Road Trip · 7–10 days · ~600 miles
Pacific Coast Highway
San Francisco → Los Angeles
The most photographed coastline in America.
About This Route
Highway 1 from San Francisco down to Los Angeles is the original American road trip — cliffs dropping straight into the Pacific, sea stacks off Big Sur, the Bixby Creek Bridge, and a string of beach towns that each feel like they could hold your attention for a week. The drive is short if you rush it (doable in two days), but if you give it the time it deserves you'll never forget it.
The trick to Pacific Coast Highway is pacing. Don't try to do Big Sur as a day trip from anywhere — base there. Don't rush Carmel. Santa Barbara is worth a full day. And leave the coast every now and then to see the wine country, the hills, and the small inland towns that most road-trippers skip.
— Our Travel Editor
The Route
6 stops · book hotels at member rates in each city.
San Francisco
Start at the Golden Gate — the official northern anchor of PCH. Spend a night in the city before turning south.
Carmel-by-the-Sea
A storybook village with white sand beaches and cypress trees. An essential overnight.
Big Sur
Ninety miles of the most dramatic coastline on the continent. Drive it slowly and stop often.
San Luis Obispo / Cambria
Friendly Central Coast towns, Hearst Castle nearby, elephant seals on the beach.
Santa Barbara
The 'American Riviera' — Spanish architecture, wine country, beach culture. Worth a full day.
Los Angeles
Finish at the Santa Monica Pier. Malibu, Venice, and downtown are all worth a stop.
Hotels to Build Your Route
A curated list of member-rate hotels along every stop on this drive.
How to build your road trip
Book each hotel below through its link to lock in member rates for every night of your trip. One click per stop — no coupon codes, no timing games. Complete your bookings in the order you'll drive the route.
An Embarcadero waterfront boutique with Bay Bridge views — ideal for a kickoff night before pointing south on Highway 1.
Set on the Del Monte Golf Course minutes from Cannery Row and Carmel. A comfortable home base for the Monterey Peninsula stretch of PCH.
A reliable, well-priced anchor just north of downtown Santa Barbara — easy freeway access and a quick drive to the beach and State Street.
Travel Editor Tip
Book Big Sur lodging 3–6 months out. Rooms are limited and they sell through regardless of rate.
Packing for 6 Stops?
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Road trip plan courtesy of Hotel Room Discounters
Book every stop at member rates: https://hotelroomdiscounters.com/road-trips/pacific-coast-highway
For the full catalog of member-rate hotels, visit hotelroomdiscounters.com.