8 Scenic Road Trip Stops Along The Pacific Coast Highway

Stretching along California's rugged coastline, the Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1) is one of the most scenic drives in the United States. The route winds past seaside towns, dramatic cliffs, and lush forests. From Historic landmarks to natural wonders, these eight stops capture the beauty and character of the California coastline.

Mendocino

Within the redwood forest, high on the ocean bluffs in Northern California, is the small town of Mendocino. Established in the 1850s, its streets are lined with restored Victorian homes and weathered wooden fences that offer a glimpse into its early days of logging. The town later became an artist enclave, known for its galleries and small shops housed in 19th-century buildings. Independent spots like Gallery Bookshop and Patterson's Pub show the community's creative and local spirit.

Visitors can explore the Mendocino Headlands State Park, where trails trace the cliffs above sea caves and coves. At the Kelley House Museum, guided walking tours are offered through Mendocino's historic district, exploring pioneer homes, logging artifacts, and stories of early residents. The Mendocino Woodlands, a nearby CCC-era group camping site built in the 1930s, adds another layer of history and offers hiking trails and swimming opportunities. Meanwhile, the Mendocino Headlands Park trails provide stunning ocean views, seasonal wildflower displays, and interpretive exhibits.

Point Reyes National Seashore

Point Reyes National Seashore in Marin County protects a wild coastal peninsula defined by cliffs, prairie ridges, and grassy headlands. The San Andreas Fault shapes the park's dramatic geography, featuring sweeping sea bluffs, serene estuaries, and habitats for vulnerable animals, including the tule elk and seabirds, as well as coastal wildflowers, all within a short drive from San Francisco. The historic 1870 Point Reyes Lighthouse continues to draw visitors for its maritime legacy and ocean views.

One of the highlights is the Tomales Point Trail, a roughly 9.7-mile round-trip hike that follows the ridge crest, offering excellent elk viewing and stunning coastal panoramas. The Tule Elk Reserve at Tomales Point is open for viewing, and the Pier Point (formerly Pierce Point) Ranch gives a glimpse of the area's dairy ranching past. At Chimney Rock, visitors can also spot migrating gray whales at certain times of the year.

Half Moon Bay

Half Moon Bay's shoreline is a mix of bluff-backed beaches and cypress-framed cliffs, evoking both the coastal wildness and the rural charm of the area. The town's deep agricultural and maritime roots remain visible in its working harbor, where fishing boats return each morning and seafood stands line the pier, like Pelagic Fish Market & Grill, where you can get Dungeness crab, salmon, halibut, and rockfish straight from the local fishing fleet. Pillar Point Harbor, located just north of the town center, supports both commercial and leisure vessels.

For outdoor adventurists, the Half Moon Bay Coastal Trail stretches alongside the ocean, offering opportunities to walk or bike while watching birds, the waves, and seasonal wildflowers. In the colder months, kayakers launch from the harbor, and surfers congregate further north at Mavericks Beach when big swells roll in. For a favorite local dining experience, Sam's Chowder House offers fresh seafood with amazing ocean views, a relaxed, family-run spot.

Cambria

Cambria lies between pine-covered hills and the Pacific Ocean, a quiet community known for its artistic character and coastal scenery. What was once a thriving ranching area back in the 1800s is now a fabulous creative retreat. Downtown streets are filled with art galleries, antique shops like Antiques on Main, with its three floors of antiques, and amazing cafés, offering serious coffee lovers a place to stop in for a freshly brewed drink, such as Cambria Coffee Roasting Company. Cambria also serves as a good base for exploring nearby wineries and coastal trails.

A top attraction is the Moonstone Beach Boardwalk, which offers one of the most scenic seaside walks (a nearly one-mile ADA-accessible path) in California, where visitors can spot whales, otters, and dolphins offshore. Nearby, the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve features ocean-view trails that wind through meadows and forest. There are even plans for an elevated ADA boardwalk in the near future. For a little local flavor, stop at Linn's Family Fruit Farm on Santa Rosa Creek Road, where the famous olallieberry pie and jam are made from locally grown berries.

Bixby Creek Bridge

Bixby Creek Bridge is one of California's most recognizable landmarks. Completed in 1932, this elegant concrete arch bridge spans 714 feet across a deep canyon, north of Big Sur, offering stunning views of the rugged coastline below. The bridge was part of a major effort to connect Big Sur to the rest of California. It remains one of the most photographed bridges in the world and a must-see stop on Highway 1.

Travelers can pull over at several marked turnouts near the bridge. These stops offer views of the cliffs, the arch, and the wide curve of the road as it crosses the canyon. Early morning and sunset are the best times for photos, when soft light catches the curves of the bridge and the colors of the Pacific. Visitors can also explore short nearby trails for different vantage points, including the old Coast Road, a rough route that predates the bridge.

Big Sur

Big Sur defines California's wild coast, where the Santa Lucia Mountains drop sharply into the Pacific and redwood groves slope into narrow canyons. The winding stretch of Highway 1 through this region offers constant views of cliffs, forests, and the open sea. Its isolation and beauty have inspired countless artists, photographers, and nature lovers over the years.

In Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, McWay Falls is a star attraction, an 80-foot waterfall that drops into McWay Cove. McWay Cove is one of the rare 'tidefalls" that empties into the ocean at high tide. Visitors can reach an overlook via a short trail off Highway 1, where they can safely admire the falls and the rugged cove below. The park also contains ancient redwoods (some over 2,500 years old) and coastal trails. For a cliffside meal, Nepenthe, a family-run restaurant nearby, offers a menu that includes goat cheese and garlic appetizers, halibut dinners served over risotto with asparagus, and the ambrosia burger. At the same time, you enjoy a glass of wine and take in the incredible views.

San Simeon

Perched high on "The Enchanted Hill," Hearst Castle, the grand estate built by publisher William Randolph Hearst in the early 1900s. The estate features Mediterranean-inspired architecture, formal gardens, and lavish pools, including the Neptune and Roman Pools. Visitors take a bus from the Visitor Center up to the hilltop mansion, where guided tours allow you to explore the rooms, including the Gothic Suite, Assembly Room, the medieval-themed Refectory, Billiard Room, Theater, guest houses, and terraced gardens.

For the unique twist, the Evening Tour offers a 1-hour and 40-minute walk among costumed guides in 1930s attire, retracing the glamorous era of old Hollywood. After touring the castle, visit the nearby Elephant Seal Vista Point, where thousands of northern elephant seals rest below along the beach. The area also offers long stretches of sand and scenic pullouts, making it an ideal stop before continuing south toward Morro Bay.

Carmel-by-the-Sea

Carmel-by-the-Sea feels more like a storybook village than a seaside town. Founded as an artist colony in the early 1900s, it's filled with whimsical cottages, winding narrow lanes, and hidden courtyards. The town's architecture and art galleries, such as the Carmel Art Association, Carmel's oldest and most iconic gallery, preserve the creative identity that has drawn painters, writers, and travelers to the area for generations.

One of the town's historical gems is the Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo (also called Carmel Mission), one of California's oldest and best-preserved Spanish missions, founded in 1770. The mission has been beautifully restored and remains a center of both worship and tourism. The white-sand Carmel Beach stretches at the edge of town, lined with windswept cypress trees. Small cafés such as Café Carmel, wine-tasting rooms, and independent shops like Tejido Collective make this a relaxed and beautiful place to end the drive.

From Mendocino's windswept cliffs to Big Sur's rugged shoreline, the Pacific Coast Highway reveals the heart of California's coastal landscape. Each stop reflects a mix of history, nature, and local life that makes the route not just a highway, but one of the most scenic journeys in the world.