
The best spots to slow down on the PCH
The Pacific Coast Highway is one of the most gorgeous drives in America, and it’s fully reopened by the end of May 2025 following closures from the Palisades Fire.
It’s a bucket list road trip, and if you’ve only got time for one this summer, the PCH should be top of your list. But between those jaw-dropping ocean views, you need places to stretch your legs, grab a bite, and experience what makes California special. Here are some of our favorites.

1. Leucadia, California
30 minutes north of San Diego, in North County
Leucadia has managed to keep its funky surf town vibe while neighboring beach communities went upscale.
Part of Encinitas but with its own distinct personality, this stretch of Highway 1 feels like old California preserved in amber. Pannikin Coffee occupies a bright yellow Victorian building that was once a train station: grab a coffee on their patio and watch the eclectic mix of locals coming and going.
For food that blows away typical beach town fare, hit Fish 101 for sustainable seafood tacos that locals swear by. When you need a beach break, head to Beacon’s Beach where a switchback trail leads down to less crowded surf breaks.

2. San Clemente, California
About an hour south of LA, 45 minutes north of San Diego
San Clemente gives you classic Spanish Colonial beach town vibes without Santa Barbara’s crowds or prices. The town’s strict building codes maintain the white stucco walls and red tile roofs, creating a cohesive feel throughout downtown.
Take a walk on the wooden pier that stretches nearly a quarter-mile into the ocean where you’ll find fewer tourists than at Huntington or Santa Monica. When hunger strikes, Pedro’s Tacos serves fish tacos that locals have been devouring since the 80s.
For serious surf watching, check out Trestles Beach just south of town, where you might spot pros practicing for competitions.

3. Ojai, California
15 miles inland from Ventura, worth the detour
Ojai is a small valley town that’s absolutely worth the 30-minute detour from the PCH. The town has banned chain stores, so everything you see is a one-of-a-kind shop or restaurant.
What makes Ojai truly special is the “Pink Moment” which is a daily natural phenomenon where the mountains glow pink at sunset. This phenomenon is incredibly reliable, occurring about 290 days per year, with June offering the longest viewing window of 18 minutes.
For the best views, head to Shelf Road Trail’s oak-shaded overlook off Signal Street, which offers a 180-degree panorama. The Pink Moment happens when the setting sun reflects off the east-facing Topatopa Mountains, creating a stunning rose-colored display.
If you’re into books, visit Bart’s Books, America’s largest outdoor bookstore where bookshelves surround garden courtyards. Between March and May, pick up some Ojai Pixie tangerines at the farmers market, they’re tiny, seedless, and incredibly sweet. And for a meal, The Farmer and The Cook offers amazing vegetarian Mexican food in a laid-back setting.

4. Cayucos, California
20 minutes north of Morro Bay, between LA and SF
Cayucos is what beach towns looked like before they got discovered. One main street runs along a beach with sand so fine it squeaks under your feet. The wooden pier dates back to the 1800s, and the downtown feels frozen in time.
Make sure to stop at Brown Butter Cookie Company for their original sea salt cookies which are crumbly, rich, and unlike any cookie you’ve had before. For lunch, Ruddell’s Smokehouse makes incredible tacos with house-smoked fish topped with fresh apple and celery (weird combo, amazing taste).
If you need to stretch your legs, the beach here is perfect for long walks and hunting for sand dollars.

5. Cambria, California
15 minutes south of Hearst Castle, halfway between LA and SF
Cambria has two distinct personalities: the historic East Village with buildings from the 1870s and the more commercial West Village. Both are worth exploring with their mix of art galleries and quirky shops.
Don’t miss Moonstone Beach with its smooth, rounded stones tumbled by the ocean. For something truly odd, take a tour of Nitt Witt Ridge, a house built entirely from beer cans, toilet seats, and other junk by a local eccentric named Art Beal.
When you get hungry, Linn’s Restaurant serves olallieberry pie, a unique blackberry-raspberry hybrid that grows locally and makes for an amazing dessert.

6. San Simeon, California
4 miles from Hearst Castle, on your way up the Central Coast
Everyone knows about Hearst Castle, but the tiny town of San Simeon has more to offer. The Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery, located 7 miles north of San Simeon on Highway 1, is the only elephant seal rookery in the world that’s easily accessible, free, and open to the public every day of the year.
The viewing area includes boardwalks and platforms extending north and south of the main parking area. Friends of the Elephant Seal volunteers in blue jackets are available from 10am to 4pm daily to answer questions.
The best viewing times are late January (birthing season), late April (molting season), and October when the population on the beach peaks. For lunch, Sebastian’s General Store serves great sandwiches in a building that’s been around since 1852.
If you want to kayak, San Simeon Cove offers calm, clear waters where you can see straight to the bottom.

7. Big Sur, California
Between Carmel and San Simeon, the most dramatic section of the PCH
Big Sur isn’t really a town but a 90-mile stretch with tiny communities scattered throughout. This is the most photographed section of the PCH, where the mountains plunge straight into the ocean creating dramatic vistas around every turn.
Important update for 2025: Highway 1 is closed between Big Creek Cove Vista Point and Lucia through summer 2025 due to construction. You’ll need to backtrack from Big Sur up to Monterey, take CA-68 East, head south on Highway 101, and drive west on CA-46 to continue to San Simeon.
This detour adds about three hours to your journey. When the road is open, don’t miss Pfeiffer Beach with its purple-tinted sand and massive rock arch that creates a sunlight tunnel at sunset.
For a coffee break with literary history, stop at Henry Miller Memorial Library, a funky cabin filled with books and local art. When you need to rest, Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn offers rustic cabins where each room has a journal filled with entries from previous guests going back decades.

8. Pescadero, California
30 minutes south of Half Moon Bay, an hour from San Francisco
Pescadero is a tiny farming town with one block of downtown that most PCH travelers completely miss. Their loss is your gain—this place has some of the best food stops on the entire route.
You absolutely must visit Arcangeli Grocery (locals call it “Norm’s”) for their still-warm artichoke bread that will ruin you for all other bread. Duarte’s Tavern has been making the same artichoke soup and olallieberry pie since 1894, and they still won’t share the recipes.
For a fun side trip, visit Harley Farms to see goats being goats and sample award-winning goat cheese made on site. The nearby Pescadero Marsh lets you see where freshwater and saltwater meet, creating a haven for over 200 bird species.

9. Bolinas, California
30 minutes northwest of San Francisco, if you can find it
Bolinas is famous for not wanting to be famous. Locals regularly remove highway signs pointing to town to keep tourists away. This counter-culture holdout sits on a lagoon that creates a natural harbor for fishing boats.
The town operates on community principles, with things like the Free Box where people leave items for others to take. The Bolinas Museum tells the story of how artists and hippies moved here after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and never left.
At low tide, Agate Beach has incredible tide pools where you can see starfish, anemones, and other marine creatures up close. If you’re hungry, Coast Cafe serves locally caught fish in a no-frills setting that feels like eating at a friend’s house.

10. Point Reyes Station, California
An hour north of San Francisco, gateway to Point Reyes National Seashore
Point Reyes Station was built as a literal train station for the narrow-gauge railway that once connected the dairy farms to San Francisco. Today, it’s a single-street town that serves as your last stop for provisions before heading into the national seashore.
Bovine Bakery makes morning buns and scones that people line up for starting at 7am. Cowgirl Creamery produces some of California’s best artisan cheese in a converted hay barn, and you can watch them make it and sample the results.
For a perfect picnic, grab supplies at Toby’s Feed Barn (part general store, part art gallery, part farmers market) before heading out to the lighthouse or beaches.

11. Mendocino, California
3.5 hours north of San Francisco, the northern jewel of the PCH
Mendocino sits on headlands that jut into the Pacific, creating dramatic bluff views in every direction. The entire town is a historic district with saltbox houses and water towers that make it look like a New England fishing village transplanted to California.
Spend time walking the bluff trails that surround the town which offer whale-watching opportunities from December through April. Mendocino Headlands State Park completely surrounds the town, with trails leading to hidden beaches and natural bridges.
For food, Cafe Beaujolais serves amazing California cuisine in a converted farmhouse from the 1800s. Dick’s Place bar gives you a chance to drink with locals who have endless stories about the area’s logging and fishing history.
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