Essential Stops On Your Route Along The Pacific Coast Highway

If there is a country where it is worth traveling by car, it is the United States. Far from finding simple functional roads to get from one place to another, these become an experience that allows us to enjoy natural spectacles and places of interest. That is the case with the Pacific Coast Highway.

More and more people are encouraged to cross the country on a road trip . If there is a road that is worth every kilometer it has, that is the one we are going to know. The Pacific Coast Highway is a legendary route opened in the 1930s that stretches across the entire West Coast and Big Sur.

It is an opportunity to get to know all its corners in depth and fully immerse ourselves in American culture. This highway stretches more than 900 kilometers along the beautiful Pacific coast. So get behind the wheel and calmly enjoy all it has to offer to immerse yourself in the Californian spirit.

San Francisco, starting point of the Pacific Coast Highway

Although the road can be traveled in both directions, we are going to take San Francisco as the first stop and start of the route. ‘ The City by the Bay’ is a vibrant city with some of the most beautiful and captivating architecture in the entire United States.

Among the must-sees of this unique city are the iconic Golden Gate, Lombard Street, Fisherman’s Wharf, the Castro district or the Twin Peaks hill. Hop on one of its old streetcars and let San Francisco surprise you.

Monterrey and its beautiful bay

The next stop on our route is Monterrey, whose most popular area is in the docks. Here you can taste the local fish and experience the atmosphere of this city. Its Spanish and Mexican past is very characteristic in the architecture that we observe.

Do not stop approaching the bay of Monterrey. For the price of ten dollars you can access the private road of 17 Mile Drive ,  where you can see the spectacular mansions that the inhabitants have along the coast.

In addition, you will discover a multitude of marine mammals such as otters, seals and bottlenose dolphins. Look out over the Lone Cypress viewpoint and experience one of the most sensational sunsets.

For a romantic evening, you must go to Carmel-by-the-Sea, a few kilometers from Monterrey. A picturesque town full of colorful houses that look like something out of a story, shops, artist galleries and, above all, great restaurants and wineries. Be sure to taste some of the wines from the Californian vineyards.

Big Sur, the heart of the Pacific Coast Highway

At this stop we arrive at the most beautiful places on the road, fully entering the Big Sur region. The Santa Lucia Mountains join the Pacific coast to create a unique natural setting. It is a journey to take it easy, with viewpoints and spaces where you can stop with each meter that you advance.

At this point the Pacific Coast Highway narrows, leaving only one lane in each direction. Speed ​​is also greatly reduced. Everything is designed so as not to miss the landscape and stop the car as many times as you want.

The first area to highlight is the Point Lobos nature reserve. You can enter the park on foot for free or with your vehicle for ten dollars. Stroll along the cliffs and the characteristic cypress trees of Monterrey. Depending on the season, you can see whales and sea lions.

Other places of interest

The impressive Bixby Creek Bridge is one of the most photographed bridges in California. The stage is not for less. Its large arched reinforced concrete arch is its unmistakable hallmark. Stop and observe it closely from different angles.

After crossing it, you enter the Big Sur valley, with extensive forests, restaurants and gas stations. Although some of these restaurants are expensive, an inexpensive place to eat a delicious homemade burger on the grill is Sebastian’s , in San Simeón. They have wine tasting and it is located next to a beautiful pier on the beach.

In this area we can visit Piedras Blancas, where a large colony of elephant seals lives. The viewpoint allows you to observe them from a very short distance.

Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo

Morro Bay is a nice place to rest. Likewise, you can continue to admire the fauna of the place and try the dishes of the area, especially the fish. So you can gather strength to visit the famous mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, founded by the Franciscan friar Junípero Serra in 1772.

Santa Barbara, Malibu and Los Angeles: end of the Pacific Coast Highway

The last places on the road prepare you more and more for the spirit of Los Angeles. First of all, you can stop at Solvang, a small town founded by Danes in 1911 and which is literally a miniature Denmark. It is also highly recommended to stop in Los Olivos to visit its wineries and taste the wines of the Santa Ynez Valley.

Following the route you will reach Santa Bárbara, a mandatory pause if you are interested in visiting another of the missions of Fray Junípero Serra. On the way to Los Angeles you will find the most popular beaches in Malibu: Point Dume, Matador or Zuma. You will be able to admire the incredible mansions on the hill and see the unmistakable lifeguards of the beach.

You can recharge your batteries at the renowned seafood restaurant and brewery Neptune’s Net ,  where it is normal to meet a celebrity. Once you pass Malibu, you will arrive in Los Angeles to live the authentic Californian experience and feel like a movie star.

The Walk of Fame, the Hollywood sign, the Chinese Theater, the Griffith Observatory, Beverly Hills, the County Museum of Art or the bustling Venice waterfront… There are many attractions that await you in the city.

The Pacific Coast Highway ends in San Diego, a city on the border with Mexico and very famous for its gastronomy and its huge zoo.