Best Stops Between Los Angeles and San Francisco
One of the recommendations we received before heading to California, was if we were going to do a road trip, fly into either San Francisco or LAX and fly out to whichever direction your outbound flight takes you. So we did just that! We flew into Los Angeles, and after four days of discovering the City of Angels, we picked up our rental car and started our road trip to San Francisco!
Below I am going to list the best stops (and their coordinates) to discover on your next road trip on the Pacific Coast Highway! Some of these places I was able to explore, and others I found during my research -- hope you gather some great inspiration for your future road trip! The Pacific Coast Highway is a drive that should be done, the views are unbelievable. If you have done the drive and you reckon a place should be added on this list, comment below!
Travelling to Los Angeles next? Check out my blog post where I recapped our four days in El Segundo and Los Angeles!
Detailed map found at the bottom of this blog post.
Point Dume, Malibu (34.00167, -118.80689)
2. El Matador Beach, Malibu (34.03804, -118.87466)
Photo by Roberto Nickson via Unsplash. Check out his YouTube channel!
3. Solvang (34.59582, -120.13764) - Cute Scandinavian village
Photo by Anthony Fomin via Unsplash
4. Morro Bay (35.36594, -120.84999)
Take a walk along the downtown of this small seaside town.
Photo by Roxana Rangel from My Travelling Backpack
5. Hearst Castle, San Simeon (35.6852, -121.16822)
Photo by Don Stouder via Unsplash
6. Elephant Seal Vista Point, San Simeon (35.66296, -121.25772)
If you have never seen an Elephant Seal, then you better make a stop and see these beautiful animals!
April and May are the busiest months for the seals in this area!
Photo by Roxana Rangel from My Travelling Backpack
7. Ragged Point Vista Point, Big Sur (35.78132, -121.32989)
Photo by Genevieve Perron-Migneron via Unsplash
9. Pick up some food, take a break from driving and park anywhere along the Cabrillo Highway where you have a view overlooking the vast ocean! It deserves a moment to take it all in!
We stopped at Nepenthe (36.22183, -121.75928) for lunch. I would recommend having your own food and enjoy a picnic, as lunch anywhere along this highway will be pricey due to the breathtaking views.
10. Bixby Creek Bridge, Big Sur (36.37163, -121.90184)
Photo by Roxana Rangel from My Travelling Backpack
11. McAbee Beach, Monterey (36.61565, -121.8995)
Photo by Roxana Rangel from My Travelling Backpack
12. Old Fisherman's Wharf, Monterey (36.60366, -121.89331)
Photo by Roxana Rangel from My Travelling Backpack
13. Wild Mustard Fieldm, Half Moon Bay (37.41159, -122.42268)
Photo by Jess from A Passion and A Passport, check out her blog post that has full details about visiting the Mustard Field!
14. Half Moon Bay Beach (37.47924, -122.44957)
As you get near to Half Moon Bay, there will be plenty of opportunities to stop and admire the ocean. Since we were driving from Morro Bay up to San Francisco, the golden hour was approaching and we were able to soak up the last rays of sun and watch the sky catch on fire!
Photo by Roxana Rangel from My Travelling Backpack
15. Point Lobos, San Francisco (37.7811, -122.5143)
This area is absolutely beautiful with the waves crashing against big rocks. This is definitely a spot in San Francisco you should explore!
Photo by Roxana Rangel from My Travelling Backpack