Pacific Coast Highway road trip: San Francisco to Los Angeles

The classic drive down California's coast on Highway 1 and US 101, from the Golden Gate to Los Angeles, through Monterey, Big Sur and Santa Barbara.

Free, no account needed. Change any stop or night once it’s open.

The route by road

Point at a leg of the route, or tap it, for its drive time.

San Francisco, California
1 night
Golden Gate Bridge, the start of the coast road south.
1 h 18 min · 75 mi from San Francisco
Santa Cruz, California
A stop on the way
Beach boardwalk town on the north end of Monterey Bay.
43 min · 42 mi from Santa Cruz
Monterey, California
1 night
Cannery Row and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Carmel-by-the-Sea is next door.
38 min · 29 mi from Monterey
Big Sur, California
1 night
The cliff section of Highway 1 with Bixby Creek Bridge. Check Caltrans for closures before you go.
1 h 24 min · 74 mi from Big Sur
Cambria, California
1 night
Small coast town near Hearst Castle in San Simeon.
2 h 15 min · 139 mi from Cambria
Santa Barbara, California
1 night
Spanish-style downtown, the Old Mission and Stearns Wharf.
1 h 07 min · 67 mi from Santa Barbara
Malibu, California
A stop on the way
Beaches along the last stretch into Los Angeles.
40 min · 34 mi from Malibu
Los Angeles, California
1 night
End of the drive, with Santa Monica Pier on the coast.

6 days with the nights above. Drive times are for a car without traffic; a day over six hours is flagged.

Day 1: In San Francisco
No driving
Day 2: San Francisco to Monterey
Via Santa Cruz
Night in Monterey
2 h 01 min · 118 mi
Day 3: Monterey to Big Sur
Night in Big Sur
38 min · 29 mi
Day 4: Big Sur to Cambria
Night in Cambria
1 h 24 min · 74 mi
Day 5: Cambria to Santa Barbara
Night in Santa Barbara
2 h 15 min · 139 mi
Day 6: Santa Barbara to Los Angeles
Via Malibu
Night in Los Angeles
1 h 48 min · 101 mi