California
Pacific Coast Highway
Highway 1 from San Francisco to San Diego: Big Sur, cliffs, seals and Southern California beaches.
- Approximate distance
- ≈ 547 mi
- Stops
- 10
- Suggested nights
- 12
- Best season
- April, May, June, September, October
April to June, September and October. Coastal fog is common in July and August.
Warnings for large vehicles
- Big Sur: Highway 1 often closes because of landslides (months-long closures in 2023 and 2024). Check Caltrans QuickMap before you go.
- South of Carmel: tight curves and few turnouts, hard going beyond about 12 m (40 ft). Several state park campgrounds limit length.
These routes were written from memory: double-check distances, seasons, rules and closures with official sources before you go.
Stops
- San Francisco Departure
- Santa Cruz 1 night
- Monterey 2 nights
- Big Sur 1 night
- San Simeon 1 night
- Pismo Beach 1 night
- Santa Barbara 2 nights
- Malibu 1 night
- Laguna Beach 1 night
- San Diego 2 nights
Simplified line: straight lines between stops. The planner works out the real road.
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