The Perfect Los Angeles to Santa Cruz Road Trip
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One of the best California road trips is from Los Angeles to Santa Cruz along the Pacific Coast Highway. You have landed on the right article because I’ve done this drive many times and last drove it this past March.
The very first thing to do when planning the perfect drive from LA to Santa Cruz is to check for road closures along the PCH and plan from there. The second thing you want to decide is how many days you have to drive from Los Angeles to Santa Cruz.
Some people spend 4 to 5 nights on the drive and spend time in Santa Barbara, Cambria, Big Sur, and Monterey. If you have less time, eliminate a few of these stops, but those are the big ones.
There is so much to see on this drive; you really could spend a month doing it.
And I plan to at some point. Being a California local, like many, the PCH is one of my favorite places to drive because it’s right along the bright blue cool Pacific Ocean.
For our purposes here, we will spend five nights along the way in:
Let’s get to this amazing drive from Los Angeles to Santa Cruz.
How Long Is the Drive From Los Angeles to Santa Cruz?
Depending on which way you go, the drive from Los Angeles to Santa Cruz will take either around 6 hours or 9. The PCH/Highway 1 (locals call it The One 😎) takes about 9 hours. The inland drive, without stopping along the coast, takes about 6 hours. Google always underestimates how long it takes to drive up the PCH.
As of this writing, some of the PCH has been shuttered due to the heavy rains California has experienced in the past year. I just did this drive and took the ultimate Big Sur road trip in March. The PCH is closed from Limekiln State Park to 14.2 miles south of Monterey, so we had to take a lovely, lush green scenic drive around, which was stunning but added an hour to our trip.
From the Author: Sometimes, part of the PCH shuts down due to weather, like hard rain. Check this website for current highway conditions before you head out.
How Many Days to Spend on Driving From Los Angeles to Santa Cruz
There’s no definitive answer to how long a Los Angeles to Santa Cruz road trip should take; personal preference plays a big role. A 4 — 5 day trip allows for a relaxed pace, enabling you to soak in the scenery, enjoy leisurely meals, and even explore spontaneous finds along the way.
However, if you need more time or are new to road-tripping, starting with a long weekend or a 3-day journey is an excellent introduction. You can fit in a lot of the coast on a three-day journey.
Day 1: Los Angeles to Santa Barbara
📍 Miles: 100 (a straight shot on the 101N)
🌐 Hours: 1.5 to 2 hours depending on traffic
The drive from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara starts rough (the drive out of LA isn’t very pretty, and there’s almost always traffic), but it soon turns into a gorgeous drive along the coast as soon as you hit Ventura. A view of the Pacific Ocean always sneaks up on me as I wind into the turn of the highway at Ventura; it’s stunning, even though I have seen it thousands of times.
Santa Barabra has over 20 beaches and a main street with many great boutiques, coffee shops, and restaurants.
People in Los Angeles often drive up just for the day to spend time on one of Santa Barbara’s many dog-friendly beaches or shop in town.
We sometimes drive up for the night to enjoy a show at the Santa Barbara Bowl. The last act I saw there was Trevor Noah. The theater is one of my favorite places to see performances in California. Like the Greek in Los Angeles, it’s surrounded by mountains, and at sunset, it is simply stunning.
To do: Visit one of the beaches, shop on Main Street, and visit the Old Mission Santa Barbara.
To eat: You must have a taco at La Super-Rica Taqueria on the same street (Milpas) as the Santa Barbara Bowl. It’s a famous hole-in-the-wall restaurant that serves some of the best Mexican food this side of the Mexican border. FYI, it’s cash only. 💵
To caffeinate: Handlebar Coffee Roasters is one of my favorite coffee shops. It has great espresso (they understand wet foam), amazing pastries, and bagels.
To stay: Hotel Californian. Top-notch, great reviews, and as close to the beach as possible.
If you are heading further north to Sacramento, check out the best cafes in Sacramento.
Day 2: Santa Barbara to Cambria
📍 Miles: 149 (up the 101N to CA-1)
🌐 Hours: 2.5
Head out of Santa Barbara and keep going north on the 101 until you come to CA-1 (also known as the PCH, the One, or Highway 1), around N Santa Rose Street.
The next stop on this Los Angeles to Santa Cruz drive is Cambria, right before San Simeon. The main reason to stop in San Simeon is to tour the stunning Hearst Castle, one of my favorite tours in all of California. It is something to see, and everyone should see it once.
There are four Hearst Castle Tours because the castle and the grounds are extensive. The employees at Hearst Castle suggest starting with Tour 1. Since I have always traveled to Hearst Castle with someone new, I have taken Tour 1 four times! I don’t mind; it is a good one. However, I have nothing to compare it to because I’ve never advanced to Tour 2!
But Tour 1 is amazing.
This magnificent estate was the residence of William Randolph Hearst, a pioneering media mogul and newspaper publisher in the early 20th century. Originally intended to be a family home for Hearst, his wife Millicent, and their five sons, by 1925, Hearst’s marriage was effectively over. San Simeon became his domain and that of his mistress, the actress Marion Davies.
Travel Tip: You have to schedule your tour time in your itinerary in advance and make sure you get to San Simeon in time for your tour slot. You can purchase tickets for this amazing tour here.
To do: Tour Hearst Castle. Stop at Piedras Blancas Beach, also known as Elephant Seal Beach, to see all the seals rolling around on the beach. It’s a mere 5.2 miles north of the entrance to Hearst Castle.
To stay: San Simeon Lodge. It’s clean and right near the Hearst Castle.
Depending on when your tour of Hearst is, you can visit Piedras Blancas Beach, also known as Elephant Seal Beach, before or after your tour. It is only a few minutes from the castle’s entrance, further up the PCH. Seals are scattered on the beach, with lovely views of the Pacific Ocean.
Day 3: San Simeon to Big Sur
📍 Miles: 158 miles (46E to 101 N)
🌐 Hours: 3 to 3.5 hours
From San Simeon, on this road trip from Los Angeles to Santa Cruz, you will most likely have to travel inland to go around the road closures on the PCH. This part of the PCH, from about seven miles past Hearst Castle to Julia Pfeiffer State Park, is closed and has been closed for a good year due to landslides and road damage.
To get around the closure, travel on route 46 E to the 101 N. This is still a stunning drive through rolling hills that are bright green because of all the rain California is getting.
Travel north to Big Sur.
You could spend a week alone in Big Sur, especially if you like hiking like me. But for this itinerary, we only have a day and a half in Big Sur. Let’s talk about the highlights you don’t want to miss here.
My favorite hiking spot—and you can hike a lot here or just a little—is Point Lobos State Nature Reserve, with an emphasis on China Beach. It is stunning. Make sure to bring binoculars because there are seals and sea otters floating in the water below. We saw both on our hike.
Harbor seals at Point Lobos give birth and nurse their pups on several beaches in the spring from late March to mid-May.
To do: Point Lobos State Natural Reserve and stop along the scenic route of the PCH wherever you feel inspired to stop and take photos, which will be every two minutes.
To eat: Big Sur Bakery for its amazing pastries, Nepenthe for a cocktail. Their Bloody Mary is amazing. Below Nepenthe is a more casual Greek cafe, Cafe Kevah, which is also very good. Next to that cafe is an amazing boutique with local artisans’ goods.
To caffeinate: Big Sur Bakery.
To stay: Alila Ventana Big Sur. It’s a five-star hotel. I have yet to stay here, but the next time I go to Big Sur, it’s on! I’ll write an entire post on it. It looks amazing. >>>Click Here for Prices
After you hike and stop at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, you will travel SOUTH on the PCH to Nepenthe, Big Sur Bakery, and Alilia Ventana Big Sur.
The road closure in Big Sur is at McWay Falls. But when we visited in March, we could see the falls from the road and access Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park across from McWay Falls. The park features many trails and probably a few other waterfalls less famous than McWay Falls but with access.
When you are ready to head out the next day to Monterey, you’ll be going back toward the way you came in, north on the PCH. Because of all the road closures, this is the best way to do it. I just did this trip from Los Angeles. It added time, but it was still amazing.
For a deep dive into what to pack for a California road trip, check out our,
California Road Trip Essentials: Your Ultimate List
Day 4: Rocky Creek Bridge to Monterey
📍 Miles: 17.3 miles
🌐 Hours: 30 minutes
From Big Sur, you will head north again on the PCH toward Monterey. This area is stunning. This is Big Little Lies on HBO territory, this is where it was filmed.
While in this area, you should try to hit the 17-Mile Drive in Carmel and Monterey. The 17-Mile Drive is a spectacular drive in the Pebble Beach Community and a not-to-be-missed drive. The entrance fee is about $12 per vehicle. You’ll see stunning views of the crashing Pacific Ocean, the Lone Cypress Tree, and the famous Pebble Beach Golf Course.
If you drive the 17 miles straight through, you can probably do it in a little under an hour and a half. Then, head to Monterey to visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Cannery Row, where the famous writer John Steinbeck spent much of his time writing. Have dinner and stay in Monterey; it is much more affordable than staying in Carmel. However, I prefer Carmel.
If you only have time for the 17-Mile Drive or Monterey, I would do the 17-Mile Drive. It’s spectacular. I’ve done it more time than I can count, and I’d do it again.
To do: The 17-Mile Drive, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row
To eat: The Sardine Factory and Chart House. The oysters at Chart House were very tasty, and the restaurant had a nice atmosphere, but they were a bit pricy. Nearly every restaurant in Monterey is touristy. Go to Carmel for better food, although it’s expensive, too.
To caffeinate: Counterpoint Coffee is where the locals go. I asked a college student where she gets her espresso, and she told me about it. The espresso and crema on top are expert, and the little ham and cheese sandwiches are great to take on the road for later.
To stay: We stayed at the Wave Street Inn, one block from the water. It’s a nice hotel for a reasonable price, and I highly recommend it.
Day 5: Monterey to Santa Cruz
📍 Miles: 43 miles north
🌐 Hours: 1 hour
From Monterey, continue up the coast on Highway 1 north to Santa Cruz to complete this Los Angeles to Santa Cruz road trip. You’ve made it and have one night to stay in Santa Cruz before returning to Los Angeles.
Santa Cruz is a quintessential California beach town with a vibrant and eclectic vibe.
Nestled on the northern edge of Monterey Bay, it’s renowned for its stunning natural landscapes, from expansive sandy beaches to lush redwood forests.
The town exudes a laid-back, surf-centric culture that is palpable in its local shops, cafés, and street art.
The historic Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk adds a nostalgic charm with its vintage amusement park rides and arcade games, making it a perennial favorite among visitors and locals.
To do: visit the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk for the famous Giant Dipper roller coaster and the Looff Carouse, Natural Bridges State Beach, known for its natural stone archway, and hike in the Redwoods at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.
To caffeinate: Verve Coffee Roasters
To stay: Dream Inn Santa Cruz is right on the beach. And it’s pool overlooks the beach. This is very California.
Los Angeles to Santa Cruz Road Trip Comes to an End
After your last night in Santa Cruz, it’s time to return to Los Angeles. The most direct route would be the 5-south. If you don’t make many stops along the way, you should be able to drive the 340 miles in about 5 to 6 hours, tops.
Happy road-tripping!
Don’t forget to check what’s open before you leave home on a road trip, including roads, visitor’s centers, bathroom facilities, etc. Need some packing guidance? Check out my California Road Trip Essentials list — I’m constantly updating it with new recommended equipment!
California Travel Planning Guide
🚑 Should I buy travel insurance for California?
100% YES! – With basic coverage averaging $1.50 USD per day, enjoy peace of mind with a plan from SafetyWing, one of the biggest names in travel insurance. (Read more)
💦 Can you drink the water in California?
Yes — But I wouldn’t. It doesn’t taste very good and there are contaminants in it. You’ll want to buy a Water-To-Go Bottle, which filters drinking water while on the go (traveling) and helps keep you hydrated.
🚙 Is it safe to rent a car in California?
Yes — Renting a car in California is one of the best ways to explore this vast, awesome state, and kind of a must! I always rent with Discover Cars, which checks both international companies and local California companies, so you get the best rates. (read more)
🏨 What’s the best way to book my California accommodations?
For California hotels, Booking is the best site, but for hostels, use Hostel World. If you’re considering a California Airbnb, don’t forget also to check VRBO, which has better rates than Airbnb.
🧳 What do I pack for California?
Head to the Ultimate California Packing List to get all the information you need about packing for a trip to California.
🛫 What’s the best site to buy airfare to California?
For finding cheap California flights, I recommend Skyscanner.
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