Highway 1, Slow
“Drive the coast slow. LA to San Francisco in 4 days.”
Four short driving days with one great stop every couple of hours.
Highway 1 through Big Sur has had long closures. Check Caltrans before Day 3.
- Los Angeles
- 95 miSanta Barbara
- 130 miCambria
- 95 miCarmel
- 125 miSan Francisco
About 445 miles of driving in total. Rough numbers.
Day 1 · LA → Santa Barbara
- 1El Matador State BeachSight · Sea caves and rock arches below the bluffs.
- ↓ About 1 hr 15 min drive · 69 mi
- 2Funk ZoneThing to do · Walk, taste, then sleep in Santa Barbara.
☾ Overnight in Santa BarbaraFind stays ↗
Day 2 · Santa Barbara → Cambria
- 1SolvangSight · A small Danish-style town known for pastries and windmills.
- ↓ About 1 hr 5 min drive · 61 mi
- 2Pismo Beach PierSight · Stretch your legs on the pier.
- ↓ About 56 min drive · 52 mi
- 3Moonstone Beach BoardwalkSight · Sunset walk before bed in Cambria.
☾ Overnight in CambriaFind stays ↗
Day 3 · Cambria → Carmel
- 1Piedras Blancas Elephant SealsSight · Hundreds of elephant seals on the beach, right off the highway.
- ↓ About 59 min drive · 54 mi
- 2McWay FallsSight · A waterfall that drops straight onto a hidden beach.
- ↓ About 44 min drive · 25 mi
- 3Bixby Creek BridgeSight · The classic Big Sur photo.
☾ Overnight in CarmelFind stays ↗
Day 4 · Carmel → San Francisco
- 117-Mile DriveThing to do · A toll road past cypress trees and crashing surf.
- ↓ About 14 min drive · 5 mi
- 2Monterey Bay AquariumThing to do · One of the best aquariums anywhere. The kelp forest alone is worth it.
- ↓ About 1 hr 5 min drive · 62 mi
- 3Pigeon Point LighthouseSight · Last coastal stop before the city.