California’s Highway 1 is a legend of all road trips in the US. The experience of admitting oneself to unspoiled scenic ocean views is exhilarating. This road trip stretches about 600 miles of rugged coastline from San Francisco to San Diego. Stop as frequently and stay as long as you want.
You can start your Highway 1 road trip anywhere between SFO to San Diego. Starting your road trip from SFO is favorable as the ocean is by your side. So without further ado, let’s get to our detailed 3-day itinerary of driving California’s Highway 1.
Day 1: SFO to Carmel-by-the-Sea (130 miles)
Golden Gate Bridge (Baker Beach)
It may seem like fewer miles to travel for the day but let me give you a fair warning beforehand, you are going to halt every 5 minutes because the views along the coast are hard to resist. When in SFO, everything must begin from Golden Gate Bridge. However many times we have been to Gloden Gate Bridge, there is always a new angle to admire this landmark.
Miramar Beach(Half Moon Bay Area)
Miramar Beach in the Half moon bay area is a must-stop. A very calm and peaceful beach for folks who wants to take a quick dip in the ocean. We spent some time here and enjoyed a picnic lunch while spotting some playful dolphins in the ocean.
Pomponio State Beach
Beach Again!!! Believe me, every beach on Route 1 is unique and you simply do not want to miss it. Pomponio State Beach has steep and very high coastal cliffs neighboring the ocean which gives this beach exceptional scenic views. When traveling around October-November, you can spot thousands of migratory birds on this beach which makes it even more beautiful.
Other beaches that we stopped en route were Pescadero State Beach, Bean Hollow State Beach, and Año Nuevo State Park. These beaches are not the typical beaches but they offer gorgeous scenic views of rugged coastlines.
Davenport
Slow down or you are going to miss this stunning spot. Davenport is usually not on everyone’s radar while driving on the coast but there was something about this picturesque town that drew our attention. At first, I didn’t know how to reach the shoreline because it is a bit of an adventure to find your way to the beach.
A parking lot for the beach is on the ocean side of Highway 1 near the main intersection in town at Ocean Street. From the parking area walk across the railroad tracks and head to your left until you find a trail that drops down to the beach below. There is a walking path to reach the high cliffs and bluffs of Davenport. I found this website where there is a lot of information to find photo-worthy spots at the Davenport https://www.californiabeaches.com/davenport-california-slowcoast/
Monterey
The historic town of Monterey might be small but it has mighty things to do. A day or weekend might still not be enough. I have been here twice but still haven’t been able to savor everything that Monterey has to offer. If this is your first visit, you must taste your way around the waterfront’s delicious seafood restaurants. The cannery row shopping center deserves your presence and walking around the old fisherman wharf is quite refreshing.
If visiting with kids or not, Monterey Bay Aquarium is always enriching to know about life underwater. I hear Monterey Bay is one of the best places to see whales all year round. That’s why I need another trip back to Monterey.
17 Mile Drive
The “17-Mile Drive” is one of the most scenic roads in the country and connects the towns of Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea. The drive is through an exclusive upscale neighborhood that winds through forested areas, stunning ocean views,multimillion-dollar homes, posh golf courses, and luxurious hotels.
To enjoy this drive, you have to pay an entrance fee ($10.25 cash only) per vehicle at the gate. With your ticket, you will get a driving map that gives you a brief description of each point of interest. It may seem like only 17 miles journey but the views are so breathtaking that you will spend about 2-3 hours or more for the whole drive.
Our Stay for the night was at Carmel, at Carmel Bay View Inn, the property is centrally located and easily accessible to everything around, plus free parking.
Dinner for the night was at TreeHouse Cafe. It’s upscale dining that we splurge on to relax after a long travel day. The restaurant is chic and has a great relaxing vibe but portions are small compared to the price.
Day 2: Carmel-by-the-Sea to Cambria (100miles)
Carmel-by-the-Sea
Carmel by the Sea is an artistic paradise for all architecture enthusiasts. Every nook and corner of this town is oozing with architectural aesthetics. With that in mind, it is best to explore the town on foot. So grab your comfy footwear and find your way along tree-lined streets, charming villas, numerous art galleries, and local boutique stores. Carmel Beach is a perfect choice for a relaxing family beach day or a romantic sunset.
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, is frequently called “the crown jewel of the State Park System”—another must-stop. The park offers unparalleled ocean views with its short and easy hikes. An admission fee is required to park your vehicle inside the park but the receipt is good for the day at all California State Parks especially helpful while driving through Big Sur.
We parked at the Sea Lion Point parking area and from there walked down to the sea lion and cypress grove trails respectively. A distinctive feature of the park that made quite an impression on us was seeing so many volunteers in the park. The volunteers had their binoculars all set up to spot the sea otters and sea lions and they even let visitors look through the binoculars. They happen to be quite passionate about sharing their sea life knowledge.
Bixby Creek Bridge
A Must Stop !!!. Honestly, I didn’t know why this is one of the most photographed bridges in California until I saw it. The bridge overlooking the cliffs and ocean views is surreal. See for yourself and you will know what I mean. Since it is such a famous touristy place, it’s also a high-traffic area so be careful while walking near the cliffs.
Pfeiffer Beach
When we visited, this was closed for construction, but please do go if it’s open. Pfeiffer Beach is different from Pfeiffer State Park which has hiking trails and camping facilities.
McWay Falls, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
McWay Falls is one of the sleekest waterfalls that I have ever seen. The waterfall can be seen as an overlook directly from Highway 1 or taking a short 0.6-mile round trip hike to a viewpoint for McWay Falls from parking areas within Julia Pfieffer Burns State Park.
Ragged Point Inn & Resort (Scenic Viewpoint)
Ragged Point Inn & Resort is private property but they allow visitors to take the beautiful nature walk which is just behind the restaurant. There are easy walking trails with great views of seaside cliffs and are the perfect place to watch the sunset.
Stay for the night was at the Cambria, a small town by the sea at this beautiful property “The Rigdon House“. Cambria is one of those towns where most of the businesses are owned by locals and you can feel the charm walking around Main Street. There are many restaurants to choose from, we stopped for Dinner at Robin’s and was amazed by so many vegetarian/vegan cuisines on their menu. Also, we stopped for breakfast at this small local cafe, Redwood Cafe on Main Street and the servers were so nice to make us vegetarian sandwiches completely out of their menu.
Day 3: Cambria to Santa Barbara (135 miles)
The Piedras Blancas Rookery
The Piedras Blancas Rookery is the elephant seal viewing area nestled along the coastlines in California. A very interesting place to see these cutest marine mammals. Never thought would go twice but I did, I have no idea why but they are fun to watch. The seals are accessible through an easy boardwalk for a close-up look. The Rookery is free, and open to the public all year round with plenty of parking spaces available onsite. The Friends Of The Elephant Seal Visitor Center and Gift Shop is right there if you want to know more about elephant seals.
Hearst Castle
Hearst Castle is a one-of-a-kind museum open to the public as California State Park and registered as a National Historic Landmark and California Historical Landmark. It’s a treasure house with the most fascinating history, grandiose architecture, and a legendary art collection. You can explore the Castle with plenty of guided tours available at the visitor centers. Tickets can be purchased online in advance or at the visitor center. If you are pressed for your time, I highly recommend booking your tickets online.
Private vehicles are not permitted to go up the hill. Once you have parked your car at the visitor center parking lot, the tour bus along with a very informative guide will take you up the hill. Be sure to stop by their impressive visitor center with great food selections, Gifts & Bookstore, Hearst Castle IMAX Theater, a cafe, and a coffee bar.
We took a Grand Rooms Tour (60 minutes) and let me say we loved every minute of it from the moment we hopped onto the tour bus. After your tour is over you are free to hang around the property and admire the architecture, the ocean views, the beautiful gardens, orchids, and Neptune (outdoor), and Roman (Indoor) pools respectively.
Morro Rock
A giant captivating rock welcomes you to this small quaint town of Morro Bay. This rock can be seen miles away while you are still on Highway 1. We missed certain exits and couldn’t find the way to hike near the rock or get a much closer look from the Beach, so we finally ended up at the Fishing Pier of the Morro Bay area and enjoyed seeing from a distance with our picnic lunch.
Pismo City Beach
Pismo City Beach is a classic California beach. The Beach has this huge wooden Pier that is fun to walk. The Pier is bustling with shops, quick bites, and family-friendly activities if you planning to spend a few hours here. Overall a happening city with a warm and friendly vibe.
Solvang
Solvang is all about wine and Danish desserts. Snuggled between Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Barbara wine county, this small town is exquisite with its old European architecture, niche boutiques stores, and of course the authentic Danish bakeries. It’s also like driving to mini Napa Valley and seeing the vineyards along the way. There are more than 120 beautiful vineyards and wineries to explore around.
Downtown Solvang is fairly easy to walk around and public parking is available at most places. History lovers will find their gig at the various museums and missions around the city. We drove to Solvang only to try Danish pastries and witness some European town feel. The town is unique compared to other small towns we visited on this road trip. I enjoyed seeing the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley.
Thousands Steps Beach(Santa Barbara)
The best part of road-tripping Highway 1 is that you can stop anywhere and see the sun go down. Our final halt for the day was at Thousand Steps Beach in Santa Barbara. Don’t worry there are only 150 steps to beach access(not 1000). This beach has the best coastle views in the entire area.
Experiencing the glorious sunset at this beach was the perfect ending of our Highway 1 road trip. Our stay for the night was at Long Beach in LA. We were headed to San Diego the next morning. From Long Beach to San Diego, the sea gets farther away and the ocean views are more limited. But still, there are beautiful LA beaches to enjoy while driving from LA to San Diego.
I can say with certainty that there is no road trip like driving California’s Highway 1 and everyone should take this trip once in their lifetime. Are you thinking to take this road trip soon? Please share your road trip adventures with us.
