Highway 1: San Francisco to Santa Monica
Cliffs, redwood canyons and elephant seals. Drive it southbound so the ocean is on your side.
- Distance
- 721 km (448 mi)
- Driving
- 8 h 00 min
- Suggested days
- 4
- Stops
- 11
- States
- CA
- Updated
- July 18, 2026
At a glance: 4-day road trip of about 721 km (448 mi) with 11 stops, from San Francisco to Santa Monica Pier. About 8 h 00 min of driving in total.
More road trips in California · More road trips from San Francisco
Route description
Start with the classic view of the Golden Gate Bridge from Battery Spencer, just across the bridge on the Marin Headlands; the fog often clears by midday, and the small parking area is not suitable for large motorhomes. Then head south from San Francisco along the coast through Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz to Monterey, where Cannery Row and the waterfront are worth a stop. Driving southbound puts the ocean on your side of the road, which makes the pull-outs easier to use.
South of Carmel, Big Sur begins. Bixby Creek Bridge, a 1932 concrete arch 260 feet above a creek mouth, is best seen from the pull-outs on its north side, and further south a short, flat trail in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park leads to the overlook for McWay Falls, which drops straight onto a sandy cove. Kirk Creek Campground has bluff-top sites above the Pacific with some of the best sunsets on the coast, and it books up early.
Beyond Ragged Point the mountains ease back from the sea, and at Piedras Blancas a free boardwalk overlooks thousands of elephant seals, with pups born from December through March. Hearst Castle, just inland at San Simeon, can only be visited on a tour, so book ahead. Further south, the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo is known for its pink décor and more than 100 themed rooms.
From San Luis Obispo, US-101 carries most of the traffic south to Santa Barbara, with its Spanish-style downtown and mission. The coast road then continues past Ventura and Malibu to finish at the Santa Monica Pier. Highway 1 through Big Sur is narrow and winding, with few services and frequent landslide closures, so check Caltrans for current road status before you set out and fill the tank in Monterey or Carmel.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
San Francisco
CA - 210 km
Battery Spencer Overlook
ViewsSausalito, CAThe classic Golden Gate Bridge viewpoint, with the towers close up and the city behind them. Fog often clears by midday.
- 3176 km
Monterey
CA - 431 km
Bixby Creek Bridge
ViewsBig Sur, CAA 1932 concrete arch 260 feet above a creek mouth on Highway 1. Pull-outs on the north side give the famous view.
- 538 km
McWay Falls
NatureBig Sur, CAAn 80-foot waterfall that drops straight onto a sandy cove. A short, flat trail in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park leads to the overlook.
- 629 km
Kirk Creek Campground
CampingBig Sur, CABluff-top sites above the Pacific on Highway 1. The sunsets here are among the best on the coast.
- 751 km
Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery
NatureSan Simeon, CAThousands of elephant seals haul out on the beach below a free boardwalk. Pups are born from December through March.
- 810 km
Hearst Castle
HistorySan Simeon, CAA hilltop estate with 165 rooms and the marble Neptune Pool. Tours must be booked, and the bus ride up the hill is part of the show.
- 977 km
Madonna Inn
StaysSan Luis Obispo, CAA pink hotel with more than 100 individually themed rooms, including one built like a caveman's cave.
- 10155 km
Santa Barbara
CA - 11144 km
Santa Monica Pier
HistorySanta Monica, CAThe symbolic end of Route 66. There is an amusement park, a century-old carousel and the Pacific at your feet.
Suggested stages and overnight stops
4 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: San Francisco → Monterey · 116 mi · 2 h 04 minOn the way: Battery Spencer Overlook.Overnight nearby, for example: Monterey Fairgrounds RV Park (2 mi); Montery Pines RV Campground (2 mi).
- Day 2: Monterey → Hearst Castle · 98 mi · 1 h 45 minOn the way: Bixby Creek Bridge, McWay Falls, Kirk Creek Campground, Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery.Overnight nearby, for example: Washburn Campground (7 mi); San Simeon Creek Campground (7 mi).
- Day 3: Hearst Castle → Santa Barbara · 145 mi · 2 h 35 minOn the way: Madonna Inn.Overnight nearby, for example: Santa Barbara Sunrise RV Park (2 mi); Upper Oso Campground (10 mi).
- Day 4: Santa Barbara → Santa Monica Pier · 89 mi · 1 h 36 minOvernight nearby, for example: Malibu Creek Campground (14 mi); Dockweiler RV Park (7 mi).
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually April–June and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in February–March, July–August and November–December. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
FAQs
How long is Highway 1: San Francisco to Santa Monica?
4-day road trip of about 721 km (448 mi) with 11 stops, from San Francisco to Santa Monica Pier. About 8 h 00 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Highway 1: San Francisco to Santa Monica?
We suggest 4 days: about 8 h 00 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Highway 1: San Francisco to Santa Monica start and end?
It starts in San Francisco and ends in Santa Monica Pier.
Which states does Highway 1: San Francisco to Santa Monica pass through?
California.
Where can you camp along Highway 1: San Francisco to Santa Monica?
OpenStreetMap lists 300 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 19 mi of the stops on this route. For example: Anthony Chabot Family Campground, Flying Flags Avila Beach and Santa Barbara Sunrise RV Park.
When is the best time for Highway 1: San Francisco to Santa Monica?
The most pleasant months are usually April–June and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in February–March, July–August and November–December. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
