Pacific Coast Highway: San Francisco to Los Angeles

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The route · 7 stops

1
San Francisco
2 nights
The starting point of the southbound drive. San Francisco rewards a full day of exploration before the road begins: the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's Wharf, and the Mission District are all walkable or accessible by historic cable car. Collect the hire car on the morning of departure.
Pick up the rental car on day two, not day one, to avoid paying for city-centre parking overnight. Fill the tank in San Francisco before heading south.
2
Santa Cruz
1 night2h · 121 km from previous
A laidback surf town 75 miles south of San Francisco via the scenic coastal Highway 1 route through Half Moon Bay. The Victorian-era Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk has been in continuous operation since 1907, and Natural Bridges State Beach offers good tide-pooling at low water.
Take Highway 1 via Half Moon Bay rather than the faster Highway 101 to catch the first ocean views of the trip. Stop at Davenport Bluffs for a short clifftop walk en route.
3
Monterey
2 nights1h 30m · 80 km from previous
One of the finest stops on the entire route, Monterey combines the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium on historic Cannery Row with the storybook village of Carmel-by-the-Sea five miles south. Point Lobos State Natural Reserve and the 17-Mile Drive through Pebble Beach are both within easy reach.
Book Monterey Bay Aquarium tickets online at least a week in advance during summer, when it regularly sells out. Combine with a free walk along Cannery Row and a sunset stop at Carmel Beach.
4
Big Sur
1 night50m · 48 km from previous
Big Sur is not a single town but a 90-mile stretch of Highway 1 where the Santa Lucia Mountains plunge into the Pacific. Bixby Creek Bridge, the McWay Falls overlook at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, and Pfeiffer Beach's purple-tinged sand are the three essential stops. Lodging is scarce and books out months ahead.
No mobile signal in Big Sur: download offline maps and a playlist before leaving Carmel. Fill up on fuel there too; the next station heading south is around Cambria, 65 miles on.
5
San Simeon
1 night1h 30m · 105 km from previous
A small coastal town best known for Hearst Castle, the extravagant 165-room mansion that newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst built above the shore between 1919 and 1947. Just north of town, the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery is a free stop with seals numbering in the hundreds or thousands depending on the season.
Hearst Castle tours sell out weeks ahead in summer; book online and aim for a mid-morning slot. The elephant seal viewpoint is always free and has helpful volunteer docents on weekends.
6
Santa Barbara
2 nights2h 30m · 209 km from previous
The American Riviera deserves two nights. White-sand beaches, Spanish Colonial architecture, the beautifully preserved Old Mission founded in 1786, and the Funk Zone wine-bar district near the waterfront make Santa Barbara the most polished stop between Big Sur and Los Angeles.
State Street is the main dining strip. The Funk Zone (converted industrial block near the waterfront) has the best wine bars and craft breweries. Stearns Wharf is a short walk from both.
7
Los Angeles
1 night2h · 153 km from previous
The end of the road, where Highway 1 merges into the city at Santa Monica. The pier at Santa Monica marks the unofficial finish line for most PCH drivers. Use the final day to explore Malibu's surf beaches, Venice Beach's boardwalk, or the Getty Center before returning the hire car.
Continue on Highway 1 through Malibu for a scenic final leg rather than jumping onto Highway 101. Return the rental car from near Santa Monica or LAX on departure day.

Route highlights

Viewpoint
Bixby Creek Bridge
One of the tallest single-span concrete arch bridges in the world, Bixby Creek Bridge soars 79 metres above its canyon and frames a perfect slice of Pacific coastline. Pull into the small north-side car park for the classic wide-angle photograph. Stopping on the bridge itself is prohibited.
Viewpoint
McWay Falls, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
An 80-foot waterfall tumbles year-round directly onto a jade-green cove at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. The easy Overlook Trail (half a mile return) delivers one of California's most photographed viewpoints with very little effort. No swimming is permitted in the cove below.
Scenic Drive
17-Mile Drive, Pebble Beach
A scenic toll road through Pebble Beach and Pacific Grove, with cypress-lined clifftop views, the famous Lone Cypress tree, and several whale-watching pull-outs. The vehicle entry fee (around $10.75) includes a printed map of all the named stops along the loop.
Activity
Monterey Bay Aquarium
One of the finest marine aquariums in the world, with live kelp-forest tanks, jellyfish galleries, sea otters, and open-sea shark exhibits. Allow three to four hours and book tickets at least a week in advance during summer, when it regularly sells out.
Culture
Hearst Castle, San Simeon
William Randolph Hearst's extraordinary hilltop mansion features 165 rooms, two outdoor pools, and a collection of European art assembled over decades. Daily guided tours depart from the visitor centre below the castle; the Grand Rooms Tour is the best starting point for first-time visitors.
Culture
Old Mission Santa Barbara
Founded in 1786 and nicknamed the Queen of the Missions, this Franciscan church sits above downtown Santa Barbara with a cactus garden and working friars still in residence. Self-guided tours are available daily; the rose garden is at its best between April and June.
Activity
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
California's oldest surviving amusement park sits directly on the beach, with the 1924 Giant Dipper wooden roller-coaster as its centrepiece. The boardwalk itself is free to enter; rides are ticketed individually or by all-day wristband. Summer evenings bring free concerts on the beach.

Pacific Coast Highway: San Francisco to Los Angeles

The route · 7 stops

San Francisco

Santa Cruz

Monterey

Big Sur

San Simeon

Santa Barbara

Los Angeles

Route highlights

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