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Pacific Coast Highway Explorer
A quintessential 5-day California road trip covering 700km of rugged cliffs, historic missions, and iconic piers.
5days
17stops
525km
Day 1: San Francisco → … → Bixby Creek Bridge
3h 30min · 235km4 stops
San Francisco
09:00
1h 30min · 120km
Santa Cruz Boardwalk
11:00
1h · 75km
Monterey Bay Aquarium
13:30
1h · 40km
Bixby Creek Bridge
16:30
Day 2: Pfeiffer Big Sur → … → Hearst Castle
2h 10min · 110km4 stops
Pfeiffer Big Sur
09:30
30min · 20km
McWay Falls
11:30
1h 30min · 85km
Elephant Seal Vista Point
15:00
10min · 5.0km
Hearst Castle
16:30
Day 3: Morro Rock → San Luis Obispo → Pismo Beach Pier
50min · 45km3 stops
Morro Rock
10:00
30min · 25km
San Luis Obispo
12:30
20min · 20km
Pismo Beach Pier
15:30
Day 4: Solvang → Old Mission Santa Barbara → Stearns Wharf
55min · 60km3 stops
Solvang
10:00
45min · 55km
Old Mission Santa Barbara
13:30
10min · 5.0km
Stearns Wharf
16:00
Day 5: El Matador State Beach → Santa Monica Pier → Griffith Observatory
1h 45min · 75km3 stops
El Matador State Beach
10:00
45min · 40km
Santa Monica Pier
13:00
1h · 35km
Griffith Observatory
16:30
Heads Up
- 1. Drive North to South to stay on the ocean side of the road
- 2. Cell service is non-existent in Big Sur
- 3. Book Hearst Castle tours weeks in advance
- 4. Day 2: hotel change (Big Sur Village → Cambria Moonstone Beach) — allow 1-2h check-out + transfer
- 5. Day 3: hotel change (Cambria Moonstone Beach → Pismo Beach) — allow 1-2h check-out + transfer
- 6. Day 4: hotel change (Pismo Beach → Santa Barbara West Beach) — allow 1-2h check-out + transfer
- 7. Day 5: hotel change (Santa Barbara West Beach → Santa Monica / Venice) — allow 1-2h check-out + transfer