The Pacific Coast Highway hugs California’s stunning coastline for 655 miles, and we’ve packed the best spots into an ultra-romantic 5-day couples PCH road trip.
Get ready for cute coastal towns, seafood so fresh it practically jumps onto your plate, and views so jaw-dropping you’ll run out of storage on your phone by day two.
Day 1: San Francisco to Monterey (125 miles)
First up on our Pacific Coast Highway trip, beat the crowds with an early morning in Half Moon Bay. The paved Coastal Trail makes for easy walking as the sunrise lights up the water. Grab coffee at Pillar Point Harbor and peek into tidepools teeming with starfish and anemones.
Head south to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, where the vintage carousel and old-school arcade games bring out the kid in everyone. Snag a waffle cone and watch surfers do their thing from the pier before hitting the road again.
On your way to Monterey when driving the Pacific Coast Highway, enter the famous 17-Mile Drive through the Pacific Grove gate in Pebble Beach. The $12.25 entry fee is worth every penny as you cruise past million-dollar homes, the iconic Lone Cypress, and beaches where harbor seals lounge on the rocks.
Once in Monterey, Cannery Row awaits with its converted sardine factories now filled with shops and restaurants. The star attraction? The Monterey Bay Aquarium, with its cool jellyfish exhibits and playful sea otters. Book your timed entry ticket in advance – this place sells out fast!
Where to Eat:
- Lunch: Barbara’s Fishtrap in Half Moon Bay serves enormous portions of fried seafood with zero pretension.
- Dinner: Passionfish in Pacific Grove offers sustainable seafood dishes like smoked trout ceviche tostaditas, cashew pesto, and spicy salsa brava (yum) – make reservations!
Where to Stay: The Spindrift Inn puts you right on Cannery Row with ocean-view rooms featuring real wood-burning fireplaces. Their continental breakfast delivered to your door means you don’t even have to change out of your PJs for your morning coffee.
Day 2: Monterey to Big Sur (30 miles)
This short drive on our Pacific Coast Highway itinerary packs in more stunning scenery per mile than should be legally allowed. The Pacific Coast Highway between Monterey and Big Sur might be the most photographed stretch of road in America, and for good reason.
- Tip: Fill the gas tank in Monterey. Fuel in Big Sur is limited and expensive enough to make you question your life choices.
Start your morning with a stroll through Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, just 15 minutes south of Monterey. The easy trails offer ridiculous coastal views with minimal effort. Sea lions bark from offshore rocks while harbor seals give you judgmental looks from their sunny spots. Bring binoculars for whale watching if you’re visiting between December and May.
Continuing south, you’ll cross Bixby Creek Bridge, that gorgeous arched concrete span you’ve definitely seen on Instagram. Pull into the designated viewpoint areas. The makeshift parking spots along the highway are for thrill-seekers only. Read more about parking laws here.
A few miles down, McWay Falls at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park offers the money shot of your Pacific Coast Highway road trip. An 80-foot waterfall that pours directly onto the beach? Nature is showing off at this point. The viewing platform is just a short walk from the parking area.
For sunset on your PCH road trip, Pfeiffer Beach delivers purple sand and massive rock formations with wave-carved arches. The bumpy 2-mile access road weeds out the tour buses, meaning you might actually find parking. When golden hour hits those rock arches, you’ll understand why photographers camp out here for hours.
Where to Eat:
- Lunch: Nepenthe’s cliff-top terrace puts you literally on the edge of the continent. Snag an outdoor table where the Santa Lucia Mountains meet the Pacific and order their famous Ambrosia Burger – it’s been feeding hungry Pacific Coast Highway travelers since 1949. The views alone are worth pulling over for.
- Dinner: Sierra Mar at Post Ranch Inn serves up sunset with a side of delicious food. Perched on Big Sur’s dramatic cliffs, the wall-to-wall windows frame ocean views that might distract you from your plate. Their prix-fixe menu showcases local ingredients, and wine lovers can geek out over their 3,200+ bottle collection. Book this one well in advance.
Where to Stay:
Ventana Big Sur gives you options between glamping tents or forest-view suites with spa access. The all-inclusive setup covers your meals and wellness programs, plus you’ll sleep surrounded by redwoods with nothing but nature’s soundtrack to lull you to sleep.
Day 3: Big Sur to San Luis Obispo (125 miles with detour)
The coastal route south of Big Sur occasionally closes for repairs, so this clever detour takes you through wine country before rejoining the coast. When driving the Pacific Coast Highway, backtrack to Carmel, then take CA-68 east to US-101 south for a different kind of California beauty.
The rolling golden hills of Paso Robles wine country provide a nice break from coastal drama. Pull off US-101 for a quick tasting at any vineyard with an open sign. Just remember the driver gets to smell, not taste. There’s more Pacific Coast Highway driving ahead.
Rejoin the coast at Cambria, a charming artists’ colony with streets lined with galleries and boutiques. Robin’s Restaurant offers a garden lunch setting so pretty you’ll want to move in. Their global comfort food menu features fresh local ingredients with international flair.
After lunch, prepare to be wowed by Hearst Castle, the impressive hilltop estate built by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst. Book the Accessible Tour if stairs are a concern. The elevator option still gets you to see the Neptune Pool, extensive art collection, and guest houses where Hollywood celebrities once stayed.
Just down the road, Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery offers free entertainment courtesy of nature. Hundreds of elephant seals lounge on the beach year-round, occasionally roaring or flopping across the sand. The viewing platforms right off Highway 1 make this a perfect quick stop on your Pacific Coast Highway adventure.
End your day in Morro Bay, where the massive volcanic plug known as Morro Rock dominates the harbor. The Embarcadero offers a sunset stroll past seafood restaurants, gift shops, and sea otters floating in the bay. Keep walking to the rock itself for fantastic photo ops.
Where to Eat:
- Lunch: Robin’s Restaurant in Cambria serves internationally-inspired dishes in a garden setting that belongs in a fairy tale.
- Dinner: Novo in San Luis Obispo offers creek-side dining on their patio. The global menu includes dishes with flavors from around the world in a relaxed atmosphere.
Where to Stay:
The Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo is unique in the best possible way. Each room features a different over-the-top theme, from rock-walled caverns to Swiss chalets. Reserve early as the most popular themed rooms sell out months in advance.
Day 4: San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara (120 miles)
Start with a morning detour to Pismo Beach, where the flat promenade along the wooden pier offers easy walking and fantastic ocean views. If you’re doing this Pacific Coast Highway trip between November and February, the nearby Monarch Butterfly Grove hosts thousands of orange-winged visitors clustering in the eucalyptus trees.
Continue your Pacific Coast Highway adventure inland to Solvang, a slice of Denmark dropped into the California countryside. The half-timbered buildings, windmills, and Hans Christian Andersen-inspired touches make this town delightfully quirky.
Start at the Danish bakeries for traditional aebleskiver (puffy pancake balls topped with raspberry jam) before browsing the shops for Scandinavian imports. Succulent Café offers a garden lunch spot with farm-to-table fare that’s a welcome break from tourist-oriented restaurants.
The surrounding Santa Ynez Valley provides another wine tasting opportunity, made famous in the movie “Sideways.” The rolling hills produce excellent Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Early risers might arrange a sunrise hot-air balloon flight for spectacular valley views. Some companies offer ADA baskets on request, making this bucket-list experience more accessible.
Arrive in Santa Barbara by late afternoon, giving you time to explore the Funk Zone. This formerly industrial neighborhood near the waterfront now houses galleries, tasting rooms, and boutiques in converted warehouses. The Urban Wine Trail here lets you sample local vintages without driving out to the vineyards.
Where to Eat:
- Lunch: Succulent Café in Solvang serves fresh sandwiches and salads in a garden setting decorated with living walls of plants.
- Dinner: The Lark in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone offers hyper-local share plates in a converted fish market. The menu changes with what’s available, but the ‘Classic Wedge’ dish has a cult following (it’s smoked blue cheese, crispy duroc pork belly, spicy pecans, sourdough croutons, and fines herbes vinaigrette). Make reservations well in advance.
Where to Stay: Hotel Californian sits just one block from the beach with Spanish Colonial Revival architecture and Moorish-inspired details. The rooftop pool offers ocean and mountain views, and ADA rooms ensure comfort for all travelers. The prime location puts you within walking distance of the pier, Funk Zone, and State Street shopping.
Day 5: Santa Barbara to Malibu/Los Angeles (80 miles)
Your final day of Pacific Coast Highway cruising takes you through some of Southern California’s most iconic beach towns. Start with a stop at Ventura Pier, recently reopened after storm repairs. (LAist) The historic wooden pier stretches 1,700 feet into the Pacific, making it perfect for a morning stroll. Grab coffee at Beach House Fish while watching surfers catch early waves.
Continue south to El Matador State Beach, arguably Malibu’s most photogenic stretch of sand. Massive sea stacks rise from the surf, creating natural arches and caves that are catnip for photographers. Note that access requires navigating a steep stairway. If that’s a concern, head to nearby Zuma Beach instead, where you can rent a sand-wheelchair for easier beach access.
The Malibu Pier awaits a few miles down the coast. While the last 200 feet remain closed for structural assessment, the restaurant portion at the entrance is open and buzzing with activity. (California State Parks) Surfers paddle out from this spot, and fishermen try their luck from the accessible section. The views stretch along the entire Santa Monica Bay.
If you’re not ready for your Pacific Coast Highway road trip to end, make one last stop at the Santa Monica Pier. The Pacific Park amusement rides offer a nostalgic finale, with the Ferris wheel providing beautiful sunset views over the ocean you’ve been following for five unforgettable days.
Where to Eat:
- Lunch: Malibu Farm Restaurant at the pier entrance serves fresh, organic California cuisine. The avocado pizza and grilled fish tacos pair perfectly with ocean views.
- Dinner: Geoffrey’s Malibu offers legendary ocean-view tables that have hosted celebrities since 1948. Reserve a sunset table to watch the sky change colors while dining on seafood and locally sourced specialties. The setting alone is worth the splurge.
Where to Stay:
Malibu Beach Inn sits right on “Billionaire’s Beach” with waves that reach almost to your balcony at high tide. The sound of surf becomes your lullaby in this luxury boutique hotel. Each room features a private balcony with comfortable seating for your final romantic night on the Pacific Coast Highway.
