The coastal State Route 1 in California is a dream of many to drive. It conveys the spirit of endless free roads and sunshine cruisin' with nothing to worry about but the now.
This article will take you on the road from Los Angeles to San Francisco, overnighting in Santa Monica, Pismo Beach, and Monterey and discovering the small towns in between.
Having spent the first week of our road trip in the Southwest of the US, discovering deserts and canyons, hitting the coast of California for the second week offered a drastic change in scenery and climate. We changed the dry and hot landscape for a fresh and cool ocean breeze.
This article covers days 9-12 of our 15-day road trip itinerary through the Southwest of the US and California. Click on the yellow 'Show Entire Route' tab, to view our in-depth guides to each stop for an even greater insight for your own road trip through the Southwest and California.
Los Angeles to San Francisco Road Trip - 3 Day Itinerary
Day 1: Los Angeles to Pismo Beach → 3.5 hours (290 km / 180 miles)
- Silver Lake
- Santa Monica
- Venice Beach
- Malibu
- Ventura
- Santa Barabara
Day 2: Pismo Beach to Monterey → 3.5 hours (240 km / 150 miles)
- Morro Bay
- Big Sur
Day 3: Monterey to San Francisco → 3.5 hours (240 km / 150 miles)
- 17 Mile Drive
- Carmel by the Sea
- Santa Cruz
Total time and distance driving → 10.5 hours (770 km / 480 miles)
Getting a Taste in Less Than 24h of Los Angeles
Let's get started with Los Angeles. As there are a gazillion things to do in L.A. and we are by far no L.A. experts, we will run you through our experience and route in L.A. This way, you will get an impression of what you can do, without spending too much time in the city.
Personally, I had been to Los Angeles a few times before while working on cruise ships, and I am not really such a big fan of L.A.. Jen, on the other hand, had never been and didn't take my word for it but wanted to experience the famous areas of the city for herself.
Our first stop in L.A. was in Silver Lake, taking a stroll and having a bite at the Lamill Coffee Boutique after the four-hour drive from Las Vegas. I actually enjoyed the atmosphere of Silver Lake, and it introduced us to a more local experience before driving through Hollywood.
Once hitting Hollywood, Jen totally understood why I am not an L.A. fan. Yes, Hollywood is a must-see for many, as it inspires those dreams. In reality? It is a run-down, dodgy neighborhood, only having to be famous because of the Walk of Fame and the surrounding Theatres.
I am a firm believer that you can cover Hollywood and Beverly Hills in a 'been there, done that' style in an hour, and then continue to Santa Monica and Venice Beach.
As there are no campgrounds anywhere close to Santa Monica and we didn't want to spend US$100-200 for a night in a hostel or hotel, we decided to give stealth camping a try. It took us about 10 minutes of searching for a residential street that allowed free overnight parking. The location was perfect, as it was also about 10 minutes walking distance from downtown Santa Monica. If you would like to read about that experience in more detail, please refer to my article 'The 4 Best Approaches to Stay in a City With Your Campervan Rental'.
We took the evening to explore Santa Monica, its shops, restaurants, bars, promenade, and pier and experienced a one of a kind sunset.
The next morning we headed down to Venice Beach at around 7:30 am, and it was so quiet and peaceful as almost everyone was still sleeping. The famous Muscle Beach was still empty, and all cafes along the promenade were still closed. That's what you get for being an early bird. 😉
When we asked a local where we could enjoy a delicious breakfast, he recommended the cafes on the Abbot Kinney Blvd in the heart of Venice. On our way there, we checked out the Venice Canals.
Now that you have a taste of our L.A. experience, it's about time that we start our State Route 1 road trip. Let's continue driving along the Pacific Coastal Highway together to give you all the valuable information about where to stop, take in the fantastic scenery, and take a stroll through the many seaside towns. I will not provide you with information about what to do at each of those stops in-depth, as this would require you to take a week of travel time instead of just three days.
Malibu - the Moviestar Coastline
The first stop you should take is in and around Malibu (a population of about 12,000), whether it is to marvel at the villas, check out the shops or take some pictures of the dramatic coast. It is famous for its 21-mile (34km) strip of the Malibu coast boasting seven famous surfer beaches.
When you get a chance, grab a bite at Geoffrey's, about a 30-minute drive from Santa Monica, and take a photo stop at Point Dume.
Should you prefer road style food over an upscale restaurant, Neptune's Net is your stop. You will get to devour some fried fresh fish with fries and a nice beer, all while people watching the motorcycle groups, for whom it is a favorite stop. This restaurant is self-service, rustic, and a really cool experience. I have been there twice now and loved it both times.
Ventura - the Relaxed Underdog
Next up to take a break from driving along the glistering ocean is Ventura, about 1 hour from Malibu, and with a population of about 100,000. If you haven't had that bite yet and you are hungry, head for the Marina and enjoy some delicious and famous clams or seafood at Brophy Bros..
The marina is very inviting to take a stroll, look at the shops, and enjoy some sunshine.
If you are into the outdoor brand Patagonia, this is your chance to check out their flagship store, as they are from Ventura. Don't get too excited, though; the store is smaller than we expected.
Santa Barbara - the Queen of Spanish Invasion
About another 30-minute drive up the coast, you will reach Santa Barbara, a cute residential town with a population of about 90,000. It is very walkable and boasts a booming main road full of shops, restaurants, and theatres lined with palm trees. Its Mediterranean architecture and overall flair really remind you of the prominence of Mexican and Spanish culture in the US and especially in California. All street names are in Spanish as well.
It sits on the longest south-facing section of the entire West Coast of the US and is often called the 'American Riviera'.
If you are interested in a little bit of Californian history and its Spanish influence, here is a quick excerpt from the California Mission Guide about the missions, that you still hear about today:
"The California Missions represented the final expansion of the Spanish Empire. From 1769 to 1823, Spanish soldiers and monks built a total of 21 Missions and 5 Presidios (or military forts), stretching North from Mexico, along the Pacific coast, through the territory that was then known as Alta California. Over a short period – little more than 50 years – the Spanish brought a new culture to California, spreading European religion, agricultural practices, and eventually forms of government. The settlements around the missions became the seeds of modern California’s major cities. The trail connecting the missions, El Camino Real, became California’s first “highway,” and its route is closely followed by modern Highway 101. The designs of the missions still influence California architecture. In a very real sense, California as we know it today would not exist without the foundation of the missions."
The nickname of the mission in Santa Barbara was 'The Queen of the Missions'.
Pismo Beach - the Natural Paradise
When following State Route 1, it will take you about two hours, passing through smaller towns until you reach Pismo Beach (about a population of 8,000). Your final destination for the day.
Pismo is a seaside town with a small town center, a pier, some hilly estates, a large beach, an outlet shopping center, and a crazy number of campgrounds/RV parks compared to the size of the town. You will find a total of 8 campgrounds / RV parks to choose from.
I absolutely recommend you always choose a simple campground over an RV or Holiday park, as you will most likely have more space and nature around you, it is cheaper and quieter due to the lack of amusement offered by the park.
In Pismo Beach, be sure to stay at the North Campground. It was one of our absolute favorites so that we returned to the same campground on our drive back down from San Francisco to Los Angeles.
When passing by outside of high season, you can just pull up, and you will find a map with the available campsites and can do a self-check-in by placing the US$30 in an envelope and dropping it into the self-check-in box. Anytime between May 15 and October 15th, be sure to make a reservation at least 48 hours in advance.
The campground is located right behind the Pismo sand dunes and next to a butterfly monarchy. You will be able to take a stroll or run on the beach, accessing it right from your campsite, and enjoy a peaceful campfire.
The town itself is not that beautiful and inviting as others might be along the coast, so stick to the nature part. 😉
Start the next morning with a token-operated hot shower and get ready to hit the road again.
Morro Bay - Home of the Volcanic Rock
After about a 40-minute drive, you will arrive at your first stop of the day, Morro Bay (with a population of about 10,000). It is most famous for its 175 m (576 ft) high volcanic plug, Morro Rock. 'A volcanic plug, also called a volcanic neck or lava neck, is a volcanic object created when magma hardens within a vent on an active volcano.' *Wikipedia
Take a stop at the small marina, south of the Morro Bay State Park, and take in some of the local life and views of the bay and the rock.
Unfortunately, we were unable to continue driving State Route 1, as it was closed due to mudslides.
We almost got to San Simeon when we realized that we were heading into a dead end.
Since we didn't want to miss Big Sur and wanted to experience as much of the coast as possible, we left Highway 101 in Bradley.
We passed Lockwood and the nearby military base and entered an adventure to pass through the mountains of Los Padres National Forest on the south tip of the Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park.
This detour turned out to be an adventure, we still talk about today, as the road became more narrow by the minute and the mist and fog got thicker as well, so much so that it started to rain at some point and we slowly made our way around each bend of the road.
Although this drive was spectacular and allowed us a completely different perspective on the coastal climate, we wouldn't necessarily recommend it to you unless you have to or need to.
It ended up being a three-hour detour, and yes, staying on the 101 would have been a lot faster, however, also less fun and less impressive. Plus, we would not have been able to drive the coast of Big Sur.
Therefore I cannot give you any advice, where to stop on the stretch between San Simeon and Lucia, and I look forward to your comments on what we missed. 😅
Big Sur Coastline - Misty and Mysterious
As you are driving along the coast, you can literally feel the changing climate and observe as the coast becomes more rugged by the minute. This stretch of the coast is already part of Big Sur, with its winding turns and often misty weather.
Don't miss the photo stops at Gamboa Point and Big Creek Cove for some stunning vistas.
On this stretch, you will not pass by many towns as you are driving along the Santa Lucia Mountains and the Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park.
To us, this stretch allowed us the real feel of the Pacific Coastal Highway.
If you have got the time and the weather permits, take a stop at the Pfeiffer Beach to also get a different perspective and feel of the coast looking up from the shoreline.
There are multiple campgrounds in the area, so should you choose to overnight here, be sure to reserve in advance, as Big Sur is one of the most demanded areas to camp in.
We will continue our drive for about another hour up north to stop and overnight in Monterey.
Monterey Peninsula - Gorgeous Landscape Full of Millionaires
Finding a campground with a good location proved to be slightly more difficult in Monterey until we discovered that the Veterans Memorial Park is actually also a campground. (The icon in Google Maps only shows it as a park, yet the description says campground 😉)
Downtown and the Old Fishermans Wharf are about a 30-minute walk from the campground and absolutely worth your visit.
Due to our detour, a planned 4-hour drive turned into a 7-hour drive, and Jen was quite tired at the end of the day. She deserved this delicious campfire, especially since the nights got quite chilly the further north we got.
The next morning, it is time to take a break from the State Route 1 for a few hours and take the 17 Mile Drive along the small Monterey Peninsula. If you didn't do it the night before, start with discovering Monterey downtown and the Old Fishermans Wharf. Depending on the season, you could also jump on a whale-watching cruise for an hour or two.
The 17 Mile Drive is very famous in this area for several reasons. It cuts through the gated Pebble Beach community, boasting mansion after mansion and golf course after golf course. Non-residents have to pay a toll for the 17 Mile Drive. It is US$10.50 per vehicle, and you can get it reimbursed; should you spend more than US$35 at the Pebble Beach Resort restaurant. Next to its mansions, it is famous for yet another stunning piece of coast and shoreline.
At our campground and also on online forums, we often get the question of whether the 17 Mile Drive is worth it - yes, it is! Don't even think about skipping this one.
Plan 1-2 hours, depending on how many stops and photos you want to take. I recommend you head up northwest to start driving the Ocean View Blvd while passing the Monterey Bay Aquarium and taking a first stop in the area of Lovers Point Park and Perkins Park.
Keep following the coastline, pass by the Point Pinos Lighthouse and take another stop on Sunset Blvd at the Asilomar State Beach before pulling inland and turning right on to the 17 Mile Drive, where you will pay your toll.
From now on, stay on the 17 Mile Drive road and head back to the coast. The next stop is Spanish Bay, with its larger pebble rocks. Build a pebble man if you like and enjoy the ocean breeze.
The coast will turn a bit more rugged now as you drive through the Cypress Point Golf Club and take the next stop at the Lone Cypress Tree.
Towards the end of your 17 Mile Drive experience, you will reach the Pebble Beach Resort with its fancy Golf Club, Beach, Tennis and Gym Club, Spa, Lodge, and Bar and Grill.
After the golf course ends to your right, make sure not to stay on the 17 Mile Drive but to take a right hairpin turn onto Carmel Way and find a spot at the Carmel Beach Parking, to take another stop at this big sandy beach.
Carmel by the Sea - the Arts Hub
Carmel by the Sea is located on the south end of the Monterey Peninsula and marks the southern entrance of the Pebble Beach community and the 17 Mile Drive.
Carmel is yet again, surprise surprise, an upscale seaside town, boasting one of the larger sandy beaches of the area. It is known for its beautiful cottages and galleries, as well as its museum and library about the famous Carmel Mission. It is the artsiest town along the coast and is proud of its art history.
Santa Cruz - the Skate and Surf Hotspot
After you are done marvelling at the beauty of this small peninsula, it is time for you to resume your road trip along State Route 1 and head up north to Santa Cruz, which is about an hour's drive along the Monterey Bay.
Santa Cruz marks the north tip of the Monterey Bay and is the last larger town with a population of 65,000 before reaching Daly City and San Francisco, only 1.5-2 hours further up north.
Santa Cruz has a strong surf history, boosting a cute surf museum in the lighthouse at Steamer Lane and tons of surf shops along its famous boardwalk by the huge beach and the Santa Cruz Pier and Wharf.
While following the final stretch of the Central State Route 1 north to San Francisco, you will pass along more beautiful beaches and may choose to stop at some of them, for example, at Half Moon Beach.
San Francisco in 48 Hours
Congrats, you have driven one of the most iconic coastal roads in the world and made it to San Francisco. To get an overview and the first impression of this diverse city, I recommend you use the advantage of your campervan and start with a scenic drive before continuing to explore on foot.
To read about our recommended scenic drive and other activities in and around San Francisco, keep on reading below.
Are you planning on driving the Pacific Coast Highway as well, or are you reading along to fuel your daydreaming a bit? Let us know in the comments below.
