Pacific Coast Highway (California)
San Francisco to San Diego on Highway 1 — 1,050 km of coastline drama
The classic — start in San Francisco, end in San Diego. Highway 1 hugs the coast past Big Sur, Hearst Castle, Santa Barbara. Drive north-to-south so the sea is on your passenger side (easier photo pull-offs). Check road closures at Big Sur before you go — landslides regularly shut sections.
Day-by-day route
Bixby Bridge + 17-Mile Drive at Pebble Beach
McWay Falls + Pfeiffer Beach purple sand
Hearst Castle tour + elephant seals at Piedras Blancas
Solvang Danish village + Santa Barbara wine country
Neptune's Net seafood + Point Dume sunset
Santa Monica pier + Huntington surf sunset
La Jolla cove seals + Coronado beach finish
Hearst Castle tour tickets, Big Sur camping/hotel 6 months out, one-way car drop-off fee negotiated at pickup.
Highway 1 closes randomly at Big Sur (landslides). Check caltrans.ca.gov the morning of. Full tank always.
Other road trips worth planning
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