Road trip itinerary for California’s Coastal Highway 1

By Joel Porter

NZ Herald·

9 May, 2024 07:00 PM7 mins to read

Take a road trip on California's Highway 1, tracing 655 miles of coastal charm from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

Planning a road trip can be overwhelming, especially when it’s as extensive as California’s coastal Highway 1. This is the ultimate guide to tackling a mammoth journey, including best stops, driving times, hotels stops and places to eat, writes Joel Porter

There’s something enduringly romantic about the great American road trip – the wide open roads, the spectacular scenery, and the pure sense of adventure it brings. At the top of the road trip wish list for many is California’s Pacific Coast Highway, a 1050km route that hugs the rugged west coast from Mendocino County in the north to Orange County in the south. The most popular stretch is between San Francisco and Los Angeles, which winds along some of the most beautiful coastline in the world, bookended by stops in two of America’s greatest cities. Allow at least four days for the drive itself plus however long you’d like to spend in each city at either end. This itinerary goes from north to south, but you can just as easily start in LA and do it in reverse.

NOTE: Check road conditions before you travel as adverse weather can often lead to road closures, particularly in the Big Sur area.

Day 1 – San Francisco to Carmel

After a couple of days exploring San Francisco, it’s time to jump in the car and head south. There are plenty of car hire companies downtown, but you’ll get more choice at the airport, particularly if you are dropping the car in LA at the end. From the airport, it’s a two-hour drive to Carmel-by-the-Sea; not the prettiest part of the journey by any stretch but once you hit the coast, the stunning scenery begins.

Laidback, well-heeled Carmel has the feel of a little village, with rows of pretty houses and shops arranged neatly on the hill above the beach – walk along Ocean Avenue to discover boutiques, galleries, and cafes, including popular brunch spot Stationæry. Beautiful white-sand Carmel Beach is a must visit for a swim or surf, and it’s well worth taking a stroll along the scenic bluff path where you’ll likely spot sea otters swimming among the kelp. For dinner, book a table at the superb Chez Noir, a relaxed Michelin-starred spot run by chef Jonny Black and his wife, Monique, serving a seafood-centric menu using ingredients sourced from the Monterey Peninsula. Only open since 2022, Chez Noir has quickly become the standout dining option in Carmel, so it’s well worth booking ahead. Stay the night at La Playa Carmel, a historic boutique hotel located in a luxurious mansion originally built in 1905 by an artist as a gift to his wife. Recently refurbished, the hotel has a charming, intimate feel with cosy rooms, period features, sea views, and an outdoor pool.

Chez Noir in Carmel is a Michelin-starred gem, serving seafood-centric delights.

Day 2 – Carmel to Big Sur

It’s less than an hour’s drive to Big Sur, but plan for a stop at Point Lobos, which is just a few kilometres south of Carmel. This protected natural reserve is famous for its seals and sea lions that can be spotted from the network of hiking trails that wind along the rocky coast – the whole loop takes a couple of hours or simply drive to a handful of specific viewpoints if you’re short on time. The remainder of the drive to Big Sur offers some of the most spectacular scenery (and windy roads) of the trip, passing over the iconic Bixby Bridge while waves crash against the rugged rocks just below the highway.

Big Sur is famed for its beautiful setting, beaches, forested hikes, and literary connections to the likes of Henry Miller, who lived and worked in Big Sur for many years – his old house is now open to the public as the Henry Miller Memorial Library. Experience another slice of Big Sur history by checking into Deetjen’s Inn, a collection of simple wood cabin accommodations (plus an excellent restaurant) that’s been hosting travellers since 1937. There’s no Wi-Fi and no phone signal so it’s a particularly good choice for those seeking true peace and quiet.

Big Sur is renowned for its stunning scenery, literary connections and serene accommodations.

Day 3 – Big Sur to Cayucos

Heading south along the Big Sur coast, you’ll be treated to 80km of unspoilt wild coastline so it’s best to take it slow and admire the views at various points along the way. One of the best stops is Julia Pfieffer Burns State Park, which has a lovely beach and hiking trails. Just before you reach San Simeon, pull over at Elephant Seal Point, where gigantic elephant seals bask on the beach in huge numbers, grunting and fighting for space on the sand.

A bit further on and the high, dramatic cliffs begin to wind down towards Cayucos, a quintessential chilled-out California beach town that draws relatively few tourists compared to nearby Cambria and Moro Bay. With a relaxed, local feel, the town comprises little more than a couple of surf shacks and restaurants and has barely changed in the 25 years since I first visited there in 1999. One welcome new arrival is the Pacific Motel, an old 50s roadside motor lodge that’s recently been refurbished by local couple Ryan and Marisa Fortini, who have transformed it into a chic boutique motel with modern, minimalist rooms and fun touches like outdoor fire pits and a table tennis table.

The Pacific Motel in Cayucos, recently refurbished into a chic boutique motel, offers modern minimalist rooms and fun amenities like outdoor fire pits, ensuring a stylish and comfortable stay by the California coast.

Day 4 – Cayucos to Santa Barbara

In the morning, head down the street to The Hidden Kitchen for its famous blue corn waffles, topped with everything from pulled pork, to peanut butter and banana. It’s a two-hour drive to Santa Barbara and, just past Moro Bay, the road starts to route inland away from the coast and the scenery flattens out. Make a stop in the tiny town of Los Alamos for lunch at Bell’s, an excellent modern French bistro from chef Daisy Ryan, a recipient of Food & Wine’s prestigious Best New Chef award. Fans of the movie Sideways can make a small detour to the town of Buellton, where much of it was filmed, and check out the Windmill Motel, now re-branded as the Sideways Motel.

Save your wine tasting for Santa Barbara, however, where there are a multitude of great tasting rooms packed into the pretty grid of streets near the beach. One of the best is Au Bon Climat, which offers tasting flights of its signature chardonnays and pinot noirs. After a walk along the palm tree-lined beach head out for a taco tour along S. Milpas St, with stops at La Super-Rica, El Bajio, and East Beach Tacos. Check in for the night at the five-star Hotel Californian, which has an unbeatable location in the heart of Santa Barbara’s lively Funk Zone and offers luxurious rooms, a spa, outdoor pool, and several bars and restaurants.

La Playa Carmel, a historic boutique hotel, exudes charm with its cosy rooms, period features, and breathtaking sea views, providing a luxurious stay in Carmel.

Day 5 – Santa Barbara to Los Angeles

It’s just one more two-hour drive into Los Angeles, with the road mostly following the coast again for this final stretch. All of LA is your oyster but I prefer to stick by the sea, and for this trip, I checked into The Georgian Hotel in Santa Monica for the final two nights. Originally opened in 1933 when it was known as the Grand Dame of Santa Monica, the hotel was a magnet for Hollywood A-listers in its heyday but fell into disrepair in later years. New owners BLVD Hospitality have given it a stunning makeover with bright Art Deco interiors and a buzzy, speakeasy-style restaurant that has bought The Georgian back to its former glory.

Just down the road from the hotel is the iconic Santa Monica Pier, with its fairground rides and amusement arcades; it’s also the official start/end point of America’s most famous historic highway, Route 66, commemorated by a sign at the end of the pier. Our California road trip ends here, but if you had the time, it could easily be the start of another big adventure.