# Los Angeles to San Francisco in 2 Days: The Pacific Coast Highway Source: https://driftkin.app/trips/los-angeles-to-san-francisco-2-day-pacific-coast-highway · Fact-checked against official sources · Updated 15 Oct 2026 **Quick answer:** Los Angeles to San Francisco is 465 miles and about 9 hours 15 minutes of driving, planned as a 2-day trip. No tolls are estimated on the route. Highlights: Bixby Creek Bridge: the 1932 concrete arch that defines Big Sur; El Matador State Beach: Malibu pocket beach with sea stacks; Piedras Blancas: elephant seals lounging beside Highway 1. Best months: April to June and September to October. Driving difficulty: moderate. Malibu sea stacks, a wharf lunch, elephant seals, Bixby Bridge, a Carmel bakery and a Santa Cruz sea arch on the way to the Golden Gate A two-day, one-way Highway 1 drive from the Santa Monica Pier to the Golden Gate Bridge, with an overnight in San Simeon, the Big Sur coast on Day 2, and no tolls. Highway 1 through Big Sur has closed often, so the dated conditions and an inland fallback are included. - Road trip: Los Angeles to San Francisco, CA - Length: 2 days - Total distance: 465.4 mi - Driving time: 9 h 15 min - Estimated tolls: $0 - Driving: Moderate - Best months: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct - Budget: $$$ ## Highlights - Bixby Creek Bridge: the 1932 concrete arch that defines Big Sur - El Matador State Beach: Malibu pocket beach with sea stacks - Piedras Blancas: elephant seals lounging beside Highway 1 ## Why drive Los Angeles to San Francisco Most people who plan a Pacific Coast Highway drive picture one thing: a ribbon of road hanging above a blue-green ocean, a concrete arch bridge in the frame. The reality is a two-act road trip. Act one is the long, sun-baked run north from Los Angeles, where Highway 1 along the Malibu shoreline gives way to freeways that keep you within sight of the sea. Act two, starting at San Simeon, is the true coast road, where the traffic thins, the curves tighten and every turnout is a postcard. This plan splits the drive at San Simeon so that both days have room to stop. Day one is the "getting there" day: an early start at the Santa Monica Pier, a walk down to a pocket beach in Malibu, lunch on Santa Barbara's Stearns Wharf, a quick leg-stretch at Pismo Beach, and then the Piedras Blancas elephant seals, a beach where elephant seals loll in the sand within sight of the highway. You sleep beside the Pacific in San Simeon. Day two is the one you came for. Highway 1 climbs out of San Simeon and into Big Sur, past the turnout for McWay Falls (an optional stop if it is open) to the 1932 Bixby Creek Bridge, then drops into Carmel-by-the-Sea, whose bakery dates its founding to 1899. From there the route heads up Monterey Bay to Natural Bridges State Beach in Santa Cruz, and finally follows Highway 1 north through Half Moon Bay and Pacifica, then across San Francisco's Richmond district to the south end of the Golden Gate Bridge. The bridge itself is only tolled southbound, so arriving from the south costs nothing. The honest caveat is that this is a long drive with one fragile section. Highway 1 through Big Sur has been closed by winter-storm slides and, this year, by wildfire, and the most recent conditions, wildfire aftermath and roadwork, are spelled out in the dated conditions block in the tips below. Check Caltrans before you leave and keep the inland fallback in mind. Stop lists like this one are also compressed on purpose: ten hours of driving is real, so each stop here earns its place with a view, a meal, or a beach worth the pause. ## Los Angeles to San Francisco 2-day road trip itinerary, day by day ### Day 1: Santa Monica to San Simeon: Malibu, Santa Barbara and the elephant seals An early start at the pier takes you up the Malibu shoreline to El Matador's sea stacks, then to lunch over the water on Stearns Wharf, a long US-101 stretch with a Pismo Beach break, and finally Highway 1 past Morro Bay to the elephant seals at Piedras Blancas and an oceanfront night in San Simeon. #### Start in Santa Monica at the pier (7:30 AM) Begin at the foot of the Santa Monica Pier, where the Pacific Park Ferris wheel gives the trip its first postcard shot and the pier itself is open around the clock. Fill the tank and grab a coffee before leaving: the first leg is the Pacific Coast Highway through Malibu and there is little reason to stop again until the sand at El Matador. The 7:30 am departure is deliberate. It puts you on the Malibu stretch before the beach crowds and gets you to the state beach just after its lot opens at 8. - Time needed: 15 minutes to fuel up and depart; any Santa Monica address works as a start Place: Santa Monica Pier · 200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA 90401 · Hours: Pier open 24 hours (official site) · https://www.santamonicapier.org/ #### Santa Monica to El Matador State Beach (7:45 AM) This is the classic Pacific Coast Highway: Highway 1 runs along the Malibu shoreline with the ocean on the left and the Santa Monica Mountains on the right. Traffic lights and slow beach-town traffic eat time here more than on any other part of the day. - Distance: 24.3 mi - Drive time: 38 min - Estimated toll: $0 #### El Matador State Beach: sea stacks and sea caves (8:30 AM) El Matador is one of three pocket beaches (with La Piedra and El Pescador) that make up Robert H. Meyer Memorial State Beach on the west end of Malibu. A path and stairs drop from the bluff to a cove of sea stacks and arches, the kind of Southern California beach that looks nothing like the pier you left an hour ago. Wander the sand and the rocks near the water line, then climb back up. Parking is limited and on the blufftop, and California State Parks lists the park as day-use only from 8 am to sunset, so this stop is timed right at opening. Dogs are not allowed at the park, per State Parks. - Best time: Morning, when the lot opens; low tide gives more sand and rocks to explore - Time needed: About an hour including the walk down and back up the bluff stairs Place: El Matador State Beach (Robert H. Meyer Memorial State Beach) · Pacific Coast Highway (CA-1), west Malibu (State Parks publishes no street number), Malibu, CA 90265 · Hours: Day-use parking 8:00 AM to sunset (California State Parks) · https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=633 #### El Matador to Santa Barbara (9:30 AM) Highway 1 peels away from the coast at Oxnard and joins US-101, which then hugs the shoreline through Ventura and Carpinteria. Expect long stretches of freeway with ocean glimpses on the left and a wall of surf-town exits. - Distance: 61.1 mi - Drive time: 1 h 7 min - Estimated toll: $0 #### Lunch on Stearns Wharf: Santa Barbara Shellfish Company (10:45 AM) Stearns Wharf, at the foot of State Street, is a working pier lined with restaurants, shops and a small museum, and it makes an easy walk-out-and-back after a long freeway leg. Santa Barbara Shellfish Company sits on the wharf and specializes in seafood; the local tourism board's own page singles out its sea urchin. Arrive about 10:45, walk to the end of the wharf and back, and sit down when it opens at 11 am. Visit Santa Barbara says wharf parking is free for the first 90 minutes and then hourly (see Current conditions). Place: Santa Barbara Shellfish Company · 230 Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara, CA 93101 · http://www.shellfishco.com/ #### Santa Barbara to Pismo Beach (12:15 PM) The longest stretch of the day is mostly US-101: over Gaviota Pass, through the Santa Ynez foothills and Santa Maria, then back to the ocean at Pismo Beach. It is a good place to let a passenger drive, or to plan the rest break that follows. - Distance: 94.6 mi - Drive time: 1 h 38 min - Estimated toll: $0 #### Rest and fuel break at Pismo Beach Pier (2:00 PM) A breather roughly halfway through the day's driving. Pismo Beach's pier and beach are right off Highway 1/US-101 and are handy for stretching legs, fuel, and a look at the ocean before the coast road north. Nothing here is scheduled: it is a 25-minute pause so no leg runs more than about two hours. - Time needed: 25-minute rest and fuel break Place: Pismo Beach Pier · Pismo Beach Pier, foot of Pomeroy Ave, Pismo Beach, CA 93449 · Hours: Open daily #### Pismo Beach to the Piedras Blancas elephant seals (2:25 PM) US-101 climbs through San Luis Obispo before Highway 1 begins in earnest at Morro Bay. From there the road follows the shoreline through Cambria and San Simeon, with open ranchland ahead. - Distance: 59.3 mi - Drive time: 1 h 10 min - Estimated toll: $0 #### Elephant seals at Piedras Blancas (3:35 PM) A short boardwalk-and-trail viewing area beside Highway 1 looks down on a beach crowded with northern elephant seals, sprawled, sparring or napping in heaps of sand and blubber. Volunteer docents are often on hand to explain what the animals are doing. The seals are present through much of the year but the mix changes: Friends of the Elephant Seal names late January (births), early May (molting) and late October (juvenile haul-out) as its three peak times. Admission is free with no reservations, there are no restrooms at the viewing area, and it can be cold and windy in the afternoon, so keep a jacket in the car. Keep to the designated viewing areas: these are wild animals. - Best time: Late January (births), early May (molt) and late October (juvenile haul-out) are the listed peaks - Time needed: 30-60 minutes; longer during peak seasons Place: Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Vista Point · Highway 1 (Elephant Seal Vista Point), about 4 miles north of the Hearst Castle entrance, San Simeon, CA 93452 · Hours: Viewing areas open daily (Friends of the Elephant Seal) · https://www.elephantseal.org/ #### Elephant seals to San Simeon (4:20 PM) A ten-minute hop back south along Highway 1 to tonight's oceanfront hotel. The sun is low over the water along this stretch in the late afternoon. - Distance: 7.7 mi - Drive time: 10 min - Estimated toll: $0 #### Overnight in San Simeon: Cavalier Oceanfront Resort (4:30 PM) San Simeon is the natural halfway point of the trip: it is about 4.7 hours of driving from Santa Monica, it sits a few miles south of the elephant seals, and it is the last easy overnight before the remote Big Sur coast. The Cavalier is the only oceanfront hotel in San Simeon by its own account, with oceanfront rooms and patios, heated pools, fire pits, and an on-site restaurant, Cavalier Coastal Kitchen. Dinner here or in nearby Cambria keeps tomorrow's early start easy. Rates are not shown on the hotel's page: check current rates and book direct. Place: Cavalier Oceanfront Resort · 9415 Hearst Drive, San Simeon, CA 93452 · https://www.cavalierresort.com/ ### Day 2: San Simeon to San Francisco: Big Sur, Carmel and the coast road north The famous half of the trip: Highway 1 through Big Sur to Bixby Bridge, lunch at a Carmel bakery founded in 1899, Natural Bridges in Santa Cruz, and the coastal run north through Half Moon Bay to the Golden Gate Bridge. #### San Simeon to Bixby Creek Bridge (8:00 AM) This is Highway 1 at its best and slowest: cliff-hugging curves, sea-facing turnouts and long empty miles past Ragged Point and through the length of Big Sur, with redwood canyons, the Pfeiffer Big Sur area and the McWay Falls overlook along the way. The time assumes normal traffic; slow campers and photo stops are the usual reason the real drive takes longer. There is little fuel for long stretches, so fill up before leaving San Simeon. See the Current conditions block in the tips for one-way construction traffic control near Rocky Creek Bridge, close to Bixby, which the computed time does not include. - Distance: 78.8 mi - Drive time: 1 h 34 min - Estimated toll: $0 #### Bixby Creek Bridge (10:30 AM) Bixby Creek Bridge is a reinforced-concrete arch that opened in 1932, 714 feet long and about 280 feet above the creek, according to Wikipedia. It is a widely photographed landmark of the Big Sur coast. The most popular view is from the pullouts on the north side of Highway 1; stay on the pullouts, do not stop in the road, and follow posted parking rules on the Old Coast Road side, where parking has been restricted since 2024 because of congestion. Give it 20 minutes and keep moving: there is a lot of coast left. - Best time: Morning light is clear; late-day fog can hide the view - Time needed: 20 minutes at the pullouts Place: Bixby Creek Bridge · CA-1, about 13 miles south of Carmel, Big Sur, CA 93920 · Hours: Roadside pullouts; no posted hours #### Bixby Bridge to Carmel-by-the-Sea (10:50 AM) The road leaves the wild coast behind, passes Point Lobos and Carmel Highlands, and drops into Carmel-by-the-Sea's grid of cottages and cypress. Watch for pedestrians and stop signs in town. - Distance: 15.1 mi - Drive time: 20 min - Estimated toll: $0 #### Lunch in Carmel-by-the-Sea: Carmel Bakery (11:20 AM) Carmel Bakery, on Ocean Avenue between Dolores and Lincoln Streets, calls itself California's oldest bakery still in its original location and dates its founding to 1899, according to its own site. The menu is built for a road-trip lunch: sandwiches (meatball, mortadella and pistachio, Italian hero, Cubano), giant pretzels, house-made gelato and pastries. It is cards only, so bring a card. After eating, walk the length of Ocean Avenue down to the beach at the end of the street for a look at the white sand and cypress before you head north. Place: Carmel Bakery · Ocean Avenue between Dolores and Lincoln Streets, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA 93921 · Hours: Weekdays 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM; weekends 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM; winter hours may vary (official site) · http://chefpepe.com/carmel-bakery/ #### Carmel to Santa Cruz (12:35 PM) A brisk, mostly freeway leg: Highway 1 through Monterey, past the sand dunes at Marina and across the artichoke and strawberry fields of Monterey Bay, ending at Santa Cruz. - Distance: 48.6 mi - Drive time: 56 min - Estimated toll: $0 #### Natural Bridges State Beach, Santa Cruz (1:40 PM) A wave-carved sea arch, a family-friendly beach and tide pools, on the west edge of Santa Cruz. California State Parks calls the park an excellent spot for shore birds, migrating whales, seals and otters, and for tide pool exploring at low tide. From late fall into winter the park's Monarch Grove is a temporary home to overwintering monarch butterflies. Walk the beach toward the arch, check the tide pools and get back to the car within the hour: San Francisco is still nearly two hours away. Dogs are not allowed. - Best time: Low tide for tide pools; monarch season from about Oct into winter - Time needed: About an hour for the beach and arch; more for tide pools Place: Natural Bridges State Beach · 2531 W Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 · Hours: Park hours 8 AM to sunset; visitor center 11 AM to 4 PM (daily Oct 1 to Jan 31; Friday through Monday Feb 1 to Sep 30) (California State Parks) · https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=541 #### Santa Cruz to the Golden Gate Bridge (via Half Moon Bay and Pacifica) (2:40 PM) The scenic finish: Highway 1 north from Santa Cruz along the coast through Pescadero and Half Moon Bay, then through Pacifica, onto 19th Avenue across San Francisco, and to the south end of the Golden Gate Bridge. Slow traffic and weekend crowds in Half Moon Bay can make this leg longer than the computed time; allow buffer. - Distance: 75.9 mi - Drive time: 1 h 42 min - Estimated toll: $0 #### Finale at the Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center (5:00 PM) The trip ends at the south end of the Golden Gate Bridge, where the Welcome Center has exhibits, a store and the 12-foot stainless-steel test tower from 1933, plus the classic view of the red towers. Walk out onto the bridge sidewalk or just look up at it from the plaza, then continue to your San Francisco hotel or Fisherman's Wharf. The Welcome Center is open daily 9 am to 6 pm; the schedule reaches it about 16:34 and starts the visit at 17:00, leaving a buffer for Half Moon Bay and city traffic. Parking here is limited: read the district's 'Park Smart' pages before you go. - Best time: Late afternoon; fog often covers the bridge - Time needed: 40 minutes for the center and the bridge view Place: Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center · Golden Gate Bridge Plaza (south end), San Francisco, CA 94129 · Hours: Daily 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (Golden Gate Bridge District) · https://www.goldengate.org/bridge/visiting-the-bridge/ ## Where to stay in Cambria ### Cambria Pines Lodge A forested lodge in Cambria, a few minutes from Moonstone Beach and Fiscalini Ranch Preserve by its own description, with a heated outdoor pool, jetted spa, gardens and an on-site restaurant. It is an alternative to the oceanfront Cavalier for anyone who prefers to stay in Cambria. Place: Cambria Pines Lodge · 2905 Burton Dr, Cambria, CA 93428 · https://www.cambriapineslodge.com/ ### Blue Dolphin Inn, Moonstone Beach (Cambria) A boutique inn on Moonstone Beach Drive that is part of the Cambria Inns collection, which lists complimentary breakfast at all of its properties. An alternative for travelers who prefer to stay in Cambria rather than San Simeon. Place: Blue Dolphin Inn · 6470 Moonstone Beach Drive, Cambria, CA 93428 · https://www.cambriainns.com/ ## Where to eat in Big Sur ### Nepenthe, Big Sur An optional lunch or dinner stop on Highway 1 in the middle of Big Sur. Nepenthe's own site lists it open daily 11:30 am to 10:00 pm (lunch 11:30 to 4:30, dinner from 5) and adjacent to Cafe Kevah and the Phoenix Shop. On the schedule above you pass it at about 10:20, before it opens, so use it only if you swap Carmel Bakery for an early Big Sur lunch or stay another night in Big Sur. Place: Nepenthe · 48510 Highway One, Big Sur, CA 93920 · Hours: Daily 11:30 AM to 10:00 PM (lunch 11:30-4:30, dinner 5:00-10:00), per its official site · https://www.phoenixshopbigsur.com/ ## More options near Los Angeles to San Francisco ### Optional Big Sur stop: McWay Falls overlook (9:20 AM) McWay Falls is the 80-foot waterfall that spills onto a sandy cove in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park (State Parks' description), and the classic Big Sur photograph is from the short overlook reached from the park's parking area. There is no beach or ocean access at the falls and fenced cliff areas are off limits: this is a look-only stop. State Parks lists the park as open 8 am to sunset. Because the park's status can change with fire and road conditions, read the Current conditions block before you count on this stop. - Best time: Morning light; check conditions first - Time needed: 40 minutes for the walk to the overlook, photos and the walk back Place: McWay Falls Overlook (Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park) · CA-1, 37 miles south of Carmel, Big Sur, CA 93920 · Hours: Park hours 8 AM to sunset (California State Parks) · https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=578 ### Optional: Hearst Castle tour Hearst Castle, a California State Park on the hill above San Simeon, offers several guided tours (Grand Rooms, Upstairs Suites, Cottages and Kitchen, Designing the Dream, Julia Morgan), and the official site recommends booking in advance. It does not fit the two-day schedule without a third day or dropping the Carmel/Santa Cruz stops, but it is the obvious add-on if you stay a second night near San Simeon. - Reservation needed - Time needed: Tour-dependent; not scheduled in this itinerary Place: Hearst Castle · 750 Hearst Castle Road, San Simeon, CA 93452 · Hours: Tour times on the reservation system · https://www.hearstcastle.org/ ### Fallback: inland route if Highway 1 in Big Sur is closed If Highway 1 through Big Sur is closed, the inland fallback from San Simeon to Carmel is CA-1 south to Cambria, CA-46 east to Paso Robles, then US-101 north through Salinas and CA-68/CA-1 to Carmel. That route is about 155 miles and 2h48m with no tolls, versus the coastal 94 miles and 1h54m (Cavalier to Carmel via the McWay and Bixby legs). All the way from San Simeon to the Golden Gate Bridge by US-101 is about 243 miles and 4h15m. Always check Caltrans QuickMap (quickmap.dot.ca.gov) before you commit to the coast. - Time needed: Adds roughly 54 minutes and 61 miles to the San Simeon to Carmel segment; skips Bixby Bridge and the Big Sur coast ## Los Angeles to San Francisco road trip tips ## Route, timing and weekday assumptions - **Assumed weekday:** a Saturday departure. Every scheduled stop is open at the planned time on a Saturday (Carmel Bakery is open weekends 7 am to 8 pm; the Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center is open daily 9 am to 6 pm; parks list 8 am to sunset). - **Why two days:** the pure driving time is 555 minutes (9 hours 15 minutes) over 465.4 miles, well over the roughly 8-hour limit for a single day. Day 1 is 247.0 miles and 283 minutes (4h43m) of driving; Day 2 is 218.4 miles and 272 minutes (4h32m). Times are typical drive times without live traffic and do not include the construction traffic control listed below. - **Tolls:** none on any leg (toll_usd 0 on every leg). The Golden Gate Bridge toll ($10.25 FasTrak, $10.50 license-plate/one-time payment for a 2-axle vehicle, effective July 1, 2026) is collected only southbound into San Francisco; this route stops at the south end and never crosses it. If you continue north across the bridge and later come back south you will pay then. - **Difficulty (driving demand): moderate.** Long total mileage, plus the Big Sur section of Highway 1 is narrow, winding and cliff-edge with limited fuel and cell signal. Slower traffic and turnouts are the norm there. Fill up at San Simeon or Cambria. - **Best months:** spring (April to June) and early fall (September to October) balance daylight, weather and road access. Winter storms are the usual cause of Big Sur slides, and late summer and fall can bring wildfire, so check conditions in any month. All scheduled stops end well before sunset on the itinerary's timing (San Francisco arrival about 5 pm). - **Departure times:** 7:30 am on Day 1 (to reach El Matador as its lot opens at 8 and to reach the seals with daylight), 8:00 am on Day 2 (so Bixby Bridge is done by mid-morning even with a Rocky Creek traffic-control wait, and San Francisco is reached before sunset). - **Getting home:** this is one-way. San Francisco has an international airport; a rental car can usually be returned one-way for a fee. ## Current conditions (as of 2026-10-01) - **Highway 1:** Caltrans's Highway 1 report (updated 2026-10-01, 3:45 PM) lists no closures. One-way controlled traffic continues at Rocky Creek Bridge, 15.7 miles south of Monterey, through 2026-11-30 because of construction, so expect waits near Bixby Bridge that the drive times do not include. The Big Sur Chamber of Commerce says "Highway One is now fully open through Big Sur" (2026-09-14). - **Wildfires:** The Timber Fire (started 2026-08-08) was about 25,400 acres and 59 percent contained as of 2026-09-21 (Wikipedia); it closed parts of Highway 1 earlier. California State Parks lists Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park closed until further notice (notice dated 2026-09-15; not on this itinerary). Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park (McWay Falls, an optional stop) is partially open: day-use areas and restrooms are open, backcountry trails east of Highway 1 are closed, and the McWay Falls beach and shoreline are closed. If the overlook is closed, keep going: Bixby Bridge is a roadside viewpoint. - **Fees (California State Parks, as of 2026-09-30):** El Matador (Robert H. Meyer Memorial State Beach) vehicle day use $10, hourly $3; Julia Pfeiffer Burns vehicle day use $10; Natural Bridges vehicle day use $10. Prices may change. Visit Santa Barbara says the 141 spaces on Stearns Wharf are free for the first 90 minutes, then $2.50 per additional hour or part with a $20 daily maximum. - **Nepenthe (option):** its site says it resumed normal operations after the Timber Fire (northern Highway 1 closure lifted September 3, 2026). - **Fallback:** see the inland route in the options; use Caltrans QuickMap (quickmap.dot.ca.gov) and the Big Sur Chamber's Highway 1 page before leaving each morning. ## Practical tips - Cell service is patchy along Big Sur; download maps before Day 2 and fill the tank in San Simeon or Cambria. - The Big Sur section has few restaurants and limited lodging; if you want a slower trip, stay a night in Big Sur or Carmel and treat Day 2 as a two-day leg. - Bring a jacket for the seals and the Golden Gate Bridge; the coast is often windy and foggy. - Elephant seals and other wildlife are wild: stay on the designated viewing areas. ## Los Angeles to San Francisco road trip FAQ **How long is the Los Angeles to San Francisco drive?** 465 miles and about 9 hours 15 minutes of driving time, planned over 2 days. Drive times are typical figures without live traffic and do not include stops. **Are there tolls on the Los Angeles to San Francisco route?** No tolls are estimated on any leg of this route. Toll amounts are estimates, so check the toll operator before you go. **When is the best time for the Los Angeles to San Francisco drive?** The best months are April to June and September to October. Spring (April to June) and early fall (September to October) balance daylight, weather and road access. Winter storms are the usual cause of Big Sur slides, and late summer and fall can bring wildfire, so check conditions in any month. **Where should you stay for the Los Angeles to San Francisco trip?** This itinerary suggests Cambria Pines Lodge and Blue Dolphin Inn. Check current rates and availability before you book. **Where should you eat on this Los Angeles to San Francisco trip?** Places this itinerary uses or suggests include Santa Barbara Shellfish Company, Carmel Bakery and Nepenthe. Opening hours change, so confirm before you go. ## Sources - [Santa Monica Pier official site (address, open 24 hours)](https://www.santamonicapier.org/) - [OpenStreetMap contributors (routing: distance, time and route line)](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright) - [Robert H. Meyer Memorial State Beach (El Matador, La Piedra, El Pescador), California State Parks](https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=633) - [Visit Santa Barbara (official tourism site) mentions the restaurant's sea urchin](https://www.santabarbaraca.com/) - [Visit Santa Barbara: Stearns Wharf page names Santa Barbara Shellfish Company among its restaurants (wharf address 217 Stearns Wharf; wharf parking)](https://www.santabarbaraca.com/things-to-do/stearns-wharf/) - [OpenStreetMap: Santa Barbara Shellfish Company (address and location)](https://www.openstreetmap.org/search?query=Santa%20Barbara%20Shellfish%20Company%20Santa%20Barbara) - [Experience Pismo Beach (official tourism site): Pismo Beach Pier, boardwalk, visitor center phone](https://www.experiencepismobeach.com/) - [OpenStreetMap: Pismo Beach Pier (address and location)](https://www.openstreetmap.org/search?query=Pismo%20Beach%20Pier) - [Friends of the Elephant Seal: viewing location on Hwy 1, 4 miles north of the Hearst Castle entrance](https://elephantseal.org/locations/) - [Friends of the Elephant Seal (free, peak seasons, no restrooms, docents)](https://www.elephantseal.org/) - [Cavalier Oceanfront Resort (official site: address, phone, amenities, restaurant)](https://www.cavalierresort.com/) - [Bixby Creek Bridge (Wikipedia: 1932, 714 ft, ~280 ft height, pullouts, 2024 parking restrictions)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bixby_Creek_Bridge) - [Big Sur Chamber of Commerce: Highway 1 conditions](https://www.bigsurcalifornia.org/highway-1-conditions/) - [Carmel Bakery (official page: address, phone, hours, since 1899, menu, cashless)](http://chefpepe.com/carmel-bakery/) - [Natural Bridges State Beach, California State Parks (hours, fees, arch, tide pools, monarchs, no dogs)](https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=541) - [Golden Gate Bridge tolls: collected southbound only (into San Francisco)](https://www.goldengate.org/bridge/tolls-payment/) - [Golden Gate Bridge Visitor information (Welcome Center hours, phone, test tower)](https://www.goldengate.org/bridge/visiting-the-bridge/) - [Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, California State Parks (hours, McWay Falls description, closed beach areas)](https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=578) - [Cambria Pines Lodge official site (room types and 'from' rates, amenities)](https://www.cambriapineslodge.com/) - [Cambria Pines Lodge contact page (phone 805-927-4200; no street address published)](https://www.cambriapineslodge.com/contact) - [OpenStreetMap: Cambria Pines Lodge (address and location)](https://www.openstreetmap.org/search?query=Cambria%20Pines%20Lodge%20Cambria) - [Cambria Inns (Blue Dolphin Inn: address, phone, complimentary breakfast)](https://www.cambriainns.com/) - [Nepenthe official site (address, hours; nepenthe.com redirects here)](https://www.phoenixshopbigsur.com/) - [Hearst Castle official site (address, tours, phone, reservations)](https://www.hearstcastle.org/) - [Caltrans highway conditions (check before departure)](https://roads.dot.ca.gov/) Distances and drive times are typical figures without live traffic; toll amounts are estimates. Confirm opening hours, fees, permits and closures with the park or business before you go. Plan this trip in the DriftKin app: https://driftkin.app/trips/los-angeles-to-san-francisco-2-day-pacific-coast-highway