From historic, gastronomic, celeb-concentrated cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco to the snaking Big Sur shoreline with the most abrupt elevation change of the Pacific shore, a California road trip on the Pacific Coast Highway pleases city and nature lovers alike.
Californian cuisine could satiate any appetite, and the rugged and wild mountains of Big Sur stand 5,000 feet above the oft-misty ocean.
But there’s more that makes a drive on California’s winding Pacific Coast Highway, also known as Highway 101, one of the most well-known road trips in all of the world.
So hop in your car and prepare for the trip of a lifetime. To help you navigate, I’ve put together 16 unforgettable California road trip stops for your journey along the Pacific Coast, beginning north in San Francisco and ending 500 miles south of there in San Diego.
And if you want to road trip California’s coast in ultimate comfort and style, why not rent an RV or campervan? Check out these campervan rentals in California for some ideas!
Thanks for the useful info! A road trip down the CA coast is on my bucket list!
It’s such a beautiful drive. I hope you make it someday!
Great list! What a road trip. I think I’ve been to nearly all of these places. Two favorites were Big Sur and Hearst Castle
Big Sur and Laguna Beach are my favorites! It’s such a good road trip—so much too see. Almost too much… 😉
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Wonderful Post!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for sharing.
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How long it takes to do this road trip? If you only have 6 days, which of these places would you choose?
Why start in San Francisco and miss the most beautiful part of California, the northern coast? Start in Crescent City.
Great post! I rented a car in San Jose and plan to make a similar trip. I hope on the road everything will be fine!
I loved Santa Cruz, would love to go back in summer!
I really want to do this trip but I am TERRIFIED of spiders. What are the chances of seeing a tarantula?
Very little! I wouldn’t worry about tarantulas on this trip 😉
I’m going to do this! Thanks for advice!
Fantastic ideas Jeremy. I would definitely add Yosemite even if it means leaving the coast. It was the best place we’ve been to (after Iceland, I have to admit).