Drive California Highway 1 Los Angeles to Cambria

California Highway 1 — The Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) can be a vacation in itself. A highway as a destination? Well, yes, when the highway connects two “must see” cities and gives you one of the great scenic drives of the world.

Tourists come from all over to see Los Angeles and San Francisco. Planes fly up and down the coast between them. Highway 5 and Highway 101 get you between them faster… but a drive along California Highway 1 will let you savor California coastal views, some cute small towns, taste some wines…. and even visit a castle!

The Pacific Coast Highway stretches all the way from the border of Mexico to the border of Canada, but the most popular section to drive is that part between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

You can make this 485 mile (620 km) drive in one day, but that would be a shame. Take at least two days for a little sightseeing. If you have more time, allow 3 or 4 days or even a week. A week on a highway? No, a week to VACATION along a SCENIC highway.

You can drive this in either direction, but we’ll give it to you south to north. And we’ll explore it in three sections… From Los Angeles to Cambria and San Simeon; then the central section from Cambria to Carmel and Monterrey, and finally from Carmel to San Francisco… remember we told you you could make this a vacation.

Leaving Los Angeles, you travel through Malibu past homes of the rich and famous. For about 75 miles (120 km), you’ll pass through farmlands and cities like Ventura and Oxnard and drive along stunning beaches before you reach Santa Barbara. Stop and explore this attractive town and its Old Mission Santa Barbara, called the Queen of the Missions because it is so lovely.

If you have an extra day or two, you can also make a few detours and do some wine tasting. If you have time for more detours, you can also find more of those Spanish Missions. Exits to them are clearly marked along the highway.

A little further north, you pass through a trio of towns, any one of which will make a nice base to explore the others.

Pismo Beach has an 8 mile long beach and great sand dunes to explore.

San Luis Obispo is a college town with a nice little downtown and another Spanish Mission.

Morro Bay is a fishing port with a landmark, huge volcanic rock rising out of the water in the middle of the bay. Restaurants, galleries and an aquarium line its waterfront.

Finally you get to Cambria. There are many good hotels and B&Bs in this little coastal town, and it makes a great base to visit Hearst Castle. This palatial estate is a little further north near San Simeon. Hearst Castle was built by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst in the 1930’s and 40’s. You should arrange ahead for reservations to tour Hearst Castle because tours can be sold out at popular times of the year.

We’re only about a third of the way up California Highway 1 and you already feel like you’re having a great vacation, don’t you? Next you’re in for the really scenic part of the drive.