The Pacific Coast Highway , also known as California State Route 1 or Highway 1 , runs for almost 550 miles along the California coastline and is in all likelihood ( OK , definitely ) the most beautiful road trip opportunity in the US . There are non - stop sea views , jagged coastlines , arresting bluff , tons of wildlife … and you never know what you ’re get going to find around the next corner or in the next small Ithiel Town . We set about in the Union , since driving north to south is the style to do it : that way , you ’ll be on the sea side of the route the entire prison term . Ideal for vista - seeker , not so hot if you ’re scared of height ?
Chandelier Drive-Thru Tree
LeggettWhether it ’s the first or last stop on the road trip-up , a photo of your car in the gap of the Chandelier Drive - Thru Tree is a must . It wo n’t be the most breathtaking stop on the journeying , but it ’s one you ca n’t skip , as Leggett is where Highway 1 make out to its northerly endpoint … and because it ’s a tree with an initiative that ’s big enough for car to take through .
Pudding Creek Trestle
Fort BraggThis erstwhile train trestle from 1916 used to play an authoritative part in transmit timber to Fort Bragg ’s John Stuart Mill , but now it ’s a giant pedestrian bridge that goes from Fort Bragg to Ten Mile River . To get there , you ’ll park right byGlass Beach , which is another must - see on the leaning . Convenient !
Point Arena Lighthouse
Mendocino CountyEven when it ’s shrouded in fog , this 115 ft lighthouse tugboat is worth a sojourn , and , yes , it ’s imperative that you climb the whole manner – 145 footfall up the spiral stairway with four landings – to get to the top . Because only then can you say you ’ve been at the top of the tall lighthouse on the West Coast . And only then will you be able-bodied to appreciate the 360 - degree eyeshot .
Bodega Head
Bodega BaySonoma Coast State Parkspans 17 mile along Highway 1 and has more than a dozen access points head to beach , bluffs , and headlands . Frankly , they ’re all stunning . But Bodega Head made this list because the high drop-off over the ocean are the gross post to spot migrating greyish whales .
Muir Beach Overlook
Marin CountyIt only takes a few second to take the air down the steps to this overlook platform , which makes it even more of a must - do / must - Instagram for anyone road - tripping on Highway 1 .
17-Mile Drive
Monterey PeninsulaThere are plenty of places to pull over and take in the knockout on this famous scenic drive that execute along the Pacific coastline , but the must - sees are :
Carmel-by-the-Sea
Monterey CountyCarmel is one of those quaint hamlet with colorful fairytale bungalow , dog - friendly beach , and such sensational raw smasher that it almost feel like the impeccably clean town is straight out of a movie solidification . Spend a twenty-four hours there wandering the beach , touring theCarmel Mission , and eating dinner atMission Ranch .
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
Monterey CountyPoint Lobos is known for its beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding wood . There are tons of coves , and an abundance of marine mammalian , including ocean social lion , giant , sea otters , and harbor seal . This place is so gorgeous , it ’s been called the “ treetop precious stone ” of the California State Park organisation . If you only have time to explore one part , jibe out Whalers Cove . It ’s a ripe spot to mark out some ocean otters ( and the historic cabin is worth a peep , too – they used giant vertebrae in the foundation ) .
Bixby Creek Bridge
Big SurBixby Bridge is one of the improbable individual - span concrete bridges in the public and is one of the most photographed Harry Bridges on the Pacific Coast , right after that other famous bridge … you have sex , the one that traverse the Golden Gate . It ’s more than 260 ft high and 700 ft long , and definitely deserving pull out the car over to take pics .
Nepenthe Restaurant
Big SurIf you ’re push up or down the PCH , you ’ve got to eat somewhere and , when you ’re in Big Sur , that somewhere should for certain be Nepenthe . Grab a tush on the deck that feel like it ’s growing in good order out of the cliffside , and fall with the topical anesthetic ( and the other tourists ) while bring in some of the most amazing views you ’ll ever experience at a eatery .
McWay Falls
boastful SurMcWay Falls in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is an 80 foot waterfall that drops from the cliff and into the Pacific Ocean . It ’s also one of just two lunar time period fall in California , and if you ’re only go to see one , it ’s the one to see . If you ’re there in December , January , March , or April , it ’s also a keen spot to hang out and look out for gray whales migrating to or from their breeding earth off of the Baja California glide .
Hearst Castle
San SimeonIt ’s definitely deserving set up aside time to spend the daylight exploring this grand the three estates formerly owned by William Randolph Hearst . The mansion has 165 ( no , seriously ) suite full of Hearst ’s personal prowess ingathering , and , just in case that is n’t enough , there are also 127 acres of gardens , terrace , and pools with gorgeous views of the ocean . Yes , it ’s all touristy , but there ’s a reasonableness why . Just be sure to buy your tickets forrader of time as tours do sell out , especially in the summer .
Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery
San SimeonThe best times to visit this rookery that more than 17,000 elephant seals call home are in late January , late April , and late October , but even if there are n’t any elephant seal lumber about on the sand , it ’s still a gorgeous shoes to break and take in the horizon of the sea and the nearbyPiedras Blancas Light Station .
Pismo Beach
San Luis Obispo CountyWhen you think of Pismo Beach , you probably think of Cher in the movieCluelesstelling her father she was Captain of the Pismo Beach catastrophe relief . And if you do n’t , then you distinctly have n’t seenCluelessenough . Anyway , the honest news is that there never was a Pismo Beach catastrophe and the Graeco-Roman beach town ’s foresighted blank beaches are still intact and the unadulterated piazza to relish a sunset .
Old Mission
Santa BarbaraJust a picayune off of Highway 1 , you ’ll see Mission Santa Barbara , termed the “ Queen of the Missions for its graceful sweetheart . ” ground in 1786 , the church service still has an active parish and is home to a community of Franciscan friars . In addition to the church , there ’s a cemetery and mausoleum , as well as 12 acres of landscaped gardens to explore .
Malibu Pier
MalibuMalibu is settle along 21 miles of prime Pacific coastline . The only trouble is that there are dozens of private residences along the PCH , which makes accessing the horizon and beach hard . guide to the Malibu Pier , where you ’ll be able to take in great views of the Pacific , and if you turn around , you ’ll also get prospect of all the spectacular homes . If it ’s in the budget , eat an former dinner party atMastro ’s Ocean Club , which is definitely deserving the price – especially if you may get a rear end by the windowpane during sundown .
Crystal Cove State Park
Newport BeachBetween Corona del Mar and Laguna Beach is Crystal Cove State Park , which has 2.3 miles of sandy beaches , coves , and lunar time period pools … and , of course , awing views everywhere you look . It is part of the California coast , after all .
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Bixby Creek Bridge|Flickr/Michael Flick
Flickr/Ian Carvell
Flickr/Larry McCombs
Flickr/Kristina D.C. Hoeppner
Flickr/Dion Hinchcliffe
Courtesy of Mission Ranch Hotel
Flickr/Philip Bouchard
Flickr/Grauke/O
Flickr/Underactive
Flickr/Kent Kanouse
