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Classic California Highway 1 Road Trip

Experience the quintessential American coastal journey from the foggy hills of San Francisco to the sun-drenched beaches of Los Angeles, featuring dramatic cliffs, historic missions, and world-class cities.

8days
24stops
755km

The route

Tap a day or a town

You sleep in San Francisco · Monterey · Big Sur · San Luis Obispo · Santa Barbara — start in San Francisco, end in Los Angeles.

DAY01

Union Square → Fisherman's Wharf

22 km · 44m driving · Overnight in Fisherman's Wharf
  1. 09:00
    Union Square· start
  2. 8.4 km · 22m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Golden Gate Bridge
  4. 14 km · 22m
  5. 15:00
    Fisherman's Wharf· overnight
DAY02

Santa Cruz → Cannery Row

193 km · 2h 31m driving · Overnight in Cannery Row
  1. 09:00
    Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk· start
  2. 122 km · 1h 37m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Monterey Bay Aquarium
  4. 71 km · 54m
  5. 15:00
    Cannery Row· overnight
DAY03

Point Lobos State Natural Res… → Pfeiffer Big Sur

31 km · 33m driving · Overnight in Pfeiffer Big Sur
  1. 09:00
    Point Lobos State Natural Reserve· start
  2. 13 km · 18m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Bixby Creek Bridge
  4. 18 km · 15m
  5. 15:0017:00
    Pfeiffer Big Sur· overnight
DAY04

Hearst Castle → Bubblegum Alley

154 km · 2h 21m driving · Overnight in Bubblegum Alley
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Hearst Castle· start
  2. 105 km · 1h 40m
  3. 12:00
    Morro Rock
  4. 49 km · 41m
  5. 15:00
    Bubblegum Alley· overnight
DAY05

Solvang → Stearns Wharf

159 km · 1h 50m driving · Overnight in Stearns Wharf
  1. 09:00
    Solvang· start
  2. 106 km · 1h 5m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Santa Barbara County Courthouse
  4. 53 km · 45m
  5. 15:00
    Stearns Wharf· overnight
DAY06

El Matador State Beach → The Getty

135 km · 1h 44m driving · Overnight in The Getty
  1. 09:00
    El Matador State Beach· start
  2. 97 km · 1h 5m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Santa Monica Pier
  4. 38 km · 39m
  5. 15:00
    The Getty· overnight
DAY07

Hollywood Walk of Fame → Grand Central Market

32 km · 36m driving · Overnight in Grand Central Market
  1. 09:00
    Hollywood Walk of Fame· start
  2. 25 km · 20m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Griffith Observatory
  4. 6.8 km · 16m
  5. 15:00
    Grand Central Market· overnight
DAY08

Venice Beach Boardwalk → Los Angeles

29 km · 36m driving
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Venice Beach Boardwalk· start
  2. 28 km · 30m
  3. 12:00
    Abbot Kinney Boulevard
  4. 1.5 km · 6m
  5. 15:00
    Los Angeles International Airport
Booking timeline
Book these before you go
  1. Stay in San Francisco · Nights 1-2
  2. Stay in San Luis Obispo · Nights 3-4
  3. Stay in Los Angeles · Nights 5-7
Heads Up
  • Check official Caltrans reports for Highway 1 road closures near Big Sur.
  • Book Hearst Castle tour tickets at least 2-4 weeks in advance.
  • Pack layers as coastal temperatures can drop significantly in the evening.