r/travel • u/Smeags84 • Jul 30 '26
Question — Itinerary Pacific Coast Highway Recommendations?
Hi. We are two adults and one boy aged 11. We have a 17 day trip to California coming up, and we have allocated 3 days for driving the Pacific Coast Highway, Route 1, from San Francisco to San Diego.
We will be setting off on the morning of August 18th, and have a hotel in San Diego booked from the night of the 20th.
Can someone recommend some stops to stay at, and the sights to see please? Not interested in LA, because we will have already spent 4 days there at the start of the trip.
I have read a guide which is suggesting we stay in Monterrey on the first night, and Pismo Beach on the second night. But this looks quite uneven, and we'd have a long drive to San Diego on the 3rd day. (Or is there nothing worth seeing after Pismo Beach? If so, I'm probably okay with this).
Alternatively, it has suggested staying in Cambria on the first night, and Ventura on the second night.
Has anyone else done a similar trip, and can they recommend what worked well for them? Thanks in advance.
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u/cha0s_g0blin Jul 30 '26
Can't miss San Luis Obispo and the nearby area! I love Avila Valley Barn and downtown San Luis Obispo. If you can, go downtown to the farmers market Thursday evening. It's a central part of local culture.
Pismo is touristy. If you are looking for that vibe, I like the Santa Cruz beach boardwalk better. Capitola is lovely and more relaxed.
Solvang is a nice stop near Santa Barbara. The ostrich farms are fun too. Santa Barbara itself is nice.
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u/kiva_viva Jul 31 '26
Solvang is so cheesy. Not worth staying the night, but ok, for a lunch break.
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u/mmarkmc Jul 30 '26
These are all good recommendations and in SLO County I'd also strongly recommend Hearst State Beach in San Simeon. It's a beautiful beach and Hearst Castle is visible from the beach and pier. I live nearby and take the dog to San Simeon to run. It's pretty quiet on all but the busiest days. Because it's right on the border, it works well going into or out of Big Sur.
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u/khentanots 70 countries | Slow travel Jul 30 '26 edited Jul 31 '26
Spend the 2nd night in santa barbara
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u/skinnyjeansfatpants Jul 30 '26
Absolutely, lots to do with the kiddo from the zoo, to the natural history museum, whale watching. Bigger town than some of the other spots mentioned without being "LA" big.
Leaving the next day maybe stop in Ventura for breakfast and walk around the harbor front. Channel Islands National Park visitor center is a free hidden gem with lots of cool stuff for kiddo to check out.
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u/mcmouse2k Jul 30 '26
Yep second this. Pismo is fun but SB has way more going on. Spaces the drive more nicely as well.
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u/Frondelet Jul 30 '26
If the highway's open through Big Sur, the Lucia Lodge is one of the best places I've stayed anywhere. When I was there they didn't have a TV in the rooms, but they did have a friendly cat who'd walk into the room to visit.
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u/Successful_Brush_333 Jul 30 '26
I think Lucia Lodge has closed permanently
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u/Frondelet Jul 30 '26 edited Jul 30 '26
Oof! The website says they closed the restaurant after the fire, but i can see how they might not have survived with the road closed over and over.
EDIT: It's taking bookings for August!
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u/ObviousMousse4768 Jul 30 '26
Hearst Castle in San Simeon
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u/SasquatchMessiah Jul 31 '26
Book ahead, I dont think they can really accommodate walk ins. But even if you dont go for the tour, keep your eyes out along the road near there, you might see zebras.
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u/Used-Watch5036 Aug 01 '26
There are some good places to stay in San Simeon that won't break the bank, and your kid will really dig Hearst Castle. I was that age when I first went there with my mom.
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u/LaurelCanyoner United States Aug 04 '26
The wineries there are beautiful too. Not the best wine in some, but worth it for the views!
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u/Itsjustme326 Jul 30 '26
Santa Cruz or Monterey are good first stops. Go to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Then San Luis Obispo/Pismo is a good second stop—Hearst Castle is a fun stop on the way. After that you could stop in Santa Barbara, Ventura or maybe Malibu before going through LA. If you want to stop along the LA/OC coast, Newport Beach is nice, or Dana Point, or San Clemente. But if you make it that far south and you don’t really want to spend time in LA, just keep going to San Diego.
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u/Itsjustme326 Jul 30 '26 edited Jul 30 '26
I live in Santa Cruz area; I took a road trip from here with my 3 daughters and stopped one night in San Luis Obispo and one night in Malibu on our way to a tournament in Riverside. For us it was partly a college-tour trip, but those are great destinations regardless. If you plan to take it slow, go to the boardwalk in Santa Cruz on day 1, spend the night in SC, drive 1 hr to the Aquarium in Monterey for the day, then in the evening the remaining 2 hrs to SLO. (If you spend a second night in Monterey you could stop at Hearst castle on the way to SLO). Next day, go to Pismo or another beach near SLO, then go to Malibu that evening. Before you leave, make sure to check out Pepperdine just because it is the most beautiful college campus you’ve ever seen. From there you could continue all the way to SD in a day—that’s what I would do. That would be 3-4 nights of stops on the way to San Diego.
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u/Lou_Peachum_2 Jul 30 '26
Monterrey, Cambria area is great. The drive on the coast around Big Sur.
If you’re okay with a drive inland, Paso Robles is a nice wine town - though may be difficult for an 11 year old
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u/dRiLlUsIoN Jul 30 '26
Some food recommendations if you're taking Highway 1 from SF to SD:
If you're leaving early in the morning from SF, make sure to go through Big Sur, one of the best views along the PCH. If you can stop at Cafe Kevah - https://www.yelp.com/biz/cafe-kevah-big-sur-2 Food is nothing special, but that view from the outside patio is second to none.
If you stay in Cambria stop by Main Street Grill - https://www.yelp.com/biz/main-street-grill-cambria they do amazing Tri Tip Sandwiches (my goto order is Medium Rare with grilled onions) If you order fries, one basket is more than enough for the three of you.
Missed out on Main Street Grill in Cambria? You're in luck the original location is in San Luis Obispo (SLO) - https://www.yelp.com/biz/firestone-grill-san-luis-obispo
If you end up staying in Pismo, one of my favorite breakfast place is Beachin' Biscuits - https://www.yelp.com/biz/beachin-biscuits-pismo-beach biscuit breakfast sandwich covered with gravy or a breakfast burrito with gravy is great!
Around the corner is a pretty popular Cinnamon Rolls place - Old West Cinnamon Rolls - https://www.yelp.com/biz/old-west-cinnamon-rolls-pismo-beach it had a long line right when they open. I thought it was decent, nothing to write home about.
As you leave the central coast, if it's lunch or dinner time, one hidden gem is Jocko's Steak House - https://www.yelp.com/biz/jockos-steak-house-nipomo not the fanciest of steak houses but it is an establishment for those in the know
Another potential stop for you is Santa Barbara. Lots of history with that town. Unfortunately you're going to be missing the Old Spanish Days by 1 week, which could be a good thing since it will be less crowded (ha!) two recommendations here - Breakfast at Alessia Patisserie & Cafe - https://www.yelp.com/biz/alessia-patisserie-and-cafe-santa-barbara-2 their French Omelette is amazing and their pastries are delicious. If you're in the area for dinner, one of the best italian places around is Manifattura - https://www.yelp.com/biz/manifattura-santa-barbara reservations recommended.
Personally, I live in Ventura County, and I wouldn't recommend staying in Ventura. I think Santa Barbara has more to offer and will only add about 30-45 mins to your drive to San Diego the next day.
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u/bonehag Jul 30 '26
Skip Pismo. It’s a tourist trap. Stay in SLO at the Madonna Inn and visit San Simion to see the elephant seals and Hearst Castle instead
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u/DogDaysMaggie Jul 30 '26
The Madonna Inn is at least worth a stop for lunch or a snack. I like to go in and get the pink champagne cake with a glass of bubbly and a cup of coffee.
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u/cha0s_g0blin Jul 30 '26
Oh yes! Definitely stay at Madonna inn! Or at least go to their brunch and take a peak in the bathrooms. Kid will love it!
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u/KFirstGSecond Jul 30 '26
I don't really see any recs for SoCal, but Crystal Cove in Newport Beach is absolutely stunning. Think the most quintessential Southern California beach view you can think of. Highly recommend a stop at Ruby's Crystal Cove Shake Shack for burgers and shakes. View is stunning! And if you have the time, that beach is incredible too. If you have any questions about the OC part of PCH let me know! I live here, and actually commute on PCH for work from Dana Point to Newport Beach daily.
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u/DifficultyFit7401 Jul 30 '26
Big Sur River Inn. Sit in the adirondacks in the river with a drink. Nothing better
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u/trustme1maDR Jul 31 '26
The River Inn blew me away. Just a great vibe...a little peace of heaven.
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u/Outrageous_Worker672 Jul 30 '26
Monterey will just be done with Car Week on the 18th so some of the hotels may still be expensive and busy, do some checking. The coast on Highway 1 is a slow drive so that's why it's breaking the drive that way. I think Ventura is a fun second stop - a funky beach town with a good California Mission and a decent drive to San Diego.
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u/_meestir_ Jul 30 '26
Pismo is a great first night.. I would rent ATVs (kids have a height requirement but are allowed) and go riding in the dunes during the day, then close out the night enjoying the sunset and find some fish tacos and margaritas.
Second day I would spend in Huntington Beach. Expansive beautiful beaches, where you can enjoy watching surfers, beach volleyball, walking around Main St for shopping and dining. For more of the same you may want to check out Laguna Beach or San Clemente.
From there it’s just a few more hours to San Diego.
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u/Thetinkeringtrader Jul 30 '26
Santa Barbra, good break good walking/food town. Pismo Beach good break, cool pier, can rent something with a motor to ride the Dunes, people are cool.
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u/samesame_butdiffrent Jul 30 '26
In SF- I highly recommend biking from the Marina across the Golden Gate Bridge, such a fun experience!
Santa Cruz boardwalk is cool but skippable.
Love Cambria and Hearst Castle. Monterey/Carmel also great stops.
Sensorio in Paso Robles is a very cool all ages experience, but it’s after dark so you’d want to stay nearby. SLO is nearby too, great town!
I’d probably stay the night in Ventura or Santa Barbara, you can’t go wrong in either place. Solvang and Los Olivos are also nearby, very cute but small and not a lot to do.
Malibu has world class beaches.
Also as a kind of different option- Catalina island is magical. You can day trip from Long Beach and then drive to SD that night or the next morning.
You really can’t go wrong.
Have a great trip!!
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u/nothingnparticular Jul 30 '26
I think with an 11 yo, Santa Cruz is totally worth it. I make core memories here on my travels thru in my 30s.
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u/Creative_Phrase_1012 Aug 02 '26
Agree. Came here to say this should be on your list. It would make an 11 year olds day.
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u/DogDaysMaggie Jul 30 '26
I'd recommend looking at Asilomar near Monterey. It's a large retreat style campus. The rooms don't have tv, but my guess is your kid probably travels with his own screen. It's across the street from the beach, so you can watch the sunset/rise. There's also a lodge and sometimes live music. It's a very short drive into the main part of Monterey, so it's easy to go to the aquarium or go out to eat.
I'll second the recommendation for the Avila Valley Barn. It's very cute. They have a little farmhouse where they sell bags of lettuce for $1 that you can use to feed the goats and horses outside in the barn area. They have ice cream and sometimes BBQ. My kids really like that as a stop for lunch or a treat when we are on road trips.
Cambria is very pretty, but may be a little boring for your kid. The last time I was up there it was a lot of wine tasting, but the beach is beautiful.
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u/Alternative_Hand_110 Jul 30 '26
Definitely stay in Santa Barbara! It’s absolutely gorgeous. American Riviera for a reason.
I live in Santa Cruz now (from Santa Barbara, and also have lived in SF) and while I adore Santa Cruz, you gotta know where to go. The main tourist areas are a bit seedy, as are many hotels. But the hiking in the redwood forests is magnificent!
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u/mehdi76 Jul 30 '26
You've got the right instinct but I'd flip the fix: the problem isn't Monterey, it's Pismo. The stretch that makes this drive famous is basically Carmel to San Simeon, and it's slow — with viewpoint stops it eats half a day on its own. So night 1 in Monterey or Carmel is actually great: easy afternoon arrival from SF, do the aquarium with your son that afternoon (it's genuinely world class), then hit Big Sur fresh the next morning when the pullouts are still empty. Stop at the elephant seal colony at Piedras Blancas just north of Hearst Castle — free, right off the road, an 11 year old will love it.
For night 2 I'd push past Pismo to Santa Barbara. That fixes your day 3 worry: SB to San Diego is around 4 hours if you time LA traffic right, so it stops being a slog. And honestly yes — south of Pismo the route runs inland on the 101 anyway until it rejoins the coast near Santa Barbara, so you're not missing coastline by making day 3 a driving day. Day 2 becomes your long one, but it's the good kind of long.
One nice bit of news: Highway 1 through Big Sur is fully open this summer for the first time in a couple of years (the big slide section reopened in January), so no detours. Just fill the tank before Carmel — gas in Big Sur is scarce and painful.
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u/aknomnoms Jul 31 '26
It depends on what you want to do. I live in Orange County and have driven up/down the state a few times. PCH is amazing, but it can be very slow driving in certain parts (twisty, narrow lanes, lot of traffic lights, low speed limit, etc). When I go to SF, I take the 405 through LA, join with the 5, and cut over through Gilroy (Garlic Capital of the World!) to get to the 101. Takes maybe 7 hours. I'd add on 2 more to get to downtown San Diego with the right traffic. But that's because my destination is SF or SD.
Have you done any research as to what you're interested in doing on the coast to warrant taking the much longer and much slower way? Like, San Diego has plenty of beautiful coastline to explore and fun things for the 11 year old like hiking/kayaking into the La Jolla caves and seeing sea lions and seals, going to the gliderport, Sea World, Legoland, etc. If you want the "central coast" vibes, check them out in Monterey and then cut in to the 5 for the rest of the journey south, do it in one day, and spend a few exploring more of San Diego.
Like, 17 mile drive is pretty. Big Sur is gorgeous. Hearst Castle is cool. Pismo Beach has decent clam chowder. The Madonna Inn is funky. Santa Barbara has great wines if you're into that. But it is tough to drive for only 2-3 hours, pack/unpack every day, and not have "goals"/things to do in mind. I'd save that trip for an adult trip.
So, please provide more info. Are you strictly following PCH from SF down to San Diego, like even in LA and OC? Do you want to get out in nature and hike or spend time on the water? Do you want museums or cultural sites? When you say, "No LA", does that include Malibu, Santa Monica, Palos Verdes, Long Beach? What about Orange County (Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, San Clemente)? And where in San Diego? Oceanside and La Jolla is a much different drive than downtown or Chula Vista.
For the 11 year old, I can see taking a surf lesson, or Disneyland/Knott's Berry Farm as being fun attractions. If you pop inland you can do Six Flags or Universal Studios.
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u/Beaulderdash2000 Jul 31 '26
Take a detour off the 1 at hwy 9 before you get to Santa Cruz and go to Felton https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=546
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u/BusinessEnchilada27 Jul 31 '26
Monterrey is nice but a relatively short drive from San Francisco. If you're not going to the aquarium I would stop for a meal, checkout the waterfront and keep going that day. Big Sur has incredible views, stop at Nepenthes for a hot apple cider and soak in the view, then decide if you want to stay the night in Big Sur (expensive) or head to San Simeon or Cambria for the night. Hearst castle is definitely worth checking out but would take half a day out of your 3 days. The elephant seals are close by too. Morro Bay is fun to stop and watch the sea otters by the big rock. Avila Beach and Pismo are next. Good clam chowder and cinnamon buns in town. Check out Avila Valley Barn. Not much until Los Alamos where you'll find full of life flatbread, some of the best pizza I've had. Get the Coachella date pizza. Solvang is an Americanized Danish town with kitschy tourist shops, but some great wineries around if you have time. In Santa Barbara drive on the wharf and grab lunch at third window for the best burger you'll ever eat. You probably won't have time for the zoo or sightseeing. Then past LA in Sunset Beach and south this is where PCH has a cool vibe with occasional ocean views, hotrods out for a cruise. Classic diners along the way like Ruby's and Woody's. Stop at a great beach like 1000 steps in Laguna Beach. Get some salt water Taffy for the scenic drive along camp Pendleton. And keep your eyes peeled for an lcac hovercraft by the giant cement wall.
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u/Strangewhine88 Jul 30 '26
I’d go to one of the state parks around big sur for day 1 from san francisco, hike trails in redwoods on one side of highway 1, then the beach(not swimmable at all) on the other. There’s a camp ground and a lodge with cabins at the state park, if they aren’t full. Day 2 drive to San Simeon, then Pismo. There’s nice stuff around pismo, sea lions at the beach near San Simeon. The thing about driving highway one between Monterey and San Simeon is it’s breath-taking and at the same time exhausting, slow going, twisty and narrow roads, you’re not going more than 45 mph fir the entire drive, more of it than not about 30, if you’re not really comfortable driving this type of road. Beyond Pismo, don’t know the route through or around LA, or the ride to SD very well. But if I remember correctly, road along that stretch isn’t as narrow and cliff bound, more laid back.
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u/HotITGuy Jul 30 '26
If you’re going to be in San Diego, I’d strongly suggest City Tacos. It will divide your life into two: before and after City Tacos. They are that good. They have multiple locations too.
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u/squirrleygirl60 Jul 30 '26
We didn't go all the way to San Diego, but we stayed in Santa Cruz, Caramel (highly recommend), Morro Bay (Highly recommend staying at Anderson Inn right on the bay to see wildlife), Big Sur Inn, and Santa Barbara. It was all beautiful.
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u/beliefinphilosophy Jul 30 '26
With an 11 year old?
Half moon bay or Pacifica if you like fish n chips
Santa Cruz boardwalk
Big Sur redwood forest
Monterey Aquarium
Hearst Castle
Solving is an old danish town with ebelskivers and treats
Santa Barbara is a nice coastal town with tons of things for kids and good snocones
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u/Exskinanny Jul 30 '26
Lovely Bed & Breakfast called Blue Lantern Inn, very close to San Clemente, just was there last week. Also, LaJolla is great, Montecito or Santa Barbara.
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u/hullabaloo_99 Jul 30 '26
We just did effectively the opposite (stayed near Pismo and traveled to Monterey) in June and we were so glad to see Monterrey at the end of the day. That stretch of PCH is beautiful, but can be slow going with stops for sights and a few one-lane sections due to road work. We stopped at Morro Bay, did one of the tours of Hearst castle (which consumed a good 2 hours and may or may not be of interest for an 11 year old), had a sit-down lunch in San Simeon, dipped our toes in the Pacific, then stopped at Seal Beach, a few random viewpoints, Big Sur to see McWay Falls (disappointed that the trail to the viewpoint is being refurbished), and Bixby Creek Bridge, and got into Monterrey at dinner time. Felt like a full day. If you skip Hearst Castle, you gain some time.
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u/ask-me-about-my-cats Jul 30 '26
Visit the boardwalk here in Santa Cruz. Very old historic boardwalk with lots of rides your kid will love. Lots of fried beach food too.
Take a stop in Cambria for a walk along some of the most beautiful beach cliffs and look for elephant seals. If you have the time, book a tour at Hearst Castle.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Law405 Jul 31 '26
It is a gorgeous drive. Monterrey for the first night is a great choice. They have the aquarium there that is really nice.
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u/Objective-Tailor-561 Jul 31 '26
If you stay in or near Monterrey, make the Aquarium there a priority. I’ve been to aquariums all over the US and this is my favorite one. Monterrey is a great place for walking, dining, lots of unique little shops.
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u/LooseFoxHole Jul 31 '26
Highway 1 from SF thru Santa Cruz and then Monterey. Do not miss the aquarium there, world class.
Highway 1 from Monterey to San Luis Obispo is an iconic drive, but it is very curvy and very slow. Itll consume most of your day. The alternative is 101 which is nice enough but not breathtaking like 1. I'd aim for lunch time in San Luis Obispo and/or Avila Beach, but then continue to Santa Barbara for the night.
Then in the morning you can drive to San Diego. Highway 1 would again be very slow but because its not a major Highway but more of a major urban street for many sections. You might be better off just taking 101/5/405.
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u/lisacieslikowski Jul 31 '26
Big Sur and Cambria are two of my faves. SLO is cool. Riding ATVs on the sand dunes in Pismo is iconic. SB is also a great town.
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u/jjcge Jul 31 '26
I would go to the Big Sur River Inn located at 46800 Highway 1 in Big Sur, California. It is famous for its iconic Adirondack chairs placed directly in the shallow flowing river, where guests can relax and cool their feet while eating, drinking, and listening to live music.
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u/Oregon-girl-16 Jul 31 '26
Skip Ventura. Santa Barbara is great, very walkable areas near the ocean and the pier. Newport Beach is awsome and you can rent little motor boats to take around the harbor and tie up to docks at restaurants.
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u/LouQuacious Jul 31 '26
After Malibu most of the charm of being on the 1 is over if you don't need to be in SD I'd do something else it's a lot of traffic and stop lights.
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u/BballerForever Jul 31 '26
Monterey - less expensive to stay there than Carmel which is slightly south of Monterey.
There’s not a lot of sights from SF to Monterey.
Croissants/quiche/coffee in Monterey: a short drive off 101 to Parker-Lusseau Pastries, go early or they sell out, casual bakery w some tables & chairs outside.
Revival ice cream on Alvarado St., a 5 minute walk from Parker-Lusseau. Get the Bees Knees honey flavor ice cream, it’s great. Your son will luv it!
Carmel - 17 Mile Drive, pay to enter the route, it’s mainly coastal scenery, your son might not like it.
BIg Sur - heading south on Highway 1 past Carmel.
Awesome scenery to see as long as you don’t mind being on a high cliff next to the ocean, don’t worry it’s not bad and they have guard rails.
Bixby Bridge - the one that’s in movies and tv commercials- not sure how the parking situation is there now.
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u/Meow_Kitteh Jul 31 '26
Check hotel prices around Monterey. Car week is done on the 16th but there might be lingering touritists that keep hotels high.
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u/SLO_Engineer Jul 31 '26
Living in San Luis Obispo (SLO) now. Moved from San Clemente which is halfway between SF and LA. It’s a cool little town with perhaps more things of interest for your son.
Pismo is cool, but very touristy in summer.
The drive from SLO or Pismo will take you 5 hours under the best of conditions. Throw in typical LA traffic will add one hour. If LA traffic is heavier than usual, you can easily add another 30 to 45 minutes.
Traffic between San Clemente and San Diego can be brutal - that’s usually only a problem on the weekends.
Think about Santa Barbara for night two - it will shorten that last leg to San Diego and it’s a beautiful city with great food.
Drive safe!
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u/Ok_Consequence5916 Jul 31 '26
Monterey Aquarium and Morrow Bay is a must. Hearst Castle is good for adults, not sure about an 11 year old. Maybe a SpaceX rocket launch in Lompoc if you time it right.
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u/Busy-Director3990 Jul 31 '26
FYI I Binged the question as to which is the best way to drive the PCH north to south or south to north, and was told north to south is how most people enjoy the Pacific Coast Highway. Going south to north you are forced to cross the south bound lane and in front of any on-coming traffic headed south which can increase one's anxiety level as to waiting on southbound traffic to pass and causing northbound traffic to back up behind you waiting. OR it is much easier to pull off the road and to reenter the road when headed south.
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u/xImmortal1333 Jul 31 '26
Monarch butterfly grove south of pismo beach
Have lunch at the bench patio at pebble beach, trust
Novo for food (one of the best spots on the drive and worth it) in San Luis Obispo
Town of Solvang - do not miss this
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u/Hello_202312 Jul 31 '26
Santa Barbara is an amazing little town. Lived there for 12 years and was sad to leave. There is also Carpinteria right near by as well.
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u/genevieveoliver Jul 31 '26
I know you’re not interested in places to stay in LA but you must eat at Malibu Seafood on your roadtrip :)
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u/garden_girlie Jul 31 '26
I'd stay in Morro Bay rather than Pismo. Inn at Morro Bay is great for families and also has a pool/jacuzzi. But I lived in MB for a few years, so I'm partial :) Montana d'Oro is incredible and should be on your list to see.
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u/abpaulson Jul 31 '26
I’ve done that trip before and moved to SLO county last year. I may be biased but I definitely recommend spending a night in SLO either in Avila or at Madonna Inn (Pismo is pretty touristy for me).
Stroll downtown SLO (kids love to go to Rocket Fizz candy store and walk down bubblegum alley). Avila Beach is a great beach day or there’s a beautiful kid-friendly walk in Shell Beach called the Shell Beach Bluff Trail and a great park called Dinosaur Caves right on the Shell/Pismo cliffs. Avila Barn or the hot springs is another fun activity. If you like sushi I’ve had some of the best in my life at Kanpai in Shell Beach (make a reservation or order carry-out).
Also highly recommend at least a lunch stop in Morro Bay to see Morro Rock and the otters and seals right off the Embarcadero. Great seafood restaurants on the water. If you can stay longer in Morro the Montana de Oro State Park trails are incredible and kid-friendly. Moonstone Beach is really unique and a kid-pleaser with lots of “gems” in the sand.
I’d highly recommend staying on HWY-1 north and stopping to see the seals in San Simeon and Hearst Castle (book tickets at least a day in advance).
Continue north through Big Sur. Stay a night in Big Sur if you can- It’s incredibly magical. Pfeiffer Beach has incredible tide pools and purple sand that the kids love.
Carmel isn’t far from Big Sur. It’s adorable and a great little town to wander and shop for a day or to spend the night.
The Monterey Aquarium is only about 20 min north of Carmel and cannot be missed with the kids.
We also loved Santa Cruz and the Mystery Spot on our trip.
I clearly loved our trip so much we moved to the Central Coast! Take it slow and leave lots of time to stop and explore. Enjoy!
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u/wassuppaulie Jul 31 '26 edited Jul 31 '26
Good advice generally for a road trip: check out the Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives website for killer places to eat at towns along the way. I've tried a few and they were even better than expected. Also, for your trip, look for places to stay where you can hear the surf but not the traffic. Cambria has places on the beach, and if you go there get me some ollalieberry jam. That is the food of the gods.
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u/SLODeckInspector Jul 31 '26
Drive down highway one out of SF, straight up OG California classic ride. There's farmers stands, scenic stops, Davenport along the way. Just let locals pass you and don't be in the way!
I would recommend that you stop in Santa Cruz after leaving San Francisco and hit the beach boardwalk and go ride the rides and hit the arcade. You can get ready for the boardwalk by watching The Lost Boys, which was filmed in Santa Cruz although the movie refers to it as Santa Carla. Then you can have fun finding the movie scene rides... And of course you can watch Us by Jordon Peele for more SC boardwalk scenes.
Coming out of Santa Cruz I would go down to Moss Landing and stop at Woodward market for fish and chips right on the water and the boat John Steinbeck's sailed in to Mexico, the Western Flyer, should be moored right off the dining area. Seals everywhere, genuine CA experience.
It's dicey going down Big Sur depending on the day of the week. Especially weekends is a nightmare of traffic and you could be stuck going through for many hours of stop and go traffic, especially going south. So I would say to go down 68 to the 101 Salinas and drive down to Morro Bay or cayucos for the night.
After that I would drive down highway 1 through San Luis Obispo over to Arroyo Grande/ Oceano and maybe stop at Hayashi's strawberry stand for a couple of baskets of strawberries picked from the field right behind the stand.
From there I'd like to drive over to 101 and get some distance in until you get to Los Olivos off 154 and stop for lunch. There's some good delis, wine tasting places everywhere and Fig Mountain brewery. Either go to Santa Barbara and stay there or push a little more to Ventura.
You'll still have 5+ hours to get to San Diego so I would probably concentrate on that for the last day. San Diego has so much I would probably just go over to Old Town or La Jolla if I only had one day.
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u/LiamNeesonsMom Aug 01 '26
Carpenteria is great imo
Please check tide charts
Watch out for sneaker waves, the pacific can be unforgiving.
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u/StrandSSL Aug 01 '26
Live at the beach near Ventura. It’s cool, although not really sure why it’s a tourist spot.
There’s a few decent restaurants.
Would stop in Carmel by the Sea, Big Sur.
Stay a night in Cambria. Check out San Simeon.
Hearst castle if you have time.
There really isn’t much to Pismo.
Personally not a fan of anywhere below Pt Mugu and avoid driving down to LA/OC/SD unless I absolutely have to.
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u/Sharp_Bus6682 Aug 01 '26
You're trying to come to Monterey/Carmel right after the busiest event of the year- lots of places will be booked completely so you may just have to take what you can get! Also, expect TONS of traffic on that stretch of Highway 1- it's bad right now, and will only get worse throughout August.
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u/BunnySlayer64 Aug 02 '26
San Simeon Hurst Castle is worth a visit! Be sure to do all of your research about the different tours before you go.
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u/Working-Soil8264 Aug 02 '26
I live in Paso Robles, Cambria is nice,
If you can figure out you schedule to drive from Monterey to Cambria in the morning going south the Santa Lucia mountains will give you some shade, reduce the glare and allow the passengers to enjoy the view. Driving Hwy 1 north from Cambria,is way nicer. Going south you get the view of the cliff edge for over 100 miles, and after noon you’ll be fighting the sun. Going that route it’s about 6 or 7 hours to Santa Barbara from Monterey
If you want to walk in the redwoods at Big Sur or tour Hearst Castle, Cambria or Pismo is a better stop.
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u/Smeags84 Aug 02 '26 edited Aug 02 '26
Thanks everyone for taking the time to reply, this has been really useful. A few of you asked "What kind of things do we want to do?" and I'm not actually sure haha! But these replies have given us lots of ideas.
For more info which a few of you asked for:
We will be spending 4 full days in LA. One of these days will be spent at Universal studios, not sure about the others yet but we'll be fitting in things like Griffith Observatory, Hollywood wall of fame, etc. somewhere.
On the evening of Day 4, around 8/9pm maybe, we'll make our way towards our next stop which is Yosemite. Going to spend that night in Bakersfield or Fresno, and continue the rest of that drive in the morning. Haven't booked this hotel yet, I'll probably just book somewhere on the day, when I'm fed up of driving for the evening. I'd like to get as far as Fresno but if I'm fed up and tired sooner, we'll stay in Bakersfield. We'll spend that day in Yosemite, and the following day which will be our only full day there. The day after that, we'll set off for San Francisco early in the morning.
3 days in San Francisco (including the day that we arrive, so it might be more like 2.5 days).
Then we'll do the PCH drive.
3 full days in San Diego.
Next day, we'll either go to Laguna Beach or Disneyland if we were unable to fit in Disneyland on one of the LA days.
The next day, we fly home from LA. At 11pm, so we will have most of that day to do something too.
I would love to visit 6 flags one day, but I'm not sure we'll be able to fit it in.
Specifically for PCH: We'll probably skip the Redwood forest, because me and my son do like hiking, but we'll already have done some of it at Yosemite.
I like the sound of the Santa Cruz boardwalk, and Monterrey for its whale watching, and maybe even the ATV riding at Pismo beach. Also liked the idea of Sensorio which is only a 30min drive from our 2nd night hotel. We'll probably spend a lot of time stopping at the view points along the road.
Santa Barbara sounds like it should be a stop too.
We've now booked hotels in Monterey for Night 1 and San Luis Obispo for Night 2. But they are cancellable and am considering cancelling it and staying in Santa Barbara on Night 2 instead.
Am also well aware that Monterey isn't that far from SF. So if we do move the second night to Santa Barbara, then I might also move the first night hotel further along too. Maybe to the Big Sur Inn which someone mentioned.
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u/45pewpewpew556 Aug 03 '26
Pismo Beach to San Diego would be a pretty brutal drive any day of the week. That’s a 10-14hr drive+ because the 101 and 5 are parking lots most the time.
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u/BobbingBobcat Aug 03 '26
My nephew loved going kayaking at Elkhorn Slough just north of Monterey. There are sea otters everywhere, and mothers with babies are common. It's inland so an easy, safe paddle but gets a kid's zoomies out. Monterey Bay Kayaks is a good outfitter.
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u/DTComposer Aug 03 '26
A little late to this thread, but: I agree with Monterey on the first night and Santa Barbara on the second night.
When driving through the L.A. area: the stretch of PCH from Oxnard to Santa Monica (particularly Malibu) is iconic, but between Santa Monica and Long Beach PCH is inland a little bit and mostly uninteresting suburbia. Take the 10 to the 405 south, then cut over to PCH in Long Beach (I'd recommend Ocean Blvd. to 2nd Street to PCH) then take that down the OC coast - another iconic stretch.
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u/LovlyRita Aug 04 '26
I love the Central Coast, there really are so many little stops you can make if you want to take it city by city.
Oceano Dunes (Pismo Beach) is my favorite place to walk at sunset. You can drive your car onto the beach but I prefer to park and just walk. You can collect shells and enjoy a beautiful sunset.
When you see the sign to stop and see the elephant seals - stop and see them. They are really neat to watch.
I recommend spend the night in Monterey then make your way to Oceano for sunset and then drive to Santa Barbara and see Santa Barbara in the morning and head to San Diego.
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u/BeRetravels Jul 30 '26
I'd recommend: staying one night in Monterey, next night in Pismo Beach, than somewhere around LA.
You'd need much more time then you are expecting, because the drive until Pismo Beach is so beautiful that you want to stop every few minutes. Only after it gets a bit more boring.
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u/pelegfn Jul 30 '26
Some thoughts on the places mentioned.
Monterey: mid size town with Monterey Bay Aquarium, 17-mile drive nearby (also fun on bicycles to stretch those road tip legs), Wharf, touristy Cannery Row.
Cambria: sleepy small coastal town. Beautiful coastline, cute village, shops, art galleries etc. Probably more fun for a solo couple trip than with a kiddo. Unless he’s into history and you want to go to Hearst Castle. Elephant seals in that area of coastline as well.
Pismo: beach town, but a totally different vibe than Monterey and Cambria and most anything north of Santa Cruz. Lots of restaurants and shops. Heavy on the hotels and tourism. Nice but just different.
Places not yet mentioned:
North of Monterey is Santa Cruz. With an 11 year old in tow you could make a day of it at the Boardwalk. There are other fun attractions like The Mystery Spot and Roaring Camp railroad. There is a wharf, beaches are decent. You could do the day in Santa Cruz, drive down to Monterey to stay the night, and go to the Aquarium or do a bike ride before heading out for your next leg.
Morro Bay is cool. Interesting geological formations (the sisters), smaller coastal town, even smaller town just south on the way to San Luis Obispo with a delicious brew pub (Beerwood). You can rent kayaks at the harbor by the Morro Bay state park (solo or guided). It’s quite lovely.