Pacific Coast Highway: San Francisco to Los Angeles Road Trip
The Pacific Coast Highway between San Francisco and Los Angeles is the American road trip. Below is a day-by-day itinerary, where to stay each night, how to book the car and what to watch for in Big Sur — the section that gets closed by landslides every few winters.
A five-to-seven-day PCH itinerary
Day 1: San Francisco to Santa Cruz (85 miles). Half Moon Bay, Pigeon Point Lighthouse, Año Nuevo elephant seals in winter. Overnight Santa Cruz or Capitola.
Day 2: Santa Cruz to Carmel (55 miles). Monterey Bay Aquarium morning, Cannery Row lunch, 17-Mile Drive, Carmel-by-the-Sea sunset.
Day 3: Big Sur (30 miles / all day). Bixby Bridge, Pfeiffer Beach, McWay Falls at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Nepenthe sunset. Overnight Post Ranch Inn, Ventana, Big Sur Lodge or Glen Oaks.
Day 4: Big Sur to Cambria or San Luis Obispo (90 miles). Ragged Point coffee stop, Piedras Blancas elephant seals, Hearst Castle tour, Moonstone Beach sunset.
Day 5: Cambria to Santa Barbara (150 miles). Morro Bay rock, Pismo dunes, Solvang Danish lunch, Santa Barbara wine-country afternoon.
Day 6: Santa Barbara to Malibu / Los Angeles (95 miles). Carpinteria Bluffs, Malibu Nobu lunch, Point Dume, Santa Monica pier, LAX drop.
Add a rest day in Big Sur or Santa Barbara if you have seven days — both reward slowing down.
Renting the car
Pick up at SFO and drop at LAX (or vice versa). One-way rental fees are $60-$150 depending on the season. Book 4-8 weeks ahead and compare rates through our EconomyBookings / Discover Cars affiliate partners for the best cross-city one-way pricing.
A convertible is the classic PCH cliché and worth it in July-September if the weather is clear. A mid-size SUV is more useful for luggage-and-cooler runs and copes better with Big Sur switchbacks.
Full insurance is worth it on Highway 1 — deer, rockfall, tourist stop-and-shoots for photos are all real. Credit-card coverage is fine if you trust yours; otherwise take the CDW at pickup.
Where to stay each night
Santa Cruz: Dream Inn (beachfront), Chaminade Resort (hilltop), Hotel Paradox (downtown).
Carmel / Monterey: L'Auberge Carmel, Tickle Pink Inn (Carmel Highlands cliff view), Post Ranch Inn (if pushing into Big Sur on Night 2), InterContinental Clement Monterey.
Big Sur: Post Ranch Inn (ultra-luxury, adults-only clifftop), Ventana Big Sur (adults-only forest resort), Big Sur River Inn, Glen Oaks, Big Sur Lodge (in-park cabins).
Cambria / San Simeon: FogCatcher Inn (Moonstone Beach), Cambria Beach Lodge, JUST Inn (vineyard).
Santa Barbara: San Ysidro Ranch, El Encanto (Riviera view), Rosewood Miramar (Montecito beach), Hotel Californian (Funk Zone).
Malibu: Nobu Ryokan (adults-only), Malibu Beach Inn, Calamigos Guest Ranch.
Book all of the above with live rates through our licensed hotel partner.
Big Sur logistics: closures, gas and cellular
Big Sur is subject to landslide closures every few years — most recently in 2024-2025. Check Caltrans QuickMap (quickmap.dot.ca.gov) before you drive; a closure at Rocky Creek or Paul's Slide means detouring inland via US-101.
Fill up in Carmel or San Simeon. There is one gas station in the middle of Big Sur (Chevron near Big Sur Station) and it charges $2+ per gallon over normal prices.
There is no cell signal for most of the 30-mile Big Sur stretch. Download offline Google Maps for Monterey County before you leave.
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Frequently asked questions
How many days do I need for the Pacific Coast Highway?
Five days is the minimum to do the SF-LA stretch without rushing Big Sur; seven is ideal and adds a rest day. Three days is possible but you will miss the point of the drive.
Should I drive north to south or south to north?
Always drive north to south (SF to LA). Southbound puts you on the cliff / ocean side of the road with all the pull-outs on your side. Northbound you spend half the day trying to pull across traffic for photos.
Do I need to book Big Sur lodges in advance?
Yes — Post Ranch, Ventana and even Glen Oaks book out 6-12 months ahead in summer. If you cannot get a Big Sur bed, split the difference and stay in Carmel-by-the-Sea and San Simeon and day-trip into Big Sur.
Is Highway 1 open through Big Sur right now?
It has been closed in sections during 2024-2025 landslide season. Always check Caltrans QuickMap the morning of your drive. If closed, the inland detour via US-101 through King City adds 90 minutes but keeps the trip going.
Where is the best one-way car rental deal SF to LA?
Compare rates through our EconomyBookings and Discover Cars affiliate partners; book 4-8 weeks ahead. Enterprise, Alamo and Sixt are typically the cheapest one-way SFO-LAX carriers.
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