The Pacific Coast Highway 1 or PCH1 for short is the route taken to drive Los Angeles to San Francisco. A drive that can be completed in one day straight through, but then where is the fun in that? A Pacific Coast highway 4 day itinerary as we did felt like the perfect length. The trip is best experienced slow, to maximise that Californian chill factor and let you spend a little more time in some to take in the picturesque drive.
Long fabled as one of the bucket list drives, I’d attest that it deserves a place on anyone’s list. This scenic road offers some amazing natural landscapes, dramatic cliffs, barren landscapes dotted with quaint coastal towns. Above all else, it offers an overwhelming sense of freedom where you can throw your hands in the air like you just don’t care.
Here’s my recommended Pacific Coast highway 4 day itinerary to get the most out of the drive – headed north from LA.
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Start in Malibu
Famed as the weekend escape for actors, musicians and LA elite, Malibu is something of a gateway to the PCH1 and there are a few different eateries you can stop in at. We made a special stop here for a celebration at Nobu, one of my top recommendations to eat in LA.
The beaches here are vast, and if you’ve got time, go for a wander along. Or otherwise sit back and enjoy the waves crashing as you chow down on your sushi!
Check out the Malibu Sandhills
Shortly after departing Malibu, you’ll hit the Malibu sandhill mountain. It’s easy to spot, the cars will be pulled over on the side of the road and a sheer cliff of sand will be on your right. You can make the trek up to the top and take some cardboard back down. Alternatively, you can just take in the view and watch everyone else do it. The Pacific Ocean is flat here, so what better place to stop and watch the ocean sparkle?
Overnight in Santa Barbara
After your sojourn in Malibu, my recommended first overnight stop would be Santa Barbara. You’ll know you’ve hit Santa Barbara when you see the white stained buildings and red-tiled roofs. All of which help it live up to its name as the ‘American Riviera’ along with its warm climate.
Santa Barbara has some great attractions which are worth visiting. A wander along Stearns Wharf will take a little while, but has some restaurants, gift shops and an aquarium you can visit. It also provides a great view back to Santa Barbara and the Santa Ynez mountain range.
Possibly the most well known building in all of Santa Barbara is the courthouse. It’s a striking building, built in typical Spanish influenced design, you can wander the gardens and take a ride to the bell tower. If you’re wondering where you’ve heard about this place before, Michael Jackson had his child molestation case heard here. The courthouse is much more than a celebrity sound bite and most definitely worth a visit. Entry is free.
Unfortunately we weren’t able to visit, but we were regularly encouraged to visit the Old Mission of Santa Barbara. Still populated with Franciscan Friars, it spans 13 acres, so may well be worth checking out if you have the time.
For our one night in Santa Barbara we stayed at the iconic Spanish Garden Inn. This beautiful property is well located with parking. It’s certainly not in the ‘value’ category, although good luck finding that in Santa Barbara. The Inn has oversized rooms and very much fits in with the Santa Barbara look and feel. There is a pool available, but our January visit didn’t allow for its use!
BOOK NOW: Spanish Garden Inn || From $US350
Head inland to Solvang
A meagre 40 minute drive away from Santa Barbara, and you’ll hit the cute little ‘Danish’ town on Solvang. Complete with a Danish windmill, this town was established by American Danes in the early 1900s.
You’ll want to visit Olsen’s Danish Village Bakery and Coffee Shop. The treats here are uniquely Danish, and the perfect accompaniement for a driving trip.
Onto San Luis Obispo
About an hour further north, you’ll hit San Luis Obispo. There are a range of shops and restaurants here if you want to break for lunch. The most interesting/gross thing here to visit is ‘Bubblegum Alley’. This place has become something of an Instagram hit. Begun in the 1970s, this alley is covered in used bubblegum. Think about that – nearly 50 years of gum stuck to those walls! It’s kind of gross, but it’s hard not to be intrigued. The alley isn’t that wide, so mind any bags you’re carrying – you don’t want to be going home with a ’souvenir’!
Be amazed by the opulent Hearst Castle
Without a doubt, Hearst Castle was the highlight of this trip. From what I can gather having spoken to a few Californians, it’s one of those well-known secrets. People doing the PCH1 trip generally find out about it, but others (including locals) can often be oblivious to its existence.
The word magnificent gets thrown around often these days (including on this blog!). However, it feels the most appropriate word to describe this castle.
The Castle was inherited by William Randolph Hearst in 1919 and by 1947, it had become a sprawling property over 250,000 acres. The property remained ‘unfinished’ which seems difficult to comprehend with its 165 rooms and 123 acres of gardens, pools and walkways. Different standards I suppose!
An indoor cinema, multiple pools (indoor and outdoor), billiards rooms and dining hall are just some of the opulent rooms you can visit. Don’t mind the museum level works of art in paintings, sculptures and even roofs which were all collected over the years to Hearst’s own specifications.
Hearst Castle really needs to be seen to be believed. A variety of tours exist depending on how deep you’d like to go.
BOOK ONLINE: Hearst Castle || 2-3 hours || From $US25
The grand, opulent, Hearst Castle 
Sunset at Elephant Seal Vista Point
There can be no nicer, yet more odd place to watch the sun go down with the elephant seals. You’ll find these enormous, playful creatures at their loudest and proudest as the sun drops. You will find hundreds of seals squawking, burping and slapping. It is a whole lot of good fun with plenty of amusement for all ages.
Overnight in Cambria
Cambria offers a range of reasonably priced accommodation right along the beach. There are a couple of restaurants along here, or you can head into the town where there are a few more to choose from (plus a gas station if you need one).
Take the opportunity to get up early in the morning and take a walk along the boardwalk.
BOOK NOW: Moonstone Landing || From $US160
Snack on mouth watering cookies in Paso Robles
We visited the Pacific Coast Highway when it was adversely affected by mudslides. Large parts had been impacted and we were required to ‘go around’. This pushed us to Paso Robles. And whilst it is out of the way and technically off the PCH1, we’d still recommend a visit to this town.
Here, you can find out about the many wineries and vineyards in the area. One must-do in town is the Brown Butter Cookie Company. The delightful cookies are made right here in Paso Robles and melt in your mouth. You’re going to be in your car for a while, so it pays to have some good snacks!
The iconic Big Sur
Heading back to PCH1 proper, it’s time to take on the most famous part of this drive. Big Sur. You can make as many non-mandatory stops as you need to, but these are two mandatories!
Your first stop along here will be McWay Falls. This is a secluded beach inlet which has its own waterfall. There is an easy track to walk on here to help take in the view and a great stop for a small meditation break!
Bixby Bridge is probably what you’ve seen when looking up this drive. And if you’re a fan of Big Little Lies, this is also the bridge the main characters seem to endlessly drive back and forth over. There is a parking bay which is usually quite busy, so patience is encouraged. Be careful when taking photos though. Given there had been mudslides in the area prior to our visit, it was beyond me how close some people get to the edge for a photo here! Mudslides or no mudslides, proceed with caution and enjoy the views of this well known bridge. I hope you’re blessed with no fog or rain (which is highly likely along this drive).
Time for a stop at Carmel by the sea
Take in this cute little town and maybe snare a bite to eat. I’d highly recommend Pepe’s Vino Napoli for some home style Italian (pizzas a perfect) or Dametra Cafe with a range of reasonably priced options.
If you’re a celebrity spotter, Mission Ranch could be worth a visit – Clint Eastwood owns it. It’s an expansive property with accommodation and a restaurant. Unfortunately we couldn’t get a seat at the restaurant when we visited, so try and book ahead!
In good weather, check out Pebble Beach Drive
Heading north out of Carmel, Pebble Beach Resorts and 17 Mile Drive link Carmel to Monterey. There is an entry fee as this is a private estate – $US10.25 per car for our visit (January 2018). You can avoid and go around, but I’d suggest in good weather it’s worth a visit. Unfortunately we had torrential rain, and if this is your forecast, I’d save my $10. There are some marked stops along the drive which I’m sure in better weather would have been a picture.
Overnight in Monterey
I mentioned Big Little Lies earlier, and Monterey is the setting for that production. Most of the actual homes aren’t here unfortunately (they’re back in Malibu) but the stately homes here in Monterey are impressive. If you are a fan of the TV show, there is a new bike tour you can which will take you to some of the iconic filming locations – book here.
With streets of enormous homes with sweeping beach views, it is easy to see why you’d set a TV show here. Be sure to take a walk along the the streets and admire these, all very distinct in their own individuality.
Cannery Row is an iconic stretch in Monterey which used to be home to a number of sardine canning factories. The last of these closed in 1973, but the area remains a key tourist attraction. There are a number of bars and restaurants along here, and the end of the strip is closed out with the Monterey Aquarium. This is the most popular sight in Monterey, and a quick look at Instagram can fill in the blanks as to why.
If you can, stay in the heart of Cannery Row, where you’ll be amongst the action. The Spindrift Inn is a romantic spot from another era. The rooms are large and look onto either the street, or in our case out to the ocean. Careful when you’re opening the windows here though, you are likely to get some unexpected visitors in the shape of the almost mutant sized seagulls that live here.
BOOK NOW: Spindrift Inn || from $US230
Santa Cruz
Another one in the unfortunate category and not being able to speak from experience. Are you getting the sense it rained a lot on our visit yet?!
We visited Santa Cruz with the intention of wandering about, but some absolutely horrific rain put an end to that. We managed a drive through, and it looked a great place to stop and stretch the legs, assuming the weather permits!
Let your credit card do the talking at Gilroy Shopping Outlets (OPTIONAL!)
This one isn’t a must do by any stretch, however, since you’ve been driving for a few days, it may be worth breaking up the miles. Gilroy Shopping Outlets is an enormous precinct of designer outlets, set over 4 sections. For context, you’ll need to drive between each section to visit them. They are huge, and if you’re looking for shopping, Gilroy has every merchant imaginable and less crowds than any outlet I’ve been to before. Bonus points also go to having an In ’N’ Out as well.
San Francisco – the end of your Pacific Coast Highway 4 day itinerary!
Your Pacific Coast Highway 4 day itinerary ends with the final stretch into San Francisco. Now this drive won’t take you over the Golden Gate Bridge. If you’re planning on that, you’ll need to head through town and over before coming back. I know it’s an iconic moment, so plug Vista Point into your GPS and head there before turning around.
Hopefully that gives you some good driving inspo. We hope you make the most of your Pacific Coast Highway 4 day itinerary and is as memorable for you as it was for us. Drive safe!
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