Highway 1: Detailed Roadmap from San Francisco to Los Angeles (2024)

Last updated: 01/21/2022

Check out our complete and detailed itinerary on Highway 1, the scenic highway that connects San Francisco to Los Angeles, with the main stops, attractions, restaurant suggestions, hotels and lots of tips!

A HIGHWAY 1: CALIFORNIA COAST SCENIC HIGHWAY

California State Route 1, better known as Highway 1, is a famous road that connects the state of California from north to south covering more than 1,055 km and is the longest in the state. Construction began in 1934, but was built gradually, in several stages, passing along several stretches of California's coastline and providing breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean.

In the north of the state, it begins near the city of Leggett and ends at Dana Point, south of Los Angeles. Significant portions of the road between the Los Angeles area and the San Francisco Bay Area follow El Camino Real, the route that connects the 21 Spanish missions of old Alta California. Although it is a very touristy road for its scenic beauty, frequent landslides and erosion along the coast have caused several segments to be closed for long periods for repairs or redirected to roads further inland. In particular, the most beautiful Big Sur region has suffered greatly from closure over the years.

A curiosity is that some stretches of Highway 1 operate simultaneously with US Highway 101 (the longest highway in California with more than 1,300 km in length), mainly an 87 km stretch in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, and through the Golden Gate.

HOW MANY DAYS TO TRAVEL ON HIGHWAY 1

The best-known Highway 1 area is the one connecting the cities of San Francisco and Los Angeles. Are more than 700 km of road which, without a stop, take almost 9 hours to travel. For this reason, in order to enjoy this trip, make stops, and discover some interesting attractions along the way, it is recommended that you plan to at least 3 or 4 days on a trip. Later, we will give tips on where to stay during the trip.

If you just want to go from San Francisco to Los Angeles without worrying about stopping, taking Highway 1 is a waste of time. Use Interstate 5 and you'll save hours of your day and fuel. But, you will miss the opportunity to take one of the most scenic trips in the world.

HOW TO TRAVEL ON HIGHWAY 1

The best way to make this trip on Highway 1 is through car. You can get a quote from the main car rental companies in the world using this link from our partner with very cool offers. Although many people take the south-north route, that is, starting in Los Angeles and ending in San Francisco, we recommend the opposite, start in San Francisco and end in Los Angeles.

In this way, the sea will be at your side all the time on the right and, in some stretches, passengers in the car will be able to take beautiful pictures while the driver is driving. If you do the stretch starting from Los Angeles, you will be closer to the mainland than to the sea, because there will always be the opposite lane leading you away from the Pacific Ocean. That is, you will have to cross the track every time you want to make a stop, which can be inconvenient and sometimes dangerous.

DON'T WANT TO DRIVE? SEE ALTERNATIVES

For those who don't want to rent a car, but still want to get to know the region, there are some alternatives for tours and excursions along Highway 1. Is it ideal? No! But, if it's your only option, the saying “better done than perfect” is valid, that is, it's better to know through an excursion than not to know. Check out some options:

• Monterey and Carmel: 1-Day Tour from San Francisco
• San Francisco: Monterey and Carmel Tour
• San Fran: Full-Day Private Tour of Carmel, Monterey and Big Sur
• Pacific Coastal Highway: Tour to Monterey and Carmel
• california express 3 day tour from los angeles
• 5-Day Wild West Tour from Los Angeles

BEST TIME TO TRAVEL ON HIGHWAY 1

The high season for visits is from April to October. Summer is when the peak of visits happens and accommodation becomes much more expensive. However, dense fog on summer mornings is not uncommon in some coastal towns. Winter is interesting to save on accommodation, but it is also the rainy season in California. For this reason, the best time of year to travel on Highway 1 is spring (late March to early June) and autumn (September to early November).

MAIN EVENTS AT HIGHWAY 1 THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

To help you plan your trip and enjoy what's happening along Highway 1, check out some of the top events throughout the year:

• JANUARY:Big Sur Foragers Festival in Big Sur
• FEBRUARY:Cambria Film Festival | Santa Barbara International Film Festival
• MARCH:San Luis Obispo International Film Festival | Jazz Bash by the Bay in Monterey
• APRIL:Big Sur International Marathon | Pebble Beach Food & Wine in Monterey
• MAY:Winemaker's Celebration in Carmel | California Roots Music and Arts Festival in Monterey
• JUNE:Annual Carmel Surfabout | Monterey Wine Festival | Monterey International Blues Festival
• JULY: New Noise Music Conference and Festival in Santa Barbara
• AUGUST:fiesta in Santa Barbara | Monterey Bay Reggae Festival
• SEPTEMBER:Solvang Danish Days | Sandcastle Contest in Carmel | Monterey Jazz Festival | Summers End Music Festival in Half Moon Bay
• OCTOBER:Cambria Scarecrows Festival | Big Sur Jade Festival | Taste of Carmel | Carmel International Film Festival | Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival
• NOVEMBER:Big Sur Food & Wine Festival
• DECEMBER:Night of Lights in Half Moon Bay

15 MAIN STOPPING POINTS ON HIGHWAY 1

On the interactive map below, the entire Highway 1 route (from Leggett to Dana Point) in red, the Departure (San Francisco) and arrival (Los Angeles) cities in purple and top 15 stopping points (in blue) which basically consist of cities that have several attractions. Each of them has a dedicated post with lots of detailed information to make it easier to organize your trip on Highway 1.

Our suggested itinerary is as follows:

• START:San Francisco
• DAY 1: Departure from San Francisco | Accommodation: Monterey or Carmel
• DAY 2: Big Sur | Accommodation: Cambria, Paso Robles, Morro Bay or San Luis Obispo
• DAY 3: Avila Beach, Pismo Beach and Santa Ynez Valley | Accommodation: Santa Barbara
• DAY 4: Santa Barbara | Accommodation: Santa Monica or Los Angeles
• THE END: Los Angeles

START: SAN FRANCISCO

As we said earlier, our suggestion is that you rent a car and start your trip through San Francisco, heading south to Los Angeles. With just under 900,000 inhabitants, San Francisco is a super interesting city that deserves at least 3 days of your trip. Take the opportunity to meet the famous golden gate bridge, a Alcatraz island, O Pier 39, the huge Golden Gate Park it is clear, ride a cable car! If you want a very nice itinerary of up to 5 days, in addition to accommodation suggestions by neighborhood (and where not to stay!), savings cards, and many other tips, check out our San Francisco itinerary.

Read more:California: What to do in San Francisco – 3, 4 or 5 day itinerary

1. PEACEFUL

Most people leave San Francisco and head straight for Monterey and Carmel, but I think it's a shame not to stop by Pacifica, a small town on the shores of the Pacific Ocean that runs about 10 km from the coast, being the location of the oldest European discovery of San Francisco Bay. The city is very popular for surfing (it even houses theUniversity of Surfing), mountain biking and skateboarding. One of the highlights of the city is Mori Point, a cliff that offers panoramic views of the coast. Access can be made by stairsBootlegger's Steps (photo below). For those traveling with dogs, the best option is the beach esplanade, the only beach in Pacifica where dogs can play freely.

Read more:California Coast: Things to do in Pacifica

2. HALF MOON BAY

Half Moon Bay is famous for its surf-friendly waves, huge coastal redwoods and beautiful gray whales. The charming center of the city is characterized by Main Street, the main street of Half Moon Bay, which still maintains a relaxed and picturesque atmosphere, hosting various events (art and a famous pumpkin festival) throughout the year, in addition to having many historic buildings that house diverse shops, galleries and restaurants. In addition, Half Moon Bay is home to the world-famous Mavericks, a big wave surfing area where, since 1998, a surf competition known as Mavericks Challenge. In winter, waves up to 25 meters high can be surfed on the Mavericks Beach.

Read more:California Coast: What to do in Half Moon Bay

3. FISHING

Pescadero is an agricultural and livestock community that has its charm. The city is super small and the center is practically restricted to a main street with a few restaurants and bars. The city has some beaches and state parks including the Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park, which houses one of the tallest lighthouses in the United States (over 35 meters high) on top of a cliff. Nearby is the Big Basin Redwoods State Park, the oldest state park in California.

Read more:California Coast: What to do in Pescadero

4. SANTA CRUZ

With a pleasant climate, redwood forests in the Santa Cruz Mountains and beaches, the city is popular with tourists. The city is an important location for surfing on the northern coast of California and claims to be home to the first museum dedicated to the topic in the world. Although small, the city is cute, full of life and hosts a number of events throughout the year. One of the main highlights is the. city is theSanta Cruz Beach Boardwalk, a large boardwalk with an amusem*nt park that was founded in 1907 and is the oldest in California still in operation. Take the opportunity to have lunch or watch the sunset at Santa Cruz Wharf. The city hosts events of triathlonandironman, which bring together athletes from all over the world.

Read more:California: Things to do in the seaside town of Santa Cruz

5. MONTEREY

Monterey is a historic city that hosted California's first constitutional convention in 1849 and where the state's first theater, public building, public library, public school, publishing house and newspaper were built. Subsequently, it attracted many artists, painters and writers. Until around the 1950s, it was very famous for its fishing industry and even today some of the old fisherman's cabins can be seen as they were in their original state, along Cannery Row. Among the main attractions of the city are: Old Fisherman's Wharf, a historic wharf famous for its importance to the region's fishing industry until the 1960s; Cannery Row, a famous street that concentrated several canned sardine factories; and Monterey Bay Aquarium, super famous for being the largest aquarium in the United States.

Read more:California Coast: Things to do in Monterey

• TIP! To go to Carmel, it is worth following the 17-Mile Drive, a pay-access road that is 17 miles long. It can be accessed right after leaving the city of Monterey, arriving in the city of Pacific Grove to access a stretch located within a gated community, Pebble Beach. The road goes along the coast and goes all the way to Carmel. Along the way, there are a number of stops that provide impressive views of the Pacific Ocean.

6. CARMEL

Carmel is a super charming city on the coast of California whose full name is Carmel-by-the-Sea. Carmel is known for its natural beauty, the presence of several art galleries and delicious cuisine that includes delicious restaurants and great wine tasting rooms. It is also famous for its unusual laws, houses without addresses, underwater parks, many art galleries, and even having a famous mayor, Hollywood actor Clint Eastwood. Carmel houses the Mission of Carmel, also known as the Misión de San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo, which was built in 1797 and is one of the 21 Spanish missions from California. Other highlights are Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, a nature reserve that is home to one of California's richest marine habitats and the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary, a butterfly sanctuary.

Read more:California Coast: What to do in Carmel

7. BIG SUR

Big Sur is probably the most stunning stretch of coastline in California and considered one of the most beautiful in the world! The stretch of about 115 km encompasses a number of small communities that include: Big Sur, Lucia, Gorda and San Simeon. The drive along the narrow, winding road rewards visitors with gorgeous vistas, coastal redwood forests, beaches, state parks, outdoor sports areas, and more. Bixby Creek Bridge is the most famous reinforced concrete bridge in Big Sur and one of the postcards of the region. Another highlight is theMcWay Falls, symbol of Big Sur waterfall that is 24 meters high and flows into the Pacific Ocean. An unmissable attraction is the Heartst Castle, a San Simeon mansion built by media mogul William Randolph Hearst, who inspired the movie classic “Citizen Kane” (1941). The “castle” has 56 rooms, 61 bathrooms and 19 rooms, a gigantic pool inspired by Greco-Roman art, an indoor pool, tennis courts, gardens and a cinema room. And from the top of the hill you can see the Pacific Ocean.

Read more:California Coast: What to do in Big Sur – Roadmap and Tips

• IMPORTANT! Before going on your trip, it is essential that you inform yourself about theroad conditions. This stretch of Highway has been closed dozens of times due to landslides. In summer, fires can occur due to dry weather and lack of rain. This time of year is marked by coastal fog in the morning, with more open weather after midday. However, in winter, Big Sur experiences some of the heaviest rainfall in California.

8. CAMBRIA

Cambria is a village that has rocky cliffs and beaches, whose center is concentrated along Moonstone Beach Drive, Cambria's main thoroughfare. One of the highlights is the Moonstone Beach Boardwalk, a 2 km walking trail with several beach access points and benches to allow for the observation of marine life. Another interesting attraction is Nitt Witt Ridge, the home of the reclusive artist Arthur Harold Beal, who spent most of the next 50 years carving the terraces with just a pick and shovel, creating his own “castle on the hill”. The house is still full of knick-knacks and architectural uniqueness.

Read more:California Coast: What to do in Cambria – Itinerary and Tips

9. MORRO BAY

Morro Bay is a small town in San Luis Obispo County that is located on a natural harbor, making it a fantastic place to see marine life, housing two protected areas. Much of Morro Bay is a wildlife area and a part is designated a bird sanctuary. The name of the city is due to the fact that in its territory it isrock hill, a large rock of volcanic origin in the form of a round hill that is about 176 meters high. Study parks and beaches are the main highlights of the city. North of Morro Bay is Cayucos, a tourist town home to the Cayucos State Beach, Where is thePier Cayucos, an old wooden fishing pier that juts out from the beach.

Read more:California Coast: What to do in Morro Bay

• GOLD TIP! If you have time, we strongly recommend that you get to know the city of step Robles, located 50 km from Cambria. Although it is not located on Highway 1, it is an excellent choice for wine lovers, as it has excellent wineries, delicious restaurants and a very pleasant climate. The prices are much better than in Napa Valley and it is possible to visit more peacefully, without a very large number of visitors. The variety of accommodation options is also very good. We've been to Paso Robles a few times and we always come back because we love this cozy city!

10. SAN LUIS OBISPO

The city was founded in 1772 by the Spanish Franciscan Junípero Serra, when he built the San Luis Obispo de Toloma Mission, one of the 21 Spanish missions from California. Because of its rich history, San Luis Obispo still has more than 180 historic buildings. Higueira Street is San Luis Obispo's main shopping street and is full of shops, restaurants and cafes. One of the strangest yet most popular attractions in San Luis Obispo is Bubblegum Alley, an alley where visitors have been depositing chewing gum on the walls over time! San Luis Obispo is not a coastal city, but it can be an excellent option to stay because it has a large number of hotels in the region.

Read more:California Coast: Things to do in San Luis Obispo

11. AVILA BEACH

Avila Beach is a tiny town in San Luis Obispo County and served as San Luis Obispo's main port of departure from the mid-19th century. As the city is super small and quiet, it is a great option for couples who want more tranquility and families. With clear and soft sand, the central beach of Avila Beach is the main beach that occupies the entire seafront of the city of Avila Beach. Currently, the beach is surrounded by nice shops, wine tasting rooms and restaurants located on a very pleasant boardwalk. The city is also known for its hot springs at its spa resorts.

Read more:California Coast: Things to do in Avila Beach on Highway 1

12. PISMO BEACH

Pismo Beach is a small town famous for its “Pismo Clam”, a type of seafood that was once found in abundance in the area. the old “Molusc Capital of the World” still holds the Pismo Beach Clam Festival (Pismo Beach Clam Festival) every October with clam chowder competitions and a clam-themed parade. The central beach of Pismo Beach has excellent infrastructure and the Pismo Beach Pier is one of the most popular surfing spots on the Central Coast of California. The pier is illuminated at night, allowing surfers a spot to enjoy the night surf. Before entering the pier, you will need to go through thePismo Beach Pier Plaza, a renovated square where a huge sign with the name of the city was installed (photo below). One of our favorite places is the Dinosaur Caves Park, a public park located on top of a cliff facing the Pacific Ocean with simply incredible views!

Read more:California Coast: Things to do in Pismo Beach

13. SOLVANG & SANTA YNEZ VALLEY

Solvang, the “Danish Capital of America”, is the main city that makes up the Santa Ynez Valley region, also formed by Buellton, Santa Ynez, Ballard, Los Olivos and Los Alamos. The region became particularly famous after serving as the setting for the film “Sideways – Between Uma e Outros” (2004), Oscar winner for Adapted Screenplay. It is also the region where the famous “Neverland” ranch of the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson, is located. Solvang is the city that draws the most attention for breathing Scandinavian culture with authentic bakeries, tree-lined streets, shops, art galleries, restaurants, several wine tasting rooms and more than 125 wineries in the surroundings. The city is also home to Mission Santa Inés, one of the21 Spanish missions from California.

Read more:Solvang: What to do in the Danish capital of California & California: Itinerary in the 6 Wine Cities of the Santa Ynez Valley

14. SANTA BARBARA

Santa Barbara is a charming city located on the coast of California between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean that is known as “American Riviera”. Santa Barbara offers a delightful atmosphere, with beaches, a pier, historic buildings, many shops, friendly restaurants and craft breweries. Some of the highlights are Missão Santa Bárbara, one of the 21 Spanish missions from California; Stearns Wharf, the oldest operating pier in California; funk zone, an artistic, cultural and commercial district; Santa Barbara Prison, which preserves the site of the last of the four military outposts built by the Spanish along the coast of Alta California; various gardens and parks; varied museums; as well as several beautiful beaches.

Read more:California Coast: What to do in Santa Barbara – Roadmap and Tips

15. SANTA MONICA & VENICE

The coast of Los Angeles is famous for Santa Monica, which is a city in the state of California located next to Los Angeles, and Venice, which is a district of Los Angeles. O Santa Monica Pier is the main attraction of the city with several restaurants, bars, many shops, the famous amusem*nt park pacific parkit's the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium. It is precisely at the Santa Monica Pier that Route 66 ends, the most famous historic road in the USA, which begins in Chicago. Venice, formerly known as the “Venice of America” because of its canals, was incorporated into the city of Los Angeles in 1926. It is a region known for being more “cool” due to the influence of the past of artists, writers, painters. With a nice boardwalk in front of the beach, it is very common to find several works by street artists, graffiti, skaters, younger and liberal people in the area.

Read more:Los Angeles Beaches: Santa Monica and Venice Beach Tour

END: LOS ANGELES

The metropolis and second largest city in the United States after New York, deserves at least 4 days in your California itinerary. With Hollywood, the “City of Angels” is a world leader in the creation of film and television productions, video games and music. Take the opportunity to discover the main attractions of Hollywood, visit movie studios, get to know the Beverly Hills region, visit the amazing museums of the city (including the newly opened Oscar Museum), get to know downtown Los Angeles where the gym is where the NBA Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers play their games and where the beautiful Walt Disney Concert Hall is located. Also take the opportunity to visit the first Disney park, known as Disneyland.

Read more:What to do in Los Angeles – 4 to 6 days itinerary

WHERE TO EAT ON HIGHWAY 1

When hunger strikes, have a smart list of places to eat along Highway 1 handy. Check out some restaurant suggestions by clicking on the city names below.

• START: SAN FRANCISCO
• DAY 1: PEACEFUL, HALF MOON BAY, FISHERMAN, HOLY CROSS, MONTEREY, CARMEL
• DAY 2: BIG SUR, CAMBRIA, MORO BAY, SAN LUIS OBISPO, ROBLES STEP
• DAY 3: AVILA BEACH, PISMO BEACH, SOLVANG & SANTA YNEZ VALLEY,SANTA BARBARA
• DAY 4:
• THE END: LOS ANGELES

WHERE TO STAY AT HIGHWAY 1

Below are some accommodation options in the main cities that we suggest to be the place you should stop for a sleep while traveling along the Highway. There is economic options (generally up to 2 stars), intermediate options (3 stars) and more comfortable options (4 or 5 stars). Click on each of the cities to check the options we have selected:

• DAY 1: MONTEREY OR CARMEL
• DAY 2: CAMBRIA, ROBLES STEP, MORO BAY OR SAN LUIS OBISPO
• DAY 3: SANTA BARBARA
• DAY 4: SANTA MONICA, VENICE OR LOS ANGELES

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TOURS AND EXCURSIONS ON HIGHWAY 1

There are several tours, tours and excursions along Highway 1. Check out some of the options below by clicking for more information.

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