This post was originally published on A Globe Well Travelled in 2016. The content has been revised and updated with fresh information.
I absolutely love the Californian coast, and can confirm that it’sone of the best places to do a coastal drive.
The entire Pacific coastline is packed end-to-end with beaches, sea cliffs, rock formations, and has an abundance of marine life. Big Sur is just one section of the drive, but it features all the best bits and is arguably the most scenic part.
In 2016, Rob and I drove from San Francisco to Los Angeles via Big Sur, and even though the weather was fairly awful, it was still an amazing road trip that stands out in my memory as one of the best I’ve done.
If any of you are planning to drive the Californiancoast, here’s everything you need to know about a Big Sur California coast road trip!
Big Surroad trip itinerary:
You could do Big Sur in a day or the entire California coast in 2-3 days if you really wanted to, but it will be much more enjoyable if you do it slowly! I’ll be sharing a relaxed pace three-day itinerary, with overnight stops in both Monterey and Santa Barbara. This is an incredibly scenic drive and there are plenty of places to stop along the way.
If you need to hire a car, you can pick one upfrom the airport or the city at either end, and do a one-way car rental. We ended up getting a carfrom San Francisco Airport in dropping it off at LAX.
When to visit Big Sur:
We visited in March, which is the shoulder season for Big Sur. It’s usually a little rainyat this time of year, and unfortunately for usEl Niño was causing it to beeven wetter than usual. The drive might be busier during the peak season of April-October, but believe me, it will be worth putting up withadditional traffic for nicer weather!
Day 1: San Francisco to Monterey
- Besure tospend sometime inSan Fran before you leave! I’ve put together a San Francisco city guideto give you some ideas. When you’re ready to start your road trip, head toLands End then drivesouth along the coast.
- Your first stop should be the classic Californian beach town of Santa Cruz. Treat yourself toa gelato thenstroll along the pier and boardwalk while taking inthe relaxed beachside lifestyle.
- Moss Landing is next on thelist. Take the Jetty Road turn off and drive all the way to the end– thisis where you’llsee a bunch of lazy sea otters chilling on thebeach.
- Stop for the evening inMonterey. If you’ve got time, check out the Monterey Bay Aquarium, then take a walk along Fisherman’s Wharfbefore grabbing some food at Cannery Row.
- We stayed atAmericas Best Value Presidents Innin Monterey.
Day 2: Monterey to Santa Barbara
- On your way out of Monterey, check out Point Lobos for some hiking trails with sea cliff views.
- The nextvista point where you can marvel at the ocean is Rocky Ridge. Park on the side of the road and take the short walk to the lookout.
- Bixby Bridge is one of the most photographed spots on Big Sur. There are multiple areas to pull over before and after the scenic bridge which stretches over a valley between the cliffs.
- Take the turn off forJulia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and drive down the narrow road until you get toPfeiffer Beach, one of the most scenic beaches on Big Sur (which apparently has purple sand after stormy weather).
- Another highlyphotographed spot on Big Sur is McWay Falls. Take thisshort hiketo the spot where you can see thewaterfall drop directly onto a sandy beach.
- Hearst Castlesits on top of a hill by the highway, and is a greatstop if you’d like to learn a little history. To see the interior of the castle, you must book a tour.
- A greatspot for an afternooncoffee stop is Morro Bay, which features a rathermassiverock that sits just offshore.
- We stayed overnight atCastillo Inn at the Beachin Santa Barbara.
Day 3: Santa Barbara to Los Angeles
- Before you leave, spend the morningenjoying Santa Barbara. Take a walk along Stearns Wharf, then wander along the east end of State Street through downtown Santa Barbara for some food and/or shopping before heading off on your final leg of the drive.
- Stop in at Malibu to check out the overpriced beach houses where many LA celebrities live(I wasa tad excited todiscover that Leo DiCaprio owns multiple placesthere!). If you’re hungry, head toKristy’swhere you cansit on the patio overlooking the ocean with somewine and wood fired pizza.
California coast road tripextensions
If you’ve got some time on your hands and want to attempt more of the California coast, here’s some extensions you can do. If you start at Crescent City or San Diego, you should be able to do the entire coastline in about 7-10 days (at a comfortable pace).
Crescent City to SanFrancisco
We did this drive in one day, but you can split it into two days for a more relaxed pace.
- The giant Redwood trees of Redwood National and State Park grow right on the edgeofthe road and tower above you as you drive through. Be sure to stop at one of the many hiking trails for a walk through the forest.
- Stop in at Fort Bragg, where you’ll find Glass Beach – a former dump that now has smooth sea glass pebbles mixed in with the sand.
- Point Reyesfeatures a lighthouse with scenic views, walking tracks, rocky cliffs, and a beach.
- Even though you might have already seen the Redwood trees up north, Muir Woods is another great place to stop and admire nature at its best. The Muir Woods National Monument is an area of forest with hiking trails that will have you swooning over its natural beauty.
Los Angeles to San Diego
Check out myLos Angeles city guideor my self-guided walking tour of DTLA for some ideas on things to do in the city before you leave. There’s not a lot of places to stop between Los Angeles and San Diego as the drive is fairly short at around 2.5 hours, but you have a few options:
- If you’re into theme parks – take your pick betweenDisneyland or Knott’s Berry Farm in Anaheim, or Universal Studios in Hollywood. Or do all three. Your choice.
- Stop at Newport along the way (especially if you’re a fan of tv series The OC!).
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