Pacific Coastal Highway Road Trip – San Francisco to San Francisco

The north-to-south route is the best way to travel California’s Highway 1. You’ll pick up your campervan in San Francisco before heading south on US-101 toward Santa Cruz.

First stop: Pacifica. Pacifica is 15 minutes south of San Fran and home to Mori Point, a 110-acre coastal area featuring hiking trails through the bluffs, breathtaking ocean views, and the dog-friendly Pacifica State Beach.

You’ll also pass by the JV Fitzgerald Marine Reserve at Moss Beach, Ano Nuevo State Park in Pescadero, and the Swanton Berry Farms in Davenport, so make sure to pencil these stops into your road trip plans.

Once you leave Davenport, it’s only a 20-minute drive to the heart of Santa Cruz via Highway 1. Spend the rest of your day enjoying the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, or take a spin down West Cliff Drive before settling in at the Santa Cruz Harbor RV Park for the night.

Once you say goodbye to Santa Cruz, it’s only an hour and a half to Big Sur. You’ll head down Highway 1 South and hit the 17 Mile Drive when you’re almost to Big Sur.

It costs an extra to see the sights along this coastal roadway, but the $11.25 is more than worth it to see the photo-worthy Lone Cypress Tree, spot harbor seals at Fanshell Overlook, and drive by seven award-winning championship golf courses.

When you get to Big Sur, park your campervan at one of the many local campgrounds. The Fernwood Campground comes highly recommended since it’s only a short drive from Pfeiffer Beach and Big Sur State Park.

Wake up bright and early to start the journey toward San Luis Obispo (SLO). The trip takes around two hours, and you can knock out more than half of it before making your first stop in Cambria.

Cambria is home to Moonstone Beach Drive. This stretch offers gorgeous coastal views and access to famous landmarks like Nitt Witt Ridge and Fiscalini Ranch Preserve.

Just before you arrive in SLO, you’ll come across Morro Bay. The city has many sights and attractions, including Morro Strand State Beach, Morro Rock, and Morro Bay State Park.

It’s only about 15 minutes to SLO from Morro Bay. Book a spot at one of the many campgrounds in the area and use it as your launching point to explore the city. There is much to do in SLO, whether you want to visit a winery, climb up Bishop Peak, or sunbathe on the pristine beaches.

The next leg of your campervan trip will take you south on Highway 1 before you head east on CA-154 for Santa Barbara. Break up this scenic two-hour drive with stops at some famous destinations.

Our top recommendation is Pismo Beach, a coastal city between SLO and Santa Maria. Popular sights in the area include the Monarch Butterfly Grove, the Dinosaur Caves Park, and the cliffside Margo Dodd Park.

Your second stop will be in Solvang. The downtown area features Danish-inspired architecture and the Elverhøj Museum of History and Art, celebrating the city’s Danish heritage.

The best place to stay in Santa Barbara is Lake Cachuma, a man-made lake with 3,100 acres of campgrounds and trails. There are many Lake Cachuma campsites to choose from and things to do while you’re there. Or head into town to visit Stearns Wharf, the Botanic Gardens, and the County Courthouse.

Sunny Los Angeles is the last stop you’ll make along the PCH before turning around. The trip from Santa Barbara to LA takes less than an hour, but you can make a day out of it with a few popular stops.

Surfing enthusiasts and nature lovers will enjoy Ventura. Check out Surfer’s Point to see local surfers catch a wave or Channel Islands National Park to go bird watching for scrub jays and catch a glimpse of the native island foxes.

Finding a place to camp your van in LA can be challenging, so we recommend parking for the night at Bolsa Chica State Park in Huntington Beach. You’ll be a half-hour drive from downtown, where you can visit iconic landmarks like the Hollywood Sign, Giffith Observatory, and Sunset Boulevard.

Santa Monica is the first stop on your trip back north. Santa Monica is technically part of LA, so it only takes about half an hour to get there from downtown. If you stay in Huntington Beach, the trip is a bit longer, at 46 miles.

You can make a whole day out of this short trip by stopping at some of the area’s most famous beaches. Long Beach is halfway between your campsite and Santa Monica. When you hit Manhattan Beach, you’re almost there.

We recommend parking your campervan at Leo Carrillo State Park when you arrive. The campsite is situated in the majestic Santa Monica Mountains, offering campers a bird’s-eye view of Santa Monica Pier and the sea beyond.

After spending the day exploring the local mountains and infamous pier, you’ll be glad that the trip from Santa Monica to Malibu is only a quick 15-minute drive north on Highway 1.

You’re probably ready for some R&R in Malibu, but before you arrive, stop at the Getty Villa. This museum is inside a beautiful Italian villa-style building featuring lush gardens outside and ancient Greek and Roman Art inside.

Then, you can enjoy the tranquil beaches Malibu is known for. Spend the night at Point Mugu State Park’s Sycamore Canyon Campground, a coastal camping area adjacent to Malibu’s famed beaches and 70 coastal trails.

The four-hour-long trip from Malibu to San Simeon is your chance to say goodbye to Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. It’s also the time to visit Ventura, Solvang, Morro Bay, Pismo Beach, and Cambria if you didn’t have the chance during the trip south.

This leg of your trip down the PCH will take you past some lesser-known beaches, including the Emma Wood, Carpinteria, and Refugio State Beaches.

If you don’t mind a quick detour off your main route, check out the Wild Horse Conservation and Jalama Beach County Park in Lompoc. There are also a few wineries- the Foxen Vineyard, Rancho Sisquoc Winery, and Risack Vineyards- just east of Highway 1.

San Simeon is located halfway between LA and San Francisco and is home to the fabulous Hearst Castle. Formerly known as La Cuesta Encantada, Hearst Castle features sprawling grounds, the estate itself, and campsites at the nearby Hearst San Simeon State Park.

The two-and-a-half-hour drive up the PCH from San Simeon to Monterey will take you through Big Sur again, so you can visit Pfeiffer Beach and Big Sur State Park if you didn’t have time on the way down.

But if you only have time for one stop, make sure it’s Carmel-By-The-Sea. This small city’s beautiful name reflects the charming town, which is lined with fairytale-esque cottages, dreamy art galleries, and Mission museums that are like stepping into history.

Point Lobos State Reserve is also local to this area. This state park runs along the coastline and offers incomparable views of the native marine life and plenty of hiking trails to explore.

Carmel-By-The-Sea is only a stone’s throw away from Monterey, a city famed for Monterey Bay and its rustic wineries. Camp at Moss Landing, where you can take a boat tour to see whales, otters, and sea lions in their natural habitats.

The final leg of your trip will take you north up Highway 1 from Monterey. You may be exhausted from your adventure, making this the perfect time to reward yourself with some retail therapy at the Gilroy Outlets or family-friendly fun at the Gilroy Gardens theme park.

Before returning your campervan rental, you can spend the night beachside at the San Francisco RV Resort or the Angel Island Campground in Angel Island State Park.

These campgrounds are close enough to the heart of the city to enjoy a tour across the Golden Gate Bridge or a visit to Alcatraz before you conclude your epic Pacific Coast Highway campervan road trip.

This Pacific Coast Highway road trip itinerary will guide you across hundreds of miles of scenic coastline. Consider the stops we’ve mentioned to see some of California’s best cities, landmarks, and parks up close and personal.

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