The Ultimate California Coast Road Trip: Malibu to Monterey

Riding with the top down, the wind in your hair, the sun shining and the sound of the ocean waves– that’s everything you imagine when you think of California coast road trip along iconic Highway 1. This highway runs much farther than from Malibu to Monterey, but as a Californian who has driven the length of the state many times, this stretch of the California coast is my favorite! You get a little bit of everything here, from breathtaking views of the ocean to California wine tasting to the historic missions (and possibly some whale watching).

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This 5-day itinerary can easily be stretched into more days. There are suggestions for additional things to do at each stop, but if you have limited time, you can cover a lot in 5 days. Also, note that this itinerary can easily be done backwards, from north to south. So here it is: your Malibu to Monterey California Coast Road Trip!

Quick Tips

If you are not from California (or maybe even if you are), here are some things you should know before hitting the road:

• Stay informed: Despite our rep for sunshine, we do have weather, particularly along the coast. Use the Caltrans quickmap to keep updated on road conditions and closures.
• Put down the phone: California is a hands-free state. You will get a ticket if you’re texting and driving. (I know, every other person you see is on the phone in the car, but why risk an expensive ticket while you’re on vacay?)
• Be gas-price savvy: Out of state visitors might have a minor coronary at the sight of our gas prices, but use a gas app to help you find the cheapest gas stations. We use GasBuddy, for example.

And lastly…

• Slow down: Yes, we drive fast in Cali! But Highway 1 is a scenic route, not a fast route. Slow down, take your time and enjoy the scenery!

California Coast Road Trip, Day 1 – Malibu to Santa Barbara, 100 miles:

The Drive through Malibu

Wherever you happen to be staying, get up early and start your route on the 1 north (follow the signs to Malibu) and get ready for the beautiful beaches! This portion of the trip winds between the mountains on one side and the pristine beaches of Malibu on the other. You’ll pass some gorgeous houses, the Malibu Pier and Pepperdine University. If you feel like stopping at the beach, you really can’t go wrong in this area. My personal favorite beaches here are Zuma, El Matador and Nicholas Canyon.

Lunch in Ventura

The highway leaves the coast at Point Mugu, and heads inland towards Oxnard. It hits the coast again at Ventura – stop one, and time for lunch! Ventura is a cool, laid back beach town with a great pier and promenade. If you want to eat a casual lunch with a fantastic view of the ocean, try Beach House Tacos. If you want something a little more upscale with more variety, head towards Main Street. Lure Fish House, right off Main St. on California, has amazing fresh seafood, grilled fish and more. After lunch you can take a walk down Main Street, visit the shops and galleries, and finish up at the Mission San Buenaventura.

Evening in Santa Barbara

The afternoon drive from Ventura to Santa Barbara can get busy, so you might want to time it outside of rush hour. It’s only about a 30-minute drive, but it could take longer at the wrong time of day. Just before you get to Santa Barbara, you’ll drive through Montecito. This posh neighborhood is home to the likes of Oprah and a variety of Hollywood celebrities. Many of the estates are too tucked away to get a good look, but you can still see some gorgeous Mediterranean-style homes. 

Once you get to Santa Barbara, make your way to State Street – a great place to spend your evening. If it’s too early for dinner, wander around a bit and check out some of the shopping; you’ll find vintage stores, art galleries, book shops and your regular mall shops. Once you’re ready to eat, you won’t have a hard time finding a variety of dining options. Some favorites are Olio e Limone, if you like upscale Italian food, or the Wine Cask for an all-around fine dining experience. If you just want a quick bite or you’re looking for a budget choice, check out Lilly’s Tacos – a local favorite! After dinner you’ll be in walking distance to plenty of nightlife. Whether you’re into craft beer, night clubs or swanky cocktails, you’ll find it all in downtown SB.

Budget tip: Santa Barbara hotels can be pricey. If you’re looking for a less expensive option, stay 15 minutes south in Carpinteria.

**If you plan on staying an extra day or two in Santa Barbara, you’ll love East Beach and Stearns Wharf if you want some time on the coast. If you’re into history and architecture, visit the Santa Barbara County Courthouse and the Mission.

Day 2 – Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo, 120 Miles:

Pastries in Solvang

On day 2 of your California coast road trip, you’ll veer off the 1 for a bit in order to visit the Danish town of Solvang. This is a quaint little can’t-miss village, and a perfect stop for some Danish pastries and a walk around town. Head north on the 101 from Santa Barbara, and make sure you stay on the 101 when Hwy 1 splits off from it. At Buellton you’ll see the turn off to Solvang.

This small town was founded in the early 1900s by Danish settlers. Most of the businesses are along Mission St. and if you take a stroll along it, you’ll find Danish looking architecture, a statue of the Little Mermaid that’s a replica of the one in Copenhagen, cute shops and several Danish bakeries. My personal favorite is Olsen’s. This is a great stop for coffee and a pastry. If you’re like us, you’ll get a box of goodies to take on the road with you, too! If you feel like staying a little longer, there’s a Hans Christian Anderson Museum, a great Christmas store and the Mission Santa Inés.

When you leave Solvang, get back on the 101 north, then take the 135 to get back to Hwy 1. You’ll stay on the highway all the way to Pismo Beach. If you feel like stopping along the way, try the little town of Guadalupe. There are amazing sand dunes at the beach here, and it’s been the filming location of several movies!

Beachside Lunch in Pismo Beach

Pismo Beach is your quintessential California beach town. The picturesque, brightly-painted beach cottages all have surfboards and wetsuits on the porches. Take some time to walk along the beach or out on the pier. Lunch spots abound, but my favorite place to eat in Pismo Beach is the Ventana Grill because of its unparalleled view. As the name suggests, one side of the restaurant is a giant window facing the ocean. This is a great place to spot whales! And the food is good, too. For a more budget conscious choice, get in line with the locals at Splash Café for some clam chowder – you won’t regret it.

Wine Tasting in the Edna Valley

After Pismo, instead of continuing straight into San Luis Obispo, take the 227 through the Edna Valley for some wine tasting! This wine growing area is not as famous as Napa Valley, but Californians know that this often-underrated region has great wines without that Napa Valley price tag! My personal favorite winery here is Kynsi.  If you want to do some serious wine tasting, you might want to check into your hotel in San Luis Obispo and take a chauffeured tour to avoid drinking and driving. Or, if you’re extending this trip, this would be a great all-day activity! Many wineries will let you picnic on their grounds and it makes for a fun day.

San Luis Obispo

SLO is a unique place; it’s a mix of college town and beach community, with upscale restaurants and fabulous wineries. Spend some time exploring here; visit the campus of Cal Poly SLO, walk around the historic downtown and see the Mission, or do some wine tasting. If you have your kids with you, SLO has a Children’s Museum and a Railroad Museum.  If you’re spending just one evening, there’s no shortage of restaurants here. Luna Red restaurant has a great décor, delicious food and is located right downtown. If you have a hard time finding a budget hotel in San Luis Obispo, nearby Arroyo Grande is a great alternative.

Day 3 – San Luis Obispo to Cambria, 33 miles:

Yes, this leg of the California coast road trip is only 33 miles of driving. That’s because there is SO MUCH to see and do in this area. I suggest a combination of beach and sight-seeing. It’s probably easiest to spend the night in Cambria, whatever you choose to do during the day.

The Beach

 Start driving north from San Luis Obispo and stop in Morro Bay. If you go to Morro Bay State Park, you can walk along the beach and see an abundance of wildlife. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch the otters playing! The views here of Morro Rock are spectacular.

Next, make your way to Cayucos. Cayucos State Beach is my favorite beach in this whole area. It’s super family-friendly (and dog-friendly!). The town of Cayucos is a traditional California beach town, but to me it feels different from its neighbors on the central coast. It’s got a little more of a “small town” vibe. There are plenty of lunch places, or you could bring a picnic to the beach and plan to spend the day there. You may not intend to spend the day there, but just stop by, realize how absolutely gorgeous this beach is, and stay all day!

Cambria and Hearst Castle

If luxury, glamour, old Hollywood and awe-inspiring architecture aren’t your thing, then you may want to skip this one. Just kidding! Hearst Castle is like nothing else in the U.S. I really mean that. I highly recommend taking a tour. If you want to combine some of the options for this part of the trip, spend the day at the beach and then take a night time tour. The 60,000 square foot castle is beautifully lit at night, and they even have a tour where actors in period dress hang out in the various rooms just like they might have in the 30s! San Simeon, where the castle is located, is about 15 minutes north of Cambria.

**Side note: If you’re into to the eccentric and offbeat, check out Nitt Witt Ridge. This house was built mostly out of trash and natural materials, by a local artist in the early 20^th century. Now it’s open for tours, but even if you don’t stop, it’s worth a drive-by!

Day 4 – Cambria to Big Sur, 88 miles:

This leg of the California coast road trip is hands-down the most scenic. It’s also the most winding road on the trip and the place where there are most likely to be road closures if there’s been a lot of bad weather, so check the road info before you start. Also, you will lose cell service, so you may want to take pictures of your maps (or even, gasp, buy a map!). There’s only one road, so it’s not that you’ll get lost, but it helps to know where you want to stop.

Don’t be deceived by the fact that this drive is under 100 miles. It will take you most of the day if you do it right. There are so many places to stop whether to admire the view, see wildlife, hike or take pictures… you will be stopping quite often! So will everyone else, so be prepared for some slower driving. Pack snacks, fill up your gas tank (seriously, gas is scarce and expensive on this route) and make a day of it!

Leaving Cambria, head straight north towards Big Sur. I’ll note some of my favorite places to stop, but I’m sure you’ll find more. Central coast connoisseurs would probably have a lot more to add, so do your research if you plan on spending a significant amount of time here. Something I try to do when I drive here is make sure I time it right so that I get to one of the more iconic spots to watch the sunset. These are my favorite places on this journey:

• Ragged Point – great views and hiking.
• Limekiln State Park – hiking to the lime kilns and/or waterfalls. This is a fun one with kids.
• Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park (McWay Falls) – Do Not Miss! It’s a short hike out along the cliff side, for one of the best views in the area. The falls go right into the ocean. You will see plenty of people here, including professional photographers, waiting for sunset.
• Henry Miller Memorial Library – If you’re a literary enthusiast, this quirky little collection might interest you. The (not a real) library is a good place to get some coffee and feel transported to a different time and place.
• Nepenthe – this restaurant is another favorite for watching the sunset. You’ll have to wait if you want a table with the best views, but it will be worth it!
• Bixby Bridge – there’s more than one historic bridge on this road, and they’re all stunning. Bixby is a California landmark; you’ll want to pull over and get shots of the bridge as well as the view from this area. It’s a bit north of Big Sur, so you might want to catch it on your way out in the morning.

Staying the night in Big Sur can be challenging if you’re on a budget. However, there are some less expensive hotel/motel options, such as Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn or the Big Sur Lodge. If you want Luxury then Post Ranch or the Ventana Inn are the way to go (or so I’m told by everyone who has way more money than I do!). We tend to camp, but the campgrounds fill up fast, so make reservations far in advance.

Day 5 – Big Sur to Monterey, 25 miles:

This is the last leg of the trip, and it brings you to the renowned and captivating towns of Carmel and Monterey. I suggest you get up and drive into Carmel for breakfast. My family loves the Little Swiss Café for it’s delicious blintzes and adorable old European décor. However, you really can’t go wrong with breakfast/brunch almost anywhere in Carmel.

17-Mile Drive

After breakfast, drive the famous 17-mile drive through Pebble Beach. There is a per-vehicle charge, so bring snacks or a picnic, your binoculars and a camera, and make the most of it! You’ll get a map with a description of the stops along the drive, but it takes you through a forest, a swanky neighborhood, past world-famous golf courses, and along a beautiful stretch of beach that is only accessible through this drive.  It could take you a couple hours if you stop often. You’ll be able to relax at the beach, observe seals and other marine life and take your requisite photo of the Lone Cypress.

Carmel

After your drive, the town of Carmel offers shopping, restaurants and a beautiful mission. If missions aren’t your thing, and you haven’t stopped at any of the others that I mentioned on this trip, Carmel’s may be the one you want to make an exception for. The Basilica San Carlos de Borromeo de Carmelo is the second of the California missions, and it is still in use today. It houses museum galleries and the remains of Father Junipero Serra. The grounds are also lovely.

Monterey

I would suggest staying the night in Monterey and adding a sixth day to explore a little more. Monterey has everything from luxury hotels to B&Bs to budget choices. If you like the B&B experience, I highly recommend the Jabberwock Inn. The view, ambience and décor are hard to match. If you’re looking to save, I recommend the Best Western Dunes Inn in nearby Marina. It’s right on the sand dunes and there’s a lovely trail to the beach from the hotel.

There are so many great things to do in Monterey, you’d have to try hard not to enjoy yourself here! If you have kids with you, they will love the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Make sure you find out the feeding times for the penguins and the otters – it’s hugely entertaining and the cuteness is almost too much to bear! Also make sure to check out the Old Fisherman’s Wharf and Cannery Row. If you like to be active, rent bikes or walk some of the 18-mile Monterey Coastal Trail. I don’t golf so I can’t make any recommendations, but I know Monterey is a hugely popular golf destination as well.

It’s hard to write a comprehensive guide to a California Coast Road Trip, because it could easily be a book, but having driven this route on my own and with family at least 10 times over the years, I’ve included my favorite spots and places where I’ve actually stayed and eaten. If you have any favorite spots or trip suggestions I’d love to hear about them in the comments!

Lastly, if you’ve got a longer stay in California, check out some of my posts on San Diego and L.A.!