Destinations / California
Pacific Coast Highway
San Francisco to Los Angeles by the slow road, with Big Sur in the middle. Seven days, one coastline.
- Length7 Days 6 Nights
- Best monthsSep–Oct, Apr–May
- DistanceAbout 480 miles
- Budgetfrom $1,450
Why Go
The Road Trip Other Road Trips Are Measured Against
California’s Highway 1 clings to the edge of the continent for hundreds of miles. On one side is the Pacific, on the other are hills, redwoods and, now and then, a small town with a good bakery.
You could drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles in six hours on the freeway. This route takes a week on purpose. It leaves time for the Monterey Peninsula, a full day in Big Sur, elephant seals on the beach and an evening in Santa Barbara.
We run it north to south. That puts you in the lane beside the ocean, with every viewpoint an easy turn to the right.
The Route
Day by Day
Short driving days, with the longest stretch saved for the best scenery.
San Francisco
No drivingStart on foot. Walk or cycle across the Golden Gate Bridge, ride a cable car over the hills and eat by the water at the Ferry Building. Collect the hire car tomorrow morning and save a day of city parking.
- Golden Gate Bridge
- Cable cars
- Ferry Building
- North Beach
San Francisco to Monterey
120 miles · 3 hoursLeave the city by the coast. Stop at Half Moon Bay and the Pigeon Point lighthouse, walk the old boardwalk at Santa Cruz, and reach Monterey in time for sunset on the bay.
- Half Moon Bay
- Pigeon Point
- Santa Cruz
- Monterey
Monterey and Carmel
25 miles · 1 hourA day on the peninsula. Visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium, follow 17-Mile Drive past the Lone Cypress, and walk the trails at Point Lobos, where sea otters float in the kelp. End in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
- Monterey Bay Aquarium
- 17-Mile Drive
- Point Lobos
- Carmel-by-the-Sea
Big Sur
95 miles · 3 hoursThe day the trip is built around. Cross Bixby Bridge, find the purple sand at Pfeiffer Beach and see McWay Falls drop onto its cove. Take every pull-out. Finish in the quiet village of Cambria.
- Bixby Bridge
- Pfeiffer Beach
- McWay Falls
- Cambria
Castle, seals and Morro Bay
55 miles · 1.5 hoursWatch hundreds of elephant seals on the beach at Piedras Blancas, tour the hilltop excess of Hearst Castle, then drive on to Morro Bay and its great rock. Sleep in San Luis Obispo.
- Elephant seal rookery
- Hearst Castle
- Morro Bay
- San Luis Obispo
To Santa Barbara
100 miles · 2 hoursStop at Pismo Beach, detour inland through wine country to the Danish-style town of Solvang, and arrive in Santa Barbara for the old mission and an evening walk to the pier.
- Pismo Beach
- Solvang
- Old Mission
- Stearns Wharf
Malibu and Los Angeles
95 miles · 2.5 hoursThe last stretch runs along the Malibu coast. Stop at El Matador Beach, then roll into Santa Monica, where the pier marks the end of the road. Drop the car and stay on in Los Angeles if you have time.
- Malibu
- El Matador Beach
- Santa Monica Pier
- Los Angeles
Where to Stay
Six Nights, Five Stops
Rooms along the middle of the route are few. Book that part first.
San Francisco, then Monterey
A central hotel in the city for one night. In Monterey or Pacific Grove, a small inn near the water for two.
Cambria or San Simeon
The natural stop after Big Sur. A motel-style inn on Moonstone Beach has the ocean across the road.
San Luis Obispo, then Santa Barbara
A relaxed college town, then the smartest stop on the route. Santa Barbara is pricey, so book early.
When to Go
Autumn Is the Secret Season
Our pick
The clearest skies and warmest days of the year on this coast, with summer crowds gone.
Green hills, some fog
Wildflowers and fresh green slopes. Late spring often brings grey, foggy mornings by the sea.
Trade-offs
Summer is busy and often foggy. Winter is quiet and cheap, but storms can close the road through Big Sur.
Budget
What Seven Days Cost
An estimate for one person travelling as a pair and sharing the car and the room. Flights are not included. California hotel rates vary a lot by season and day of the week, so check before you plan around this figure.
Practical Notes
Worth Knowing Before You Go
Check the road first
Landslides have closed parts of Highway 1 in Big Sur for long periods. Look up current conditions before you book.
Drive north to south
You get the ocean-side lane and can pull straight into the viewpoints without crossing traffic.
Fill up before Big Sur
Fuel there is scarce and expensive, and phone signal comes and goes. Download your maps in advance.
Pack a warm layer
The coast is cool and often foggy even in summer. San Francisco in July can feel like autumn.
Ask about the drop fee
Leaving the car in a different city usually costs extra. Compare a few companies, as the fee varies.
Book the ticketed sights
Hearst Castle and the aquarium sell timed tickets. Check entry rules for the United States before you fly.
Want This Route for Your Dates?
Tell us when you’re going and who is coming. We’ll adjust the plan to fit.