}
{{CAint
|postmile=6.54
|road=Lockheed Avenue
|notes=Southern end of state maintenance<ref name=relinguished group=lower-alpha />
}}
{{CAint
|postmile=6.66
|road={{jct|state=CA|I|605|name1=San Gabriel River Freeway}}
|notes=I-605 exit 15; northern terminus; Whittier Boulevard continues west beyond I-605
}}
{{Jctbtm}}
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

==See also==
*{{portal-inline|California roads}}
*{{portal-inline|Greater Los Angeles}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Attached KML|display=inline,title}}
{{commons category}}
{{CASR external links|SR|72}}
*[http://www.cahighways.org/065-072.html#072 California Highways: Route 72]
*[http://www.aaroads.com/california/ca-072.html California @ AARoads.com - State Route 72]

[[Category:State highways in California|072]]
[[Category:Roads in Orange County, California|State Route 072]]
[[Category:Roads in Los Angeles County, California|State Route 072]]
[[Category:U.S. Route 101|California State Route 072]]
[[Category:La Habra, California]]
[[Category:Whittier, California]]

California State Route 74

2025-10-26T16:21:05Z

2600:1700:6180:6290:99B3:3194:B6F1:9840:

{{Short description|State highway in California}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox road
|state=CA
|type=SR
|route=74
|section=374
|maint=[[Caltrans]]
|map={{maplink-road|from=California State Route 74.map}}
|map_notes=SR 74 highlighted in red; the gap represents the relinquished portion
|map_custom=yes
|length_mi=93.03
|length_round=2
|length_ref=<ref name=trucklist/>
|length_notes=Portions of SR 74 have been relinquished to or are otherwise maintained by local or other governments, and are not included in the length.
|established=1934<ref name="cahwy">[http://cahighways.org/073-080.html#074 California Highways: State Route 74]</ref>
|tourist=[[File:National Forest Scenic Byway.svg|20px|alt=|link=]][[File:California Scenic State.svg|20px|alt=|link=]] Pines to Palms Scenic Byway
|direction_a=West
|terminus_a={{jct|state=CA|I|5}} in [[San Juan Capistrano, California|San Juan Capistrano]]
|junction=
* {{jct|state=CA|I|15}} in [[Lake Elsinore, California|Lake Elsinore]]
* {{jct|state=CA|I|215}} in [[Perris, California|Perris]]
* {{jct|state=CA|SR|79}} in [[Hemet, California|Hemet]]
* {{jct|state=CA|SR|243}} near [[Mountain Center, California|Mountain Center]]
* {{jct|state=CA|SR|371}} near [[Anza, California|Anza]]
|direction_b=East
|terminus_b=The [[Palm Desert, California|Palm Desert]] line
|counties=[[Orange County, California|Orange]], [[Riverside County, California|Riverside]]
|previous_type=SR
|previous_route=73
|next_type=SR
|next_route=75
}}
'''State Route 74''' ('''SR 74'''), part of which forms the '''Palms to Pines Scenic Byway''' or '''Pines to Palms Highway''', and the '''Ortega Highway''', is a [[state highway]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[California]]. It runs from [[Interstate 5 in California|Interstate 5]] in [[San Juan Capistrano, California|San Juan Capistrano]] in [[Orange County, California|Orange County]] to the city limits of [[Palm Desert, California|Palm Desert]] in [[Riverside County, California|Riverside County]]. Stretching about {{convert|93|mi|km}}, it passes through several parks and [[United States National Forest|National Forests]] between the Pacific coast and the [[Coachella Valley]]. Though some maps and signs may still mark SR 74 as continuous through the city of [[Perris, California|Perris]], control of segments within that city were relinquished to that local jurisdictions and are thus no longer officially part of the state highway system.

==Route description==
SR 74 begins at an interchange with [[I-5 (CA)|I-5]] in the city of [[San Juan Capistrano, California|San Juan Capistrano]] and heads east as the Ortega Highway, loosely paralleling [[San Juan Creek]]. The highway leaves the San Juan Capistrano city limits and turns northeast, going through the community of [[Rancho Mission Viejo]] and entering [[Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park]] and eventually [[Cleveland National Forest]]. After going through [[San Juan Hot Springs, California|San Juan Hot Springs]], SR 74 enters [[Riverside County, California|Riverside County]].<ref name="ortg">{{cite map|year=2008|title=Orange County Road Atlas|publisher=Thomas Brothers}}</ref>

The highway continues winding through the [[Santa Ana Mountains]] and passes through the community of [[El Cariso, California|El Cariso]] before descending into the [[Lake Elsinore, California|city of Lake Elsinore]]. SR 74 continues northwest on Grand Avenue before continuing northeast on Riverside Drive and continuing along the shore of [[Lake Elsinore]]. The road continues southeast on Collier Avenue before continuing northeast on Central Avenue and intersecting [[Interstate 15 (California)|I-15]]. SR 74 leaves the city of Lake Elsinore and continues through unincorporated Riverside County before turning east and entering [[Perris, California|Perris]]. After traveling through downtown, SR 74 merges with [[Interstate 215 (California)|I-215]] and runs concurrently with I-215 before exiting the freeway as Matthews Road.<ref name="rivtg">{{cite map|year=2008|title=Riverside County Road Atlas|publisher=Thomas Brothers}}</ref>

SR 74 travels southeast through the [[Romoland, California|Romoland]] area of [[Menifee, California|Menifee]] and turns east to become Pinacate Road, continuing through [[Homeland, California|Homeland]] and [[Green Acres, California|Green Acres]] before running concurrently with [[California State Route 79|SR 79]] as Florida Avenue through [[Hemet, California|Hemet]]. SR 79 splits off and heads north towards [[San Jacinto, California|San Jacinto]] while SR 74 continues through [[East Hemet, California|East Hemet]] and [[Valle Vista, California|Valle Vista]] before entering the [[San Bernardino National Forest]]. The Palms to Pines Highway parallels [[San Jacinto Creek]] as it winds through the mountains before intersecting [[California State Route 243|SR 243]] in [[Mountain Center, California|Mountain Center]] and providing access to the [[Hemet Reservoir]]. SR 74 follows the [[Garner Valley Wash]] through [[Garner Valley, California|Garner Valley]] before meeting the eastern terminus of [[California State Route 371|SR 371]]. The road crosses the [[Santa Rosa Indian Reservation]] before going through the communities of [[Ribbonwood, California|Ribbonwood]] and [[Pinyon Pines, California|Pinyon Pines]] and turning north along [[Deep Canyon]] and becoming the western boundary of the [[University of California Desert Research Area]].<ref name="rivtg" />

As the highway descends to the [[Coachella Valley]] area, it parallels Carrizo Creek before entering the city limits of [[Palm Desert, California|Palm Desert]], where SR 74 meets its current legal eastern terminus. The SR 74 designation continued into Palm Desert as a city arterial to its eastern terminus at [[California State Route 111|SR 111]], which has also had its state highway designation removed through Palm Desert.<ref name="rivtg" />

[[File:San Juan Creek Canyon, Orange County, California - 2023 November 05.jpg|thumb|Oak woodland along Ortega Highway near Cleveland National Forest]]
[[File:View from the Pines to Palms Highway.jpg|alt=View from the Pines to Palms Highway looking out over the Coachella Valley.|thumb|View from the Pines to Palms Highway looking out over the Coachella Valley.]]
Route 74 passes through many [[parks]] and [[United States National Forest|National Forests]] along its route. Some of these places include the [[San Bernardino National Forest]], the [[Cleveland National Forest]], the [[Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park]], [[Lake Elsinore State Recreation Park]], the [[Soboba Indian Reservation]], [[Lake Hemet]], [[Santa Rosa Indian Reservation]], and [[Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument]].

SR 74 is part of the [[California Freeway and Expressway System]],<ref name="cafes">{{CAFESystem}}</ref> and for a portion near I-15 as well as from I-215 to the eastern Hemet city limits is part of the [[National Highway System (United States)|National Highway System]],<ref name=fhwa-nhs>{{FHWA NHS map|region=riverside|access-date=October 13, 2017}} {{FHWA NHS map|region=californiasouth|access-date=October 13, 2017}}</ref> a network of highways that are considered essential to the country's economy, defense, and mobility by the [[Federal Highway Administration]].<ref name=NHS-FHWA>{{FHWA NHS}}</ref> SR 74 is eligible for the [[State Scenic Highway System (California)|State Scenic Highway System]];<ref name="scenic">{{CA scenic}}</ref> however, it is only a scenic highway as designated by [[Caltrans]] from the western boundary of the [[San Bernardino National Forest]] to its junction with [[SR 111 (CA)|SR 111]].<ref name="caltransscenic">{{Caltrans scenic|access-date=October 13, 2017}}</ref> State Route 74 is called the California Wildland Firefighters Memorial Highway (from Lake Elsinore to San Juan Capistrano), as designated by various state laws.<ref>{{CA Named Freeways | pages=47, 238}}</ref> The Palms to Pines Scenic Byway is a [[National Forest Scenic Byway]].<ref name="byways.org">{{cite web |author = Staff |url = http://byways.org/explore/byways/2326/ |title = Palms to Pines Scenic Byway |work = America's Byways |publisher = [[Federal Highway Administration]] |access-date = October 11, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111011174942/http://byways.org/explore/byways/2326 |archive-date = October 11, 2011 |url-status = dead |df = mdy-all }}</ref>

==History==
[[File:California 740.svg|100px|thumb|left|SR 740 became part of SR 74 when the highway was extended east]]
[[File:US 395 (1961 cutout).svg|100px|thumb|SR 74 ran alongside US 395 in Perris]]
The route has been signed as Route 74 since the establishment of state routes in 1934.<ref name="cahwy"/> Its original corridor between then [[California State Route 71|CA 71]] Corona Freeway (later [[Interstate 15W (California)|I-15W]]) and present-day [[Interstate 215 (California)|I-215]] (then, [[Interstate 15E (California)|I-15E]] and [[U.S. Route 395 in California|U.S. Route 395]]) was numbered as U.S. 395, through downtown Perris. East of the CA 74/U.S. 395 junction, from Romoland-east, was CA 740 (Florida Avenue).

The western portion of Route 74 in Orange County follows [[San Juan Creek]] and is named the Ortega Highway, after the Spanish explorer Sgt. [[José Francisco Ortega]] who led the scouts of the 1769 [[Portola expedition]], first non-natives to ever see the area.

Route 74 between San Juan Capistrano and Lake Elsinore, due to its narrow width and high traffic volume, is known as one of the most dangerous highways in the state.<ref name=LATimes>{{Cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-aug-11-mn-32926-story.html | title= Driving a Deadly Dinosaur | work=[[Los Angeles Times]] A Tribune Newspaper website | access-date=August 24, 2013 | first=Dan | last=Weikel | date=August 11, 2001}}</ref>

California's legislature has relinquished state control of segments of SR 74 in Perris and Palm Desert, and turned it over to local control. This includes deleting from the highway code an unconstructed segment that would have extended SR 74 from SR 111 to [[Interstate 10 in California|Interstate 10]].<ref name="relinquishment">{{cite web |url=http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=shc&group=00001-01000&file=300-635 |title=CA Codes (shc:300-635) |publisher=Leginfo.ca.gov |access-date=October 19, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006110038/http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=shc&group=00001-01000&file=300-635 |archive-date=October 6, 2014 }}</ref>

On August 11, 1930, the [[Riverside County, California|Riverside County]] Board of Supervisors officially named the highway "from San Jacinto Mountains to the Desert" as the Palms to Pines Highway.<ref name=Lech>{{cite book|last=Lech|first=Steve|title=For Tourism and a Good Night's Sleep: J. Win Wilson, Wilson Howell, and the Beginnings of the Palms-to-Pines Highway|year=2012|publisher=Steve Lech|location=Riverside, CA|isbn=978-0-9837500-1-7|page=ix}}</ref>

==In media==
* A segment of Route 74 named "Seven Level Hill," just south of [[Palm Desert, California]], appears in the 1963 American comedy film ''[[It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World]]'' during the opening minutes of the film, when the major characters of the film meet for the first time following a car accident (near mile marker 87).
* Scenes from the 1954 American comedy film ''[[The Long, Long Trailer]]'' were shot on the Pines to Palms Scenic Byway (State Route 74) in [[Palm Desert, California|Palm Desert]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Meeks|first=Eric G.|title=P.S. I Love Lucy: The Story of Lucille Ball in Palm Springs|year=2011|publisher=Horotio Limburger Oglethorpe|isbn=978-1468098549|page=31}}</ref>
* The rock band [[Kyuss]], which formed in Palm Desert, titled the opening track of their 1991 debut album [[Wretch (album)|Wretch]], "(Beginning of What's About to Happen) Hwy 74".

==Major intersections==
{{CAinttop|post_ref= <ref name=trucklist /><ref name=bridgelog>{{Caltrans bridgelog|date=July 2007}}</ref><ref>[[California Department of Transportation]], [http://traffic-counts.dot.ca.gov/ All Traffic Volumes on CSHS], 2005 and 2006</ref>
}}
{{CAint
|county=Orange
|cspan=3
|county_note=ORA 0.00-15.60
|location=San Juan Capistrano
|lspan=3
|postmile=0.00
|road=Ortega Highway (to Camino Capistrano)
|notes=Continuation beyond I-5
}}
{{CAint
|postmile=0.00
|road={{Jct|state=CA|I|5|name1=[[Interstate 5 in California|San Diego Freeway]]|city1=Los Angeles|city2=San Diego}}
|notes=Interchange; western terminus of SR 74; I-5 exit 82
}}
{{CAint
|postmile=2.6
|road={{Jct|state=CA|road|Avenida La Pata, Antonio Parkway|CA-Toll|241|to2=yes|dir2=north|city1=Ladera Ranch}}
|notes=Access to SR 241 toll road via northbound Antonio Parkway, eastbound Cow Camp Road and northbound Los Patrones Parkway<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/@33.5193676,-117.6219202,3a,37.5y,114.17h,90.77t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sOaBgQm-BI_lzhbg2WGAJww!2e0!7i16384!8i8192 29624 Ortega Hwy – San Juan Capistrano, California] [[Google Street View]] from February 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2021</ref>
}}
{{CAint
|county=Riverside|cspan=18
|county_note=RIV 0.00-96.01
|location=Lake Elsinore
|lspan=2
|postmile=11.83
|road=Grand Avenue – [[Lakeland Village, California|Lakeland Village]]
|notes=
}}
{{CAint
|postmile=17.24
|road={{Jct|state=CA|I|15|name1=[[Temecula Valley Freeway]]|city1=Corona|city2=San Diego}}
|notes=Interchange; I-15 exit 77
}}
{{CAint
|location1=Lake Elsinore
|location2=Perris
|postmile=25.54
|place=East end of state maintenance
}}
{{CAint
|location=Perris
|lspan=4
|type=concur
|postmile=27.53
|line=yes
|postmile2=26.31<ref group="N" name="I-215">Indicates that the postmile represents the distance along [[Interstate 215 (California)|I-215]] rather than SR 74.</ref>
|road={{Jct|state=CA|I|215|dir1=north|name1=[[Escondido Freeway]]|city1=Riverside|road|Redlands Avenue}}
|pmspan=2
|notes=Interchange; west end of I-215 overlap; former [[Interstate 15E (California)|I-15E]] north / [[U.S. Route 395 in California|US 395]] north; I-215 exit 17
}}
{{CAint
|mile=none
|place=West end of freeway on I-215 / West end of state maintenance
}}
{{CAint
|postmile=23.54<ref group="N" name="I-215"/>
|line=yes
|postmile2=27.54
|pmspan=2
|place=East end of freeway on I-215
}}
{{CAint
|type=concur
|mile=none
|road={{Jct|state=CA|I|215|dir1=south|name1=[[Escondido Freeway]]|city1=San Diego}}
|notes=Interchange; east end of I-215 overlap; former [[Interstate 15E (California)|I-15E]] south / [[U.S. Route 395 in California|US 395]] south; I-215 exit 15
}}
{{CAint
|type=concur
|location=Green Acres
|postmile=34.33
|road={{Jct|state=CA|SR|79|dir1=south|name1=Winchester Road|road|Vista Place|city1=Winchester|city2=San Diego}}
|notes=West end of SR 79 overlap
}}
{{CAint
|location=Hemet
|lspan=3
|postmile=36.92
|road=Warren Road
|notes=Serves [[Hemet-Ryan Airport]]
}}
{{CAint
|postmile=40.59
|road={{Jct|state=CA|CR|R3|county1=Riverside|name1=State Street|city1=Sage|countydab1=Riverside|city2=Aguanga|city3=San Jacinto}}
|notes=Northern terminus of CR R3 (State Street continues north to San Jacinto)
}}
{{CAint
|type=concur
|postmile=41.34
|road={{Jct|state=CA|SR|79|dir1=north|name1=San Jacinto Street|city1=San Jacinto}}
|notes=East end of SR 79 overlap
}}
{{CAint
|location=Valle Vista
|postmile=44.74
|road=Ramona Expressway
|notes=
}}
{{CAint
|location=Mountain Center
|lspan=2
|postmile=59.25
|road={{Jct|state=CA|SR|243|dir1=north|city1=Idyllwild|city2=Banning}}
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit

|postmile=61.10
|place=Keen Camp Summit, elevation {{Convert|4917|ft}}<ref>{{cite web|publisher=California Department of Transportation|title=Elevation and Location of Summits and Passes in California|url=http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/tsip/data_library/archives/summit.xls|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301032752/http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/tsip/data_library/archives/summit.xls|archivedate=March 1, 2017}}</ref>
}}
{{CAint
|location=none
|postmile=71.75
|road={{Jct|state=CA|SR|371|dir1=west|city1=Anza|city2=San Diego}}
|notes=Former [[California State Route 71|SR 71]]
}}
{{Jctplace
|location=Palm Desert
|lspan=3
|state=CA
|postmile=92.26
|place=East end of state maintenance at [[Palm Desert, California|Palm Desert]] southern city limit
}}
{{CAint
|postmile=96.01
|road={{Jct|state=CA|SR|111|city1=Palm Springs|city2=Los Angeles|city3=Indio}}
|notes=
}}
{{CAint
|postmile=96.01
|road=Monterey Avenue
|notes=Continuation beyond SR 111; eastern terminus of SR 74
}}
{{Jctbtm|keys=concur}}
{{reflist|group="N"}}

==See also==
* {{portal-inline|California Roads}}
* {{portal-inline|Greater Los Angeles}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

===Further reading===
* {{cite journal|last=Law|first=George|title=The 'Pines and Palm Trails' of Wonder|journal=Los Angeles Times|date=October 3, 1920}}

==External links==
{{commons category|California State Route 74}}
{{Attached KML|display=inline,title}}
{{CASR external links|SR|74}}
* [http://www.aaroads.com/california/ca-074.html California @ AARoads.com – State Route 74]
* [http://www.cahighways.org/073-080.html#074 California Highways: SR 74]

[[Category:State highways in California|074]]
[[Category:Roads in Orange County, California|State Route 074]]
[[Category:Roads in Riverside County, California|State Route 074]]
[[Category:State Scenic Highway System (California)|074]]
[[Category:U.S. Route 395]]
[[Category:San Juan Capistrano, California]]
[[Category:Lake Elsinore, California]]
[[Category:Perris, California]]
[[Category:Hemet, California]]
[[Category:Palm Desert, California]]
[[Category:1934 establishments in California]]

California State Route 1

2025-10-26T16:15:35Z

2600:1700:6180:6290:99B3:3194:B6F1:9840:

{{Short description|State highway in California, United States}}
{{Hatnote|Several terms redirect here. Not to be confused with the [[California State Route 163|Cabrillo Freeway]] in San Diego. For the congressional district, see {{ushr|California|1}}. For other uses, see [[Pacific Coast Highway (disambiguation)]] and [[PCH (disambiguation)]]}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox road
| state = CA
| type = SR
| route = 1
| map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=290|frame-height=260|type=line|from=California State Route 1.map}}
| map_custom = yes
| map_notes = SR 1 highlighted in red; with relinquished, future, and unofficial portions in pink
| section = 301
| maint = [[California Department of Transportation|Caltrans]]
| length_mi = 655.845
| length_round = 3
| length_ref = <ref name="trucklist" />
| restrictions = {{Collapsible list
| title = Special restrictions:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/engineering/trucks/routes/restrict-list.htm|title = Special Route Restrictions|publisher=California Department of Transportation|access-date=July 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912222946/http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/engineering/trucks/routes/restrict-list.htm|archive-date=September 12, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/traffic-operations/documents/trucks/truckmap-d05.pdf|title=Truck Networks on California State Highways|publisher=California Department of Transportation|access-date=January 5, 2020|archive-date=January 10, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240110000453/https://dot.ca.gov/Configuration/Error-Pages/Error-404-Page|url-status=live}}</ref>
| frame_style = border:none; padding:0;
| list_style = text-align:left;
| bullets = yes
| 1 = No flammable or combustible tank vehicles in the [[Airport Tunnel (Los Angeles)|Sepulveda Tunnel]]
| 2 = No trucks with 4 or more axles through [[Malibu, California|Malibu]]
| 3 = No trucks over {{convert|3|ST|t|abbr=on}} through [[Lompoc, California|Lompoc]]
| 4 = No explosives, flammables or combustibles in the [[Tom Lantos Tunnels]]
| 5 = No trucks exceeding 30 feet kingpin to rearmost axle distance from Carmel to San Simeon
}}
| length_notes = (broken into 5 pieces by U.S. Route 101. Also, portions of SR 1 have been relinquished to or are otherwise maintained by local or other governments, and are not included in the length)
| tourist = *[[File:MUTCD D6-4.svg|20px|alt=|link=]] [[File:California Scenic State.svg|20px|alt=|link=]] Route One, Big Sur Coast Highway and Route One, San Luis Obispo North Coast Byway
*[[File:California Scenic State.svg|20px|alt=|link=]] Portions of the Cabrillo Highway in Santa Barbara and San Mateo Counties<ref>{{Caltrans scenic|access-date=March 27, 2019}}</ref>
| established = 1934
| direction_a = South
| terminus_a = {{Jct|state=CA|I|5}} in [[Dana Point, California|Dana Point]]
| junction = 
*{{Jct|state=CA|SR|133}} in [[Laguna Beach]]
*{{Jct|state=CA|SR|55}} in [[Newport Beach, California|Newport Beach]]
*{{Jct|state=CA|I|10}} in [[Santa Monica, California|Santa Monica]]
*{{Jct|state=CA|US|101}} at various locations
*{{Jct|state=CA|SR|46}} near [[Cambria, California|Cambria]]
*{{Jct|state=CA|SR|68}} in [[Monterey, California|Monterey]]
*{{Jct|state=CA|SR|17}} in [[Santa Cruz, California|Santa Cruz]]
*{{Jct|state=CA|SR|92}} in [[Half Moon Bay, California|Half Moon Bay]]
*{{Jct|state=CA|I|280}} in [[Daly City, California|Daly City]]
*{{Jct|state=CA|SR|20}} near [[Fort Bragg, California|Fort Bragg]]
| direction_b = North
| terminus_b = {{Jct|state=CA|US|101}} in [[Leggett, California|Leggett]]
| counties = [[Orange County, California|Orange]], [[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles]], [[Ventura County, California|Ventura]], [[Santa Barbara County, California|Santa Barbara]], [[San Luis Obispo County, California|San Luis Obispo]], [[Monterey County, California|Monterey]], [[Santa Cruz County, California|Santa Cruz]], [[San Mateo County, California|San Mateo]], [[San Francisco]], [[Marin County, California|Marin]], [[Sonoma County, California|Sonoma]], [[Mendocino County, California|Mendocino]]
| previous_type = I
| previous_route = 980
| next_type = SR
| next_route = 2
}}

'''State Route 1''' ('''SR 1''') is a major north–south [[state highway]] that runs along most of the [[West Coast of the United States|Pacific coastline]] of the U.S. state of [[California]]. At {{convert|656|mi|km}}, it is the longest state route in California, and the [[List of longest state highways in the United States|second-longest in the US]] after [[Montana Highway 200]]. SR 1 has several portions designated as either '''Pacific Coast Highway''' ('''PCH'''), '''Cabrillo Highway''', '''Shoreline Highway''', or '''Coast Highway'''. Its southern terminus is at [[Interstate 5 in California|Interstate 5]] (I-5) near [[Dana Point, California|Dana Point]] in [[Orange County, California|Orange County]] and its northern terminus is at [[U.S. Route 101 in California|U.S. Route 101]] (US 101) near [[Leggett, California|Leggett]] in [[Mendocino County, California|Mendocino County]]. SR 1 also at times runs [[concurrency (road)|concurrently]] with US 101, most notably through a {{convert|54|mi|km||adj=mid}} stretch in [[Ventura County, California|Ventura]] and [[Santa Barbara County, California|Santa Barbara]] counties, and across the [[Golden Gate Bridge]].

The highway is designated as an [[National Scenic Byway|All-American Road]]. In addition to providing a scenic route to numerous attractions along the coast, the route also serves as a major thoroughfare in the [[Greater Los Angeles Area]], the [[San Francisco Bay Area]], and several other coastal urban areas. Though some maps and signs mark SR 1 as continuous through the cities of [[Dana Point, California|Dana Point]], [[Newport Beach, California|Newport Beach]], [[Santa Monica, California|Santa Monica]], and [[Oxnard, California|Oxnard]], control of segments within those cities were relinquished to those local jurisdictions and are thus no longer officially part of the state highway system. The Golden Gate Bridge is also officially not included in the state highway system because it is maintained locally by the [[Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District]].

SR 1 was built piecemeal in various stages, with the first section opening in the [[Big Sur]] region in the 1930s. However, portions of the route had several names and numbers over the years as more segments opened. It was not until the [[1964 state highway renumbering (California)|1964 state highway renumbering]] that the entire route was officially designated as SR 1. Although SR 1 is a popular route for its scenery, frequent landslides and erosion along the coast have caused several segments to be either closed for lengthy periods for repairs, or re-routed inland.

==Route description== 
Due to its fragmented nature and piecemeal relinquishments, the [[California Codes|California Streets and Highways Code]] defines Route 1 across several subdivisions of section 301 as follows:<ref name="CSHC301">{{Cite web|url=https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=SHC&sectionNum=301.|title=Section 301|work=California Streets and Highways Code|publisher=California Office of Legislative Counsel|location=Sacramento|access-date=August 17, 2025}}</ref>
<blockquote>Route 1 is from:

(a) [[Interstate 5 (California)|Route 5]] south of [[San Juan Capistrano, California|San Juan Capistrano]] to [[U.S. Route 101 in California|Route 101]] near [[El Rio, California|El Rio]] except for the portions of Route 1 relinquished:
{{ubl|(1) Within the city limits of the City of [[Dana Point, California|Dana Point]] between the western edge of the San Juan Creek Bridge and Eastline Road at the city limits of the City of [[Laguna Beach, California|Laguna Beach]].|(2) Within the city limits of the City of [[Newport Beach, California|Newport Beach]] between Jamboree Road and Newport Coast Drive.|(3) Within the city limits of the City of [[Santa Monica, California|Santa Monica]] between the southern city limits and [[Interstate 10 (California)|Route 10]].|(4) Within the city limits of the City of [[Oxnard, California|Oxnard]] between Pleasant Valley Road and Route 101.}}
(b) Route 101 at [[Emma Wood State Beach]], 1.3 miles north of [[California State Route 33|Route 33]], to Route 101, 2.8 miles south of the [[Ventura County, California|Ventura]]-[[Santa Barbara County, California|Santa Barbara]] county line at Mobil Pier Undercrossing. (c) Route 101 near [[Las Cruces, California|Las Cruces]] to Route 101 in [[Pismo Beach, California|Pismo Beach]] via the vicinity of [[Lompoc, California|Lompoc]], [[Vandenberg Air Force Base]], and [[Guadalupe, California|Guadalupe]]. (d) Route 101 in [[San Luis Obispo, California|San Luis Obispo]] to [[Interstate 280 (California)|Route 280]] south of [[San Francisco]] along the coast via [[Cambria, California|Cambria]], [[San Simeon, California|San Simeon]], and [[Santa Cruz, California|Santa Cruz]]. (e) Route 280 near the south boundary of the [[San Francisco|City and County of San Francisco]] to Route 101 near the approach to the [[Golden Gate Bridge]] in San Francisco. (f) Route 101 near the southerly end of Marin Peninsula to Route 101 near [[Leggett, California|Leggett]] via the coast route through [[Jenner, California|Jenner]] and [[Westport, California|Westport]].</blockquote>

The definition omits Route 1's [[Concurrency (road)|concurrencies]] with Routes 101 and 280 instead of duplicating those segments in the other routes' definitions in the code. And while the former portions of Route 1 have been relinquished by the state to the cities of Dana Point, Newport Beach, Santa Monica, and Oxnard, section 301 subdivision (g) further mandates that those cities must still "maintain within their respective jurisdictions signs directing motorists to the continuation of Route 1".<ref name="CSHC301"/> In addition to the relinquished portions listed under subdivision (a), sections 301 subdivision (h), 301.1, 301.3, 303.4 and 301.5 of the code permit the state to relinquish select or all portions of Route 1 in the cities of [[Los Angeles]], [[Torrance, California|Torrance]], Newport Beach, [[Laguna Beach, California|Laguna Beach]] and Pismo Beach respectively.<ref name="CSHC301.1">{{Cite web|url=https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=SHC&sectionNum=301.1.|title=Section 301.1|work=California Streets and Highways Code|publisher=California Office of Legislative Counsel|location=Sacramento|access-date=August 17, 2025}}</ref><ref name="CSHC301.3">{{Cite web|url=https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=SHC&sectionNum=301.3.|title=Section 301.3|work=California Streets and Highways Code|publisher=California Office of Legislative Counsel|location=Sacramento|access-date=August 17, 2025}}</ref><ref name="CSHC301.4">{{Cite web|url=https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=SHC&sectionNum=301.4.|title=Section 301.4|work=California Streets and Highways Code|publisher=California Office of Legislative Counsel|location=Sacramento|access-date=August 17, 2025}}</ref><ref name="CSHC301.5">{{Cite web|url=https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=SHC&sectionNum=301.5.|title=Section 301.5|work=California Streets and Highways Code|publisher=California Office of Legislative Counsel|location=Sacramento|access-date=August 17, 2025}}</ref>

SR 1 is part of the [[California Freeway and Expressway System]],<ref name="cafes">{{CAFESystem}}</ref> and through the Los Angeles metro area, Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Francisco metro area is part of the [[National Highway System (United States)|National Highway System]],<ref name=fhwa-nhs>{{FHWA NHS map|region=californiasouth|access-date=October 21, 2017}} {{FHWA NHS map|region=californianorth|access-date=October 21, 2017}} {{FHWA NHS map|region=losangeles|access-date=October 21, 2017}} {{FHWA NHS map|region=sanfrancisco|access-date=October 21, 2017}}</ref> a network of highways that are considered essential to the country's economy, defense, and mobility by the [[Federal Highway Administration]].<ref name=NHS-FHWA>{{FHWA NHS}}</ref>

The [[California State Route 1 (Big Sur)|Big Sur]] section from San Luis Obispo to [[Carmel-by-the-Sea, California|Carmel]] is an official [[National Scenic Byway]].<ref name="byways.org">{{cite web |author = Federal Highway Administration |author-link = Federal Highway Administration |url = http://byways.org/explore/byways/2301/ |title = Big Sur Coast Highway |work = America's Byways |publisher = Federal Highway Administration |access-date = November 29, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111202145257/http://byways.org/explore/byways/2301 |archive-date = December 2, 2011 |url-status = dead }}</ref> SR 1 is eligible to be included in the [[State Scenic Highway System (California)|State Scenic Highway System]];<ref name="scenic">{{CA scenic}}</ref> however, only a few stretches between [[Los Angeles]] and [[San Francisco]] have officially been designated as a scenic highway,<ref name="caltransscenic">{{Caltrans scenic|access-date=October 21, 2017}}</ref> meaning that there are substantial sections of highway passing through a "memorable landscape" with no "visual intrusions", where the potential designation has gained popular favor with the community.<ref>{{Caltrans scenic info}}</ref>

The entire route is designated as a [[Blue Star Memorial Highway]] to recognize those in the United States armed forces; this designation is sponsored by the California Garden Clubs, but the organization has not erected such markers along SR 1 yet.<ref>{{cite web |author = California Department of Transportation |url = https://dot.ca.gov/programs/design/lap-landscape-architecture-and-community-livability/lap-liv-a-blue-star-memorial-highways |title = Blue Star Memorial Highways |publisher = California Department of Transportation|access-date = November 2, 2021 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210827040720/https://dot.ca.gov/programs/design/lap-landscape-architecture-and-community-livability/lap-liv-a-blue-star-memorial-highways |archive-date =August 27, 2021 |url-status = live }}</ref> In 1959, the legislature officially designated the segment in Southern California between [[Interstate 5 in California|Interstate 5]] (I-5) in [[Dana Point, California|Dana Point]] and [[U.S. Route 101 in California|US 101]] near [[Oxnard, California|Oxnard]] as the Pacific Coast Highway (commonly referred to as "PCH", without the definite article "the", unlike other [[California English#Freeways|freeway numbers in the Los Angeles area]]). Between US 101 at the Las Cruces junction ({{convert|8|mi|disp=sqbr}} south of [[Buellton, California|Buellton]]) and US 101 in [[Pismo Beach, California|Pismo Beach]], and between US 101 in [[San Luis Obispo, California|San Luis Obispo]] and [[Interstate 280 (California)|Interstate 280]] in San Francisco, the legislature also designated SR 1 as the Cabrillo Highway in 1959, after the explorer [[Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo]] who sailed along the coast line. The legislature also designated the route as the Shoreline Highway in 1957 between the Manzanita Junction near [[Marin City, California|Marin City]] and [[Leggett, California|Leggett]]. Smaller segments of the highway have been assigned several other names by the state and municipal governments.<ref>{{cite book |author = California Department of Transportation |url = http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/tsip/hseb/products/Named_Freeways.pdf |title = 2007 Named Freeways, Highways, Structures and Other Appurtenances in California |publisher = California Department of Transportation |pages = 5, 69, 115–116 |access-date = March 28, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130523161116/http://dot.ca.gov/hq/tsip/hseb/products/Named_Freeways.pdf |archive-date = May 23, 2013 |url-status = live }}</ref>

For the most part, SR 1 runs parallel to the coastline, or close to it, but does turn several miles inland at various locations to avoid several federally controlled or protected areas such as [[Vandenberg Space Force Base]], [[Diablo Canyon Power Plant]] and [[Point Reyes National Seashore]]. In addition to connecting the coastal cities and communities along its path, the route provides access to beaches, parks, and other attractions along the coast, making it a popular route for tourists. The route annually helps bring several billion dollars to the state's tourism industry.<ref>{{cite magazine |last = Miller |first = Heather |date = June 1999 |title = The Ups and Downs of Highway 1 |url = http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/highway-abstract.html |archive-url = https://archive.today/20130702053412/http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/highway-abstract.html |url-status = dead |archive-date = July 2, 2013 |magazine = [[Smithsonian (magazine)|Smithsonian Magazine]] |access-date = July 2, 2013 }}</ref> Segments of SR 1 range from urban freeway to simple rural two-lane road. Under the [[California Coastal Act]], those segments of the highway that run through the rural areas of the protected California Coastal Zone may not be widened beyond a scenic two-lane road.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=PRC&division=20.&title=&part=&chapter=3.&article=6. |title=Article 6 of Chapter 3 of Division 20 |work=California Public Resources Code |publisher=California Office of Legislative Counsel |location=Sacramento |access-date=September 23, 2021 |archive-date=October 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021113541/https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=PRC&division=20.&title=&part=&chapter=3.&article=6. |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Orange County===
At its southernmost end in [[Orange County, California|Orange County]], SR 1 terminates at I-5 in [[Capistrano Beach, Dana Point, California|Capistrano Beach]] in [[Dana Point, California|Dana Point]]. It then travels west into the city center. After leaving Dana Point, Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) becomes simply "Coast Highway" while at the same time continuing northwest along the coast through [[Laguna Beach, California|Laguna Beach]] (where it meets the southern terminus of [[California State Route 133|SR 133]]) and [[Crystal Cove State Park]].<ref name="CA2010map" /><ref name="google" />

SR 1 then enters [[Newport Beach, California|Newport Beach]] and passes through several affluent neighborhoods, including [[Newport Coast]] and [[Corona del Mar, Newport Beach, California|Corona Del Mar]], spans the entrance to the [[Upper Newport Bay]], which marks the boundary between East Coast Highway and West Coast Highway, and crosses [[California State Route 55]] near its southern terminus. Upon crossing the [[Santa Ana River]] mouth and entering [[Huntington Beach, California|Huntington Beach]], SR 1 regains the Pacific Coast Highway designation. It passes [[Huntington State Beach]] and the southern terminus of [[California State Route 39]] before reaching [[Bolsa Chica State Beach]] and the [[Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve]]. PCH then continues along the coast into [[Seal Beach, California|Seal Beach]], the final city on its journey in Orange County.<ref name="CA2010map" /><ref name="google" />

===Los Angeles and Ventura counties===
[[File:The Pacific Coast Towers.jpg|thumb|The Pacific Corporate Towers alongside PCH in El Segundo, California]]
PCH enters [[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles County]] and the city of [[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]] after crossing the [[San Gabriel River (California)|San Gabriel River]]. SR 1 then continues northwest through the city to its junction with [[California State Route 19|Lakewood Boulevard]] (State Route 19) and Los Coyotes Diagonal at the [[Los Alamitos Circle]], more than {{convert|2|mi|km}} from the coast. From the traffic circle, it continues inland west through Long Beach, including approximately one mile adjacent to the southern boundary of [[Signal Hill, California|Signal Hill]]. PCH is marked as such in Long Beach, but originally bore the name of Hathaway Avenue east of the traffic circle and State Street west of there. PCH then passes through the [[List of districts and neighborhoods of Los Angeles|Los Angeles districts]] of [[Wilmington, Los Angeles|Wilmington]] and [[Harbor City, Los Angeles|Harbor City]]. While bypassing the immediate coastline of [[Palos Verdes]], SR 1 continues to head west into the cities of [[Lomita, California|Lomita]] and [[Torrance, California|Torrance]] along the route of the former Redondo-Wilmington Boulevard.<ref name="CA2010map" /><ref name="google" />

PCH then turns north through [[Redondo Beach, California|Redondo Beach]] and [[Hermosa Beach, California|Hermosa Beach]]. Upon entering [[Manhattan Beach, California|Manhattan Beach]], it becomes [[Sepulveda Boulevard]] and turns back into PCH designation through [[El Segundo, California|El Segundo]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dailybreeze.com/2018/06/04/el-segundo-says-goodbye-to-sepulveda-boulevard-hello-to-pch/|title=El Segundo says goodbye to Sepulveda Boulevard, hello to PCH|first=Megan|last=Barnes|newspaper=[[Daily Breeze]]|date=June 4, 2018|access-date=June 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719053910/https://www.dailybreeze.com/2018/06/04/el-segundo-says-goodbye-to-sepulveda-boulevard-hello-to-pch/|archive-date=July 19, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> At Imperial Highway, it regains the name Sepulveda Boulevard as it descends and passes under two runways of [[Los Angeles International Airport]] (LAX) via the [[Airport Tunnel (Los Angeles)|Sepulveda Boulevard Tunnel]].<ref name="CA2010map" /><ref name="google" />

[[File:Ca-1 between Santa Monica and LAX.JPG|thumb|left|Southbound SR 1 near the intersection of Lincoln and Sepulveda Boulevards north of LAX]]
After leaving LAX, SR 1 splits from Sepulveda and turns northwest, becoming [[Lincoln Boulevard (Southern California)|Lincoln Boulevard]] and passing through the Los Angeles neighborhoods of [[Westchester, Los Angeles|Westchester]], [[Playa Vista, Los Angeles|Playa Vista]], and [[Venice, Los Angeles|Venice]], as well as the unincorporated community of [[Marina del Rey, California|Marina Del Rey]]. This portion of SR 1 suffers heavy congestion at most times due to the shortage of alternate north-south arterial roads west of [[Interstate 405 (California)|Interstate 405]]. It then enters the city of [[Santa Monica, California|Santa Monica]], where SR 1 turns southwest, merging onto the westernmost segment of the [[Interstate 10 in California#Santa Monica Freeway|Santa Monica Freeway]]. Passing through the [[McClure Tunnel]] (which also serves as the national western terminus of [[Interstate 10]]), SR 1 emerges along the beachfront in Santa Monica as PCH again and continues along the coast, separated from Downtown Santa Monica by the palisades north of [[Santa Monica Pier]]; this portion is also known locally as Palisades Beach Road and formerly as Roosevelt Highway. Upon leaving Santa Monica, PCH continues to follow the coast, curving west through the [[Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles|Pacific Palisades]] neighborhood of Los Angeles before becoming the main thoroughfare of the city of [[Malibu, California|Malibu]] while traversing the entire {{convert|21|mi|km}} of that city.<ref name="CA2010map" /><ref name="google" />

[[File:Mugu Rock on California Route 1.jpg|left|thumb|PCH passing Mugu Rock at Point Mugu]]
SR 1 crosses the county line and continues through the [[Ventura County, California|Ventura County]] portion of the Malibu coast through [[Leo Carrillo State Park]] and [[Point Mugu State Park]]. After passing through a notch in the promontory that marks [[Point Mugu, California|Point Mugu]], the western end of the [[Santa Monica Mountains]], and the beginning of the [[Oxnard Plain]]. The road cut left a very large rock formation at the tip of the point that is called the Mugu Rock. At that point, PCH leaves the coast and heads north, and then northwest as a freeway along the northeastern boundary of [[Naval Air Station Point Mugu|Naval Base Ventura County Point Mugu]] for several miles to an interchange at Rice Avenue, Pleasant Valley Road, and Oxnard Boulevard in [[Oxnard, California|Oxnard]].<ref name="CA2010map" /><ref name="google" /> The reconstructed interchange at Rice Avenue and Pleasant Valley Road channels traffic north on the surface street, Rice Avenue, towards the interchange with US 101. The historic route along Oxnard Boulevard was relinquished in 2014. Truck traffic to and from the [[Port of Hueneme]] also uses this designated route at the Rice Avenue/Hueneme Road connector to connect with Route 101 at the Rice Avenue Interchange.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-01-26-me-28792-story.html |title = City, County to Jointly Seek U.S. Funds for Freeway Link |work =Los Angeles Times |date = January 26, 1996 |first = Nick |last = Green |access-date = April 8, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150418125338/http://articles.latimes.com/1996-01-26/local/me-28792_1_county-action |archive-date = April 18, 2015 |url-status = live }}</ref>

After traveling through [[Ventura, California|Ventura]], SR 1 separates from US 101 to travel the [[Rincon Sea Level Road|historic beach route]] along the Rincon coast that was originally opened up by the construction of the [[Coast Line (Union Pacific Railroad)|Railroad Coastal Route]] from [[Emma Wood State Beach]] to the Mobil Pier Undercrossing near [[Sea Cliff, California|Sea Cliff]], where it rejoins US 101 about {{convert|3|mi|km}} south of the [[Santa Barbara County, California|Santa Barbara County]] line near [[La Conchita, California|La Conchita]].<ref name="CA2010map" /><ref name="google" />

===Central Coast===
The US 101/SR 1 concurrency (although actual signage mentioning SR 1 through this segment is nonexistent) from the Mobil Pier Undercrossing runs for {{convert|54|mi|km}}, passing through the City of [[Santa Barbara, California|Santa Barbara]] and its neighboring communities along the coast of Santa Barbara County. The route then turns away from the [[Gaviota Coast]] at [[Gaviota State Beach]], avoiding [[Point Conception]], and heads due north through [[Gaviota State Park]] and the [[Gaviota Tunnel]]. In [[Las Cruces, California|Las Cruces]], SR 1, now named Cabrillo Highway, splits again from US 101 and heads northwest to the city of [[Lompoc, California|Lompoc]]. It is briefly joined with [[California State Route 246|SR 246]] along Lompoc's east–west Ocean Avenue, before turning north as H Street to Harris Grade Road, where it then regains the Cabrillo Highway name.<ref name="CA2010map" /><ref name="google" />

After reaching the main entrance to [[Vandenberg Space Force Base]], SR 1 turns northeast, away from the immediate coastline of the base, to join [[California State Route 135|SR 135]]. SR 135 then splits from SR 1 south of [[Orcutt, California|Orcutt]], and the Cabrillo Highway turns northwest back towards the coast to [[Guadalupe, California|Guadalupe]]. It enters [[San Luis Obispo County, California|San Luis Obispo County]], avoiding the immediate coastline of the protected [[Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes]], before passing through [[Grover Beach, California|Grover Beach]] and subsequently joining US 101 for the third time at [[Pismo Beach, California|Pismo Beach]]. The US 101/SR 1 concurrency then avoids the immediate coastline of [[Avila Beach, California|Avila Beach]] and [[Diablo Canyon Power Plant]], and instead heads straight inland to [[San Luis Obispo, California|San Luis Obispo]].<ref name="CA2010map" /><ref name="google" />

SR 1 splits from US 101 at Santa Rosa Street in San Luis Obispo and then resumes as a four-lane road as the Cabrillo Highway. It rejoins the coast in [[Morro Bay, California|Morro Bay]], running through that city as a freeway, where it crosses [[Morro Creek]] at the site of a prehistoric [[Chumash people|Chumash]] settlement dating to the [[Millingstone Horizon]].<ref>{{cite web |first = C. Michael |last = Hogan |date = February 25, 2008 |title = Morro Creek: Ancient Village or Settlement in United States in The West |publisher = The Megalithic Portal |url = http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=18502 |access-date = July 4, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130524184144/http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=18502 |archive-date = May 24, 2013 |url-status = dead }}</ref> From there, SR 1 proceeds north to [[Cayucos, California|Cayucos]] until it again becomes a winding, two-lane road with occasional passing lanes. It then continues along the coast through [[Cambria, California|Cambria]] and [[San Simeon, California|San Simeon]], and past the elephant seal colony at [[Piedras Blancas Light Station]]. SR 1 provides access to [[Hearst Castle]] in San Simeon in Northern San Luis Obispo County.<ref name="CA2010map" /><ref name="google" />

===Big Sur===
{{Main|Big Sur Coast Highway}}
[[File:Central Californian Coastline, Big Sur - May 2013.jpg|left|thumb|Looking south, showing the McWay Rocks, about {{convert|16|mi|km|abbr=on}} south of Big Sur]]
[[File:Bixby Creek Bridge, California, USA - May 2013.jpg|left|thumb|The [[Bixby Bridge]] in Big Sur]]

SR 1 then enters the [[Big Sur]] region, crossing [[San Carpóforo Canyon|San Carpóforo Creek]] just south of the [[Monterey County, California|Monterey County]] line. For about {{convert|72|mi|km}} from San Carpóforo Creek to [[Malpaso Creek]], the road winds and hugs the cliffs of Big Sur, passing various coastal parks in the area, with no connection to the other side of the [[Santa Lucia Mountains]] except for [[Nacimiento-Fergusson Road]]. The road briefly leaves the coast for a few miles, passing through a redwood forest in the Big Sur River valley. The Big Sur segment of the highway, built between 1919 and 1937, also crosses a number of historic bridges, including the scenic [[Bixby Bridge]], a reinforced concrete arch with a {{convert|320|ft|m|adj=on}} span that passes over the Bixby Creek gorge, the [[Rocky Creek Bridge (California)|Rocky Creek Bridge]],<ref name="CA2010map" /><ref name="google"/> and the [[Big Creek Bridge (California)|Big Creek Bridge]].<ref name="Big Creek Bridge Data">{{cite web|url=https://bridgehunter.com/ca/monterey/440056/|title=Big Creek Bridge|website=Bridgehunter.com|access-date=September 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903215455/https://bridgehunter.com/ca/monterey/440056/|archive-date=September 3, 2018|url-status=dead}}{{self-published inline|certain=yes|date=August 2021}}</ref> The segment of SR 1 through Big Sur is "considered one of the most beautiful drives in the world" and "attracts tourists from all over the world".<ref name="Steakley_Page9">{{cite book |last1=Steakley |first1=Douglas |title=Photographing Big Sur: Where to Find Perfect Shots and How to Take Them |date=2011 |publisher=The Countryman Press |location=Woodstock, Vermont |isbn=9781581579413 |page=9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zKm2SxU1FK4C&pg=PA9}}</ref>

===Monterey Bay Area===
After crossing the Carmel River, SR 1 turns inland and runs along the eastern boundary of [[Carmel-by-the-Sea, California|Carmel]] and the western boundary of [[Carmel Valley, California|Carmel Valley]] before becoming a freeway in [[Monterey, California|Monterey]]. After bypassing the immediate coastline of [[Pebble Beach, California|Pebble Beach]] and the rest of the [[Monterey Peninsula]], the freeway heads north along the coast of [[Monterey Bay]] through [[Sand City, California|Sand City]], [[Seaside, California|Seaside]], and [[Marina, California|Marina]]. At the interchange with [[California State Route 156|SR 156]] near [[Castroville, California|Castroville]], SR 1 continues north as a two-lane rural road to [[Moss Landing, California|Moss Landing]].<ref name="CA2010map" /><ref name="google" />

SR 1 becomes a freeway once again just before entering into [[Santa Cruz County, California|Santa Cruz County]]. This four-lane freeway continues up the Monterey Bay coast through [[Watsonville, California|Watsonville]] to its interchange with [[California State Route 17|SR 17]] in [[Santa Cruz, California|Santa Cruz]]. (This [[Interchange (road)#Trumpet interchange|trumpet interchange]] is locally known as The Fishhook due to its tight loop ramps that resemble a fishhook when viewed from above). After a short expressway section, it skirts downtown Santa Cruz as four-lane Mission Street, regaining the Cabrillo Highway designation (local/historic name is "Coast Road") after it leaves the city and continues north-west as a two-lane road (with occasional four-lane sections) up the coast through [[Davenport, California|Davenport]].<ref name="CA2010map" /><ref name="google" />

===San Francisco Bay Area===
[[File:Hfb-scene.jpg|left|thumb|Scene from SR 1 near Half Moon Bay at [[Tunitas Creek Beach]]]]
Entering [[San Mateo County, California|San Mateo County]], SR 1 follows the west coast of the [[San Francisco Peninsula]], passing by the marine mammal colonies at [[Año Nuevo State Park]], and the historic [[Pigeon Point Lighthouse]], before reaching [[Half Moon Bay, California|Half Moon Bay]]. Between Half Moon Bay and [[Pacifica, California|Pacifica]], the highway bypasses a treacherous stretch known as [[Devil's Slide (California)|Devil's Slide]] via the [[Tom Lantos Tunnels]].<ref name="CA2010map" /><ref name="google" />

[[File:Golden Gate Bridge Front Traffic.jpeg|thumb|left|The Golden Gate Bridge, which SR 1 shares with US 101]]
[[File:California State Route 1 in Marin County.jpg|thumb|left|SR 1 winds along the Marin County coast]]
SR 1 then becomes a freeway once again at Sharp Park in Pacifica before turning inland to join [[Interstate 280 (California)|Interstate 280]] in [[Daly City, California|Daly City]]. Just short of reaching the City and County of [[San Francisco]], SR 1 splits from Interstate 280, where the road becomes [[Junipero Serra Boulevard]]. Shortly thereafter, the highway makes a slight left, becoming the six-lane wide [[19th Avenue (San Francisco)|19th Avenue]]; the [[San Francisco Municipal Railway]]'s [[M Ocean View]] [[streetcar]] line runs in the median from this point until a junction to a rail only right-of-way near Rossmoor Drive. SR 1 then turns into [[Park Presidio Boulevard]] after it passes through the city's [[Golden Gate Park]]. Then after entering the [[Presidio of San Francisco]], it goes through the [[MacArthur Tunnel]] before joining US 101 for a fourth time on the approach to the [[Golden Gate Bridge]] known as Doyle Drive.<ref name="CA2010map" /><ref name="google" />

After crossing the bridge and entering [[Marin County, California|Marin County]], SR 1 then splits from US 101 again near [[Marin City, California|Marin City]], where it leaves the city and, as the Shoreline Highway, returns to a winding, two lane road as it passes over the [[Marin Hills]] to rejoin the coast at [[Muir Beach, California|Muir Beach]]. After passing [[Stinson Beach, California|Stinson Beach]] and the [[Bolinas Lagoon]], SR 1 avoids the immediate coastline of [[Point Reyes National Seashore]] and the rest of the [[Point Reyes|Point Reyes Peninsula]], and instead heads towards, and then along, the eastern shore of [[Tomales Bay]].<ref name="CA2010map" /><ref name="google" />

Leaving Tomales Bay, SR 1 heads further inland to intersect with Valley Ford Road just north of the [[Sonoma County, California|Sonoma County]] border. It then rejoins the coast in [[Bodega Bay, California|Bodega Bay]], where its name changes to Coast Highway past the [[Sonoma Coast State Beach]]es. After bridging the [[Russian River (California)|Russian River]] at [[Jenner, California|Jenner]], SR 1 continues to wind along the rugged coast to [[Fort Ross, California|Fort Ross]], [[Salt Point State Park]]s, and the planned community of [[Sea Ranch, California|Sea Ranch]].<ref name="CA2010map" /><ref name="google" />

===Mendocino County===
[[File:Russian Gulch Beach.jpg|thumb|SR 1 crosses Russian Gulch State Park on the Frederick W. Panhorst Bridge]]
SR 1 then crosses the [[Gualala River]] and enters [[Mendocino County, California|Mendocino County]]. The highway enters the city of [[Point Arena, California|Point Arena]], in which it becomes Main Street, before following School Street to the northwest and then becoming Shoreline Highway once again. It bridges the [[Garcia River]] and then, near [[Elk, Mendocino County, California|Elk]], the [[Navarro River]], where it meets [[California State Route 128|SR 128]].<ref name="CA2010map" /><ref name="google" />

At the town of [[Albion, California|Albion]], the [[Albion River]] is spanned by the [[Albion River Bridge]], the only remaining wooden trestle bridge on the highway. SR 1 then passes through [[Little River, California|Little River]] and [[Van Damme State Park]], crosses [[Big River (California)|Big River]] and passes through [[Mendocino Headlands State Park]] and the Victorian community of [[Mendocino, California|Mendocino]]. Continuing north, SR 1 crosses [[Russian Gulch State Park]] on the [[Frederick W. Panhorst Bridge]], and passes through the town of [[Caspar, California|Caspar]]. It passes through a [[roundabout]] just south of the intersection with the western terminus of [[California State Route 20|SR 20]],<ref>{{cite news |title = Fort Bragg's $4.4 million roundabout |work = [[The Press Democrat]] |url = http://roadwarrior.blogs.pressdemocrat.com/12572/fort-braggs-4-4-million-roundabout/ |date = May 18, 2011 |access-date = July 8, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110824124454/http://roadwarrior.blogs.pressdemocrat.com/12572/fort-braggs-4-4-million-roundabout/ |archive-date = August 24, 2011 |url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist1/d1projects/simpson_lane/ |title = Simpson Lane Intersection |author = California Department of Transportation |publisher = California Department of Transportation |access-date = July 7, 2011 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100823145427/http://dot.ca.gov/dist1/d1projects/simpson_lane/ |archive-date = August 23, 2010}}</ref> where it widens to two lanes, then bridges the [[Noyo River]] at [[Noyo, California|Noyo]], becomes Main Street of [[Fort Bragg, California|Fort Bragg]], and crosses the [[California Western Railroad]].<ref name="CA2010map" /><ref name="google" />

North of Fort Bragg as a two-lane highway again, SR 1 passes [[MacKerricher State Park]] and the towns of [[Cleone, California|Cleone]] and [[Inglenook, California|Inglenook]] before crossing [[Ten Mile River (California)|Ten Mile River]]. After passing [[Westport-Union Landing State Beach]], the road goes through a series of redwood-forested switchbacks before reaching [[Rockport, California|Rockport]]. North of Rockport, the highway turns away from the [[Lost Coast]] to avoid steep and unstable highlands created by [[Mendocino triple junction]] uplift. The highway follows Cottaneva Creek inland through redwood-forested mountainous terrain before terminating at US 101 just outside [[Leggett, California|Leggett]].<ref name="CA2010map">{{cite map |publisher = California Travel & Tourism Commission |year = 2010 |title = Official State Map |author = California Travel Media |scale = Scale not given |section = E2–M7, N1–X11, AA3–HH8}}</ref><ref name="google">{{google maps |url= https://www.google.com/maps/dir/33.4654009,-117.6715683/Leggett,+CA/@36.5639519,-121.3861828,1051847m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m66!4m65!1m55!3m4!1m2!1d-119.3992678!2d34.3314612!3s0x80e9a9c6e4d4512d:0x8e854ab2970d526!3m4!1m2!1d-119.743221!2d34.4318117!3s0x80e9151fd0ff67a5:0xe5a3d118c7b971a!3m4!1m2!1d-120.1939774!2d34.4726531!3s0x80eeb2ec455ddb9b:0xcf4c63fac8e6343d!3m4!1m2!1d-120.4575528!2d34.6653912!3s0x80ec194a95a80c2b:0xf2cb30ddd9c003fa!3m4!1m2!1d-121.6985489!2d36.1770126!3s0x808d810b2e374b2b:0xdd37d56561c7b227!3m4!1m2!1d-122.5118093!2d37.5971495!3s0x808f7a98dd88438b:0x89543020290f0a38!3m4!1m2!1d-122.4904785!2d37.6574322!3s0x808f7b9f3efa1ff9:0xecafa6b2bea3f3bd!3m4!1m2!1d-122.4712362!2d37.7112309!3s0x808f7c49b3a0c873:0x73f16c9814efde48!3m4!1m2!1d-122.5873801!2d37.8668995!3s0x80858e2c016a57ed:0x81e09fbaf6791ef5!3m4!1m2!1d-122.8022825!2d38.0746818!3s0x8085c67c33de0d3b:0x4019e880ed00209a!3m4!1m2!1d-123.6854295!2d39.0428901!3s0x8081049556d90c41:0x4059ea7363d49184!1m5!1m1!1s0x54d4cc1fffa328f9:0x28dffafca0e1592e!2m2!1d-123.7148275!2d39.8654841!2m1!1b1!3e0 |title= Overview Map of State Route 1 |access-date= January 24, 2015}}</ref>

==History==
SR 1 has become famous worldwide,<ref name=pogash/> but the highway was signed as several other routes prior to 1964. When the road was first envisioned in the World War I era, California highways were referred to by either a highway name or a route number. The route numbers were used by state highway planners and the Legislature from 1915 until 1964, but were never posted on highways, referred to by the auto clubs or public, nor used on maps. The SR 1 designation was first assigned in 1939. Various portions of SR 1 have been posted and referred to by various names and numbers over the years. State construction of what became SR 1 started after the state's third highway [[Bond (finance)|bond issue]] passed before 1910.

===Segments initially constructed===
[[File:Bixby Creek Bridge 1932..jpg|thumb|left|Bixby Bridge under construction in 1932]]
[[File:Highway 1 prison labor camp.jpg|thumb|left|Convict labor from [[Folsom State Prison|Folsom Prison]] was paid 35 cents per day to help build the roadway.]]

Eager for a direct coastal route between [[Ventura, California|Ventura]] and [[Santa Barbara, California|Santa Barbara]], civic boosters used locally raised funds to begin building the [[Rincon Sea Level Road]] in 1911. The route between the [[Ventura River]] and [[Carpinteria, California|Carpinteria]] had been an unimproved route along small alluvial fan beaches that skirted coastal bluff rock outcroppings at low tide.<ref>{{cite magazine |last = Yates |first = Morgan P. |date = September 2009 |title = Drive the Planks |url = http://ww1.calif.aaa.com/westways/archives/2009-09/Pages/off-ramp.asp |magazine = Westways |publisher = [[Automobile Club of Southern California]] |location = Santa Ana, California |url-access=subscription|access-date=December 18, 2014}}{{Dead link|date=November 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Construction of the [[Southern Pacific Transportation Company|Southern Pacific]] [[Coast Line (UP)|Coast Line railroad]] had created a road flanked by [[riprap]] along this area. In order to make this part of the first coastal route for motorists driving from [[San Francisco]] to [[Los Angeles]], they paved the road and built wooden causeways where the route flooded from the ocean waves.<ref>{{cite book |type = Report |author = Historic Resources Group |url = http://www.cityofventura.net/files/file/comm-develop/Downtown/Survey%20Report%20FULL.pdf |title = Historic Resources Survey Update, Downtown Specific Plan Area, Prepared for the City of Ventura, California |publisher = City of Ventura, California |date = April 2007 |page = 45 |access-date = December 18, 2014 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120603223528/http://www.cityofventura.net/files/file/comm-develop/Downtown/Survey%20Report%20FULL.pdf |archive-date = June 3, 2012 }}</ref> Local funding ran out, but the newly formed State Highway Commission took over and completed the road in 1913.<ref name="Paul">{{cite journal |last = Gyllstrom |first = Paul |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=YigfAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA3-PA86 |title = Rincon Sea-Level Road Soon Completed |journal = Motor Age |volume = 22 |date = October 17, 1912 |pages = 24–25 |access-date = December 17, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160119205235/https://books.google.com/books?id=YigfAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA3-PA86 |archive-date = January 19, 2016 |url-status = live }}</ref>

One of the most difficult routes to build was along the [[Big Sur]] coast. The state first approved building Route 56, or the Carmel-San Simeon Highway,<ref name="mchs">{{cite web |last = Newland |first = Renee |title = Bixby Bridge |url = http://www.mchsmuseum.com/bixbycr.html |publisher = Monterey County Historical Society |access-date = November 13, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040716200620/http://www.mchsmuseum.com/bixbycr.html |archive-date = July 16, 2004 |url-status = dead }}</ref> to connect Big Sur to the rest of California in 1919. Federal funds were appropriated and in 1921 voters approved additional state funds. [[San Quentin State Prison]] set up three temporary prison camps to provide unskilled [[Unfree labour|convict labor]] to help with road construction. One was set up by [[Little Sur River]], one at Kirk Creek and a third was later established in the south at [[Anderson Canyon|Anderson Creek]]. Inmates were paid 35 cents per day and had their prison sentences reduced in return. The route necessitated construction of 33 bridges, the largest of which was the [[Bixby Bridge]]. Six more concrete arch bridges were built between Point Sur and Carmel.<ref name="cambria">{{cite web |title = The Building of Highway One |url = http://cambriahistoricalsociety.com/history_highway1.html |work = Historical Moments |publisher = Cambria Historical Society |access-date = December 16, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120123035538/http://cambriahistoricalsociety.com/history_highway1.html |archive-date = January 23, 2012 |url-status = dead }}</ref>

After 18 years of construction, aided by [[New Deal]] funds during the [[Great Depression]], the paved two-lane road was completed and opened on June 17, 1937.<ref name="navy">{{cite web |url = http://www.navycthistory.com/NAVFACStationsHistory.txt |publisher = The Navy CT / SECGRU History |first = Joseph A. |last = Glockner |title = Naval Facility (NAVFAC) Station History |date = June 1, 2008 |access-date = December 17, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110928130525/http://www.navycthistory.com/NAVFACStationsHistory.txt |archive-date = September 28, 2011 |url-status = dead }}</ref> The road was initially called the Carmel-San Simeon Highway (Route 56), but was better known as the Roosevelt Highway, honoring the current President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]]. A 1921 law extended Route 56 south over the county road to [[Cambria, California|Cambria]].<ref>{{Cite California statute|year=1921|ch=837|p=1606}}</ref>

Route 60, from [[Oxnard, California|Oxnard]] via the coast to [[San Juan Capistrano, California|San Juan Capistrano]], was extended from Oxnard to [[El Rio, California|El Rio]] (midway to Ventura, now the site of the Oxnard Boulevard interchange with [[US 101 (CA)|US 101]]), in 1925. At [[Point Mugu, California|Point Mugu]], a path for the highway was cut through the mountains using surplus World War I explosives, thus creating Mugu Rock.<ref name="Modern Marvels">{{cite episode |title = Pacific Coast Highway |series = [[Modern Marvels]] |credits = [[Jupiter Entertainment]] |network = [[History (U.S. TV channel)|The History Channel]] |airdate = 2004}}</ref> The 1921 legislation, in theory, made Route 60 a continuous coastal loop, with both ends at what became [[US 101 (CA)|US 101]] in Oxnard and at Capistrano Beach (since 1964 the southern terminus of SR 1 at [[Interstate 5]] in Orange County).<ref>{{Cite California statute|year=1925|ch=309|p=508}}</ref> Route 56 was extended further south from Cambria to connect to present-day US 101 in [[San Luis Obispo, California|San Luis Obispo]] in 1931.<ref>{{Cite California statute|year=1931|ch=82|p=103}}</ref>

The route from [[San Simeon, California|San Simeon]] to [[Carmel-by-the-Sea, California|Carmel]] (connecting with existing [[county highway]]s at each end) was one of two sections designated as SR 1. It and Route 60 were intended as links in a continuous coastal roadway from [[Oregon]] to [[Mexico]],<ref>{{cite book |first = Ben |last = Blow |title = California Highways: A Descriptive Record of Road Development by the State and by Such Counties as Have Paved Highways |year = 1920 |url = https://archive.org/details/californiahighwa00blowrich |via = Internet Archive |pages = [https://archive.org/details/californiahighwa00blowrich/page/182 182], 232–233, 249 |access-date = December 17, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160306201357/https://archive.org/details/californiahighwa00blowrich |archive-date = March 6, 2016 |url-status = live }} ([https://archive.org/details/californiahighw00blowgoog Internet Archive] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624154015/https://books.google.com/books?id=osgNAAAAYAAJ |date=June 24, 2016 }})</ref><ref>{{cite book |type = Report|author=Howe & Peters|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G0w7AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA3|title=Engineers' Report to California State Automobile Association Covering the Work of the California Highway Commission for the Period 1911–1920|year=1921|pages=11–16|access-date=December 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160503015538/https://books.google.com/books?id=G0w7AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA3#PRA1-PA3,M1|archive-date=May 3, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

A large expansion of the state highway system in 1933 resulted in Route 56 being extended in both directions. To the south, a second section was added, beginning at [[Pismo Beach, California|Pismo Beach]] on US 101 (Route 2) and heading south through [[Guadalupe, California|Guadalupe]] and [[Lompoc, California|Lompoc]] to rejoin US 101 at a junction called Los Cruces (sic), just north of Gaviota Pass. (A short piece near [[Orcutt, California|Orcutt]] and Los Alamos had been part of Route 2, which originally followed present [[California State Route 135|SR 135]] from Los Alamos to Santa Maria.) To the north, Route 56 was continued along the coast from Carmel through [[Santa Cruz, California|Santa Cruz]] to [[San Francisco]]. Several discontinuous pieces were added north of San Francisco, one from Route 1 (US 101) north of the [[Golden Gate]] to the county line near [[Valley Ford, California|Valley Ford]], another from the [[Russian River (California)|Russian River]] near [[Jenner, California|Jenner]] (where the new [[Legislative Route 104 (California pre-1964)|Route 104]] ended) to [[Westport, California|Westport]], and a third from [[Ferndale, California|Ferndale]] to Route 1 near [[Fernbridge, California|Fernbridge]]. Except for the gaps in Route 56 north of San Francisco, these additions completed the coastal highway, with other sections formed by Routes 1, 2, and [[Legislative Route 71 (California pre-1964)|71]].<ref>{{Cite California statute|year=1933|ch=767|p=2034–2039}}: "Ferndale to State Highway Route 1 near Fernbridge." "Russian River near Jenner to Westport." "State Highway near southerly end of Marin Peninsula to the Marin-Sonoma County line via the Coast Route." "Santa Cruz to San Francisco via Coast." "State Highway Route 56 near Carmel to Santa Cruz." "State Highway Route 2 near Las Cruces via Lompoc and Guadalupe to State Highway Route 2 near Pismo."</ref><ref>{{Cite California statute|year=1935|ch=29|p=279}}: "Route 56 is from: (a) Route 2 near Los {{sic}} Cruces via Lompoc and Guadalupe to Route 2 near Pismo. (b) San Luis Obispo to San Francisco along the coast via Cambria, San Simeon, Carmel, and Santa Cruz. (c) State Highway near southerly end of Marin Peninsula to the Marin-Sonoma County line via the Coast Route. (d) Russian River near Jenner to Westport. (e) Ferndale to Route 1 near Fernbridge." "Route 60 is from Route 2 near El Rio via Oxnard to Route 2 south of San Juan Capistrano."</ref>

The section of SR 1 from Santa Monica to Oxnard, via Malibu, went out to contract in 1925 as "Coast Boulevard", but was designated "Theodore Roosevelt Highway" when it was dedicated in 1929. Before the completion of its present alignment in 1937, a narrow, winding, steep road known as [[Pedro Mountain Road]] connected [[Montara, California|Montara]] with Pacifica. That highway was completed in 1914 and provided competition to the [[Ocean Shore Railroad]], which operated between San Francisco and [[Tunitas Creek]] from 1907 to 1920. SR 1 also used to run along the coast between Pacifica and Daly City, but this segment was damaged and rendered unusable after [[1957 San Francisco earthquake|a 5.3 magnitude earthquake]] on March 22, 1957. A small stub remains near [[Thornton State Beach|Thornton Beach]].

Route 56 along Big Sur was incorporated into the state highway system and re-designated as SR 1 in 1939. The section of road along the Big Sur Coast was declared the first State Scenic Highway in 1965, and in 1966 the first lady, [[Lady Bird Johnson]], led the official designation ceremony at [[Bixby Bridge]].<ref name="pavlik">{{cite web |last = Pavlik |first = Robert C. |title = Historical Overview of the Carmel to San Simeon Highway |url = http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/projects/bigsur/pdfs/chmp_hist.pdf |work = Historic Resource Evaluation Report on the Rock Retaining Walls, Parapets, Culvert Headwalls and Drinking Fountains along the Carmel to San Simeon Highway |publisher = California Department of Transportation |access-date = December 17, 2011 |date = November 1996 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161226175643/http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/projects/bigsur/pdfs/chmp_hist.pdf |archive-date = December 26, 2016 |url-status = live }}</ref> The route was designated as an All American Road by the US Government.<ref name="cambria" />

===Signs first posted===
{{Infobox road small
|state=CA
|type=CA 1957
|route=3
|location=[[San Juan Capistrano, California|San Juan Capistrano]]–[[Oxnard, California|Oxnard]]
|formed=1934
|deleted=1935
}}
{{Infobox road small
|state=CA
|type=US 1948-Alt
|route=101
|location=[[San Juan Capistrano, California|San Juan Capistrano]]–[[Oxnard, California|Oxnard]]
|formed=1936
|deleted=1964
}}
{{Infobox road small
|state=CA
|type=CA
|route=208
|location= [[Rockport, California|Rockport]]–[[Leggett, California|Leggett]]
|formed=1964
|deleted=1984
}}

SR 1 signs first went up after California decided to number its highways, in 1934. The section for [[Humboldt County, California|Humboldt]], [[Mendocino County, California|Mendocino]], [[Sonoma County, California|Sonoma]], [[Marin County, California|Marin]], [[San Francisco]], [[San Mateo County, California|San Mateo]], [[Santa Cruz County, California|Santa Cruz]], [[Monterey County, California|Monterey]], [[San Luis Obispo County, California|San Luis Obispo]] and [[Santa Barbara County, California|Santa Barbara]] counties was posted as SR 1, that section of the road known Route 56 (Las Cruces to Fernbridge). For [[Ventura County, California|Ventura]], [[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles]] and [[Orange County, California|Orange]] counties, Route 60 (San Juan Capistrano to the Oxnard area) became SR 3, and a few SR 3 signs were actually posted.<ref>{{cite journal|first=T.H.|last=Dennis|date=August 1934|url=https://archive.org/details/californiahighwa193436calirich/page/n275/mode/2up/|title=State Routes Will Be Numbered and Marked with Distinctive Bear Signs|journal=[[California Highways and Public Works]]|volume=11|issue=8|pages=20–21, 32|issn=0008-1159|via=Internet Archive}}</ref> The SR 3 signs were replaced by US 101 Alt. shields by 1936, as the road was built out; this change also allowed the extension of [[U.S. Route 66 in California|US 66]] to end at another U.S. Route, in Santa Monica.<ref>{{cite map |author = Automobile Club of Southern California |author-link = Automobile Club of Southern California |publisher = Automobile Club of Southern California |url = http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/search/searchterm/acsc-m20/order/nosort |title = Automobile Route Along the Pacific Coast from Seal Beach to Santa Monica |year = 1936 |access-date = January 27, 2013 |archive-url = https://archive.today/20130217110556/http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/search/searchterm/acsc-m20/order/nosort |archive-date = February 17, 2013 |url-status = dead }}</ref>

The gaps of non-state highway along the northern coast were finally filled in by the Legislature in 1951, though the [[Department of Public Works (California)|State Department of Public Works]] was not required to maintain the newly added portions immediately. A connection from near Rockport to Legislative Route 1 (signed US 101) at [[Leggett, California|Leggett]] was also added to the Legislative Route 56 definition,<ref>{{Cite California statute|year=1951|ch=1588|p=3585|quote=Route 56 is from ... to Route 1 near Fernbridge via the coast route through Jenner, Westport and Ferndale, including lateral connection with Route 1 near Leggett Valley}}</ref> as the existing county road north from Rockport to Ferndale had not yet been [[paved road|paved]].<ref>{{cite map |author = H.M. Gousha Company |author-link = Gousha |year = 1955 |url = http://members.cox.net/mkpl2/hist/hist.html |title = Highway Map of California |publisher = H.M. Gousha Company |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111202003424/http://members.cox.net/mkpl2/hist/hist.html |archive-date = December 2, 2011}}</ref>

A portion of the road heading to the Golden Gate Bridge was widened to four lanes as part of a project competed in 1954.<ref name="nps.gov/28371/D">{{cite web |title=Structure Maintenance & Investigations SM&I - Appendix D |url=https://parkplanning.nps.gov/showFile.cfm?projectID=28371&MIMEType=application%252Fpdf&filename=Appendix_D.pdf&sfid=152932 |website=National Park Service |access-date=13 August 2024}}</ref>

The state Legislature in 1963 tossed out the old conflicting Legislative Route Numbers ([[1964 renumbering (California)|1964 renumbering]]), got rid of some famous old U.S. routes, and renumbered many state highways. It abolished US 101A in Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties and renumbered it as SR 1. The Rockport to Leggett connection then became State Route 208.<ref>{{Cite California statute|year=1963|ch=385|p=1171, 1186}}</ref> The cover of "California Highways" magazine in fall 1964 shows state engineers posting the new shield at Point Mugu.<ref>{{citation |title = California Highways |date = September 1964}}{{Full citation needed | date= December 2014}}</ref> The same year, the Legislature by state law named SR 1 "Pacific Coast Highway" in Orange, Los Angeles and Ventura counties, "Cabrillo Highway" from Santa Barbara north to San Francisco, and "Shoreline Highway" from Marin County to its northern terminus. Many cities, however, did not change the name of city streets that are part of SR 1, such as Lincoln and Sepulveda boulevards in Los Angeles, Santa Monica and El Segundo; and Junipero Serra and Park Presidio boulevards in San Francisco. Several other cities and communities like Newport Beach, Laguna Beach and Bodega Bay merely named their respective city streets as "Coast Highway".

===Modern alignments===

[[File:End of CA 1 Leggett.JPG|thumb|left|Signs marking the northern terminus of SR 1 near Leggett; the route was originally proposed to run further north, but these plans were abandoned to avoid the steep and unstable highlands of the Lost Coast region.]]

The freeway portion of SR 1 from Highway 68 in Monterey to Munras Avenue opened in 1956–1960. The segment from Munras Avenue to the northern border of Sand City and Seaside opened in 1968, and bypasses the original highway alignment of Munras Avenue and Fremont Street in Monterey, and Fremont Boulevard through Seaside. North of Seaside, the freeway was built over the original SR 1 alignment through [[Fort Ord]] in 1973. North of Fort Ord, SR 1 now veers to the left of the original alignment and bypasses Marina to the west. This segment including the interchange with [[California State Route 156|SR 156]] and the short, 2-lane Castroville Bypass opened in 1976. Originally SR 1 followed the SR 156 alignment to the [[California State Route 183|SR 183]] intersection in Castroville, then turned northwest, following the present-day SR 183 through Castroville before rejoining its existing alignment at the northern terminus of the Castroville Bypass.

Plans to upgrade SR 1 to a freeway from its southern terminus all the way to Oxnard, including building an offshore causeway from the [[Santa Monica Pier]] to [[Topanga Canyon Boulevard]] south of Malibu, were ultimately killed by 1971 due to local opposition.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.kcet.org/updaily/socal_focus/history/la-as-subject/from-the-roosevelt-highway-to-the-one-a-brief-history-of-pacific-coast-highway.html |title = From Roosevelt Highway to the 1: A Brief History of Pacific Coast Highway |first = Nathan |last = Masters |publisher = [[KCET]] |date = May 2, 2012 |access-date = November 17, 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131116095333/http://www.kcet.org/updaily/socal_focus/history/la-as-subject/from-the-roosevelt-highway-to-the-one-a-brief-history-of-pacific-coast-highway.html |archive-date = November 16, 2013 |url-status = dead }}</ref> In 1980, another section was added northwest of [[Ventura, California|Ventura]] near [[Emma Wood State Beach]], when several miles of the old two-lane alignment of [[U.S. Route 101 in California|U.S. Route 101]] were posted as SR 1 where the freeway had bypassed it in about 1960. Then in 1988, the segment from Purisima Road in Lompoc to SR 135 was re-routed from Harris Grade Road to the former County Route S20 so it could directly serve [[Vandenberg Space Force Base#Vandenberg Air Force Base|Vandenberg Air Force Base]].

Construction to bridge the gap in the [[Lost Coast]] region between Rockport and Ferndale was eventually abandoned. The steepness and related geotechnical challenges of the coastal mountains made this stretch of coastline too costly for highway builders to establish routes through the area.<ref name="King Range">{{cite web |title = King Range National Conservation Area |url = http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/arcata/kingrange/index.html |publisher = [[Bureau of Land Management]] |access-date = June 25, 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120702104826/http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/arcata/kingrange/index.html |archive-date = July 2, 2012 |url-status = dead }}</ref> In 1984, SR 1 was then re-routed to replace State Highway 208, connecting Rockport and Leggett, while the segment between Ferndale and Fernbridge was renumbered as [[California State Route 211|State Highway 211]].<ref>{{Cite California statute|year=1984|ch=409|p=1769, 1774}}</ref> Most of the coastline in the area is now part of [[Sinkyone Wilderness State Park]] and the [[King Range National Conservation Area]].

The roadway along [[Devil's Slide (California)|Devil's Slide]], south of [[Pacifica, California|Pacifica]], became the site of frequent deadly crashes and roadway-closing [[landslide]]s. Beginning in 1958, [[California Department of Transportation|Caltrans]] supported a plan to construct an inland bypass over [[Montara Mountain]] as an alternate route, but was eventually opposed by community and environmental groups who supported a tunnel instead. After decades of legal disputes, the [[Federal Highway Administration]] ordered Caltrans in 1995 to re-evaluate the proposed tunnel. Then on November 5, 1996, San Mateo County voters approved Measure T to change the county's official preference from the bypass to the tunnel. Ground eventually broke in 2005, and the [[Tom Lantos Tunnels]] opened in April 2013.

In 2014, two-way traffic was restored along the original PCH segment from Copper Lantern to Blue Lantern streets in the Dana Point city center after 25 years of one-way operation.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.ocregister.com/articles/coast-635311-pacific-highway.html |title = Dana Point sees two-way traffic flow on Pacific Coast Highway |last = Zhou |first = Kelly |newspaper = [[Orange County Register]] |date = September 16, 2014 |access-date = January 1, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304112642/http://www.ocregister.com/articles/coast-635311-pacific-highway.html |archive-date = March 4, 2016 |url-status = live }}</ref> During that period, only northbound traffic had flowed along this section of PCH while southbound traffic had been diverted onto the parallel Del Prado Avenue.

SR 1 has never been planned to extend south into [[San Diego]], or north into [[Crescent City, California|Crescent City]], where I-5 (which replaced the US 101 designation and signage between Los Angeles and San Diego) and US 101 serve as the coastal highways in those areas, respectively.

===As a cycling venue===
[[File:Stage 2.jpg|thumb|Cyclists descend SR 1 at Devil's Slide on Stage 2 of the [[2012 Tour of California]] before the segment was bypassed one year later by the [[Tom Lantos Tunnels]]]]
For the [[1932 Summer Olympics]], the segment of the SR 1 between Oxnard and Santa Monica (then known as the Theodore Roosevelt Highway) hosted part of the [[Cycling at the 1932 Summer Olympics|road cycling events]].<ref>{{cite book |type = Report |url = http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1932/1932s.pdf |title = 1932 Summer Olympics Official Report |page = 87 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100707164120/http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1932/1932s.pdf |archive-date = July 7, 2010}}</ref> Portions of SR 1 have also hosted stages of the [[Tour of California]].<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20121127/articles/121129675 |archive-url = https://archive.today/20130630042234/http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20121127/articles/121129675 |url-status = dead |archive-date = June 30, 2013 |title = 2013 Amgen Tour of California to Include San Francisco to Santa Rosa Stage |work = Santa Rosa Press Democrat |date = November 27, 2012 |access-date = June 3, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.timespressrecorder.com/articles/2013/05/10/news/featurednews/news50.txt |archive-url = https://archive.today/20130630110020/http://www.timespressrecorder.com/articles/2013/05/10/news/featurednews/news50.txt |url-status = dead |archive-date = June 30, 2013 |title = South County Gearing Up for Amgen Tour Cycling Race |work = Five Cities Times Press Recorder |date = May 10, 2013 |access-date = June 3, 2013 }}</ref>

==Maintenance==
{{Blockquote
|California's coastline is constantly changing and continually presents us with challenges. Through hard work and determination, we continue to keep this scenic highway open.
|Malcolm Dougherty, director of [[California Department of Transportation|Caltrans]].<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/25/us/california-highway-1-to-open-tunnel-after-decades-of-debate.html |title = New Efforts to Make a Scenic California Highway Less Perilous |work = The New York Times |first = Carol |last = Pogash |date = March 24, 2013 |access-date = March 25, 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130325052751/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/25/us/california-highway-1-to-open-tunnel-after-decades-of-debate.html |archive-date = March 25, 2013 |url-status = live }}</ref>
}}

===Landslides===
Frequent [[California landslides|landslides]] and erosion along the coast have caused portions of SR 1 to either be closed for long periods of time, or be re-routed entirely. Some of these include:

* A segment along the coast between Pacifica and Daly City in what is now [[Thornton Beach, California|Thornton Beach]] was damaged and rendered unusable after a 5.3 magnitude earthquake on March 22, 1957. SR 1 was then eventually re-routed to turn inland to join Interstate 280.
* The Piedras Blancas Realignment Project plans to re-route the road up to {{convert|475|ft|m}} further inland to avoid the expected coastal erosion from the [[Piedras Blancas Light Station]] to the Arroyo de la Cruz Bridge in San Luis Obispo County.<ref>{{cite web|author=District 5|url=http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/projects/slo1_piedras/index.htm |title=Piedras Blancas Realignment Project|publisher=California Department of Transportation|access-date = November 29, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111221070337/http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/projects/slo1_piedras/index.htm|archive-date=December 21, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>
*Big Rock Mesa landslide in September 1983 in [[Malibu, California|Malibu]] was one of the worst in state history. A total of 250 homes collapsed, cracked or slid off their foundation with 30 homes being condemned. The state agreed to pay forty million dollars as cutting through the hillside to build Pacific Coast Highway was a contributing cause.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-01-04-mn-124-story.html|title=$97-Million Settlement Over Malibu Landslide : Agreement Requires County, Caltrans, Insurers to Pay Homeowners for Big Rock Mesa Damage |date=January 4, 1989|first=KENNETH J.|last=GARCIA|access-date=November 10, 2017|work=Los Angeles Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160530060309/http://articles.latimes.com/1989-01-04/news/mn-124_1_big-rock-mesa|archive-date=May 30, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
* The [[Devil's Slide (California)|Devil's Slide]] area has been prone to major landslides. One slide in 1995 caused the road to be closed for five months, while another in 2006 led to a four-month closure.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Major-progress-on-Devil-s-Slide-tunnel-3261269.php |title = Major Progress on Devil's Slide Tunnel |work = San Francisco Chronicle |first = Michael |last = Cabanatuan |date = June 19, 2010 |access-date = August 14, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120627085446/http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Major-progress-on-Devil-s-Slide-tunnel-3261269.php |archive-date = June 27, 2012 |url-status = live }}</ref> The [[Tom Lantos Tunnels]], named after former U.S. Congressman [[Tom Lantos]], opened in 2013 to bypass the area.<ref>{{cite news |last = Mendoza |first = Martha |title = Cutting Edge Calif. Tunnels Poised to Open |url = https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/cutting-edge-tunnels-poised-open-18581680 |agency = Associated Press |publisher = ABC News|location=United States |access-date = February 25, 2013 |date = February 24, 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130227043210/https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/cutting-edge-tunnels-poised-open-18581680 |archive-date = February 27, 2013 |url-status = dead }}</ref>
* In 2011, major reconstruction was completed between Muir Beach and Stinson Beach, including the addition of a {{convert|523|ft|m|adj=mid|-long}}, {{convert|20|ft|m|adj=mid|-high}}, but mostly buried, retaining wall. This followed a four-month, $25 million reconstruction that repaired damage from a 2007 landslide.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_15195448 |title = Highway 1 Repair Plan near Stinson Outlined |work = Oakland Tribune |first = Nate |last = Johnson |date = May 31, 2010 |access-date = August 14, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110709025824/http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_15195448 |archive-date = July 9, 2011 |url-status = live }}</ref>
* A March 2011 landslide in the Big Sur region forced Caltrans to close the highway for several months.<ref>{{cite news |title = Highway 1 to Be Closed at Least 1 Month |url = http://www.ksbw.com/news/27237744/detail.html |location = Salinas, California |publisher = [[KSBW]] |date = March 18, 2011 |access-date = August 14, 2011 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111004040123/http://www.ksbw.com/news/27237744/detail.html |archive-date = October 4, 2011 }}</ref> A section south of Lucia that is also prone to frequent landslides, known as Pitkins Curve and Rain Rocks, was replaced with a bridge and a covered rock shed.<ref>{{cite web|author=District 5|url=http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/projects/pitkins/index.htm|title=Pitkins Curve & Rain Rocks|publisher=California Department of Transportation|access-date=August 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110110134/http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/projects/pitkins/index.htm|archive-date=November 10, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>
* During the winter of 2016–2017, the Big Sur region received more than {{convert|60|in|cm}} of rain. The road was closed or partially closed due to mudslides and landslides in at least six locations. On February 20, Caltrans declared that the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge just south of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park was damaged beyond repair, closing that segment of SR 1 for eight months, and effectively splitting Big Sur in half.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.montereyherald.com/article/NF/20170221/NEWS/170229952i |title = Caltrans: Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge on Highway 1 in Big Sur beyond repair |work = Monterey Herald |access-date = February 22, 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170223042108/http://www.montereyherald.com/article/NF/20170221/NEWS/170229952i |archive-date = February 23, 2017 |url-status = dead }}{{Full citation needed | date=March 2017}}</ref> Some businesses, cut off from customers and without access to supplies, were forced to close. For some residents, the only means of getting out was via helicopter.<ref>{{cite news |first = Pam |last = Marino |date = February 13, 2017 |url = http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/blogs/pfeiffer-canyon-bridge-on-highway-closed-to-traffic-until-further/article_4b49f7aa-f21b-11e6-a98a-9b38fd4b6902.html |title = Update: Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge on Highway 1 closed to traffic until further notice |work = Monterey County Weekly |access-date = March 16, 2017 |archive-date = December 8, 2022 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221208100918/https://www.montereycountyweekly.com/blogs/pfeiffer-canyon-bridge-on-highway-closed-to-traffic-until-further/article_4b49f7aa-f21b-11e6-a98a-9b38fd4b6902.html |url-status = live }}</ref><ref name=pogash>{{cite news |first = Carol |last = Pogash |date = February 21, 2017 |url = https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/feb/21/california-storms-big-sur-rain-flood |title = Big Sur Ravaged by Floods, Mudslides and Storms: 'Paradise Can Turn on You' |work = The Guardian |location = London |access-date = March 16, 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170315192256/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/feb/21/california-storms-big-sur-rain-flood |archive-date = March 15, 2017 |url-status = live }}</ref> In March, Caltrans demolished the bridge and began construction of the replacement.<ref name="Wright20170323">{{cite news |first = Tommy |last = Wright |date = March 23, 2017 |url = http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/03/23/big-sur-final-span-of-highway-1-bridge-comes-down/ |title = Big Sur: Final Span of Highway 1 Bridge Comes Down |work = The Mercury News |location = San Jose, California |access-date = March 25, 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170324121818/http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/03/23/big-sur-final-span-of-highway-1-bridge-comes-down/ |archive-date = March 24, 2017 |url-status = live }}</ref> The rebuilt bridge opened on October 13, 2017, at a cost of $24 million.<ref>{{cite news |first = Tom |last = Wright |url = http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/10/04/big-sur-pfeiffer-canyon-bridge-to-open-oct-13 |title = Big Sur: Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge to open Oct. 13 |date = October 4, 2017 |work = The Mercury News |location = San Jose, California |access-date = October 4, 2017 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171006091340/http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/10/04/big-sur-pfeiffer-canyon-bridge-to-open-oct-13/ |archive-date = October 6, 2017 }}</ref><ref name=serna>{{Cite news |url = https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-pfeiffer-canyon-bridge-20171006-story.html |title = A vital Highway 1 bridge connection in Big Sur set to reopen next week, Caltrans says |last = Serna |first = Joseph |work = Los Angeles Times |access-date = November 7, 2017 |language = en-US }}</ref>
* Another major slide at Mud Creek closed a {{convert|30|mile|km|adj=on}} stretch of the highway in May 2017.<ref>{{cite news |title = Cut off again, southern Big Sur visited only by helicopter |first = Lisa M. |last = Krieger |date = May 23, 2017 |url = http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/05/23/cut-off-again-big-sur-visited-only-by-helicopter/ |newspaper = The Mercury News |location = San Jose, California |access-date = May 24, 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170524034633/http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/05/23/cut-off-again-big-sur-visited-only-by-helicopter/ |archive-date = May 24, 2017 |url-status = live }}</ref> The huge slide at Mud Creek covered about {{convert|1/3|mi|km|spell=in}} of road with {{convert|40|ft|m}} of dirt and rock. The slide was on a section of the road that was already closed due to smaller slides. The scale of the slide was compared to a very large slide during the winter of 1983–1984 that closed SR 1 for more than a year.<ref>{{cite news |last1 = Kurtis |first1 = Alexander |title = Big Sur Hit Again as Huge Landslide Covers Highway 1 |url = http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Big-Sur-hit-again-as-huge-landslide-covers-11167872.php |work = San Francisco Chronicle |access-date = May 23, 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170523204326/http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Big-Sur-hit-again-as-huge-landslide-covers-11167872.php |archive-date = May 23, 2017 |url-status = live }}</ref> A replacement roadway was built over the landslide and opened in July 2018, at a cost of $40 million.<ref>{{cite news |last = Forgione |first = Mary |date = September 12, 2017 |title = Highway 1 south of Big Sur now won't be completely reopened until late summer 2018 |url = http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-tr-california-big-sur-highway-1-slide-clears-20170911-story.html |work =Los Angeles Times |access-date = September 12, 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170912162430/http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-tr-california-big-sur-highway-1-slide-clears-20170911-story.html |archive-date = September 12, 2017 |url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last = Krieger |first = Lisa M. |date = June 13, 2017 |title = Big Sur's brave new routes cross epic landslide |url = http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/06/13/big-surs-brave-new-routes-cross-epic-landslide/ |work = San Jose Mercury |access-date = September 12, 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170913091644/http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/06/13/big-surs-brave-new-routes-cross-epic-landslide/ |archive-date = September 13, 2017 |url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.latimes.com/projects/la-me-highway-one-repairs/ |title = Highway 1 was buried under a massive landslide. Months later, engineers battle Mother Nature to fix it |newspaper = Los Angeles Times |first = Thomas |last = Curwen |date = November 9, 2017 |access-date = November 10, 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171110102838/http://www.latimes.com/projects/la-me-highway-one-repairs/ |archive-date = November 10, 2017 |url-status = live }}</ref><ref name=landslide_reopen>{{cite news |last = Forgione |first = Mary |date = July 18, 2018 |title = It's open! The last landslide closure on Highway 1 near Big Sur reopened to traffic earlier than expected |url = http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-highway-1-reopens-20180717-story.html |work =Los Angeles Times |access-date = July 20, 2018 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180720031929/http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-highway-1-reopens-20180717-story.html |archive-date = July 20, 2018 |url-status = live }}</ref>
* After heavy rainfall, a section of the highway at mile marker 30, near Rat Creek in [[Monterey County, California|Monterey County]], collapsed into the ocean in January 2021.<ref name=GraffSFGATE>{{cite news |last=Graff |first=Amy |date=January 29, 2021 |title=Huge piece of Highway 1 south of Big Sur falls into ocean |url=https://www.sfgate.com/news/editorspicks/article/Highway-1-weather-storm-closed-Rat-Creek-Big-Sur-15908140.php |work=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=January 30, 2021 |archive-date=January 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130000645/https://www.sfgate.com/news/editorspicks/article/Highway-1-weather-storm-closed-Rat-Creek-Big-Sur-15908140.php |url-status=live }}</ref> It reopened in April 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 23, 2021 |title=Highway 1 at Rat Creek Reopened to Traffic at Noon on April 23 |url=https://dot.ca.gov/news-releases/news-release-2021-013 |access-date=June 6, 2022 |website=Caltrans |archive-date=April 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220430231934/https://dot.ca.gov/news-releases/news-release-2021-013 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Multiple landslides during successive storm systems in January 2023 forced the closure of nearly {{convert|40|mi|km}} of the highway.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tanner |first=Kathe |date=January 23, 2023 |title=7 large slides could keep Highway 1 closed to Big Sur for months. Take a look at the damage |work=[[San Luis Obispo Tribune]] |url=https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/community/cambrian/article271329777.html |access-date=April 11, 2023 |archive-date=January 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240110000427/https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/community/cambrian/article271329777.html |url-status=live }}</ref> {{As of|2023|April}}, over {{convert|25|mi|km}} of the highway remain closed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Portion of Hwy 1 along Big Sur coast reopens; highway still closed in SLO County |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/portion-of-hwy-1-along-big-sur-coast-reopens-highway-still-closed-in-slo-county/ |access-date=April 11, 2023 |work=CBS Bay Area |date=April 5, 2023 |language=en-US |archive-date=April 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411093230/https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/portion-of-hwy-1-along-big-sur-coast-reopens-highway-still-closed-in-slo-county/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Landslides in March 2024 forced the closure of a {{Convert|1.4|mi|km|adj=on}} stretch north of the [[Rocky Creek Bridge (California)|Rocky Creek Bridge]] in the Big Sur region.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-03-31/landslide-erodes-part-of-highway-1-near-big-sur-closing-roadway |title=Part of Highway 1 near Big Sur crumbles as new landslide closes more of historic roadway |work=Los Angeles Times |date=March 31, 2024 |accessdate=April 2, 2024}}</ref>

===Future projects===
In 2014, Caltrans relinquished the portion of SR 1 in Oxnard along Oxnard Boulevard. The plan is then for PCH between Pleasant Valley Road and US 101 to be re-routed from Oxnard Boulevard onto Rice Avenue.<ref name="vcstar20121126">{{cite news |url = http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/nov/26/oxnard-set-to-gain-control-of-oxnard-boulevard/ |title = Oxnard Set to Gain Control of Oxnard Boulevard |first = Gretchen |last = Wenner |work = Ventura County Star |date = November 26, 2012 |access-date = February 24, 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131108070232/http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/nov/26/oxnard-set-to-gain-control-of-oxnard-boulevard/ |archive-date = November 8, 2013 |url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name="Biasotti">{{cite news |url = http://www.vcstar.com/news/local-news/oxnard/rice-avenue-interchange-a-turning-point-for-oxnard_19419755/ |title = Rice Avenue interchange a turning point for Oxnard |first = Tony |last = Biasotti |work = Ventura County Star |date = August 27, 2014 |access-date = January 25, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141111182515/http://www.vcstar.com/news/local-news/oxnard/rice-avenue-interchange-a-turning-point-for-oxnard_19419755 |archive-date = November 11, 2014 |url-status = dead }}</ref> That segment of Rice Avenue includes a railroad grade crossing at 5th Avenue that was the site of the [[2015 Oxnard train derailment|February 2015 Oxnard train derailment]], which eventually led to one death and 29 injuries. This was the twelfth accident at the crossing in ten years.<ref name="ABC7-532179">{{cite news |url = http://abc7.com/532179/ |title = Metrolink train slams into truck in Oxnard; driver arrested for hit-and-run |location = Los Angeles |publisher = [[KABC-TV]] |date = February 25, 2015 |access-date = February 25, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150227080132/http://abc7.com/532179/ |archive-date = February 27, 2015 |url-status = live }}</ref> An overpass has been planned at that site for almost two decades, but funding has not been available in Ventura County for the estimated $35 million grade separation project.<ref name="latimes-20150301-crossing-spending">{{cite news |last1 = Weikel |first1 = Dan |last2 = Nelson |first2 = Laura J. |date = March 1, 2015 |title = Spending on rail crossing safety upgrades varies widely across Southland |url = http://www.latimes.com/local/countygovernment/la-me-metrolink-crossings-20150301-story.html |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150303045352/http://www.latimes.com/local/countygovernment/la-me-metrolink-crossings-20150301-story.html |archive-date = March 3, 2015 |access-date = March 3, 2015 |newspaper = Los Angeles Times }}</ref> On July 12, 2023, the Ventura County Transportation Commission and the City of Oxnard received $15 million in state funding to build an overpass. The project was estimated to be completed by the fall of 2027.<ref>{{Cite web |date = July 12, 2023 |title = Oxnard Receives $16.5 Million in State Funding for Building Rice Ave. Overpass, Santa Clara Levee Construction and Channel Islands Harbor Water Quality |url = https://www.oxnard.gov/news/oxnard-receives-16-5-million-in-state-funding-for-building-rice-ave-overpass-santa-clara-levee-construction-and-channel-islands-harbor-water-quality |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240613144857/https://www.oxnard.gov/web/20240613144857/https://www.oxnard.gov/news/oxnard-receives-16-5-million-in-state-funding-for-building-rice-ave-overpass-santa-clara-levee-construction-and-channel-islands-harbor-water-quality |archive-date = June 13, 2024 |publisher = City of Oxnard }}</ref> As of February 2025, $134.5 million has been invested in the project. Construction started on March 19, and is estimated to be completed in December 2029.<ref>{{Cite web |date = March 25, 2025 |title = Rice Avenue & Fifth Street/SR-34 Grade Separation |url = https://www.oxnard.gov/project/rice-avenue-fifth-street-state-route-34-grade-separation |access-date = |publisher = City of Oxnard }}</ref>

In 2015, a $20 million project was proposed to add over 150 safety improvements to the stretch of the highway in Malibu. This follows a string of fatal accidents in the area, including one involving [[Caitlyn Jenner]] that claimed another person's life.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2015/06/22/20m-safety-plan-proposed-for-malibus-pch-following-string-of-traffic-fatalities/ |title = $20M Safety Plan Proposed For Malibu's PCH After String of Traffic Fatalities |location = Los Angeles |work = CBS Los Angeles |publisher = KCBS-TV |date = June 22, 2015 |access-date = July 10, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150711020356/http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2015/06/22/20m-safety-plan-proposed-for-malibus-pch-following-string-of-traffic-fatalities/ |archive-date = July 11, 2015 |url-status = dead }}</ref>

The Calera Parkway project proposes to widen the non-freeway segment in Pacifica between the [[Rockaway Beach, Pacifica, California|Rockaway Beach]] and Vallemar districts, but is facing opposition by local residents and environmentalists.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.mercurynews.com/san-mateo-county-times/ci_25152998/pacifica-residents-rally-against-caltrans-plan-widen-highway |title = Pacifica Residents Rally against Caltrans' Plan to Widen Highway 1 |first = Aaron |last = Kinney |work = San Mateo County Times |date = February 15, 2014 |access-date = May 13, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140513223021/http://www.mercurynews.com/san-mateo-county-times/ci_25152998/pacifica-residents-rally-against-caltrans-plan-widen-highway |archive-date = May 13, 2014 |url-status = live }}</ref>

==Major intersections==
{{CAinttop|exit|post_ref= <ref name=trucklist /><ref name=bridgelog>{{Caltrans bridgelog|date=July 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |type = Report |author = California Department of Transportation |publisher = California Department of Transportation |url = http://traffic-counts.dot.ca.gov/ |title = All Traffic Volumes on CSHS |date = 2005–2006 |access-date = February 18, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080304094226/http://traffic-counts.dot.ca.gov/ |archive-date = March 4, 2008 |url-status = dead }}</ref>|exit_ref= <ref>{{cite web |date = November 7, 2008 |first = KS |last = Warring |publisher = California Department of Transportation |work = California Numbered Exit Uniform System |url = http://www.dot.ca.gov/trafficops/exit/docs/1.pdf |title = State Route 1 Freeway Interchanges |access-date = February 5, 2009 |postscript = ; |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160820174423/http://www.dot.ca.gov/trafficops/exit/docs/1.pdf |archive-date = August 20, 2016 |url-status = live }} {{cite web |date=August 4, 2020 |publisher=California Department of Transportation |work=[[Exit numbers in the United States|California Numbered Exit Uniform System]] |url=https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/safety-programs/documents/exit/101-a11y.pdf |title=U.S. Route 101 Freeway Interchanges |access-date=April 1, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820214424/http://www.dot.ca.gov/trafficops/exit/docs/101.pdf |archive-date=August 20, 2016 |url-status=live }}{{void|Fabrickator|comment|no explanation for filename of "101-ally" or title of "I10-Westbound"}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
}}
{{CAint|exit
|county=Orange
|cspan=11
|county_note=ORA R0.13-33.71
|location=Dana Point
|lspan=3
|postmile=R0.13
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|I|5|name1=San Diego Freeway|city1=Santa Ana|city2=San Diego}}
|notes=Interchange; southern terminus; I-5 exit 79; road continues as Camino las Ramblas
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=R0.78
|exit=—
|road=Coast Highway south, Doheny Park Road – [[Capistrano Beach, California|Capistrano Beach]]
|notes=Interchange; former US 101
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=none
|place=Northern end of freeway; northern end of state maintenance<ref name=relinguished group=lower-alpha>The state has relinquished, and turned over various segments of the highway to local control.</ref>
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location1=Dana Point
|location2=Laguna Beach
|postmile=none
|place=Southern end of state maintenance<ref name=relinguished group=lower-alpha />
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Laguna Beach
|postmile=9.42
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|SR|133|dir1=north|name1=Broadway Street, Laguna Canyon Road}}
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Newport Beach
|lspan=4
|postmile= 13.47
|exit=
|road= {{Jct|state=CA|road|Newport Coast Drive|SR-Toll|73|to2=yes}}
|notes= Northern end of state maintenance<ref name=relinguished group=lower-alpha />
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=16.25
|exit=
|road={{jct|extra=airport}} MacArthur Boulevard
|notes=Former [[California State Route 73|SR 73]] north; serves [[John Wayne Airport]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=17.43
|exit=
|road=[[Jamboree Road]] – [[Balboa Island, Newport Beach|Balboa Island]]
|notes= Southern end of state maintenance<ref name=relinguished group=lower-alpha />
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=19.80
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|CA|55|dir1=north|name1=Newport Boulevard|city1=Costa Mesa|city2=Balboa Peninsula}}
|notes=Interchange; SR 55 exit 1
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Huntington Beach
|lspan=2
|postmile=22.09
|road=Brookhurst Street – [[Fountain Valley, California|Fountain Valley]]
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=23.74
|road={{Jct|state=CA|CA|39|dir1=north|name1=Beach Boulevard}}
|notes=Southern terminus of SR 39
}}
{{CAint|exit
|county=Los Angeles
|cspan=33
|county_note=LA 0.00-62.69
|location=Long Beach
|lspan=4
|postmile=1.97
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|CA|22|dir1=east|name1=7th Street}}
|notes=Western terminus of SR 22
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=3.56
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|SR|19|dir1=north|name1=Lakewood Boulevard|road|Los Coyotes Diagonal|city1=Downey|city2=Bellflower|extra=airport}}
|notes=[[Los Alamitos Circle]]; southern terminus of SR 19; serves [[Long Beach Airport]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=7.29
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|I|710|name1=Long Beach Freeway|city1=Long Beach|city2=Pasadena}}
|notes=Interchange; I-710 exit 2
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=8.27
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|CA|103|name1=Terminal Island Freeway|road|Willow Street|city1=Terminal Island}}
|notes=Interchange
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Los Angeles
|lspan=4
|postmile=8.43
|exit=
|road=2200-2400 East Pacific Coast Highway – [[Port of Los Angeles]]
|notes=Interchange
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=9.25
|exit=
|road=O Street to [[Alameda Street]] ([[California State Route 47|SR 47]])
|notes=Interchange
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=11.61
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|I|110|name1=Harbor Freeway|city1=Los Angeles|location2=[[San Pedro, Los Angeles, California|San Pedro]]}}
|notes=Interchange; I-110 exit 4
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=13.10
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|CA|213|name1=Western Avenue}}
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Torrance
|postmile=16.01
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|CA|107|dir1=north|CR|N7|dir2=south|county2=Los Angeles|name2=Hawthorne Boulevard|city1=Inglewood|city2=Palos Verdes Estates}}
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Hermosa Beach
|location2=Manhattan Beach
|postmile=21.92
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|road|[[Artesia Boulevard]]|SR|91|to2=y|dir2=east}}
|notes=Former western end of SR 91
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Los Angeles
|lspan=7
|postmile=25.92
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|I|105|dir1=east|name1=Century Freeway|road|[[Imperial Highway]]|city1=Norwalk}}
|notes=Interchange; I-105 exit 1
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=26.18
|place=[[Airport Tunnel (Los Angeles)|Airport Tunnel]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=26.90
|exit=
|road={{jct|extra=airport}} [[Century Boulevard]] – [[Los Angeles International Airport|LAX Airport]]
|notes=Interchange
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=27.40
|exit=
|road={{jct|extra=airport}} [[Los Angeles International Airport|LAX Airport]] (96th Street)
|notes=Interchange
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=27.36
|exit=
|road=[[Sepulveda Boulevard]]
|notes=No southbound left turn
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=28.50
|exit=
|road=Westchester Parkway
|notes=Interchange
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=29.08
|exit=
|road=[[California State Route 42|Manchester Avenue]]
|notes=Former western end of [[California State Route 42|SR 42]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location1=Los Angeles
|location2=Marina del Rey
|postmile=none
|exit=
|road=Culver Boulevard
|notes=Interchange
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Los Angeles
|lspan=2
|postmile=31.29
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|CA|90|dir1=east|name1=Marina Freeway}}
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=32.17
|exit=
|road=[[Venice Boulevard]] ([[California State Route 187|SR 187]] east) – [[Culver City, California|Culver City]], [[Venice, Los Angeles|Venice]]
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location1=Los Angeles
|location2=Santa Monica
|postmile=none
|place=Northern end of state maintenance<ref name=relinguished group=lower-alpha />
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Santa Monica
|lspan=7
|postmile=R34.53
|place=Southern end of state maintenance<ref name=relinguished group=lower-alpha />
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=concur
|postmile=R34.58
|pmspan=2
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|I|10|road|[[Olympic Boulevard (Los Angeles)|Olympic Boulevard]]|dir1=east|name1=Santa Monica Freeway|city1=Los Angeles}}
|notes=Eastern end of I-10 concurrency; interchange; former western terminus of [[California State Route 2|SR 2]]; I-10 east exit 1A, west exit 1B
}}
{{Jctplace|exit
|mile=none
|place=Southern end of freeway on I-10<ref name="I-10 overlap"/>
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=concur
|postmile=none
|place=Western end of I-10 concurrency; western terminus of I-10<ref name="I-10 overlap">{{cite web |first= Christian |last= Clarion |date= March 17, 2020 |publisher= [[California Department of Transportation]] |work= [[California Numbered Exit Uniform System]] |url= https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/safety-programs/documents/exit/calnexus-i-10-03-2020-a11y.pdf |title= Interstate 10 Freeway Interchanges |accessdate= June 24, 2021 |quote= The shared alignment with SR-1 is between 4th / 5th Street and Lincoln Blvd. |archive-date= September 21, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210921211704/https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/safety-programs/documents/exit/calnexus-i-10-03-2020-a11y.pdf |url-status= live }}</ref>
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=35.17
|pmspan=2
|place=[[McClure Tunnel]]
}}
{{Jctplace|exit
|mile=none
|place=Northern end of freeway
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=35.18
|exit=
|road=[[Ocean Avenue (Santa Monica)|Ocean Avenue]] – [[Santa Monica, California|Downtown Santa Monica]]
|notes=Interchange; southbound exit and northbound entrance; former [[California State Route 187|SR 187]] east
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Topanga
|postmile=40.77
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|CA|27|dir1=north|name1=[[Topanga Canyon Boulevard]]}}
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Malibu
|lspan=3
|postmile=48.17
|exit=
|road={{jct|state=CA|CR|N1|dir1=north|county1=Los Angeles|name1=[[Malibu Canyon Road]]}}
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=54.02
|exit=
|road={{jct|state=CA|CR|N9|dir1=north|county1=Los Angeles|name1=[[Kanan Dume Road]]}}
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=59.90
|exit=
|road={{jct|state=CA|CA|23|dir1=north|name1=[[Decker Canyon Road]]|city1=Thousand Oaks}}
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|postmile=62.30
|exit=
|road=[[Mulholland Highway]]
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|county=Ventura
|cspan=32
|county_note=VEN 0.00-28.48
|location=none
|postmile=none
|place=Southern end of freeway
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|postmile=10.23
|exit=107
|road=Las Posas Road – [[Naval Air Station Point Mugu|USN Point Mugu]]
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|postmile=11.59
|exit=108
|road=Wood Road – [[Naval Air Station Point Mugu|USN Point Mugu]]
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|postmile=12.79
|exit=109
|road=Hueneme Road
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Oxnard
|lspan=11
|type=incomplete
|postmile=13.59
|exit=110
|road=Nauman Road
|notes=No entrance ramps to SR 1; no access across SR 1
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=R14.67
|exit=
|road=Rice Avenue south
|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=15.06
|exit=112
|road=Pleasant Valley Road, Oxnard Boulevard
|notes=Northern end of state maintenance;<ref name=relinguished group=lower-alpha /> Oxnard Boulevard is former SR 1 north
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=none
|place=Northern end of freeway
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=none
|exit=
|road={{Jctname|state=CA|CA|34|dir1=east|name1=Fifth Street|noshield=y}}
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=concur
|postmile=22.08<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha>Indicates that the postmile represents the distance along [[U.S. Route 101 in California|US 101]] rather than SR 1.</ref>
|pmspan=2
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|US|101|dir1=south|name1=Ventura Freeway|city1=Los Angeles|road|Santa Clara Avenue}}
|notes=Southern end of US 101 concurrency; interchange; southern end of state maintenance;<ref name=relinguished group=lower-alpha /> US 101 exit 60
}}
{{Jctplace|exit
|mile=none
|place=Southern end of freeway on US 101
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=21.01<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha/>
|exit=61<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha >Exit numbers follow US 101 rather than SR 1.</ref>
|road=Rose Avenue
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=22.01<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha/>
|exit=62A<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road={{Jct|state=CA|CA|232|dir1=north|name1=Vineyard Avenue|city1=Oxnard}}
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=22.73<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha/>
|exit=62B<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Oxnard Boulevard
|notes=Former SR 1 south
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=none
|exit=63A<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Ventura Road
|notes=Southbound exit only
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Ventura
|lspan=10
|postmile=R23.45<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=63B<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Johnson Drive
|notes=Signed as exit 63 northbound
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=R24.65<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=64<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Victoria Avenue – [[Oxnard, California#Harbor|Channel Islands Harbor]]
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=25.97<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=65<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Telephone Road
|notes=Northbound entrance is via Main Street
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=26.39<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=66A<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road={{jct|state=CA|SR|126|dir1=east|name1=[[Santa Paula Freeway]]|city1=Santa Clarita}}
|notes=Signed as exit 66 southbound; southbound entrance is via exit 1C from SR 126 west; SR 126 west exit 1A
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=26.72<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=66B<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Main Street ([[U.S. Route 101 Business (Ventura, California)|US 101 Bus.]] north)
|notes=No southbound exit
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=28.45<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=68<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Seaward Avenue
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=29.45<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=69<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Vista del Mar Drive, Sanjon Road
|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=30.15<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=70A<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=California Street, Ventura Avenue
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=30.91<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=70B<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road={{jct|state=CA|CA|33|dir1=north|name1=[[Ojai Freeway]]|city1=Ojai}}
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=31.50<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=71<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Main Street ([[U.S. Route 101 Business (Ventura, California)|US 101 Bus.]] south)
|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Solimar Beach
|lspan=2
|postmile=R32.70<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|line=yes
|postmile2=21.25
|pmspan=2
|place=Northern end of freeway on US 101
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=concur
|mile=none
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|US|101|dir1=north|name1=Ventura Freeway}}
|notes=Northern end of US 101 concurrency; interchange; northbound exit and southbound entrance; US 101 exit 72
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Sea Cliff
|lspan=2
|type=concur
|postmile=27.68
|pmspan=2
|line=yes
|postmile2=R38.98<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|US|101|dir1=south|name1=Ventura Freeway|city1=Los Angeles}}
|notes=Southern end of US 101 concurrency; interchange; US 101 exit 78
}}
{{Jctplace|exit
|mile=none
|place=Southern end of freeway on US 101
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|location=none
|postmile=R39.80<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=79<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=[[Mussel Shoals, California|Mussel Shoals]] (Old Pacific Coast Highway)
|notes=Southbound exit and entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|location=none
|postmile=41.00<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=81<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=[[La Conchita, California|La Conchita]] (West Surfside Street)
|notes=Northbound exit and entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|postmile=R43.57<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=83<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Bates Road
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|county=Santa Barbara
|cspan=63
|county_note=SB R0.00<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />-50.60
|location=Carpinteria
|lspan=6
|postmile=R0.63<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=84<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road={{jct|state=CA|CA|150|dir1=east|city1=Ojai|location2=[[Lake Casitas]]}}
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=1.61<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=85<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Bailard Avenue
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=2.64<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=86A<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Casitas Pass Road
|notes=Signed as exit 86 northbound; former [[California State Route 224|SR 224]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=3.06<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=86B<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Linden Avenue
|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=3.77<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=87A<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Reynolds Avenue, Santa Monica Road
|notes=Signed as exit 87 northbound
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=4.34<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=87B<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Carpinteria Avenue
|notes=Southbound exit only
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Toro Canyon
|postmile=R5.28<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=88<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Padaro Lane, Santa Claus Lane
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Summerland
|lspan=2
|postmile=R7.14<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=90<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Padaro Lane – [[Summerland, California|Summerland]]
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=R8.26<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=91<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Evans Avenue – [[Summerland, California|Summerland]]
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Montecito
|lspan=3
|postmile=9.00<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=92<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Sheffield Drive
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=10.02<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=93<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=San Ysidro Road
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=10.54<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=94A<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Olive Mill Road, Coast Village Road
|notes=No northbound entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Santa Barbara
|lspan=14
|type=incomplete
|postmile=11.10<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=94B<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Hermosillo Drive
|notes=Northbound exit only
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=11.41<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=94C<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Cabrillo Boulevard, Coast Village Road
|notes=No southbound entrance; signed as exit 94B southbound
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=none
|exit=95<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Los Patos Way (unsigned)
|notes=Southbound exit only
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=12.10<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=95<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Salinas Street
|notes=Northbound exit and entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=12.75<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=96<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Milpas Street
|notes=Former [[California State Route 144|SR 144]]; northbound exit signed as exit 96A; southbound as exits 96B and 96A
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=13.49<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=96<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Laguna Street, Garden Street – [[Santa Barbara, California|Downtown Santa Barbara]]
|notes=Laguna Street/Garden Street northbound exit signed as exit 96B; Garden Street southbound exit signed as exit 96C
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=R14.19<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=97<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Bath Street, Castillo Street; [[Santa Barbara Harbor]]
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=R14.76<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=98A<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Carrillo Street – [[Santa Barbara, California|Downtown Santa Barbara]]
|notes=Signed as exit 98 southbound
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=15.26<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=98B<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Arrellaga Street
|notes=Northbound exit and entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=R15.73<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=99A<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Mission Street
|notes=Signed as exit 99 southbound
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=16.05<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=99B<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Pueblo Street
|notes=Northbound exit only
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=16.55<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=100<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Las Positas Road
|notes=Former [[California State Route 225|SR 225]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=17.78<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=101A<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=La Cumbre Road, Hope Avenue
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=18.38<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=101B<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road={{jct|state=CA|CA|154|dir1=west|road|State Street|location1=[[Lake Cachuma|Cachuma Lake]]}}
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Eastern Goleta Valley
|lspan=2
|type=incomplete
|postmile=18.92<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=102<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=El Sueno Road
|notes=Northbound exit and entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=20.06<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=103<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Turnpike Road
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Goleta
|lspan=6
|postmile=21.15<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=104A<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Patterson Avenue
|notes=Signed as exit 104 southbound
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=21.41<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=104B<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road={{jct|state=CA|SR|217|dir1=west|extra=airport|location1=[[Santa Barbara Airport|Airport]]|location2=[[University of California, Santa Barbara|UCSB]]}}
|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=22.53<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=105<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Fairview Avenue
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=23.72<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=107<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Los Carneros Road
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=24.77<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=108<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Glen Annie Road, Storke Road
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=26.91<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=110<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Winchester Canyon Road, Hollister Avenue
|notes=All ramps are via Cathedral Oaks Road
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|postmile=none
|place=Northern end of freeway on US 101
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|postmile=none
|place=Southern end of freeway on US 101
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|postmile=30.06<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=113<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Dos Pueblos Canyon Road
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=none
|location=none
|place=Northern end of freeway on US 101
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=none
|location=none
|place=Southern end of freeway on US 101
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|postmile=32.84<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=116<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=El Capitan Ranch Road
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|postmile=33.85<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=117<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=[[El Capitan State Beach]]
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|postmile=36.62<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=120<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Refugio Road – [[Refugio State Beach]]
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=none
|location=none
|place=Northern end of freeway on US 101
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|postmile=44.82<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=128<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Mariposa Reina
|notes=Interchange
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|postmile=none
|exit=
|road=[[Gaviota State Beach]] (Gaviota Beach Road)
|notes=At-grade intersection
}}
{{Jctrestarea|exit
|state=CA
|location_special=[[Gaviota Pass]]
|lspan=2
|postmile=46.30<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|postmile2=46.90<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|place=Gaviota Rest Area
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=47.19<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|bridge=[[Gaviota Gorge Tunnel]] (northbound only)
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=none
|location=none
|place=Southern end of freeway on US 101
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Las Cruces
|lspan=2
|postmile=R48.85<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|line=yes
|postmile2=R0.00
|pmspan=2
|place=Northern end of freeway on US 101
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=concur
|mile=none
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|US|101|dir1=north|city1=San Luis Obispo|city2=San Francisco}}
|notes=Northern end of US 101 concurrency; interchange; US 101 exit 132
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Lompoc
|lspan=3
|type=concur
|postmile=19.25
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|CA|246|dir1=east|city1=Buellton|road|12th Street}}
|notes=Southern end of SR 246 concurrency
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=concur
|postmile=20.57
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|CA|246|dir1=west|name1=Ocean Avenue|road|H Street|location1=[[Vandenberg Space Force Base|NASA/Vandenberg SFB South Gate]]|city2=Surf}}
|notes=Northern end of SR 246 concurrency
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=23.30
|exit=
|road=Harris Grade Road, Purisima Road – [[Buellton, California|Buellton]]
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Vandenberg Village
|postmile=R25.07
|exit=211
|road=Constellation Road
|notes=Interchange
}}
{{Jctint|exit
|state=CA
|location_special=[[Vandenberg Space Force Base|Vandenberg SFB]]
|lspan=5
|postmile=M29.89
|exit=
|road=California Boulevard, Lompoc Casmalia Road – [[Vandenberg Space Force Base|Vandenberg SFB]]
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=none
|exit=
|road=San Antonio Road West – [[Casmalia, California|Casmalia]]
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=M33.30
|exit=
|road=San Antonio Road East – [[Los Alamos, California|Los Alamos]]
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=M36.19
|line=yes
|postmile2=R31.04
|pmspan=2
|place=Southern end of freeway
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=concur
|mile=none
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|CA|135|dir1=south|city1=Los Alamos}}
|notes=Southern end of SR 135 concurrency; interchange; southbound left exit and northbound entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Orcutt
|lspan=3
|type=concur
|postmile=R34.78
|exit=226
|road={{Jct|state=CA|CA|135|dir1=north|city1=Orcutt|city2=Santa Maria}}
|notes=Northern end of SR 135 concurrency; northbound exit and southbound entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=none
|place=Northern end of freeway
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=R35.53
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|road|Clark Avenue|CA|135|to2=yes|city1=Orcutt}}
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Guadalupe
|postmile=49.20
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|CA|166|dir1=east|name1=Main Street|city1=Santa Maria}}
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|county=San Luis Obispo
|cspan=33
|county_note=SLO 0.00-74.32
|location=none
|postmile=none
|road=Valley Road – [[Arroyo Grande, CA|Arroyo Grande]]
}}
{{CAint|exit|type=concur
|location=Pismo Beach
|lspan=5
|postmile=none
|road={{jct|state=CA|road|Price Street|name1=[[U.S. Route 101 Business (Pismo Beach, California)|US 101 Bus.]] south|to2=to|US|101|dir2=south}}
|notes=Southern end of US 101 Bus. concurrency
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=concur
|postmile=L16.54
|pmspan=2
|line=yes
|postmile2=17.75<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|road={{jct|state=CA|US|101|dir1=south}}
|notes=Northern end of US 101 Bus. concurrency; southern end of US 101 concurrency; interchange; no northbound exit; SR 1 south follows exit 191A
}}
{{Jctplace|exit
|mile=none
|place=Southern end of freeway on US 101
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=R19.81<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|pmspan=2
|exit=193<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|espan=2
|road=Spyglass Drive
|notes=Northbound signage
}}
{{CAint
|mile=none
|road=Shell Beach Road
|notes=Southbound signage
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Avila Beach
|lspan=2
|postmile=R21.11<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=195<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Avilla Beach Drive
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=R22.29<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=196<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=San Luis Bay Drive – [[See Canyon, California|See Canyon]], [[Avila Beach, California|Avila Beach]]
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|postmile=R24.30<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=198<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Higuera Street
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=San Luis Obispo
|lspan=8
|postmile=25.91<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=200A<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Los Osos Valley Road
|notes=Signed as exit 200 southbound
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=26.83<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=200B<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Prado Road, Elks Lane
|notes=Northbound exit and entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=27.50<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=201<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road={{jct|state=CA|CA|227|dir1=south|name1=Madonna Road}}
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=28.07<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=202A<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Marsh Street
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=28.81<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=202B<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Broad Street
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=29.08<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=203A<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Osos Street, Santa Rosa Street
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=29.08<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|line=yes
|postmile2=16.77
|pmspan=2
|place=Northern end of freeway on US 101
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=concur
|mile=none
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|US|101|road|Santa Rosa Street}}
|notes=Northern end of US 101 concurrency; interchange; US 101 exit 203B
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|postmile=none
|place=Southern end of freeway
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Morro Bay
|lspan=4
|postmile=27.88
|exit=277
|road=[[Baywood-Los Osos, California|Los Osos/Baywood Park]] (South Bay Boulevard)
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=28.82
|exit=278
|road=Morro Bay Boulevard
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=29.62
|exit=279A
|road=Main Street
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=30.14
|exit=279B
|road={{Jct|state=CA|CA|41|dir1=north|city1=Atascadero}}
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|postmile=none
|place=Northern end of freeway
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Cayucos|lspan=5
|postmile=none
|place=Southern end of freeway
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=R34.91
|exit=284
|road=[[Cayucos, California|Cayucos]] ([[California State Route 1 Business (Cayucos)|SR 1 Bus.]] north)
|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=R35.96
|exit=285
|road=Cayucos Drive
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=none
|place=Northern end of freeway
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=none
|road=North Ocean Avenue ([[California State Route 1 Business (Cayucos)|SR 1 Bus.]] south) – [[Cayucos, CA|Cayucos]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|postmile=45.99
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|CA|46|dir1=east|name1=Green Valley Road|city1=Paso Robles}}
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Cambria
|lspan=2
|postmile=48.26
|road={{Jct|state=CA|SR-Bus|1|dab1=Cambria|dir1=north|name1=Main Street|city1=Cambria|road|Ardath Drive}}
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=none
|road={{Jct|state=CA|SR-Bus|1|dab1=Cambria|dir1=south|name1=Windsor Boulevard|road|Moonstone Beach Drive|city1=Cambria}}
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=San Simeon
|postmile=56.39
|exit=
|road=[[Hearst Castle]]
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|postmile=71.34
|exit=
|road=[[San Carpóforo Canyon|San Carpóforo Creek]] Bridge
|notes=Marks southern end of the [[Big Sur]] coastline
}}
{{CAint|exit
|county=Monterey
|county_note=MON 0.00-R102.03
|cspan=30
|location=none
|postmile=18.91
|road=[[Nacimiento-Fergusson Road]]
|notes=Intersects at the southern end of Kirk Creek Bridge
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|postmile=28.09
|place=[[Big Creek Bridge (California)|Big Creek Bridge]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|postmile=45.52
|road=Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge
|notes=Demolished in March 2017 because of irreparable damage suffered during February 2017 landslides, effectively splitting Big Sur in half.<ref name="Wright20170323" /><ref name="Weber20170314">{{cite news |first = Brian |last = Weber |date = March 14, 2017 |url = http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/california/Wrecking-Ball-Big-Sur-Pfeiffer-Canyon-Bridge-416136123.html |title = Wrecking Ball No Match for Big Sur's Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge |work = NBC Bay Area |location = San Jose, California |publisher = [[KNTV]]-TV |access-date = March 16, 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170314203955/http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/california/Wrecking-Ball-Big-Sur-Pfeiffer-Canyon-Bridge-416136123.html |archive-date = March 14, 2017 |url-status = dead }}</ref> The replacement bridge reopened in October 2017.<ref>{{cite news |first = Kurtis |last = Alexander |date = October 13, 2017 |url = https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Big-Sur-back-in-business-with-opening-of-Pfeiffer-12277324.php |title = Big Sur back in business with opening of Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge on Highway 1 |work =San Francisco Chronicle |access-date = July 26, 2018 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180726151638/https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Big-Sur-back-in-business-with-opening-of-Pfeiffer-12277324.php |archive-date = July 26, 2018 |url-status = live }}</ref>
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|postmile=59.37
|place=[[Bixby Bridge]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|postmile=60.05
|place=[[Rocky Creek Bridge (California)|Rocky Creek Bridge]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|postmile=72.28
|exit=
|road=[[Carmel River (California)|Carmel River]] Bridge
|notes=Marks northern end of the [[Big Sur]] coastline
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|postmile=72.92
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|CR|G16|dir1=east|county1=Monterey|name1=Carmel Valley Road}}
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|postmile=none
|place=Southern end of freeway
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Monterey
|lspan=9
|type=concur
|postmile=75.14
|exit=399A
|road={{Jct|state=CA|CA|68|dir1=west|city1=Pacific Grove|city2=Pebble Beach}}
|notes=Southern end of SR 68 concurrency
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=R75.75
|exit=399B
|road=Munras Avenue ([[California State Route 1 Business (Monterey)|SR 1 Bus.]] north) – [[Monterey, California|Monterey]]
|notes=No northbound entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=R76.00
|exit=399C
|road=Soledad Drive, Munras Avenue
|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=R77.38
|exit=401A
|road=Aguajito Road ([[California State Route 1 Business (Monterey)|SR 1 Bus.]] south) – [[Monterey, California|Monterey]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=concur
|postmile=R78.12
|exit=401B
|road={{Jct|state=CA|CA|68|dir1=east|city1=Salinas}}
|notes=Northern end of SR 68 concurrency; SR 68 west exit 7B
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=R78.18
|exit=401B
|road=North Fremont Street ([[California State Route 1 Business (Seaside)|SR 1 Bus.]] north)
|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=R78.45
|exit=402A
|road=Casa Verde Way
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=R78.88
|exit=402B
|road=Del Monte Avenue – [[Pacific Grove, California|Pacific Grove]]
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=R79.36
|exit=403
|road={{Jct|state=CA|CA|218|dir1=east|name1=Canyon del Rey Boulevard|city1=Seaside|city2=Del Rey Oaks}}
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Sand City
|postmile=R80.27
|exit=404
|road=Fremont Boulevard ([[California State Route 1 Business (Seaside)|SR 1 Bus.]] south) / Del Monte Boulevard
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Seaside
|postmile=R82.89
|exit=406
|road=Lightfighter Drive
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Marina
|lspan=3
|postmile=R84.48
|exit=408
|road=Imjin Parkway
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=R85.14
|exit=409
|road=Del Monte Boulevard ([[California State Route 1 Business (Marina)|SR 1 Bus.]] north)
|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=R86.48
|exit=410
|road=Reservation Road ([[County Route G17 (California)|CR G17]])
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|postmile=R88.64
|exit=412
|road=Del Monte Boulevard ([[California State Route 1 Business (Marina)|SR 1 Bus.]] south) – [[Marina, California|Marina]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|postmile=R90.39
|exit=414A
|road=Nashua Road, Molera Road
|notes=Signed as exit 414 southbound
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Castroville
|lspan=3
|type=incomplete
|postmile=R90.98
|exit=414B
|road={{Jct|state=CA|CA|156|dir1=east|to2=to|US|101|city1=Castroville|city2=San Jose}}
|notes=Northbound exit and southbound left entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=none
|place=Northern end of freeway
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=T92.21
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|CA|183|dir1=south|to2=2|CA|156|dir2=east|name1=Merritt Street|city1=Castroville|city2=Salinas}}
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Moss Landing
|postmile=96.10
|exit=
|road=Dolan Road – [[Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve|Elkhorn Slough Reserve]]
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|postmile=none
|place=Southern end of freeway
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|postmile=R101.04
|exit=423
|road=Salinas Road
|notes=Interchange; former at-grade intersection
}}
{{CAint|exit
|county=Santa Cruz
|county_note=SCR R0.00-37.45
|cspan=24
|location=none
|postmile=R0.72
|exit=425
|road={{Jct|state=CA|CA|129|dir1=east|name1=Riverside Drive|to2=to|CA|152|dir2=east|city1=Watsonville}}
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Watsonville
|lspan=3
|type=incomplete
|postmile=R2.27
|exit=426
|road=Harkins Slough Road, Green Valley Road
|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=R2.68
|exit=426
|road={{Jct|state=CA|CA|152|dir1=east|name1=Main Street}}
|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=R3.18
|exit=427
|road=Airport Boulevard
|notes=Serves [[Watsonville Municipal Airport]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley
|postmile=R4.07
|exit=428
|road=Buena Vista Drive
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley
|location2=La Selva Beach
|postmile=R6.69
|exit=431
|road=Mar Monte Avenue
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley
|location2=La Selva Beach
|location3=Rio del Mar
|postmile=R7.66
|exit=432
|road=San Andreas Road, Larkin Valley Road
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley
|location2=Aptos
|location3=Rio del Mar
|postmile=8.35
|exit=433A
|road=Freedom Boulevard
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Aptos
|location2=Rio del Mar
|postmile=9.15
|exit=433B
|road=Rio del Mar Boulevard
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Aptos
|location2=Seacliff
|postmile=10.54
|exit=435
|road=State Park Drive
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Capitola
|location2=Soquel
|lspan=3
|postmile=12.09
|exit=436
|road=Park Avenue
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=13.19
|exit=437
|road=Porter Street, Bay Avenue
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=13.62
|exit=438
|road=41st Avenue
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Live Oak
|ctdab=Santa Cruz
|lspan=2
|postmile=14.86
|pmspan=2
|exit=439
|espan=2
|road=Soquel Drive
|notes=Northbound signage just lists "Soquel ''Drive''"<ref>{{cite web | title=Northbound SR 1 Exit 439 signage | url=https://www.google.com/maps/@36.9862383,-121.982444,3a,75y,311.15h,93.26t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sr0D10raWV5lUS7mMqRi1JQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en | work=Google Street View | access-date=July 23, 2022 | archive-date=January 10, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240110000625/https://www.google.com/maps/@36.9862383,-121.982444,3a,75y,311.15h,93.26t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sr0D10raWV5lUS7mMqRi1JQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en&shorturl=1 | url-status=live }}</ref>
}}
{{CAint
|mile=none
|road=Soquel Avenue
|notes=Southbound signage just lists the separate "Soquel ''Avenue''"<ref>{{cite web | title=Southbound SR 1 Exit 439 signage | url=https://www.google.com/maps/@36.9871363,-121.9867907,3a,75y,120.23h,83.06t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sL29e4A2jB55TJGvQTtbv-A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en | work=Google Street View | access-date=July 23, 2022 | archive-date=January 10, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240110000419/https://www.google.com/maps/@36.9871363,-121.9867907,3a,75y,120.23h,83.06t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sL29e4A2jB55TJGvQTtbv-A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en&shorturl=1 | url-status=live }}</ref>
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Santa Cruz
|lspan=7
|postmile=15.82
|exit=440
|road=Morrissey Boulevard
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=16.63
|exit=441A
|road=Emeline Avenue
|notes=Northbound exit only
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=16.82
|exit=441B
|road={{Jct|state=CA|CA|17|dir1=north|city1=San Jose|city2=Oakland}}
|notes=Signed as exit 441 southbound; SR 17 exits 1A-B
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=17.24
|exit=442
|road=Ocean Street – Beaches
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=none
|place=Northern end of freeway
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=17.56
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|CA|9|dir1=north|name1=River Street|city1=Boulder Creek|city2=Big Basin|location3=[[Santa Cruz, California|Downtown Santa Cruz]]}}
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=19.00
|exit=
|road=Bay Street – [[University of California, Santa Cruz|UC Santa Cruz]]
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|postmile=27.62
|exit=
|road=Bonny Doon Road
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|postmile=30.44
|exit=
|road=Swanton Road
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|county=San Mateo
|cspan=22
|county_note=SM 0.00-R48.55
|location=none
|postmile=13.58
|exit=
|road=Pescadero Road, [[Pescadero State Beach]]
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=San Gregorio
|postmile=18.19
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|CA|84|dir1=east|city1=San Gregorio|city2=La Honda|city3=Redwood City}}
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Half Moon Bay
|postmile=29.04
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|CA|92|dir1=east|city1=San Mateo}}
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|postmile=R39.00
|place=[[Tom Lantos Tunnels]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Pacifica
|lspan=8
|postmile=40.75
|postmile2=40.96
|exit=
|road=Linda Mar Boulevard, San Pedro Avenue
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=42.01
|exit=
|road=Rockaway Beach Avenue, Fassler Avenue – [[Rockaway Beach, Pacifica, California|Rockaway Beach]]
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=R42.58
|exit=
|road=Reina Del Mar Avenue
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=none
|place=Southern end of freeway
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=R43.46
|exit=505A
|road=Sharp Park Road, Fairway Drive – [[San Bruno, California|San Bruno]]
|notes=Signed as exit 505 southbound
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=R43.74
|exit=505B
|road=Clarendon Road, Oceana Boulevard
|notes=Northbound exit only
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=R44.21
|exit=506
|road=Paloma Avenue, Francisco Boulevard
|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=R45.12
|exit=507
|road=Manor Drive, Monterey Road, Palmetto Avenue
|notes=Palmetto Avenue not signed northbound; Monterey Road not signed southbound
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Daly City
|lspan=10
|postmile=R46.72
|exit=508
|road={{Jct|state=CA|CA|35|name1=[[Skyline Boulevard]]}}
|notes=Signed as exit 508A (south) and 508B (north) southbound; SR 35 exits 54A-B
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=R47.27
|pmspan=2
|exit=509A
|road=Serramonte Boulevard
|notes=Northbound signage
}}
{{CAint|exit
|mile=none
|exit=509
|road=Clarinada Avenue
|notes=Southbound signage
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=R47.80
|exit=509B
|road={{Jct|state=CA|I|280|dir1=south|name1=[[Junipero Serra Freeway]]|city1=San Jose}}
|notes=Northbound signage; I-280 north exit 47
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=48.08
|exit=510
|road=Eastmoor Avenue
|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance; I-280 north exit 47
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=concur
|postmile=R47.80
|line=yes
|postmile2=R25.28<ref name="I-280" group=lower-alpha>Indicates that the postmile represents the distance along [[Interstate 280 (California)|I-280]] rather than SR 1.</ref>
|exit=—
|road={{Jct|state=CA|I|280|dir1=south|name1=[[Junipero Serra Freeway]]|city1=San Jose}}
|notes=Southern end of I-280 concurrency; southbound signage; SR 1 south follows I-280 south exit 47B
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=R28.78<ref name="I-280" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=48<ref name="I-280exits" group=lower-alpha >Exit numbers follow I-280 rather than SR 1.</ref>
|road=Eastmoor Avenue, Sullivan Avenue
|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=M26.50<ref name="I-280" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=49A<ref name="I-280exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=John Daly Boulevard, [[Junipero Serra Boulevard]]
|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=concur
|postmile=M27.17<ref name="I-280" group=lower-alpha />
|line=yes
|postmile2=R48.05
|exit=—
|road={{Jct|state=CA|I|280|dir1=north|city1=San Francisco|location2=[[San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge|Bay Bridge]]}}
|notes=Northern end of I-280 concurrency; SR 1 north follows I-280 north exit 49B; SR 1 southbound access via exit 49
}}
{{CAint|exit
||type=incomplete
|postmile=48.55
|exit=49<ref name="JohnDalyBlvd" group=lower-alpha>Although the southbound exit to John Daly Boulevard is listed as exit 511 on Caltrans' exit number list, {{as of|lc=yes|2025}} signs on the highway were posted marking it as exit 49, following I-280 instead of SR 1/</ref>
|road={{Jct|state=CA|road|John Daly Boulevard|I|280|to2=2|dir2=north}}
|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|indep_city=San Francisco
|lspan=8
|county_note=SF R0.00-7.07
|postmile=R0.11
|pmspan=2
|type=incomplete
|exit=
|road=[[Alemany Boulevard]]
|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance
}}
{{Jctplace|exit
|mile=none
|place=Northern end of freeway
}}
{{CAint|exit
|espan=2
|postmile=R0.31
|type=incomplete
|exit=
|road=Brotherhood Way
|notes=Interchange; no northbound exit to Brotherhood Way east and no southbound entrance from Brotherhood Way west
}}
{{CAint
|type=incomplete
|postmile=1.90
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|SR|35|dir1=south|name1=Sloat Boulevard|location1= [[Civic Center, San Francisco, California|San Francisco Civic Center]]|location2=Beach|location3=[[San Francisco Zoo]]}}
|notes=No northbound left turn
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=6.33
|pmspan=2
|place=Southern end of freeway
}}
{{jcttunnel|exit
|postmile=none
|tunnel=[[MacArthur Tunnel]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=concur
|postmile=7.08
|line=yes
|postmile2=9.60<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|US|101|dir1=south|location1=Marina Boulevard}}
|notes=Southern end of US 101 concurrency; US 101 south was former [[California State Route 480|SR 480]] east; US 101 exit 438
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=9.71<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=439<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Lincoln Boulevard – View Area, [[Presidio (San Francisco)|Presidio]], [[Golden Gate National Recreation Area|Golden Gate NRA]], [[Fort Point, San Francisco|Fort Point]]
|notes=Lincoln Boulevard not signed northbound
}}
{{Jctbridge|exit
|state=CA
|type=etc
|river=[[Golden Gate]]
|postmile=11.18<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|postmile2=L0.01<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|bridge=[[Golden Gate Bridge]] (Southbound toll only; no state maintenance on bridge)
}}
{{CAint|exit
|county=Marin
|cspan=10
|county_note=MRN 0.00-50.50
|location=Sausalito
|lspan=9
|type=incomplete
|postmile=0.10<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|place=H. Dana Bower Rest Area and Vista Point (northbound only)
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=0.32<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=442<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Alexander Avenue
|notes=Last free exit for southbound traffic
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=0.89<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|place=[[Robin Williams Tunnel]] under [[Waldo Grade]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=1.52<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=443<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Spencer Avenue, Monte Mar Drive
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|espan=2
|type=incomplete
|postmile=2.48<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|pmspan=2
|exit=444<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=Rodeo Avenue (east)
|notes=Northbound exit and entrance only
}}
{{CAint
|type=incomplete
|mile=none
|road=Rodeo Avenue (west; not a thru road)
|notes=Southbound exit and entrance only; connects to the Rodeo Trailhead at the [[Golden Gate National Recreation Area|Golden Gate NRA]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=3.33<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|exit=445A<ref name="US101exits" group=lower-alpha />
|road=[[Sausalito, California|Sausalito]] (Bridgeway), [[Marin City, California|Marin City]] (Donahue Street)
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=4.46<ref name="US 101" group=lower-alpha />
|pmspan=2
|line=yes
|postmile2=0.00
|place=Northern end of freeway on US 101
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=concur
|mile=none
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|US|101|dir1=north|city1=San Rafael|city2=Eureka|city3=Santa Rosa}}
|notes=Northern end of US 101 concurrency; US 101 exit 445B
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Olema
|postmile=26.51
|exit=
|road=[[Sir Francis Drake Boulevard]] – [[San Rafael, California|San Rafael]]
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|county=Sonoma
|county_note=SON 0.00-58.58
|location=Jenner
|postmile=20.10
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|CA|116|dir1=east|name1=River Road|city1=Guerneville}}
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|county=Mendocino
|cspan=7
|county_note=MEN 0.00-105.57
|location=none
|postmile=40.27
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|CA|128|dir1=east|to2=to|US|101|city1=Cloverdale|city2=Boonville}}
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location_special=[[Albion River]]
|postmile=43.74
|place=[[Albion River Bridge]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location_special=[[Russian Gulch Creek]]

|postmile=52.64
|place=[[Frederick W. Panhorst Bridge]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Fort Bragg
|lspan=2
|postmile=59.80
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|CA|20|dir1=east|city1=Willits}}
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=60.23
|place=[[Noyo River Bridge]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Leggett
|lspan=2
|postmile=105.50
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|CA|271|dir1=south|city1=Leggett|location2=[[Chandelier Tree|Drive Thru Tree Road]]}}
|notes=Former [[U.S. Route 101 in California|US 101]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=105.57
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|US|101|city1=Ukiah|city2=Eureka}}
|notes=Northern terminus
}}
{{jctbtm|exit|keys=closed,concur,etc,incomplete,}}
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

==In popular culture==
[[Tim Buckley|Tim Buckley's]] 1969 album [[Happy Sad (album)|Happy Sad]] includes a song with the title "Love from Room 109 at the Islander (On Pacific Coast Highway)".

R & B group [[Con Funk Shun]] released a song titled "California 1" on their 1981 album [[7_(Con_Funk_Shun_album)|Con Funk Shun 7]].

In 1999, the [[Red Hot Chili Peppers]] released a song titled "[[Road Trippin']]" on the [[Californication (album)|Californication]] album. It describes a surfing trip along the [[Big Sur]] portion of the highway.

In 2002, [[the Decemberists]] released a song titled "California One/Youth and Beauty Brigade" on their album [[Castaways and Cutouts]].

In 2008, [[Old 97's]] released a song titled "The One" on their album [[Blame It on Gravity]]. The song reminisces about their early days as a band being flown from Texas out to Los Angeles to be courted by various big record company labels. In this delightful reimagining, the band ultimately decides it would be easier and more fun to become bank robbers instead, and they make their escape along this famous route ("Let's take The One!").

In 2012, [[the Beach Boys]] released a song titled "Pacific Coast Highway" on the album ''[[That's Why God Made the Radio]]''. Described by critics as "introspective", "autumnal", and "hymnlike",<ref>{{cite web|last=Bergstrom|first=John|title=The Beach Boys: That's Why God Made the Radio|url=https://www.popmatters.com/159260-the-beach-boys-thats-why-god-made-the-radio-2495846602.html|website=[[PopMatters]]|access-date=September 29, 2020|date=June 4, 2012|archive-date=December 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201231133253/https://www.popmatters.com/159260-the-beach-boys-thats-why-god-made-the-radio-2495846602.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Triplett|first=Gene|title=Album review: The Beach Boys 'That's Why God Made the Radio'|url=https://oklahoman.com/article/3680150/album-review-the-beach-boys-thats-why-god-made-the-radio|website=[[The Oklahoman]]|location=Oklahoma City|access-date=September 29, 2020|date=June 1, 2012|archive-date=January 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116034233/https://oklahoman.com/article/3680150/album-review-the-beach-boys-thats-why-god-made-the-radio|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Pareles|first1=Jon|last2=Chinen|first2=Nate|last3=Ratliff|first3=Ben|title=Another Solstice in an Endless Summer|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/05/arts/music/new-releases-from-the-beach-boys-and-alan-jackson.html|access-date=September 29, 2020|work=The New York Times|date=June 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120608073018/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/05/arts/music/new-releases-from-the-beach-boys-and-alan-jackson.html|archive-date=June 8, 2012}}</ref> the song takes the perspective of an aged person driving down the highway during sunset as he reflects on his advancing years in life, deciding that he is more comfortable living alone.

==See also==
*{{portal-inline|California Roads}}
*{{portal-inline|Greater Los Angeles}}
*{{portal-inline|Monterey Bay Area}}
*{{portal-inline|San Francisco Bay Area}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|California State Route 1}}
{{Attached KML|display=inline,title}}
{{Wikivoyage|Pacific Coast Highway}}
{{CASR external links|SR|1}}
*[http://www.bayareafastrak.org/ Bay Area FasTrak] – includes toll information on the Golden Gate Bridge and the other Bay Area toll facilities
*[http://www.aaroads.com/california/ca-001.html State Route 1], California @ AARoads.com
*[http://www.cahighways.org/001-008.html#001 Route 1] at California Highways
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20101012005545/http://articles.cnn.com/1999-07-13/travel/9907_scenic.highway.lat_1_morro-bay-state-park-road-cottages?_s=PM:TRAVEL California's Highway 1], CNN-TravelGuide Pursuits
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100919162107/http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/road-trips/california-pacific-coast-road-trip California's Pacific Coast Highway] from ''National Geographic''
*[http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/the-best-road-trip-in-america Guide to California's Highway 1] at Travel + Leisure
*[http://traveltips.usatoday.com/california-highway-1-attractions-52811.html California Highway 1 Attractions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026013756/http://traveltips.usatoday.com/california-highway-1-attractions-52811.html |date=October 26, 2020 }} at ''USA Today''
*[https://www.flickr.com/photos/walkingsf/3892153456/in/set-72157622139053795/ 1958 plans for the conversion of Junipero Serra Boulevard in San Francisco to freeway]
*[https://www.flickr.com/photos/walkingsf/4182324126/in/set-72157622139053795/ 1964 plans for the conversion of Park Presidio Boulevard in San Francisco to freeway]
*[http://www.sunset.com/travel/california/highway-1-00418000084236/ Ultimate California Highway 1 road trip] at ''Sunset Magazine''

{{1932 Summer Olympic venues}}
{{Olympic venues cycling}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:California State Route 1| ]]
[[Category:State highways in California|001]]
[[Category:All-American Roads]]
[[Category:Big Sur]]
[[Category:Freeways in California|001]]
[[Category:Monuments and memorials in California]]
[[Category:Olympic cycling venues]]
[[Category:Roads in Orange County, California|State Route 001]]
[[Category:Roads in Los Angeles County, California|State Route 001]]
[[Category:Roads in Ventura County, California|State Route 001]]
[[Category:Roads in Santa Barbara County, California|State Route 001]]
[[Category:Roads in San Luis Obispo County, California|State Route 001]]
[[Category:Roads in Monterey County, California|State Route 001]]
[[Category:Roads in Santa Cruz County, California|State Route 001]]
[[Category:Roads in San Mateo County, California|State Route 001]]
[[Category:Roads in San Francisco|State Route 001]]
[[Category:Roads in Marin County, California|State Route 001]]
[[Category:Roads in Sonoma County, California|State Route 001]]
[[Category:Roads in Mendocino County, California|State Route 001]]
[[Category:San Francisco Bay Area freeways|001]]
[[Category:Southern California freeways|001]]
[[Category:State Scenic Highway System (California)|001]]
[[Category:U.S. Route 101]]
[[Category:Venues of the 1932 Summer Olympics]]

Sacramento Valley

2025-10-26T15:42:40Z

2600:1700:6180:6290:99B3:3194:B6F1:9840:

{{Short description|Area of the Central Valley in California}}
{{For|the Arizona valley|Sacramento Valley (Arizona)}}
{{confused|Greater Sacramento}}
{{Infobox valley
| name = Sacramento Valley
| other_name =
| photo = Sacramento Riverfront.jpg
| photo_caption = Sacramento
| map_image = Map california central valley.jpg
| map_caption = The Central Valley of California
| location = California, United States
| coordinates = {{coord|39|N|121.5|W|type:landmark|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| boundaries = [[Sierra Nevada (U.S.)|Sierra Nevada]] (east), [[Cascade Range]], [[Klamath Mountains]] (north), [[California Coast Ranges|Coast Range]] (west), [[Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta]] (south)
| towns = [[Redding, California|Redding]], [[Chico, California|Chico]], [[Yuba City, California|Yuba City]], [[Sacramento, California|Sacramento]]
| watercourses = [[Sacramento River]]
}}
The '''Sacramento Valley''' is the area of the [[Central Valley (California)|Central Valley]] of the [[U.S. state]] of [[California]] that lies north of the [[Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta]] and is drained by the [[Sacramento River]]. It encompasses all or parts of ten [[Northern California]] counties. Although many areas of the Sacramento Valley are rural, it contains several urban areas, including the state capital, [[Sacramento, California|Sacramento]].

Comparatively water-rich relative to the other segment of the Central Valley to the south, the [[San Joaquin Valley]], there are slight differences in the crops typically grown in the Sacramento Valley. Much wetter winters (averaging between {{convert|25-60|in|mm}} of annual precipitation in the nearby foothills) and an extensive system of irrigation canals allows for the economic viability of water-thirsty crops such as [[rice]] and [[Juglans hindsii|rootstock walnuts]]. Since 2010, statewide [[droughts in California]] (combined with unprecedented summer heat) have strained both the Sacramento Valley's and the Sacramento metropolitan region's [[water security]].<ref name=sacbee>{{cite news |url=https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/water-and-drought/article260869722.html |title=Southern California gets drastic water cutbacks amid drought. What's next for Sacramento?|newspaper=Sacramento Bee|first=Michael|last=McGough|date=April 29, 2022|access-date=May 1, 2022}}</ref>

==Geography==
The [[Sacramento River]] and its [[tributary|tributaries]] are a significant part of the geography of the Sacramento Valley. Rising in the various mountain ranges (the various [[Northern Coast Ranges]] to the west, the southern [[Siskiyou Mountains]] to the north, and the northern [[Sierra Nevada (U.S.)|Sierra Nevada]] to the east) that define the shape of the [[valley]], they provide water for agricultural, industrial, residential, and recreation uses. Most of the rivers are heavily dammed and diverted. In more recent years, statewide [[droughts in California]] have further strained the Sacramento Valley's [[water security]].<ref name=sacbee/>

[[File:Lassens Butte.tiff|thumb|19th century etching depicting the Sutter Buttes in the Sacramento Valley]]The terrain of the Sacramento Valley is primarily flat [[grassland]]s that become lusher as one moves east from the [[rain shadow]] of the Coast Ranges toward the Sierra. Unlike the San Joaquin Valley, which in its pre-irrigation state was a vegetation-hostile desert, the somewhat less arid Sacramento Valley had significant tracts of forest prior to the arrival of settlers of European ancestry. Most of it was cut down during the [[California Gold Rush]] and the ensuing wave of American settlement, although there are still some heavily tree-populated areas, such as the greater Sacramento area.

Foothills become more common from just south of [[Corning, California|Corning]] to [[Shasta Lake, California|Shasta Lake City]]. These are known as the Valley Hills and begin south of the Tehama-Glenn County line near Corning. There are also a few hills in [[Red Bluff, California|Red Bluff]] and Corning. There is one major range of foothills between Cottonwood and Red Bluff known as the Cottonwood Hills (a.k.a. 9-mile Hill), and there is the Cottonwood Ridge between Anderson and Cottonwood. There are some hills in Redding, a few more than Red Bluff, and north of Redding it is mainly foothills.

One distinctive geographic feature of the Sacramento Valley is the [[Sutter Buttes]]. Nicknamed the smallest mountain range in the world, it consists of the remnants of an extinct [[volcano]] and is located just outside [[Yuba City, California|Yuba City]], {{convert|44| mi}} north of Sacramento.

==Agriculture==
[[File:Sacramento River basin map.png|thumbnail|The Sacramento River watershed, including the valley and adjacent highlands.]]
[[Citrus]] and [[Nut (fruit)|nut]] [[orchards]] and [[cattle ranch]]es are common to both halves of the Central Valley. The Sacramento Valley's agricultural industry also resembles that of the [[San Joaquin Valley]] to the south. Nuts, such as [[almond]]s and [[walnut]]s, are of greater importance north of the Delta, and [[rice]], nonviable in the drier San Joaquin Valley, is a major crop. While the region is wetter, soils are somewhat poorer in the Sacramento Valley; this means some crops, particularly vegetables, are less profitable compared to the San Joaquin Valley. The Sacramento Valley is also not as extensively cultivated; there are many more [[smallholding]]s and more uncultivated arable land compared to south of the Delta.

The town of [[Corning, California|Corning]] produces olives for oil extraction and for consumption as fruit. The [[Sunsweet Growers|Sunsweet Growers Incorporated]] headquarters are in [[Yuba City]]. The valley controls more than two-thirds of the worldwide [[prune]] market through the over 400 growers in California.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sunsweet Growers Inc.|url=http://www.careersinfood.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/ShowResourcesLinkDetails/ResourceLinkID/6699/Sunsweet_Growers_Inc.htm|work=Careers in food|access-date=2011-11-13|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930131340/http://www.careersinfood.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/ShowResourcesLinkDetails/ResourceLinkID/6699/Sunsweet_Growers_Inc.htm|archive-date=2011-09-30}}</ref>

==Climate==
Weather patterns in the Sacramento Valley are very similar to those in the [[San Joaquin Valley]] to the south, although the humidity and precipitation tend to be a bit higher. Summers are the dry season, with average daytime temperatures in the low to high 90s °F (low to mid 30s °C) but triple digits (38 °C and above) are a common occurrence, especially in [[Chico, California|Chico]], [[Redding, California|Redding]], [[Red Bluff, California|Red Bluff]], and [[Sacramento, California|Sacramento]]. Redding in particular has been notorious for having extremely hot summers despite its northern latitude within the United States,<ref name="j472">{{cite book | last1=Rocca | first1=A.M. | last2=Society | first2=S.H. | title=Redding | publisher=Arcadia | series=Images of America | year=2004 | isbn=978-0-7385-2934-9 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a3UCq48qw-kC&pg=PA36 | access-date=2024-07-21 | page=36}}</ref> with temperatures often matching and even exceeding that of [[Phoenix, Arizona]] in its hottest years; the city's annual high temperature averages at {{convert|112|F|C}}.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Climate | url=https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=sto | access-date=2025-02-01 | website=www.weather.gov}}</ref>

In the summer, the "Delta Breeze", which comes in from the [[San Francisco Bay Area]], is known for bringing cooler temperatures and higher humidity to the southern parts of the valley. While it brings comparative relief for residents of Sacramento and Roseville, it often results in somewhat muggy conditions, with dew points sometimes reaching above {{convert|70|F|C|-1}} and occasionally pushing the [[heat index]] above {{convert|115|F|C}} on the hottest days. At times the Breeze is gusty with wind speeds up to {{cvt|30|mph|-1}} in the valley and {{cvt|45|mph|-1}} in the windy [[Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta|delta region]]. This Breeze can also bring morning low clouds at times into the region, but the clouds generally burn off quickly and temperatures stay cool. Summer-like conditions continue into early to mid-September but weather starts to change to cooler, wetter, foggier weather during October which gives trees vibrant autumn foliage.

Winters, also known as the rainy season, are generally mild to cool, foggy and wet. The valley and lower foothills are completely snowless outside of exceptional years where some flurries may occur. The rainy season runs from November to early-April, with some rainfall in September, October, and May. Up north, the temperature averages in the mid-40s °F (mid-to-high single digits °C) and lows reaching to the low-10s °F (-10 to -12 °C), colder in the northern part of the valley and colder still in the foothills and frost can occur almost anywhere. Farther south near Sacramento, temperatures tend to stay between the low-50s and high-60s °F (10-20 °C), with nighttime temperatures dropping to the mid-30s and 40s °F (1-7 °C). Lower-elevation snowfall (in a relative sense) is more consistent in the foothills immediately above Sacramento and Folsom than anywhere else in California; [[Pollock Pines, California|Pollock Pines]] at {{convert|3980|ft|m}}, gets an average of {{convert|65|in|cm}} of snow every winter, nearly double that of [[Yosemite Valley]] and more than triple that of [[Lucerne]], Switzerland.

During the rainy season, the Sacramento Valley is prone to strong thunderstorms and [[tornado]]es, mostly of EF0 or EF1 intensity, especially in [[Colusa County, California|Colusa County]] and areas around Corning and Orland. Flooding does occur at times during wetter periods, usually November to March. Snow in the valley is rare, although [[Redding, California|Redding]] and [[Red Bluff, California|Red Bluff]], being at the north end of the valley, often experience a light dusting or two per year. [[Chico, California|Chico]] may get a rain-snow mix every few years, but, on the average, only snows about every 5 years. Farther south in Sacramento, snow rarely occurs. During the autumn and winter months, the entire Central Valley is susceptible to dense [[tule fog]] that makes driving hazardous, especially at night and especially south of Corning. The fog can last for weeks depending on how weak the wind is. In more recent years, statewide [[droughts in California]] have further strained both the Sacramento Valley's and the San Joaquin Valley's [[water security]].<ref name=sacbee/>

{{Sacramento, California weatherbox}}
{{Weather box|width=auto
|collapsed = yes
|location = Chico, California (1981–2010 normals)
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 77
|Feb record high F = 82
|Mar record high F = 93
|Apr record high F = 98
|May record high F = 108
|Jun record high F = 115
|Jul record high F = 117
|Aug record high F = 116
|Sep record high F = 114
|Oct record high F = 107
|Nov record high F = 91
|Dec record high F = 78
|year record high F = 117
|Jan high F = 55.1
|Feb high F = 61.1
|Mar high F = 66.3
|Apr high F = 72.6
|May high F = 81.3
|Jun high F = 88.7
|Jul high F = 94.2
|Aug high F = 93.7
|Sep high F = 89.7
|Oct high F = 79.4
|Nov high F = 64.8
|Dec high F = 55.6
|year high F = 75.3
|Jan low F = 35.4
|Feb low F = 38.3
|Mar low F = 41.5
|Apr low F = 45.2
|May low F = 51.9
|Jun low F = 56.7
|Jul low F = 60.5
|Aug low F = 58.3
|Sep low F = 54.6
|Oct low F = 46.9
|Nov low F = 39.9
|Dec low F = 35.3
|year low F = 47.1
|Jan record low F = 12
|Feb record low F = 16
|Mar record low F = 23
|Apr record low F = 27
|May record low F = 30
|Jun record low F = 38
|Jul record low F = 40
|Aug record low F = 38
|Sep record low F = 35
|Oct record low F = 23
|Nov record low F = 20
|Dec record low F = 11
|year record low F = 11
|Jan precipitation inch = 4.86
|Feb precipitation inch = 4.42
|Mar precipitation inch = 4.29
|Apr precipitation inch = 1.75
|May precipitation inch = 1.04
|Jun precipitation inch = .48
|Jul precipitation inch = .02
|Aug precipitation inch = .08
|Sep precipitation inch = .42
|Oct precipitation inch = 1.42
|Nov precipitation inch = 3.28
|Dec precipitation inch = 4.61
|precipitation colour = green
|year precipitation inch = 26.67
|source 1 = Western Regional Climate Center <ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?ca1715
|title = CHICO EXPERIMENT STN, CALIFORNIA
|publisher = [[Western Regional Climate Center]]
|access-date = October 24, 2012
}}</ref>
|date = October 2012
}}

{{Weather box|width=auto
|collapsed = yes
|location = Redding, California (1961–1990)
|single line = Y
|Jan high F = 57.3
|Feb high F = 61.3
|Mar high F = 62.5
|Apr high F = 69.9
|May high F = 80.5
|Jun high F = 90.4
|Jul high F = 98.3
|Aug high F = 95.7
|Sep high F = 89.3
|Oct high F = 77.6
|Nov high F = 62.1
|Dec high F = 54.7
|year high F = 74.8

|Jan mean F = 45.5
|Feb mean F = 50.7
|Mar mean F = 52.5
|Apr mean F = 58
|May mean F = 66.4
|Jun mean F = 76.1
|Jul mean F = 81.5
|Aug mean F = 79.5
|Sep mean F = 74.1
|Oct mean F = 63.5
|Nov mean F = 51.8
|Dec mean F = 45
|year mean F = 62

|Jan low F = 35.7
|Feb low F = 40
|Mar low F = 41.7
|Apr low F = 46
|May low F = 52.3
|Jun low F = 61.8
|Jul low F = 64.7
|Aug low F = 63.1
|Sep low F = 58.8
|Oct low F = 49.2
|Nov low F = 41.4
|Dec low F = 35.2
|year low F = 49.2

|precipitation colour=green
|Jan precipitation inch = 6.06
|Feb precipitation inch = 4.45
|Mar precipitation inch = 4.38
|Apr precipitation inch = 2.08
|May precipitation inch = 1.27
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.56
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.17
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.46
|Sep precipitation inch = 0.91
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.24
|Nov precipitation inch = 5.21
|Dec precipitation inch = 5.51
|year precipitation inch = 33.3


|Jan precipitation days = 13.1
|Feb precipitation days = 8.7
|Mar precipitation days = 12.3
|Apr precipitation days = 7.9
|May precipitation days = 7.2
|Jun precipitation days = 4.0
|Jul precipitation days = 0.6
|Aug precipitation days = 0.9
|Sep precipitation days = 2.1
|Oct precipitation days = 4.1
|Nov precipitation days = 6.8
|Dec precipitation days = 10.2
|year precipitation days = 77.9


|Jan sun = 226
|Feb sun = 256
|Mar sun = 312
|Apr sun = 351
|May sun = 395
|Jun sun = 423
|Jul sun = 451
|Aug sun = 421
|Sep sun = 338
|Oct sun = 314
|Nov sun = 251
|Dec sun = 204
|year sun = 3942
|source 1 = <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/clilcd.pl?ca24257 |title=Average Weather for Redding, CA - Temperature and Precipitation |access-date=31 December 2009}}</ref>
}}

==Transportation==
{{See also|Transportation in the Sacramento metropolitan area}}
[[Interstate 5 (California)|Interstate 5]] is the primary route through the Sacramento Valley, traveling north–south roughly along the valley's western edge. [[Interstate 80 (California)|Interstate 80]] cuts a northeast-to-southwest swath through the southern end of the valley, mostly through [[Sacramento County|Sacramento]] and Yolo Counties, and ends at the [[San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge]]. Several secondary routes connect the two roads, including [[Interstate 505 (California)|Interstate 505]] and [[California State Route 113|State Route 113]]. The Sacramento area has a web of urban freeways.

Other principal routes in the region include [[California State Route 99|State Route 99]], which runs along the valley's eastern edge, roughly parallel to I-5, from Sacramento until its northern terminus in [[Red Bluff, California|Red Bluff]]; [[California State Route 20|State Route 20]], which traverses the valley from west to east on its route from [[California State Route 1|State Route 1]] in [[Mendocino County, California|Mendocino County]] to the [[Donner Pass]]; [[California State Route 49|State Route 49]], named in honor of the [[California Gold Rush]] and running through many old mining towns in the foothills of the valley; and [[California State Route 45|State Route 45]], which runs along the course of the Sacramento River roughly {{convert|10|mi|km|spell=in}} east of I-5.

The [[Union Pacific Railroad]] serves the valley, with its principal north–south line from [[Oakland, California|Oakland]], California to [[Portland, Oregon]], via [[Sacramento, California|Sacramento]], [[Marysville, California|Marysville]], [[Chico, California|Chico]], and Redding. This is also the route of [[Amtrak]]'s ''[[Coast Starlight]]'' passenger train. The Union Pacific also has two east–west lines, through [[Donner Pass]] (the former [[Central Pacific Railroad]]), and through the [[Feather River]] gorge (the former [[Western Pacific Railroad]]). Amtrak's ''[[California Zephyr]]'' uses the Donner Pass route. The [[BNSF Railway]] has a line from [[Klamath Falls, Oregon]], to a junction with the Union Pacific Feather River line at [[Keddie, California|Keddie]]. The BNSF has [[trackage rights]] on both the UP east–west routes. In addition, the [[California Northern Railroad]] operates the former [[Southern Pacific Railroad]] line on the west side of the valley from [[Davis, California|Davis]] to [[Tehama, California|Tehama]] (near Red Bluff).

==Educational institutions==
[[File:Kendall Hall as seen from Laxson Auditorium-01006.jpg|thumb|right|[[California State University, Chico]] was founded in 1887.]]
[[File:Aerial view of UC Davis (cropped2).jpg|thumb|right|[[University of California, Davis]].]]
*[[University of California, Davis]]
*[[California State University, Chico]]
*[[California State University, Sacramento]]
*[[Simpson University]], in [[Redding, California|Redding]]
*[[William Jessup University]], in [[Rocklin, California|Rocklin]]
*[[McGeorge School of Law]] in [[Sacramento]]
*[[American River College]], in [[Sacramento]]
*[[Butte College]], in [[Oroville, California|Oroville]]
*[[Cosumnes River College]], in [[Sacramento]]
*[[Folsom Lake College]], in [[Folsom, California|Folsom]]
*[[Sacramento City College]], in [[Sacramento]]
*[[Shasta College]], in [[Redding, California|Redding]]
*[[Sierra College]], in [[Rocklin, California|Rocklin]]
*[[Solano Community College]], Vacaville Center, in [[Vacaville, California|Vacaville]]
*[[Woodland Community College]], in [[Woodland, California|Woodland]]
*[[Yuba Community College]], in [[Marysville, California|Marysville]]

==Professional sports teams==

===National Basketball Association (NBA)===
*[[Sacramento Kings]]

===Major League Baseball (MLB)===
*[[Athletics (baseball)|Athletics]]<ref>West Sacramento is the temporary home of the Athletics from 2025-2027</ref>

===Pacific Coast League (minor league baseball)===
*[[Sacramento River Cats]]

===Independent Women's Football League===
*[[Sacramento Sirens]]

===Women's Premier Soccer League===
*[[California Storm]]
*[[Sacramento Pride]]

===United Soccer League (USL)===
*[[Sacramento Republic]]

==Cities==

===Cities with over 500,000 inhabitants===
*[[Sacramento, California|Sacramento]]

===Cities with 100,000 to 400,000 inhabitants===
*[[Chico, California|Chico]]
*[[Elk Grove, California|Elk Grove]]
*[[Roseville, California|Roseville]]
*[[Vacaville, California|Vacaville]]

===Cities with 50,000 to 100,000 inhabitants===
*[[Citrus Heights, California|Citrus Heights]]
*[[Davis, California|Davis]]
*[[Folsom, California|Folsom]]
*[[Rancho Cordova, California|Rancho Cordova]]
*[[Redding, California|Redding]]
*[[Rocklin, California|Rocklin]]
*[[West Sacramento, California|West Sacramento]]
*[[Woodland, California|Woodland]]
*[[Yuba City, California|Yuba City]]

===Cities with 10,000 to 50,000 inhabitants===
*[[Anderson, California|Anderson]]
*[[Dixon, California|Dixon]]
*[[Galt, California|Galt]]
*[[Lincoln, California|Lincoln]]
*[[Marysville, California|Marysville]]
*[[Oroville, California|Oroville]]
*[[Red Bluff, California|Red Bluff]]
*[[Shasta Lake, California|Shasta Lake]]

===Cities with under 10,000 inhabitants===
*[[Biggs, California|Biggs]]
*[[Colusa, California|Colusa]]
*[[Corning, California|Corning]]
*[[Gridley, California|Gridley]]
*[[Isleton, California|Isleton]]
*[[Live Oak, Sutter County, California|Live Oak]]
*[[Loomis, California|Loomis]]
*[[Orland, California|Orland]]
*[[Paradise, California|Paradise]]
*[[Rio Vista, California|Rio Vista]]
*[[Sutter, California|Sutter]]
*[[Tehama, California|Tehama]]
*[[Wheatland, California|Wheatland]]
*[[Williams, California|Williams]]
*[[Willows, California|Willows]]
*[[Winters, California|Winters]]

==See also==
{{Portal|California}}
* [[Sacramento Valley Museum]]
* [[Sacramento Valley Railroad (1852–77)]]
* [[Sacramento Valley and Eastern Railway]] (1908–1930s)
* [[Leonard M. Landsborough]] (ca. 1858–1927) — ''Sacramento Valley landowner and legislator for the area''.
* John Buttencourt Avila — ''father of the sweet potato industry.''
* [[Sacramento Valley National Cemetery]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{sister bar|auto=1}}
{{Sacramento Valley}}
{{Central Valley Rivers}}
{{Greater Sacramento}}
{{California}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Sacramento Valley| ]]
[[Category:Regions of California]]
[[Category:Valleys of Butte County, California]]
[[Category:Valleys of California]]
[[Category:Valleys of Colusa County, California]]
[[Category:Valleys of Glenn County, California]]
[[Category:Valleys of Placer County, California]]
[[Category:Valleys of Sacramento County, California]]
[[Category:Valleys of Shasta County, California]]
[[Category:Valleys of Sutter County, California]]
[[Category:Valleys of Tehama County, California]]
[[Category:Valleys of Yolo County, California]]
[[Category:Valleys of Yuba County, California]]
[[Category:Geography of the Central Valley (California)|*]]