PCH Road Trip: A Complete Pacific Coast Highway Itinerary
A PCH road trip is one of the most photographed drives in the world. The Pacific Coast Highway road trip stretches roughly 655 miles from San Diego to the Oregon border, and the quality of the drive changes dramatically depending on which sections you prioritize. A good pacific coast highway road trip itinerary balances viewpoints, beach access, and enough daily mileage to cover ground without rushing every stop. A pacific coast road trip requires at least 5 to 7 days to do justice to the highlights, and 10 to 14 days gives you room to linger.
This guide outlines a practical pacific coast highway road trip map approach, covering the must-stop sections from south to north and what to expect in each.
Southern California: Los Angeles to San Luis Obispo
Malibu and the Santa Monica Mountains
The first major highlight of a PCH road trip north of Los Angeles is Malibu. The stretch through the Santa Monica Mountains is technically demanding with tight curves and significant traffic in summer, but the payoff is the ocean view that opens up at every bend. Pull off at Leo Carrillo State Beach for your first real PCH photo.
From Malibu, the pacific coast highway road trip continues north through Ventura and Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara is worth a half-day stop. The State Street downtown is walkable, the pier gives you ocean access, and the mission overlook gives you a classic California backdrop.
Big Sur: The Heart of the PCH Road Trip
Big Sur is the section most people envision when they picture a pacific coast highway road trip itinerary. The cliffs drop several hundred feet directly into the Pacific, and the road narrows to two lanes with no shoulder. This 90-mile stretch requires 3 to 4 hours of driving time even without stops. Build at least one full day into your pacific coast road trip for Big Sur alone.
Bixby Creek Bridge is the most photographed landmark. Arrive 30 minutes before sunset and park in the designated pullout south of the bridge. The light hits the cliff face and the bridge arch simultaneously during golden hour on clear days.
Central Coast to Northern California
From Big Sur, your PCH road trip continues through Carmel-by-the-Sea, a village worth a two-hour walk before continuing north. The 17-Mile Drive through Pebble Beach costs $12.50 to enter but gives you the famous Lone Cypress viewpoint and several other ocean overlooks that aren’t accessible from the highway.
Your pacific coast highway road trip map should mark the Avenue of the Giants near Garberville as a side trip. This alternate route through old-growth redwoods runs parallel to Highway 101 and takes 2 to 3 hours to drive without stops. It’s not technically the PCH but it’s the best detour of the entire pacific coast road trip for anyone who hasn’t seen mature redwood forest before.
The northern sections of the Pacific Coast Highway road trip through Mendocino and Humboldt counties are the least visited and the most dramatic in terms of raw coastal scenery. Traffic drops significantly north of San Francisco, and many of the best viewpoints have no fee and minimal crowds even in summer. Budget your final 2 days for this section.