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.
Check live hotel rates in Big Sur, California
Real availability and prices from our licensed booking partner. No hidden fees.
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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