Epic California Road Trip: Palm Springs to San Francisco (via Highway 1) with Stops in SLO CAL, Big Sur, Monterey & the National Parks!
As born and raised East Coasters, we hadn’t explored much of California—but a West Coast road trip had always been high on our bucket list. So when we found ourselves in Palm Springs, it felt like the perfect place to do just that. Alongside our two best friends, we set out on an unforgettable drive up the Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1), making our way to San Francisco and stopping in some incredible California towns along the way.
What surprised us most was just how diverse California truly is. Within just a few hours, the landscape transforms from desert to coastline, farmland to national parks, and cute small towns to vibrant cities. This road trip didn’t just check a box for us—it completely changed the way we see California and left us wanting so much more.
If you are planning a California road trip, here is the perfect itinerary to help you experience the very best of the state—from iconic coastal views to hidden gems, charming towns, and unforgettable stops you won’t want to miss along the way!
West Hollywood
West Hollywood
Gracias Madre
Our first drive was from Palm Springs to Los Angeles. We only spent one night in LA on our road trip, but we really enjoyed the West Hollywood neighborhood. It’s extremely queer friendly, has great bars and restaurants, and walkable (for LA terms anyway haha). For the one night we stayed at The Montrose at Beverly Hills which is a trendy boutique hotel with a rooftop pool with views of the city.
For dinner we went to the popular all vegan Mexican restaurants called Gracias Madres which was incredible! Sadly we didn’t get to explore more because we had to get to bed to wake up early the next day and head out back on the road again.
SLO CAL
Our second stop on the road trip was SLO CAL aka San Luis Obispo County. SLO CAL is midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles. It features more than 100 miles of coastline and some of California’s most beautiful and scenic open roads. SLO CAL is made up of over 15 communities and towns and therefore has a little something for everyone to enjoy. We visited a few of the towns within SLO CAL so here’s our recommendations on where to go, stay, eat, and see.
San Luis Obispo
A charming coastal city known for it’s laid back vibe and vibrant downtown. Here you’ll find tons of cute cafes, shops, restaurants, bars, you name it.
Where to Stay in San Luis Obispo
the iconic Madonna Inn. The Madonna Inn is a family owned hotel with 110 unique rooms of all different themes. It’s one of the most memorable hotels we’ve ever stayed in and it’s true, each room is totally and completely different.
Best Things to do in San Luis Obispo
Pacific Adventure Hummer Tour
Hearst Castle
Pismo Beach
wild zebras at Hearst Castle
Tour the famous Hearst Castle - a historic estate for William Randolph Hearst, built in the early 1900s. On the tour you’ll see lavish rooms, European art, and a gorgeous indoor and outdoor pool. Located in San Simeon (about an hour from San Luis Obispo)
Pacific Adventure Hummer Tour - tour the famous Oceano Beach Dunes in a Humvee (the only drivable beach in California).
Explore Downtown San Luis Obispo - pop into some local shops like Junkgirls, Blackwater, Boo Boo Records, Phoenix Books, & more.
Visit Pismo Beach - a coastal walk with beautiful ocean views
Where to Eat + Drink in San Luis Obispo
Luna Red
Novo
Scout Coffee
Luna Red - LGBTQ+ owned, Latin-inspired restaurant located downtown
Novo Restaurant and Lounge - LGBTQ+ owned with locally sourced global cuisine and craft cocktails
Scout Coffee - modern cafe with locally roasted coffee
Linnaea’s Cafe - cute and cozy local cafe for breakfast
Sidecar - trendy spot for drinks
Cambria
A small coastal town located between San Luis Obispo and Big Sur with a quiet, artsy, and romantic feel. Cambria is actually closer to Hearst Castle than San Luis Obispo, so you want might to visit the castle when driving between the two.
Where to Stay in Cambria
We stayed at Cambria Beach Lodge which is a relaxed coastal B&B with gorgeous, scenic views. We watched the sunset from our balcony here and it was magical!
Best Things to do in Cambria
Harmony
Elephant Seal Vista Point
Sensorio
Explore the town of Harmony - a tiny town with a population of just 18 people! Here you’ll find quaint streets and a few other hidden gems.
Walk along Moonstone Beach - known for it’s smooth pebbles, crashing waves, and scenic boardwalk
Check out Sensorio in Paso Robles - about an hour drive from Cambria is another SLO CAL city Paso Robles, which has this amazing outdoor fiber-optic light experience. This was so fun and a must-stop on your road trip
Watch the Elephant Seals in San Simeon
Visit Hearst Castle (above)
Where to Eat & Drink in Cambria
Brydge Restaurant - LGBTQ+ owned restaurant in a Victorian-era home with fresh, seasonal plates
Robin’s Restaurant - Queer owned restaurant in Cambria with global-inspired wholesome dishes.
Linn’s Restaurant - cozy, local cafe
AMSTRDM Coffee House (Paso Robles) - specialty coffee shop
Visalia
Visalia is known as the gateway to two of California’s National Parks — Sequoia and Kings Canyon — and we made sure to visit both on our trip. It sits in the heart of California’s agriculture, surrounded by orchards, farms, and mountain views.
Where to Stay in Visalia
We stayed at The Darling Hotel, which is a stylish boutique hotel with historic charm. It was originally a courthouse annex in the 1930s that has been beautifully restored with an art-deco design and is located right in the heart of downtown Visalia.
Sequoia National Park
General Sherman Tree
Moro Rock
Famous for it’s large Sequoia Trees, and the most famous and largest Sequoia tree in the world can be found here called the General Sherman Tree. The Sequoia trees only grow naturally in California and can live up to 3,000 years! Make sure to hike up Moro Rock for sunset for the most epic views of the park.
Kings Canyon National Park
You enter Kings Canyon National Park from the top of the canyon, and continue the winding roads down to the bottom. Kings Canyon is actually deeper than the Grand Canyon and one of the deepest canyons in North America! Make sure to make stops along the way down to the bottom of the canyon for epic views and sights. We didn’t have time for a hike, but there are also some gorgeous waterfalls you can see here as well.
Monterey
Monterey is a picturesque coastal city, famous for it’s stunning ocean views and marine life. Monterey has it all — charming streets, a scenic wharf, beaches, state parks, and adventure. We spent 2 days in Monterey and the nearby towns, so here’s what we did on our road trip stop.
Where to Stay in Monterey
We stayed at The Charles in Pacific Grove, a queer owned Inn located in a historic local house. It was in walking distance to the beach, as well as downtown Pacific Grove which had cafes, shops, and restaurants.
Best Things to do in Monterey
Lover’s Point Beach
Downtown Monterey
Old Fisherman’s Wharf
Asilomar State Beach
Check out Lover’s Point Beach - popular, scenic beach for boating, swimming, and surfing
Explore Old Fisherman’s Wharf - built in 1835, Old Fisherman’s Wharf is a historic waterfront with shops, seafood, restaurants, and more.
Kayak Tour with Adventures By the Sea - on this tour we got to kayak the Monterey Bay and see some amazing wildlife including seals, sea lions, and otters!
Watch the sunset at Asilomar Beach - a local beach with famous tide pools and nature walks.
Explore Carmel-By-The-Sea - another cute seaside town in Monterey County known for it’s white sand beaches, shops, and local galleries. Make sure you watch the sunset from Carmel Beach too if you have time!
Where to Eat + Drink in Monterey
Captain + Stoker
Julia’s Vegetarian
Pearl Hour
Julia’s Vegetarian - locally sourced vegetarian and vegan cuisine
Pearl Hour - eclectic local bar with a creative take on cocktails
Captain + Stoker - delicious local coffee shop
Carmel Valley Roasting Co - local coffee shop in Carmel
The Monarch - British style pub with a California twist
Alvarado Street Brewery - local, downtown brewery with beer garden in the back
Big Sur
McWay Falls
Bixby Bridge
The highlight of any Pacific Coast Highway/ Highway 1 road trip is the drive through Big Sur. The most iconic and famous views of Big Sur are between SLO CAL and Monterey. We made sure to stop at these scenic viewpoints on our road trip and they did no disappoint!
McWay Falls - one of California’s most beautiful coastal waterfalls
Bixby Bridge - one of the most photographed landmarks on the PCH (you may have seen it in the tv show Big Little Lies). It’s famous for it’s stunning ocean views and cliffs.
There are tons of other pull offs and view points you can stop at as well. We recommend seeing what calls our to you the most and stopping there! Everything between SLO CAL and Monterey on Highway 1 is beautiful so you cannot go wrong.
We ended our California road trip in San Francisco, but we plan on doing a separate blog post on our 24 hours in the city so make sure to stay tuned for that! We had the most epic time on this road trip with our friends, and we highly suggest doing a Big Sur road trip at least once in your lifetime. Make sure to watch our California Road Trip YouTube video below to see everything we got up to!
Special thanks to Visit California for hosting us on our trips. As always, all opinions are honest and our own. Some links on this post are affiliate links of which we receive a small commission, but the price is the same for you.