1
Santa Cruz
1 hrA laid-back beach town with a classic seaside boardwalk.
The Pacific
Coast Highway
3–5 days
650 mi
5+ stops
California's Highway 1 is one of the most beautiful drives on earth — a ribbon of coastline linking San Francisco and Los Angeles past cliffs, beaches, redwoods, and iconic bridges. This guide covers the essential stops on the SF-to-LA route, best enjoyed over three to five unhurried days.
Find stops along your route, see detour times, and build your perfect itinerary.
Open in AppA laid-back beach town with a classic seaside boardwalk.
Historic waterfront, a world-class aquarium, and the 17-Mile Drive.
The most photographed bridge on the California coast.
A lavish hilltop mansion turned state historic site.
A closer look at every recommended stop on the San Francisco to Los Angeles drive down Highway 1. Tap “Add this place along your route” on any stop to drop it straight into your itinerary in Outpost Go.
Just south of the Bay Area, Santa Cruz is the perfect first stop — a surf town with a historic beachfront boardwalk, redwood forests nearby, and a famously relaxed vibe.
Ride the vintage Giant Dipper roller coaster, walk the wharf, or watch surfers at Steamer Lane before continuing down the coast.
Add this place along your routeMonterey pairs history and marine life on a gorgeous stretch of coast. The Monterey Bay Aquarium is world-class, and nearby Cannery Row and the scenic 17-Mile Drive through Pebble Beach are classic stops.
It's a great place to slow down for a few hours or overnight before the drama of Big Sur.
Add this place along your routeBixby Creek Bridge is the postcard image of Big Sur — a graceful concrete arch spanning a steep coastal canyon. There's a pullout on the north side for that iconic photo.
This is the heart of the drive: winding cliffs, crashing surf, and jaw-dropping views around every bend. Take it slow and stop often.
Add this place along your routePerched above San Simeon, Hearst Castle is the opulent estate newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst built over decades. Guided tours reveal ornate rooms, pools, and gardens.
Nearby, don't miss the elephant seal rookery at Piedras Blancas, where hundreds of seals haul out on the beach.
Add this place along your route
With its Spanish-style architecture, wine country, and easy beaches, Santa Barbara is the ideal final stop before Los Angeles. Stroll State Street, visit the historic Mission, or relax on the waterfront.
It's a relaxed, elegant way to wind down an epic coastal drive.
Add this place along your routeOutpost Go makes road trip planning easy.