In the United States, road trips are part of the country’s fabric. Among the best U.S. road trips, the one that always comes out on top is the drive along the iconic Pacific Coast Highway. It’s an incredible multi-day journey that can last from 5 days up to a month, depending on your time and needs. It overlaps with other freeways and roads and stretches for hundreds of miles along California’s coastline. You can choose to see the major highlights with few stops, or build a comfortable itinerary with room for side trips and no rush. Time to pack your bags and go!

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Best Stops Along the Pacific Coast Highway

Los Angeles

While the Pacific Coast Highway technically starts in California’s Dana Point, most visitors start in Los Angeles because it’s easier. Don’t try to fill your day with so many activities and burn out early. This is only the beginning of the journey.

On the iconic Santa Monica Pier, enjoy ocean views of the Pacific and photograph the famous Ferris wheel and the sign marking the end of historic Route 66, another iconic road across the United States. Or head a few blocks away from the water to the Third Street Promenade for shopping and dining options. Then take the boardwalk over to Venice Beach for some authentic California beach energy. Here, you can view public and street art on the sides of buildings and on display, watch locals perform at the skatepark, or walk the peaceful Venice, Italy-inspired canals.

Further into the city, you can see the famous TCL Chinese Theatre and the household names on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Maybe catch a game at Dodger Stadium during baseball season or explore the diverse collections at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. End with a hike up to Griffith Observatory, where you can see the iconic Hollywood sign before going in for a planetarium show.

Santa Barbara

This will be your first official stop on the road trip, since you will probably want to rest overnight for a fresh start in the morning.

The miles of public golden beaches are pristine, with mild temperatures. That’s why you want to make being outside your priority. Arroyo Burro Beach offers surfing and stand-up paddleboarding, while East Beach is perfect for a volleyball match. Others like to walk the shore in Miramar Beach and see the expensive beachfront properties. A harbor full of public and private charters at the Santa Barbara Harbor is ready to take you out on tours of the water and surrounding area.

They also have an urban trail for wine and craft beer in the creative hub known as the Funk Zone. Enjoy a selection of cozy tasting rooms from local vineyards just over the hill and lively microbreweries, all working towards both fresh and traditional flavors.

Morro Bay

This carefree seaside town is a smaller coastal destination, really unlike any other. That’s because it offers a dramatic volcanic landmark rising hundreds of feet from the Pacific, adding to the area’s natural beauty. Scenic hikes (moderate to hard), like Black Hill Trail and Hazard Peak Trail, offer amazing sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean, perfect on a clear morning.

At the harbor, you can watch playful sea otters float by while enjoying a plate of fish and chips from the Morro Bay Embarcadero or one of its many other restaurants and cafes. With free entry, museum lovers can enjoy learning the town’s fishing and maritime history at the small but lovable Morro Bay Maritime Museum.

For those travelers on this Pacific Coast Highway road trip, this is a good halfway point to mark on your map.

Note: See our Day Trip in Morro Bay

Big Sur

Some consider this the most beautiful and scenic part of the entire road trip. It’s a destination in itself. You get one breathtaking view after another as you drive through. But be careful, as it’s extremely narrow and can get crowded because of its popularity. Of course, you can photograph the iconic Bixby Creek Bridge from one of several designated viewpoints. After seaside cliffs and crashing ocean waves, the highway bends through the groves of redwood trees and mountains into Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park.

While several state parks in Big Sur offer campgrounds and you can find boutique inns and resorts such as Ripplewood Resort and Big Sur Lodge that still give you that rustic feel for an easy overnight stay, most like to press on and finish this part of the drive into the cities of Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea.

Carmel-by-the-Sea

I enjoy this destination so much because you don’t have to focus as much on the beaches and state parks. Instead, you can find yourself in a completely different setting. Here, you step into what feels like a coastal European village, known for its natural scenery and artistic history. That’s because within a few blocks are its famous colorful small cottages that feel like they came right out of a storybook, with round doors, stone chimneys, and all the fuzzy feelings you could want. Connecting and merging with them in the downtown area are courtyards and passageways covered in vibrant colors and greenery, with numerous different architectural styles for our pleasure.

Add a free mobile, self-guided walking wine tour of Carmel’s downtown tasting rooms from local estates in this growing region. Along these paths are the town’s unique shops, galleries, and restaurants, tucked into every nook and cranny. As an artist-focused community, Carmel offers photography and fine art exhibits at the Carmel Art Association.

Monterey

The rich ecological region of Monterey Bay means there is an abundance and diversity of marine life and the largest marine sanctuary in the U.S. It’s known for its sea otters, which you may be able to spot on the rocky shores by Moss Landing Public Dock or the beaches and many scenic lookouts of Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. You can also see them on a whale-watching boat tour, along with dolphins, sea lions, shorebirds, and more. If you can’t find them outside in their natural habitat, you can view them at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which focuses on ocean conservation and marine research with innovative exhibits across multiple ecosystems.

The stretch of roadway along Pebble Beach known as the 17-Mile Drive is another major feature here. It’s been called one of America’s Most Scenic Drives. You’ll pass golf courses, white sand dunes, energetic waves of the sea, and the largest Monterey Cypress grove, with a lone tree perched atop a rocky outcrop.

San Francisco

After so much driving and exploring along the Pacific, it’s a nice change of scenery to head back to the city. Most consider San Francisco the final stop on this road trip and a fitting way to end. You can find the city’s authentic culture and charm in its many diverse neighborhoods such as North Beach and Mission District. It has a thriving pulse you can rarely find elsewhere.

That’s because it has unforgettable, world-class experiences. Some people enjoy the zigzags of Lombard Street on a drive or walk. Choose one of the many viewpoints around the city to capture classic photos of the Golden Gate Bridge. Spend your afternoon enjoying the activities and adventures at Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39.

Note: See our 3-Day Guide to San Francisco

Where to Next?

If you rented a car for this trip, plan to return it here. Then you can catch a flight home from the airport or take the train back to where you started. Locals can easily turn around and head back the way they came on the Pacific, with stops at new destinations. Or you can keep heading north to spend a few days on the Oregon Coast. Enjoy every beautiful mile you can and make it a legendary highway adventure for the books.