California Highway 1 Road Trip

California is one of the most beautiful states in the USA, with such diverse offerings. You can be surfing and skiing in the same day. Or you can be walking through luscious Redwood Forests in the morning and be at the desolate deserts of Death Valley by evening. It can be overwhelming to choose an adventure at times! However, we feel like a road trip along California’s Highway 1 is something everyone should experience at least once in their lives. This trip can be done starting in Los Angeles, as shown below, or in reverse from San Fransisco. It can take anywhere from 3-10 days, depending on your speed of travel and interests. This itinerary will take you on some of the most stunning coastal roads, through diverse forests, and into story tale towns. We hope you enjoy! 

Santa Monica Pier

This iconic landmark is the perfect start (or end) to your road trip. The pier features an aquarium, an amusement park, a ferris wheel, plenty of carnival vendors, restaurants and fishing. Make it a quick photo stop or an overnight with an early morning start North. 

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is an adorable city nestled between rolling green hills and the blue Pacific. The main street through downtown, State Street, is an excellent place to stop for a bite or find a boutique hotel to spend the night. We recommend the Riviera Beach House. The historic center has several great places to pop in for a local wine tasting or grab dinner on the pier with a gorgeous view at Moby Dick. This might be your first overnight stop or just a quick snack break, depending on how quickly you like to travel. 

Solvang

You will need to detour off Hwy 1 to reach this town, but it is well worth it! The entire town of Solvang has a Danish style of architecture and every nook and cranny of the main street is bursting with the theme- you really feel like you stepped into another country. Aside from wandering the main streets, the best part about Solvang is the BAKERIES! I over indulged, as I am prone to do at a bakery, and loved everything so much I insisted on stopping back by on our way home following the road trip. I am partial to Solvang Bakery but we tried several and they were all great. Colby’s favorite place for breakfast is called Brekkies, and they are a fan favorite so anticipate a wait. There are some cute hotels in town, but we did not stay the night because we wanted to get to my favorite town coming up, Morro Bay. 

Pismo Beach

Just a quick stop if you desire, Pismo Beach is a long flat stretch of sand famous for camping and ATV/RZR rides in the sandy dunes. Stop and watch the world go by, or if this is a camping trip for you, maybe rent a space for the night ahead of time. 

Morro Bay

By far my favorite California beach town! Morro Bay is special because it has kept its old-world beach vibes. It has a sleepy small town, wooden piers, and never overwhelming crowds. They have somehow resisted the commercialism that has taken over many other beach communities in California, and it just feels so good to be there. I suggest staying near Main St., perhaps with an ocean view, and walking around. It can get quite chilly here, especially at night, so make sure you have a down jacket in your luggage. I love walking the trails around Morro Rock. There are several legends surrounding the volcanic plug, but my favorite is that the rock is the slumbering body of an ancient sea-dragon, whose awakening causes earth tremors. Either way, the rock has been guiding fishermen home to Morro Bay for generations, and it is impressive. I recommend eating clam chowder at Blue Sky Bistro on the Bay, which offers a great view of the marina and yummy food choices. I have been known to indulge in their clam chowder even for breakfast. The Tidelands Park Path is really cool as well, offering unique trails around the rock formations that border the shore here. Fishing, biking, surfing, and other adventures are also on offer, if you so desire. Visitors could spend several days here enjoying the beautiful golf courses, lavishing in a day spa, or just relaxing by the water with a good book.

Cambria

Heading north, we love to stop at the Elephant Seal Vista Point. The Elephant Seals are prolific in this area and you can observe them up close in their natural habitat, yelling at each other and flopping around. They have such a cool personality and even a short visit offers plenty of entertainment. Elephant seals can reach up to 5,000 pounds and spend about 90% of their lives underwater at depths up to 2000 ft deep to hunt! They can hold their breath for up to 2 hours and they have the longest migration of any mammal. They are really impressive creatures. 

Nearby, the historic Hearst Castle is another fun stop. This was once the estate of William Randolph Hearst, a famed newspaper and media mogul. It has 56 bedrooms, 61 bathrooms, a gold leaf indoor pool, and over 127 acres of gardens. Fun fact, Colby got stationed to protect the grounds at Hurst Castle during a wildfire in 2019. It’s touristy but kinda fun. 

Both of these stops combined should take most of the day, and then you can stay for the night in Cambria or just north in Big Sur. 

Big Sur

We highly recommend staying in Big Sur at least one night, if not more. Its incredibly hard to find reservations here, camping or lodging, so make sure you book well in advance. We recommend staying at a lodge in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park if you can, or anything geographically nearby to that would work best. 

McWay Falls Overlook Trail is the furthest south point of interest and should be your first stop when headed North. The way the falls cascade off the cliff into the ocean below is a stunning sight to behold, and the trail is a nice short way to stretch your legs. 

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is one of the best state parks in California- and we know the competition is fierce! The heady smell of pine trees and dense forest mixing with the salty ocean breeze brings a special kind of rejuvenation to the soul. There is such great hiking in the area, one of our favorites being Pfeiffer Falls Trail. Its really nice with a wooden boardwalk weaving through the trees and a pretty little waterfall at the end of the loop. 

Pfeiffer Beach and Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is another relaxing place for a stroll and maybe a picnic lunch. Not only are the rock formations really interesting, but the sand is known for having purple undertones, which is quite unique. 

Between Big Sur and Carmel

The 17 mile drive between Big Sur and Carmel is the BEST part of this road trip. I was devastated when a landslide prevented us from being able to travel along this route for a couple of years. If you are pressed for time and are wondering what to cut out- this is not it! Take your time driving the cliffside road and admire the sheer drops into the dark blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. Stop as many times as you can along the way and keep your eyes peeled for migrating whales. There are endless places to pull off for viewing, hiking, and beach access, but there are limited places to stop and eat so do plan accordingly. 

Point Lobos Loop Trail is another great place to get out of the car to stretch your legs and admire the natural beauty around you. This is the longest hike listed at just over 6 miles, but it takes you from rocky beaches to pine forests and the famous China Cove. If you are able to do a more moderate hike this is one of our favorite choices. 

Bixby Bridge is quite possibly the most famous landmark on the road trip, and for good reason. The open spandrel arch construction is quite impressive and makes a beautiful photo to display at home. The concrete bridge was completed in 1932 and has become a major scenic attraction ever since. 

Monterrey

Monterrey has a cool wharf area, smaller than San Fransisco but still with plenty to offer tourists. There is also the world famous Monterrey Aquarium (thank you, Finding Nemo), which is worth the stop in if you have time.

Santa Cruz

Next up is the laid back and super cool city of Santa Cruz. Stop at the boardwalk to check out the amusement park and roller coaster. There is also a beautiful coastal trail for walking or biking just north of the boardwalk and running parallel with W Cliff Drive. 

Half Moon Bay

Check out Mavericks, the world famous surf spot known for its massive winter swells. Unless you are visiting at just the right time, Mavericks is just a placid section of ocean, but it’s still cool to stand in the place of giants. There’s a great sandwich stop here called Dads Luncheonette. 

San Fransisco

The final stop of our road trip, or perhaps the first stop if you are doing this itinerary in reverse. We suggest at least one night here, if not more. I loved our stay near Chinatown, because Chinatown is a cool place to explore, there are a lot of yummy Chinese hole-in-the-wall eateries, and its a good base for walkability. 

Fishermans Wharf is a must when stopping in San Fransisco. It’s hectic and old and fun and everyone must see it! From here you can take a boat to Alcatraz Island for a guided or self-guided tour, which is absolutely worth the visit. It does book up though so reserve your boat ticket in advance if you plan to visit. 

Golden Gate Park is another iconic place to be. Wander around or bike the wide, flat trails and take that iconic photo with the Golden Gate Bridge. A lot of people love to walk or bike over the Bridge as well, for bragging rights. 

There are many, many more things to do in San Fransisco, like checking out the Fuller House home, exploring the hippie area of Haight and Ashbury, driving down the twisty Lombard Street. Although we have done all of these touristy things and loved them, San Fransisco is too busy for our taste so we keep our visits there short. 

Bonus Round: Paso Robles

If you are headed back to your origin point after your road trip, consider taking the 101 Highway on the return and stopping for the night in Paso Robles. This town is known for their unique vineyards and distilleries, and the restaurants along the main strip of town are excellent. This is another adorable place to stop to eat and walk around before bed or before moving on. And bonus #2- you can stop at Solvang for your second visit to refill your bakery boxes that are surely empty by now!

We have had the pleasure of driving this road trip several times, finding new gems and re-visiting old haunts. Each time is a marvel. From the stunning scenery to the delicious food, it’s the kind of adventure that leaves a profound impression. Enjoy every moment!