The Pacific Coast Highway is one of the most legendary road trips in the world — California's Highway 1 hugging the coastline for hundreds of miles, from Southern California's beach towns through the dramatic cliffs of Big Sur and up to the fog-draped fishing villages north of San Francisco. No single stretch defines it; the whole drive is the point.
Top Stops on the Pacific Coast Highway
Big Sur is the highway's showstopper — 90 miles of coastline with almost no development, where redwood forests meet sheer cliffs dropping straight into the Pacific. The Bixby Creek Bridge, one of the most photographed bridges in the country, and McWay Falls, a waterfall that drops directly onto a beach, are two of its unmissable stops.
Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea offer a gentler pace, with the Monterey Bay Aquarium and 17-Mile Drive through Pebble Beach among the highlights. Further south, Malibu and Santa Monica anchor the LA stretch of the drive with surf culture and pier boardwalks, while Santa Barbara, with its Spanish colonial architecture and palm-lined waterfront, makes a great overnight stop between the two.
What to Pack for a Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip
Coastal California weather shifts fast — fog and wind on the cliffs, sun on the beaches, sometimes within the same afternoon. The VacationGrabs Leather Duffel is easy to live out of for a multi-day drive, and the VacationGrabs Vintage Leather Backpack is a great daypack for stops along the way.
Book Pacific Coast Highway Tours and Experiences
Big Sur scenic drives, Monterey Bay whale watching, and 17-Mile Drive tours are among the best ways to experience the coast. Browse California coast tours and experiences below to plan your trip.
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