Escape from California’s tangled, traffic-jammed freeways for a breezy cruise in the slow lane. Once you get rolling, you’ll never want to leave those ocean views behind.
If you drive the state’s entire coastline, you’ll experience the best of both worlds—sunny SoCal beach life and foggy NorCal forests—with plentiful opportunities to stop and explore various cities. Should time limit your drive to part of this coastal route, consider beginning with Orange County’s beaches on the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) in SoCal; travel along Hwy 1 from hippie Big Sur all the way north to Mendocino, passing over San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge; or enjoy the verdant northern ‘Redwood Coast’ between Eureka and Crescent City.
Formally, only the short, sun-loving stretch of Hwy 1 through Orange and Los Angeles Counties can legally call itself Pacific Coast Highway. However, enchanting ribbons of Hwy 1 and Hwy 101 await you along the entirety of this scenic route.
1. San Diego
At the bottom of the state map lies the picturesque beach town of Coronado, which connects to the San Diego mainland via the white-sand beaches of the Silver Strand. If you’ve witnessed Marilyn Monroe in Some Like It Hot, you’ll recognize the dapper Hotel del Coronado, a historic hotel that has hosted many US presidents, celebrities, and royalty. Stroll through the turreted palace’s labyrinthine corridors, then enjoy tropical cocktails at the ocean-view Babcock & Story Bar.
As you drive over the 2.1-mile-long San Diego–Coronado Bridge, take a detour inland to Balboa Park. Head west, then south to Point Loma’s Cabrillo National Monument for captivating bay panoramas from the historic lighthouse and monument to the West Coast’s first Spanish explorers. Continuing northward, you’ll pass Mission Beach and the quaint amusement park at Pacific Beach, and soon arrive in upscale La Jolla, further leading to North County’s charming beach towns.
2. San Clemente
In the hidden gem of San Clemente, the coast feels like a nostalgic return to beach culture. This town is home to legendary surfers and top surfboard brands, making it one of the last spots in Orange County to authentically embrace the surf lifestyle. Whether you ride your own board or take a dip at the city’s main beach near San Clemente Pier, the experience will surely be memorable. A quick detour inland leads you to the Surfing Heritage & Culture Center, showcasing surfboards ridden by icons from Duke Kahanamoku to Kelly Slater. Make sure to head back toward the pier for a breathtaking California sunset.
3. Long Beach
In Long Beach, notable attractions include the Queen Mary, a grand British ocean liner that is permanently docked here, along with the impressive Aquarium of the Pacific, a high-tech exhibit featuring a variety of marine life. Don’t overlook the Museum of Latin American Art, which highlights contemporary Latinx artists from both California and across the border. Additionally, vintage shoppers will find joy in Retro Row, several blocks brimming with mid-century fashion and furnishings.
4. Malibu
As you leave the bustling traffic of LA behind, Hwy 1 winds northwest of Santa Monica into Malibu. Stroll along public beaches which front gated homes owned by Hollywood stars. One accessible mansion worth exploring for free is the Getty Villa, a hilltop museum housing Greek, Roman, and Etruscan artifacts amidst beautifully landscaped gardens. Adjacent to Malibu Lagoon State Beach, west of the surfing area at Malibu Pier, visit Adamson House, a stunning Spanish-Moorish villa adorned with locally crafted hand-painted tiles. While motoring further west, make time to relax on Malibu’s renowned beaches such as Point Dume, Zuma, or Leo Carrillo.
5. Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara boasts nearly perfect weather and a series of beautiful beaches where surfers, kite flyers, and dog walkers converge. Admire the city’s iconic Spanish Colonial Revival-style architecture along State St downtown or from the majestic county courthouse, which offers views over the vibrant red-tiled rooftops. Take in sights of the riveting harborfront and Stearns Wharf to the south, or journey north to the historic Spanish Mission Santa Barbara. The region’s temperate climate is also ideal for viticulture, making a 45-minute drive northwest along Hwy 154 worthwhile to explore Santa Barbara’s wine country, famed by the film Sideways. Check out wine-tasting rooms in Los Olivos, then take Foxen Canyon Rd north to discover even more wineries as you re-join Hwy 101.
6. Pismo Beach
Pismo Beach encapsulates the essence of a classic California beach town with its long, serene stretch of sand perfect for swimming, surfing, and taking sunset strolls along the pier. After indulging in delicious clam chowder and seafood at casual beachfront eateries, explore vintage thrills at the bowling alley, billiards halls, and bars just uphill from the beach, or venture 10 miles up Hwy 101 to the vintage Sunset Drive-In, where you can kick back and enjoy bottomless bags of popcorn while watching popular double-feature films.
7. Hearst Castle
Hilltop Hearst Castle stands as California’s iconic monument to wealth and ambition. Crafted by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst in the early 20th century, this extravagant estate has hosted Hollywood stars and royalty, showcasing its rich European antiques, stunning pools, and beautifully landscaped gardens. For a superb experience, be sure to book tour reservations in advance, especially for evening living-history sessions during the Christmas holiday and spring seasons.
Continuing about 4.5 miles further north along Hwy 1, park at the marked vista point and walk the boardwalk to witness the massive elephant seal colony that breeds, molts, and frolics along the beach. Seals are abundant year-round, with winter birthing peaking on Valentine’s Day. Nearby, the Piedras Blancas Light Station offers an outstandingly scenic location worth visiting.
8. Monterey
As Big Sur’s breathtaking vistas recede, Hwy 1 gently descends toward Monterey Bay. This historic fishing community is the heart of Nobel Prize-winning author John Steinbeck’s world, and while Cannery Row may now feel touristy, a stroll down it captures the charm of the area. Don’t miss the renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium, located in a converted sardine cannery on the shores of a national marine sanctuary. Visitors can marvel at marine life, including sea stars, pot-bellied seahorses, and playful sea otters.
9. Santa Cruz
The vibrant spirit of the 1960s endures in Santa Cruz, where bumper stickers on surfboard-laden woodies proclaim ‘Keep Santa Cruz weird.’ Next to the ocean, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk radiates classic Americana charm, featuring a historic Looff carousel from 1911. The area’s fun-for-all atmosphere is marked by the thrilling rides, particularly the Giant Dipper, a vintage wooden roller coaster recognized as a national historic landmark, famously featured in the cult classic film, The Lost Boys.
Explore the Museum of Art & History for special exhibitions that illuminate the city’s heritage and culture, including captivating showcases of skateboarding and tattooing history. Nearby, Abbott Square Market offers delightful eats and drinks.
10. San Francisco
After the tranquility of the coast, you may feel overwhelmed by the gridlock of San Francisco. However, don’t fret, as Hwy 1 traverses through the city’s most significant, expansive greenspace: Golden Gate Park. You can easily dedicate a full day visiting the conservatory of flowers, arboretum, botanical gardens, or the California Academy of Sciences and the fine arts de Young Museum. Following your explorations, head north along Hwy 1 over the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. Named for the strait it spans, and not its distinctive paint color, this magnificent structure offers ample parking on both sides. Take a stroll along the pedestrian walkway for a memorable photo opportunity.
11. Around Point Arena
The fishing fleets of Bodega Bay and the seal colony at Jenner’s harbor are the last sights before the PCH ventures into California’s rugged rural northlands. Hwy 1 winds through Sonoma Coast’s state parks filled with scenic hiking trails, enchanting sand dunes, and stunning beaches, as well as underwater marine reserves and historic sites, such as a 19th-century Russian fur-trading fort. At Sea Ranch, trailhead signs guide you down to peaceful beaches and ocean bluffs, despite exclusive-looking vacation homes nearby. Ascend the towering Point Arena Lighthouse, constructed in 1908, offering the only climbable lighthouse in California. Visit the museum before scaling the 115-foot tower to witness the breathtaking panoramas of the sea and the jagged San Andreas Fault below.
12. Mendocino & Fort Bragg
Resembling more of a New England seaside town than a Californian one, charming Mendocino features picturesque cottages with blooming gardens and vintage water towers. This quaint maritime village, known as a shipping port during the timber boom, was ‘discovered’ by artists and bohemians during the 1950s and has appeared in over 50 films. After exploring its delightful shops and art galleries, filled with unique crafts from driftwood to homemade jams—often referred to as “Spendocino”—head north to the working-class Fort Bragg, where simple fishing harbors and brewpubs await; take a brief hike on the ecological staircase and pygmy forest trail at the oceanfront Jug Handle State Natural Reserve.
13. Eureka
As Hwy 101 runs alongside the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge, a critical stopover for migratory birds, you will approach the sleepy railroad town of Eureka. While wandering downtown, admire the ornate Carson Mansion, built in the 1880s by a timber baron, characterized by dizzying Victorian turrets. At Blue Ox Millworks & Historic Park, craftsmen still create Victorian detailing by hand using traditional carpentry techniques and historical equipment. Back along Eureka’s harborfront, hop aboard the charming blue-and-white 1910 Madaket, which is docked at the base of C St., for sunset cocktail cruises from California’s smallest licensed bar.
14. Redwood National & State Parks
Finally, you’ll arrive at Redwood National Park. Begin your adventure at the Thomas H Kuchel Visitor Center, situated just south of the little town of Orick. Immerse yourself among the coastal giants in Lady Bird Johnson Grove or the magnificent Tall Trees Grove (a free drive-and-hike permit is required). For deeper exploration of untouched redwoods, navigate along the 10-mile Newton B Drury Scenic Parkway in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, where you might encounter Roosevelt elk roaming the grassy meadows, and finally follow Hwy 101 all the way north to Crescent City, your last pit stop before crossing into Oregon.
