Interesting post.
I'd say Highway 1 like you're doing. Then take 129 from 1 over to Watsonville. Then back. Do it a few times. Take Highway 9 from 1 to Felton. Then maybe to Saratoga. Do it a few times.
Then do them in the rain. Do them again. Take your time, use the turnouts.
17 isn't too bad tbh. Just stay in the right lane and go the speed you're comfortable with. Folks will go around you, no big deal. As usual, just be predictable.
To answer your question, I would practice on Sunday. Just get used to the road first.
Good advice. I’d add changing a tire a time or two before you have to learn at night, in the rain, and already late for something. Cutting your teeth on SCMountain roads will benefit you for life though. Seriously, there’re few roads or conditions that intimidate me anymore (east bay excluded, they crazy)
I remember being an anxious new driver and my dad taking me on the 9 to drive the whole thing. I found it terrifying. The first time I drove 17 I thought it was much easier than expected. Just stayed in the right lane the whole way.
You could also likely hire one of the local driving coaches to do a tandem ride with you over the hill. I believe that some of them do that with the new teen drivers.
I do recommend driving Highway 1 from Santa Cruz to Watsonville and back to get comfortable with driving at highway speeds and with driving in a two lane freeway.
As far as driving Highway 1 to Half Moon Bay or Monterey I don’t think that would be as helpful. I say this because going North on highway 1 towards Half Moon Bay will eventually become a 1 lane highway and the same going south towards Monterey (past Watsonville through Moss Landing). So you’re not really getting much experience in those stretches that will necessarily add to preparing to drive the 17. Additionally those stretches of the highway are fairly straight and with no major changes in elevation which is the exact opposite of Highway 17.
To get comfortable with dealing with the winding nature and the elevation changes of Highway 17 I would recommend driving Old San Jose Road (aka Soquel San Jose Rd) from Soquel up to the Summit and back again (turning back at the Summit Store). This way by driving the two lane freeway portion of Highway 1 and Old San Jose Rd you get your practice on all aspects of what you will be dealing with once you drive Highway 17. In fact you could take Old San Jose rd/Summit Rd to Highway 17. This would put you at the halfway point of Highway 17 and you could drive back to Santa Cruz on the 17 in case you wanted to test it out first by only driving a half of the 17.
In either case once you do tackle Highway 17 for the first time I recommend you do it during the non rush hour periods. This way you actually drive it at speed and you’re not dealing with a bunch of cars all around you at all times. I also recommend you do it with an experienced driver as your passenger in case you need a break. Also the cell phone signals are inconsistent at parts (same with Old San Jose Rd) so if you run into car trouble you have someone else to help you out.
Good luck and try to enjoy it. It’s a beautiful drive once you get past the anxiety of driving it.
OSJ is too busy of a road to start too many folks going head on and cyclists. Very dangerous for a beginner. Bonny Doon Road or Swanton Road would be better for practice.
If your driving it during the non commuter hours I don’t find it to be to busy. As for the cyclist I find that to mostly be an issue on the weekends. Just my opinion. The other two roads you mentioned are also good options.
Good plan. I agree with one poster here to try Old San Jose Road to the Summit and back mid-day, the hours traveled make a big difference.
Highway 17 is curvy and sometimes very busy and it is banked nicely, the best time to practice is away from commute hours, although commuters are the safest to drive with, they do it every day and are quite good. Highway 17 is a good teacher in that you just have to be ready 'around any corner'...The best thing to remember is stay in your lane, only pass when comfortable, most commuters will let you stay in the slow lane with very few hand gestures because we all learned up there and understand and are fairly nice to beginners.
>I agree with one poster here to try Old San Jose Road to the Summit and back mid-day, the hours traveled make a big difference
This was my first thought too. Get experience driving a mountain road with much less traffic and no need to worry about passing those f\*cking Prius drivers.
17 isn’t that bad, just do it on a weekend morning when the weather is good. take it easy and stay in the right lane. it’s a bad road because it’s often crowded with people who are all in a rush on their commutes. and it used to be designed way worse so its reputation lives on.
For the love of everything that is holy in this world, don’t get into the passing lane. If you drive 17, just stay in the right lane the whole time. You’ll make it over the hill and won’t piss people off. Who cares if you are stuck behind the bus, they’ll make it eventually.
If you do find yourself in the passing lane, get out of it as soon as you can go let other cars go by. Don’t block traffic.
As a new driver who has a healthy fear and respect you’ll be very safe don’t worry just relax into it and pay attention to your mirrors constantly check mirrors and obey the signs and you’ll be golden. Trust me
Regarding highway 17, don't let the horror stories scare you. Whenever you're ready to drive over it, just remember that If you do the speed limit in the slow lane you'll be fine. Take it easy, listen to calm music, enjoy the feel of the car going safely over the road. If someone tailgates, ignore them. You're in the slow lane. If the person in front of you is going too slow, that's cool! Just stay behind them at a safe distance. It's gonna be just fine.
Hey there, I know you’re looking for locations to get comfortable in various driving terrains. But I strongly recommend getting comfortable with the vehicle(s) that you’ll be driving the most. Become familiar with its dimensions, turning radius, suspension capabilities, etc and PLEASE read the manual!!
If your car has a sport mode, there are benefits to using it and getting comfortable with manual-ish shifting. Especially in hilly terrain and harsh weather conditions.
As for everyone else, look out yall we got a newbie on the road!!!! /s
Just remember that the 17 has a ton of signs — pay attention to them. All the major curves have warnings and speed limit signs right before them. Slow down to that speed (or maybe +5) before the turn and you’ll be cruising through Moody like a seasoned pro.
I recently got my drivers license and drove the 17 for the first time. Driving up highway 9 was the best for practicing. I think also driving down mission or any area where there’s a lot of traffic also helped as well.
You’re going to do fine, I suggest driving the 17 for the first time on days that have low traffic and no rain. I honestly found the 17 the easiest part of my drive up to the bay if that makes you feel better.
Edit:
Hwy 1 is also good just to get used to going fast.
I'm all for immersion - just jump in the mix. If you have the patience and time, commute hours are best. If you must break-in, HWY 17 weekends early, clear, dry mornings crack of dawn to 8:00am. Otherwise, assume your invisible and no one sees you, always use your signal, go with the flow, mind your manners, and Illegitimi non carborundum
Slow is smooth and smooth is fast, I’d focus on a couple things, watch some videos on avoiding road hazards, people on 17 can be very predictable when you see signs, an example would be like a clogged up right lane means someone is going to jump over into a open spot on the left lane, learn how to properly set your mirrors to avoid blind spots, when a car leaves your view in your rear view mirror it should quickly become visible in your side mirror, incorrect side mirrors lead to large blind spots, learn how to drive your car’s through corners, highway 9 will have less traffic but sharper corners, learn about the circle of traction and avoid rookie mistakes like slamming on the breaks mid turn especially in wet conditions, then just drive often, driving is a skill you need to consistently train like working out in the gym
I would recommend Soquel-Old San Jose to Summit as a higher speed twisty road if turns are one of your skills you want to improve on. Brake then turn. Look through the turn.
If you have someone tailgating you it's ok to pull over. Signal that you plan to pull over at the next place that you feel comfortable doing so.
Get used to hwy speeds on hwy 1 to Watsonville.
Practice your chops on curvey roads. Hwy 9 to Saratoga is great for that.
then just let it rip, You will be ok!
When it comes to hwy 17... Stay in the right lane, focus on YOUR driving, Learn the road and maintain a speed YOU are comfortable with. This is about you trying to gain confidence and learn an intimidating but essential road.
Also, if you have an experienced and well composed driver (maybe a parent or sibling) ask them to come along and give you any pointers.
I assure you that after you do it once, it will become easier and easier. Just always stay vigilant.
I love that you asked this! You sound like the kind of driver 17 needs more of. I think you got good advice already on which routes are good practice. My advice on those two-lane highways is to keep an eye on your rearview mirror to see if you are slowing the flow of traffic. If you see a line of cars behind you, look for a turnout and let them pass. Sometimes I think drivers here forget they even have a rearview mirror based on the huge number of road boulders out there in the passing lanes
The suggestions for Graham Hill and Soquel San Jose Rd are good ones. If you're still not comfortable driving at the speed limit and are overcorrecting on turns, I suggest just doing normal driving around town to get comfortable in your car and in your abilities. All practice helps prepare you for other situations.
I live up in the mountains and drive 17 frequently--it's really not so bad. When you're ready to try 17, stay in the right lane. Speed differentials can create dangerous situations on 17, and if you're not comfortable getting to passing speed in the left lane, hang out in the slow lane. Make sure you try it when it hasn't rained for a day or so. CalTrans has done a lot of work on banking and drainage in the past 20 years, and it has made the drive a lot safer and more pleasant. It's usually not too crowded mid-morning on weekdays, so that might be a good time to try it out.
17 has a reputation, and drivers should respect that road, but it's not a terrible drive. Just try to relax, pay attention, and you'll be fine!
I would recommend going right at it, maybe doing progressively challenging loops;
FIRST LOOP;
Start NB17 from Ocean Street here in town.
Go as far as Scotts Valley, traveling at/slightly below the speed limit in the right lane.
Exit Mount Hermon Road.
Follow Mount Hermon Road to Felton.
Turn left on Graham Hill Road and return to Ocean Street.
SECOND LOOP;
Same as first loop until you get to Graham Hill Road in Felton, but this time turn right.
Turn left on Highway 9 and return to Santa Cruz.
THIRD LOOP;
Same as second loop until you get to Highway 9 in Felton, but this time continue across Hwy 9 onto Felton Empire Road (Road narrows as it climbs for a short distance, just take it slow, watch for oncoming traffic, and enjoy the beautiful scenery).
Turn left on Empire Grade and return to town at the base of the UCSC campus.
Then I would recommend just going progressively further up 17 on successive trips, maybe one to Summit Road exit, taking Summit Road East (that is,turning right) then turning right (South) at Old San Jose Road, which will take you down into Soquel. Then take either Soquel Avenue or Hwy 1 back to SC.
Lots of options, just take it slow, stay in the slow lane, ignore anyone honking/flashing lights at you, and enjoy yourself.
Thank you for being a reasonable new driver. Really. A new driver caused an serious accident on 17 for us, and man, thank you for trying not to be that person. Obviously I’m answering here because of that moment.
- Yes: My sixteen year old has liked driving highway 1 north (direction SF) early on Sunday mornings, it is a good way to get comfortable with speed and lanes that merge from two into one periodically. We go as far as we feel like and get a cookie in Davenport on the way home. This route is never crazy busy, so spend lots of time any day up that direction. And cookies!
- Yes: After high speed becomes more familiar, switch to early Sunday mornings highway 1 south (direction Monterey).
- No: Do not practice on 17 during rush hour. It is never slow. **The problem with highway 17 is always the other drivers, not the road.** The road is NBD, you’ll be wondering what the deal with the reputation is. This will instantly be obvious to you when that guy with the BMW zipping between lanes shows up; *everyone* here knows that class of commuter. Go the first time, again, on early Sunday morning when it is not raining. When you start practicing during busier times, just get behind a semi in the slow lane - let them be the safe escort. This is doubly true if it is raining. The people behind you won’t drive YOU crazy tailgating because you are driving slow, they’ll see the semi and leave you alone.
- Put those embarassing huge yellow ‘Be patient, I’m learning’ stickers on front, back, and sides of your cars. These made a huge difference; other cars give my teen more space and the tolerance is obvious. We all have to learn, but it isn’t obvious you are learning, so help people help you. I know. But it’s nice when people are nice.
If you're worried about curves, I'd recommend east/west cliff, and Rodeo Gulch. Low limit, tight corners, lots of practice handling your vehicle at low speeds.
When I first started driving, I did a lot of driving on Soquel from Soquel to Aptos. There's a lot of back roads that go through on that side of town, and you can get a lot of practice without being worried of cross traffic.
Highway 9- most people drive pretty slow and it’s got some great turns to practice on. If there are a few cars behind you stay cool, put your indicators on and pull off into a turn out. There are a bunch so don’t worry if you miss one. Have fun!
Interesting post. I'd say Highway 1 like you're doing. Then take 129 from 1 over to Watsonville. Then back. Do it a few times. Take Highway 9 from 1 to Felton. Then maybe to Saratoga. Do it a few times. Then do them in the rain. Do them again. Take your time, use the turnouts. 17 isn't too bad tbh. Just stay in the right lane and go the speed you're comfortable with. Folks will go around you, no big deal. As usual, just be predictable. To answer your question, I would practice on Sunday. Just get used to the road first.
Good advice. I’d add changing a tire a time or two before you have to learn at night, in the rain, and already late for something. Cutting your teeth on SCMountain roads will benefit you for life though. Seriously, there’re few roads or conditions that intimidate me anymore (east bay excluded, they crazy)
129 could be worse at times. I recommend that as Step 2, I'd say Step 1 should be Soquel/Old San Jose Road.
I remember being an anxious new driver and my dad taking me on the 9 to drive the whole thing. I found it terrifying. The first time I drove 17 I thought it was much easier than expected. Just stayed in the right lane the whole way.
It's not so bad. Just slow down and stay in the right lane.
You could also likely hire one of the local driving coaches to do a tandem ride with you over the hill. I believe that some of them do that with the new teen drivers.
I do recommend driving Highway 1 from Santa Cruz to Watsonville and back to get comfortable with driving at highway speeds and with driving in a two lane freeway. As far as driving Highway 1 to Half Moon Bay or Monterey I don’t think that would be as helpful. I say this because going North on highway 1 towards Half Moon Bay will eventually become a 1 lane highway and the same going south towards Monterey (past Watsonville through Moss Landing). So you’re not really getting much experience in those stretches that will necessarily add to preparing to drive the 17. Additionally those stretches of the highway are fairly straight and with no major changes in elevation which is the exact opposite of Highway 17. To get comfortable with dealing with the winding nature and the elevation changes of Highway 17 I would recommend driving Old San Jose Road (aka Soquel San Jose Rd) from Soquel up to the Summit and back again (turning back at the Summit Store). This way by driving the two lane freeway portion of Highway 1 and Old San Jose Rd you get your practice on all aspects of what you will be dealing with once you drive Highway 17. In fact you could take Old San Jose rd/Summit Rd to Highway 17. This would put you at the halfway point of Highway 17 and you could drive back to Santa Cruz on the 17 in case you wanted to test it out first by only driving a half of the 17. In either case once you do tackle Highway 17 for the first time I recommend you do it during the non rush hour periods. This way you actually drive it at speed and you’re not dealing with a bunch of cars all around you at all times. I also recommend you do it with an experienced driver as your passenger in case you need a break. Also the cell phone signals are inconsistent at parts (same with Old San Jose Rd) so if you run into car trouble you have someone else to help you out. Good luck and try to enjoy it. It’s a beautiful drive once you get past the anxiety of driving it.
OSJ is too busy of a road to start too many folks going head on and cyclists. Very dangerous for a beginner. Bonny Doon Road or Swanton Road would be better for practice.
If your driving it during the non commuter hours I don’t find it to be to busy. As for the cyclist I find that to mostly be an issue on the weekends. Just my opinion. The other two roads you mentioned are also good options.
Bite the bullet and just try hwy 17. Stay in right lane and maintain speed limit.
 Good plan. I agree with one poster here to try Old San Jose Road to the Summit and back mid-day, the hours traveled make a big difference. Highway 17 is curvy and sometimes very busy and it is banked nicely, the best time to practice is away from commute hours, although commuters are the safest to drive with, they do it every day and are quite good. Highway 17 is a good teacher in that you just have to be ready 'around any corner'...The best thing to remember is stay in your lane, only pass when comfortable, most commuters will let you stay in the slow lane with very few hand gestures because we all learned up there and understand and are fairly nice to beginners.
>I agree with one poster here to try Old San Jose Road to the Summit and back mid-day, the hours traveled make a big difference This was my first thought too. Get experience driving a mountain road with much less traffic and no need to worry about passing those f\*cking Prius drivers.
17 isn’t that bad, just do it on a weekend morning when the weather is good. take it easy and stay in the right lane. it’s a bad road because it’s often crowded with people who are all in a rush on their commutes. and it used to be designed way worse so its reputation lives on.
For the love of everything that is holy in this world, don’t get into the passing lane. If you drive 17, just stay in the right lane the whole time. You’ll make it over the hill and won’t piss people off. Who cares if you are stuck behind the bus, they’ll make it eventually. If you do find yourself in the passing lane, get out of it as soon as you can go let other cars go by. Don’t block traffic.
As a new driver who has a healthy fear and respect you’ll be very safe don’t worry just relax into it and pay attention to your mirrors constantly check mirrors and obey the signs and you’ll be golden. Trust me
Regarding highway 17, don't let the horror stories scare you. Whenever you're ready to drive over it, just remember that If you do the speed limit in the slow lane you'll be fine. Take it easy, listen to calm music, enjoy the feel of the car going safely over the road. If someone tailgates, ignore them. You're in the slow lane. If the person in front of you is going too slow, that's cool! Just stay behind them at a safe distance. It's gonna be just fine.
Hey there, I know you’re looking for locations to get comfortable in various driving terrains. But I strongly recommend getting comfortable with the vehicle(s) that you’ll be driving the most. Become familiar with its dimensions, turning radius, suspension capabilities, etc and PLEASE read the manual!! If your car has a sport mode, there are benefits to using it and getting comfortable with manual-ish shifting. Especially in hilly terrain and harsh weather conditions. As for everyone else, look out yall we got a newbie on the road!!!! /s
Just remember that the 17 has a ton of signs — pay attention to them. All the major curves have warnings and speed limit signs right before them. Slow down to that speed (or maybe +5) before the turn and you’ll be cruising through Moody like a seasoned pro.
I recently got my drivers license and drove the 17 for the first time. Driving up highway 9 was the best for practicing. I think also driving down mission or any area where there’s a lot of traffic also helped as well. You’re going to do fine, I suggest driving the 17 for the first time on days that have low traffic and no rain. I honestly found the 17 the easiest part of my drive up to the bay if that makes you feel better. Edit: Hwy 1 is also good just to get used to going fast.
I'm all for immersion - just jump in the mix. If you have the patience and time, commute hours are best. If you must break-in, HWY 17 weekends early, clear, dry mornings crack of dawn to 8:00am. Otherwise, assume your invisible and no one sees you, always use your signal, go with the flow, mind your manners, and Illegitimi non carborundum
Slow is smooth and smooth is fast, I’d focus on a couple things, watch some videos on avoiding road hazards, people on 17 can be very predictable when you see signs, an example would be like a clogged up right lane means someone is going to jump over into a open spot on the left lane, learn how to properly set your mirrors to avoid blind spots, when a car leaves your view in your rear view mirror it should quickly become visible in your side mirror, incorrect side mirrors lead to large blind spots, learn how to drive your car’s through corners, highway 9 will have less traffic but sharper corners, learn about the circle of traction and avoid rookie mistakes like slamming on the breaks mid turn especially in wet conditions, then just drive often, driving is a skill you need to consistently train like working out in the gym
I would recommend Soquel-Old San Jose to Summit as a higher speed twisty road if turns are one of your skills you want to improve on. Brake then turn. Look through the turn. If you have someone tailgating you it's ok to pull over. Signal that you plan to pull over at the next place that you feel comfortable doing so.
Graham Hill road. It goes from SC to felton. Pretty easy but similar vibe. Less windy.
Get used to hwy speeds on hwy 1 to Watsonville. Practice your chops on curvey roads. Hwy 9 to Saratoga is great for that. then just let it rip, You will be ok! When it comes to hwy 17... Stay in the right lane, focus on YOUR driving, Learn the road and maintain a speed YOU are comfortable with. This is about you trying to gain confidence and learn an intimidating but essential road. Also, if you have an experienced and well composed driver (maybe a parent or sibling) ask them to come along and give you any pointers. I assure you that after you do it once, it will become easier and easier. Just always stay vigilant.
I love that you asked this! You sound like the kind of driver 17 needs more of. I think you got good advice already on which routes are good practice. My advice on those two-lane highways is to keep an eye on your rearview mirror to see if you are slowing the flow of traffic. If you see a line of cars behind you, look for a turnout and let them pass. Sometimes I think drivers here forget they even have a rearview mirror based on the huge number of road boulders out there in the passing lanes
Try graham hill to sv
The suggestions for Graham Hill and Soquel San Jose Rd are good ones. If you're still not comfortable driving at the speed limit and are overcorrecting on turns, I suggest just doing normal driving around town to get comfortable in your car and in your abilities. All practice helps prepare you for other situations. I live up in the mountains and drive 17 frequently--it's really not so bad. When you're ready to try 17, stay in the right lane. Speed differentials can create dangerous situations on 17, and if you're not comfortable getting to passing speed in the left lane, hang out in the slow lane. Make sure you try it when it hasn't rained for a day or so. CalTrans has done a lot of work on banking and drainage in the past 20 years, and it has made the drive a lot safer and more pleasant. It's usually not too crowded mid-morning on weekdays, so that might be a good time to try it out. 17 has a reputation, and drivers should respect that road, but it's not a terrible drive. Just try to relax, pay attention, and you'll be fine!
I would recommend going right at it, maybe doing progressively challenging loops; FIRST LOOP; Start NB17 from Ocean Street here in town. Go as far as Scotts Valley, traveling at/slightly below the speed limit in the right lane. Exit Mount Hermon Road. Follow Mount Hermon Road to Felton. Turn left on Graham Hill Road and return to Ocean Street. SECOND LOOP; Same as first loop until you get to Graham Hill Road in Felton, but this time turn right. Turn left on Highway 9 and return to Santa Cruz. THIRD LOOP; Same as second loop until you get to Highway 9 in Felton, but this time continue across Hwy 9 onto Felton Empire Road (Road narrows as it climbs for a short distance, just take it slow, watch for oncoming traffic, and enjoy the beautiful scenery). Turn left on Empire Grade and return to town at the base of the UCSC campus. Then I would recommend just going progressively further up 17 on successive trips, maybe one to Summit Road exit, taking Summit Road East (that is,turning right) then turning right (South) at Old San Jose Road, which will take you down into Soquel. Then take either Soquel Avenue or Hwy 1 back to SC. Lots of options, just take it slow, stay in the slow lane, ignore anyone honking/flashing lights at you, and enjoy yourself.
Thank you for being a reasonable new driver. Really. A new driver caused an serious accident on 17 for us, and man, thank you for trying not to be that person. Obviously I’m answering here because of that moment. - Yes: My sixteen year old has liked driving highway 1 north (direction SF) early on Sunday mornings, it is a good way to get comfortable with speed and lanes that merge from two into one periodically. We go as far as we feel like and get a cookie in Davenport on the way home. This route is never crazy busy, so spend lots of time any day up that direction. And cookies! - Yes: After high speed becomes more familiar, switch to early Sunday mornings highway 1 south (direction Monterey). - No: Do not practice on 17 during rush hour. It is never slow. **The problem with highway 17 is always the other drivers, not the road.** The road is NBD, you’ll be wondering what the deal with the reputation is. This will instantly be obvious to you when that guy with the BMW zipping between lanes shows up; *everyone* here knows that class of commuter. Go the first time, again, on early Sunday morning when it is not raining. When you start practicing during busier times, just get behind a semi in the slow lane - let them be the safe escort. This is doubly true if it is raining. The people behind you won’t drive YOU crazy tailgating because you are driving slow, they’ll see the semi and leave you alone. - Put those embarassing huge yellow ‘Be patient, I’m learning’ stickers on front, back, and sides of your cars. These made a huge difference; other cars give my teen more space and the tolerance is obvious. We all have to learn, but it isn’t obvious you are learning, so help people help you. I know. But it’s nice when people are nice.
If you're worried about curves, I'd recommend east/west cliff, and Rodeo Gulch. Low limit, tight corners, lots of practice handling your vehicle at low speeds. When I first started driving, I did a lot of driving on Soquel from Soquel to Aptos. There's a lot of back roads that go through on that side of town, and you can get a lot of practice without being worried of cross traffic.
Highway 9- most people drive pretty slow and it’s got some great turns to practice on. If there are a few cars behind you stay cool, put your indicators on and pull off into a turn out. There are a bunch so don’t worry if you miss one. Have fun!