Pacific Coast Highway (SR-1)
Big Sur cliffs, sea otters and fog, the definitive California coast drive
- Distance
- 441 mi
- 709 km
- Driving
- 9 hr 36 min
- excl. stops
- Suggested
- 5 days
- balanced split
- Stops
- 7
- curated
Distance and driving time are measured along the mapped route through the 7 stops listed below. Officially signed versions of famous routes often quote a longer figure, since they include promoted detours this line doesn't take.
Opens the planner with every stop loaded. Free, no card needed.
Day by day
Distances are measured along the actual road geometry, not straight-line. Drive times exclude stops, traffic and ferry waits.
Before you go
Best time to drive it
April to June, or September to October
Shoulder season. Warm enough to enjoy, and you avoid both the August heat and the worst of the coastal traffic.
Indicative costs
- We haven't compiled cost data for USA yet.
Tolls assume ~65% of the distance on tolled road. Fuel prices move constantly: treat these as a range, not a quote.
Driving rules
Emission zones, mandatory equipment and licence requirements change country by country, and in 2026 several of them changed mid-year.
Every stop on the Pacific Coast Highway (SR-1)
- 1San Francisco, CA
- 2Santa Cruz, CA
- 3Monterey, CA
- 4Big Sur, CA
- 5San Luis Obispo, CA
- 6Santa Barbara, CA
- 7Los Angeles, CA
Worth a detour
Curated places within 25 km of the road.
Exploratorium
museumA pioneering hands-on science museum on San Francisco's waterfront that inspired interactive museums worldwide.
Santa Monica Beach
beachA quintessential Southern California beach anchored by its famous pier, Ferris wheel, and wide golden sand stretching for miles.
Venice Beach
beachLA's bohemian beachfront known for its eccentric boardwalk, Muscle Beach, skate park, and non-stop people-watching.
Big Sur & Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
national parkRugged coastal cliffs where the Santa Lucia Mountains plunge into the Pacific, featuring the iconic McWay Falls.
Big Sur
scenic viewpointA rugged stretch of California coastline between Carmel and San Simeon with dramatic cliffs, redwood forests, and the iconic Bixby Creek Bridge.
Hearst Castle
castleA lavish hilltop estate built by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, featuring 165 rooms and stunning Mediterranean Revival architecture.
The Madonna Inn
cafeA flamboyantly kitsch roadside inn on Highway 101 in San Luis Obispo, famous for its 110 uniquely themed rooms and rock waterfall men's restroom.
Alice's Restaurant
cafeA legendary biker and car enthusiast hangout on Skyline Boulevard in the Santa Cruz Mountains, a must-stop on one of California's best riding roads.
Nepenthe Restaurant
cafeA clifftop restaurant perched 800 feet above the Pacific on Big Sur's Highway 1, offering breathtaking ocean views and famous ambrosia burgers since 1949.
Neptune's Net
cafeA legendary seafood shack on PCH in Malibu where bikers, surfers, and road trippers have gathered since 1956, featured in numerous films including Point Break.
The Rock Store
cafeA famous biker bar and cafe in Cornell, California on Mulholland Highway, where celebrity riders and car enthusiasts congregate on weekend mornings.
Universal Studios Hollywood
landmarkThe original Universal theme park and working film studio offering studio tours and movie-based attractions.
Common questions about the Pacific Coast Highway (SR-1)
How long does the Pacific Coast Highway (SR-1) take?
The driving itself is about 9 hr 36 min across 441 miles (709 km). Most people spread it over 5 days: the day-by-day breakdown on this page splits it into balanced stretches rather than equal ones, so no single day is all driving.
How many miles is the Pacific Coast Highway (SR-1)?
441 miles, or 709 km, measured along the actual road rather than straight-line between towns.
When is the best time to drive the Pacific Coast Highway (SR-1)?
April to June, or September to October. Shoulder season. Warm enough to enjoy, and you avoid both the August heat and the worst of the coastal traffic.
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