We spent 3 days driving down a section of California Route 1, from San Francisco to San Luis Obispo. The road is a major north-south state highway which runs along the Californian coastline. At 656 miles long, it is the longest state route in California and the second-longest in the US. Although it is somewhat fragmented, it is possible to drive Route 1 for much of the way from San Francisco to San Diego. The route is popular route for its scenery and best enjoyed at leisure. If you’re in a hurry, the inland US 101 is significantly faster. Note: A number of recent landslides, in addition to coastal erosion, have caused segments of the route either to be closed for long periods for repairs or rerouted inland. Check for diversions before planning a trip.
California Route 1 Road Trip Itinerary
| Day 1 | San Francisco to Monterey Pescadero State Beach Pigeon Point Lighthouse Ano Nuevo State Park Santa Cruz Monterey Accommodation – Days Inn by Wyndham Monterey Downtown |
| Day 2 | Monterey to San Simeon Monterey Coastal Trail Bixby Bridge Big Sur State Park Willow Creek Beach Elephant Sea Vista San Simeon Accommodation – The Morgan Hotel Dinner at El Chorlito |
| Day 3 | San Simeon to San Luis Obispo Morro Bay Whale Watching Tour Madonna Inn San Luis Obispo Accommodation – Mission Inn |
Day 1 – San Francisco to Monterey
Distance: 118 miles
After breakfast, we set off from San Francisco, heading for Monterey along California Route 1, which varies between a multi lane highway and a single lane road meandering through the forest along the Pacific coast.
Pescadero State Beach
Our first stop is 42 miles out of San Francisco at Pescadero State Beach, where a rock just out to sea is covered with pelicans, resting in between diving missions into the sea in search of fish. I don’t feel I’m properly on holiday until I’ve spotted pelicans.
We descend onto the beach where I manage to slip off the edge of a sand mound and land on my arse. Not quite what I planned – plus it scares the pelicans into inertia.
Pigeon Point Lighthouse
After a quick stop at Pigeon Point Lighthouse to see the 19th Century lighthouse, we continue our drive along Route 1.
Año Nuevo Sate Park
We continue to Año Nuevo Sate Park. Seal mating season is in December. Our visit, right at the end of November, is just as the male seals are starting to come ashore to find good spots on the beach to wait for the ladies – it’s a bit like Germans getting up early to put their towels on deckchairs. First we must obtain the necessary permits to access the observation point (and visit the gift shop for the obligatory fridge magnet). It’s a two mile hike along a trail and then across sand dunes to the viewing point.
The first part involves walking between the ocean and a lake, basically under a pelican flight path. We watch the birds as they come overhead so low that water dripping out of their bills drips onto our heads.
At the first viewpoint, there are telescopes pointing at an island so you can view sea lions on the rocks. At sea, daughter no 1 spots a sea otter. The telescope is powerful enough that we are able to watch the otter lying on its back washing its face as it bobs around in the waves.
After a bit of a clamber over the dunes, we reach the edge of the beach where the seals congregate before moving on to the breeding beach. At first I think the beach is empty, because the seals are (a) much paler in colour than I’d realised and (b) they cover themselves with sand to protect their skin from the sun. In fact, there are around 70 seals lazing around in the sun, just chilling before the action of mating season begins. There are very informative wardens on hand, so by the time we leave, we are elephant seal experts.
Santa Cruz
We stop for lunch at Santa Cruz, sitting on a rock surrounded by Mesembryanthemum, with the waves crashing in below us.
Eager gulls circle overhead hoping to get in on the picnic action.
Monterey
After checking into our hotel in Monterey, we go for a walk along the oceanfront.
Municipal Wharf 2
The Municipal Wharf is a great place to spot sea otters.
We also saw an enormous school of thousands up thousands of fish (possibly sardines – I’m not a fish expert).
Fisherman’s Wharf
Fisherman’s Wharf is a pier lined with touristy shops and restaurants.
Cannery Row
Further along the coast is Cannery Row, which is famous because Steinbeck wrote a book about this old sardine canning factory. But the sardines were fished to extinction, so now it’s fancy shops and restaurants.
Back to the hotel via Trader Joe’s for less fancy supplies. Two firsts for me today; my first Pacific sunset and my first Californian beer.
Accommodation – Days Inn by Wyndham Monterey Downtown
Tonight’s accommodation is at another typical motel; Days Inn by Wyndham Monterey Downtown, which we chose because it offers free parking and is conveniently located, less than a mile from the touristy around the harbour. The rooms are clean and comfortable.
I watch the sun rising over the Pacific Ocean as I run. Not a bad way to start a day.
Day 2 – Monterey to San Simeon
Distance: 93 Miles
After what passes for breakfast at a Days Inn, we set off for San Simeon.
Monterey Coastal Trail
Up early for a run along the Monterey Coastal Trail. A surreal experience, as it’s one of the virtual routes on the treadmill at my gym. So I’ve run it before on a rainy day in Boscombe, looking out over the A338. In reality, it is next to an even busier road. It’s also way colder than I’d anticipated so I pull the sleeves of my fleece over my hands. Passing runners feel the need to high 5, which means pulling my hands out of my nice warm sleeves.
Bixby Bridge
We continue along Route 1 to Bixby Bridge. This was one of the main reason for wanting to do this trip and it doesn’t disappoint. The main parking area is closed, but we find a spot on the other side of the road. So we get to see this iconic 1930s bridge, which connects the rugged Californian coastline with its Art Deco concrete grace (not sure Art Deco concrete is actually a thing) with an ocean backdrop.
Big Sur State Park
Our next destination is Big Sur State Park. However, we are short of time, so we stop briefly to take a quick walk along the redwood trail.
Elephant Seal Vista
Our last stop is at Elephant Seal Vista. We were hoping to see some elephant seals, and we are certainly not disappointed; there are hundreds of them all along the beach. The adult males have departed, leaving the females and juveniles to chill in the Californian sunshine.
San Simeon
Onwards to tonight’s destination; San Simeon. The town is famous for being the home of Hearst Castle, a grand Gothic house on a hill, with landscaped gardens full of pools and fountains. We opted not to visit because the much of the gardens were out of bounds due to renovations, but the price of a guided tour remained the same at $35 per person. These renovations are now complete.
Accommodation – The Morgan Hotel
We check into The Morgan Hotel. We have reserved the cheapest rooms; standard roadside, but the receptionist explains that as one of the rooms is required by someone who can’t manage stairs, the booking will be upgraded to deluxe. He hands us the keys and daughter No 1 immediately goes for the upgraded room key. I say I would have given her it anyway and we head off for our rooms. Just as I’m opening the door to my standard roadside room, the receptionist appears and says he wishes to reward me for my kindness in relinquishing the better room. He has up-upgraded me to a deluxe room with ocean view!
Dinner at El Chorlito
After checking in, the others go for a walk along the beach. I decline to join them – I can see the ocean from my bed, so why move? At least until it’s time for dinner and we pop to the Mexican restaurant, El Chorlito, next door.
The restaurant has an ocean view, so we order dinner and a pitcher of margaritas and dine while watching the sun set over the Pacific.
Day 3 – San Simeon to San Luis Obispo
Distance: 46 miles
Morro Bay
This morning we have an early start as daughter No 1 has booked us onto a whale watching tour. I hate boats (it’s not natural bobbing around so far from solid ground), so have tried to get out of spending 3 hours on one. But she will not relent. After breakfast, we drive to the quaint little town of Morro Bay with bayside streets lined with restaurants and quirky shops.
Whale Watching Tour
We board our boat; Freedom. The first 20 minutes of the journey are within the bay itself, so very pleasant. The captain goes through the safety briefing and points out that the coastguard are so close that if we get into trouble, it will only take 10 minutes for them to arrive and fish us out of the water. So far so good…
Then we leave the harbour for open ocean. Not only is it far choppier, but we stop by the harbour buoy which is covered in sea lions. The captain describes this as a ‘great white snack shack’. Suddenly, 10 minutes seems like a very long time!
We are only at sea another 18 minutes before we spot our first whale. It acts like it’s showing off just for us as it breaches again and again right in front of the boat. It’s such a spectacular sight I forget I hate boats for a while.
All is going well until a child suddenly projectile vomits all over himself and the man next to me. Everything stinks of sick despite the child’s mother spraying everything and everyone with water.
Our whale runs out of energy, so we sail further out to where a group of four whales are herding fish into a shoal for ease of eating while birds and sea lions waiting for lunch to be served. The captain makes sure to keep the whales on our port side (seeing as the starboard side is now covered with vomit).
We watch the whales a while longer. Two more people are sick. Then it’s time to return to harbour. It’s been an amazing experience, so I’m glad I was bullied into facing my fear of boats to watch these majestic creatures on their natural habitat.
Madonna Inn
Although tonight’s destination is San Luis Obispo, first we overshoot the city and stop on the outskirts of town to have a peek at the Madonna Inn. A stay at this quirky pink palace may be outside our price range, but it still has all sorts of funky features to explore.
The rooms are a riot of colour and extravagant decor. Non residents can visit the bakery and gift shop for all things pink.
After a trip to the pink padded bathroom, it’s time to move on.
San Luis Obispo
It’s time to return to San Luis Obispo and check in to our somewhat less extravagant hotel. By now it’s a scorching 34 degrees and son-in-law is starting to flag. The receptionist gives us some advice about must-see attractions.
gum Alley
So, while son-in-law cools down, we walk to the main road (Higuera Street) to see Gum Alley. Here, if you are so inclined (it’s rather disgusting but somehow compelling) you can see an alley way which has an estimated 2 million pieces of bubblegum stuck on the walls.
Farmers’ Market
On Thursdays from 6 pm until 9 pm, Higuera Street is closed to traffic for five blocks for the weekly Farmers’ Market. This gathering of street stalls, food, music and entertainment has a real party atmosphere, particularly as it’s the night before Welcome Day at the local college (Cal Poly). It’s bit like a street party and freshers fair all rolled into one.
Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa
At the end of the market is Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, a Catholic mission which dates back to the 18th Century.
It is possible to visit the mission, take a tour or visit the museum and gift shop.
Mission Plaza
In front of the building is Mission Plaza, a small park with seating, a fountain and sculptures.
Accommodation – Mission Inn
Tonight’s accommodation is at the Mission Inn, which is about a 15 minute walk to downtown San Luis Obispo. It’s a fairly typical motel which offers free parking and wifi. The rooms are large, clean and comfortable and have a fridge and microwave.
This section of Route 1 terminates at San Luis Obispo. If you wish to continue on down the coast, you can drive 12 miles down the US-101 to Pismo Beach and pick up the next section of Route 1 there.
- Trip taken: April 2023
- Updated: December 2024
I hope you found the above information useful. For guides to more destinations in the 50+ countries we have visited, check out my full list of Independent Travel Itineraries here.
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