Highway 1 is a spectacular road trip and if you have never done it, you should. The scenery is so beautiful you could take this drive several times in a lifetime. The breathtaking drive is along sheer mountain cliffs overlooking the ocean, towering redwood forests, and beautiful long stretches of untouched beaches. Combining the picture-perfect drive with luxurious accommodations made this a must-do trip for me.

Based on my research and taking the drive myself, I put together a suggested itinerary with high-end places to stay, how long to stay at each location, and places to stop and see along the way.

The Best Time of Year to Drive the Pacific Coast Highway:

Southern California offers picture-perfect weather most of the year. However, the farther north you go, the more likely you are going to experience cold, rainy, and cloudy days. The best time to drive from Northern California to Southern California is during the late spring into early fall. The July and August months are the high season which means more kids, traffic, and crowded hotels. To skip high season, consider traveling in May, June, September, or October. We chose to travel in October and had great weather with few crowds.

Yes, You Should Reserve Your Hotels Along the Pacific Coast Highway in Advance:

Unless you are extremely flexible and don’t mind skipping numerous highlights, I recommend planning ahead. Since the weather in California is generally good year-round, driving the Pacific Coast Highway is a popular road trip.  I figured this out the hard way.  Several years ago, my husband and I thought it would be fun to live in the moment and pick our destinations on the fly. Let’s just say this did not work out so well for us.  We set off from San Francisco planning to stay in either Monterey or Carmel.  Unfortunately, there was a large convention in Carmel, and we could not find a hotel (or motel) with availability until we reached San Simeon (4 hours away).  Needless to say, we missed many of the places we wanted to see, had to drive the 35 miles of hairpin turns on the edge of Pacific Coast Highway at dusk, and the last room available in San Simeon was an old run-down motel.  Begrudgingly, against my better judgment, we checked in for the night. I woke up in the morning with hives. Yikes! Lesson learned.  To avoid our mistake and a repeat of our nightmare stay in San Simeon, we booked our accommodations a couple of months in advance.

Suggested Itinerary with Luxurious Hotels on the Pacific Coast Highway:

Regardless of your budget, there are several places to stay along the Pacific Coast Highway (also called Highway 1).  We drove round-trip from Los Angeles to Half Moon Bay. To save time on the way up to Half Moon Bay, we took the 5 freeway from Los Angeles.  If you are flying in from out of town, consider starting your adventure in San Francisco and departing from Los Angeles International Airport.  Once you select your starting and ending points, deciding where to stay can be a bit daunting.  After talking to friends and family who recently made this trip, doing hours of internet research, and talking to experts in the field, we decided on the following itinerary and loved every minute of it:

• 2 Nights in Half Moon Bay
• 2 Nights in Carmel
• 2 Nights in Big Sur  (If you can swing it, three nights is better).
• 1 Night in Santa Barbara  (Although, if you have never been to Santa Barbara, I would recommend two nights).

Places to Stay and Things to Do in Half Moon Bay: 

Where to Stay in Half Moon Bay:

The Ritz Carlton in Half Moon Bay is a great place to start your trip. The hotel is perched high on a bluff overlooking the water. From afar, it resembles the hotel from the movie The Shining. Don’t fret, though—the inside of the Ritz Carlton is modern and luxurious and has stunning views of the ocean. At night, the hotel offers         s’ mores by the outdoor fire pits, which are fun for any age.

Room tip: Opt for a room with an ocean view. Imagine sitting up in bed, drinking coffee, and looking at the waves crashing on the rocks below or listening to the sounds of the waves as they lull you to sleep at night. You won’t regret it!

Activities and Dining Near Half Moon Bay: 

For golf lovers, the course sits on a bluff, providing spectacular views of the ocean.  If you are in the mood for a walk along the ocean, check out the California Coastal Trail, which can be accessed from the Ritz Carlton.  If pure relaxation is your thing, the Ritz Carlton also offers a spa. Half Moon Bay itself is a cute town with lots of shops and restaurants.  It’s a fun place to spend the afternoon walking around and checking out the local merchandise. While we were in town, the Pumpkin Festival was in full swing.  I’ve never seen pumpkins so big or so many uses for them. After we ate everything pumpkin, we were ready for something different for dinner.

Friends of ours were kind enough to trek out to see us for a celebratory anniversary dinner.  Before dinner, we met for fun and inspiring cocktails at the Ocean Terrace. We moved inside for dinner at Navio, where I had the best bread basket of my life.  It was so good we ordered a second.  I don’t know why, but all of the bread we ate in Northern California was amazing. The rest of the dinner was delicious.

The next day, we ventured to the town of Pescadero.  Pescadero is a quaint, artsy town about 15 minutes south of Half Moon Bay. While there, check out the Arcangeli Grocery Company, which is known for its sandwiches, particularly the garlic herb and artichoke bread! If surfing is your jam, consider heading to Mavericks – a world-famous big wave surf break.  When Maverick’s is going off the waves can reach 60 feet, and the best surfers in the world gather for an international surf competition.  Mavericks is about a 20-minute drive north of Half Moon Bay.  Check Surfline for surf conditions.

Next Stop on the Pacific Coast Highway – Carmel: 

Activities between Half Moon Bay and Carmel (103 miles and 2 hours)

There are countless things to do and places to eat on the drive from Half Moon Bay to Carmel.

• West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz.  West Cliff Drive is a 3-mile walking and biking trail with gorgeous views of Monterrey Bay.
• Purisima Creek Trail in the Purisima Redwoods Open Space Preserve   
• Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is rich in wildlife.  From December to May, you might be able to see gray whales. There are year-round activities for everyone, such as incredible scuba diving and snorkeling, bird watching, and walking paths.
• Ano Nuevo State Park where you might be able to see Elephant seals.
• Pacific Grove to see the Monarch Butterflies in October.
• 17 Mile Drive through Carmel.  If you are driving south on Highway 1, you can enter at Highway 68.  Two other convenient options include the Pacific Grove Gate accessible from Sunset Drive or if you are coming from Carmel, you can use San Antonio Avenue where there is a toll booth.  For more information on the 17-mile drive, click here.  https://www.tripsavvy.com/17-mile-drive-1478474

Places to Eat on the Drive to Carmel:

• Arcangeli Grocery Company in Pescadero  (noted above)
• Whale City Bakery Bar and Grill in Davenport. The restaurant is about 10 minutes north of Santa Cruz. We stopped here for a quick snack – the artichoke bread is delicious. We took our snacks across the street to the Davenport Cliffs, which offer spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean.
• The Crow’s Nest in Santa Cruz is a casual restaurant that overlooks the water. It has been open for over 50 years and has a loyal following. On a beautiful day, the Crow’s Nest is a great place to have lunch or a drink and watch the sunset.
• The Bench at Pebble Beach overlooks the 18th hole at Pebble Beach Golf Links and the ocean. The Bench is on the 17-mile drive, and your entrance fee for the drive is reimbursed if you spend $35 at The Bench.

Where to Stay in Carmel:  

We choose Carmel Valley Ranch because of its reputation for understated luxury, tranquil mountain views, and access to hiking trails. So much of our trip was geared around the ocean, we thought it would be nice to mix it up with a hotel in the hills. Set less than 10 minutes outside of town, Carmel Valley Ranch is a paradise for nature lovers. Steps from your hotel room are beautiful hiking trails and right out your front door are deer and wild turkey. The property is massive with a vineyard, golf course, wellness center, gym, pools, tennis courts, and spa. The walking paths from the hotel rooms to the main pool and restaurant area make the hotel feel small and intimate despite its large size. The spa could use a renovation, though. The two-floor layout of the spa is awkward and not in line with a sense of serenity you would expect to feel after a massage.

Room tip: If you plan to relax in your room, the rooms with an outdoor tub that overlook the golf course are worth the extra money. If Carmel Valley Ranch is not for you, there is no shortage of 5 Star hotels in Carmel.

• L’Auberge Carmel which is in the town of Carmel
• The Lodge at Pebble Beach
• The Inn at Spanish Bay
• Casa Palmero at Pebble Beach 
• Bernardus Lodge 

Despite the sleepy feel of Carmel, there is more than enough to keep you busy for a few days. Carmel is an enchanting town with hidden walkways and local charm. It’s fun to walk around and shop at the local stores, many of which you will not find at home. I find it refreshing to be on vacation and shop at unique boutiques rather than the same chain stores at your local mall. Half the fun of shopping on vacation is finding something special to remind you of a great trip. In addition to the activities at your hotel and shopping, you can go to the beach and surf Carmel Beach.  To keep up to date with the Carmel happenings and activities, L’Auberge Carmel.  If you are surfing, know that the water is generally around 50 degrees so you may want a wetsuit. Check out the conditions before you head out for a session.

There are several great places to eat in Carmel-by-the-Sea:

• Flying Fish Grill: Located in downtown Carmel, Flying Fish Grill is easy to miss, but worth the hunt. This Asian-style restaurant offers unique menu items such as the Black Bean Halibut, which is steamed in a paper pouch with vegetables. While this dish sounds a bit obscure, it is fantastic. The paper pouches (which are removed by the waiter tableside) lock in the delicious flavors of the accompanying vegetables. This dish is not to be missed. Reservations are recommended.
• The Valley Kitchen at Carmel Valley Lodge: Dinner at The Valley Kitchen was well done. Dinner was farm-to-table style, fresh, and delicious. The items on the menu were crowd-appealing, which is a welcome departure from some of the Northern California restaurants where you need a dictionary to understand the ingredients on the menu. The cocktail list complimented the menu nicely, and the ambiance was warm and cozy with a roaring fireplace. Here too, you can have s’ mores over a fire pit, but the s’mores experience at the Ritz Carlton has a leg up at The Valley Kitchen. Opt for one of their dessert items instead.
• For a snack in Carmel, stop at the Carmel Bakery. This bakery makes the most amazing dessert pretzels.  From afar, these pretzels look like a large German pretzel. However, these pretzels are sweet and taste like they are made with phyllo dough and chocolate. Yum! For a drink head to Hog’s Breath, formerly owned by Clint Eastwood. The décor is certainly unique. Walk to the back and enjoy a drink outside. For more options, check out the official eating guide from the City of Carmel-by-the Sea.

Head down the Pacific Coast Highway to Big Sur (1 hour, 36 miles):

There are two options for high-end hotels in Big Sur – Post Ranch Inn and Ventana. For years, people have been raving about Post Ranch Inn, and I wondered if it was worth the price of admission. In a word – Yes!! Although the check-in process was not as smooth as one would expect for the room prices, once we settled in, I knew we made the right decision. Walking from your room to the main restaurant is a trip in and of itself. Giant redwoods surround you in the foreground and the ocean in the background. The restaurant offers unparalleled views of the ocean and provides for gorgeous sunsets. I had to pinch myself because I felt so lucky to have this experience. The hotel has two large infinity spas. During the day, you sit high on the mountain, surrounded by the warm water of the Jacuzzi looking down on the ocean below. At night, the peace and serenity is equally amazing, if not better. Imagine a cold night sitting in the Jacuzzi starring up and seeing the night sky full of stars. With no other restaurants or hotels nearby, the sky is clear and not impaired by light pollution. You can actually see the stars. We were there on a night when the resident astronomer was on site. She was extremely knowledgeable and helped us see the crevasses of the moon, plus the rings of Saturn! The tranquility and stillness that comes with a stay at Post Ranch Inn, although costly, is money well spent. Plus, unlike other hotels, Post Ranch Inn does not nickel and dime you for every little thing. At the time of my visit, the following amenities were free: a wonderfully prepared breakfast buffet, parking, snacks in your room that are replaced daily, and shuttle service to and from local area restaurants. The staff is friendly, well trained and while available, not intrusive.

Room tip: Booking a room here can be tricky because there are so many different types of rooms. The rooms are understated and rustic. So, if you are looking for modern décor, you should probably check out Ventana across the street.  After seeing two different rooms at Post Ranch Inn (a middle Butterfly room and the Mountain View room), I would suggest upgrading yourself to the Mountain View room. The Butterfly rooms are extremely small, cramped, and right over the spa. On the plus side, all the rooms have balconies with views of either the mountains or the ocean where you can relax on your lounge chairs and be one with nature.  If I had more time, I would have stayed one more night in Big Sur. What’s great about the Pacific Coast Highway drive, is there is always so much to see, you can plan another trip in a few years and see all the things you missed the first time around.

Activities in Big Sur:

The charm of Post Ranch Inn is that you do not have to leave the property. You can stay in your room all day and read a book, stroll along the walking paths, tour the garden, enjoy the spa, take a yoga class, relax by the pool, walk through the Post Gallery, or shop in the Mercantile store. While we did most of these things, we also left the hotel to go for a hike at Andrew Molera State Park which offers both easy and difficult trails. The hike we chose provided views of redwoods and overlooked the ocean. I will say, it was quite a workout.

We neglected to take a map with us, which was not smart. We were lucky to find two nice ladies who had an extra map which was handy because the trails are not well marked and cell service to access a hiking app like AllTrails was spotty.  If you like the outdoors, also consider Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park which offers a 60-foot waterfall, redwoods, and panoramic views of the ocean.  At Pfeiffer Beach, you can explore tide pools at low tide and see the purple sand from the manganese garnet rocks in the cliffs.  Hiking trails are also available to the public at the backside of the Ventana resort.

Dining options:

I recommend booking a dinner reservation or two in advance given the limited options in Big Sur. If there is a place you have your eye on, reserve your spot ahead of time. Other than dinner, you can do almost everything else on a whim.

Sierra Mar at Post Ranch Inn: The views from the restaurant are magnificent. To get the most out of your visit, make your dinner reservation for just after sunset so you can have a cocktail on the patio and watch the sun melt into the water. As the colors from the sunset begin to shine you can be seated for dinner by the glass and continue to watch the vibrant colors fly across the sky. Even with the magical scenery, the food stands on its own. The food was different, but not pretentious. Local ingredients are used in the menu to bring you fresh and interesting dishes. With high-end luxury hotels, sometimes the chefs rest on the fact they have a captive audience. Not here. The food is something to write home about. If you are a guest of the hotel, you can order a la carte if you are not up for the full tasting menu.

Big Sur Bakery: The food was good, but was lacking compared to Sierra Mar. Even the most basic dishes were a bit of a miss which makes me think we were there on an off night because people rave about the food. The restaurant is on Pacific Coast Highway and has a gas station in front. The décor of the restaurant is similar to a lodge with lots of wood and warm colors. I would give this restaurant another chance hoping it can change my mind.

Although I did not eat at the following restaurants, they also came recommended and received positive reviews.

• Restaurant at Deetjen’s. The candlelit rooms apparently provide for a romantic ambiance and the dinner menu includes local, organic foods.
• Nepenthe which is famous for its burgers and ocean views.
• Sur-House at Ventana.

Last Stop on this Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip – Santa Barbara (4 hours, 197 miles):

Buckle in, it’s a long drive from Big Sur to Santa Barbara. If you are planning on making multiple site-seeing stops along the way, think about leaving Big Sur in the morning. Here is a list of things to do on your drive. Stop at the famous Bixby Bridge for a photo. The bridge itself is neat, but so are the views from the side of the road. It is about 25 minutes (15.4 miles) south of Big Sur. You will know when you are getting close by the hordes of cars parked on the side of the road.

• Hearst Castle:  If you have never been to San Simeon, Hearst Castle it is certainly a sight to see. The property sits on 250,000 acres and contains 165 rooms and 123 acres of gardens, terraces, pools, walkways, and a zoo.  I would suggest seeing it as part of your drive from Big Sur to Santa Barbara instead of staying overnight. There are no high-end hotels in Sam Simeon or much else to do.
• Cambria:  If you skip San Simenon, consider stopping in Cambria. It is a small town just off Highway 1 where you can refill on gas and stop for lunch. While there, stop at Lynn’s and try the olalliberry pie and other desserts.
• Ragged Point offers beautiful views, hiking options, a restaurant, and a place to fill up on gas.
• Morrow Rock is approximately 576 feet tall. You can see Morrow Rock from the freeway so you don’t have to get out of the car to view the mammoth rock.
• Montaña de Oro State Park offers rugged cliffs, beaches, hiking, biking, and equestrian trails.
• Point Sur Lighthouse provides scenic views.
• Partington Cove Trail is a 7-mile hiking trail with a 60-foot tunnel to a cove.
• Ventana Wildlife Society offers guided bird tours.

Staying in Santa Barbara:

There is a plethora of 5-star hotels in and around Santa Barbara. For this trip, we decided to stay at The Ritz Carlton Bacara. I have stayed at this hotel several times and it is always a great experience. At The Ritz Carlton Bacara, the buildings are all white and provide a serene backdrop to the palm trees and ocean view. The room décor is beachy but elegant. There is little to do at the hotel other than eating, enjoy the spa, working out, or laying by the pool. You are forced (in a good way) to relax. With a free bottle of wine in the room and a balcony, there is every opportunity to sit back and enjoy the views. It a nice place to end your trip and break up the long drive from Big Sur to Los Angeles. You can leave the hotel and venture into Santa Barbara to shop or have a meal. The drive from The Ritz Carlton Bacara to downtown Santa Barbara is 20 minutes.

Room tip: Chose a room with at least a partial ocean view and a balcony. If Bacara is not for you, here is a list of other 5 star hotels and a bed and breakfast in the area:

• Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore
• Fees Parker Inn in Los Olivos
• Belmond El Encanto
• San Ysidro Ranch
• Rosewood Miramar Beach

I have stayed at the Biltmore and the Fees Parker Inn and had great experiences at both. The Belmond El Encanto and the Rosewood are newer properties.  The Rosewood is beautiful and their brunch is divine.  However, you need to be aware that trains pass through the hotel grounds numerous times a day.  Each of the hotels listed above offers a different experience. You cannot go wrong with any of them. It’s a personal choice depending on what you are looking for from the hotel.

Activities in and around Santa Barbara:

If you are looking to venture out during your stay, here are some popular activities:

• Shopping in downtown Santa Barbara and Montecito
• Hiking and biking.  Alltrails has great information for local trails.
• Hot air ballooning.  I did this for my birthday through Sky’s the Limit Ballooning and loved it.  Although the navigation can be a bit tricky, it was a thrill floating through the air.

• Santa Barbara Bowl
• Wine tasting
• Beach
• Horseback riding
• Funk Zone in Santa Barbara

For more activities check out the Santa Barbara City Guide. With so many things to see and do on the Pacific Coast Highway road trip, it is easy to fill your day. Try to resist the urge to plan each activity. Part of what makes road trips fun is being spontaneous. Who knows, you may wake up earlier than you thought and want to get a move on or find yourself unable to leave a gorgeous vista. Depending on where the day takes you, you may skip a few things on your list so you can live in the moment and most importantly have fun!!

To help you plan for your next road trip, check out my road trip tips and road trip essentials. 

Happy road tripping!