I love road trips! Whether it involves taking on the twists and turns of the mountains or cruising down the coastline, I’m in. In fact, I have quite a list of road trips I want to take in the future: New England in autumn, Route 66, etc. But our brief stay in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, had me adding one more road trip to my list that I can’t wait to take someday: the Pacific Coast Highway. AKA Hwy 1.
This 656-mile stretch of road is State Route 1 in California, and it runs right along the stunning Pacific coastline and past many popular towns, such as San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Due to time constraints, we could only enjoy a small stretch of this gorgeous route, from Monterey to Big Sur. But I’ll tell you what–not a second of it was wasted! In just a few short hours, we soaked in dozens of mesmerizing views and iconic spots, plus many striking panoramic landscapes that weren’t even on the list of “best” ones to see. It was absolutely magical!
Today, I want to share 5 of my favorite stops on this route with you. If you’re ever in Monterey or Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, you’ll definitely want to take the time to see these!
Check Out My YouTube Video for Gorgeous Footage of these 5 Stops!
Hwy 1 Stop 1: Point Lobos State Reserve
If you’ve been following my California mini-series, you probably already know about Point Lobos. (If not, definitely check out the linked article to learn more!) This state reserve is one of the first notable points you’ll pass on Highway 1 after you leave Monterey, and it’s the perfect place to start your journey.
At Point Lobos, you’ll enjoy a wide variety of gorgeous landscapes, hiking trails, and wildlife! It’s common to see harbor seals, sea lions, sea otters, and all sorts of sea birds. And in the right seasons, you can even catch glimpses of whales migrating by!
Point Lobos is right on the coastline, so you’ll see plenty of those dramatic rocky cliffs plunging to the Pacific, but you’ll also find an occasional sandy beach that feels isolated from the world. Additionally, there are some rare Monterey Cypress groves on-site, which offer shaded hikes.
You can easily spend hours exploring this park, but I highly recommend prioritizing the famous China Cove/Bird Island path and Whaler’s Cove if you’re short on time.
Watch our Point Lobos Adventure on YouTube
Hwy 1 Stop 2: Garrapata State Park
Garrapata State Park is one of the most strikingly diverse parks I’ve ever visited. Highway 1 runs straight through the middle of the park, dividing it into two equally beautiful settings.
On one side, steep, rocky valleys and cliffs cut down toward bright blue waters. Giant white rock formations jut out of the waves and offer unique places to look for sea life. And from up above, the soaring hilltops present prime viewing for whale watching or just gazing at the choppy sea.
Plenty of paths and bridges make it easy to explore this side of the park, even the hilltops and rocky coasts.
On the other side, you’ll find a much different scene. At first, a narrow dirt path winds down a steep hill and across a narrow stream.
Then suddenly, the trees disappear, and you find yourself in a stunning valley with grassy mountains sweeping down on either side. On the left, the hillside is covered with thousands of cacti!
If you continue down this narrow path, you’ll weave through the valley, occasionally passing through small shaded areas and over a couple more rivulets. And if you keep going far enough, you’ll actually get to see some California Redwood trees soaring up to the sky!
Because it’s literally along the highway, this park is also free to enter and enjoy! However, parking is limited to dirt pull-offs along the road, so it can be a little tricky to get in and out of.
There is so much to see here, I actually made a separate YouTube video for it. You can check it out below!
Hwy 1 Stop 3: Rocky Point
One of the pull-offs you have to see is Rocky Point. We didn’t even realize that there was a restaurant here, but I don’t believe it was open when we visited due to COVID. However, whether or not you stop at the restaurant for lunch with an epic view, you can still take in the splendor of Rocky Point from just up the road.
This particular area has movie-like drama with its steep cliffs, bright blue waters, and views of the mountains off in the distance. And in the spring, you’ll enjoy a riot of colors from the wildflowers covering the slopes down toward the cliffs.
Hwy 1 Stop 4: Bixby Bridge
No trip down Highway 1 is complete without stopping at the famous Bixby Bridge! You have no choice about crossing it, but I recommend taking some time to take in this engineering marvel.
Completed in 1932, the Bixby Bridge is one of the highest bridges of its kind in the entire world at 260 feet above the canyon! It actually took 45,000 bags of concrete to build, and they all had to be hauled without modern machinery.
But despite all these factors, the bridge is very graceful–not to mention the views here are top-notch. You can certainly enjoy the landscape on either end of the bridge, but you get a full view of the valley and the endless Pacific while you’re driving across.
Hwy 1 Stop 5: Hurricane Point
One final stop that I just loved was Hurricane Point. At this part of Hwy 1, you’re very high up the mountain (it’s actually one of the highest points in Big Sur), and you get absolutely undeterred views of North, West, and South. You can look back and see the Bixby Bridge down in the valley from here and get an even grander sense of how vast this mountain range is.
The ocean looks so far away from this height, and you can see it fading all the way into the distance against the skyline.
However, it is windy up here! That’s why it’s called Hurricane Point. So definitely be careful around the edges of the cliffs and secure any lightweight possessions.
Closing Thoughts…
If you continue up or down Hwy 1, you’ll see dozens of panoramic views that can quite literally make your jaw drop. This is only a snapshot of the beautiful things along this scenic drive.
But if you’re ever in Monterey or Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, don’t miss out on these 5 breathtaking stops! And be sure to leave plenty of time to get out and explore, especially at Point Lobos and Garrapata State Park. You never know what amazing things you’ll discover along the way!
If you’re planning a trip to this stunning area (and it should definitely be on your bucket list), check out the rest of my mini-series to see some fun things to do in the area. And if you’re looking for a place to stay in Carmel-by-the-Sea, which is quite a fairy-tale town, I highly recommend the Hofsas House Hotel! Carrie and her staff are absolutely amazing, and the rooms are so cute!
Vacationing in Monterey or Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
The Best 8 Things to See on 17-Mile Drive
How to Spend the Perfect Day at Point Lobos State Reserve
Carmel-by-the-Sea: A Luxury Vacation Destination
Thanks for stopping by to check out this post. I hope it helped spark a bit of that wanderlust inside of you! 🙂 If you have any questions or comments, feel free to drop them in the comment section below.
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Happy travels!
