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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
629km

The route

Tap a day or a town

You sleep in Santa Cruz · Carmel-by-the-Sea · Cambria · Santa Barbara · Santa Monica — start in San Francisco, end in Los Angeles.

DAY01

Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Ce… → Santa Cruz

126 km · 1h 57m driving · Overnight in Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center· start
  2. 44 km · 50m
  3. 11:42
    Half Moon Bay State Beach
  4. 37 km · 31m
  5. 14:24
    Pigeon Point Lighthouse
  6. 45 km · 36m
  7. 16:12
    Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk· overnight
DAY02

Monterey → Carmel-by-the-Sea

82 km · 1h 14m driving · Overnight in Carmel-by-the-Sea Old Town
  1. 09:00
    Monterey Bay Aquarium· start
  2. 71 km · 55m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ 17-Mile Drive Lone Cypress
  4. 10 km · 19m
  5. 15:00
    Carmel-by-the-Sea Old Town· overnight
DAY03

Point Lobos State Natural Res… → Cambria

62 km · 1h 3m driving · Overnight in Cambria Moonstone Beach
  1. 09:0010:48
    Point Lobos State Natural Reserve· start
  2. 6.1 km · 10m
  3. 11:42
    ⭐ Bixby Creek Bridge
  4. 18 km · 15m
  5. 14:24
    McWay Falls Overlook
  6. 38 km · 38m
  7. 16:12
    Cambria Moonstone Beach· overnight
DAY04

Hearst Castle → Santa Barbara

62 km · 51m driving · Overnight in Santa Barbara Stearns Wharf
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Hearst Castle· start
  2. 12 km · 10m
  3. 12:00
    Morro Rock
  4. 49 km · 41m
  5. 15:00
    Santa Barbara Stearns Wharf· overnight
DAY05

Old Mission Santa Barbara → Santa Barbara

56 km · 56m driving · Overnight in Santa Barbara Funk Zone
  1. 09:00
    Old Mission Santa Barbara· start
  2. 4.6 km · 14m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Solvang Village
  4. 51 km · 42m
  5. 15:00
    Santa Barbara Funk Zone· overnight
DAY06

El Capitán State Beach → Santa Monica

189 km · 2h 25m driving · Overnight in Santa Monica Pier
  1. 09:00
    El Capitán State Beach· start
  2. 33 km · 21m
  3. 11:42
    Point Mugu State Park Overlook
  4. 118 km · 1h 23m
  5. 14:24
    ⭐ Malibu Pier
  6. 37 km · 41m
  7. 16:12
    Santa Monica Pier· overnight
DAY07

Venice Beach Boardwalk → Downtown Los Angeles

52 km · 1h 12m driving
  1. 09:00
    Venice Beach Boardwalk· start
  2. 3.8 km · 12m
  3. 11:42
    ⭐ Griffith Observatory
  4. 42 km · 47m
  5. 14:24
    Hollywood Walk of Fame
  6. 6.2 km · 13m
  7. 16:12
    Downtown Los Angeles
Booking timeline
Book these before you go
  1. Stay in Monterey / Carmel-by-the-Sea · Nights 1-2
  2. Stay in Cambria or San Luis Obispo · Night 3
  3. Stay in Santa Barbara · Nights 4-5
  4. Stay in Santa Monica · Night 6
Heads Up
  • Check Caltrans QuickMap before each leg: Highway 1 through Big Sur has recurring slide closures and may require detours via US-101.
  • Book Hearst Castle tour tickets in advance; tours depart only at scheduled times from the visitor center.
  • Fuel up in Carmel or Cambria before driving Big Sur; gas stations along the cliffs are sparse and notably pricey.
  • Coastal mornings are foggy and chilly even in summer; pack layers and plan viewpoints for late afternoon light.