If you’re craving the open road nothing soothes better than a drive on California’s Hwy 1. The sparkling blue coastline is all yours on this trip from Central California to the northern border. Let us show you how to get the most out of this gorgeous stretch of the west coast.
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Big Sur
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
Base yourself in the quintessential Central Coast spot, Pacific Grove. From here you’re ideally set up to spend a day exploring the Big Sur coastline. Stop at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and enjoy one of the most photographed spots in the world. McWay Falls is accessed on Falls Trail, just past the entrance to the park. Pay the day-use fee and park inside or find parking along the road (as long as you are ok with hugging the hillside on a two-lane highway). The trail takes you through a short tunnel under Hwy 1 then hike your way up a slight grade to the top of the bluff. Take your pick of spots along the fence to get the perfect photo of this iconic Big Sur landscape. Before you move on down the road, don’t forget to take some time to just appreciate the timelessness of that graceful dive of water down to the beach.
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Andrew Molera State Park
You shouldn’t stop there. If you are up for more must-see Big Sur spots keep going to Andrew Molera State Park. At just under 5,000 acres this is the largest state park on the Big Sur coastline. Here you can enjoy coastal views or wooded areas. Prefer to hit the beach? Take one of the trails down to the shore from Bluff Trail and dip your toes in the Pacific.
Pfeiffer Beach
When we took this trip those two stops took up most of the day because we let the boys play at the beach and the Andrew Molera hikes were gorgeous! So lots of stops for photos. But if you’d like to keep heading south you can also check out Pfeiffer Beach. Beware that Pfeiffer Beach can be a little tough to find for first-timers as there is little signage. You may not see the yellow “Narrow Road” sign until you pass it so turn around as soon as it’s safe to do so. Take a two-mile drive on Sycamore Canyon Road from Hwy 1 toward the coast.
You’ll have to pay $12 for a day-use pass that includes parking. Cash is prefered, but credit is accepted with an additional charge. If it’s full you’ll need to wait or turn back. But if catching memorable Big Sur sites is your goal then you may find the hassle worth it. Try to come in the fall or winter months at sunset to catch the best chance of no wait for parking. For your efforts, you can have another amazing “only in Big Sur” experience as the sun rays pass through the Keyhole Rock.
Eating and gas along Big Sur are expensive so fill up before you leave and bring a picnic with you. Plan for dinner back in Pacific Grove or the surrounding area before you call it a night. The next day can be followed by exploring Monterey/Carmel. Check out our article on how to get the most out of a stay in this area, including the best places to eat by clicking here.
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A stay at the Pacific Grove Inn can start at $89 (for 1 bed) to $175 (3 beds). Your stay won’t break the bank and you are guaranteed amazing experiences each day. Check out the latest prices and availability here. From the Monterey area, it’s only 2 hours to San Francisco.
Golden Gate Bridge
Drive from Monterey only 2 hours north to San Francisco. Stay at the Comfort Inn just over a mile from downtown starting at $98 (1 bed) to $159 (2 beds). We recommend you spend at least one night in the city so you can explore the Golden Gate Bridge and the unique city views. Take a walk or bike across this iconic bridge, a nationally recognized symbol of the west coast since construction finished in 1937. Or hike the Fort Point area for gorgeous photo opportunities. Afterward, be sure to treat yourself to ice cream from Mitchell’s. You can order for pick up or have it delivered to your hotel. If you are looking for a longer stay in the city check out our list of things you can do here.
Redwood National and State Parks
From the city, it is a six-hour drive all the way up to Crescent City if you’d like to tackle this park from north to south. Or you can drive to Eureka in 4 and a half hours, and spend your time in the redwoods gradually heading north with hikes and beach visits along the way. As our ultimate destination was Oregon, we chose to explore from south to north.
Go Clamming at Clam Beach
Stop just north of McKinleyville at Clam Beach for a great place to get out, stretch your legs and let the kiddos play. The beach is named for the razor clams that populate the sand so if you like to dig for your next meal then this is your place! The last time I checked your limit is 20 per person. Grab your fishing license (yes, you read that right), wait for low tide, and get ready to catch your dinner! There is also a day-use area and campground. Fires on the beach and in the campground area are permitted. If you’re unsure of how to clean clams check out this guide. My husband also recommends the kids gently kick the bucket filled with fresh water and clams every so often, to encourage the clams to spit out more sand. You are guaranteed a memorable way to introduce your kiddos to homemade clam chowder!
If you are not planning to stay at the campground you can stay two nights at the Holiday Inn Express in a room with kitchen amenities for just under $300 or an entire vacation home with three rooms for just under $500. Check the latest availability here.
Take a side trip to Patrick’s Point State Park
From that one-of-a-kind experience, you can continue north to just outside of Trinidad for a romp in Patrick’s Point State Park redwoods. We think you’ll find like we did, that this park is a joy with both a chance to roam in the forest on the east side of the highway and then take trails down to the coastline.
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Redwoods
Less than 20 miles from Patrick’s Point, Redwood National Park is an amazing example of collaboration between both state and national park systems. So take the time if you have it to explore it all. Entrance to the park is free so there are no entrance stations. If you have limited time as we did with only one day to spend in the area there are some must-dos! You must take a drive on Bald Hills Road to Lady Bird Johnson Grove. It was Lady Bird Johnson, wife of President Lyndon B Johnson, that helped to dedicate this park in 1968. Just past the town of Orick, you’ll see a large sign marking the turn-off to the 31-mile scenic drive.
Prairie Creek State Park
From the grove, you might enjoy another essential viewing spot in the area. Head north on Bald Hill Road toward Prairie Creek Camp Road until you can rejoin Hwy 101. Look for signs to Prairie Creek State Park via the Newton B. Drury Scenic Pkwy. If you have a national parks pass it is good here due to their partnership with Redwoods National Park. This state park alone could occupy a family for at least two days so if you have the time to spend we highly recommend taking a few of the trails. Tip – if you are traveling here in the winter, the first Saturday of each winter month the park is closed to traffic. They are focused on increasing the walkability of this beautiful park. So take advantage of the chance to walk through approximately ten miles of jaw-dropping scenery. You can also bring pets on a leash.
Gold Bluffs Beach/Fern Canyon
If this is a short stay for you then take the Prairie Creek Trail and hopefully catch a glimpse of the giant elk that call the area home. With a bit more time you can drive about 25 minutes via Davison Road to walk the .7-mile loop from Gold Bluffs Beach to Fern Canyon. Your entrance fee to drive Gold Bluffs/Fern Canyon will be waived if you have the national parks pass. From this area, you and the family can imagine yourselves in one of the many scenes from Lost World: Jurassic Park that was filmed here.
Before you head home…
From there you can continue your drive up to Crescent City and eat at the Chart Room Restaurant as we did. Nothing fancy to look at just a local hangout on the wharf. But there was tasty food for everyone and the prices were reasonable. If you choose to do the same you’re likely to wrap up the day full and happy.