A Pacific Coast Highway road trip is a bucket-list drive for many. California Highway 1 and 101 run the length of the state, providing incredible views out over the Pacific Ocean. The most famous section is between San Francisco and Los Angeles, with highlights being the dramatic landscapes around Big Sur.
I had been dreaming of driving some of the Pacific Coast Highway since I saw Doris Day in ‘Move Over, Darling’. Then I read Jack Kerouac and Henry Miller and the dream became a desire – I needed to see where these wild tales took place! The first opportunity arose when my partner and I decided to elope to San Francisco in 2015. We took the first 4 days of our honeymoon to drive from San Francisco to San Luis Obispo.
Then on different trips we have explored parts of the coast from Stinson Beach north of San Francisco, and driven from Los Angeles via Malibu, Cayucos and San Simeon. We have also taken the Coast Starlight Train from LA to San Francisco. You could say we are in love with this coastline!
A PCH Road Trip From San Francisco to Los Angeles
This blog focuses on the section between San Francisco to LA, with recommended stops, highlights, and tips (especially when there are slips and the roads close). If you get a chance to drive California’s Highway 1, even just a small section of it, I would recommend it.
San Francisco to Monterey Via Pescadero
120 miles – 2.5 hours drive time
The often overlooked section of the PCH is from San Francisco to Monterey via San Gregorio and Pescadero State beaches. This leg is noticeably quieter than the Monterey to San Simeon section.
I recommend leaving early and stopping for a breakfast picnic at San Gregorio State Beach, where you can enjoy the serene surroundings and stunning ocean views. There are charming roadside stops like the Pescadero General Store, and plenty of pull-outs for all the photos you’ll want to take of the rugged cliffs and windswept beaches.
The promontories along this stretch of the coast are also good for spotting grey whales as they migrate along the California coast between Dec-May.
Monterey
Monterey itself is just lovely. This converted cannery town is now geared beautifully towards the tourists. With the obligatory tat stores, but also with some great attractions (the aquarium amongst others), and some great pubs and restaurants. Â
We had dinner at the Cannery Row Brewing Company. And while it doesn’t actually brew the beer, it has an incredible range. The food was excellent (I recommend the huge 18oz pretzel), and the portions, huge.
Where to stay in Monterey
We stayed at the far east end of Cannery Row, at the Monterey Bay Inn.  We chose to be a little further away from the neon of the main tourist area as we wanted a bit of a gap between the party-goers and the relaxation of our hotel. The rooftop spa was a bonus, and investing in a balcony room was totally worth it. I woke to pelicans flying past our balcony!
Wildlife in Monterey
The California coast is just sublime for nature-watching. You may see great big flocks of pelicans, sea lions, seals, sea otters, cormorants and other marine birds – it was fabulous. Â
We took an early morning walk down to the Coast Guard pier to see the sea lion colony. We were treated to a sea otter lolling about on his back in the shallows, just preening and enjoying the gentle morning sea, it was very special.
Monterey to Big Sur
45 miles – 1.5 hours drive time
With some of the most stunning landscapes I have ever seen, and iconic bridges to cross, this section is particularly noteworthy. Â The absolutely great thing about this road is that there are loads of places to pull over and take photos – they really have got the recipe right for those who come to see this beautiful place.
This section of California Highway 1 is prone to slips and landslides, so please check the Visit California website with updates on which parts of the road might be closed.
The Famous Bridges
One of the first photogenic highlights along this stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway are the two 1932 bridges—Rocky Creek Bridge and Bixby Bridge. Both span steep but narrow creeks, and their elegant concrete arches beautifully frame the rugged scenery below.
The Bixby Bridge is one of the most iconic landmarks along the PCH, towering 280 feet above the canyon and punctuating the winding road in photos. This stretch is a favorite for photographers, especially at golden hour, when the light enhances the dramatic landscape.
Other great Stops
Along the way, there are plenty of places to stop: The California Sea Otter refuge; Pfeiffer Beach State Park; Post Range Inn & The Sierra Mar Restaurant; and the Henry Miller Memorial Library.
Our wedding photographer had recommended Nepenthe Restaurant, so we stopped there for lunch.  We had a table with a view looking out over the water, and the food was generous and tasty. We felt lucky to stop for a time and gaze out over the wild ocean from this haven.
Whether the through road is open or not, consider giving the Big Sur hotels your business. They suffer regularly from road closures, so it’s great to support the locals in this way. If you do have to detour back to the 101 highway, you may as well stop for the night!
I recommend Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn or Big Sur River Inn
San Simeon
If the coastal highway is open: 70 miles – 2-3 hours drive time
If the coastal highway is closed: 195 miles – 3.5 hours drive time
Elephant Seals
There are great stops along this section, including the Elephant Seal Rookery at San Simeon. Located near Piedras Blancas, just north of Hearst Castle, the rookery is home to thousands of Northern Elephant Seals.
Peak viewing times are in January, when adult males engage in dramatic battles for dominance, in April, when molting occurs, and in October, as seals return to rest. However, even outside these months, visitors can often spot young seals, as we did during a visit in mid-February, when the beach was still lively with juveniles.
Viewing platforms allow for close, respectful observation of these massive marine mammals in their natural habitat.
Hearst Castle
Hearst Castle is located atop the hills near San Simeon. Built by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst in the early 20th century, this opulent estate is a fascinating blend of architectural styles, featuring 165 rooms and vast gardens.
The castle houses an impressive collection of European art, antiques, and historical artefacts. The basic guided tour takes you through the Grand Rooms, Roman Pool and Neptune Pool. The opulence is kind of ridiculous (more money than sense methinks) but is so interesting.
We had missed visiting Hearst Castle on our 2015 road trip (I had spent entirely too long taking photos of the coastline), so we were excited to finally see it in 2024.
San Simeon to Morro Rock
30 miles – 40 minutes drive time
Cambria
Cambria is known for its artistic community, cute shops, and cosy restaurants. Take a walk along Moonstone Beach, where polished agate, jasper, and moonstone-like quartz have been naturally smoothed by the ocean’s waves as they wash ashore.
Cayucos
Cayucos is a laid-back beach town we discovered on our 2024 road trip. Known for its historic pier and charming small-town vibe, it’s great for surfing, beach-combing, and quaint antique shops. We enjoyed dinner at Lunado Garden Bistro.
Morro Rock
Morro Rock was actually one of my favourite vistas for photography. A change from the steep cliffs of the Big Sur section, and with vast beaches, it was a nice adjustment of landscape. Capturing Morro Rock appearing out of the morning mists was a memorable moment on this road trip.
If you fancy some down time before moving along the coast, this is a nice area to relax. We stayed at the Moonstone Landing Hotel at the wild and rocky Moonstone Beach in Cambria, which was convenient to the town and walks along the boardwalk. In Cayucos, try The Pacific Motel or The Shoreline Inn.
Morro Bay to Malibu
180 miles – 3.5 hours drive time
San Luis Obispo
As you move closer to LA, you’ll pass through some bigger cities. San Luis Obispo has a bustling downtown with unique shops, farm-to-table restaurants, and attractions like Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa. We had some incredible tacos from Tacos Y Birria Sinaloa on Broad Street.
Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara is known for its Spanish colonial heritage. With attractions like Stearns Wharf, Mission Santa Barbara, it also has a vibrant downtown. Santa Barbara has some fabulous wineries around it, so consider staying the night and indulging in the wines of the ‘American Riviera’.
Mugu Point
I have seen so many movies with Mugu Rock in the shot. The sweeping curve that cuts through the rock and the cliff face is definitely a cinematographer’s dream. Point Mugu State Park has lots of picnic spots, hiking opportunities and bluff viewpoints. Drive past Mugu Rock and along the last of the coastline before hitting Malibu.
Malibu
Malibu boasts has the iconic Zuma Beach, Surfrider Beach, and El Matador State Beach, which are popular for surfing, sunbathing, and picnicking. Known as a celebrity enclave, Malibu is a bit like the Hollywood Hills of the coast… we saw lots of Lamborghinis!
Despite my general disdain for the ultra rich, we did find a good value breakfast at Marmalade Cafe on Cross Creek Road.
NOTE: California Highway 1 is prone to slips and landslides, so please check the Visit California website with updates on which parts of the road might be closed.
Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip
This Pacific Coast Highway road trip takes between 3-5 days, but you could easily spend another week on this coastline. The juxtaposition between the peace and tranquility and the wild sea of this coastline makes for a very memorable trip. Â There is good reason why this road trip down California Highway 1 is so famous. Move over, darling!
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All photos & content © Hannah Henderson and may not be used without permission (sharing this blog post is fine, though!). Images shot with a Canon DSLR T3i Rebel + Canon EF 35-80mm f/4-5.6 III; and an iPhone6s.
Firstly: congrats! What a cool way to spend honeymoon! I’ve also always wanted to follow the footprints of Jack Kerouac to the Pacific Coast Highway. Thanks for lifting that dream to the surface again!
Road trips are always fun. I would love to pacific coast highway road trip for all the lovely birds and animals that you mention. it is difficult to find them in urban settings. The bridges also look beautiful.
Quite easily one of the top coastal highway. THe scenery is spectacular. Added to that the old bridges and quaint ton of Monterey, it looks like a photographers paradise!
What a fantastic road trip, along one of the prettiest coastlines i’ve seen! 3 days is a good amount of time to drive, relax, visit the towns on the way and stop of many pictures along the way. I know people sometimes even take longer, 4-5 days and still complain that they didn’t spend enough time, I can see why! The idea of being able to watch the whale migration from Monterey Bay is fantastic!
I love the California Coast. That stretch between SF and Monterey is beautiful. Sounds like you had a fabulous road trip!
Road trip and honeymoon sounds like a perfect match for me. More over the scenery along the Pacific Coast Highway is just mind blowing. I would definitely make a photo stop at Hurricane Point and also Monterey Bay for the whale migration! So happy that you have a beautiful journey here 😀
I love driving on Highway 1! it is certainly one of the most scenic roads in the US – especially the part around Big Sur. I was also inspired by Kerouac during my trip there – did you try to find his cabin under the Bixby Birdge?
Unfortunately we were limited when we drove it last spring due to the land slides and road closures. DO they have all of that squared away Now?
Oh wow – three days. Many years ago i did this trip in about a day and a half. the scenery is beautiful but it definitely was not enough. i had no time to stop and really enjoy the incredible sights en route as my flight was calling me. I barely made it
Road trips are always exciting and ai like the fact that you can stop your car anywhere to take pictures. The view of sky dazzled in neon shades looks awesome from you hotel balcony. Those bridges are so phogenic and lovely. OMG! those landscapes are actually breathtaking
Congratulations on your wedding and it looks like you had a great honeymoon. The Coastal scenery is beautiful and the Cannery Row Brewing Company sounds fun, especially the pretzel!
I love this part of the world – and how incredible that you eloped here! We did a road trip from San Diego to Alaska, up the Highway 101 – Monterey was one of my favorite stops, and you’re right, there’s so much wildlife! We missed the whale migration, but LOVED visiting the elephant seals. So glad you had a fabulous time – and congrats on the ELOPEMENT! I always dreamed of just taking off for an intimate ceremony and not telling anyone lol!