Welcome to the Pacific Coast Highway & Big Sur Self-Drive Tour
Highway 1 (also known as the Pacific Coast Highway) is probably the most iconic and scenic route left in America, and it’s a dream destination for avid road trippers, car lovers, and travel geeks in general. The tour is both Northbound & Southbound, so you can start from either SF or LA.Â
About the Tour
You can begin the tour in bustling SF. You’ll reach Monterey in no time, which epitomizes California living with world-famous Pebble Beach, famous golf courses, and a prestigious aquarium.
Farther south along Highway 1 is the artsy enclave of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Then, the sound of barking sea lions carries inland at Point Lobos State Park, where rocky headlands are interspersed with jewel-like coves.Â
That’s when you hit Big Sur, the most scenic part of an already scenic road. Enjoy the views, waterfalls, and bridges as you drive and hear some fantastic stories!
At Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, an 80-foot waterfall cascades from the granite cliffs onto the beach. Before you get to San Simeon on the Pacific Coast Highway self-drive tour, pull off at Piedras Blancas Beach, where enormous elephant seals pack the beach in the winter months.
Before cutting inland to San Luis Obispo, stop to admire Morro Bay Rock and hunt for anemones in the tidal pools. Enjoy Santa Barbara’s quintessential downtown and then continue down to Ventura and Malibu.Â
Wrap up the tour in Los Angeles at the famous Santa Monica Pier.Â
Starting Point Address (Northbound) – LA to SF: 81-99 Colorado Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Starting Point Address (Southbound) – SF to LA: PG6H+8F Lakeshore, San Francisco, CA, USA
What You'll See
-
Welcome
-
Pacifica
-
Pedro Point
-
Devil's Slide Bunker & Trail
-
Gray Whale Cove State Beach
-
Montara
-
Mavericks Beach
-
Half Moon Bay
-
Hollow State Beach
-
Pigeon Point Lighthouse
-
Butano State Park
-
Charquin’s Resistance: Big Basin Redwoods State Park
-
Ano Nuevo State Reserve
-
Davenport
-
Shark Fin Cove
-
Coast Dairies State Park
-
Santa Cruz
-
Santa Cruz Wharf & Boardwalk
-
The Mystery Spot
-
Rio Del Mar State Beach
-
Sunset State Beach
-
Elkhorn Slough Reserve
-
Monterey Bay
-
Approaching Monterey
-
Welcome to Big Sur
-
Monterey & 17 Mile Drive
-
Carmel by the Sea
-
Hansel and Gretel
-
Carmel Village & Beach
-
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
-
The Pacific Coast Highway
-
Garrapata Beach & State Park
-
Bixby Creek Bridge
-
Point Sur State Historic Park
-
Andrew Molera State Park
-
Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge
-
Pfeiffer Beach
-
Grimes Point Scenic Overlook
-
Seal Beach Scenic Overlook
-
Partington Cove
-
McWay Falls
-
Big Creek Bridge
-
Big Creek Cove Vista Point
-
Limekiln State Park
-
Pitkins Curve Bridge and Rain Rocks Rock Shed
-
Jade Cove
-
Nathaniel Owens Memorial Redwood Grove
-
Ragged Point
-
Ragged Point Inn
-
Piedras Blancas Light Station
-
Elephant Seal Vista Point
-
Hearst Castle
-
Moonstone Beach Drive
-
Nitt Witt Ridge
-
Harmony
-
Cayucos
-
Morro Bay
-
San Luis Obispo
-
Continue Straight to Santa Rosa
-
Bubblegum Alley
-
Irish Hills Natural Reserve
-
Avila Beach
-
Dinosaur Caves Park
-
Pismo Beach
-
Monarch Butterfly Grove
-
Guadalupe
-
Rancho Guadalupe Dunes Preserve
-
Lompoc Murals
-
Wine Ghetto
-
Jalama Beach
-
Gaviota Wind Caves
-
Arroyo Hondo Vista Point
-
Refugio State Beach
-
Goleta's Butterfly Grove
-
Welcome to Santa Barbara
-
Thousand Steps Beach
-
Stearns Wharf
-
Carpinteria State Beach
-
Surfing on Rincon Beach
-
Faria Beach & Las Pitas Point
-
Ventura
-
Point Mugu Rock / State Park
-
Sycamore Cove Beach
-
El Matador State Beach
-
Zuma Beach and Point Dume
-
Malibu
-
Edge of LA: The Getty Villa
-
Welcome to LA: Santa Monica
Additional Information
Lifetime Validity
​Changing travel date? No worries! All individual tours come with lifetime validity.Â
Works Offline
The tour works offline, so you do not need your phone network to enjoy the tour. However, we suggest you download the tour on WiFi at your home, hotel, visitor center, etc., before heading out for a completely immersive experience.
Not an Entry Ticket
This is not an entry ticket to any of the attractions along the way.
Not a Car Rental
We do not provide car rental services. You must arrange for a car yourself. Our self-guided driving audio tours will work in any car via an aux cable or Bluetooth.
How many tours should I buy?
Since this is a driving tour, we suggest you buy one tour per car for the best experience.
What do we do?
Simply put, Action Tour Guide is an audio guide, map, and tour book – all in one app! We are a GPS-enabled app-based tour that narrates information based on your location right on your phone. You can experience our driving and walking tours at your own pace and literally at any time of the day!Â