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Pacific Coast Highway: SF to LA in 7 Days
Cruise California's legendary Highway 1 from San Francisco to Los Angeles, weaving through Monterey's coast, Big Sur's cliffs, Hearst Castle, Danish-styled Solvang, and Santa Barbara's Riviera before landing in sunny Santa Monica.
7days
25stops
628km
Day 1: Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Ce… → … → Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
1h 57min · 126km4 stops
Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center
09:00-10:48
50min · 44km
Half Moon Bay State Beach
11:42-13:30
31min · 37km
Pigeon Point Lighthouse
14:24-16:12
36min · 45km
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
16:12-18:00
Day 2: Monterey Bay Aquarium → 17-Mile Drive Lone Cypress → Carmel-by-the-Sea Old Town
1h 14min · 82km3 stops
Monterey Bay Aquarium
09:00 – 11:00
55min · 71km
17-Mile Drive Lone Cypress
12:00 – 14:00
19min · 10km
Carmel-by-the-Sea Old Town
15:00 – 17:00
Day 3: Point Lobos State Natural Res… → … → Cambria Moonstone Beach
1h 3min · 62km4 stops
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
09:00-10:48
10min · 6.1km
Bixby Creek Bridge
11:42-13:30
15min · 18km
McWay Falls Overlook
14:24-16:12
38min · 38km
Cambria Moonstone Beach
16:12-18:00
Day 4: Hearst Castle → Morro Rock → Santa Barbara Stearns Wharf
51min · 62km3 stops
Hearst Castle
09:00 – 11:00
10min · 12km
Morro Rock
12:00 – 14:00
41min · 49km
Santa Barbara Stearns Wharf
15:00 – 17:00
Day 5: Old Mission Santa Barbara → Solvang Village → Santa Barbara Funk Zone
56min · 56km3 stops
Old Mission Santa Barbara
09:00 – 11:00
14min · 4.6km
Solvang Village
12:00 – 14:00
42min · 51km
Santa Barbara Funk Zone
15:00 – 17:00
Day 6: El Capitán State Beach → … → Santa Monica Pier
2h 25min · 189km4 stops
El Capitán State Beach
09:00-10:48
21min · 33km
Point Mugu State Park Overlook
11:42-13:30
1h 23min · 118km
Malibu Pier
14:24-16:12
41min · 37km
Santa Monica Pier
16:12-18:00
Day 7: Venice Beach Boardwalk → … → Downtown Los Angeles
1h 12min · 52km4 stops
Venice Beach Boardwalk
09:00-10:48
12min · 3.8km
Griffith Observatory
11:42-13:30
47min · 42km
Hollywood Walk of Fame
14:24-16:12
13min · 6.2km
Downtown Los Angeles
16:12-18:00
Heads Up
- 1. Check Caltrans QuickMap before each leg: Highway 1 through Big Sur has recurring slide closures and may require detours via US-101.
- 2. Book Hearst Castle tour tickets in advance; tours depart only at scheduled times from the visitor center.
- 3. Fuel up in Carmel or Cambria before driving Big Sur; gas stations along the cliffs are sparse and notably pricey.
- 4. Coastal mornings are foggy and chilly even in summer; pack layers and plan viewpoints for late afternoon light.