Ultimate 2 Day Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Itinerary
The Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1) is one of the most scenic drives in all of America. It stretches all the way from Mendocino County in northern California to Orange County in southern California, with miles of rugged coastline and scenic vistas all throughout.
As a California native, I was familiar with this highway, but was not aware of just how gorgeous the area around Big Sur was. So, I spent 2 days driving along Highway 1 through Big Sur, and it was one of the most beautiful places I’ve seen in my life.
It may seem difficult to plan this road trip at first, due to the vastness of Big Sur and potential road closures, but don’t let that deter you!
This article will cover exactly where to stay, must-see stops, and a few very important tips for driving through Big Sur along the PCH.
Ready to plan a once-in-a-lifetime Pacific Coast Highway road trip? Let’s dive in!

Driving Along The Pacific Coast Highway
The drive along the Pacific Coast Highway is incredibly scenic, with steep cliffs, picturesque coves, dense redwood forests, and towering bridges. The drive winds along the coast, and there’s several pull-offs and vista points.
The roads are very curvy, and the speed limit is kept at a maximum of 55 mph. There’s scenic vistas at nearly every corner of the drive, so I recommend giving yourself at least 3 hours to stop at the attractions, and take pictures.
There’s no cell coverage as you drive through Big Sur, but if you download the offline google maps, you can easily get to all of the attractions.
2 Day Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Itinerary
I began my road trip starting on the north end, and spent 2 days exploring around Monterey, Carmel, and Big Sur.
Monterey is the perfect gateway to a Big Sur road trip, as it’s less than an hour’s drive, and has excellent seafood restaurants and marine life watching opportunities.
You only need a full day to drive through Big Sur, but I highly recommend spending 2 days to explore the nearby cities. On the north end, you can visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium, relax on Carmel Beach, and drive the iconic 17-mile drive.
On the south end (if the highway’s open), you can tour a winery in Paso Robles, relax on Pismo Beach, or drive a couple hours south to Santa Barbara.
Here is my sample 2 day Pacific Coast Highway road trip itinerary, driving from north to south.
Day 1 – Monterey, Carmel By The Sea, 17 Mile Drive
Monterey Bay

Start your first day in the seaside town of Monterey. In Monterey, you can stroll around Old Fisherman’s Wharf, go on a whale-watching tour, or visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium.


The Monterey Bay Aquarium is a world class aquarium, and home to everything from sea otters to jellyfish and leopard sharks. You can easily spend a few hours at the aquarium, and it’s considered one of the best in the country.
17 Mile Drive

The 17 mile drive is an iconic drive starting in Monterey, through the gated community of Pebble Beach. The drive winds along the coast, with multiple amazing ocean vistas, including the famous Lone Cypress Lookout.

Throughout the drive, you’ll pass by golf courses, mansions, and it ends right by Carmel Beach.
Carmel Beach

After driving the scenic 17 mile drive, you’ll be minutes away from Carmel Beach. Carmel Beach is a beautiful long stretch of white-sand beach, lined with cypress trees.
It’s perfect for walking, watching the sunset, and within walking distance to a charming downtown area with restaurants and boutiques.
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is a must-see oceanfront park, just off of highway 1 on the way to Big Sur.
It costs $10 to enter, and has a variety of amazing coastal hiking trails. I hiked the Cypress Grove Trail and Bird Island Trail while there.


These were two easy and short trails with unbelievable views of the ocean, and one of the highlights of my trip!
Day 2 – Big Sur

Big Sur is a scenic region in the Central Coast of California, that stretches 90 miles along Highway 1. It’s a mix of redwood forests and rugged coastline, with dramatic ocean views all throughout.
There’s little to no cell service and radio station coverage through Big Sur, so I highly recommend downloading the offline maps, and your favorite music/podcasts for the drive!
Big Sur starts a few miles south of Carmel By The Sea, and ends at San Simeon in Cambria. When I visited, the south portion of Highway 1 was closed, but I was still able to see all of the top attractions.
While planning your road trip, make sure to check the current road conditions, as sections of the highway can be temporarily closed off. This is important for deciding where to start the drive, and choosing your hotels for the night.
How To Get To Big Sur
Big Sur is just south of the charming beach town Carmel by the Sea, and a 45 minute drive from Monterey. If you’re flying in and renting a car, I recommend flying into the San Jose airport. Big Sur is only a 1.5 hour drive from San Jose, and around a 2.5-3 hour drive from San Francisco.
For the drive, I recommend starting on the north end by Carmel, and going south. Many of the popular sights (Bixby Bridge, Pfeiffer Beach, Mcway Falls) are located on the north end, less than an hour’s drive from Carmel by the Sea.
Additionally, since October of 2024, the area 40 miles south of Carmel has been closed off due to landslides. When I visited, I drove from Carmel to Mcway Falls, and had to backtrack, as there’s no detours off of Highway 1.
However, this can quickly change, so always make sure to check the current road conditions beforehand.
Driving distance to Big Sur
The closest major cities to Big Sur are Los Angeles and San Francisco, with San Francisco being around 2 hours closer.
Here is the typical driving distance to Big Sur, which can vary depending on traffic and road closures.
- Monterey/Carmel: ~30 min-1 hour
- San Jose: ~1.5-2 hours
- San Francisco: ~2.5-4 hours
- Los Angeles: ~4-6 hours
Bixby Creek Bridge

Start your first day in Big Sur seeing the iconic Bixby Creek Bridge. This bridge has an easy pull-off for parking right before you cross the bridge, and you can also walk across the street for another view.

Also located within a mile before you approach Bixby Bridge is the Rocky Creek Bridge. It was under construction when I visited, but it’s another beautiful scenic arch bridge.
Pfeiffer Beach

Pfeiffer Beach is a unique purple sand beach, known for the famous keyhole arch rock formation. It’s an easy 10-15 minute detour off of highway 1, down a narrow one-lane road, and costs $10 to visit.
The keyhole arch is a large rock formation in the center of the beach, and popular amongst photographers for the light that shines through during sunset.
I visited midday so there were hardly any crowds, and it was still incredibly beautiful! If you have the time, you won’t want to miss this stop.
Partington Cove

Partington Cove is a picturesque cove in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, and an easy and scenic hike worth doing. It’s completely free to visit, and there’s a pullout for parking right by the trailhead.
It’s a 1.1 mile round trip hike down a steep hill, to a secluded cove with benches for viewing. This is the perfect place to stop for a picnic, and enjoy ocean views away from crowds.
Mcway Falls

Another must-see spot in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is Mcway Falls, an 80 ft coastal waterfall that flows into the ocean.
It’s easily accessible by a short 0.5 mile walk, and there’s free parking on the side of the highway near the trailhead.
I visited around sunset so the area was glowing orange, and it had a spectacular view of the rugged cliffs and turquoise blue cove.

This was the last stop I made on the road trip, since the south portion of Highway 1 was closed when I visited.
Here are some other great stops along Highway 1 near Big Sur that I didn’t get the chance to visit.
Other Places To Check Out In Big Sur
- Garrapata State Park: Gorgeous oceanfront park with coastal hiking trails and a 2 mile stretch of sandy beach near Carmel
- Calla Lilly Valley: Coastal trail in Garrapata State Park with Calla Lilly flower fields
- Point Sur Lighthouse: Historic lighthouse perched on a volcanic rock, only accessible by guided hiking tour
- Limekiln State Park: A state park tucked in the redwood forests with easy hiking trails and historic sites
- Elephant Seal Vista Point: An elephant seal viewing area off of Hwy 1 in San Luis Obispo
- Hearst Castle: Beautiful historic 1919 castle perched on a hilltop near San Simeon
Where To Stay In Big Sur
The best places to stay for a Big Sur road trip are Carmel, Monterey, or in one of the few hotel options available in Big Sur.
I stayed in a cheap hotel in Monterey, and it was only a 30 minute drive from the first stop, Bixby Creek Bridge. If you’re driving from north to south, the best area to stay for the second night is Paso Robles or San Luis Obispo.
But if there are road closures, you won’t be able to drive the full length of the PCH, and you’ll have to backtrack through Big Sur. This will add an extra 1-2 hours to your drive if you’re staying south of Big Sur, in a city like Paso Robles or San Luis Obispo.
Here are some of the best hotel options in Big Sur and Monterey.
- El Castell Hotel: Budget Monterey hotel with free parking near Old Fisherman’s Wharf
- Best Western Monterey: Mid-range Monterey hotel with free breakfast and parking near Old Fisherman’s Wharf
- Big Sur River Inn: Big Sur lodge style hotel with free Wifi, an onsite restaurant, and grocery store next door, minutes from Pfeiffer Beach
Best Time To Visit Big Sur
The best time of year to visit Big Sur is in the fall or winter, to avoid the summer crowds. I visited in January, and there were hardly any crowds, but the weather was still perfect.
But if you want to drive the full length of Highway 1, it’s best to visit when there aren’t any road closures. You can check for closures on this website and Facebook page.
How To Plan A Big Sur Road Trip With Road Closures
A portion of Highway 1, a few miles south of Julia Pfeiffer State Park was closed when I visited, so I couldn’t drive the full length of the highway. However, I was still able to see all of the popular stops, and enjoy scenic vistas, so it was worth it!
If you’re planning a road trip, always check for road closures, as it will decide where you start your trip. The best resources for checking potential road closures are Big Sur’s website and the State Parks Facebook page.
If you’re driving to Big Sur from Los Angeles (south to North), the Ragged Point Inn’s website is another good resource for seeing what’s open on the southern portion of the highway.
Pacific Coast Highway Road Stops Map
Big Sur & Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip FAQs
What’s the most scenic area of the Pacific Coast Highway?
The area through Big Sur is by far the most scenic area of the Pacific Coast Highway. This stretch of coastline (Carmel to San Luis Obisbo) was designated as one of America’s National Scenic Byways, and there are scenic vistas all throughout.
There are many popular attractions on the north section of Highway 1, including the famous Bixby Bridge and Mcway Falls.
On the south section (north of San Luis Obispo), there’s the historic Hearst Castle, Morro Bay estuary, and more.
How many days do you need for a road trip through Big Sur?
You only need one full day to see many of the top attractions in Big Sur, so you’ll likely need to spend at least 2 nights in a nearby city for a complete road trip.
I stayed in Monterey on the first night, and in Solvang (near Santa Barbara) for the second night.
Where does the Pacific Coast Highway start and end?
The Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1) starts near Leggett in Northern california, and ends near Dana Point in Orange County.
How much does a Pacific Coast Highway road trip cost?
I did a Big Sur road trip on a budget, and it was much cheaper than I expected. I stayed in a budget hotel in Monterey, and Solvang for around $70 a night, and my biggest expense was gas.
If you’re traveling on a budget, I recommend dining outside of Big Sur, and bringing a cooler with lots of snacks and drinks!
Restaurants in Big Sur can be quite expensive, but there’s plenty of good options in the nearby cities (Monterey, San Luis Obispo).
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