San Francisco to Big Sur – The Ultimate Guide To A Perfect Central California Road Trip

Ah – the iconic California Road Trip. When you think of a road trip anywhere – the California coast probably comes to mind, and for good reason too!.

California’s Highway 1 has everything you could imagine and more: sandy beaches, rocky bluffs, giant red woods, coastal vistas, crashing waves; the list goes on and on. Central California’s grandeur is unrivaled by most other destinations and driving along its winding, wild roads is an adventure that I believe everyone should experience.

San Francisco to Big Sur Road Trip

The best part of road-tripping through California on Highway 1 is that you can explore as much or as little as you want depending on the time you have – it’s completely customizable!

For a recent work trip to Santa Cruz, I organized a long weekend road trip from San Francisco to Big Sur and back. However, with so many options for exploring you could choose to simply take a day trip to Big Sur or spead the road trip out over an entire week as a proper vacation.

When Travis & I return (yes – it was so awesome that I’ve already decided we’re going back!😉 ) we’ll definitely make a 10+ day road trip out of it so we can do some backcountry camping and long day hikes in the area – definitely eyeballing the Sea to Skyline hike in Big Basin!

San Francisco to Big Sur Road Trip Itinerary

The itinerary and route I’ve outlined below provides a little taste of what the Big Sur and Central California Coastline has to offer.

Check out the Google map of my road trip to explore additional stops and attractions along the way that may be worth checking out! (I just didn’t get to them on this trip, so I couldn’t cover them in detail!)

Road Trip Route: (Start to Finish)

San Francisco

If you’ve never been, definitely kick off your road trip exploring San Francisco. It’s a vibrant city with so much to see! From the Fisherman’s Warf to the Golden Gate Bridge and the Japanese Tea Gardens with Haight-Ashbury shopping in between – San Fran is amazing. I’ve already been, so for the sake of this trip I just kept moving towards the coast.

Half Moon Bay

A cute beachside town with excellent views of the ocean, Half Moon Bay is worth a quick stop. I took a brief detour here to explore, stretch my legs, and enjoy a heaping plate of fish tacos and a few pints at the Half Moon Bay Brewery – highly recommend!

Pigeon Point Lighthouse

Along your drive between San Francisco and Santa Cruz, you’ll pass a few signs advertising the tallest lighthouse in California – Pigeon Point. It’s definitely worth a quick stop to explore and take in the classic nautical atmosphere.

Cooler yet – the lighthouse has been converted into a fully functioning hostel complete with a hot tub overlooking the ocean. Intrigued, I stayed here the second night of my trip (more details in the logistics section).

Waddell Beach

Surfers and spectators alike know Waddell Beach as a prime surf spot. Both groups show up in droves either to catch a wave or watch others do so. Hopefully when you drive by the waves will be large and you’ll get to watch some surfers hang loose! (Unfortunately, that was not the case for me. You win some, you lose some, right?)

Greyhound Rock County Park

An easy and often overlooked pit stop, Greyhound Beach is a great place to stop, eat a picnic lunch, snap some photos and enjoy the beach and dramatic cliff line views.

Shark Fin Cove

Shark Fin Cove sounds exactly as you’d image it looks – a giant fin-looking rock rising out of the ocean. This stop another blink-and-you’ll-miss-it road sign that is totally worth pulling over for – plus not too many tourists know about it! I opted just to view the rock formation from the cliff edge, but you can also climb down into the cove to explore and hang out.

Big Basin State Park

If you’re looking to ditch the ocean and spend some time in the forest, Big Basin State Park is definitely where you’ll want to go. The park is filled with redwood trees, waterfalls, and miles of hiking trails through dense, old-growth forest.

The state park is about a 40-minute drive from the coastline up windy, rural roads into the mountains. The drive itself is fun, interesting, and absolutely beautiful, so the time will fly by.

One of the most interesting-sounding hikes in Big Basin is the Skyline to the Sea Trail. This 29.5 mile hike guides hikers all the way from the mountain peaks down to the Pacific Ocean (or vice versa!). It looks absolutely incredible and Travis & I will definitely make a backcountry trip out of it when we return!

Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is the first major city you’ll encounter on your drive south from San Francisco. In my opinion, it’s one of the coolest cities on the coast. It exudes a chill, hippie vibe and everyone seems to live an active, outdoor lifestyle – everywhere you look someone is longboarding, mountain biking, surfing, or running. It’s AMAZING.

I spent three days working in Santa Cruz and explored the city in the evenings. Depending on your interests & schedule, I’d recommend spending at least 1 day in Santa Cruz – but there’s plenty to occupy your time if you want to spend 2 or 3 days there!

Santa Cruz Boardwalk

The Santa Cruz Boardwalk is a famously fun spot – rollercoasters, carnival games, and a sprawling beach scene make it an attractive spot to spend an afternoon or evening.

The most popular attraction at the boardwalk is the Giant Dipper – an iconic wooden rollercoaster built in 1924. You can purchase tickets to ride the Giant Dipper at one of the many ticket kiosks scattered around the boardwalk. One ride will cost you 7 points, aka $7. Is it worth it? Probably not, but it is a cool experience nonetheless!

Santa Cruz Warf

Adjacent to the boardwalk you’ll find the Santa Cruz Warf. Wander over to take in views of the beautiful Santa Cruz skyline and observe some fishermen in action. Toward the end of the warf you’ll also see dozens of sea lions hanging out in the sun and swimming. They’re quite entertaining to watch and photograph.

The warf also have a variety of different seafood dining options. I’m sure they’re all delicious, but I opted to go to the Stagnaro Brothers – one of the original seafood markets & restaurants in Santa Cruz.

Downtown Santa Cruz

Charming and fun to explore, downtown Santa Cruz has a plethora of boutiques, bars, and restaurants scatted throughout. Spend as long or as little time as you’d like here – there’s something for everyone!

There is also a really cool river trail right next to downtown where you can wander along the San Lorenzo River on paved paths – a natural escape in the middle of the city!

UC Santa Cruz Campus

For work, I spent two full days on the UC Santa Cruz campus and man did I fall in love! In another life I would have loved to attend UCSC. The entire campus is immersed in nature, from the towering pines, to the grassy fields and the single track trails that connect buildings around the university. It exudes an earthy and natural vibe that’s worth checking out for an hour or two.

Oh, and the school mascot is actually a banana slug.. which makes me love it even more! 😊   #NoKnownPredators

Restaurants in Santa Cruz

If Santa Cruz lacks anything – it’s not dining options. Spending a few days in the city, I got to try out a few awesome restaurants! I ate my breakfasts at the hotel and lunches at the University – so most of my recommendations are dinner-based (the best meal of the day in my opinion!)

El Palomar: 

Located downtown, this taqueria has an upscale yet festive environment. I ate at the bar and enjoyed some amazing Baja fish tacos and the signature Palomar margarita. SO good.

Charlie Hong Kong:

Located on the east side of town, Charlie Hong Kong’s is an awesome Southeast Asian-Santa Cruz fusion restaurant featuring all-organic, vegan meals with locally-sourced ingredients. To sweeten the deal further, almost all entrees cost between $8 – $10 – cheaper than Chipotle! I stopped by twice (how could I not?!) and tried the Spicy Dan & the Green Curry Noodle Bowls – both were excellent!

The Penny Ice Creamery:

An iconic dessert spot in Santa Cruz, The Penny Ice Creamery features a menu of ever-changing homemade ice creams & sorbets that are made fresh daily using the best & most local ingredients. Its popularity is apparent as the line usually extends down the block! I’d recommend planning your stop in during an off-time for ice cream (does that even exist??). I went after dinner around 8:00 and only waited in line for about 10 minutes!

Stagnaro Brothers Seafood:

Located directly on the Santa Cruz Warf, Stagnaro’s is a great spot to enjoy the views of the ocean and indulge in some awesome seafood! The restaurant has an upper deck with unobstructed views of the ocean – if you can, try and snag a table up there!

Monterey

Monterey is (another) cute ocean town with a lot to offer. Its biggest highlights include the Monterey Aquarium and the historic Cannery Row amongst many other things.   Monterey is a great spot to base your trip to Big Sur or just to explore for a few hours.

I stopped by Cannery Row and also breezed through the Historical Monterey before continuing on my way to Big Sur. I definitely would have loved to spend more time in Monterey, but choices had to be made and I wanted to see some nature!

Carmel-by-the-Sea

Carmel-by-the-Sea is Monterey’s richer, sexier neighbor. The homes are fabulous, the views are spectacular, and it just looks like an amazing place over all. If you can, try to stay in Carmel for the views and atmosphere!

The biggest attraction in Carmel is the 17 Mile Drive – a (you guessed it) 17-mile route along the Pacific Coast through Pebble Beach and Pacific Grove around the Monterey Peninsula. It’s very popular and supposedly absolutely sunning, alas, I also had to opt out of this scene drive in order to make enough time for my huge to do list in Big Sur.

Big Sur

Ah – Big Sur! Even the name evokes a sense of excitement & wonder – a sense that the region definitely lives up to! I spent the majority of my three-day road trip in Big Sur and it wasn’t even enough!

Bixby Creek Bridge

Shortly after entering Big Sur you’ll reach the iconic Bixby Creek Bridge – most recently famous from its feature in the opening credits of HBO’s Big Little Lies (I’m a huge fan!) Arguably one of the most popular & photographed stops along Highway 1, Bixby is a historic landmark & feat of human dedication and engineering from its completion in 1932.

If you want unobstructed pictures of this iconic landmark, you need to get there early. Unfortunately, I arrived mid-afternoon &  the best picture I got is the one above.

Garrapata State Park

Garrapata State Park wins the “unexpected gem” award of my entire road trip! Nowhere, in any of my guidebooks or online research did anyone mention stopping at Garrapata State Park. It wasn’t even on my radar, but ended up being one of my favorite pull-off stops!

I discovered this park by sheer luck as I cruised along the highway. It’s a quick 30-minute stop where you can explore trails along the cliff edges and take in the beauty of the rocky shoreline. I was lucky enough to visit in spring, so the trails were filled with beautiful yellow and pink flowers!

Andrew Molera State Park

Andrew Molera made his mark in Central California by popularizing the artichoke as a cash crop in 1922. I’m not sure how or why this earned him the naming rights to a state park – but it worked!

Andrew Molera State Park has over 20 miles of hiking trails through the forests, bluffs, coastal shorelines, and even a sandy beach fit for surfing. I visited Andrew Molera specifically to hike the Andrew Molera Loop – an 8.8 mile hike that guided me through all of the above mentioned scenery with amazing views of the ocean and surrounding mountains.

The hike was fairly challenging, but also one of the most rewarding I’ve ever done! I did wear the wrong pair of shoes (i.e. Chaco sandals) but if you wear proper footwear, you’ll leave the trail with less blisters than I did! 😉

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park

Visiting Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park was soooo high on my to do list for the Valley View & Pfeiffer Falls, Buzzard’s Roost, and Big Sur River Gorge trails – however, when I arrived, the ranger station informed me that two of the three trails were closed for maintenance. At this point, I made the decision to move on with my Big Sur tour; but if you’re in the park and can hike those trails definitely do it and let me know how amazing they were!

Pfeiffer Beach

A morning visit to Pfeiffer Beach stands strong as the highlight of my entire trip! This beach is unlike any other I have ever seen – from the sea stacks, rocky tide-pools, enclosed cove, and most interestingly the purple sand created from the surrounding quartz rock.  There are a million & one photo opportunities so make sure you bring your camera & tri-pod.

This beach is perfect to spend an entire day at or just a few hours. I arrived at the park right shortly after 8:00 AM and had it virtually all to myself for 90 minutes! Since Pfeiffer Beach is so amazing, there is a separate $10 entry fee per vehicle that is not covered by a State Park Day Pass. However, I’m reiterating that the cost is worth it!

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park was actually one of the destinations along the Big Sur Route that I wanted to see the most. The promise of cliff-edge trails and breathtaking views piqued my interest, but unfortunately the whole park was completely closed for road repairs and renovations while I visited. So alas, I could not go in.

Thankfully, I could still view McWay Falls from the highway outside the park – so I was at least able to see the park’s most famous landmark!

One of the most iconic places to camp in all of Big Sur are the secluded walk-in campsites overlooking the coast in JPSP. There’s only two available and securing a night at just one of them is like winning the outdoor lottery. When we return, I will definitely do everything I can to lock in one of these coveted sites.

Partington Cove Trail

Partington Cove is another blink-and-you’ll-miss-the-sign stop that ranks up there with Pfeiffer Beach in terms of beauty & intrigue. A short and steep half mile downhill trail will lead you to sea level and guide you along a creek, through a tunnel, and out into a beautiful, rocky cove.

I sat on a bench and watching the waves swirl around the cove and crash against the rocks for close to an hour and saw absolutely no one – even though the trailhead was right off the highway! I’d recommend bringing down a picnic lunch or your morning coffee to enjoy with the view.

San Simeon

Piedras Blancas Rookery

I ended my southbound road trip in San Simeon for the sole purpose of seeing some Elephant Seals at the Piedras Blancas Rookery (seriously.) My best friend, Aleah, and I are fascinated by these unique marine mammals and when I found out they were only a few miles out of my way, I had to stop!

Each year, thousands of Elephant Seals arrive at the Piedras Blancas Beach in San Simeon to carry out the land portion of their life – molting, mating, and birthing. Since the rookery is a protected area, the Elephant Seals come back to the same location each and every year so you can always count on seeing them at this exact spot!

I spent over ninety minutes watching, observing, and photographing these unbelievable mammals. Since I visited during  the molting season, I saw mostly juvenile seals shedding their fur and lightly interacting with each other. I definitely want to return in the winter months to see the full-grown males arriving during breeding season!

The Rookery had a ton of passionate volunteers walking around to share facts and tell stories about this incredible species. Definitely come with questions and don’t be afraid to ask them anything – I learned so much! Learn more about Elephant Seals here!

Hearst Castle

San Simeon is also home to the Hearst Castle, a National Historic Landmark built by the newspaper mogul William Hearst. Tours are available for various parts of this mansion as well as the grounds & specialty rooms. I heard many great things about the castle & tour, but as is the story with my entire trip.. I just didn’t have enough time to do it all!

If You Have More Time:

Yay! More time! I put together a mile-long list of things I wanted to do in the area and only got to a fraction of them. The biggest ones I missed were the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail, 17 Mile Drive, and Point Lobos State Park – definitely check those out if you get a chance! Also reference my trip map for more points of interest that I didn’t cover in-depth!

If You Have Less Time – Big Sur Day Trip

I honestly wouldn’t recommend making this whole trip in less than three days – however, I understand that you have to work with the time you have!

If you’re planning on making a day trip to Big Sur, I would recommend focusing on the scenery of the drive itself and making quick pit stops along the way to ensure that you get to see everything. The drive itself is a beautiful journey, it’ll just make for a longer day in the car.

Big Sur Road Trip Logistics

Cost Break Down:

• Accommodation: $111.00
• Rental Car: $125.00
• Gas: $70.00
• Park Passes: $30.00
  • $10/day x 3 Days
• Food: $36.47
  • Groceries, Charlie Hong Kong, Coffee
• Misc: $22.07
  • Little Dipper Ride, Butane for Stove

Total Big Sur Road Trip Cost: $358.07

The total cost for this trip includes everything needed for one person over the course of three days. Many items could be split between two people or amongst a group to make the overall cost per person cheaper.

Road Trip Route:

I drove this route southbound from San Francisco to Santa Cruz, Big Sur, San Simeon and back over the course of three days.

In order to break up the drive, I stopped at about half of the destinations I wanted to on the way down and the other half on the way up – prioritizing what I wanted to see first just in case I ran out of time heading back! This ensured that I could also break up my drive as I headed northbound and wasn’t driving 5 hours straight.

Transportation:

To complete this road trip a personal vehicle is necessary. I rented a car from the San Francisco airport, but if you live within driving distance, definitely use your own!

For a cheaper-than-corporate rental vehicle – check out Turo! The best way to describe it is an Airbnb for cars! Turo is our preferred rental option & you can get $25 off your first rental by clicking here!

Meals:

Restaurant and dining options are plentiful along and around this route – however, anything south of Santa Cruz was super expensive – especially in Big Sur.

If you want to incorporate local restaurants and fine dining into your trip, you have some really great options like Nepenthe and Big Sur River Inn.

I personally opted to stock up at Trader Joe’s in Santa Cruz before my trip to keep costs low. For three days I basically subsisted on snacks and anything I could make in my butane camping stove (i.e. gnocci, oatmeal, and many bags of Herbs & Spices Popcorn).

Accommodation:

Affordable accommodation is damn near impossible to find in this popular region of California. Free camping in or near Big Sur? Actually impossible.  Even the savviest of travelers usually have a hard time finding an affordable place to sleep at night. I’m all about saving money, but to make the most of your time, I recommend just accepting the fact that you’ll have to over-pay on accommodation.

The popularity of the region also means you must book in advance! I spent hours searching for accommodation when I tried to secure something two days before my trip (100% would not recommend). Spontaneity is a wonderful element of travel – but it does not treat you well in Big Sur.

Pro Tip: even if the website says an accommodation is fully booked, try calling the business itself. Last minute cancellations or other misc things may not have an accurate reflection on online bookings. I actually secured both of my nightly stays by calling businesses that said they were fully booked online.

Free Camping

Because of Big Sur’s popularity, there is a lot of policing around free and dispersed camping in the area. My recommendation would be NOT to do it. However, if you do want to camp for free you’ll likely need a 4WD vehicle and be willing and ready to spend some serious time searching.  I found this great resource for finding free camping in the area but I would personally recommend either staying outside of the Big Sur area and driving in/out everyday OR just paying for a site at either a state or private campground.

Paid Accommodation

For more comfort & amenities, traditional hotels and Aibnbs will easily run you about $200+ a night both in Big Sur and in the surrounding towns. Hostels are also an option with bed prices ranging from $50 – $60 for a bed in a mixed dorm room.

Campgrounds are the best option for budget travel . A state park campground is your cheapest option at $40 – $50 per night while private campgrounds can run anywhere in between $60 – $120 for the bare minimum. Either way, you’re able to split this cost amongst your group, hopefully lowering the cost per person!

My first night, I opted to stay at a private campground in the middle of Big Sur for the steep price of $70 per night for a small, basic, no frills campsite (that was literally the only option available!). The second night I stayed in a hostel mixed 6-bed dorm room for $50.  The price tag definitely stung, but it was my only option given the last-minute planning.

Fernwood “Resort”

I stayed at Fernwood more out of convenience than preference. I would have opted for a state park (for scenery & cost!) but this was all that was left when I secured accommodation two days before my trip. You can definitely do better with a little advanced planning! 😉

HI Pigeon Point Lighthouse Hostel

I stayed at Pigeon Point on my second night as it was cheaper and easier than camping for my second day itinerary. The hostel itself is located inside the historic lighthouse buildings and has a really cool atmosphere!

Each accommodation (bed or private room) is in a house that has a full living room, dining room, kitchen and multiple bathrooms both inside and outside of the bunk rooms. As a bonus, there’s even a private hot tub that overlooks the ocean just for guests! Pigegon Point is one of a few hostels near Big Sur and is a great option for accomodation!

Guide Books and Resources:

I love having a physical guide book with me when I travel. It’s so easy to quickly reference and plan from on the go. I used the below books along my road trip to reference attractions along the way. As a reminder, there is very little cell reception in Big Sur, so having non-digital resources is a huge help!

• Coastal California by Lonely Planet
• California’s Best Trips by Lonely Planet
• California Travel Guide by Lonely Planet
• Maps.Me – my favorite offline maps resource!
• Google MyMaps – a great resource for plotting destinations while planning & to reference while on the go!

As I mentioned briefly, there are a million-and-one different ways to see & experience Big Sur. There definitely isn’t a one-size-fits-all trip. I recommend looking through other blogs to see if there’s an itinerary or style that fits your expectations best! Below are a few that I found the most helpful:

• Independent Travel Cats
• Passport Voyager
• The Broke Backpacker
• Wandering Earl
• HoneyTrek
• California Through My Lens
• Year of the Monkey

I hope you enjoy your trip from San Francisco to Big Sur! If you’ve already been, what was your favorite stop?!