United States · 10 days · 1,100 km · One-way
California Pacific Coast Highway — SF to LA
USA's most photographed road. SF → Half Moon Bay → Santa Cruz → Monterey + 17-Mile Drive → Big Sur (Bixby Bridge cliffs) → Hearst Castle → Santa Barbara → Malibu → LA. The classic campervan itinerary, with Paso Robles wineries side-trip if time allows. Hwy 1 is narrow; we recommend Class B or compact Class C.
Highlights
- Golden Gate Bridge departure
- 17-Mile Drive + Pebble Beach
- Bixby Bridge Big Sur
- McWay Falls
- Hearst Castle
- Santa Barbara waterfront
Day-by-day itinerary
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Day 1
San Francisco → Half Moon Bay → Santa Cruz
San Francisco → Santa Cruz · 130 km
- · Pickup San Francisco
- · Pigeon Point Lighthouse
- · Santa Cruz Boardwalk
Overnight: New Brighton State Beach
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Day 2
Santa Cruz → Monterey + 17-Mile Drive
Santa Cruz → Monterey · 70 km
- · Monterey Bay Aquarium
- · 17-Mile Drive (Pebble Beach)
- · Cannery Row
Overnight: Marina Dunes RV Park
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Day 3
Monterey → Big Sur
Monterey → Big Sur · 80 km
- · Iconic Bixby Bridge
- · Pfeiffer Beach (purple sand)
- · Point Sur Lighthouse
Overnight: Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
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Day 4
Big Sur — McWay Falls + Julia Pfeiffer
Big Sur · 40 km
- · McWay Falls (waterfall into ocean)
- · Julia Pfeiffer Burns SP
- · Nepenthe terrace
Overnight: Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
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Day 5
Big Sur → Hearst Castle → Cambria
Big Sur → Cambria · 130 km
- · Elephant Seal Beach
- · Hearst Castle tour
- · Cambria moonstone beach
Overnight: San Simeon Creek Campground
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Day 6
Cambria → Paso Robles → Pismo Beach
Cambria → Pismo Beach · 140 km
- · Paso Robles wineries
- · Pismo Beach dunes
Overnight: Pismo Coast Village RV Resort
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Day 7
Pismo → Santa Barbara
Pismo Beach → Santa Barbara · 150 km
- · Solvang Danish town
- · Santa Barbara Mission
- · Stearns Wharf
Overnight: El Capitán State Beach
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Day 8
Santa Barbara → Malibu
Santa Barbara → Malibu · 130 km
- · Ventura coastline
- · Point Mugu
- · Malibu Pier
Overnight: Malibu Beach RV Park
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Day 9
Malibu → Santa Monica → LA
Malibu → Los Angeles · 60 km
- · Santa Monica Pier
- · Venice Beach
- · Griffith Observatory
Overnight: Dockweiler RV Park
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Day 10
LA drop-off
Los Angeles · 30 km
- · Los Angeles drop-off
Recommended brands for this route
Selection based on road type and trip length. Tighter budgets — we can also quote Mighty.
premium
Road Bear RV
Premium Class C with slide-outs and under-2-year fleet
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value
El Monte RV
THL's value brand for family road-trippers in the USA
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value
Mighty US
Honest road tripping: what you need, none of what you don't
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flagship
Cruise America
The classic American road trip brand
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