Get into your car and go on a road trip in one of the world’s most famous scenic roads. Drive by Pacific cliffs, rugged beaches, glamorous towns and engineering marvels.

The Pacific Coast Highway, also known as California Route 1, is one of the most scenic drives in the entire world. Running along the coast of California, this stretch of coastal highway is at times an engineering marvel, cutting along steep cliffs with the Pacific Ocean crashing down below. Traveling as a couple, we didn’t have time to go all the way from north to south or from San Francisco to Los Angeles, so we focused on the stretch of highway from San Francisco to Big Sur, enjoying surf towns, majestic scenery, beautiful beaches, ritzy towns, and even dolphins and whales. This was part of a holiday in San Francisco and we ventured out of town for this classic California road trip.

The Pacific Coast Highway road trip was one of the most pleasant drives we ever took. The combination of natural beauty and that great California quality of life that has become famous, are what made this drive special. We drove through beautiful beaches enjoyed by surfers, deserted coves, lovely small towns, sunny valleys, pacific cliffs, and glamorous historical towns. A road trip on the Pacific Coast Highway 1 is certainly a must-do!

What’s Included in this Pacific Coast Highway Itinerary?

Part 1: San Francisco, Santa Cruz & Pacific Grove [Skip To Page]

San Francisco, Santa Cruz & Pacific Grove [Skip To Page] Part 2: Pacific Grove, 17 Mile Drive, Carmel Valley, Carmel & Point Lobos [Skip To Page]

Pacific Grove, 17 Mile Drive, Carmel Valley, Carmel & Point Lobos [Skip To Page] Part 3: Bixby Bridge, Big Sur & Back to San Francisco [Skip To Page]

Travel Tips for a Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip:

Don’t leave home without the Lonely Planet Guide To Coastal California , only $14 on Amazon! It’s got loads of photos, national park & small town info that, together with this guide, will be your best friend on this epic road trip.

Don’t leave home without the , only $14 on Amazon! It’s got loads of photos, national park & small town info that, together with this guide, will be your best friend on this epic road trip. Book your accommodations as early as possible , especially around the Carmel area. During peak season, rooms are snatched quickly and prices can very quickly rise to $200-$300 for an extremely basic motel room. This guide includes a few recommendations.

, especially around the Carmel area. During peak season, rooms are snatched quickly and prices can very quickly rise to $200-$300 for an extremely basic motel room. This guide includes a few recommendations. The classic route is to drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles or vice versa. Some will drive on Highway 1 from SFO as far south as Santa Barbara or San Luis Obispo and then drive back on the 101 Freeway. Between Carmel and Big Sur, there are no reasonable shortcuts to get from Highway 1 to the 101 Freeway . You’ll pretty much have to use Highway 1 in both directions. The first reasonable transfer happens between Cambria and Harmony on Highway 46.

. You’ll pretty much have to use Highway 1 in both directions. The first reasonable transfer happens between Cambria and Harmony on Highway 46. While distances seem short on the map, you’ll find driving times a lot longer from point to point since you are stopping a lot on this beautiful road and the road itself is slow-moving at times. Leave plenty of time to relax and enjoy the beauty of this breathtaking stretch of road.

of this breathtaking stretch of road. Speaking of relaxing, be sure to have plenty of gas in the car as stations are rare at times and expensive for the most part.

as stations are rare at times and expensive for the most part. There are plenty of marked vista points and wide shoulders to pull over and soak the views. These are also signs of worthwhile stops.

There are also some great hikes around Big Sur (Partington Cove, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park) so if you have the time, check those out.

(Partington Cove, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park) so if you have the time, check those out. Especially around the Carmel vicinity, summer fog plays a really big part in the weather pattern and will usually clear in the afternoon (no guarantees though). Leave whatever doesn’t require sunlight to the morning and late afternoons when it gets cloudy. The scenery here is breathtaking and as you know, the sun is the secret sauce to almost everything so plan accordingly.

and will usually clear in the afternoon (no guarantees though). Leave whatever doesn’t require sunlight to the morning and late afternoons when it gets cloudy. The scenery here is breathtaking and as you know, the sun is the secret sauce to almost everything so plan accordingly. That said, it can get chilly if the weather is cloudy so even if the calendar shows July or August, bring something warm. Dressing in light layers is the trick.

Especially around the Salinas area and even south of Carmel, you’ll find farmer stalls on the side of the road. The fruits and vegetables are as fresh as they come and can make for a really nice picnic.

Our Pacific Coast Highway Route:

Click on the map to open in Google Maps