California Coast, USA road trip
California Road Trip itinerary
A California road trip down Highway 1 is one of the world's great coastal drives — roughly 470 miles of cliff-edge tarmac, sea-stack beaches and laid-back towns from San Francisco to Los Angeles. This five-day California coast road trip itinerary takes the scenic line through Monterey, Big Sur and Santa Barbara rather than the faster inland motorway, so the slow, switchbacking stretches that make the route famous are the whole point. If you have longer, the same coast keeps going north of San Francisco into the redwoods and Mendocino headlands, so a northern California extension is easy to bolt on.
- Duration
- 5 days
- Distance
- 470 miles
- Start and finish
- San Francisco to Los Angeles (north to south)
- Best time
- September and October are the sweet spot — warm, clear and quieter once the summer crowds thin out. Late spring is lovely too, while high summer is busiest and often brings morning coastal fog along Big Sur and the southern California coast. Winters are wetter, and the Big Sur stretch of Highway 1 can close after storms, so check conditions before a cool-season trip.
See the ready-made plan
The full California Road Trip itinerary is already plotted in the planner, day by day. Open it to see the route on the map, then drag stops, add your own and keep notes as you go.
Why drive the California Road Trip?
A 5-day California coast road trip down Highway 1 from San Francisco to Los Angeles, with real towns, Big Sur viewpoints, the best beach stops and when to go.
- Monterey, Carmel and the 17-Mile Drive
- Bixby Creek Bridge and the Big Sur coast
- McWay Falls, Pfeiffer Beach and Hearst Castle
- Morro Bay, Pismo Beach and Santa Barbara
5 days California Road Trip itinerary
Day 1
San Francisco to Monterey
Leave San Francisco and follow the coast south through the surf town of Santa Cruz, then round Monterey Bay to Monterey itself, with its old Cannery Row waterfront. It is about 120 miles, leaving the afternoon free for the harbour and aquarium district.
Day 2
Monterey to Big Sur
A short but spectacular day of around 50 miles. Take in the 17-Mile Drive and pretty Carmel-by-the-Sea, then start the Big Sur coast proper — Bixby Creek Bridge, Pfeiffer Beach and the redwoods of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park.
Day 3
Big Sur to San Luis Obispo
Continue through the heart of Big Sur past McWay Falls at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, then south to the Hearst Castle hilltop above San Simeon and the elephant-seal colony nearby. Carry on through arty Cambria and Morro Bay to San Luis Obispo, roughly 100 miles.
Day 4
San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara
Drop down to the dunes and pier at Pismo Beach, then loop inland to the Danish-style village of Solvang and the Santa Ynez wine country before rejoining the coast at Santa Barbara, with its red-tiled roofs and palm-lined waterfront — about 110 miles.
Day 5
Santa Barbara to Los Angeles
Follow the coast past Ventura and onto the Pacific Coast Highway through Malibu, with its long beaches and clifftop viewpoints, finishing at Santa Monica Pier and Los Angeles — around 100 miles to close the trip.
Planning tips
Drive it north to south
Heading from San Francisco towards Los Angeles keeps you on the ocean side of Highway 1, which makes pulling into the clifftop viewpoints and beach lay-bys far easier and safer.
Check Highway 1 before you go
The Big Sur section is prone to landslides and storm closures, especially in winter and spring. Check the Caltrans QuickMap for any closures so you can plan an inland detour if needed.
Allow more time than the mileage suggests
The distances look modest, but constant viewpoints, slow coastal bends and busy summer traffic mean each day fills up quickly. Build in stops rather than chasing the next town.
Book Big Sur stays early
Lodging along the Big Sur coast is limited and books up well ahead. If it is full, base yourself in Monterey or Cambria at either end and drive the cliffs as a day on their own.
California Road Trip FAQ
How many days do you need for a California road trip?
Three days is enough to drive the coast from San Francisco to Los Angeles at pace, but five days lets you enjoy Monterey, Big Sur, Hearst Castle and Santa Barbara without rushing the best scenery.
How long is the drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles on Highway 1?
Following the coast on Highway 1 it is roughly 470 miles from San Francisco to Los Angeles. The faster inland motorway route is shorter at around 380 miles, but it misses Big Sur and the coastal towns entirely.
What is the best route for a California coast road trip?
The classic route runs San Francisco to Los Angeles down Highway 1 via Monterey, Big Sur, San Simeon, Morro Bay and Santa Barbara. With more time you can extend north of San Francisco into the redwoods and Mendocino for a fuller northern California loop.
Should you drive Highway 1 north to south or south to north?
North to south, from San Francisco to Los Angeles, is the popular choice because it puts you on the ocean side of the road, making it easier and safer to pull into the many coastal viewpoints.
When is the best time for a California road trip?
September and October bring warm, clear weather and thinner crowds, with late spring a close second. High summer is busiest and often foggy in the mornings along Big Sur and the southern coast.
Is Highway 1 through Big Sur open?
Big Sur's stretch of Highway 1 occasionally closes after winter storms and landslides. Check the Caltrans QuickMap for current conditions before you set off, and have an inland detour in mind just in case.
Related road trips
Oregon Coast Road Trip
Drive the full Oregon Coast on US-101 from Astoria to Brookings — sea stacks, lighthouses, the Oregon Dunes and the Samuel H. Boardman corridor.
- Duration
- 5 days
- Distance
- 363 miles
British Columbia to Alberta
Vancouver to Calgary across the Canadian Rockies — Okanagan wine country, Banff, Lake Louise and the Icefields Parkway to Jasper.
- Duration
- 7–10 days
- Distance
- 600 miles
East Coast Road Trip
Drive the US East Coast from Boston to Miami — New York, Washington DC, the Outer Banks, Charleston, Savannah and the Florida coast in one classic itinerary.
- Duration
- 12–14 days
- Distance
- 1,500 miles