Drive California's Pacific Coast Highway from San Francisco to Los Angeles on a 12-night Highway 1 road trip, tailor-made by Charter Travel. You'll follow the ocean south through Monterey and Carmel, along the dramatic cliffs of Big Sur, and on to Pismo Beach, Santa Barbara and Malibu, with return flights from the UK, car hire and hand-picked hotels all included. The whole Big Sur coast reopened in January 2026, so this classic California Pacific Coast road trip can once again be driven end to end. Charter Travel are leading holiday specialists, established in 1988. ABTA and ATOL Protected.
Duration: 13 Nights
Quote CHH1270
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Itinerary Highlights:
Total Expected Local Fee: $255
Resort fees are paid locally and subject to additional local taxes. The amounts shown are based on current rates and may vary depending on the hotel and travel dates.
Highway 1, officially California State Route 1 and often called the Pacific Coast Highway or PCH, is the road that follows California's coastline. Its most famous stretch runs between San Francisco and Los Angeles, passing the Monterey Peninsula, the Big Sur coast, San Simeon and Santa Barbara, before reaching Malibu and Santa Monica.
The highlight for most people is Big Sur, around 90 miles of road cut into cliffs above the Pacific, with Bixby Creek Bridge, McWay Falls and some of the best coastal views in the world. A Pacific Coast Highway holiday combines that drive with time in two great cities, which is why it's one of the most popular road trips in the USA.
This sample 12-night Highway 1 itinerary drives from north to south. We can change any hotel, add nights or extra stops, or reverse the route.
Fly from the UK to San Francisco and check in to your hotel on Union Square. Ride a cable car to Fisherman's Wharf, take the ferry to Alcatraz, and cycle across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito, catching the ferry back across the bay. Spend a morning among the ancient redwoods of Muir Woods. You won't need a car in the city, so we'll arrange to collect your hire car on the morning you leave.
Stay at: Hotel Zephyr San Francisco
Collect your car and join Highway 1 south via Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz, around 120 miles and 2½–3 hours of driving. In Monterey, visit the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium and Cannery Row, and go whale watching in season. Drive the 17-Mile Drive around Pebble Beach and spend an afternoon in the storybook village of Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Stay at: Hilton Garden Inn Monterey
Today is the drive you came for. Leave early and allow the whole day for around 140 miles of the Big Sur coast, with stops at Bixby Creek Bridge, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and McWay Falls, where a waterfall drops onto the beach. Further south, see the elephant seals at Piedras Blancas and Hearst Castle at San Simeon, before reaching your beachfront hotel at Pismo Beach.
Stay at: SeaCrest OceanFront Hotel
A short drive of around 1½ hours brings you to Santa Barbara, known as the American Riviera for its Spanish-style architecture and palm-lined beaches. Walk out along Stearns Wharf, visit the Old Mission, try local wines in the Funk Zone and hike to Inspiration Point for views across the city.
Stay at: Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort
Follow the coast through Malibu to Los Angeles. Spend your final days on the Santa Monica Pier, Venice Beach Boardwalk and Rodeo Drive, see the Hollywood sign from Griffith Observatory, or add a day at Universal Studios Hollywood or Disneyland. On day 14, return your car at LAX for your flight home.
Stay at: The Garland Los Angeles
Some of the best moments on a Pacific Coast Highway road trip are the stops between the hotels. These are the ones we recommend most:
We recommend driving north to south, from San Francisco to Los Angeles. You'll be in the lane closest to the ocean, with the best views and easier access to the viewpoints along Big Sur. It also means you finish with sunshine and beaches in Southern California.
The drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles can be done in two long days, but it's far better slowly. We suggest at least 10–12 nights, including time in both cities. With 14 nights or more, you can add Yosemite, San Diego or Las Vegas.
Looking for a different route? See all our California self drive holidays.
Every Charter Travel Pacific Coast Highway holiday is tailor-made. Tell us when you'd like to travel and what you want to see, and our USA specialists will build your Highway 1 road trip around you, from the hotels and the number of nights at each stop to extensions to Yosemite, San Diego or Las Vegas. We've been arranging holidays for UK travellers since 1988, and you'll speak to the same specialist from your first enquiry until you're home.
All our holidays are tailor-made and can be adapted by changing hotels durations and destinations to suit the individuals tastes and requirements – please do get in touch so we can start planning.
Following the coast, it's around 450–500 miles, roughly 10–12 hours of driving without stops. Most people take four to five days over it, stopping overnight in places such as Monterey, Pismo Beach and Santa Barbara.
Yes. Highway 1 through Big Sur fully reopened on 14 January 2026, after landslides had stopped through traffic on the coast since early 2023. Winter storms can occasionally close short sections, so we always check road conditions before you travel.
Mostly, yes. "Pacific Coast Highway" or "PCH" is the name people commonly use for California State Route 1, the coastal road. Locally, the name is used most for the stretches around Los Angeles and Orange County, but most visitors mean the whole coastal drive.
Not for confident drivers. The road is well maintained, but the Big Sur section is narrow and winding, with steep drops and few barriers in places. Drive in daylight, take your time and use the pull-outs to let faster traffic pass.
Yes. Families enjoy the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, the elephant seals at Piedras Blancas and the Santa Monica Pier, and you can add Disneyland or Universal Studios at the end. We'll keep driving days short and choose family-friendly hotels.
Yes. Charter Travel arranges tailor-made Highway 1 road trips from the UK, including flights, car hire with one-way drop-off and hotels, all in one ABTA and ATOL-protected booking. Call 01635 551011 or send an enquiry, and a USA specialist will plan it with you.
