Aside from forest fires, Hollywood, and being the home of the Kardashians, California is also know for having the most US national parts than any other state, being the third largest state in the country, and having a higher population than the entirety of Canada! Of course, as Interstate Signways, we like to focus on the highways—and California has tons of them. In fact, they have some of the oldest, some of the most congested, and some of the most beautiful highways in the country. Let’s get into the good, the bad, and the beautiful!
The Good
All the way from San Diego to Sonoma lays 600 miles of historical highway: El Camino Real. It was the first highway in California, made in 1769 by Spanish missionaries, connecting 21 Franciscan missions. It was later used by the Butterfield Stagecoach Company, connecting San Francisco to Texas. When the railroad came through in 1850, trains proved to be a faster mode of travel. To keep it from being forgotten, the highway was marked by iron mission bells in 1890. Once cars became the most popular mode of transportation, Highway 101 was made in 1960, making El Camino Real obsolete. Now it’s mostly lined with neighborhoods and retail shops. However, the goal is tranform it into a grand boulevard to keep it aesthetically pleasing and pedestrian friendly. The boulevard will also be widened to accommodate buses and bicycles.
The Bad
There’s an old SNL sketch called “The Californians” where the scene is modeled after soap operas, but the drama is people arguing about which interstates and highways to take in Los Angeles. The most famous of these is Interstate 405. Technically a bypass, it isn’t faster than taking any other highway. In fact, it’s the most congested in the country. It was originally completed between 1956 and 1968 and played a crucial role in developing dozens of cities in LA and Orange county. Now, it can be packed no matter the time of day, whether it’s 10am or 10pm. Heavily traveled by freight haulers and commuters, it also serves as the route to three different airports: LA Airport, John Wayne Airport, and Long Beach Airport. In 2008, the daily traffic count reached 374,000: the highest in the nation.
The Beautiful
The previously mentioned are famous for their history and congestion—but California is also home to one of the most famous road trip routes in the country, The Pacific Coast Highway, also called Highway 1. This 656 mile long highway travels nearly along the entire west coast, but the most noteable is the 139 mile stretch between Monterray to Morro Bay. From stunning natural wonders like Ragged Point and the Big Sur Coastline, one of the must see spots is the Southern end of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. This preserve is free to access and was made after years of conservationsts’ hard work. It covers nearly a quarter of the coastline and features sights like kelp forests, underwater cliffs, and wildlife. There’s also the historical Piedras Blancas Lighthouse, built in 1875, as well a number of historical walking tours along the highway. If history isn’t your thing, there are also a number of wineries, eateries, places for whale watching, and discovery tours for the whole family!
In order to keep this a quick read, we can’t get too into just how much California has to offer, or the entirety of the rich long history of their highways, but hopefully this is enough to spark your interest (or deter you from the infamous I-405). Whether you’re stuck in traffic in LA, wanting to travel down a 200-year-old highway, or are enjoying the beauty and natural wildlife of the Pacific Coast Highway, remember that Interstate Signways has marked the way with every sign!
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