The phenomenally beautiful coast-line of Northern California is rivaled only by the incredible coast of Big Sur farther south, beyond which stretches the beachfronts of Southern California. The land of palm trees, beach boys, and surfer girls of popular lore really does exist, though only in the southernmost quarter of the state.
While rarely as old as places on the East Coast, or as impressive as those in Europe, these diverse sites include the Spanish colonial missions of California, Russian and English fur-trading outposts, and the place where Lewis and Clark first sighted the Pacific after their long slog across the continent. Last but certainly not least are the energizing cities— Seattle and Portland in the north, San Francisco in the middle, and Los Angeles and San Diego to the south—that serve as gateways to or civilized respites from the landscapes between them.
Add to these the dozens of small and not-so-small towns along the coast, with alternating blue-collar ports and up-scale vacation retreats, and you have a great range of food, drink, and accommodations options. In addition to elephant seals and lighthouses, San Simeon offers many more things to see on Highway 1.
Travel back in time with a tour of opulent Hearst Castle, the home of historic newspaper baron William Randolph Hearst. These ideas and many more are available on our San Simeon Activity Map. Located just south of the entrance to San Simeon State Park , this vista point offers an ideal place for taking in effortless views.
You can even park in the Hearst State Beach lot, off Highway 1, and see it all from the comfort of your vehicle. This is also a great place for whale watching, with its expansive ocean views. Bring binoculars to look for gray whales, minke whales, harbor seals, and sea otters, as well as dolphins and porpoises.
These marine mammals are regular visitors to this stretch of shoreline. Do this from the bluffs above the beach, or with your toes wiggling in the warm sand below. Sip award-winning wines at the Hearst Ranch tasting room then fish off the San Simeon Pier and take in the scenery.
Or watch the kites of windsurfers and kiteboarders at Arroyo Laguna Beach, where winds can get up to 40 mph in the afternoons. From Highway 1, it takes just a moment to pull onto this 2-mile oceanfront roadway that parallels the shoreline. Moonstone Beach lies below, a favorite hidden beach where locals come for excellent beachcombing that includes sea glass, colorful worn stones, and driftwood.
Taking advantage of the classic coastal California views across Moonstone Beach Drive, several restaurants offer indoor and outdoor seating here, overlooking the ocean. A trail leading toward Hearst State Beach stands here, for those wanting to take a stroll north. Walk the boardwalk, which spans the majority of the shoreline, for a romantic stroll or to watch seals from the viewing deck. The Moonstone Beach Park offers an ideal setting for a picnic or a sunset view.
Looking for a scenic backcountry adventure while driving the Pacific coast? Follow this itinerary through the roads behind Cambria and Cayucos, forming a loop with Highway 1. Along the way, check out the views of Whale Rock Reservoir , a deep blue basin above Cayucos and the coastline. For details on the itinerary, check out the Old Creek Loop route map. Riders on a Pacific Coast Highway motorcycle trip will love this back-road loop, too.
Here, motorcyclists can twist and wind through scenic farmland and over rolling hills. The intersection of Highway 46 offers opportunities to travel even deeper into the mountains west of Highway 1. These can take you to Paso Robles winery tasting rooms, or out toward Lake Nacimiento, if you feel like making a day of it. One of the best bang-for-your-buck walks off Highway 1, the Estero Bluffs trails can be explored a little or a lot.
The trick is knowing where to find the 7 pull-outs that lead to the trails, midway between the towns of Harmony and Cayucos. These are nondescript dirt turnouts just off Highway 1 that can easily be missed without local know-how. Alternatively, you can just park and enjoy the ocean views from the comfort of your car.
North Ocean Avenue offers plenty of dining options, from clam chowder and fish and chips, tacos to farm-to-table fare. Pull over to grab a bite, then head to the Cayucos Pier, which is within walking distance of all downtown restaurants. Kids will love the play structure, directly on the beach, and they may just spy dolphins or a whale spouting offshore.
Of course, the view from just about anywhere in Cayucos is picture-perfect, but some of the best spots are really tucked away. Make like a local and travel to the southern end of Cayucos State Beach. Enjoy the ocean view from your car, or step out and take a stroll north to Cayucos Pier or south to Morro Rock.
Want to hang a bit longer in the Cayucos area? At 8, acres, with 7 miles of shoreline, Montana de Oro State Park makes for a lovely scenic drive. This special state park offers panoramas of Estero Bay as well as paths that wind beneath towering eucalyptus forests.
Another best place to stop is further into the park, featuring grand ocean views you can take in from your car. Anyone who cruises Avila Beach Drive through Avila Beach can tell you what a stunning ocean-side drive it offers. But the hidden vistas and lesser-known views from historic Point San Luis Lighthouse are absolutely worth the hunt.
This will eventually lead you out to Point San Luis Lighthouse. The best place to stop is at the Point San Luis Lighthouse parking lot. Along the way, enjoy the remote coastal scenery, from both sides of the vehicle. The best place to stop for this alternative adventure is in the parking lot at the end of Cave Landing Road. We also give the drive time and distance if going along the coast the whole way, which can be very different. They're also optimum times, and take no account of any stops you might want to make, even rest stops, nor any traffic conditions.
They assume you are driving at or just under the speed limit the whole way. If your personal driving speed is different from that, you need to take that into account too. Quickest Route About miles, almost 13 hours without a break.
Quickest Route About miles, or 6 hours of driving. Pacific Coast Highway Route About miles, or 9 hours without a break. Combining the two Note that if you set off from either end along the Pacific Coast Highway then there's no easy place to cut across to the freeway and make up time.
What you gain in time you'll lose in getting to the freeway to begin with, as it doesn't run close to the coast. Highway Although the Pacific Coast Highway and Highway are mostly one and the same, there's a stretch of this route roughly between Salinas and San Luis Obispo when goes inland. Going that way is about miles, or about 2 hours of driving.
Taking the coast route is about miles and will take about 3 hours, as it's a slower route. That's what we've assumed you'll do in the above estimate of miles.
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