Driving along the California Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) is perhaps one of the greatest road trips in the world. Over the past five years, I was very lucky to have the opportunity to visit many of the towns and city’s along the Golden Coast. But it was not until this past summer that we did the full road trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles following Highway 1 coastal route from top to bottom.
Along this famous route, you’ll drive through big metropolitan cities and tiny coastal towns, gliding by redwood forests, classic California beach towns, lighthouses, major wine regions, marine wildlife, Spanish colonial sights, outdoor adventure opportunities, state parks, and even Hearst Castle. Not to mention the wonderful scenic views that will have you pulling off for impromptu ogling and photo ops all along the Pacific Coast Highway!
We’ll share some information to get you started in planning your own California Pacific Coast Highway road trip and share our favorite 15 places to stop along the way and tips for what to do and see in each place.
Table of Contents:
Planning your Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip in California
Here are some frequently asked questions that can help you plan your own California Pacific Coast Highway road trip, from when to go to, what to pack, and where to find helpful web resources.
What is the difference between the Pacific Coast Highway and CA State Highway 1?
If you drive along the coast following the highway from Los Angeles to San Francisco, you’ll encounter roads with signs called CA State Highway 1, Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), Cabrillo Highway and Shoreline Highway, not to mention at times you’ll have to join the U.S 101.
According to Wikipedia, the CA Highway 1 runs about 655 miles (1,055 km) from near Dana Point in the south to near Leggett, CA in the north, and only two middle sections have been officially denoted as scenic byways, the Big Sur Coast Highway and the San Luis Obispo North Coast Byway. If you go from the southern point of CA to the northern, you’ll lose CA State Highway 1 all together at both ends.
The Pacific Coast Highway, I believe, is technically only about a 130 mile segment of Highway 1 that runs from Dana Point to Oxnard in southern California. The terms Pacific Coast Highway and Coast Highway are sometimes used to refer to a route from the southern coastal point of California that extends all the way to Canada or even beyond.
Basically, I would not worry about all these technical designations which often don’t matter much and don’t align well with travel articles or traveler reports, but you should know that you may see different names on signs along your route and at times you will have to leave the coast and/or join U.S. 101.
Just use your map and/or GPS to keep on your designated route and head to the places you want to visit without being too concerned about the technical designations of the highway.
How Long do I Need to Drive the Pacific Coast Highway?
This will entirely depend on how much time you have and what you want to do and see along the way. Note that distances in California can be quite greater than what many people are used to and things move more slowly on CA Highway 1 which has lower speed limits than on the main interstate highways.
Traffic on this route can be particularly slow if it is crowded or bad weather conditions. Getting into and out of Los Angeles and San Francisco can take much longer than anticipated depending on traffic conditions so allow extra time in these areas.
You can actually drive straight from Los Angeles to San Francisco in a day, but we recommend spending at least 4 or 5 days to explore some of the places in between. Ideally, I would set aside at least 2 weeks to do the route with 3 to 4 days in Los Angeles, a week for the towns between Los Angeles and San Francisco, and 3 to 4 days in San Francisco.
If you want to drive all the way from the north of California to the south, I’d add at least another 3 days. Basically, the more time you can spare, the more you’ll get to better explore all these places. Be sure to check road conditions before you go as you may need to allow for road construction and/or detours.
When to do the Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip?
Given the temperate climate along the coast, most times of the year will work for this road trip. In the southern part of the state (San Diego to Los Angeles), you’ll find sun fairly year round. Summer guarantees more warmth and sun in the south, but you might find foggy weather along the Central Coast and San Francisco Bay area.
The largest crowds will also be traveling this route from mid-June to the end of August. October tends to bring the nicest and least rainy weather to the San Francisco Bay area, and September can also be quite nice. Note that even in summer, you might find it cold along the Central and Northern Coast, especially places like Half Moon Bay, San Francisco, and further north.
No matter when you go, just be prepared so inclement weather doesn’t stop your sightseeing, bring clothing you can layer, jackets, and rain gear. Also don’t forget your sunglasses and sunscreen; wear sunscreen even if you plan to stay in the vehicle most of the day as you can still get sun damage from UVA rays!
Choosing Transportation for Driving Highway 1?
It wouldn’t be a road trip unless you are driving, so either you’ll need to supply your own vehicle or motorcycle or you’ll need to rent one. If you are planning on renting, you should consider whether you want to stay in lodging along the way, bring camping gear to set up a tent at campsites along the way, or if you want to be able to sleep in your vehicle such as with a campervan or RV.
There are a lot of major rental car (Thrifty, Hertz, Alamo, Avis, Dollar, Enterprise, etc.) and RV companies that have offices in California (mostly in major cities). So we recommend using car comparison site Discover Cars to compare rental prices. Just be aware that some firms charge one-way fees.
If your dream is to drive a convertible or classic car along the coast, you can do this but just know that it will be quite expensive and you might be better off saving the money for some fun experiences along the route.
If you want to travel by RV, we recommend using Motorhome Republic for RV rental. They compare prices across the major RV rental firms in the USA to find the best price for you. You can book your RV for the USA through them here.
For this specific road trip, you’ll probably want to look for companies that allow you to rent a vehicle at one end of your journey (e.g., Los Angeles) and return it at the other (e.g., San Francisco). Be sure to specifically check on any one-way drop-off fees which can add an additional $100 or more to a rental car price.
To rent a vehicle or RV, you typically need to be at least 21 years of age (often 25 years of age) and have a valid driver’s license.
If you are not an American citizen you may need to obtain an International Driving Permit from your home country or an authorized English translation of your driving credentials. If your driver’s license is not in English and you plan to be driving in the U.S. for a week or more, it is a good idea to get an International Driving permit or English translation even if not required by law or the rental agency as it is helpful to have one in the event police pull you over and ask for your license.
If you are an international driver and have never driven in the U.S., you should check out this article from Laurence about tips for driving in the U.S. for British drivers (or any non-U.S. driver).
We chose to do a month-long USA roadtrip in a JUCY campervan rental, and JUCY conveniently has offices located in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas which are primary West Coast road trip hubs. Hiring a campervan gave us the option to sleep and eat (there is a small kitchen included!) in the RV, and this helped us save a lot of time and money along the way. You can compare prices of Jucy and a range of other RV rental companies in the USA for your trip here.
If driving along in a bright green and purple campervan with a pop-up Penthouse on top doesn’t sound intimidating, you can read a full review of our JUCY campervan experience written by Laurence on his blog.
South to North or North to South Route?
I would not put a lot of thought into whether the trip is best done south to north or vice versa. It makes little difference although there is a small argument in favor of north to south as you’ll be closer to the coast and most of the rest stops and pull overs are on this side of the road.
Others have told me that there are better views going to south to north, but having done the drive myself, I have doubts about there being too much superiority in either direction.
I would base this decision on your logistical needs (e.g., where you are based, best flight deals) and things you want to see along the way (e.g., a festival in San Francisco you want to be at on X day).
What Should I Do in Advance of Driving the Pacific Coast Highway?
I would decide on your general route, make your car or RV reservation in advance (if needed), acquire a good map, road atlas, and/or GPS, consider buying a good California guidebook, check opening days/times for any must-see sites, and book tickets to any major concerts, performances, or sporting events as these can sell out months in advance.
For major sites like Alcatraz and Hearst Castle, it can be wise to book tickets at least a few days in advance if you know when you’ll arrive as they sometimes sell out on certain days, especially during the summer. If you want to attend (or avoid) any festivals, plan ahead so you can be sure to be in the area during the event or to skip it to avoid crowds, traffic jams, and higher hotel rates.
It really depends on how you like to travel if you want to make reservations for your lodging ahead of time or wait to see where you are each day to decide. I would recommend making reservations for accommodations in Los Angeles and San Francisco in advance as well as any lodging or camping reservations in Big Sur (or arrive early for first-come, first served sites) as there is a limited amount of availability in that area.
If you are on a budget, it can be wise to make sure you get camping sites, vacation rentals, budget motels, etc. booked in advance so you don’t end up spending more than you want on lodging.
If you are wanting speciality lodging such as a bed-and-breakfast, a lighthouse stay (Pigeon Point and Point Montara Lighthouse Hostels), or a boutique hotel, I would also book these in advance as they can be booked full weeks in advance even outside of the summer months.
Also, you may want to make a good California road trip music playlist or CD before your trip!
Other Helpful Planning Websites:
- Check road conditions online (type “SR 1” or “Highway 1” in the search box) or call 1-800-427-7623
- Google maps or Mapquest route planner can help you plan your route, check distances and times between stops, and anticipate fuel costs
- For state park campsites in California check out the camping section of the CA Parks website. Here is a searchable list of camping and RV sites that are part of the California Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds.
- Note that free primitive camping (no hook-ups) is available on many public lands administered by the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) and the USFS (US Forest Service) as well as some other organizations or even private ranches. Some WalMart stores also offer free overnight parking although we found that there were few that did so along the California coast. CA rests areas allow up to 8-hour parking but do not allow camping, pitching tents, and don’t recommend overnight parking.
- Los Padres National Forest is a very largest forest recreational area that has a number of campgrounds along the route (both free and paid but most are primitive or offer few facilitities).
- U.S. Department of Transportation has info on official sections of SR 1: Big Sur Coast Highway and San Luis Obispo North Coast Byway
Where to Stay on the Pacific Coast Highway
There are plenty of accommodation options all along the Pacific Coast Highway, which include motels, campsites, B&Bs, hotels, and luxury resorts. There are also fun and quirky places like lighthouses, yurts, and cabins where you can spend the night.
We have included a few of our favorites throughout the post below. For booking, we recommend personally often use booking.com which we find usually has the best prices when we travel and we also like reading the reviews before we book. Take a look at their California listings to get started.
Best Stops along California Pacific Coast Highway 1
I am only going to discuss my favorite 15 recommended stops, but here is a list of potential worthwhile stops (in order) from north to south that goes all the way from the northern coast to the southern coast that are major places you might include on a Pacific Coast Highway road trip itinerary.
Most people are primarily interested in only the section between San Francisco and Los Angeles, but I wanted to include this to give people an idea of where these cities lie in relation to each other and to give ideas for those who may be interested in heading south of LA or north of San Francisco.
I’d recommend venturing north of San Francisco for those who want to see more of the redwoods and for those who want to escape the crowds a bit and see parts of the coast that are not as touristed. I’d recommend heading south of Los Angeles for those interested in famous beach towns and for those interested in visiting sunny San Diego. See our guide to things to do in San Diego for more on that city.
I’ve included a few places slightly off of Highway 1 such as San Jose and Solvang, but none that would require more than an hour’s drive. Detours to places like Yosemite National Park and Napa Valley are not included on this list but are possible to also include in your itinerary; just note you may have to make significant detours and may miss portions of the route.
North of San Francisco:
- Crescent City
- Eureka
- Mendocino
- Point Reyes National Seashore*
- Mill Valley (Muir Woods National Monument)
San Francisco to Los Angeles
- San Francisco*
- Half Moon Bay*
- San Jose / Silicon Valley (30-40 mile detour!)
- Santa Cruz*
- Monterey*
- Carmel-by-the-Sea*
- Big Sur*
- Ragged Point
- San Simeon*
- Cambria*
- Cayucos
- Morro Bay*
- Los Osos / Baywood Park *
- San Luis Obispo
- Pismo Beach*
- Santa Maria
- Solvang (30 mile detour!)*
- Santa Barbara*
- Los Angeles*
South of Los Angeles
- Long Beach
- Huntington Beach
- Newport Beach
- Laguna Beach
- San Diego
Note, that all the towns with asterisks above are the places along the Pacific Coast Highway that are discussed in greater detail in the next section.
Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Stops
Now here are my favorite 15 stops from that list, primarily sticking to only those cities and towns that are between San Francisco and Los Angeles with one exception.
My list is subjective and based on the places I chose to spend more of my time over the past 5 years! However, many of the other stops are also very worthwhile and I definitely recommend you choose your stops based on your own interests.
Here is a map of the Pacific Coast Highway from Point Reyes National Seashore to Los Angeles and the map includes each of the recommended 15 stop marked. You can see the map in greater detail by clicking here or by double clicking on the map image below:
Here they are listed from north to south as they appear along California’s Pacific Coast Highway 1:
1. Point Reyes
If you have time to head north of San Francisco to explore another destination on Highway 1, I’d recommend a trip to Point Reyes National Seashore. This large protected area extends 71,028 acres and includes 80 miles (130 kilometers) of shoreline.
This is a favorite nature weekend getaway for many people in the San Francisco Bay area and it is particularly special to us as we got engaged here while standing next to an elephant seal on Drakes Beach.
I would recommend spending a full day (or more) here exploring the trails, beaches, coves, and historical sights. A stop at the Bear Valley Visitor Center near the entrance can help you get oriented to the park, check on hiking trail statuses, and let you know what activities are available during your visit.
If you only have a day, I’d recommend the hike to Alamere Falls (Alamere Falls is a scenic waterfall that falls directly onto a beach), a walk along one of the beaches, and a visit to the Point Reyes Lighthouse (if open).
Point Reyes National Seashore Website: http://www.nps.gov/pore/index.htm
2. San Francisco
The colorful city of San Francisco needs no introduction and the number of things that you might want to do here are almost endless depending on your time and interests.
If you are visiting for the first time, you might consider an early morning start from Union Square (major shopping area) to take an iconic cable car to explore Fisherman’s Wharf, then perhaps a cruise to Alcatraz, and then walk or take a bus to explore one of the other neighborhoods (Chinatown, Castro, Haight-Ashbury, etc.) or to visit a museum (SF Museum or Modern Art, de Young Museum, The Disney Family Museum, etc.) that attracts your attention.
You’ll also want to take a look at the famous Golden Gate Bridge, and perhaps take a walk or bike across it. You might also consider booking a walking tour of some of the other iconic neighborhoods or a food tour given San Francisco’s well-known culinary scene.
I am also a big fan of taking some time to visit Golden Gate Park which in addition to being San Francisco’s largest green space, also contains a number of museums, historical monuments, gardens, and sport facilities.
San Francisco Travel Association Website: http://www.sanfrancisco.travel/
San Francisco Bay Area Travel Visitor Information: http://www.visitsfbayarea.com/
3. Half Moon Bay
My very first day trip in the San Francisco Bay area was to Half Moon Bay, and I would return many times over the five years I lived there. Half Moon Bay is a small coastal town locally well-known for its annual pumpkin festival in October and internationally known for hosting the big waves surf competition called Mavericks.
There are no big attractions here, just a great coastal small town atmosphere. Popular things to do include visiting the beaches, biking, and shopping at the local stores. Many of the shops and restaurants cluster around the downtown on and off of historic Main Street which offers a pleasant area to stroll.
Generally on a day trip visit, I tended to find myself stopping at a fruit stand on the way to pick up some lunch goodies, buying sandwiches in town (there are several good delis such as San Benito Deli), walking around the downtown area, and then spending time picnicking, walking, and playing around on one of the beaches.
One of the beaches I tended to spend the most time on was at Francis Beach which is part of Half Moon Bay State Beach. If you have more time, other things I’ve enjoyed include riding horses along the beach trails (I’ve done the Early Bird Special ride with Sea Horse Ranch) and walking around Pillar Point Harbor (the Mavericks competition is held nearby).
I’ve also enjoyed staying overnight at a local bed-and-breakfast, and seeing the great view overlooking the ocean from the very well-positioned 5-star The Ritz-Carlton Hotel. At the latter there are 25 parking spaces reserved for free public use if not staying or eating at the hotel – just ask at the hotel entry gate.
I would recommend avoiding Half Moon Bay during Mavericks (I’ve been and its honestly almost better to watch online or via TV) and the weeks around the pumpkin festival as the traffic and crowds can be quite terrible.
Half Moon Bay Chamber of Commerce: http://www.halfmoonbaychamber.org/
Half Moon Bay Tourism Website: http://www.visithalfmoonbay.org/
4. Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz is a oceanside city that is best known for its surfing, social activism, beach boardwalk, and being home to University of California, Santa Cruz.
On a day trip, I’d recommend considering a drive (or preferably a walk) along West Cliff Drive for scenic views, a visit to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (in addition to the beach and boardwalk, there is an amusement park, arcade, and other family-oriented attractions), a walk around the downtown area (especially if the Farmer’s Market is happening), and a visit to Natural Bridges State Beach.
If you like to surf, this is widely considered by many to be one of the best surf cities in the country. You can also find the To Honor Surfing Monument and the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum along the aforementioned West Cliff Drive.
If you have more time, other things you might consider are a visit to one of the local beaches away from the often crowded boardwalk area, the infamous Santa Cruz mystery spot, a visit to one of the local breweries or wineries, hiking (nearby Big Basin Redwoods State Park is a local favorite of mine and the oldest state park in California), or a scenic train ride.
Roaring Camp Railroads operates diesel-electric tourist train that go between the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk to the Roaring Camp in nearby Felton and also a great 19th century steam train ride that goes through the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. I really enjoyed the steam train ride I did here a few years ago and it also gives you a chance to walk around in an ancient redwood forest.
Santa Cruz Tourism Website: http://www.santacruzca.org/
5. Monterey
Monterey is best known to visitors for its cannery history, its diverse marine wildlife, its proximity to the golf courses of Pebble Beach, and for having one of the best aquariums in the country.
For a day trip, I’d recommend walking around the Cannery Row and Fisherman’s Wharf area, a visit to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, a sea food lunch or dinner, and perhaps take a drive on the famous 17-Mile Drive for scenic views, famous golf courses, and the Lone Cypress. Marine wildlife, such as sea otters, harbor seals, jellyfish, dozens of sea birds, and even whales, are often seen on the coast and along the waterfront so keep your eyes open!
If you are a John Steinbeck fan, you may want to make a trip to the National Steinbeck Center located in Salinas, CA (17 miles from Monterey). Kids and adults might have fun expending energy at the Lake El Estero city park as it is home to the Dennis the Menace Park created by the comic strip artist.
In nearby Pacific Grove, you’ll find some good restaurants (I tend to eat here when staying in Monterey) and you can also visit Point Pinos, the oldest continually operational lighthouse on the West Coast, or the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary (during late autumn and winter months only).
Monterey Tourism Website: http://www.seemonterey.com/
6. Carmel-by-the-Sea
With a name like Carmel-by-the-Sea, you can’t help but expect a little seaside town with nice beaches, cozy bed-and-breakfasts, cute shops, and maybe a few candy stores, right? Well, Carmel has all of those things and was one of my favorite weekend oceanside getaways when living in the San Francisco Bay area.
There are no big attractions here and the things that I’d highly recommend are long strolls along the pretty sandy Carmel Beach and strolling along the downtown area that is full of shops, art galleries, spas, and restaurants.
I am not into shopping very much, but I have bought several things in Carmel over the years as it has quite a few unique little shops. Carmel is well-known for being very pet-friendly (you can take your dog to many of hotels, beach areas, and even restaurants here) and for attracting celebrity residents, including having Clint Eastwood as its former mayor.
Clint Eastwood fans can visit a bar Eastwood formerly owned, Hog’s Breath Inn, and stay and/or eat at the well-reviewed hotel he currently owns called Mission Ranch. Doris Day fans can stay at her centrally located and very pet-friendly Cypress Inn or you can just stop in for some tea like I have done in the past or for a meal or cocktail.
If you haven’t already visited one of the Spanish missions in California yet, you might visit the Carmel Mission, Mission San Carlos Boromeo del Rio Carmelo, established in 1771. For hiking, I highly recommend nearby Point Lobos State Natural Reserve (about 3 miles from Carmel; pets not allowed).
Carmel Tourism Website: http://www.carmelcalifornia.com/
7.Big Sur
Big Sur is not an actual town but refers to the sparsely populated region along about 90 miles (140 km) of rugged coastline from approximately the Carmel River to San Carpoforo Creek. Until the 1950’s this area was seldom visited and most residents didn’t even have electricity.
It was Highway 1 that would make this area more accessible and later bring tourism to this area. Today, it still offers a lot of relatively unspoilt coastline, beaches, forests, and wilderness area.
The most popular thing to do is to simply drive along Highway 1 and admire the scenery and there are off-the-road viewing points here and there along the way where you can safely park and admire the view and take photos. There are several state parks in the area, and Big Sur also offers hiking, camping, mountain climbing, kayaking, boating, and other outdoor activity opportunities.
Three notable points of interests (all can be seen from the road) are the Bixby Creek Bridge (you’ll drive across it on Highway 1), McWay Falls located within Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park (access to the waterfall by foot is often prohibited), and the Point Sur Lighthouse which is part of Point Sur State Historic Park (guided visits available).
Note that tourist related services are limited including lodging options, so you should plan ahead to reserve a hotel or camping site or plan to drive through the area and stay elsewhere. It is an easy drive to do in a day even with frequent photo stops.
Note that heavy rains, landslides, fires, and other weather-related events do often close parts of Highway 1, especially this section, so do check highway conditions before your visit!
Big Sur Tourism Website: http://www.bigsurcalifornia.org/
8. San Simeon
Tiny San Simeon is home to the most popular tourist attraction along California’s Central Coast: Hearst Castle. Hearst Castle is a hilltop mansion built by the late newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst with the aid of San Francisco architect Julia Morgan. Construction of Hearst’s dream mansion begun in 1919 and building would continue for 30 years.
Today, visitors flock to this popular attraction that is well-maintained by the State of California. I have visited twice and really enjoyed the guided tours of the buildings and the self-guided tours of the beautiful gardens; you can read about our visits and tips for visiting Hearst Castle in a prior post.
Not only does little San Simeon have the mighty Hearst Castle, it also has the Piedras Blancas Light Station, the Elephant Seal Rookery (thousands of elephant seals can sometime be seen on the beach!), and the William R. Hearst Memorial Beach with its wooden pier and small educational Coastal Discovery Center. Despite its small size (less than 500 residents), you can easily spend half a day to a full day in this town.
San Simeon Tourism Website: http://sansimeonchamber.org/
9. Cambria
Cambria lies just about at the midpoint of your Pacific Coast Highway road trip between Los Angeles and San Francisco, and offers visitors shopping, beaches, scenery, outdoor recreational activities, and excellent dining spots.
Both Cambria and San Simeon make for easy Pacific Coast Highway stops. Cambria is located about 10 miles from San Simeon so it is very easy to visit Hearst Castle and all the other San Simeon attractions if you base in Cambria.
If you only visiting on a day trip, I’d recommend walking around the historic downtown, trying a slice of olallieberry pie at Linn’s Easy as Pie, visiting pretty Moonstone Beach, and having a meal at one of the many Cambria restaurants.
With more time, I’d recommend a hike at Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, a tour of quirky Nitt Witt Ridge, and perhaps tasting some local wine or beer. We recently spent three full days in Cambria and you can read our full post of recommended things to do in Cambria to help plan your time here.
Cambria Tourism Website: http://visitcambriaca.com/
10. Morro Bay
Morro Bay is a charming seaside town with a bustling waterfront, charming old town, numerous antique stores, and an enormous landmark in the form of Morro Rock which sits in the harbor. You’ll probably notice the large iconic Morro Rock from miles away as you approach the city, a must-see in the city but note that you can’t walk or climb on the rock.
Morro Rock is actually a 481 ft. volcanic plug and is the most popular of the many volcanic hills and plugs in the area; a chain of nine of these plugs in the Los Osos Valley is known as the Nine Sisters.
On a day trip, I’d recommend strolling along the waterfront and harbor, a stroll along the downtown area (most shops cluster around Main Street and Morro Bay Boulevard), a visit to the Morro Bay Museum of Natural History, and a kayaking adventure within the Morro Bay Natural Estuary (see info on Los Osos above as well).
If you like vintage clothing shops, speciality stores, and antiques stores, you’ll find over a dozen in Morro Bay and you can read about the time we went vintage shopping in Morro Bay.
One of our favorites stores, although not located in the downtown area, was Highway 41 Antique Emporium, where we were able to drink wine while browsing the large antique store.
There are a number of good cafés and restaurants in Morro Bay and one place we recommend for lunch (or a weekend breakfast) is Shine Cafe, which is a popular local vegan spot featuring fresh and organic ingredients.
Morro Bay Tourism Website: http://www.morrobay.org/
11. Los Osos
Los Osos is another small town, sitting right next to larger Morro Bay, and while often overlooked is a great place for hiking, bird watching, water adventures, and other nature activities.
With a day in Los Osos, I’d recommend hiking a couple of the trails at Montaña de Oro State Park, one of the most beautiful oceanside parks in California (Spooner’s Cove is stunning!), and a kayaking adventure along the Morro Bay Natural Estuary.
For food, perhaps a hamburger and beer at the popular local burger joint, Sylvester’s Burgers, or a coffee at laid-back Back Bay Cafe followed by a stroll along the bay.
With more time, I’d check out one of the other nature preserves or parks in the area. You can check out our earlier post about a weekend we spent in Los Osos for more tips on what to do in Los Osos.
Los Osos Baywood Park Tourism Website: http://www.visitlosososbaywood.com/
12. Pismo Beach
Pismo Beach is a good place to visit if you are looking for a classic California beach town. There are of course other things to do (wine tasting, shopping, dining), but the best thing to do here is to enjoy the beach and go sand dune riding if that is your thing.
The most popular attraction if you stop here is the long wooden Pismo Beach pier. Swimming, kayaking, surfing, fishing, boating, kite boarding, and other water-related activities are popular.
Another unique thing to do here is sand dune riding at Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area. Oceano Dunes is the only California State Park that allows vehicles to be driven on the beach. Four wheel drive or all wheel drive vehicles are recommended for driving on the beach and to the camping and off-highway vehicle use areas in the park.
For food, you may want to try one of the famous Pismo clams or the local clam chowder, although the clams are becoming more and more scarce as they were severely overharvested in the past. Pismo Beach was once known as the “Clam Capital of the World” given the abundance of large Pismo clams that could be found on its beaches, but sadly that time has long since past although you can still find a gigantic concrete clam statue at the southern end of Price Street as you enter Pismo Beach.
If you visit in the late autumn or winter, you might want to make a stop at the Monarch Butterfly Grove where you may see thousands of Monarch butterflies clinging to the trees in Pismo Beach during their annual migration.
Pismo Beach Tourism Website: http://www.classiccalifornia.com/
13. Solvang
Solvang is a little slice of Denmark that can oddly be found in sunny California, and unlike the others on this list it is not a seaside town. Found in 1911 by a group of Danish immigrants, Solvang would eventually have Danish speaking schools, a Lutheran church, and be filled with Danish-inspired architecture.
While cultural ties still exist between Solvang and Denmark, including a royal visit in 2011, only about 10% of residents still claim a Danish heritage. However, the half-timbered houses, rooftop storks, windmills, and unique European atmosphere has made Solvang a popular tourist destination.
On a day trip, I’d advise a walk around the downtown area to explore the Danish architecture, shops, eateries, wine tasting rooms, and little parks and to try at least one of the Danish specialties such as the popular asæbleskiver (a sort of Danish pancake). If you don’t want to walk, you can take one of the horse-drawn wooden streetcars to explore the town which is a replica of a 19th century Danish Hønen.
Fans of Hans Christian Andersen can enjoy the half-size bronze replica of the famous The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen (Denmarket Square), the bust of the fable writer in Solvang Park, and the small Hans Christian Andersen Museum located above The Book Loft store. For those interested in Danish heritage and the history of the area, the best place to learn about the area is through a visit to The Elverhøj Museum.
Children may enjoy expending energy at the very kid-friendly Hans Christian Anderson Park, whereas my favorite nature break is to take a short wooded hike in nearby Nojoqui Falls Park (about 7 miles away from downtown) to visit the wispy 80-ft high waterfall.
Cycling and horseback riding are also popular outdoor activities in the area; the Alisal Guest Ranch is a popular places for the many horse enthusiasts who flock to this area. Around Solvang, you can see and feed ostriches and emus at Ostrichland USA, see the miniature horses at Quicksilver Ranch, and admire the lavender fields and shop for lavender products at Clairmont Farms.
The entire Santa Ynez Valley area is famous for wine and you can visit a number of wine tasting rooms and wineries in the area, especially in nearby little Los Olivos. If you are a fan of the 2004 movie Sideways, you can follow in the footsteps of the characters along the Sideways movie wine tasting trail.
Lastly, if you like quirky roadside attractions and a good bowl of pea soup, you’ll want to plan a pitstop at Pea Soup Andersen’s in nearby Buellton.
Solvang Tourism Website: http://www.solvangusa.com/
14. Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara is great bet for a warm weather spot and it is sometimes referred to as the American Riviera given its stretch of beaches, hills, and Mediterranean-style stucco Spanish colonial buildings. Unlike many of the other smaller towns mentioned, Santa Barbara also has numerous historical and cultural attractions as well as many well-regarded dining spots and performance venues that makes for a wide range of potential activities during a visit.
For a day trip, I’d recommend checking out the waterfront including the popular Stearns Wharf (go early or late to best avoid crowds), exploring the shops, wine tasting rooms, and restaurants along the lower end of State Street, and paying a visit to a few of the city’s best historical sites: Mission Santa Barbara, the Presidio of Santa Barbara, and the Santa Barbara County Courthouse (great view of the city from the tower).
With more time I’d consider some of the following: a visit to one of the museums such as Santa Barbara Museum of Art or Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, doing the full self-guided Red Tile Walking Tour for those interested in the red-tiled buildings and Spanish colonial sights, relaxing on a beach in the Mesa area of town, and booking a nighttime performance as the city has a number of venues for performing arts, concerts, films, and classical music performances.
In addition to the many wine tasting rooms in the city, there are also many wineries outside the city that can be visited on your own or on a booked tour. For those with more time and an interest in island exploring, a trip to Channel Islands National Park is possible from the cities of Ventura and Oxnard.
Santa Barbara Tourism Website: http://www.santabarbaraca.com/
15. Los Angeles
Los Angeles is a large, sprawling city that is best known for being the center of the country’s film and television industry. It is home to world-class museums, cultural attractions, beaches, performing arts venues, shopping, dining, lodging, and sports teams. Los Angeles has dozens of museums and cultural attractions from the Getty Museum and California Science Center to the Griffith Observatory and Petersen Automotive Museum.
For those interested in Hollywood and the film industry, one can visit several movie studios such as Universal Studios and Warner Brothers, visit the historic TCL Chinese Theatre, marvel at the Hollywood sign, stroll down Hollywood Boulevard and the Walk of Fame, visit the Hollywood Museum, and so many other celebrity and movie-related attractions. Los Angeles is a major shopping destination for many visitors, whether one has an interest in retro vintage clothing or the high-end luxury boutiques on Rodeo Drive.
Numerous beaches and boardwalks can be found along the coast from the famous Venice Beach to the Santa Monica Boardwalk to the scenic El Matador State Beach in Malibu. Santa Monica is also the ending (or starting) point for Route 66 if you are interested in another iconic American road trip!
If you like sports, you might want to book tickets for a sports game during your stay as Los Angeles is home to the several prominent professional sports teams: the L.A. Dodgers (as well as the L.A. Angeles who play in Anaheim), Kings, Lakers, Galaxy, and Clippers as well as notable college teams such as the UCLA Bruins and the USC Trojans.
There is almost an endless amount of things to do here and you can read a whole guidebook just on things to do in Los Angeles. If you have only a short time in the city, I’d recommend focusing on a main interest (art, food, Hollywood, luxury shopping, beaches, etc.) to develop an itinerary or pick a couple of neighborhoods to explore. I’d recommend walking, taking buses, or using the metro when possible as driving and parking can be a nightmare.
Los Angeles Tourism Website: http://www.discoverlosangeles.com/
There you have it, our Pacific Coast Highway road trip tips and advice, as well as information on our top 15 recommended stops. We had a great time traveling along California’s Pacific Coast Highway in our JUCY campervan, and we hope you’ll have a blast as well.
For more inspiration, check our our California road trip post, which covers even more of the state, as well as our guide to some of the world’s best road trips, which of course includes the PCH!
Have you ever driven along the California coast on the Pacific Coast Highway? If so, what were your favorite stops and memories along the Pacific Coast Highway? As always, feel free to ask us questions about our trip, or share you own tips and advice!
**Disclosure: Some of the above sites were visited during a RV trip in partnership with JUCY; however, all thoughts and opinions are our own. The above tips and advice are based on my five years of experience living in California, driving the Pacific Coast Highway, and exploring these great places!**
Candi Calhoon Post author
I have to share how essential your site was for me while planning our Pacific Coast journey these last few months. I think I found
your site last spring and we just enjoyed our trip 2 weeks ago We’re from Florida and traveled from San Francisco to LA.
Your information helped me plan our schedule and stops. Your were right on with info and reviews. Thanks so much
for helping me feel prepared and informed. Your site really made the trip come together. We had a really great time.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Candi,
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment and let us know that our blog was helpful in planning your trip to California along the Pacific Coast Highway. There are so many great stops there and glad you had such a wonderful road trip!
Best,
Jessica
Gustavo Post author
Great article! Thanks for sharing.I will do it as you describe and add some more points. I will be traveling Nov 28 to Dec 5 2021 from San Francisco down to L.A… Unfortunately I am alone and I would love to share it with someone else or a group.
Any idea where I can find travel buddies?
Thanks
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Gustavo,
Glad you are finding our article helpful in planning your trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles.
The easiest way to join other people doing this trip would be to join a tour that goes along the coast from San Francisco to Los Angeles such as this one or this one.
You could also try a ride sharing website or app. We have not personally used these, but a couple of ones to check out include BlaBlaCar and Liftshare. You can join a carshare that someone else is offering or offer one to have others join if you are able to drive. Note these have obviously not been very popular in recent times because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Other options include posting or checking ads online to find a travel buddy or ride sharing opportunity. Some places to try include online classifieds (e.g., Craigslist, Gumtree), online travel message boards, and physical classified and bulletin boards (if you live or already staying in the San Francisco area).
Good luck,
Jessica
David Chun Post author
Redondo Beach was one of our best stops along California’s Pacific Coast Highway — California’s the Pacific Coast Highway Road trip is definitely one of the most scenic drives in America.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi David,
Thanks for taking the time to comment and so glad you enjoyed your drive along the Pacific Coast Highway. Redondo Beach is a great stop near Los Angeles – one of so many 😉
Best,
Jessica
Richard Bank Post author
Thank you so much for taking the time to include all these amazing tips.
We are quite limited in time because of our holiday schedules so we only have 8 full non-travel days
my wife and I are planning to fly to SF on December 24th at night.
2 full days in San Fran (one of which is Christmas Day)
1 night in Carmel
1 night in morro bay
1 night in Santa Barbara
3 nights in LA (Venice, Malibu, Santa Monica)
Because we are limited in time, we just want to make sure we hit the big ticket items.
Any additions or subtractions?
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Richard,
I think the itinerary itself looks fine given the amount of time you have. Obviously, the holidays are going to be problematic in terms of attractions and restaurants being closed for Christmas and the holidays. Some places will be very busy and others quieter due to the holidays. This will be particularly true while you are in SF as most attractions will be closed for Christmas.
A section of Highway 1 around Big Sur (and some of the detour roads) were closed earlier but looks like it has reopened and there are currently no closures on the route, but I would check on this closer to your trip. Mudslides and such can often close sections of the route.
For Los Angeles, I’d recommend spending the 3 nights in either Santa Monica or Venice (both are close together) if you are planning to spend most of your time exploring LA and visiting attractions in the city. There are lots of places you can walk to (restaurants, shops, beach, bus stops, pier) and you can also get public transit fairly easily into the city. However, in Malibu you going to be about a 25 minute drive from Santa Monica and a bit outside the city so not as great a place to base for city attractions, although a good location if you want a quieter place and just want to focus on beach time. All three will have you staying within walking distance of the beach.
Hope that helps, and I’d definitely recommend booking in advance and making reservations that are able to be canceled and refunded if needed given current travel circumstances. Just let us know if you have further questions as you plan your PCH trip!
Best,
Jessica
Kristen Post author
Hi there! I live in Buellton, and have just a few notes for you. First, with Solvang, you might want to mention Danish Days in September as a great time to come and experience the Danish Days parade, breakfast, dancing, aebleskiver eating contest, huge Lego tent for kids to play in, and more activities. Also, to mention that Solvang is known as the most charming Christmas town, and has lots of Christmas time activities and events during the holidays.
Also, I wanted to mention that while Big Sur is an amazing place to camp, you usually need to book it several months in advance because it fills up so quickly.
Also, you did not mention the famous Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo. They have horse riding, ropes courses, and much more, and is world famous for their pink champagne cake.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Kristen,
Thanks for taking the time to comment and share some of your favorite things to do in Solvang! I have been to Solvang many times and it used to be a favorite 3-day weekend spot when we lived in the Bay Area. We usually avoided the busier events, but have been around the holidays and it is a lovely time of year to visit.
This is just a planning guide so we didn’t go into a lot of details in this particular article of each city, but those are some great places to see and places to visit. We were just at the Madonna Inn last time in SLO – definitely an interesting place to stop! 😉
Best,
Jessica
Stephen Post author
Your not gonna mention the wonderful town of cayucos and the sunken ship you can get to during low tide?
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Stephen,
Thanks for stopping by and recommending Cayucos. The town of Cayucos is mentioned and listed as one of the stops in the article but it just didn’t make our top 15. But there are lots of little towns and villages, like Cayucos, that are worth stopping in. We are planning to do a more in-depth itinerary in the future as this is more of a planning guide for the Pacific Coast Highway.
Best,
Jessica
Jamiedoyle Post author
Hi Loved reading your blog thank you so much. We are going on 28th March for 2 weeks starting from San fran staying in Fairmont for 2 nights, we then go to Tenaya lodge in Yosemite for 3 nights, then La Playa hotel in Carmel for 2 nights, then 2 nights at Four Seasons in Santa Barbara, then 2 nights at shutters on the beach Santa Monica, then 3 nights in Four seasons beverley hills wilshire, Do you think this sounds ok and good stopping point etc, Thank you so much Jamie And Marianna
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Jamie & Marianna,
I am glad you are enjoying our travel blog. Sounds like you have a great California trip coming up. I think that itinerary sounds fine. Since you have 2 or 3 nights in each place, you’ll have plenty of time to explore without feeling rushed.
Just keep in mind your driving distances when planning, especially on days like when you are driving back and forth from Yosemite as the drive will take about 4 hours or so each way. Although it is towards the end of the winter weather season, you’ll want to check driving and road conditions for Yosemite National Park as road closures can happen at that time of the year and if it snows, some roads may require snow chains. If those are in effect, you will need to have them in your car (includes rental cars, 4WDs, etc.) and good to know how to use them.
Enjoy your trip!
Jessica
Hannah Post author
Just an estimate, how much does this trip cost? I just want to have an idea while planning everything out 🙂
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Hannah,
It would be impossible to tell you a trip cost, as it will depend mostly on how many days you are traveling, what kind of accommodation you prefer (camping, hotels, B&Bs, hostels), number of travelers, time of year (can be a big difference in lodging prices by season), and what activities you want to do. The accommodation in some cities and towns is much higher than others, so you can adjust where you overnight (or lodging type) to account for a smaller budget for instance.
What I would recommend doing is setting your budget for the trip (minus your flights and rental car if those apply), how many days you want to visit, and then I can give you tips for staying within that budget. It also helps to know how many people, what dates (or at least month), what kind of lodging, how you plan to get around, and how much time you want to spend in each place (especially in the cities).
But just for a very general idea of a 7 day trip for 2 adults staying in budget to mid-range hotels (sharing a double room), I’d probably estimate about $150 per person per day for lodging, food, fuel, transport, and activities. That gives you about $150 for the hotel room and then $150 to split amongst everything else. If you are wanting to eat at nice restaurants, do any expensive activities/tours, or if you want to stay in more upscale hotels, then you’ll want to add more to that daily budget as needed. If your budget is lower, than you can still do it by staying in hostels/camping/Airbnb rooms and spending less on food and activities.
Best,
Jessica
Alison Post author
Hi Jessica & Laurence
I have loved reading all about your travels and advice for the Pacific Coast Highway. This trip has always been on our bucket list and finally we are going to get the chance to do it. Me and my husband are planning a trip late Aug early Sept flying to San Fran and then back from Los Angeles. I am thinking 10 or 12 nights and wondered what would be your suggestions for the best places to stay along the way. Looking forward to hearing from you
Alison & Ste xx
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Alison, Sounds like a fun trip and 10-12 nights is a nice amount of time. Happy to help with itinerary, hotels, etc. once you have your flights set (so we know for sure how many days you have). Some further information would also be helpful in providing sugestions. How many days are you wanting to spend in SF and LA? What activities/towns/tours are you most wanting to do along the route? What type of lodging do you prefer (e.g., hotels, B&Bs, hostels, etc.) and what is your budget for lodging per night? Best, Jessica
Alison Post author
Hi,Jessica
We are looking at 12 nights from 4th September. Was thinking 3 nights at each end with 3 stops in between maybe Carmel, Pismo Beach or Morro Bay and Santa Barbara each for 2 nights. Do you think these would be evenly spread for travelling and seeing sights along the way. Would prefer to stay in Hotels with a budget of up to £200 per night
Thanks for your help
Alison x
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Alison,
Yes, I think 3 nights each in SF and LA will give you plenty of time to see the major highlights of both cities. I definitely recommend limiting 1-night stays if possible so having 2 nights in 3 different towns along the coast is a great way to break up the trip. So I think this is a very good way to split up your time.
As you probably saw me discuss with lots of other people, we don’t recommend a car in San Francisco or Los Angeles. You are generally better off in terms of both time and money using public transit, walking/biking, using taxis/rideshare, sightseeing buses, or joining tours in both cities. I’d pick up your car the day you leave for your road trip and then return it before spending your time in Los Angeles. If you are interested in Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Long Beach, or other areas along the coast in or around LA, I’d visit these places BEFORE you return your car and go into LA as they take a long time to get to from downtown LA. These places are much easier to visit as you are driving along the coast.
3 nights San Francisco – In SF, we recommend the Union Square area just because it is quite central and great links for public transit. You can usually also find a few nice mid-range hotels in the area that would fall into your budget. Some hotels that would likely fall into your price range are Hotel Cartwright, King George, The Mayflower, and Hotel Zelos.
2 nights Carmel – A few options would be Horizon Inn, Carmel Fireplace Inn, and Normandy Inn. If you want to save a bit here, I’d look for a hotel room in nearby Monterey (only about 10 minute drive away) as there is more lodging and you can find better prices.
2 nights Pismo Beach or Morro Bay – These two towns are only about 30 minutes away, so it probably doesn’t make too much difference as most of the main attractions and towns in this area will be within a 1 hour drive of both. I have a preference for Morro Bay but Pismo is better if you want beach. If you don’t have a preference, I’d let hotel prices help guide you. For Pismo Beach, Edgewater Inn and Cottage Inn are two choices. In Morro Bay, a few options would be La Serena Inn, Masterpiece Motel, and Marina Street Inn B&B. If you are looking for a peaceful place we can recommend Back Bay Inn in Los Osos (in between Morro Bay and Pismo).
2 nights Santa Barbara – A few hotel options in Santa Barbara in that range would be the White Jasmine Inn, Quality Inn, or Secret Garden Inn.
3 nights Los Angeles – For L.A., I would make a list of the attractions you know you want to visit and neighborhoods you want to visit and that might help you decide which part of LA might make the most sense for you to stay since its such a large sprawling city. But in general, we recommend Hollywood as a good tourist area to stay as it is fairly central with public transit links, it is an area most people want to visit, and there are some affordable options here. But it really depends on your interests. Some options in Hollywood include the Hollywood Celebrity Hotel, Best Western Plus, and Dresden B&B.
Hope that helps, and just let us know if you have further questions as you plan your Pacific Coast Highway trip!
Best,
Jessica
Alison Post author
Hi Jessica
Thank you so much for all the information and advice. Will check the hotels out and get them booked.
Alison
Peter Post author
Hello Jessica,
Your tips are excellent – perhaps you can help me too with our road trip. We are traveling from London, England to San Fransisico on July 21st (evening arrival) and returning on the 31st (lunchtme departure), also from SFO. We are renting a car and we’d thinking to make a loop: Southwards along the PCH down to LA and then come back up visiting Death Valley, Mammoth lakes and Yosemite. The night of the 30th we need to stay in Sausalito to visit a friend. I’d love to hear from you whether this is do-able and where you’d recommend to stay along the route. We will be 5 (probably 2 rooms each night) so I don’t want to break the bank on hotels – I’d rather spend it on good food. Anyway, I’d be grateful for any advice.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Peter,
Glad you are finding our articles helpful in planning your California road trip. Yes, I do think that is doable but it might be a bit rushed, depending on what you want to see and do and how much time you want to spend in each place. It looks like really you’ll have 8 full days of travel, 2 days of mostly traveling (21st and 31st), and then the day in Sausalito with your friend (30th).
Happy to try to help with itinerary and hotel advice. A few questions first. How many nights would you ideally want to stay in each place, especially San Francisco and LA? What places and types of experiences are you most excited about? Are there any special activities you want to do during the trip? What is your budget per night for hotel rooms (are all 5 adults or are some in your group children)?
Best,
Jessica
Angela Post author
This information has been so helpful. We are doing a road trip with our 2 teenage children from San Fransisco to LA for 3 days on 30 December. We are staying in Monterey on the 30th. At this stage we are staying in Cambria for New Years Eve. We are driving to Anaheim on Nee Years Day but would like to get there just after lunch as we are meeting friends. Would we be better staying further south? Do you have any suggestions of where would be a good place to stay with teenagers for New Years Eve that is a bit further south than Cambria?
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Angela,
You might think about San Luis Obispo or Santa Barbara if you are looking for a bigger town that will offer more activities and attractions than Cambria. For instance, Santa Barbara has bike rentals, boat trips you can book, Segway tours, beaches, downtown shopping, museums, wharf, mission, etc. Just be aware that some places may have reduced hours or be closed on NYE and New Year’s Day.
It just depends on how far you want to drive on the second day. I think from Montery to San Luis Obispo is about 3.5 hours along the coast and from Monterey to to Santa Barbara is about 4.5 to 5 hours along the coast. But Santa Barbara will put you closer to Anaheim for the next morning. Anaheim is about 2 hours or so drive from Santa Barbara (taking the quickest route) but will take longer (3 hours+) if you stay along the coast.
If you are looking for an event to celebrate New Year’s Eve, bigger towns and cities like San Lusi Obispo, Santa Maria, and Santa Barbara will have more celebration options if you are looking for a NYE event. I’d check in advance as many require pre-booking.
Hope that helps!
Jessica
Melanie Lowden Post author
Hello travel cats – fab name!
I’m ploughing through the extensive glut of information on the PCH, there is a lot…your site is great btw. My husband and I are hoping to do this in 2020 probably over about 8 days and finishing in LA/San Diego for a week.
My question at the moment is would August into September be a good time. We love the sun and I’m worried it will be cool and foggy then. Appreciate you can’t predict the weather but would welcome your insight.
Many thanks, Mel and Jim, Washington in the UK.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Melanie,
Sounds like a fabulous trip coming up!
I lived in the San Francisco Bay area for 5 years and it is often (year round) a bit cool and foggy around San Francisco in the mornings, but this tends to burn off by afternoon. San Francisco is just one of those places you often need to wear layers year round. Most towns and places right along the coast will often have fog in the mornings so I’d definitely bring a sweater/jacket for early mornings and late evenings along the coast.
Late August and early September should have warm temperatures along the route, hot temps are possible late August/early Sept. If you are looking for beach time out in the sun, I’d definitely recommend making sure you plan plenty of time around L.A. Los Angeles generally has warmer temperatures than both San Francisco (as you’d expect) and San Diego. Even though San Diego is south of Los Angeles, generally speaking, you’ll find warmer temps in L.A. and certainly if looking for hot weather, its your best bet.
Another idea if you are chasing warmer sunnier weather and it is feeling too cool along the coast is to head inland a bit, inland temps are almost always higher in California than coastal spots during the summer. For example, heading to a desert climate place like Palm Springs (about 2 hours drive from L.A.) can make a huge difference in temperature.
Hope that helps, and feel free to reach out if you have more questions as you plan your California trip!
Jessica
Melanie Lowden Post author
Thanks very much Jessica. I’ll be back for more tips and advice once we know what we are planning – best wishes, Melanie
Melanie Lowden Post author
Hi Jessica,
got our flights booked so now need a plan!
So… arrive SF 20 Aug, stay o/n @ airport hotel and pick up car next day.
Day 2 – SF to San Jose as want to do the Winchester Mystery House, Silicon Valley, half moon bay etc. Then overnight in Santa Cruz.
Day 3/4 – SC to Carmel/Monterey. Stay in Monterey for two nights (prices are better there as you suggested). Do 17 mile drive, pebble beach etc. If we stay in Monterey can we do the Big Sur from there?
Day 5/6 – Monterey to Cambria (stay two nights in Cambria). Do San Simeon/Hearst Castle/Moonstone Beach/Cambria Village
Day 7 – Cambria to San Luis Obispo – stay 1 night there? or Lompoc/Santa Monica?
Day 8 – SLO to Santa Barbara taking in Solvang. Stay Santa Barbara for two nights.
We are meeting family and plan to stay in San Diego and surrounding area for the next 9 nights but not sure if we are taking in LA but would like to do Ventura/Malibu/La Jolla.
It’s my husband’s 60th and he would like to try surfing but not right at the beginning in case he hurts something! suggestions for surfing for a complete beginner would be great.
We fly back from LA on Monday 7 September, total of 18 nights! yippee 🙂
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Melanie,
Sure, I think overall this looks good and should work well with the time that you have for this part of your trip. Some comments below:
For Day 2, the traffic in that area can be terrible (I lived in Silicon Valley for several years) so just be aware, especially if you hit the morning or late afternoon/early evening traffic on the 101. One place I recommend if you want to know more about Silicon Valley and computer history is the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, it is a good museum and has lots of cool things donated by the local tech companies. For visiting the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, I’d consider booking your tickets ahead as these are timed entry guided tours – they ask they you arrive about 30 minutes ahead to park and check in. If you are running out of time that day or want more time in San Jose or Santa Cruz, you can always drive directly from San Jose to Santa Cruz (skipping Half Moon Bay).
Day 3/4 – Yes you can usually find better lodging deals in Monterey (compared to Carmel). For Big Sur, yes, you could visit it from Monterey on Day 4, but unless you are planning to go hiking, visiting an attraction, or spending time doing something specific there, I’d just visit it on Day 5 and stop as you are driving along the coast. It is a really scenic area along the coast.
Day 5/6 – Yes, looks fine to me.
Day 7 – You definitely don’t want to spend the night on Day 7 in Santa Monica!!! I think you might have meant SLO, Lompoc, or SANTA MARIA. Santa Monica is next to LA. There are a lot of towns named “Santa” something in this area so just be careful you book the correct place. I’d probably recommend San Luis Obispo or Pismo Beach for that night. But any of those 3 will work, just depends on how many things you want to see/do that day.
Day 8 – If you want surf lessons later in your trip (but before you meet your family?), I’d recommend booking a beginners’ surfing lesson on Day 8 or 9 since you have 2 nights in Santa Barbara. Here are a couple of options and here are several more options. There are also kayaking, wildlife cruises, and stand up paddleboarding that you can do from Santa Barbara.
It looks like you have plenty of time to explore from LA to San Diego so lots to do and see once you join your family for the rest of your adventure.
Hope that helps!
Jessica
vicky guile Post author
Hi have been reading your trip over and over again to try and work out our road trip. We are family of 5 adults an travelling from San Francisco to LA.
We are in San Francisco for 5 nights over xmas before we set off
We are going over New year so the plan is as follows –
drive to Monterey from San Fran and stay three nights
Then drive to Santa Barbara, slowly, and stay one night
Head into LA for three nights as out big kids want to do day at theme park.
We will then do the normal highway back to San Francisco in one go before flying home.
Can you recommend best places to stay in LA? Hollywood area, or Santa Monica area?
And in Monterey for New Years Eve so would like nice hotel
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated
We are in S
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Vicky,
I think your PCH itinerary sounds good and allows you to explore at a fairly relaxed pace. Just be sure to leave plenty of time to get back to San Francisco if flying out the same day as the traffic can be pretty bad on the 101.
It is hard to give lodging recommendations without knowing your budget or type of places you like to stay, but if you are looking for something nicer and more in the luxury category, here are some suggestions on hotels.
For nicer hotels in Monterey for New Year’s, there is a range of options, but here are a few to consider: Monterey Plaza & Spa (along Cannery Row), Portobola Hotel (in downtown Monterey), or Sanctuary Beach Resort (outside Monterey in Marina on beach)
We like both Hollywood and Santa Monica – we actually stayed in both over the summer, but they are different. Hollywood is better for sightseeing and shopping and Santa Monica is great for the beach. It really depends on what you plan to do while in LA. I’d make a list of the things you really want to do/see and see where they are located. That might help you decide.
In Hollywood: Loews or Villa delle Stelle
Santa Monica: Casa del Mar, The Georgian, or the Huntley
Hope that helps and let us know if you have any further questions.
Wishing you a great trip to California!
Jessica
Daniela Post author
Hi Jessica!
My BF and I are planning a road trip in Sept – starting from LA to Napa. We’re going for 8 nights, 9 days and aren’t certain about how to break up the night stays and where we should focus most of our attention for the days, taking into consideration our vacay desires….
So here’s what we’re thinking below:
Santa Monica – 1 night
Santa Barbara – 1 night
Monterray – 3 nights
Napa – 2 nights
San Francisco – 2 nights
The one nighter’s, I’m not too fond of (checking in, checking out, ugh), but we’re not sure if either these locations can just be a drive through, (ie. spend a couple hours and we’re good to go), so we thought to spend one night in each location. Also, Monterray – is 3 nights too much? We were thinking it might be a good home base to do Big Sur, Monterray itself, Carmel.
We’re still thinking through accommodations for Napa Valley and San Fran…
It can all be so confusing, especially when coming to accommodations at any of these locations, cause you want to be close enough but not break the bank. However, in saying that, we’re not on an overly tight budget, we could splurge a little for hotel(s), if a nice location, but def not all accommodations.
Here are some additional places we’d like to visit (or if you think they’d be a better location for a nights stay – please let me know!)… Santa Cruz, Hearst Castle, Solvang, Cambria, etc..
Ideally, we’re looking for beach, hiking, shops, good eats, markets, wine, and we’d like to go kayaking and take SURF lessons!
Any input would be greatly appreciated to help us focus our vacation planning and get things booked and squared up!
Thanks so much in advance! Love your blog 🙂
Daniela
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Daniela,
Sounds like you have a great trip coming up and yes, I’d start booking your lodging now for your trip. If you have questions about where to stay in a particular place, feel free to ask and let me know your budget and what kind of place you are looking for.
Given your priorities, I would maybe skip the stop in Santa Monica and drive the first day to Santa Barbara, but it depends on how much time you have on your first day. I’d also consider a stop between Santa Barbara and Monterey, maybe SLO or Cambria, as that is a lot to cover in that 1 day of driving. For instance, you’ll need to allow at 3 hours for Hearst Castle if you plan to do a tour. You can see our Hearst Castle guide for more info.
But I do think you can use Monterey for a base to explore Big Sur/Monterey/Carmel/Pacific Grove so staying there 2 or 3 nights would be a good idea.
For water activities, they are best further south so given your itinerary I’d consider doing the surfing lessons and maybe kayaking in Santa Barbara. For surfing lessons, you can check out these ones and kayaking here are some places you can book.Other good places for kayaking are Morro Bay, Los Osos, and Monterey.
There are lots of great restaurants along the route and in Napa. Lots of wine regions. If wine is a big focus of your trip, you might want to also consider stops in Los Olivos and Paso Robles. But I’d consider doing these as tours, such as this half day tour from Cambria, to avoid driving so you can do tastings.
Since you will have 2 or 3 nights in Monterey, if you like food tours, you might want to take a look at this one in Carmel and this one in Monterey. We haven’t done them but they both have great reviews. In San Francisco, we have done food tours with Avital Tours.
But given your list and interests, you will definitely have to pick and choose what you really want to do and see. I’d book your hotels and then start booking any activities you really want to do so you have those set.
Hope that helps get you started. Let us know if you have more questions as you plan your trip.
Best,
Jessica
Daniela Post author
Hi Jessica!
Thank you sooo much for your detailed response!! Very much appreciated and very insightful.
In reviewing your response and going over our tentative itinerary again, we’re thinking to play it out this way:
Santa Barbara – 2 nights – surfing, state st., sterns wharf, funk zone..
-Departure day (early start in the AM!) – Solvang, then Hearst Castle
Monterray – 3 nights – Big Sur, Monterray, Carmel… and I think we’ll do the Food Tour too (thank you!!)
Napa Valley area – 2 nights – Still working on, but maybe visiting a couple wineries, do the train lunch/dinner ride?
San Fran – 2 nights – still working on, but maybe a walking tour, wharf, Lombard Street…?
We would absolutely love some recommendations for accommodations, if you wouldn’t mind? I think we’re good to go for Santa Barbara and Monterray, but need help with Napa Valley (or area) and San Francisco…
I would say our budget would be between $150US to $250US…
Also, if you have any suggestions for activities to do in Napa and San Fran that would be fantastic!
…It can be so confusing with so many options, and very little time! Ah!
Thanks again Jessica! Your insightful has been incredibly useful! 🙂
I look forward to hearing back from you.
Have a wonderful evening!
~Daniela
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Daniela,
I think that itinerary sounds good. If you know that you will be on a tight schedule for Hearst Castle, you can book your tour tickets in advance to guarantee a tour time. Although in September you should be OK to just turn up and get on a tour leaving soon, especially if you are interested in the Grand Rooms tour as that one leaves regularly. It costs extra to book in advance.
Napa Valley – Yes wineries and wine train are very popular. Lots of good restaurants, I’d recommend making reservations in advance for dinner if you have specific places in mind. I’d also recommend a stop at the Oxbow Market (its a market with high-end food stalls and vendors, cafes, restaurants). Calistoga is a popular place for hot springs and spas, so that could be an idea (if this is something you really want to do, I’d consider a hotel in Calistoga with free hot spring access). Other activities you can do in the area include kayaking, hiking, cycling, fishing, and hot air ballooning. There are several small museums and historical sites in the area as well. If you like jelly beans, there are free factory tours at Jelly Belly. My ex didn’t drink alcohol so we did a bit of everything here, and you can see our Napa Valley guide for more things to do in the area.
San Francisco – Lots of shopping, dining (good restaurants, food tours), and museums here. If this is your first visit, I’d recommend taking the cable car from Union Square to Fisherman’s Wharf (try to get there near when it starts in morning to avoid long line). The Wharf is touristy but fun to explore and Pier 39 is a popular place to go. Many people like to walk, bike, or do a Segway tour across the Golden Gate Bridge. Some of my favorite things are exploring Golden Gate Park (lots to do/see here), Alcatraz (book tickets in advance!), Land’s End hike, Legion of Honor (fine arts museum), and just walking around and exploring neighborhoods. If you enjoy markets, you’ll may want to stop at the Ferry Building.
A walking tour can be a great idea in SF, if you are looking for a longer one, we recommend this 8 hour tour by TakeWalks that covers almost all the tourist highlights in one day. When I lived in the Bay Area we also did a few walking tours with SF City Guides who focus tours on specific attractions, events, or neighborhoods. These are given by volunteers and are donations only (bring some cash).
In San Francisco, we like to stay around Union Square, just because it is central for sightseeing and near a number of public transit options. It is also next to the cable cars if you plan to take those. But you might also consider the Mission or staying around Fisherman’s Wharf depending on what you plan to do in the city. San Francisco isn’t that big and is well connected by public transit so most places should work fine as long as they are near a public transit stop.
Here are some options that should fit within your budget:
Union Square: Golden Gate Hotel (has a resident cat!) and The Hanlery
Mission: 1906 Mission (shared bathrooms, but very highly rated and good price)
Fisherman’s Wharf: Zephyr San Francisco
Hotels tend to be quite pricey in Napa (many are quite overpriced based on our experience). We like to stay in Yountville or Napa, but for your budget and since you have 2 nights, I’d also consider Calistoga as you can probably get a nicer room there. Here are some options:
Napa: Hotel Napa Valley or Wine Valley Lodge
Calistoga: Trailside Inn B&B, EuroSpa Inn, and Aurora Park Cottages
Hope that helps!
Jessica
Daniela Post author
Hi Jessica!
Thanks so much for all the recommendations! This is outstanding! 🙂
Yes, I think we may do a tour in SF and will stay near Union Square.
I also love the suggestions for Napa – Calistoga and the markets! My BF loves candy, lol, so of course once he sees your reply, he’ll be like a kid in a candy store! Lmao… no pun intended!, so we may need to do that. And of course, there will be some wine drinking going on too!
Thanks for sending all these links – I will look into your recommendations for hotels, activities, as well as your guide.
Your guidance has been so useful in our planning! I will definitely head over and follow you on social media as well.
I will circle back with you on how this pans out…. Here we come California! Woot!!
Have a wonderful day,
Daniela 🙂
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Daniela,
Glad I could be helpful and I am sure you and your boyfriend will have a wonderful trip to California no matter where you stay or what you do! It is a very beautiful part of the world.
For the Jelly Belly tours, it is south of Napa Valley in Fairfield, but you can make a stop as you are heading south into San Francisco from Napa.
We’d love to hear how it goes, and we’d love for you to sign up for our monthly newsletter as that is a good way to keep in touch, see our latest posts, and see our latest monthly travel giveaways.
Enjoy, and hope you have a wonderful trip!
Best,
Jessica
Ashley Post author
Hi! This blog is amazing! My husband and I are planning a trip in January for our 10 year anniversary. We will not get to do everything on your list. We will have 5 nights max. Flying either into San Fran or LA and departing from the opposite. I’d like to explore LA a bit because I’ve never been there. Star walk, Beverly Hills, Venice Canals… But the main reason to make the trip is everything between on Hwy 1. We would like to find the best stopping point, best sites, restaurants, etc. What would your suggested plan be?
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Ashley,
Since you want to explore LA, I’d recommend probably 2 days/1 night or 2 days/2 nights depending on how much you want to see and do in the city. Once you decide that, then you will know how many days you have along Highway 1 (3 or 4). I’d look at the towns we suggest above to stop at and see which appeal the most to draft an itinerary. Happy to take a look once you are at that stage and can give more specific recs.
Since you aren’t planning to spend time in San Francisco and want to get the most of your anniversary trip, I’d consider flying in or out of San Jose airport instead (check prices to see if similar). You can start or end your trip along Highway 1 at Santa Cruz. It is only about a 40-minute drive from Santa Cruz to the San Jose airport. It will save you time and is a much more pleasant airport to fly into/out of (used to be my local airport) than SFO.
Hope that helps!
Best,
Jessica
Ashley Post author
Thanks! I feel so lost even with the great ideas! If we start in San Francisco, end in LA, could you give me an idea on what areas we’d stop in along to way for overnights? We would want to see the Bixby Bridge/Big Sur area, Hearst Castle, Check on Monterey, Carmel by the sea. Do a quick hike possibly to explore an area. I’m just not sure what all we could see on each day and where we’d be location wise to look for overnight stays. I’d also love to hear if there’s any romantic stops, stays, or dinners along to way to celebrate our 10 year anniversary :). Is January a bad time to even consider this trip, weather/ temperature wise? This would be at most a 5 night trip with our child to get back home too. Thanks so much for your help!!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Ashley,
The first thing I would do is get your flights booked so you know the number of days, where you are flying into/out of, and your exact dates. After that you can do things like book hotels and restaurants and happy to provide more recommendations once you have an itinerary.
Based on what you want to see/do, maybe consider 1 night in Monterey, 1 night in Cambria, 1 night Santa Barbara, and then 2 nights in Los Angeles?
The weather is not usually terrible, but it will be cooler and it rains more in winter. But the coast is nice to visit year round, just don’t expect to go swimming in the ocean unless you have a wetsuit 😉
Best,
Jessica
Ashley Post author
Thanks! We will be flying in to San Francisco on 1/14/20, arriving mid morning. Flying out of LA on 1/20. I still can’t wrap my head around where to spend the night and what we’ll see and do along the way. Main things are Monterey wharf, maybe the aquarium. 17 mile drive (is this just part of a day trip to another location or do we stay in the area over night?). Hearst Castle. Santa Barbara, possibly bike around to Stearns Wharf, Mission, Superior Court? As far as LA goes, I think I have enough in mind to keep us busy the last night or 2. Again, I’d like to hike if it was a great location or must see area. Spa trips would be nice and good restaurant ideas :). Could you give me an itinerary based off these dates?
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Ashely,
So maybe this as your itinerary?
1/14 – fly into SFO, pick up car, 1 night in Monterey
1/15 – 1 night in Cambria
1/16 – 1 night Santa Barbara
1/17 – 1/19 – 2 nights in Los Angeles
1/20 – Fly home from LAX
17-Mile Drive is just a private road that you can drive and is near Carmel/Monterey/Pacific Grove area. So, based on above itinerary, you could do it on the 15th if you want to on your drive to Cambria.
Yes, there are lots of activities you could do in Santa Barbara and you might want to consider joining a biking, kayaking, or wine tasting tour. You can see some options here.
Hope that helps!
Jessica
Shanu Post author
Heyyy thank you for this amazing article!!
It answers almost all the doubts in ones mind !
Just wanna know one thing I’m a solo female traveller from India and I’m not comfortable driving in the US
I would like a free quote for the departure on Monday, 26 Aug 2019 for 1 traveller.This is what I wanna do !
Start from San Francisco
Tell me the route please
I want to visit Napa Carmel 17 th mile drive Hearst Castle Santa Barbara LA and San Diego
What mode of transport should I choose?
I thought of taking the tours viator etc have to offer but then they leave u very little time n fredom to soak in the place !
Please helppp !
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Shanu,
I think this 3 day tour is likely going to be one of your only options, it is a 3 day tour from SF to LA and covers all the places you want to visit I think. The latest reviews are all positive which is a good sign and it is a small group tour (max of 8 persons). Prices depend on date of departure and type of lodging you want, so you can fill that in and it will give you the price.
However, for August, note that you will need to depart on either August 25th or August 29th to do this tour. So if either of those dates can work for you, I’d book now if you want to do that one as it is sold out for the rest of August.
Hope that helps!
Jessica
Jules Post author
Hi !
After reading everything, we booked our trip to California august 27 😀 . We booked a car in SFO, returning it at LAX. We booked 2 nights in SF, 3 nights in the Monterey bay (in Aromas) in a ranch, 3 nights in Cambria also in ranch, 2 nights in Santa Barbara and 2 nights in LA (Encino) . Thank you for all the wonderful advices ! You’ll be in our pocket while we’re there !
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Jules, So glad you have all the main things booked for your trip and wishing you a wonderful drive along the Pacific Coast Highway. Best, Jesica
Ellen Post author
What a great, informative post! I have read a number of the comments too. We are looking to do a PCH trip in early October to celebrate our
20th anniversary. We are much more interested in small towns, scenic views, hiking, and kayaking than exploring big cities. In the comments I’ve appreciated the idea of two nights in locations rather than having to move every night. Would you have any top overnight suggestions based on our interests? We do not have flights booked yet but would likely travel Sat-Sat. Thanks!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Ellen,
Yes, I think if you have the time for 2 night stays, they can really make your trip feel a bit less rushed and you have more time to do hiking and explore the towns you overnight in.
It sounds like you will likely have 7 nights, so I’d probably spend 6 nights in between San Francisco and Los Angeles since you are not that interested in exploring either city. I’d fly into SFO (or Oakland or San Jose) and then fly out of LAX (or Long Beach). But it is good to be in or near LA (or Long Beach) for your flight out so you don’t need to be rushed or worry about traffic on your final day.
Some thoughts – I think any of these would make good 1 or 2 night stops:
Monterey / Carmel – The harbor and coastlines around Monterye are good places for kayaking and spotting marine animals. The Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, not far from Carmel, is a really nice place for walking and hiking. Carmel is a great town to walk around with lots of nice shops, galleries, etc. Either Monterey or Carmel could make a nice base, or you can also consider next door Pacific Grove.
Big Sur – Very scenic area and there are a number of hiking opportunities around Big Sur in the three adjacent parks in the area: Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Andrew Molera State Park, and Limekiln State Park.
Los Osos / Baywood Park / Morro Bay (all next to one another) – Good place for kayaking, stand up paddleboarding, and for walks, wildlife, and hikes. Montaña de Oro State Park and Morro Bay State Park good for hiking, also Sweet Spring Nature Reserve great place for seeing birds.
Santa Barbara – Although a somewhat larger city, there are lots of hiking opportunities in the parks and preserves north of the city, especially within Los Padres National Forest. Also kayaking tours and rentals available at the harbor, you can see some options here. You might also consider a trip over to the Channel Islands State Park which has kayaking, nice scenery, and hiking opportunities. For the Channel Islands, I think you can head over by boat from Ventura, Oxnard, or Santa Barbara. Catalina Island is another options as well which you can get to from around the LA area.
Hope that helps, and wishing you a wonderful 20th anniversary!
Jessica
Grace Wark Post author
I don’t even know how to begin to thank you for this incredibly informative page. Just booked a trip last night starting in San Francisco and ending in San Diego and I have been stuck with where to stay and what to do. This has helped immensely. Still need a few pointers are San Diego but that’s a different story. Thank you again. This is amazing!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Grace, Thanks so much for taking the time to comment and letting us know that our PCH itinerary and guide was helpful in planning your trip to California. We were just in San Diego a couple of weeks ago so if you have any specific questions, we may be able to help. Enjoy your trip! Jessica
Grace Wark Post author
OMG – definitely! So the whole plan is to fly into San Francisco and fly out of San Diego a week later. We’ve been to San Francisco so we don’t need to spend time there but I wanted to stop somewhere around the whole Carmel, Big Sur area and stay overnight. Must see that sea lion beach and must stop in Santa Barbara before showing my husband around LA and somehow spending the day at Disney before heading to San Diego. The details are a little murky because I want to do everything but I’m not sure I can cram it all in one week.
As for San Diego, i need to know what neighborhood to stay in.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Grace,
Yes, lots of possibilities!
For San Diego, the two areas we have stayed in are the Gaslamp District (great downtown area full of restaurants, bars, and some museums/attractions) and Coronado (more quiet area with large sandy beach and grand old resort, easy to use bicycles here). We can recommend both. If you are traveling with kids, you might also want to check out Mission Beach area which is a popular spot for families.
But it really depends on what you most want to see/do there as you might want to stay nearby if there is one must-see attraction and you only have one day. Some of the biggest attractions in the city are the San Diego Zoo, U.S.S. Midway, attractions of Balboa Park, and beaches.
Hope that helps!
Jessica
Grace Wark Post author
Great! I’ll look in both Gaslamp and Coronado. Just my husband and I. Thank you again.
Any restaurant and/or hotel recommendations?
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Grace,
On Coronado, we can recommend taking a look at the Hotel Marisol and 1906 Lodge. In the Gaslamp Quarter we have stayed at the Marriott Gaslamp Quarter as we had Marriott points to use, good location and what’d you expect from a Marriott. But you can check out more options for the Gaslamp Quarter here.
We don’t really have any restaurant recs, but there are lots of good places to eat in the Gaslamp Quarter and you can stroll along and find something pretty easily as there are lots of options. On Coronado we ate at Eno Pizza at Hotel del Coronado – the hotel is worth seeing (largest wooden hotel in USA; used in films like Some Like it Hot) but the food at this specific restaurant was not great so can not recommend it, but there looked to be better options elsewhere on Coronado.
Hope that helps!
Jessica
Grace Wark Post author
Again – thank you so very much for all of this! You have truly made my life easier!
Lulu Post author
Flying in and out of Oakland, we have 7 nights and 8 full days in August, a teenager wanting to see San Francisco and surrounding schools, and parents that want good outdoor time along PCH for a respite from Houston heat. Hearst Castle would probably be the furthest south I’d like to go, priority being both outdoor (simple, not strenuous) family time and satisfying the teeanager’s urban curiosity. Could you please recommend how to divide our hotel stays? Number of nights in San Francisco, Big Sur, Cambria? And is it worth driving up to Point Reyes instead of going too far south? We’ve never been to this part of CA so anything will be beautiful to us. Have loved reading about all your travels. Thank you.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Lulu,
Yes, if urban is a one of the priorities then maybe 3 days/nights in San Francisco and the rest along the Pacific Coast Highway. So then I’d pick up your car on the morning you want to leave SF as we would not recommend a car in the city.
Point Reyes is a beautiful area (we got engaged on a beach there) so if you don’t mind heading north, I’d recommend, especially if the weather is forecast to be pleasant. Other nice outdoors parks and areas that might be within your reach on this trip which offer a variety of shorter walking/hiking are Big Bassin State Park (CA’s first state park), Muir Woods, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, and Montaña de Oro State Park. All are great for different reasons although note in August it will be hotter than usual so do keep in mind when planning visits that mornings and early evenings are going to be better on hot days. Lots of chances to see redwoods at many of the above.
If you do head north to Point Reyes, I’d add Muir Woods since you will be passing by. Then you could maybe leave SF earlier in the morning and visit those in the morning and afternoon and then maybe start your journey south on Highway 1 in the late afternoon/early evening and maybe overnight that day in Half Moon Bay (nice beaches).
Then maybe do 1 night in a town like Santa Cruz or Monterey (depending on which is more interesting to your family), and then maybe 2 nights in Cambria. 2 nights in Cambria will plenty of time to see Hearst Castle and explore other nearby attractions and towns.
For outdoor water adventures we like Morro Bay and Los Osos where it is easy to do kayaking, stand up paddleboarding, boat trips, etc. if that is of interest. We often see seals, otters, seabirds etc. in the bay and estuary (as well as in several other spots along this region including the Monterey Bay area).
From Cambria is it about a 3.5 to 4 hour drive to Oakland via 101 so just make sure you leave plenty of time to return and definitely recommend taking the main highway (not driving back up Highway 1).
Hope that helps, and wishing you a great trip to SF and down part of the PCH!
Jessica
Natasha henington Post author
Hi Jessica,
Really hoping you can help with our honeymoon itinerary! We are planning a 14 night PCH road trip this September- October and have the below route at the moment:
Flying UK to SF and back from LAX, away for 2 weeks
SF 3 nights
Napa/sonoma 2 nights
Carmel 2 nights
Big sur 1 night (Ventana inn)
Santa Barbara 1 night
LA West Hollywood 2 night
Laguna/Huntington/Newport 3 nights
We dropped Lake Tahoe and Yosemite as before it was looking very rushed and busy!
Things I’m not sure on.. is the drive from big sur to Santa Barbara too long? Some people split this up and others don’t..
Any tips on which beach location is beat for pure relaxation honeymoon couple last 3 nights? May do a day trip to catalina island, but want a base to stay and not too many crowds (will be here from thurs-Sunday)
Thank you!!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Natasha,
Sounds like an exciting honeymoon trip!
Yes, I do agree that the less stops and the longer you can overnight in a town or city, the more relaxing it will be for your both. Since it is your honeymoon, you may want to try to avoid 1 night stays as much as possible.
Carmel and Big Sur are pretty close together, so I would suggest having the two nights in Carmel and then maybe use the other night to stay in Santa Barbara or another town between Carmel and Santa Barbara.
The drive from Big Sur to Santa Barbara is pretty long, about 4.5 to 5 hours normally if driving along the coast. So it depends on how much you want to stop and see and do along the way that day before getting to Santa Barbara.
There are not many beach locations around LA without crowds but since you are going in Sept/Oct it should not be too bad. I would recommend choosing a hotel location within walking distance of a good beach in any of those areas (all have nice beaches). Then you can easily go to the beach as much as you want whenever you want.
Hope that helps!
Jessica
Natasha Post author
Hi jessica
Thanks for that 🙂
I think I kind of fell in love with the Ventana inn hotel at big sur as it’s on offer on my birthday! However i think you’re right that night would be better spent splitting up the trip from big sur to Santa Barbara, and stop in Cambria or Pismo?
That’s good to know about the beaches I’ll get looking at hotels!
Tasha
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Natasha, It is your trip so definitely go/stay where you like! But there are lots of great places to stay along the coast so I would just do what you think will work best with the time you have and pace you want to set.
If you decide to stay in Cambria, I’d recommend checking out J Patrick House B&B or El Colibri – those would both be suitable for a honeymoon trip depending on the kind of place you want. But there are several options in the Cambria and San Simeon area and Pismo could be a great spot too, especially if more interested in beaches.
Best,
Jessica
Kim Post author
Hi,
My husband and I are planning a trip and would appreciate any help.
-Fly into Fresno and rent a car
-Stay 2 nights at a VRBO just outside of Sequoia and explore Sequoia and Kings Canyon
-Stay 4 nights in Carmel by the Sea at the Talley Ho Inn, exploring PCH and surrounding areas
-Stay 2 nights at a VRBO in SLO
-Stay 1 night at Harris Ranch Inn (because it’s only an hour away from the airport and we have a morning flight)
-Fly out of Fresno
We have our hotels/VRBO’s booked already. But the SLO one seems expensive so we’re thinking about cancelling and maybe staying in Paso Robles instead. Which do you recommend?
We would also like some advice with regards to things to do. We are in our 50’s and I had knee surgery recently, so we can’t do long walks/hikes. We’re pretty low key and are more interested in nature and history than nightlife. We’re not into wine but enjoy things like food processing tours. We have an olive oil processing tour planned. We are also looking for animal encounters that are more unique/close up than a visit to the zoo or aquarium.
Thanks for your help!
Kim
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Kim,
It is about a 30 to 40 minute drive between Paso Robles and SLO so definitely a good alternative if you can’t find a reasonable place within your budget to stay in SLO and don’t mind being further from the coast. Paso Robles is most known for its wineries and vineyards but it also has some nice museums and parks. Another alternative for lodging to SLO might be checking out Morro Bay and Los Osos. We really liked the Back Bay Inn but not sure how much it might be this time of year.
I think you’ll find plenty to do and I would recommend stopping at the individual local visitor centers for recommendations and advice about short walks, scenic views, and places to see birds and wildlife in that area.
We list some of the main historical sites and museums in our descriptions above for each town/city. But Fresno, which I don’t know too well, has a few museums and some historical homes you can tour that you may want to check out. Around the Monterey area, you can explore Cannery Row (there are info placards you can read as you walk around), National Steinbeck Center, and visit the Point Pinos lighthouse. Around Cambria, you have Hearst Castle in San Simeon of course and you can follow a historical walking route around Cambria. For Hearst Castle, there are routes that are accessible and have few stairs so you may want to join one of those tours.
There are many historical Catholic mission sites along the California coast, many of which are open to visitors, including ones in Carmel, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara.
For a few wildlife related things, you can often see sea otters and other critters around Monterey. Elephant seals are often viewable from a viewpoint of the Elephant Seals Rookery at San Simeon and I’d recommend a stop at the Costal Discovery Center to ask about local wildlife in the area. In Los Osos (and other towns), there are kayaking tours you can do where you have a chance to see wildlife. Boat tours are possible from many towns where you have a chance to see whales, birds, and other marine animals. The 17 Mile Drive around Pebble Beach is a good way to see some scenery without much walking and there are often birds and seals you can see (best to bring binoculars).
Hope that helps you get started!!
Jessica
Nina Post author
Thank you for this very informative article. My husband and I will be driving from SF to LA from Dec. 26 to Dec. 30th. We have five full days to explore. Would that be enough? After reading your piece, I wonder if it might be better to wait until we have more time. It doesn’t seem enough. We were hoping to stay two nights in SF, two in Carmel, one in LA. How does that sound? Priorities to visit: red woods and other beautiful nature sites. Possibly Hearst Castle as well. Not sure.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Nina,
It really depends if you have more time or not as you can certainly spend more than 5 days along the route. As outlined, you won’t have much time to explore LA and area, but if you are OK with that, you can at least see the highlights along the route.
Some places you may want to plan to visit for redwoods that are sort of along your route include Muir Woods National Monument, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, and Roaring Camp Railroads near Santa Cruz.
If a priority is redwoods and nature, you might want to reconsider your trip to include more of California’s state and national parks such as Redwoods National Parks, Yosemite National Park, Kings Canyon, etc. if you are more interested in that.
Hope that helps!
Jessica
Christine McLeod Post author
Hi, I’ve found your itinerary very helpful in planning our family trip in September. Myself, my husband, and our son (13) have 3 weeks for our road trip around California. We fly into San Francisco and have 3 nights there before heading down the coast. Most of the start of the trip is planned, but I’m unsure about the latter part. So far:
3 nights San Francisco (booked)
1 night Monterey (booked)
1 night ? SLO? Pismo?
1 night Santa Barbara (booked)
4 nights Anaheim (booked)
3 nights San Diego (booked)
1 night Palm Springs (not booked)
1 night Visalia or somewhere around there to break the journey (not booked)
2 nights Yosemite (booked)
4 nights spare – probably Lake Tahoe and ??
It’s the bit between San Diego and Yosemite I’m unsure about. We only have 2 nights to get to Yosemite and it’s a fair distance to cover. Is that realistic? Palm Springs is optional (but the aerial tramway appeals!) – it is only in there because we originally were going to include Joshua Tree and Death Valley, before deciding that was too much to attempt in the time frame. Would love to hear your thoughts on our itinerary. We’re quite keen to leave the last few nights unplanned so we can just go where the day takes us!
Thanks so much,
Christine
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Christine,
I think that all sounds doable. SLO and Pismo Beach have different vibes but either would work fine between Monterey and Santa Barbara. They are only a 15 to 20 minute drive apart along Highway 1. SLO is a bigger city and has more lodging options and Pismo Beach is a smaller town.
I think the San Diego to Palm Springs drive makes sense if you don’t want to have a long drive and you can spend the afternoon doing some things there. It is also right next to a national forest (San Bernardino National Forest) so plenty of hiking opportunities as well.
On the way to Yosemite the next day, you could stop to explore cities like Bakersfield or Fresno and/or a park or forest like Sequoia National Forest and Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks. It really depends on what you want to do/see on where you might want to overnight.
If you want to leave open the last 4 nights, then I would book them once you are in California. But Lake Tahoe and Sacramento are a couple of options to consider. Just note if you are considering a third night in Yosemite, I would reserve it in advance as they often sell out in advance unless you are camping.
But I think no matter where you end up at the end, you’ll have a wonderful time. It sounds like a great trip!
Hope that helps!
Jessica
Anna Beck Post author
Loved reading your post. A good guide for a road trip. I’d be glad if you could guide me and give me tips for a road trip I plan in September with friends. My friends fly in to SFO from India, while we ( husband and 9 month ( then) boy fly from Dallas). We’ve covered most of the touristy things in SFO ( golden bridge, Pier 39, tram ride, city tour) hence reaching 2-3 days later than our friends. Appreciate your help in planning a 7 days itinerary that includes activities like beach time, hiking ( safe with 9 month baby), city walks etc, winery visit, beer breweries etc.
Ques
1) what would be your recommended rental vehicle since I have a car seat and stroller and lots of luggage ( friends from India).
2) Budget and safe places to stay. Driving long is not an issue so I don’t mind lodging in a slightly lesser known city, village than the main touristy destination.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Anna,
Sounds like you have a fun trip coming up. There could be lots of places you could visit and it depends partially on your interests. Where exactly are you planning to end the trip (e.g., are you ending in Los Angeles or planning to leave out of SFO?) as that will help determine your route? Also we covered most of the towns along the Pacific Coast Highway above, which ones sound interesting to you? Which attractions sound like places you want to visit?
If you are interested in wineries, then there is obviously Napa and Sonoma north of San Francisco and you may want to book a private tour (or join a group tour) with your friends that leaves from San Francisco to avoid driving. Or you can visit some of the Central Coast wineries as there are a number of wineries around Los Olivos/Santa Rosa/Santa Barbara as well. It just depends on the types of wines you enjoy.
For city walks and city sightseeing, you basically have San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, and San Diego in terms of larger places as most other cities/towns/villages are pretty small comparatively if you are looking for more city walks and sightseeing. There are lots of forests, parks, and towns with walking/hiking trails in between.
For the rental car, I’d consider a larger car or a minivan or something like that. You have lots of rental car options from SFO or San Francisco and all major rental car companies are there (Budget, Thrifty, Enterprise, Hertz, etc. etc.). So I’d look at ones that can seat 5-6 people as you’ll need extra room for baby and car seat and one that has a trunk or storage adequate for the amount of luggage.
It is not really easy to suggest places to stay without knowing specifically where you want to overnight. I would come up with a draft itinerary and then I can provide more help in specific suggestions for where to stay. Hotels are going to be difficult to find at a budget prices in some places, but since you are traveling as a small group with a baby, I’d consider self-catering options such as Airbnb as then you can save money on lodging as well as food as you have the option to cook yourself in most places.
Hope that helps, and happy to give more suggestions once you have a clearer idea of your route.
Best,
Jessica
Ezequiel Post author
Hi Jessica!
My wife and I (just married, 32 years old) are planning a road trip to the Pacific Coast Highway, from LA to SF between July 3rd and 14th (11 nights)
We are thinking of staying 2/3 nights in LA, 1 night in Santa Barbara, 1/2 nights in Morro Bay, 1 or 2 nights in Monterey or Carmel (which one would you recommend?) and finally 3 nights in SF.
What do you thoughts on this itinerary? Would you change anything? I know it will be a busy time…
Thank you very much!
Greetings from Argentina,
Ezequiel
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Ezequiel,
That itinerary sounds fine to me and will give you plenty of time to see many of the highlights along the Pacific Coast Highway. Monterey and Carmel are very close to one another and we’ve overnighted in both, both offer attractions, shops, and restaurants. It’s a short drive from one to the other so you can easily explore both.
I’d definitely book your accommodation soon as many of the popular hotels and B&Bs along the route book up well in advance in summer. We are heading back in mid July and several of our favorite places were already fully booked for our dates. We normally search and book lodging using Booking.com.
Hope that helps, and wishing you a wonderful PCH road trip with your wife 😉 Just let us know if you have any further questions.
Best,
Jessica
Gloria Post author
My husband and I are planning a road trip to the Pacific Coast Highway and hoping to see as much as we can.
Your tips and advice are very helpful, thank you for posting this.
Laurence Post author
Hi Gloria,
Thanks for taking the time to comment and let know know you found our PCH information helpful for planning your trip. Just let us know if you have any questions.
Jessica
Corey street Post author
Hi loved reading the post! Me my mother, brother and dad are visiting in October and we aren’t sure how to plan the trip out. We arrive in San Francisco 28th September and we have to drive down to San Luis Obispo for a wedding Thursday 3rd October – Monday 7th October. We then want to make our way down the rest of the coast as we fly home from lax Friday 11th October.
We want to see the best bits without cramming in too much to such a short time. We will be hiring a car in San Francisco and dropping it off at LAX.
Any help is much appreciated
Thanks
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Corey, That sounds like a lovely trip with a nice mix of family wedding and family vacation time. I think you have plenty of time to explore, but how you plan the trip will depend on whether you’ve been to this area before and if you want time in the cities. For example, you could easily spend 3 days each in both San Francisco and Los Angeles, but if you have all been before or are not interested in larger cities, you can instead spend your time on the smaller towns along the coast. Or a mixture of big city and smaller coastal towns.
Planning as a family I am sure makes it a bit more tricky as there are 4 people’s interests to keep in mind. But if you give me more detailed info, I can provide some suggestions on how you could divide your time. For example knowing your family’s preferences about city versus small town, must-see attractions/museums/activities, what your family enjoys doing most on vacation, budget, towns that sound of interest, etc.
Best,
Jessica
Ed Post author
I really enjoyed reading about your trip. My wife and I are planning on Flying in to San Fransico on July 2 heading north to sonoma country for a couple of days than back to San Fran for July 4 and stay a couple days before we head down the cost stopping along the way. We need to be in San Diego by July 12 for the start of a conference. We will be in the San Diego area leaving on July 17th.
Any suggestion for the road we should be taking, we like to see unique sites and places we can stay. We like cute off the path cottages, b&b, Inns instead of the standard hotels. We are from CT, and normally do a long drive into Vermont every year during foliage so we like driving and eating a locally owned places.
Any help would be great as this is our first time to the west coast.
Thankyou
Ed
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Ed,
It sounds like you will have 5 to 6 days, so I would definitely take Highway 1 along the coast as you have plenty of time to enjoy it without being rushed. It will offer the best scenery and there are lots of small towns to stop and explore (as well as beaches, forests, and reserves) along the route.
You won’t have any trouble finding small B&B’s, inns and boutique hotels along the route or local restaurants. In fact, in some places, you’ll have a hard time finding chain restaurants or hotels. If you like seafood, lots of tasty seafood places in many of the towns.
Just a few examples of some of the nicer inns and B&Bs we can recommend as examples are the Mill Rose Inn in Half Moon Bay, The Lincoln Green Inn (lovely cottages) in Carmel-by-the-Sea and The J Patrick House B&B in Cambria. You also have unique places like the Mission Ranch Hotel which is owned by Clint Eastwood or the option to stay in a lighthouse such as this one.
If you have 6 nights, I would consider picking 3 towns along different sections of the route to overnight for 2 night and then exploring from each of them so you are not having to move each day. If 5 night, I’d do 3 towns, 2 2 nighters and 1 1 nighter. I would probably aim to arrive in San Diego at least 1 day before your conference to get settled in and have a bit of time to explore San Diego a bit before it starts.
Hope that helps and feel free to reach out as your itinerary comes together.
Best,
Jessica
Edward J Sheehy, Jr Post author
Jessica,
Thankyou for your response. I have put together this itinerary so far. Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated. As you are well aware of for a first timer road trip like this it could get alittle overwhelming.
We land in San Fran and have rented a car (not a convertible, I can not believe the cost.) Thankyou I have taken your advise and rented a more reasonable jeep so we can spend that money experience life.
July 2 and 3 Healdsburg area (looking at Raford Inn) – Tour the local wineries – Suggestions ?
July 4 and 5 San Fran (Marriott Fisherman warf) -Tour city and see Alcatraz, Golden Gate Bridge – Suggestion on how?
July 6 and 7 Carmel by the Sea (looking at Lamp Ligher Inn) your suggestion was booked – Tour area along with Big Sur – Suggestion?
July 8 San Louis Opisbo (Madonna House) – On way to this area stop at Hearst Castle in Cambria
July 9 ?? Santa Barabara
July 10 ??
July 11 ??
July 12 Arrive in the morning in San Diego.
July 12-16 See San Diego Area – Suggestion?
My conference is only in the morning from for a few hours and have the rest of the time free. We have plan with some other people attending to see the zoo on the 13.
Thankyou for all your help.
Ed
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Ed,
Glad you are making progress on planning your trip to California. Yes, prices are high in this part of California so I would expect to pay a bit more for everything from hotels to fuel to food.
For winery tours, I’d recommend booking a tour, such as this one, so you don’t have to drive (no need for designated driver or limited visits) and a guide can help get you into wineries and do the tastings which will be pre-arranged for you. Or you can even get around with a route map and bike, such as this self guided bike tour.
For Alcatraz, you need to book tickets in advance as they usually sell out well in advance in summer, you can see about all the details and our visit here. However, if they are sold out on a particular date, you’ll need to book a guided tour, such as this one, that includes a ticket to get on the island.
Before Carmel, you might consider doing the 17 mile drive in Pebble Beach.
The Madonna Inn is definitely a popular place and it’s a unique hotel. For Santa Barbara if you are looking for B&B’s maybe Cheshire Cat Inn or Secret Garden Inn?
For the 10th & 11th maybe consider a night or two in or around LA if you want to explore the city? Or consider a day exploring either the Channel Islands or Catalina Island (can take boat trips)? There are also lots of beach communities between LA and San Diego you can explore as well.
I don’t really have any additional recs for San Diego, but top attractions are Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo, and U.S.S. Midway. But there should be lots of travel guides and guidebooks out there for top attractions to visit and you have lots of time to explore!
Hope that helps!
Jessica
L Post author
Hi, we are planning a low/med budget trip in Sept to Humboldt County for a couple of days. Then we will head south to LA.
I found your article to be very informative. Thanks you.
Would you recommend 101 or 1? Are there places to avoid? Like Compton and Stockton, etc. we prefer the small towns, so should we just go down route 1? We are only, sadly, doing a day or two down as were coming from the east coast and our time is limited. Thanks
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi L,
Umm, coming from Humboldt County, it is about an 11 hour drive from Eureka to Los Angeles using the most direct route, so I’d opt for the fast route if you only have a day or two to make it to your flight. The fastest route is probably mainly staying on I-5 with some dips onto Highway 101 or mostly using 101.
Highway 1 would take considerably longer and I would not recommended it with so little time, and if you encounter delays or closures on this route, it could really ruin your trip if you are in a hurry. Also the accommodation and dining options are going to be more expensive along the coast than further inland in most cases.
I don’t know the towns along the I-5 or 101 as well as Highway 1 but some towns (and smaller cities) to consider making a stop on your way down: Redding, Santa Rosa, Healdsburg, Petaluma, Lodi, Paso Robles, Santa Maria, Solvang, Los Olivos, and Pasadena. Some of these are along I-5 and some along 101 and some are just a short detour off one of them.
I’d maybe choose 2 to 3 spots you want to stop and explore along the way down and then plan your route accordingly. With 10 hours of driving (without stops), you’ll want at least one overnight stop (ideally two) before reaching LA from Humboldt County.
In terms of places to avoid, you’ll be on a major highway most of the drive so I wouldn’t worry about where you drive through but I would read a little about where you plan to overnight. All the towns we mentioned would be fine overnight stops or just day stops to visit a museum, winery, or other attraction or have lunch.
Hope that helps, and do let us know if you have further questions as you plan your California driving route!
Best,
Jessica
Joelle Post author
Hi!!! Thanks for your article really helpful.
We are planning to visit SFC doing a circular trip for 20 days ( Yosemite/Death Valley/Las Vegas/Grand Canyon/Los Angeles/SFC)…so from LA to SFC through Highway 1 .
We have a doubt: Do it with one or two stops? What you recommend us??..Where you suggest to stopped?? We are a family of three and we always like little towns , special places , nice restaurants etc etc
Thanks!
Joelle
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Joelle, If you like little towns then I would recommend 2 nights along the PCH. Most of the rest of the places in your list are really big cities or will be busy parks/attractions so it looks like your only chance to spend time in small towns along your route.
You can either choose one town to spend 2 nights in or have two 1 nights stops. I would look at the list in the article of our favorite stops and see which one or two appeal most to you. If you are looking for someone around the halfway point, then you might want to stop in San Simeon, Cambria, or Morro Bay.
Hope that helps. Let me know if you have further questions.
Best,
Jessica
Ingrid Post author
Thanks Jessica. Can you say anything about Cayucos ?
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Ingrid, Cayucos is a very small town along the Central Coast. It has a nice sandy beach (like most towns on the list) and all the general small town amenities. It has a pier which is popular spot for locals who enjoy fishing and also people do deep sea fishing trips from here. Also good for just enjoying the beach, surfing, boating, and there are some walking/hiking trails around. But it has less lodging and restaurant options than some of the other recommended places and no must-see attractions, but could be a nice stop if you just want to relax in a small seaside town. Also a fairly short driving distance from San Simeon, Cambria, and Morro Bay so could also make a good base for a couple of days. Hope that helps! Jessica
Joelle Post author
Hi Again!!
We have finally decide to do two stops between Los Angeles to SFC.
So what would be your recommendations ?? We would prefer little towns rather than touristic towns
Thanks!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Joelle,
Just about all the towns along the coast are small and touristy as most places along this route rely on tourism, especially in the summer months. But some less so than others. I’d recommend maybe Pacific Grove or Carmel-by-the-Sea for stop #1 and then maybe Los Osos, Santa Maria, or Pismo Beach for stop #2. I’d take a look at the tourism websites for each (listed at the end of each section) and also see what lodging is available for the dates of your stops to help you decide.
Hope that helps!
Jessica
kim Post author
Hi,
We are travelling over from the UK on the 21st October to San Francisco – 2 nights booked in SF and then heading down to Santz Cruz for 1 night and we have to end up in LA for the 30th to fly home – my husband isn’t a lover of cities, but we have our 2 girls 14 and 11 with us as well….. where would you recommend staying on route to keep everyone happy – we love walking and nature as well as sport etc.
Many thanks
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Kim,
None of the places between SF and LA are really large cities, so really most of the towns should be a good fit for your husband if he prefers towns. Maybe add a night to Santa Cruz (its a smaller university city), and choose a couple other towns along the route (perhaps Monterey and Morro Bay) and then spend 2-3 days exploring Los Angeles and that area before flying home. That sort of divides your time between large cities (5 nights) and smaller cities/towns (4 nights).
You’ll be able to find hiking, boating, and other outdoors activities in most of the towns along the route.
2 nights SF
2 nights Santa Cruz (or add 1 night elsewhere to a smaller town)
1 night Monterey
1 night Morro Bay or Los Osos
3 nights LA
Hope that helps. Feel free to reach out if you have further questions once you finalize your route!
Best,
Jessica
Wayne Post author
Hello I am traveling to San Fan in late July with my wife and 10 month daughter old, its my first trip down PCH so I am excited. We plan on starting in San Fran and flying out of San Diego with about 7 or 8 days to accomplish what we need to make this a great trip. We plan on stopping half-way for a night somewhere along Hwy 1 but we are still unsure where. Any suggestions? We want to visit Santa Cruz for sure and stay in San Fran for 2-3 nights and San Diego 2 or 3 nights. What are some other stops you recommend along the way done the PCH? What are some activities you recommend we do in San Fran and San Diego? Also how will traffic be in late July?
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Wayne, A number of the towns and main activities for each are summarized in the article. Did any of those stick out other than Santa Cruz? If so, those towns might be good ones to consider as overnight stops. Obviously some activities are better suited for traveling with a baby than others.
A halfway point between SF and LA is Cambria or San Simeon. If you are looking for a place halfway between SF and San Diego, you might consider Pismo Beach, Santa Maria, or Santa Barbara. Just note that is still several hours of driving on both days if you only overnight once along the route between SF and SD.
July is one of the busiest vacation months, so expect plenty of traffic along Route 1 – it may be slow moving in some places. So be prepared to take it slow if you choose the coastal route. Also lodging will book up in some of the smaller towns where there is limited lodging, so I would definitely recommend booking in advance. Note some of the B&B’s and boutique hotels along the route don’t accept young children so be sure to check before booking.
Hope this helps!
Best,
Jessica
Wayne Post author
Thank you so much that was very helpful, we had no idea some places don’t accept young children I will look out for that!
Thanks again
Roberto Post author
Hey Jessica & Laurence,
first of all – thank you for the great, detailed article! I’m planning my first solo road trip from LA to SF at the end of May. I will depart in the (early) morning from LA and plan to arrive at SF by 5pm on the next day. I could also sacrifice one day of stay in LA (from 3-4 days to 2-3) to add one more day to the roadtrip, but I’m still unsure. Do you have any suggestions on where to stop along the way, given the time, and where to spend the night? I’m not into drinking, but I’m in for everything else.
I’m sorry if this was already asked but I got a bit overwhelmed by all of the choices and your advice would be super precious to clear up my doubts.
Thanks!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Roberto, You can obviously drive it all in one day and make a few stops along the way, but it will be a long day of driving, especially if you encounter traffic along the way. If you have the time, I would recommend making an overnight stop to make it a more relaxed journey. I’d see if any of the towns along the way as described in the article strike you as a place you’d want to overnight.
If you are heading north I’d maybe consider Monterey or Santa Cruz, both have some attractions, restaurants, beaches. If you are looking for a younger and more lively vibe, Santa Cruz is a good place to stop as it has a local university, a downtown area, market, and the large beach boardwalk area.
However, if your primary aim of your trip is to spend time in San Francisco, you can get from LA to SF much faster just taking the 101 and avoiding the traffic and slower roads along the coast. So it of course all depends on what you are most interested in doing 😉
Best,
Jessica
Dor Smith Post author
Hi Jessica and Laurence,
I’m planning this trip for June next year. We have 2 weeks and would like to visit Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, and Yosemite as well as some of your top 15 places on the PCH. I know this might be a bit ambitious, but is it possible? What would you suggest. We will have an 18yr old and 16yr old, so want them to see as much as possible.
I’ve only just discovered your website today and I think it’s absolutely fantastic!
Many thanks
Dor
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Dor, It is of course possible to fit that all in a 2 week trip but it will be a bit rushed. So it depends how much you want to be able to explore in any one city or park, and how relaxing of a trip you want. If you want a more relaxed trip, I’d recommend limiting your 2 weeks to California as there is so much to see without adding in Nevada or AZ, but it depends on your priorities and what everyone wants to see. Also if you think you’ll be back in the Western USA again or not.
If you want to send over a sample itinerary of what you are thinking and how many days in each place, and when you fly in and out etc. I am happy to provide advice on it and let you know if I think it is feasible. Also good to know if you have specific sightseeing priorities (e.g., beaches, city shopping, parks, wildlife, museums, etc.) or must-see attractions. Best, Jessica
Dor Smith Post author
Hi, thanks for the reply! The rough plan is to fly to Vegas, take in the grand canyon, then potentially drive to LA. 2 to 3 days in each, then drive up through Fresno to yosemite. From there drive back to santa crus and head up to San Fran. But we have no idea how long we would need on the road and will we be missing out if we veer off the PCH to get to Yosemite?
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Dor,
Hmm, I would skip either Yosemite or PCH given your itinerary and number of days. Or whichever other city/park is least important. The California coastal route adds a lot of time as does the driving to and from Yosemite, so those are probably the best places to cut out time.
A couple of sample itineraries:
This one leaves out Yosemite but gives a couple other places closer to your route:
Las Vegas – 2 – 3 nights
Grand Canyon – 2 – 3 nights
Maybe head to either Death Valley or Joshua Tree (instead of Yosemite) – 1 night
Los Angeles – 3 nights
PCH – 1-2 nights along
San Francisco – 2 – 3 nights
OR
Skip Pacific Coast Highway and head directly from LA to Yosemite to SF.
Las Vegas – 2 – 3 nights
Grand Canyon – 2 – 3 nights
Los Angeles – 2 – 3 nights
Yosemite – 1-2 nights
San Francisco – 2 – 3 nights
Hope that helps!
Jessica
Alan Lavinsky Post author
Jessica,
This is a great blog as it’s so similar to what we are planning for our family vacation this summer. We have two boys, 9 & 5. We are flying into SF and driving down to SD over the 4th of July week, then flying home from there. We have 8 nights and we know we want at least 2 nights in SF, 2 in LA and 2 in SD. The question is how we use the other 2. Along the PCH for both or add A 3rd to SF and have only 1 night along the PCH? We feel pretty good with only 2 in LA and 2 in SD. So, considering we have two little guys and will maybe have less focus on adult activities, what’s your suggestion? Lastly, weather 1 or 2 nights along the PCH, where are the best places to stay for kids?
Thank you,
Alan
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Alan,
I would guess that kids at that age would probably enjoy running around on beaches, being out on boats, or going to the Santa Cruz boardwalk than doing city exploring. But that said SF has many kid-friendly things like Fisherman’s Wharf, Academy of Sciences, Disney museum, Golden Gate Park, riding cable cars, boat trips, Exploratorium, etc. to do and see. So it really depends on your kids, but since most of your time on the trip will be spent in large cities, I’d consider 2 night along the PCH to make that part of the trip more relaxing.
Along the PCH, some general thoughts for things to do with kids are the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and arcades (loads of kids stuff here), maybe kayaking or canoeing around Morro Bay or Los Osos, OstrichLand and/or horseback riding around Solvang, boat tours in Santa Barbara, etc. There are also plenty of beaches along most of the route, I’d just look for the more protected ones like Carpinteria State Beach in Santa Barbara which are safer for kids without big waves or strong undertows.
So maybe first night in Santa Cruz and second night in Morro Bay? Or first night Monterey and second night Santa Barbara. I’d decide where you really want to stop and spend your time along the route and then base where you overnight on that.
That will likely be a very busy week over the 4th so just be prepared for crowds and slower moving traffic, especially around the holiday.
Wishing you a wonderful California road trip!
Jessica
Celia Ann Reyes Post author
I was planning a road trip for my dog and I. Any recommendations on places to stay and sights to see. Molly is a 10 year old yellow Labrador who loves the beach and people.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Celia, Yes, you will need to find which places on our list sound most attractive to you and then I would do a search specifically of the ones that allow dogs. Many beaches do allow dogs (often on leashes) but some don’t allow any pets, so you’ll just need to check the guidelines for each place. But there should still be plenty of places to go, especially if you are focused more on outdoor activities.
I haven’t traveled the route with a dog (just cats) but a couple places that stood out as being extra dog friend were Carmel and and Santa Barbara.
In terms of places to stay Cypress Inn in Carmel is very renown for being super dog-friendly and many of the beaches and even restaurants are dog-friendly here. It is very dog-friendly place.
Santa Barbara is also a pretty dog-friendly place along the route and many of the beaches and hotels are dog-friendly, you can see a good list here. Many of the hotels are located right next to the beach or a short walk away which sounds like that may be perfect for you.
Hope that helps!
Jessica
Lisa Di Larca Post author
Love this site and all the feed back. We are planning to fly to San Francisco on a wed and rent a car to drive down to San Diego, from there fly to Las vegas for 2 nights. We have a total of 10 days. Can you help with whats a must see and where to stay over night. I hear all towns are beautiful. Wanted to know what a stop and whats an over night. Would really like to stay in San Diego 2 nights too. So that leaves 5 nights left,
SOS help! looking to go in October
Thanks
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Lisa, Sounds like you have a great trip coming up. It really depends on your time and interests. Are you planning to spend time in SF or LA, if so how many nights in each? Which of the towns on the list sound the most interesting to you and what are some things you really enjoy doing on a trip? What is your budget for accommodation per night and for how many people? If you answer those questions, we can provide better recs. Best, Jessica
Lisa Di Larca Post author
Hi Jessica,
So we plan on flying into San Francisco and staying 1 night, want to see the golden gate bridge for sure, and probably look around the downtown area. some areas we heard that are nice is monterey, ,Carmel, santa cruz bixby bridge santa barbara big sur, Venice beach and santa monica pier, LA and san diego. its just me and my husband traveling. We know we want to spend 1 night in San Francisco, 1 night in LA, 2 nights in San Diego and 2 nights in Las Vegas. We want to take in the sites. Like to visit towns and shops. Love boardwalk not big on museums. Want to see the sea lions. Thought we can touch towns for quick visits. I am just afraid of booking a hotel ahead of time and we go there and decide we don’t want to stay. Being that we want to go in October can we book last minute? Our budget is 100- 150 a night. Just need a bed to sleep, what do you think?
Thanks for your help.
Lisa
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Lisa,
I’d probably recommend 2 nights in San Francisco since it is where you arrive and I think you’ll enjoy the downtown, shopping options, Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, wharf area, and Pier 39 is one of the best places to see sea lions, they are almost always there. Lot of great neighborhoods to explore and lots of good dining options, and of course there is also attractions like Alcatraz. You might also consider a day tour like this to see the Redwoods and/or tour up to Napa for a day of wine tasting w/o having to worry about driving.
Based on what you want to do, I would consider overnighting in Santa Cruz, Monterey, and/or Santa Barbara. All of these places have some attractions, shopping opportunities, and things to do (see article for highlights in each) and two have boardwalks. All have a number of lodging options.
2 nights SF
3 nights along PCH (maybe Santa Cruz, Monterey, and/or Santa Barbara)
1 night LA (this will not give you much time to explore LA, so I’d plan in advance what you really want to see/do here)
2 nights SD
2 nights LV
Since your budget is at the lower end for some of these cities/towns (California coast is much higher on average than other parts of the state), I would recommend booking ahead or you might be left with some not-so-nice motels or having to pay more than you want. If there is a festival or event going on that weekend, prices can double and there may be few options if you try to book last minute. If you book online, most will allow you to cancel your booking 24 to 48 hours in advance if you change you mind.
There are lots of events and festivals in October along the route, for example Fleet Week (San Francisco), Pumpkin Festival (Half Moon Bay, expect lots of traffic in this area during festival), Clam Festival (Pismo Beach) etc. so we’d recommend planning ahead. But of course you have to do what is best for you and your travel style.
Some lodging thoughts under $150/night:
Santa Cruz: Best Western Inn or Ocean Pacific Lodge
Monterey: The Stevenson or Quality Inn
Santa Barbara: Agave Inn or Quality Inn
Hope that helps!
Jessica
Matt Post author
Hi, what a wonderful page with lots of great information, thank you! My wife and I are celebrating our first anniversary with the PCH trip. We fly into SF on 4/6 and fly out of SD on 4/13. So hopefully not too rushed with only 7 nights. Wanted 2 nights in SF 4/6 and 4/7 and then thought about driving to Cambria (halfway) staying one night 4/8. Then on to Santa Monica for 2 nights 4/9 and 4/10, Drive to SD for 3 nights 4/10, 4/11, 4/12. Fly back home on 4/13. Any thoughts on that? Will it be too much driving and not allow for many stops? Should we add an additional stop on PCH and cut out a night in SD? Should you book hotels along PCH in advance or can you find good ones last minute? How is the weather in early April? Thank you again for your page and answers to comments!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Matt, I think 7 nights is enough time. You won’t have time to stop in all the towns and cities along the way, but you should still have time to pick your favorites to explore and see the highlights of San Francisco and San Diego.
Personally, I would probably spend 2 nights in Cambria instead of 1 if you can as otherwise you won’t have much time on the PCH portion of your trip. That extra day will give you time to explore the nearby towns and coastline around Cambria. But it really depends how much you want to spend in the cities versus smaller towns so it is really up to you of course.
I would book your accommodation in advance. You’ll normally find better rates and better places to stay in advance rather than waiting to see what is left. If you happen to be staying on a busy weekend/week in some places (e.g., a local festival), rates can double.
In Cambria, if you are looking for a more romantic couples-friendly spot for your anniversary, we would recommend perhaps the El Colibri Hotel & Spa (boutique hotel near beach with wine bar and spa) or the J Patrick House B&B.
Hope that helps!
Jessica
Angie Redmon Post author
We are traveling this June for our 40th Anniversary. This is what we were thinking. Please help me adjust.
We were thinking 12 days, 11 nights. Fly into Seattle on the 30th, stay over night there, star our journey and end in San Diego on the 12th. I have seen the wine country and SF, but my husband has not, so I was just just think one day there.
So maybe:
1 night Fly into Seattle, 1 night there
1 night in either Santa Cruz or Monterey
1 night in Cambria or Morro Bay
1 night in Santa Barbara
2 nights in LA
1 night San Diego, fly home
But I’m missing 2 nights. Help!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Angie,
Sounds like you have a fun 40th anniversary coming up 😉
First, is there a specific reason you are thinking about flying into Seattle rather than San Francisco for this trip? Unless there is a strong reason to start there, I’d start in San Francisco. It is a 13 hour drive (by Interstate not the scenic route) from Seattle to San Francisco and just taking that drive will take up at least 1 entire day/night of your trip.
If you do want to start in Seattle, I’d recommend a couple of stops in between Seattle and San Francisco to enjoy the area in between, especially if you want to hug the coastline and avoid the Interstate.
But I’d suggest instead flying into SFO (or Oakland) and doing something like the following (picking up your rental car on the morning of Day 3 as you leave SF):
-2 nights in San Francisco – 1 day to let husband see some highlights of the city, and 1 day to make a trip up north to see some redwoods and one of the wine areas (I’d recommend booking a day tour with transport from SF such as this one or this one for this rather than try to drive so you can relax and do tastings at the vineyards)
-1 night Santa Cruz or Monterey (I’d probably choose Monterey but depends on what you plan to do that day – you could also stay 1 night in each if you want)
-2 nights Cambria or Morro Bay (I’d base yourself in 1 of these cities and then you can do little trips to visit all the neighboring towns/cities )
-1 night Santa Barbara
-2 nights Los Angeles
-2 nights San Diego – if you only stay 1 night you won’t have much time to explore, as it will take you at least 3 hours to drive from LA to San Diego the first day
So that’s 10 nights above, still leaving you to add 1 more to a spot you really want to explore further. For instance since you are interested in both Santa Cruz and Monterey, you might want to spend a night in each. Since you have 12 days, I’d try to book 2 night stays rather than 1 night ones when possible as it’ll feel more relaxed and give you more time to visit the attractions in the areas and do activities like hiking and wine tasting.
Hope that helps!
Jessica
Anne Post author
Hi Jessica,
Wow, glad I found your PCH road trip itinerary. So informative and helpful!
I wonder what you think our San Francisco to LA travel plans for the end of March. It will our first time visiting with a 12 year old (girl) & 14 year old (boy) in tow. We have 8 full days (9 nights) in CA. Are spending 3 nights in San Francisco, though the last night we thought maybe we would spend in Sausalito or Tiburon, for a little quiet and also to be closer to Muir Woods for an early half day visit after getting car in Mill Valley.
From San Francisco, drive to Monterey, stay 1 night. Next day visit Monterey museum, then drive down PCH seeing Big Sur sites along the way and stay 1 night in Pismo Beach. Next day continue on to Santa Barbara, stay 1 night. Last 3 nights will stay in Santa Monica, and it will be our base for exploring LA.
What is your thought on staying 3rd night out of SF? Also do you think it better to stay 2 nights somewhere between SF and SM, or okay with the 3 nights at different locales?
Thanks,
Anne
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Anne,
I think your itinerary plans along the PCH are good and spaced out nicely given the number of days you have. I would probably spend the 3 nights in the different places and then do 3 nights in the cities (SF and LA) on the ends. So you do have the 1 night stands in the middle but have longer stays at the ends which are nice.
In terms of spending the third night in San Francisco or not, I guess it depends on when you are picking up you car and how much you want to see and do in the city. It is only about a 1 hour drive (including some traffic) from central SF to the Muir Woods visitor center so it is not a huge distance. Personally since you have limited time in San Francisco, I’d probably spend all 3 nights there and then head out on the morning of Day 4 to visit Muir Woods and start your road trip. It will also save you needing a car on Days 1-3 or needing to change hotels.
Hope that helps!
Jessica
John Post author
Hi. We traveling from Los Angeles to San Francisco from the 19th to the 26th of April. WE fly back to NYC on the 27th. We have taken this trip to drive the PCH.
How does this sound for an itinerary
We arrive in LA around 10:30 in the morning. We have both been to Los Angeles so we want to have lunch with a relative near Malibu and then spend the night in Santa Barbara (Sat 20th)
The next day we drive to San Luis Obispo and spend the night (21st) there.
The next day we drive to San Simeon and spend two nights (22nd and 23rd).
Two days later we drive to Carmel and spend two nights (24th and 25th).
On the 26th we drive to San Fran and spend our last night there.
We really want to see Big Sur (probably our highlight during the trip).
Does this sound doable? Thanks.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi John, That sounds like a great road trip and very ideal with being able to spend 2 nights in many of the stops. Gives you plenty of time to explore and relax along the route 😉
When driving the route, especially when getting closer to Big Sur, just be sure to check local highway announcements. I think in general all is back open but only yesterday part of Highway 1 around Big Sur was temporarily closed due to mudslides ;-(
Wishing you a wonderful trip and just let us know if you have any questions as you plan the rest of your trip to California.
Jessica
Heidi Post author
Planning a trip May 18-23
Flying into SFO and out of LAX
I’ve loved reading all about the trip and I’m kicking myself that I didn’t plan a longer time in CA but would love your suggestion for the days we do have. I’m struggling with how long to stay in SFO. We originally were going to stay 3 days and drive to LA (stay in Beverly Hills) for 2 days but after reading the road trips, REALLY want to drive HWY 1 and stay along the way.
What we really want in SFO / Napa Valley – can this all be done Saturday & Sunday and then go down HWY 1 later Sunday and stay somewhere? Or is this to rushed?
Napa Valley
Union Square, Fisherman’s Wharf, Cruise to Alcatraz, Golden Gate Bridge. If that’s all doable or not…I’m open for suggestions. I know it will be a whirlwind trip but I really want to see as much as I can in little time…or take in the most must see’s. Looking forward to your suggestions.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Heidi,
I think if you only spend 2 days in San Francisco, then I’d probably skip Napa Valley as otherwise you’ll see little of the city and be very rushed. If you stay 3 days, then you’ll have more time to do a day trip north to Napa. If you want to see as much as possible, we’d recommend joining a walking tour or two such as this one by Take Walks that takes in most of the SF highlights in one day.
If you want to go to Alcatraz, you’ll want to book in advance as tickets typically sell out in advance.
If you go to Napa I’d probably book a day tour (such as these ones here) unless you plan to overnight there so you can do wine tasting without worrying about driving as you won’t want to drive if you do more than one tasting.
If you decide to skip Napa (I’d only do it if you have most of the day to enjoy it), you can plan a stop to one of the Central California wineries or tasting rooms (several around Monterey, Los Olivos and Santa Barbara areas).
If you decide to spend a full day along the PCH and overnight along the Pacific Coast Highway / Highway 1, I’d recommend one of the towns between Cambria and Santa Barbara, depending on how much time you have and when you need to be in LA the next day.
Hope this helps!
Jessica
Heather Aspin Post author
Hi Jessica, I have found your blog so helpful in planning out trip to California. We are arriving into San Fran on 26th September and spending 4 nights there. We are then heading to Yosemite for 2 nights. We fly home from LA on 11th October so are planning on spending 3 nights here before we leave.
Please could you recommend which area would be best to stay in LA? A friend has recommended West Hollywood however I thought it might be nice to stay near the beach around Santa Monica.
After Yosemite we plan to head back over to Santa Cruz/Monterey area and then we will have 6 nights for the drive down to LA. We want to be able to relax and spend a few days by the beach rather than driving every day. I was thinking perhaps 3 nights near Carmel by the sea, a night near Cambria (we want to go to Hearst Castle) and a night near Santa Maria or Santa Barbara (we also want to visit solving).
I would really appreciate your thoughts on this and whether you would recommend we do this any differently? Thank you 🙂
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Heather,
First, I think your itinerary in general sounds fine and very doable given you have plenty of time to enjoy each place.
In LA, if you are wanting to be near the beach, then Santa Monica or the Venice Beach area is going to likely be a better location for you than West Hollywood. However, if you are wanting to be more near LA attractions, than you might consider West Hollywood or another more central area. I’d make a list of the attractions you most want to see and things you want to do and then decide what is going to work best.
I think the time along the California Coast sounds great and we love time in Carmel and the surrounding area. Definitely visit Hearst Castle, one of my favorite attractions in that area.
Just note that the water along the Central Coast in California is usually not very warm for swimming so if you want to enjoy swimming at the beaches, the water temperature gets warmer once you are south of Santa Barbara. Or you might want to bring or rent a wetsuit to enjoy water activities and not be too cold 😉
There is more to do and see in Santa Barbara than Santa Maria so I’d probably recommend an overnight stay there given your itinerary.
Hope that helps!
Jessica
Wp Post author
Hi. My Husband and I will be travelling from Asia to California with our 1.5yo toddler (by then) in coming mid June. I have been researching and reading a lot about California roadtrip. I’m glad that I’ve finally found such helpful and detailed article written by you!
We will be flying in to San Frans and fly back from Los Angelas. We have about 3 weeks to explore California and would like to detour to Yosemite for 2 nights.
Tentatively we planned to stay about 5 days in San Frans and 2 nights in Yosemite. So probably a week to do the roadtrip on PCH then 1 week in Los angelas.
Travelling with young toddler can be quite challenging so we not sure how should we plan the stops for PCH. Would you please advise?
Thanks a lot!!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hello there,
Glad you are finding our PCH road trip guide helpful in planning your trip. I think that with a young toddler, you will just want to travel more slowly and just plan to see less than you would on your own. I think your itinerary as planned sounds fine. You can rent a car when you are ready to leave San Francisco to go to Los Angeles as you don’t need one in SF.
If you have 6 or 7 days for the Pacific Coast Highway part of your trip, I’d recommend making choosing 2 to 3 towns to stop in and doing day trips from there. Perhaps one along the northern part of the route (e.g., Monterey) and then a second town along the southern part of the route (e.g., Morro Bay). I’d choose one based on your interests. You can base in these 2 towns and do short day trips as you can. That would give you more flexibility then trying to move around every day or two.
I’d also consider booking apartments or motels or hotels with kitchenettes during your trip. This way you have the flexibility to cook some of your own food and eat when you wish with you toddler who may not be up to going out to restaurants.
Hope that helps!
Jessica
Nikki Edwards Post author
Heading from San Fran to LA with two 15 year old girls.
I don’t want them bored from all driving. Have 9 days but want to spend time in San Fran and LA as well. What would you all recommend for spending time at different locations and things to do with them. Maybe we don’t need 9 days??
So overwhelming. Would appreciate any input.
Thanks in advance. Greatly appreciated.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Nikki,
I think 9 days is a good amount of time if you also plan to spend some time in San Francisco and Los Angeles as well. Perhaps 2-3 days in SF, 3-4 days driving along the route, and 2-3 days in Los Angeles?
So maybe:
3 days San Francisco
1 night in either Santa Cruz or Monterey
1 night in Cambria or Morro Bay
1 night in Santa Barbara
3 nights in LA
But it really depends on your interests and what your children enjoy doing (e.g., art, museums, hiking, beaches, amusement parks, food, shopping, etc.) as teens can be difficult. It also depends on when you are going as some attractions are seasonal or weather dependent.
The Santa Cruz Boardwalk is a popular spot for teens as it has an indoor arcade, laser tag, outdoor rides, and is located along the beach. But the outdoor parts are seasonal. If they enjoy amusement parks, there is obviously Universal Studios Hollywood and Disneyland.
I’d just be sure to break up scenery and culture with some active stops as well. Some popular attractions that most people of all ages enjoy is visiting Alcatraz (SF), Lands End hike (SF), Pier 39 and Fisherman’s Wharf in SF, Monterey Aquarium, walking along some of the beaches, Hearst Castle in San Simeon, and doing a studio tour in Hollywood (e.g., Warner Bros).
I’d also think about more active things like biking across the Golden Gate Bridge, doing a Segway tour of Golden Gate Park, a hands-on museum like the Exploratorium in SF, going to see a sports game or concert in LA or SF, a boat tour, doing go-karting or mini golf, doing a family hike (lots of opportunities along the route), etc.
Hope that helps you get started!
Best,
Jessica
Nikki Edwards Post author
Thank you very much for taking the time to give me ideas along the route and where to stay. There is so much to decide. God bless you!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Nikki, You’re very welcome! Happy to provide more specific help once you you have you dates and stops decided. Best, Jessica
Kevin Post author
Hi. Thanks for all the great information. I’m contemplating sf to la trip along route 1 August 2019. I’m concerned about my kids getting carsick (13 +9), and general road conditions. I did not like driving in some areas near Yosemite where the road dropped off steeply at edge of pavement. I’ll be doing the trip over several days, probably 2 to 3 hours actual drive time per day tops. It seems like it shouldn’t be a problem, just wanted to get your perspective on it.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Kevin,
Sounds like a fun road trip and going slowly will definitely make the drive easier if your kids tend to get carsick. The roads are normally in pretty good condition although note that certain sections (particularly around Big Sur) are often affected by mudslides/washouts/rockfall and there tends to be a road closure there every year or two. So I would take a look at road conditions before you set out.
In terms of curves and steep drop-offs there is a bit of this, especially around the Big Sur area. That is also the section that is close to the edge and cliffs, and there are some windy bits but along a large section of the route, the road doesn’t hug super close to the coast. The most windy and steep bits of the route, if I remember correctly, are also between Big Sur and Ragged Point. This is also a very scenic stretch though as well.
I would start out and see how it goes. The good thing is that you can also jump on 101 if needed to skip certain sections. Just note that if you want to skip certain sections like the Big Sur stretch, it is best to decide by Cambria for the easiest route back to the 101.
It sounds like you will be taking it slowly and have a lot of time, so I’d just take it a day at a time and see how your kids react. As I am sure you know, certain things like trying to read books or look at screens tend to make people more carsick so minimizing these types of behaviors when you are on more curvy stretches may also help.
Note that August is one of the busiest times of year along Highway 1 so just be prepared for traffic and a lot of sightseers along the route between LA and SF. Lodging will also be more expensive so we’d recommend booking in advance.
Hope that helps and enjoy your California road trip!!
Best,
Jessica
Susan Mellor Post author
I’m wondering if between Pismo Beach and Las Cruces where hwy 1 doesn’t run along the coast if I’m better to take hwy 101.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Susan,
Yes, the driving time and distance taking Highway 1 or Highway 101 from Pismo Beach to Las Cruces is about the same, but if there is traffic, the 101 may be faster. But if you are wanting to visit Santa Maria, Los Olivos, or Solvang, then taking 101 may make more sense as Hwy 101 goes through or closer to each of these towns along this stretch.
Hope that helps!
Jessica
Tom Post author
Do you do complete add ons?
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Tom, I am not sure what question you are asking. Are you looking for tour options for the Pacific Coast Highway? Best, Jessica
Kenny Post author
Jessica and/or Laurence, nice write up. My wife and I are taking our 2 boys (12 an 14) to San Francisco on Dec. 25 and flying out of LA on Jan 1. A few questions.
1) Any tips or advice for this time of year. I know it will cold, but we can handle that. We won’t be camping as that’s no our style. Already see Alcatraz is sold out, so we are having to use a 3rd party tour so we can step foot on the Rock.
2) Were thinking Santa Cruz boardwalk, amusement park and arcade would be right up their alley, but given time limits, maybe just doing Pacific Park in LA would be a better idea?
3) Any other teenage boy advice idea?
Thanks
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Kenny,
Yes, winter does limit some of the activities and makes it a bit less fun to be out on the beaches etc. You also have limitations due to closures of some attractions around the holidays. But that said, there is still plenty to do and see along the Pacific Coast Highway and both SF and LA offer lots to do at any time of the year.
If you like Christmas, Solvang in particular along the PCH is really known for its Christmas decorations and events. Many of the events take place pre-Christmas but it should still have all the lights and decorations should still be up until after New Year’s.
With Alcatraz, be very careful in making a booking, as many companies sell cruises that don’t include actually getting on the island or being able to our the prison. The only cruise company that can take people to the island and dock is Alcatraz Cruises, and if they are already sold out, there will be very limited tickets available as part of tour packages through other companies. If you decide to pay for one of these tours, just be sure it is with a legitimate company and includes a ticket with Alcatraz Cruises. Scams for these tickets are fairly common sadly in SF. You can always call Alcatraz Cruises to ensure a particular tour company has the right to see their product.
The Santa Cruz Boardwalk could definitely be worth a stop for your boys, particularly if they enjoy the indoor stuff offered (arcade, laser tag, indoor games). The rides are often closed in winter but some will be open during the time you travel, since it is during a school holiday, so I’d check the calendar. Same with Pacific Park and other oceanfront parks as almost all will have more limited operations, but will have more open on school holidays. If they enjoy amusement parks, there is obviously Universal Studios Hollywood and Disneyland. There’s also the Warners Bros. Studio.
Um, teenagers can be difficult, and it really depends on what they each enjoy. I’d actually let them each maybe choose at least one thing they really want to do on the trip and do that as a family.
I’d just be sure to break up scenery and culture with some active stops as well. Some popular attractions that most people of all ages enjoy is visiting Alcatraz, Lands End hike, Pier 39 and Fisherman’s Wharf in SF, Monterey Aquarium, walking along some of the beaches, Hearst Castle in San Simeon, and doing a studio tour in Hollywood.
I’d also think about more active things like biking across the Golden Gate Bridge, doing a Segway tour of Golden Gate Park, a hand-on museum like the Exploratorium in SF, going to a game in LA or SF, a boat tour, doing go-karting or mini golf, doing a family hike (lots of opportunities along the route), etc.
Hope that helps and wishing you a great trip to California!
Best,
Jessica
dan radojevic Post author
planning a 3 day road trip from SF Airport starting sunday December 9 returning to SF Airport Tuesday, December 11th flight leaves at 830pm.
Any recommendations for site seeing, restaurants and lodging for two nights?
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Dan, It really depends on what you enjoy doing and what sounds appealing to you (e.g., wine tasting, beaches, surfing, museums, cultural sites, luxury holiday, shopping). Do any of the towns in the article sound like places you would enjoy visiting? You have limited time so I would not recommend trying to drive the PCH or head too far south to make the most of your trip. I’d think about places like Half Moon Bay, Monterey, Carmel, or Solvang and maybe base in one place for both nights and explore from there.
Happy to provide recommendations for sightseeing, lodging etc. – just let me know in what town you think you might enjoy staying/doing and your budget range.
Best,
Jessica
Lorenzo Post author
Valuable information and tips! My spouse and I will be using this to plan our dream California road trip for Spring. Thanks so very very much for these great info.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Lorenzo, Thanks for taking the time to comment, and wishing you a great trip to California. Let us know if you have any questions as you plan your PCH road trip! Best, Jessica
Ronika Post author
Hello there!
Thank you for such an informative article.
We are traveling with our three boys (21,19,15) on a 9 day trip starting in San Fransico to San Diego along the PCH. We get to SF on December 17 this year.
I would love any advice that you have on where to make our stops and hotels you recommend in those locations. We are super excited and would love to see some national parks along the way as well as the stunning vistas on the drive. Is it possible to incorporate a detour into the desert while doing this trip? Our 15 yo wants to definitely do Disneyland. Our primary focus is on the great outdoors (beaches, parks, short day hikes etc.)
A little overwhelmed by all the planning. Any advice you can offer would greatly be appreciated.
Thank you!
Ronika
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Ronika,
Glad that you found our guide helpful in planning your PCH road trip to California. Happy to try to help.
For the desert and national parks there are not any along the way so you will have to make detours if you want to visit them. I’d recommend looking at Yosemite National Park, Sequoia National park, Joshua Tree National Park, and Death Valley. Maybe pick a couple you’d like to visit. Although note that Yosemite can be more difficult in winter and some parts will be closed due to snow and many of the lodging options close during parts of the winter. The same may be the case for the other national parks as well so I’d check recommendations and weather conditions for December visits.
Happy to recommend some hotels and attractions. Just a few questions: Are you flying out of San Diego at the end of the trip? What is your budget range for hotels and what kind of lodging do you prefer?
Best,
Jessica
Elsie Post author
Hi Jessica,
Thank You for sharing , it do help a lot for my road trip itinerary!
🙂
Apollo Post author
Hi Jessica,
Let me start by saying I love all the effort you put into this article. My wife and I are visiting California this coming Christmas and would love to ride down the coastal highway from San Francisco to LA. Unfortunately we only have about 2 to 3 days to spend on the road since we plan on staying a few days each in both cities.
What would you recommend we do as far as making stops and lodging along the way? I’ve personally been to Hearst Castle, 17 miles and Solvang but wouldn’t minding visiting again since I had good experience and my wife has never been. Any suggestion would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Apollo
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Apollo,
Even with 2 to 3 days, you’d still be able to see a lot and you can choose a few towns that you want to explore more on depth along the way and maybe overnight in them. If you are starting in SF and have 2 nights, maybe consider stopping the first night in Monterey or Carmel-by-the-Sea and then the second night in Pismo Beach or Solvang.
Happy to provide specific lodging recs, if you could tell me what type of place and general budget. I would definitely book lodging in advance as hotels along the coast can be pricey last minute, especially during holiday weekends as it is a popular getaway for locals from SF and LA (used to be a favorite escape for us when living in the SF Bay area).
I’ve been to Hearst Castle twice, and if your wife hasn’t been, always a good tour. Around Christmas, Solvang and Cambria are both really lovely and Solvang in particularly has a nice festive feel (there is a year-round Christmas shop there), especially on weekends.
Winter isn’t as a great a time in some of the beach towns where the main activities are outdoors, but you’ll still find plenty to do in towns like Monterey, Carmel, Solvang, Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, etc. If the weather isn’t great, there are always things like the Monterey Aquarium, Missions (Carmel, Santa Barbara), Hearst Castle, breweries/wineries, and lots of shops and art galleries.
For something a bit different, you might check out the Pacific Conservatory Theatre schedule as they normally have some programming in Santa Maria (and sometimes in Solvang as well) over the holiday season. A really good local theater company that has loads of notable alumni.
Hope this helps give you some ideas!
Best,
Jessica
David Post author
Hi, what a complete post about the Pacific Coast Highway road trip! Getting more excite about our trip to California from Spain. We are planning to travel from LA to SF and have 4 nights for our road trip. What do you think we need not to lost ? I have read about Santa Monica, Malibu, Pacific Grove, Big Sur, Carmel, Julia Pfeiffer, Santa Barbara, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Sta Cruz, Point lobos, MC way falls, Solvang… but we are not sure where to overnight to be able to visit these places. We are leaving Las Vegas on 21st aug and need to be in SF on 25th. If possible would like to visit Venice and or Santa Monica on the 21. No need to visit LA as we will be tbere 2 nightS before on 15 and 16 aug.
Many thanks for your recommendations.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi David,
Sounds like you have a fun California road trip coming up! So on Day 1 you obviously have a long drive from LV to get back to the LA area to start the drive (I’d calculate 5 hours and hope for no traffic jams). I’d head directly to Santa Monica and head north from there. So on Day 1 (21st), I’d visit Santa Monica, Ventura, and Santa Barbara and overnight in Santa Barbara. Day 2 (22) maybe consider overnighting in Morro Bay. Day 3 and 4 (23rd and 24th) – maybe overnight in Monterey or Carmel for 2 nights to explore these towns and do little day trips to see nearby spots. Then the next day head up to SF.
If you want any lodging recs for any places, just let me know and happy to suggest some places. Just let me know your preferences and budget.
Be sure to check the status of Highway 1 and your route as noted in the post as a portion, particularly around Big Sur, is regularly closed and would require a detour. So just check before heading there to know before you get there to allow more time to go around if needed.
Best,
Jessica
David Post author
Hi Jessica,
Many thanks for your tips and recs! This is really appreciated. It sounds very well to do what you mentioned. With regards to budget we do not want to go above 100-125 USD per night. I have seen that Santa Barbara is quite expensive but I guess we can found a balance considering that Monterey’s prices are much lower…
Will also take into account your tips re the Highway 1.
Thanks for your time.
Best,
David
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi David,
Happy to try to help 😉
Yes, unfortunately your dates of travel are going to be some of the most expensive and even normal budget hotels that would normally fall within your range are showing some crazy prices ($400/night) during some of these dates. Its a combination of popular travel time, most people have already booked their lodging, and the fact that there is limited lodging along some sections of the route. I would definitely book all your CA lodging as soon as you can.
Here are some suggestions although I am afraid it will be difficult to stay under $125/night:
Santa Barbara: Oasis Inn or the Super 8
Morro Bay: Sundown Inn or Morro Bay Beach Inn
Monterey: Motel 6
Hope this helps and wishing you a wonderful trip!
Jessica
Mandy Post author
Thanks so much for this! Sadly we only have 3 nights, flying in and out of LAX, but we rented a convertible and have a hotel in Pismo Beach the first night… nothing booked yet the next two- not sure if we can see/experience things all the way up to Monterey in only 3 days and back! But this definitely helped! So excited to celebrate our 20th anniversary this way!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Mandy, Glad you enjoyed our Pacific Coast Highway itinerary and tips. With 3 night total you don’t have a lot of time and you probably don’t want to drive all the way to San Francisco. But you could maybe drive up to Monterey the first day and stay the night there, then stay maybe in Morro Bay, Pismo Beach, or Santa Maria your second night, and then maybe spend your last night in or near Santa Barbara or LA before you fly home. I am sure that no matter what you do, you’ll have a wonderful anniversary in California to remember 😉
Stacy Post author
We had hoped to take this same road trip earlier this year, but our plans changed. After seeing this, I’m glad our plans changed as we would not have seen half of the places that you shared. Thanks for the great ideas – can’t wait to travel the highway!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Stacy, Sorry to hear your plans changed, but hope you get a chance to drive the Pacific Coast Highway soon. Yes, you need at least a few days to do the drive (in addition to any time you want to spend in LA or San Francisco) to really explore some of the lovely Central Coast towns in between! Glad this article was useful for you and hope it helps you plan your future California road trip! Best, Jessica
Jessica Post author
Hi! This is such a great site and what an insightful post! We will be visiting from Asia in July. We will land I San Francisco onjuly 13 and depart from LAX on July 28, so have about two weeks for the trip. I would really like to visit Yosemite but the dates we got for lodging are July 15th and 16th. I would also like to visit Silicon Valley before doing the coastal drive down to LA. Should we then head back to San Francisco from Yosemite or will this be too boring? Also, where should we stop along the coast? We have two young kids! Thank you so much!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Jessica, Glad you found our post and blog helpful in planning your California road trip. 2 weeks is a great amount of time to explore some of this region of California.
Yosemite is a great place, but if you do that, you’d probably need to leave from SF and then drive the 4 hours for San Francisco and then head back to SF to head south along the coast. I would perhaps save Yosemite for another trip if the 15th and 16th would be your only options or decide it is worth the additional driving off route to you. So it depends on how much you want to visit! Yosemite is a great place although just note the park and the roads around it will be very busy in July and you should book accommodation soon if wanting to overnight there. If you do go, stay for at least 2 nights or you won’t get to really explore much with all the driving time.
In terms of Silicon Valley, I lived there for several years, and it is primarily a residential area. It is pretty limited in terms of tourist attractions so I would consider skipping or allotting little time here as there are much better attractions elsewhere in and between SF and LA. A couple of bigger tourist attractions are the Computer History Museum in Mountain View and the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose.
If this is your first time visiting California, I would probably allot 3 to 4 days in both San Francisco and Los Angeles as both cities have tons of great attractions, and if you are interested in Disneyland (allot at least 1 full day), it is located just a little south of LA in Anaheim. So I’d see what you want to do at your beginning and ending points and book your accommodation there first. Then see how many days you have for your coastal drive.
You’ll likely have 5 to 8 full days left. Any of the California towns and cities we highlight in the article are great for places to stop or stay overnight. With kids, it can be good to overnight places for more than 1 night so there is less moving around and repacking. Since you have two young children, I’d concentrate on places that have attractions you think your kids are going to particularly enjoy, for instance Monterey has a world-class aquarium, Half Moon Bay, Carmel, and Santa Barbara (among others) have nice beaches, San Simeon/Cambria has sea lions to see and Hearst Castle to explore, Solvang has an ostrich farm, horseback riding opportunities, and an easy hike to a local water, Los Osos has opportunities for fun outdoor activities (kayaking, hiking, canoeing), Santa Barbara (and Ventura) offers boat tours and the chance to visit Catalina Island, etc. So I’d read through the highlights mentioned in the article and book stays in the places that sound like ones your family would enjoy.
Let us know if you have more questions once you get further along in your planning for your Pacific Coast Highway road trip! Happy to help recommend places to visit or hotels along the route.
Best,
Jessica
Austin Post author
Wow I just finished reading your tips about planning a California road trip from LA to SF and this is something me and my family would love to do! Your post gave me a lot of tips to plan ahead. Thank you for sharing this information, this is the best I’ve found on this area so far and can tell you lived in California!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Austin, Thanks for taking the time to comment, and so happy that our article is helping you plan your California Pacific Coast Highway road trip with your family. Do let me know if you have any questions as you continue with your planning! Best, Jessica
Sonia Post author
This post is really helpful in planning our California road trip. My family only has about 2 days to drive along the CA coast from Los Angeles to San Francisco – do you have a recommendation for where to overnight for the one night for us? We really enjoy both beaches and cultural things. Thx
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Sonia, Glad the post is helping you plan your PCH road trip. I would choose a place about halfway in terms of sightseeing time depending on your interests. I would suggest maybe either Carmel/Pacific Grove or Cambria. Carmel has the best beaches out of the two but you can also find beaches (although more rocky) at Cambria. Cambria has Hearst Castle (in San Simeon) and some museums that might be of interest, and Carmel/Pacific Grove have an old lighthouse you can visit (Point Pinos), a butterfly sanctuary (seasonal), and 18th century Spanish mission (Basilica of San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo) in terms of some of the cultural attractions. Both also have several good places to eat, shop, and stay. Hope this helps! Jessica
Carmen Post author
Hi Jessica & Laurence! This is such an amazing & detailed guide about the PCH. I am planning to only drive a section of the route, as I am meeting up with a friend near Cambria, CA – it is my husband and I and our first time there. We will be coming from San Francisco and staying for 2 nights. Do you have any hotel recommendations?
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Carmen, Thanks so much 😉 For Cambria, there are lots of options, but I can personally recommend El Colibri Hotel & Spa in Cambria. Laurence and I were here for 2 or 3 nights and really enjoyed it. We had a great time and is located a short walk from Moonstone Beach. It also offers food and drinks and has a spa. Hope this helps! Best, Jessica
Pascale Post author
Thank you for sharing the post. My husband and I are planning a road trip from SF to LA in 9 days late May. Do mind breaking down an itinerary or days we should spend in each city!
Thank you in advance
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Pascale, Glad you enjoyed our Pacific Coast Highway article, and you should be able to use it to figure out your itinerary. In terms of breaking it up by days, it really depends on your interests and if the 9 days also includes times in San Francisco and Los Angeles or not. Assuming it does, I’d probably do 3 days in SF, 3 days in places along the way (perhaps spending the nightmMonterey, Los Osos/Morro Bay and Santa Barbara, and 3 days in Los Angeles.
If you are looking for a more detailed day-to-day road trip itinerary with suggestions of where to eat/do/stay, we don’t have one on the blog yet, but we sometimes offer a bespoke itinerary planning service to readers. If interested just email us with what exactly you are wanting and we can let you know what we can offer and the cost, etc.
Hope this helps and wishing you a great trip!
Best,
Jessica
Saul Post author
Beautiful photos! You particularly made me excited to visit Cambria and Monterey! I just live in Costa Mesa so all these places are just a drive away. Thanks again for sharing!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Saul, Yes, it should be fairly easy for you since you don’t live that far away, a great road trip just in your backyard!! Cambria and the Monterey area are two of my favorite spots along Highway 1! Since you are in Costa Mesa, I’d recommend starting your drive in Long Beach and heading north. Best, Jessica
Lexie Post author
The pacific coast highway is a great idea for a California road trip, I will surely try that one with my friends. I’m going to save this article for our guide. Will surely go each place you feature here. It was truly stunning.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Lexie, Glad you enjoyed our Pacific Coast Highway road trip guide. The PCH does indeed make for a great road trip and includes many of my favorite cities and towns in California! Best, Jessica
Gioko Pat Post author
Very sound advice and helpful information for driving the Pacific Coast Highway and how to build an itinerary. This post gives everything one needs for a successful roadtrip in California. Nice pictures too!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Gioko, Thanks for taking the time to comment. We hope our information helps you plan your own California road trip between Los Angeles and San Francisco! Happy travels, Jessica
Sherry Solomon Post author
Hi:
I’m trying to plan a trip for myself to San Luis Obispo and Sonoma in mid-January. I want to see the Hearst Castle and visit any other notable sites in SLO. I have friends in Sonoma and basically want to chill out there. I’m not a drinker, so a wine tour probably wouldn’t work. I would like to end up in L.A.. I am coming alone, am 70 yrs. old, healthy and want to stay in decent, but not prohibitively expensive apartments. I will clearly need a tour operator at the Castle.. I will have about a week. I have been to Calif. several times, but never to these areas. Any advice about a reputable tour company that I can pick up either in SF or L.A.? This is hard to research on Trip Advisor.Thank you.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Sherry,
Sounds like you have a fun trip to California planned.
For SLO, you can see most of the sites within the city by walking, using a local bus, or taxi. Now for Hearst Castle, it is actually about an hour drive away in San Simeon but you can actually take buses all the way to the Hearst Castle Info Center from SLO and back if you wish. I’d book your Hearst Castle tickets in advance though as they sometimes sell out in advance, and you can read more about our visits to Hearst Castle. You could also book a private driver or tour company, but I don’t know of any tour companies that offer a tour from SLO to Hearst Castle. But Viator for example offers tours that include Hearst Castle and some start/end in Los Angeles or San Francisco that may be a good fit.
I don’t know of any tours that would include all the places you want as they are quite far from each other, and most tours are going to include a lot of other stops that may not be a good fit (e.g., lots of wineries). But I would take a look at the Viator options above and see if any of those work as some of them do include San Francisco, Hearst Castle, and Los Angeles. They may also be able to put together a private tour since you know what you want. Also you could get to all the places via bus/train if you wish and not do any tours. Sorry I can’t give you a good tour company recommendation as since we lived there, I didn’t do any tours there.
For apartments, I’d check out Airbnb and VRBO as my first choices, but here is a list of apartment booking websites you can check out.
Hope this helps!
Best,
Jessica
Tiffany Wood Post author
Hi Jessica,
Thanks so much for this detailed breakdown of your drive from San Fran to L.A.
My Boyfriend and I are flying into San Fran a week Fri (Sept 29), staying until Monday and are planning on renting a car and driving Hwy 1 ( I believe this is the scenic route). Some of the Hwy is closed near Big Sur so I was just curious as to how far it is to get from Hwy 1 to 101 and if we will have to back track if we stay in Carmel of Big Sur.
Also, as I mentioned, we are leaving San Fran Monday morning and I would like to be in L.A Thursday morning. I know I don’t have a lot of time…
We are thinking of staying in Santa Barbara on the Wednesday night and driving to L.A the next day and exploring L.A for the day but I am not sure where we should stay and what to do Monday, Tuesday and in and around Santa Barbara on Wednesday.
I wish we had more time but we have a wedding and family to get to in Granada Hills and Newport Beach so we need to be in Granada Hills Thursday eve.
We are both in our mid-30’s, haven’t done this drive before so we are super excited!
I am really hoping for some advice to really narrow this trip down. 🙂
Some of my ideas were on places to stay are:
Monday October 2nd
San Fransisco – Big Sur (area) or Carmel
Tuesday October 3rd
Big Sur – Cambria
Wednesday October 4
Cambria- Santa Barbara
Thursday October 5
Santa Barbara – Los Angeles
I have no idea what we would explore around these places.
Also, not sure how the weather will be in October. Would it be chilly if we wanted to go to the beach?
One other thing I thought i should mention is the aquarium sounded really nice on your list. I do love California wine so it would be neat to stay at a winery along the way close to our accommodations. ????
Any help would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks!
Tiffany
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Tiffany,
Sounds like you have a great trip ahead of you to California 😉
Yes, you don’t have a lot of time so I would be sure to check the latest road closures news concerning the Big Sur area (and any other closures along the route). A detour can cost you several hours of time in backtracking and getting to the 101 depending on where the closure is located. I would suggest overnighting in Monterey or Carmel and then if there is a closure, skip Big Sur and head from there to the 101 to bypass the closure and Big Sur and rejoin Highway 1 at Cambria (you can then drive up Highway 1 backtrack north a bit to visit San Simeon and Ragged Point if you want). A drive from Monterey to Cambria via 101 is about 3 hours and is actually the quickest way to get there (not via Highway 1 which can be slow moving). Then you should be able to stay on the Pacific Coast Highway – Highway 1 the rest of your time until Los Angeles.
In terms of what to do, I’d check out suggestions in the post above for each of the towns/cities you want to visit. The aquarium I mentioned is in Monterey and is a great stop, one of the best aquariums I have visited. Nearby are loads of shops and restaurants along Cannery Row. You might want to do the 17 mile drive at nearby Pebble Beach, there are great restaurants in this area, and the beaches around Carmel are nice. The water will be chilly so dress appropriate with layers and bring raingear – you’ll likely be wanting to walk not swim on these beaches (once you reach LA beaches will be warmer and you could swim there). You can check out our post on our favorite spots around Cambria, one includes a winery and there is a wine trail in this area. There are also wineries around Monterey (Folktale Winery have taken over the former Chateau Julien vineyard and I think they offer tastings) and Santa Barbara that are easy to visit.
Hope this information helps and wishing you a great trip along the Pacific Coast Highway!!
Jessica
Juan Post author
Hi,
I just will have 1 day to travel from Los Angeles to san Francisco . I would love to take the pacific coast highway. but I’m afraid how long this trip will take, I don’t want to arrive late to san Francisco. What would you recommend me.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Juan, If you are driving from L.A. to San Francisco is one day, I would not recommend driving the Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1). Just driving the interstate I-5 or the U.S. 101 will normally take you between 5 hours and 30 minutes to 7 hours and 30 minutes and can take longer with delays, traffic, and construction. The PCH from L.A. to SF can take 12 hours or more to drive (not including stops!). But what you could do is to pick a city (e.g., Monterey, Los Osos/Morro Bay, Santa Monica, etc.) or section of the coastline you really want to see and factor in a deviation from the interstate or highway to stop there. That way you can experience a section of the Pacific Coast Highway and one of its towns. You’ll want to get up super early to try to beat the terrible L.A. area traffic so you have as much time as possible to avoid not getting to SF in time. So for example if you leave early and drive U.S. 101, you should have a few hours to spend in Monterey and still make it to San Francisco around dinner time. Be sure to check for any road delays before you leave so you can change your plans as needed. Happy travels! Best, Jessica
Lorraine Post author
Wow, this is such a detailed and informative post on driving the PCH! Great information to have from someone who actually lived in California and obviously visited all these places! This will be very helpful in planning our California road trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles this summer. Best, Lorraine
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Lorraine, Glad you found our Pacific Coast Highway itinerary useful and I hope you have a wonderful trip to California this summer. Just let us know if you have any other questions. Happy travels, Jessica
Lara Jack Post author
This is awesome! I love California, and I can’t wait to check out some of these cool spots when I go back in April! Thanks so much for all the info!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Lara, Glad you enjoyed this and wishing you a fun California road trip! Just let us know if you have any questions as you plan your travels. Best, Jessica
Anna Post author
Wow. Literally JUST watched you guys on House Hunters on HGTV! Surreal. Thanks for the detailed breakdown of the PCH. It’s a last minute trip I’m planning (literally planning to leave in two days) so the info is quite helpful. I’ll give it a go and let you know how your suggestions pan out!
travelcats Post author
Hi Anna, So glad you saw our House Hunters International episode, we have actually not seen it yet since we live in the UK. Hoping to see it in the next couple of days 🙂 Glad the PCH info was helpful and enjoy your trip along the California Pacific Coast. Such a lovely part of California and so many great memories in many of those little town. Look forward to hearing about your road trip! Best, Jessica
Amy B. Post author
Hello and thank you for this helpful article! I am trying to plan a trip this October to fly into SF and go a little north and then back south. We only have nine full days plus 2 days to travel each way.I’ve been reading a lot and using California vacation guide, trip advisor, blogs but still can’t come up with a plan! It will be our first time doing a road trip in California.
My priorities are The Big Sur area (pch) seeing Redwoods, Napa or Sonoma, Monterey Aquarium, and a couple spots in SF. Originally I thought I wanted to start at the northern border and drive all the way to LA or San Diego but realize I can’t do everything I want within that time frame.
I had really wanted to see Glass Beach in Fort Bragg and the Humboldt Redwood SP but I know I can see redwoods near SF at Muir Woods and big basin. So I’m not sure it’s worth driving all the way to glass beach then turning around to go south. I’ve read mixed reviews of the amount of glass left.
So in a nutshell, I need help with itinerary and a friend at work that used to live in Sacramento recommended I don’t make hotel reservations and just wing it because I don’t know how long I will want to stay in each place but I’m kind of afraid to do that.
I also know that renting a car one way can be expensive but I’m assuming I should fly out of La or not go that far south and turn back to fly out of SF again. I would really appreciate your advice!! Thank you!!! Amy and Mike
travelcats Post author
Hi Amy & Mike, Sounds like you have a lot of things you want to see and not a whole lot of time. I would definitely not recommend driving the full length of California as it would not give you any time to really explore any one place. I’d advise spending more time at fewer places rather than trying to see too much and rush from place to place. Days 1-3: If you have never been to San Francisco before, I would spend at least 3 full days in the city as there are so many things to do there and it is a great place where you can walk and take public transit without having to worry about a car. Days 4-5: Then rent a car and head north to either Napa or Sonoma for 2 relaxed days for wine tasting, vineyards, scenery, and good food. Day 6: You can then drive south down to the Highway 1 (PCH), perhaps making a short stop in pretty Half Moon Bay to check out the town and beaches and then carry on for a stop at Big Basin Redwoods State Park for a hike (a favorite place of mine for hiking, California’s first state park actually). However, I would avoid Half Moon Bay and any roads near it if the annual pumpkin festival is taking place during the dates of your visit as traffic will be a nightmare in that area. Day 7: Then the next day you can continue your drive along the PCH heading to Monterey (perhaps stop at Half Moon Bay, then visit the Monterey Aquarium) and spend a full day there are a number of other things to do in both Monterey and nearby Carmel such as the 17 Mile drive, shopping, good seafood restaurants, missions, and beaches. Day 8: Then the next day you can spend just driving the Pacific Coastal Highway via Big Sur, stopping as you like (so many great potential stops along the way), and perhaps spend the night in Cambria or San Luis Obispo (or Santa Barbara) depending on how far you want to drive and how much you want to stop. Day 9: Then spend the next day driving from wherever you stopped and head further south to Los Angeles, stopping along the way. Then you can drop off your car and fly out of Los Angeles (or San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara or Long Beach which all have smaller airports). Obviously LAX is a super busy airport and traffic near L.A. can be terrible so if you do decide to leave out of Los Angeles leave plenty of time. Alternatively if you want to fly in and out of SF to save money on flights and/or rental car, I would only head south as far as say Ragged Point or Cambria, then drive back towards SF to leave from the SF airport (it is about equal distance to either LA or SF from Cambria).
In October you should be OK not booking ahead for accommodation if you’re flexible with lodging and cost, but if you know where you want to stay each night I would advise booking ahead so you don’t have to worry about it and get the kind of lodging you want. There is not much lodging around the Big Sur area in particular and prices can be quite high in both San Francisco and Napa/Sonoma year round and in any cities or towns where they are having a festival so it is good to try to book in advance and get deals online if you can.
These are of course only my recommendations, but I hope they are helpful in making more solid plans for your trip to California! Please feel free to ask any additional questions and have a wonderful vacation!
Best,
Jessica
Amy Post author
Hello Jessica
I also found your itinerary very helpful. My husband & I are planning our first roadtrip on PCH for 12-14 days Oct 7-21 for our 5yr Anniv. Either starting in San Fran or L.A or San Diego. There’s a concert at Hollywood Bowl I’m considering that would be the 10th, that’s why I thought to use 2 nights S.F & 2 nights Hollywood/L.A area.
So far highlights I’ve pinned are as follows, please provide any suggestions of what to omit or for sure add & how our time should be spent on each area.
~If starting S.D go to zoo, etc
~To L.A- Stop Laguna on way, then Sunset Blvd, Rodeo Dr, Griffith Observatory, 2 nights stay, any suggestions?
~Heading North – stop at Malibu, El Matador State Beach, Ventura, then over-night in Santa Barbara?
~ Next day to Solvang, Clairmont Farms, Pismo Beach, Monarch Butterfly Grove
~ In this area I also want to see SLO, Spooners Cove, Morro Bay so would you suggest I overnight in SLO or Morro?
~ Next to Cambria, San Simeon, Hearst, Elephant Seals. Then overnight at Eli Colibri in Cambria like you, San Simeon Pines Seaside Resort or anywhere on Moonstone/San Simeon.
~ Next to Big Sur. Pfeiffer Beach, Nepenthe, McWay Falls, Hiking, Andrew Molera State Park, I would like to stay in Big Sur as well for a night with a view. Open to cabins/camping with tent provided.
~ Next to Carmel. Rocky Ridge Trail, China Cove, Point Lobos State Reserve, Carmel River State Beach, any drives to take that get up in the highlands in this area? Would like to overnight in Carmel by the Sea, maybe Cypress Inn or B&B/Boutique Hotel.
~Next thru 17 mile drive, Monterrey Bay Aquarium, Santa Cruz Boardwalk worth the stop?, then to Big Basin Redwoods, Mavericks Beach for photo Op, than to S.F
~Overnight 3 nights in SF & do the following:
Muir Woods
One of Napa or Sonoma shorter winery visit in beautiful surroundings? Suggestions?
Bike Golden Gate & view from Viesta Point, Marshalls Beach
Golden Gate Park, Painted Ladies, Lombard Street, Pier 39, Ferry Bldg Market Place, China Town, Nob Hill, Union Sq., Fisherman’s Wharf, South of Market, Twin Peaks.
Still need suggestions on accommodation in SF.
Any help you can provide on my itinerary will be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
travelcats Post author
Hi Amy, Glad that you found our California PCH road trip itinerary helpful. Your itinerary seems OK to me in general but I think you will not have enough time in either L.A. or S.F. if you plan for only having 2 nights there (mentioned at the beginning of your comment) – if there are a number of things you want to do in each you’ll probably want 3 full days as there is so much to do. If you add San Diego I would plan for at least another day or two there if you really want to visit it. For the SLO or Morro Bay questions, I would stay in Morro Bay (or next door Los Osos – I can recommend Back Bay Inn for a B&B) if heading south or SLO if headed north to minimize backtracking. If you want to stay in Big Sur, I would book accommodation now as it is limited in this area. Most camping places do require that you have a camper or your own tent but I do think there are some cabins and other lodging. Your time in SF seems too packed to me as day trips to Muir Woods and to wine country would eat up half of your time and not give you much time to explore the city. I would not recommend day tripping from S.F. to either Sonoma or Napa, I would spend the night in one or the other if you really want to explore a few wineries or just take that out of the itinerary and visit wineries elsewhere on your trip (the Central Coast has many great wineries you can visit). Driving all the way there for just one winery visit is not worth the drive in my opinion but it is worth a visit if you have at least a full day/night to explore. L.A. and San Francisco can be stressful places to drive if you are not used to driving in large congested cities and parking can be difficult and expensive, so you might want to consider just using public transit in both L.A. and San Francisco and perhaps the occasional cab/Uber to save time and money. I think one great overall tip is to have a list of all the things you want to do in each place, but note the must-see/highlights so you prioritize those and be flexible to subtract or add to your itinerary as you go along. You don’t want to be so rushed that you don’t enjoy some of these great places as you may find yourself wanting to linger at a beach or museum much longer than expected and it is always great to have that flexibility:) Best of luck in California and feel free to report back on your anniversary road trip – sounds like it is going to be loads of fun! ~Jessica
Mike Post author
Hi again Jessica.
We couldn’t even book a campsite in Yosemite Valley so had to opt for a place in Groveland. No worries, however, as we will be mobile. We will be staying for 2 full days at Yosemite. From SF it looks like Higway 120 will be the best bet in getting to Yosemite.
I took your advice and emailed Los Padres NFS and we’ll see what they tell me. I’ll be sure to pass that information on to you later.
Thanks for the response.
travelcats Post author
Hi Mike, That is too bad there were no camping site left at Yosemite but summer is a very busy time in the park. There are first-come, first-serve camping sites in and around Yosemite available each day, but they are normally full by mid-morning each day in the summer. Good luck with Los Padres NFS and I look forward to hearing what you find out – if you don’t hear back by email in a few days, you might try giving them a call. The rangers were very helpful when we spoke to them in person during our trip. Best, Jessica
Mike Post author
By far the most helpful, logical and easy to process information about the PCH that I have found so far. I have TONS of websites and blogs bookmarked and I always find myself returning here. My wife and I (I’m a Canadian teaching History in Seoul, Korea and my wife is a Korean teacher) are doing the PCH this summer from Aug 9th to 21st and after reading your blog we booked ourselves a JUCY Champ. We’ll rent in SF and drop off in LA for a one way fee. I also read your extensive review about your experience with JUCY and that was a major decision making factor for us. Thanks for that. I don’t have too many questions but I guess where to camp would be a key one. I looked at the Los Padres NF website and there seems to be a lot of campgrounds but where they are exactly in relation to the coastal road/towns is a bit of a concern. Any info on that?
Also we will drive to Yosemite from SF for a night and two days prior to the PCH drive; any info on routes? Again, thanks for the helpful information. Keep it up!
travelcats Post author
Hi Mike, Thanks so much for your nice comments! I did try to write a pretty comprehensive and practical guide to the Pacific Coast Highway – I think it helps that I lived in the SF area for several years and visited many of those places multiple times. That sounds like a very exciting trip and it is great that you have about 2 weeks to explore which gives you plenty of time to stop and visit several of the towns and cities in California. I am also happy you booked a JUCY Champ – a fun (if slightly cramped) experience! Definitely saved us a lot of money on lodging and food. In regards to campsites, there are so many of them within Los Padres National Forest, some are just off Highway 1/PCH and some are quite a long drive. I would perhaps email or call the main office for Los Padres (I think each country/district has its own office) saying you will be driving along the coast and which campsites are the closest to the road. You can probably also go to the website and google map them although this could take a bit of time as there are a lot of them.
For Yosemite, I would allow about 3 days for Yosemite National Park (more if you really enjoy hiking) as it will take at least 4 hours to reach the park and another 4-5 hours to return depending on traffic. August is a super busy time at the park so be prepared for traffic once you get near the park and then within the park and the Valley will be crowded, especially during the day. I would avoid weekends if possible as traffic delays can be up to 2 hours on weekends in the summer within the park. I don’t have any specific advice about routes, I would just take the fastest route and check road conditions/closures before you set out. Here is the recommended directions from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park: Take I-580 east to I-205 east then head onto either Highway 120 east (Manteca) -or- Highway 140 east (Merced) into Yosemite National Park. Also you can take a look at the travel and driving tips from my post on visiting Yosemite Valley. I’m also a fan of the south side of the Yosemite Park but sadly the main attraction, the Mariposa Grove, will be closed during your visit. Beautiful place, just be prepared for the crowds. Hope this helps. Enjoy your time in Yosemite and your drive along the PCH! ~ Jessica
Amanda Post author
I’ll be doing this trip in May and I was also planning to rent a Jucy. Do you have any good recommendations on where to park each night along this trek? I’m a little confused and overwhelmed by all the campground options! I’m thrilled to have found your blog; your trip is nearly identical to what mine will be!
travelcats Post author
Hi Amanda, Glad that you found our post on the PCH helpful and happy to answer any questions to help plan your trip! I lived in CA for over 5 years and have done a lot of exploring along the coastline. I have more limited experience with campgrounds (mostly stayed in hotels/apartments) and you have a big range of private and public campground options. I would make reservations in advance for May if you know where you will be, or at least in the Big Sur area or plan to be flexible as there are fewer options there and most places will likely be fully booked if you try to get a place on arrival. If you are looking for free/inexpensive options and are OK with more primitive sites (no or few facilities), I would take a look at the USDA forest options, the main forest along the route being the very large Los Padres Forest which extends a good portion of the route and offers many campgrounds near Highway 1. Check out the Los Padres National Forest website and click on Campground Camping for a list by region. This is where we stayed along the route during our JUCY road trip and costs typically range from free to $20, many of the ones with fees take reservations. KOA (Kampgrounds of America) has a few campsites along the route as well as several around SF and LA and JUCY can provide you with a 10% discount code for these – KOAs tend to have a lot of features but are typically on the more expensive side. Another place I would recommend for a unique stay is to book a night in one of the two lighthouse hostels around the Half Moon Bay area (Point Montara and Piegon Point). Hope this helps get you started and please feel free to email me directly if you have further questions! Also, we would love to have you share you own experiences after your trip here about places you stayed and any tips! ~ Jessica
Priya Post author
This is on our bucket list to do someday.. great post capturing all the wonderful spots along the California coast!
travelcats Post author
Hi Priya, hopefully this post will come in handy for your future California coast road trip:)
beatravelling Post author
This I wanna do!! Thanks so much for all the input.
travelcats Post author
Glad the information was helpful and do let us know if you have any questions on planning your Pacific Coast Highway road trip along the California coast! ~ Jessica
Corinne Post author
Jessica, What a lot of details! I love the California coast. It certainly ranks up there as one of the Great American Roadtrips!
travelcats Post author
Hi Corinne, Yes, I think for us it ranks just behind Route 66 based on the road trips we have taken so far. Love road trips in the U.S.! ~ Jessica
Ruth Post author
This post is amazing! Your list of potential stops is right on. I still have to explore the area north of San Francisco.
travelcats Post author
Hi Ruth, Glad to hear from someone else living in California that you think the list is a good one:) Yes, we honestly never really explored north of Point Reyes that much along the coast, although more inland we have spent some time in Napa, Sonoma, and the Redding/Shasta Cascade areas which are all great. I would love to do more exploring along the northern CA coast. ~ Jessica
Marcia Post author
I did the Carmel part of this a few years ago and was just blown away by the views. I’ve always wanted to go back. Thanks for the tour of the full PCH!
travelcats Post author
Carmel is one of my favorite seaside city getaways. It is more expensive than a lot of other coastal cities, but it is really charming and pretty. Hope you get a chance to return and visit more of the coastal cities.
Michele Post author
That campervan is one of the smallest I’ve seen. It’s probably an advantage to not be too big driving along the PCH. We drove from LA all the way up to Portland when I was a kid, and it is still one of my standout childhood travel memories. I myself have driven between LA and Santa Barbara many times but need to make that trip all the way up San Francisco again. Your photo of Point Reyes looks gorgeous. I’d love to visit both that and Hearst Castle.
travelcats Post author
Hi Michele, Yes, our JUCY campervan is quite small and there are very few other models of this size in the U.S. as American travelers have traditionally chosen much larger RVs in recent times. We really enjoyed our JUCY campervan and it was cool to see so many other ones traveling along the West Coast. They seem to be particularly popular among the 20-35 year old crowd as well as foreign travelers who have used JUCY rentals in Australia or New Zealand. The only drawback is no toilet. I hope you get a chance to visit Hearst Castle and Point Reyes soon:) ~ Jessica
Jill Post author
I really enjoyed reading about your road trip! We did the LA to San Fran drive several years ago – and though ours was interrupted by a road wash-out and detour mid-drive, it was still one of the most beautiful road trips I’ve been on. Point Reyes is one of my all time favorite spots int he US – and windiest too! – and I had never seen anything like the Elephant Seal Rookery before in my life (I’m originally from the Midwest). Thanks for taking me along – I think it’s time to do this one again soon!
travelcats Post author
Hi Jill, I am so glad that you have gotten the chance to do this amazing road trip. Yes, it is pretty common actually for their to be construction, a landslide, or a wash-out that closes part of the Highway 1, especially in the Big Sur area. Important reminder for those planning this trip to always check road conditions ahead of time, as it can mean a 2-4 hour detour at times. Yes, the elephant seal rookery and Point Reyes are amazing spots along this drive!! ~ Jessica
Jennifer (Dr. J) Post author
The elephant seals near San Simeon are the best! That’s my favorite part of the California coastal drive.
travelcats Post author
Yes, the elephant seals are amazing, although they are not always on the beach in such great quantities depending on their seasonal life cycle. I have been there three times, two times there were thousands of them but on our last visit this summer there were only about 20.
April Yap Post author
Beaches and waterfalls are so interesting. I would love to visit such places in California one day. Thank you for sharing!
travelcats Post author
Hi April, I hope you get to visit the California coast some day. Would make a nice road trip from Branson:)
Seana Turner Post author
Oh my word, the PCH is so beautiful. Your photographs are stunning. There are many places I haven’t been. I would love to see that waterfall at Solvang!
travelcats Post author
Hi Seana, Yes, it is a really beautiful driving along the California coast. Definitely recommend this drive if you have a week or two vacation:) Yes, there are a few great waterfalls along this route, some of our faves were McWay Falls in the Big Sur area, Nojoqui Falls in Solvang, and Alamere Falls at Point Reyes.