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Pacific Coast 5D (Copy)
I’d do this as a relaxed 5-day drive down the classic Pacific Coast Highway, reading “5d” as 5 days: San Francisco to Los Angeles with ocean time, redwoods, Big Sur cliffs, and beach-town evenings.
5days
17stops
Day 1: Depart → Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk → 17 Mile Drive
3 stops
Depart
09:00
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
13:00
17 Mile Drive
16:30
Day 2: 17-Mile Drive → Point Lobos State Natural Res… → Bixby Creek Bridge
3 stops
17-Mile Drive
09:30
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
11:30
Bixby Creek Bridge
15:30
Day 3: Depart → … → Morro Rock
4 stops
Depart
09:00
McWay Falls
10:30
Elephant Seal Vista Point
13:30
Morro Rock
16:30
Day 4: Depart → … → Santa Barbara Waterfront
4 stops
Depart
09:30
Pismo Beach Pier
10:30
Solvang
13:00
Santa Barbara Waterfront
16:30
Day 5: Ventura Pier and Promenade → Malibu Pier → Santa Monica Pier
3 stops
Ventura Pier and Promenade
10:00
Malibu Pier
12:30
Santa Monica Pier
16:30
Heads Up
- 1. Check Big Sur road closures before committing to the cliffside stretch
- 2. keep a warm layer in the car every day
- 3. download offline maps where service gets patchy
- 4. book Monterey/Carmel/Santa Barbara lodging early if traveling weekends or summer