If you’re dreaming of a California road trip packed with jaw dropping coastal views, charming seaside towns, and unforgettable stops, this Monterey County adventure belongs at the top of your list.
You’ll wind along one of the most scenic highways in the world, discover storybook streets, breathtaking viewpoints, and memorable stops that make every mile worth the drive.
Every stretch of this drive brings something different, from dramatic coastline and hidden coves to historic landmarks and peaceful beaches that make it hard to keep your camera in your pocket.
Fill up the gas tank, clear some space on your phone for hundreds of photos, and get ready for a road trip that’s packed with unforgettable scenery from start to finish.
1. Pacific Grove
Pacific Grove sits at the tip of the Monterey Peninsula, where quiet streets, colorful Victorian homes, and rocky shoreline views make every walk feel memorable, especially along Ocean View Boulevard and historic Lighthouse Avenue.
You can watch crashing waves at Lovers Point Park, explore tide pools filled with sea stars and anemones, or wander the coastal paths at Asilomar State Beach, famous for its wind shaped dunes and dramatic granite rocks.
From October through February, western monarch butterflies cluster inside the Monarch Grove Sanctuary, creating one of California’s most famous seasonal wildlife displays and giving the town its nickname, Butterfly Town, U.S.A.
2. Monterey
Just a few minutes from Pacific Grove, Monterey brings you straight into one of California’s most famous waterfront cities, where Cannery Row, once packed with sardine canneries, is now filled with restaurants, shops, and historic buildings inspired by John Steinbeck’s famous novel.
Don’t miss the Monterey Bay Aquarium, home to a towering giant kelp forest, playful sea otters, jellyfish exhibits, and thousands of marine animals that showcase the incredible waters of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
Walk or bike part of the 18-mile Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail, stop by Old Fisherman’s Wharf to watch sea lions, or join a whale watching cruise to spot humpback whales, blue whales, or orcas during the right season.
Before you hit the road again, explore Old Monterey State Historic Park, where preserved adobe buildings, hidden courtyards, and landmarks from California’s Mexican and early American periods tell the story of the state’s first capital.
3. 17-Mile Drive
Next, cruise along the famous 17 Mile Drive, a scenic 17 mile route through Pebble Beach and Pacific Grove that winds past rocky coves, white sand beaches, world famous golf courses, and some of the most photographed ocean views on the California coast.
Pull over at iconic stops like the Lone Cypress, a Monterey cypress that has stood on its granite perch for more than 250 years, Seal Rock, where harbor seals and sea lions often gather, and Bird Rock, covered with pelicans, cormorants, and barking sea lions.
The drive also passes Spanish Bay, Fanshell Beach, Cypress Point Lookout, and the legendary Pebble Beach Golf Links, which has hosted multiple U.S. Open Championships and overlooks the crashing Pacific Ocean.
Plan for at least two to three hours so you have plenty of time to stop for photos, watch wildlife, and soak up the incredible coastal scenery before continuing south toward Big Sur.
4. Carmel-by-the-Sea
After soaking up the coastal views, head into Carmel-by-the-Sea, a storybook village famous for its charming cottages, tree lined streets, and nearly 100 art galleries, all within an easy walk of the downtown district.
Spend time browsing the unique shops and hidden passageways along Ocean Avenue, relax on the soft white sand at Carmel Beach, or visit the historic Carmel Mission Basilica, founded in 1771 and one of California’s most important Spanish missions.
One fun local tradition is that many homes still have whimsical names instead of street numbers, adding even more personality to a town already known for its fairytale architecture and creative spirit.
If you have extra time, follow Scenic Road along the bluff for beautiful Pacific Ocean views before continuing your road trip toward the dramatic cliffs and unforgettable overlooks waiting in Big Sur.
5. Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
As you leave Carmel, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is one of the first stops that deserves your time, with crystal clear coves, towering cliffs, and some of the best coastal hiking anywhere in California.
Follow the 0.8-mile round trip Cypress Grove Trail for windswept Monterey cypress trees and sweeping ocean views, or hike the 0.8-mile round-trip Sea Lion Point Trail to watch barking sea lions, harbor seals, and sea otters floating through the kelp beds below.
Whalers Cove offers calm turquoise water that attracts scuba divers and kayakers, while Bird Island Trail leads to seasonal nesting seabirds and one of the reserve’s most photographed coastal overlooks.
Despite covering just about 550 acres, Point Lobos is packed with incredible scenery, and it’s easy to see why landscape artist Francis McComas called it “the greatest meeting of land and water in the world.”
6. Garrapata State Park
Continue south along Highway 1 and you’ll reach Garrapata State Park, where steep coastal cliffs, wildflower covered hillsides, and uncrowded beaches create one of the most spectacular stretches of the Big Sur coastline.
The 2-mile round trip Soberanes Point Trail is an easy walk with nonstop Pacific Ocean views, while the 4.5-mile Soberanes Canyon Trail loop climbs through redwood groves, crosses Soberanes Creek, and gains about 500 feet in elevation.
Pull into one of the roadside turnouts to photograph the dramatic coastline, then head down to Garrapata Beach to watch powerful waves crash against massive rock formations and scan the water for migrating gray whales during winter and spring.
Spring is an especially beautiful time to visit, when bright orange California poppies, purple lupines, and colorful wildflowers blanket the coastal bluffs.
7. Bixby Creek Bridge
Just a short drive from Garrapata State Park, Bixby Creek Bridge delivers one of the most iconic views on the entire Pacific Coast Highway, with its graceful concrete arch stretching 714 feet across a deep canyon above Bixby Creek.
Completed in 1932, the bridge made year round travel through Big Sur much easier and has since appeared in countless commercials, movies, and road trip photos from around the world.
Several pullouts on both sides of the bridge offer incredible photo spots where you can capture the rugged coastline, steep cliffs, and turquoise Pacific Ocean from different angles.
Take your time here because this is one of those places you’ll want to admire from more than one viewpoint before continuing south through the unforgettable scenery of Big Sur.
8. Nepenthe
After all those scenic overlooks, Nepenthe is the perfect place to slow down with a meal, perched high above Highway 1 on a forested hillside with sweeping views across the Pacific Ocean and the dramatic Big Sur coastline.
Opened in 1949, this legendary restaurant has welcomed everyone from road trippers to famous artists and actors, and its outdoor terrace is one of the best spots along the drive to enjoy the scenery.
Order the restaurant’s famous Ambrosiaburger, grab a slice of homemade pie, or browse the Phoenix Shop next door for locally made jewelry, pottery, clothing, books, and unique gifts.
Even if you only stop for a drink or a quick photo, the unforgettable ocean panorama makes Nepenthe one of those classic Big Sur experiences you’ll be talking about long after your road trip ends.
9. McWay Falls
Finish your Monterey County road trip at McWay Falls in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, where an 80 foot waterfall drops year round from granite cliffs onto a quiet cove, creating one of California’s most photographed coastal scenes.
The McWay Falls Overlook Trail is an easy 0.5 mile round trip walk that leads to spectacular viewpoints overlooking the waterfall, turquoise water, and the sandy beach below, which is protected and closed to public access.
Take time to admire the views, especially on sunny afternoons when the clear water glows bright blue and the surrounding cliffs frame one of Big Sur’s most unforgettable landscapes.
It’s the perfect grand finale for this road trip, leaving you with one last incredible view before turning around or continuing south along Highway 1 toward even more of California’s legendary coastline.
Please note that at the time of writing, the main trail to the McWay Falls viewpoint is closed for retaining wall repairs. However, visitors can still enjoy excellent views of the waterfall from Highway 1.
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