Often described as a classic American road trip, the Pacific Coast Highway road trip itinerary stretches from north to south, offering unparalleled views of the Pacific Ocean along the way. While it's possible to begin your trip in the southern tip of California and keep driving all the way until you hit the mountains of Washington, our Pacific Coast Highway road trip itinerary takes you along the coast of California, allowing you to soak up the natural beauty and amazing attractions along the way.
The ultimate Pacific Coast Highway road trip spans about 350 miles and if you drove straight through, it would take you just under 5 hours to complete it. However, by taking a more leisurely pace and making stops along the way, you can transform this road trip into a multi-day adventure that leads to lasting memories.
Stop 1: Santa Monica
iStockphoto.com / AlexKane
Things to Do: Santa Monica Pier, Palisades Park, Santa Monica State Beach
The Pacific Coast Highway stretches from north to south, but the most common road trip begins in the southern part of California and moves its way north. Santa Monica is the ideal starting point for your Pacific Coast Highway road trip, because it allows you to begin your adventure in one of the most iconic cities in Southern California.
Before you hit the road, take some time to enjoy the culture and atmosphere of Santa Monica. You can spend your day splashing in the waves and walking along the surf at the idyllic Santa Monica State Beach, which is a favorite among locals and visitors alike.
After soaking up as much sun as possible, be sure to head to the historic Santa Monica Pier, where you will find restaurants, beach rentals and plenty of attractions. There's nothing quite like the thrill of riding the West Coaster, which seems to tower over the Pacific Ocean. For the best views in Santa Monica, take a ride on the solar-powered Pacific Wheel which sits at the edge of this iconic pier. Of course, no trip to the pier would be complete without a ride on the Santa Monica Pier Carousel, which was constructed in 1939 and still features the classic wooden horses that have been beloved by the young and the young at heart for generations.
Once your time in Santa Monica is complete, it's time to begin your great American adventure. Hop in the car and head toward the Pacific Coast Highway, where you will be rewarded by a seemingly endless stretch of ocean out your window. For the next hour-and-a-half, you will be heading right along the water's edge, but you may want to make a few stops along the way.
These are some of the best road trip stops between Santa Monica and Santa Barbara:
Redondo Beach — Known for its vibrant surf culture, this beach is an excellent place to stretch your legs during your Pacific Coast Highway road trip.
Point Dume — Located near Malibu, Point Dume is a scenic lookout that offers rugged views that highlight the natural wilds of the California coast.
Ventura — One of the larger coastal cities along this stretch of the highway, Ventura is home to amazing beaches, incredible historic buildings and flavorful restaurants.
With plenty of opportunities to customize this first leg of the road trip, you will find that your Pacific Coast Highway road trip is off to an amazing start. But this is just the beginning. Your next stop is Santa Barbara and then the adventure continues northward.
Stop 2: Santa Barbara
Elizabeth Beard / Getty Images / CC BY-SA
Distance Traveled: 92.5 miles
Things to Do: Whale watching, Santa Barbara Mission, wine tasting
The stretch between Santa Monica and Santa Barbara spans just more than 92 miles, but depending on how much you pack into the first leg of your road trip, you may be feeling ready for a break. Spend a day or two in Santa Barbara, where you can focus on the natural beauty of California as well as its rich history and its incredible wines.
The Santa Barbara Channel is home to some of the most spectacular whale watching in the region, making this one of the top activities in the city. There are few better ways to take a break from your road trip than to get on a boat and enjoy a scenic journey through the channel. Depending on the time of year that you take your road trip, you may see different types of whales. During the late winter and early spring months, expect to find California grey whales migrating through the channel. From May through September, you might catch a glimpse of a greater variety of whale species, such as humpback whales, blue whales and possibly even orca whales. All year round, the channel is home to dolphins and sea lions, so you will not be disappointed by this half-day excursion.
If you are more of a landlubber, then consider visiting the historic Old Mission Santa Barbara. Self-guided tours are available daily, making this one of the easiest stops to add to your Pacific Coast Highway road trip itinerary. Founded in 1786 and known for its architectural beauty, the mission has been a hub for community life in Santa Barbara for centuries. It continues to play a pivotal role in offering local people a space to gather, worship and connect with one another.
There's no better place to cap off your day in Santa Barbara than at the Santa Barbara Waterfront. Here, you can soak up the pristine beauty of this city and watch the sun slip into the ocean — setting on another spectacular day along the PCH. Your time in Santa Barbara is complete and it's time to begin the journey to your next stop — San Luis Obispo.
Stop 3: San Luis Obispo
Joe Josephs / Getty Images / CC BY-SA
Distance Traveled: 231.3 miles
Things to Do: Yoga, Bubblegum Alley, San Luis Obispo Museum of Art
The second stretch of your Pacific Coast Highway road trip is a little bit longer than the first, taking you just more than 231 miles from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo. If you drive this portion of the journey straight through, you can expect to be on the road for about 3-and-a-half hours, without traffic. However, as with any road trip, you will make more memories along the way if you take it slow and stop for breaks.
These are a few of the best stop-offs between Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo:
Lake Cachuma — This man-made lake is the perfect spot for fishing and relaxing after a little bit of time on the road.
Local wineries — Along this stretch of the PCH, you will pass by numerous wineries. Some of the best wineries between Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo include Firestone Vineyard, Flying Goat Cellars and Presqu'ile Winery.
Santa Maria Museum of Flight — The epitome of a road trip stop, the Santa Maria Museum of Flight is a small, local museum dedicated to the preservation of historic aircraft.
Upon arrival in San Luis Obispo, you will quickly discover that this is one of the most unique cities on the Pacific Coast Highway road trip itinerary. Of course, it features the same laid-back atmosphere that California is famous for and the city itself is rich in history and culture. However, you will find some truly one-of-a-kind attractions, such as Bubblegum Alley.
True to its name, Bubblegum Alley is just that — an alley in the heart of downtown San Luis Obispo that has been decorated with the chewed gum of visitors for decades. The alley itself stretches 15 feet high and spans for more than 70 feet and to be honest, it might make you a little queasy to walk through a narrow stretch of wall that is decorated by chewed-up gum. However, the living art in this alley changes regularly, as visitors add hundreds of pieces of gum to the alley each day. And let's face it, you won't be able to resist the opportunity to add your own piece of gum to this local landmark.
After you have walked through the infamous Bubblegum Alley and taken part in this San Luis Obispo tradition, you can continue to explore the role of arts and culture in the community at the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art. Known locally as SLOMA, this museum features rotating exhibits that allow locals and visitors to connect with art across a wide range of styles and mediums. Some examples of rotating exhibits that may be on display include mural exhibits, public art installations and exhibits dedicated to California artists.
Once your time in the eclectic city of San Luis Obispo is complete, it's time to head northward and hit the Pacific Coast Highway again. Your next destination is truly incredible — you are on your way to Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Stop 4: Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea
SeeMonterey.com
Distance Traveled: 136.3 miles
Things to Do: Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row, Carmel Beach
This next stretch of your road trip will move relatively quickly. You will travel just more than 136 miles between San Luis Obispo and Monterey and without stops, your journey will take about 2 hours to complete. If you do want to stop off, these are some of the best road trip breaks between San Luis Obispo and Monterey:
Mission Soledad — This Spanish mission is located just off the PCH, making it an easy and convenient stop and the perfect way to add a dose of history to your journey.
Garland Ranch Regional Park — A favorite spot for hiking, horseback riding and bird watching, this regional park allows you to soak up the diverse landscapes that California is known for.
Upon arrival in Monterey, you will quickly see why this is a stop on the Pacific Coast Highway road trip itinerary. The rugged landscape of this region looks distinctly different from the soft sandy beaches lined with palm trees that you saw during the first part of your road trip.
Perhaps the most significant attraction in Monterey — besides its incredible beaches — is the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which is a must-do on your Pacific Coast Highway road trip. Serving as the inspiration for the aquarium in the Disney animated movie Finding Dory, the Monterey Bay Aquarium allows visitors to learn more about the ocean landscape in Monterey Bay and around the world. With an emphasis on preservation and protection, the Monterey Bay Aquarium has a variety of immersive exhibits, with some of the most popular including:
The Open Sea Exhibit
The Sea Otter Exhibit
Life on the Bay Exhibit
After spending a day at the aquarium and experiencing all that gorgeous Monterey has to offer, take a trip further down the peninsula to Carmel-by-the-Sea. This quiet coastal town is the perfect spot to relax after multiple days of road tripping. The charming and colorful village is the perfect place to go shopping and there are plenty of restaurants, art galleries and theaters to enjoy as well.
It may be hard to imagine leaving someplace as peaceful as Carmel-by-the-Sea, but you won't want to miss the opportunity to finish your Pacific Coast Highway road trip in style. You are on your way to your final destination — the one and only San Francisco.
Stop 5: San Francisco
Courtesy of San Francisco Tourism Association
Distance Traveled: 121 miles
Things to Do: Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, Fisherman's Wharf
Choosing to travel along the PCH for the final stretch of your road trip will take you a little bit longer — but the views are well worth it. This is the end of your journey along the California coast, so you likely wouldn't want to miss any of the views. The 121-mile-drive between Monterey and San Francisco on the Pacific Coast Highway may take about 2 hours and 15 minutes in good traffic.
San Francisco may be the end of the road, so to speak, but in many ways it is just the beginning of your adventure. This city in northern California is brimming with culture and history. From the iconic Painted Ladies Victorian homes to the modern marvel of the Golden Gate Bridge, you will find yourself in front of some of the most famous attractions in the United States.
Booking a hotel room in San Francisco is advised, because you likely won't be able to wrap up your road trip in 24 hours. Take a few extra days at the end of the adventure and extend your trip so that you can see all of the best attractions in San Francisco, such as:
Alcatraz Island — This former maximum security prison once held of the most notorious U.S. criminals. Today, it is a living history museum, allowing you to ferry to the imposing island and walk the halls of this prison yourself.
Fisherman's Wharf — Arguably the most popular tourist attraction in San Francisco, you won't want to miss this iconic wharf, which is home to restaurants, shops, tourist attractions and, of course, barking sea lions.
Ghirardelli Square — Home to the Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory, this is the sweetest place to be in all of San Francisco. You can then cap off your trip with some high-quality ice cream or chocolate.
There's truly no better place to wrap up your road trip than San Francisco. From Santa Monica to San Francisco, you have had the opportunity to see the best that Coastal California has to offer.
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