California Coast Road Trip
Exploring Highway 1’s Incredible Towns and Scenic Views
May 23, 2026
If you’ve ever wanted to see the California coast but don’t know where to start with planning a trip, I have a great itinerary that I’d love to share. Everyone deserves to see this part of the country so I hope you’ll be able to visit one day soon.
Day 1- I flew into San Francisco, picked up my rental car, checked into my hotel, grabbed a delicious burrito at Taquerias El Farolito and was quickly on my way to explore. I’ve always wanted to see Muir Woods, so this was my first stop on my trip. It was about an hour from my hotel, so not too far away. You do need a reservation for parking, so be sure to plan that ahead of time. Muir Woods was just as incredible as I had hoped it would be. I hiked the main bridge loop trail to Cathedral Grove and hiked off the main trail for a bit as well. I highly recommend getting off the main trail as there’s some cool flora and fauna in the area.
On my way back to San Francisco, I stopped and explored Sausalito. It’s such a cute town lined with shops and restaurants. I loved looking at all the houseboats in the marina- they’re all so unique. Then I had an excellent dinner on the waterfront- a great way to end my first day in California.
Day 2- the next morning I got a croissant at Arsicault Bakery and headed down to Fisherman’s Wharf. It’s a super touristy area and not really my scene but I enjoyed looking at all the vintage arcade games at the Musee Mercanique and most importantly, admission is free! Also while you’re in the area, you have to visit the sea lions on Pier 39. I took one of the historic streetcars back to my hotel, which I thought was a cool activity.
After that, I went to an Oakland A’s game, which was part of the reason why I was in California to begin with. I’m doing a tour of all of the MLB stadiums and I wanted to see the Oakland Coliseum one last time before they closed it. While the stadium itself was super old, I thought the fans and atmosphere were awesome. After the game, I stopped by the Palace of Fine Arts. What an incredible piece of architecture and one that I highly recommend checking out.
I finished up my day with dinner at Zuni Cafe with a friend. She’s a local and said that Zuni Cafe is an iconic SF restaurant and it lived up to the hype.
Day 3- I had quite the day planned and started off bright and early for a trip to Chinatown. I was on a mission to visit the Golden Gate Fortune Cookies Co. to get some freshly made fortune cookies. I had seen online where you could write your own fortunes and they’ll put them in cookies right off the line, hot and fresh. I thought it was a fun experience and is something cool that I recommend doing with the family. After that, I finally rode a trolley. I know it’s a touristy activity, but dang it was fun.
Because I had a little time to kill before I went to the San Francisco Giants game that evening, I decided to head to the coast for the afternoon and visit Half Moon Bay. My schedule was dependent on the baseball game times but if that wasn’t the case, I would have just done Half Moon Bay later that day since I was heading to the coast for the rest of my trip. Regardless, Half Moon Bay is a great coastal town. I got an awesome seafood lunch, saw some harbor seals at Moss Beach/Fitzgerald Marine Reserve and then walked around the cute downtown area in Half Moon Bay. I also walked on the coastal trail by the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay. There are several places where you can park for this trail but I found parking at Redondo Beach. If you’re a golfer and can get a tee time at Half Moon Bay Golf Links, I would recommend- the course looked awesome!
I made my way back to San Francisco for the Giants game but had time to stop by and see the iconic Painted Ladies. It’s overall a great view of the city and is a great spot for a picnic.
The San Francisco Giants game that evening was an incredible experience. Oracle Park is one of the best MLB stadiums I’ve visited. The views of the bay from inside of the stadium can’t be beat. 10/10 baseball experience so if you’re in San Francisco, this is a must do activity.
Day 4- I got up bright and early and made my way down the Pacific Coast Hwy (PCH). I quickly realized this would be one of the most scenic drives of my life. My first stop was to Shark Fin Cove (or Shark Tooth Beach), in Davenport, CA. Park right off Highway 1 and take the trail down to the beach to see its beauty up close.
I also stopped by Natural Bridges State Beach before I made my way to Santa Cruz. This state beach has a cool cove and was a popular spot for families to gather for a beach day.
My first stop in Santa Cruz was to the boardwalk. I got there so early that most of the rides weren’t open yet but I could see how this place could be a popular spot. I then made my way to downtown Santa Cruz and I loved it. It had so many cute shops and had a lot of character.
There are so many roadside stands along the PCH and I came across one on my way to Monterey. I had to stop by and grab some fresh cherries- don’t skip these stands when you’re on your next CA road trip.
I made it to Monterey in time for lunch and grabbed some food in downtown Monterey. I then went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which is one of the best in the country. There’s so much to see- colorful fish, penguins, puffins and more- so be sure to allot several hours for your aquarium visit. Fisherman’s Wharf is also in Monterey and while touristy, it’s still something fun to see.
I continued my way south down the Pacific Coast Highway and reached Pebble Beach late afternoon. I’m a big fan of golf so I was really excited to see Pebble Beach and experience some of the elements I see on TV watching golf tournaments. Maybe one day I’ll be able to play there but for now I really enjoyed driving the 17-mile drive through Pebble Beach to see views of the cliffs, beaches and forests. Entry into the 17-mile drive is $12.50 per vehicle but well worth the price. Highlights for me included seeing the Lone Cypress and hearing the bagpiper at Spanish Bay. A bagpiper plays every evening at the first tee at the Links at Spanish Bay and it’s open to the public. Iconic. Further down the road you can even walk around the Lodge at Pebble Beach and check out golf memorabilia.
Early that evening I made it to Carmel-by-the-Sea and checked into the Monte Verde Inn. The inn is downtown in a perfect location and is so quaint and cute- a perfect spot for me (and they deliver you breakfast in the morning in a cute basket!). I walked around Carmel and made my way to the popular Italian restaurant called Casanova. They had great food and an awesome atmosphere.
Day 5- I started my day with more exploring of downtown Carmel. This town is so whimsical and has so many restaurants and houses that look like they’re straight from a fairytale. I walked around the neighborhoods and found a bunch of the famous fairytale cottages. You can also get a map of them at the local library but be sure to be respectful when walking by the houses. I highly recommend heading down to the ocean to enjoy the views of Pebble Beach as well. Carmel-by-the-Sea is such a unique town and I can’t wait to go back one day to visit again.
Later that morning I made my way south down Highway 1 to Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. This was one of my favorite spots on the trip! You can either park on the road outside of the park and hike in or drive down to the spots you want to visit. I hiked to China Cove and got to see Bird Island and Gibson’s Island. I saw sea lions sunbathing by breathtaking blue water and the most pelicans I’ve ever seen in my life.
Next up was the thing I was most excited about on my trip: driving through Big Sur. I’ve seen so many pictures over the years of Big Sur and I could not wait to see the water and breathtaking cliffs. It was everything I dreamed of and more. I was constantly pulling over to take pictures and take it all in. The Bixby Bridge is probably the most famous spot but there are so many more areas that you should visit. One great place to check out is the viewpoint at Garrapata State Park. I went in June and there were yellow wildflowers blooming everywhere. I also stopped by Pfeiffer Beach, which is definitely hidden. Turn on Sycamore Canyon Rd. and take it for 2 miles until you reach the beach parking. There is a $15 entry fee. The beach itself is famous for the keyhole arch.
I stopped for lunch at Napenthe, which is along the route in Big Sur. Just note, this is one of the few restaurants open in this area so you might have to wait a while for a table. Next up was a stop to Julia Pfeiffer State Park to see McWay Falls. It’s a very short hike to see the falls from the parking lot and it was definitely cool to see- and surrounded by more of that crystal blue water.
During the time of my trip, unfortunately Highway 1 was closed after this point in Big Sur, due to a landslide, so I had to backtrack to continue my trip. Not a horrible thing to drive through Big Sur twice, so I can’t complain. It has since reopened so your trip will be more seamless than mine this day. I eventually made my way to the Hearst San Simeon Park campground, where I set up my tent and then grabbed a bite to eat in Cambria. If camping isn’t your thing, there are some places to stay in Cambria.
Day 6- I got up early, grabbed breakfast in Cambria and made my way to Hearst Castle. I didn’t know much about this historical landmark but wow, I was impressed. This estate was owned by publishing tycoon, William Randolph Hearst, and his guest lists included many famous actors and political figures. Tour tickets start at $35 and I recommend getting them online ahead of time.
After my time at Hearst, I stopped by the elephant seal vista point at the Piedras Blancas State Marine Reserve. These creatures were huge and so amazing to see up close.
I then continued south down the PCH and stopped by Morro Bay. It’s famous for its giant rock- something you’ll see from quite a ways away. I made it to San Luis Obispo in time for lunch. This part of California is known for having some great delis/sandwich shops. I wanted to try High Street Market & Deli but it had a huge line, so I went to Lincoln Market & Deli and it hit the spot! I walked around downtown San Luis Obispo (SLO) for hours. It was hands down one of my favorite downtown cities I visited on my trip. There are so many cute shops but also make sure you visit the Mission (church). I grabbed a drink at Scout Coffee Co- also another awesome local spot to check out.
There’s so much more I wanted to see in SLO but I had to continue my journey. Next up was Avila Beach, where I hiked down to Pirate’s Cove. I briefly stopped through Solvang. It’s an odd little town but I enjoyed seeing the windmills tucked in throughout the town. I didn’t stay long enough to really get a feel for it but it was good to see in person. I stopped and grabbed dinner at Boathouse and Hendry’s Beach (outside of Santa Barbara) and I highly recommend. That night I stayed in Oxnard, CA and I had to rest up for a big day the next day.
Day 7- The next morning I woke up bright and early as I was heading to Channel Islands National Park. This National Park is unique in that you have to take a ferry to get to it. I booked my ferry ticket early through Island Packers, which I highly recommend doing. I also booked a kayak tour ticket prior to my arrival through Channel Islands Adventure Co. The ferry ride is about an hour and the ride can get choppy, so be sure to take your Dramamine early. We got to see tons of dolphins, which was really cool (whales are oftentimes seen as well).
Once I arrived to Santa Cruz Island, I headed out on the Cavern Point Loop Trail. I thought it was a perfect trail to do if you also plan on doing another activity that day. Keep in mind, there’s no food on the island, as it’s remote, so plan your meals accordingly. You can also camp on the island as well if you’d like to spend more time there. After my hike, I was ready for my kayak tour. I really enjoyed it and loved going through the caves, but the current was pretty strong that day and it was the most difficult kayaking I’ve ever done. My tour guide was great and he was there to help if I needed it. Going through those caves was one of the coolest things I’ve ever done.
Late in the afternoon, I took the ferry back to Ventura. It was a long day of exploring but one I won’t forget. I cleaned up and then made my way back up north to Santa Barbara for dinner. With the kids skateboarding by the ocean and the palm trees in the distance, this town had an iconic California vibe, which I loved. Dinner was great and I ended the night with their famous McConnell’s ice cream. I got a hotel a little further north so I could continue my way back to San Francisco.
Day 8- The next morning I made it to Paso Robles in time for breakfast. What a cute little downtown! Breakfast was great, there are some awesome shops and they had a farmer’s market going on that same day. Paso Robles is also known for their wineries, so if you’re passing through town, you might want to make time to visit a winery.
My next stop was Pinnacles National Park, which is about 1.5 hours from Paso Robles. There are two different sides of the park and I spent time in the west side of the park. I feel like you can visit this park in a few hours, which is what I did. I was able to do a couple of hikes, including the Balconies Cave Trail, which I thought was really neat. You need a headlamp/flashlight but during part of the trail, you scramble through a cave.
Later that day I made my way further north and set up camp at the Oak Point Campground at Fremont Peak State Park. It was a great campground and the incredible sunset I witnessed was the perfect way to end my trip.
Day 9- I got up early, packed up my campsite and made my way back to the airport. This was one of the most incredible trips I’ve ever taken and I hope to return one day- there are so many more things to see and do on the gorgeous California coast.