Ultimate San Francisco To Los Angeles Road Trip Itinerary
Are you wondering how to plan a San Francisco to Los Angeles road trip? If so, this article’s for you.
The Pacific Coast Highway is considered one of the most scenic drives in America, stretching nearly 700 miles along California’s rugged coastline. Not only is the drive incredibly scenic, but there’s dozens of interesting cities, and sites to see along the way.
I’ve lived in both Northern and Southern California, and driven this route over 3 times now. There’s an endless amount of places to visit, but this article will cover all of the must–see places, what to do, and where to stay on the Pacific Coast Highway.
Whether you have 2 days or an entire week, here’s everything you need to know to plan a once in a lifetime road trip.
Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip At A Glance
- Days needed: 2-7
- Route: SF to LA via Highway 1 (through Big Sur)
- View potential Big Sur Highway 1 closures here
Where To Start The Road Trip
The Pacific Coast Highway is equally scenic, whether you drive north to south (SF to LA), or south to north (LA to SF). If you’re flying in, here are the closest airports to each city.
Closest airports to San Francisco
- San Francisco (SFO): 20 minutes to San Francisco
- Oakland (OAK): 45 minutes to San Francisco
- San Jose (SJO): 1 hour to San Francisco
Closest airports to Los Angeles
- San Francisco (SFO): 20 minutes to San Francisco
- Oakland (OAK): 45 minutes to San Francisco
- San Jose (SJO): 1 hour to San Francisco
SF to LA: Road Trip Itinerary
San Francisco
Start your road trip in the vibrant and lively city of San Francisco. There’s so many interesting places packed into the city, from the Golden Gate Bridge to the museums, colorful neighborhoods, historic monuments, and more.
If you have limited time, I recommend seeing the Golden Gate Bridge, and strolling around Pier 39.
Pier 39 is a popular marina dotted with seafood restaurants and ice cream shops, where you can view Alcatraz, and the Golden Gate bridge at a distance.
I’ve had the best clam chowder in my life at Boudin Bakery growing up, so if you only have time for one stop, this is it.
Here are some other amazing places to visit in San Francisco:
- Golden Gate Park: a 1,017 acre park with botanical gardens, a Japanese tea garden, and a science museum in the heart of the city.
- Alcatraz Island: Historic prison and museum located off the shore that’s accessible by a short ferry ride
- Chinatown: Largest and oldest Chinatown in America, with temples, palaces, and colorful shops
- Palace of Fine Arts: Free park with Greco-Roman architecture and an incredible view of the Golden Gate bridge
- Museum of Modern Art: Spectacular 7 floor Modern art museum
- Painted Ladies: Iconic colorful Victorian homes adjacent to a grassy hilltop park
- Muir Woods National Monument: Nature preserve of 600 to 800 year old redwood trees
Half Moon Bay
Half Moon Bay is an amazing 4 mile stretch of sandy beach with picnic tables, located just an hour south of San Francisco. This is one of the best Northern California beaches, and it’s a great place to refuel before hitting the highway.
Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz is one of California’s most popular beach towns, located around two hours south of San Francisco. It has a long wooden pier, and a beach boardwalk with roller coasters, arcades, and amusement rides.
Beyond the beach, you can visit the iconic Mystery Spot. This is a famous optical illusion of a “tilted house” in the redwood forests. The boardwalk and Mystery Spot are both excellent places to take kids.
Additionally, if you venture 15 minutes south, you’ll be in Capitola.
This is a small seaside city with waterfront restaurants, and a sandy beach lined with colorful pastel houses.
Monterey
Monterey is a definite must stop along the Pacific Coast Highway. It’s home to the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium, Old Fisherman’s Wharf, and 17 Mile Drive.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium has over 200 exhibits, and is home to everything from jellyfish to leopard sharks. You can easily spend half the day at the aquarium, so I recommend spending a night in the city.
Other fun things to do in town are enjoying clam chowder in Old Fisherman’s Wharf, going on a whale watching tour, or driving the famous 17 mile drive.
The 17 mile drive is a scenic drive through the gated community of Pebble Beach, where you’ll get to see the iconic Lone Cypress Tree, and several beautiful ocean vistas.
Carmel-by-the-Sea
Carmel-by-the-sea is a charming seaside city, located 10 minutes south of Monterey. It has a gorgeous white sand beach that’s within walking distance to a downtown with boutiques and restaurants.
What makes this city so charming is the storybook architecture of the shops and cottages, so it looks like it’s straight out of a fairytale. It has a variety of cute boutique hotel options, and is a wonderful place to stay for a night.
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is an oceanfront state park in Carmel, with amazing coastal hiking trails. This is the perfect place to stretch your legs before hitting the road to drive through Big Sur.
The Cypress Grove, Sea Lion Point, and Bird Island Trail are three excellent short trails that you can hike in under an hour. For a full list of hikes in the park, check out our guide to visiting Point Lobos.
Big Sur
After Carmel, you’ll be driving through Big Sur. This is a scenic 71-mile portion that winds through the rugged coastline, with steep cliffs, and beautiful ocean vistas all throughout.
There’s no cell service or radio coverage for most of the drive, so it’s important to download the offline maps so you won’t miss any of the stops.
Additionally, you’ll want to check for road closures beforehand, as there’s no detours off of Highway 1. If there’s a road closure, you’ll have to backtrack on the highway back to Carmel, which can add a few hours to your driving time.
- Bixby Bridge: Big Sur’s iconic 260ft bridge with views of the rugged coastline
- Pfeiffer Beach: Purple sand beach tucked in the forest with a keyhole sea arch
- Nepenthe Restaurant: Clifftop restaurant in Big Sur with an unbeatable view
- Partington Cove: Short hike to a picturesque cove nestled in the cliffs
- Mcway Falls: Short walk to a beautiful coastal waterfall that empties into the ocean
- Limekiln State Park: Big Sur State Park with redwood forests and a 100 ft waterfall
- Hearst Castle: Historic estate perched on a cliff in San Simeon that offers guided tours
- Elephant Seal Vista Point: Seal viewing point on the southern end of Big Sur
For more details on these road stops and where to stay, check out our Big Sur itinerary!
Morro Bay
Morro Bay is a coastal city just south of Big Sur that has a long stretch of untouched sandy beaches, a harbor, and a unique offshore volcanic plug (Morro Rock).
You can spot sea otters strolling on the pier, get up close to Morro Rock, or enjoy seafood in the harbor. It’s a 20 minute drive from San Luis Obispo, so it’s a great place to stay after making the long drive through Big Sur.
San Luis Obispo is also home to the Madonna Inn, a unique California hotel with individually themed rooms, and quirky architecture. It was built in 1958, with some of the rooms being designed by a Disney artist, and it has an onsite restaurant with kitschy, pink decor. If you’re looking for somewhere memorable to stay for a night, this is it.
Another great place to stay near Morro Bay is Paso Robles, which is a 40 minute detour off of highway 1. It’s a premier California wine growing region, and home to dozens of amazing wineries, and natural hot springs.
Here’s an overview of the best areas to stay on the southern end of Big Sur:
- San Simeon: Near Hearst Castle and Elephant Seal Vista Point
- San Luis Obispo: Home to the Madonna Inn, 20 minutes from Morro Bay
- Paso Robles: Has wineries and natural hot springs, 45 minutes from Morro Bay
Solvang
After passing through Pismo Beach on Highway 1, it’s around a 1.5 hour drive to Santa Barbara. You can either continue on Highway 1 through Lompoc, or take Highway 101 to pass by Solvang.
Solvang is a charming Danish town with alluring architecture, bakeries, museums, and more. You can stroll the downtown to see the Danish windmills, try Danish pastries, and shop for souvenirs.
If you’re traveling with kids, I recommend stopping by Ostrichland. This is a fun little ostrich farm, 5 minutes from downtown, where you can feed ostriches and emus bowls of food.
Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara is a definite must stop along the Pacific Coast Highway. It’s one of the most beautiful cities in California, and home to many great beaches, museums, parks, a zoo, and a marina. Here are some of the best things to do in Santa Barbara.
- Visit the Santa Barbara zoo
- Go for a long walk on Arroyo Burro Beach
- Tour the Old Mission
- Stroll Stearns Wharf
- Watch ducks at Alice Keck’s Park Memorial Garden
Malibu
Before you approach Los Angeles, stop in Malibu to admire some of the best southern California beaches. If you want to go for a long beach hike, head to Point Dume or El Matador State Beach.
These are gorgeous sandy beaches tucked along the cliffs, with blufftop hiking trails, and spectacular views of the coast. For another great view of the coast, take a stroll down Malibu’s pier.
Santa Monica & Venice Beach
As you arrive in Los Angeles, make your first stop at the famous Santa Monica Pier. This is a large wooden pier and amusement park, lined with seafood restaurants, ice cream and gift shops.
It’s a fun place to walk around, watch street performers, or enjoy ocean views while riding the ferris wheel.
Venice Beach is another must-see spot, just 3 miles south of Santa Monica. It’s a lively beach boardwalk with a skatepark, street performers, and an interesting mix of culture.
Across the street from the waterfront, you can see the Venice Canals Historic District. These are a set of man made canals modeled after Italy’s canals, and a beautiful place to walk around.
Los Angeles
After exploring Santa Monica, venture into the heart of Los Angeles to see the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame and Hollywood Sign.
The walk of fame is a star-studded sidewalk honoring celebrities in the entertainment industry, and it’s home the iconic TCL Chinese Theatre.
To see the iconic Hollywood Sign, drive up to Griffith Observatory. This is a free to visit observatory perched on Mount Hollywood, with a clear view of the Hollywood Sign and city skyline.
Beyond Hollywood, Los Angeles has dozens of famous attractions. If you have time, here are some of the best things to do in Los Angeles.
- Visit Universal Studios
- Go shopping on Rodeo Drive
- Visit the Getty Museum
- See the forest of street lamps at the Museum of Art
- Tour Warner Bros Studio
- Watch a show at the Hollywood Bowl
Long Beach
Long Beach is another amazing seaside city, located in between Los Angeles and Orange County. It has an excellent aquarium, sandy beaches, and a marina with shops and restaurants.
From the marina, you can see the magnificent Queen Mary Ship docked in the harbor. This is a historic 1914 battleship built by the Royal Navy that’s been turned into a hotel and museum.
It’s considered to be haunted, and you can do a tour of the inside, or spend the night in one of the cruise ship style rooms!
Orange County
As you venture 30 miles south of Los Angeles County, you’ll be in Orange County.
Orange County is home to Disneyland in Anaheim California, and encompasses Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, and Dana Point. Here’s an overview of each.
Huntington Beach
Huntington Beach is a popular surfing beach town, with a lively pier, and a long stretch of sandy beach.
The beach has soft powdery white sand, and is within walking distance to gift shops, cafes, restaurants, and a surfing museum. You can see dozens of surfers as you stroll along the pier, and it was one of my favorite Orange County beaches.
Newport Beach
Newport Beach is another lively beach town with a popular pier, and a long stretch of sandy beach lined with restaurants and shops.
It’s a short drive from the Balboa Peninsula, which has another pier, and a mini amusement park called the Balboa Fun Zone.
Here you can dine out at Ruby’s Diner, go on a whale watching tour, or try a hand–dipped Balboa bar (frozen chocolate banana)!
Additionally, Newport is near many incredible beaches, including Corona del Mar and Crystal Cove State Park.
Crystal Cove is a state park, with 3.2 miles of sandy beach, charming beachfront cottages, and a historic district with restaurants. You can stay in one of the quaint beachfront cottages for the night, and wake up right on the beach!
Laguna Beach
Laguna Beach is the last beach town worth stopping at along the Pacific Coast Highway. It’s home to some of the most picturesque, turquoise blue beaches in California.
If you only have time for one stop, check out Treasure Island Park. This is a gorgeous oceanfront park with picnic areas, and secluded coves with unique rock formations and tide pools.
It’s the perfect place to have a picnic, and one of California’s last hidden treasures!
Dana Point
The Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1) officially ends at Capistrano Beach in Dana Point. The rest of California’s coastal highway is on Interstate 5 (I-5), which continues to wind along the coast towards San Diego.
Best Time For A PCH Road Trip
The best time for a Highway 1 road trip is in the late summer, fall, or spring. California experiences “May gray” and “June gloom”, so the late summer’s ideal if you want to enjoy scenic ocean vistas without an overcast.
Additionally, winter is a good choice if you want to enjoy the beaches away from crowds, but it may be a bit chilly in northern California.
PCH Road Trip Map
Summary
The Pacific Coast Highway winds past the most beautiful areas of California, and is truly a once-in-a-lifetime road trip.
Whether you have 2 days or a week to explore the Pacific Coast, you’ll create memories to last a lifetime.
I recommend staying a few nights in different cities (San Francisco, Monterey/Carmel, Los Angeles), so that you can spend time exploring each place.
This will help break up the drive, and give you the well-needed time to rest so that it’s more enjoyable.
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