Drivers AtlasThe world's best roads
Pacific Coast Highway

United States, California

Pacific Coast Highway

Distance

196 km

Time

3h 45m

Driving score

8.8

Loading the map

We choose the roads, waypoints are preserved so Google Maps follows the intended route.

Editorial

Why drive it

Drive it southbound so you are on the ocean side. It is not a road for speed; it is a road for a slow-running V8 and the roof down.

Difficulty
Easy
Road width
Two lanes, wide shoulders
Surface
Good
Best direction
Monterey → Cambria (southbound, ocean side)
Best time of day
Late afternoon
Best season
April to October
Elevation
300 m
Community rating
4.8 / 5

Proprietary scoring

The numbers

Driving enjoyment8.8
Scenery9.7
Road quality8.5
Traffic (higher is quieter)6.6
Grand touring9.4
Sports car8.7
Classic car9.0
Convertible9.9

The journey

Route highlights

  1. Start

    Monterey

    Coffee on Cannery Row

  2. Photo Spot

    Bixby Creek Bridge

    The definitive image

  3. Lunch

    Big Sur

    Cliff-edge terrace

  4. Viewpoint

    McWay Falls

    Waterfall onto the beach

  5. Finish

    Cambria

    Elephant seals and pinot

Where to stay

Stay along this drive

Finding places to stay along this drive.

We may earn a referral commission when you check availability with an accommodation partner. This never affects the price you pay, nor which hotels we recommend.

From the members

Road reports

No road reports yet. Be the first to drive it and tell us how it went.

Drove this road?

Free membership lets you post road reports, rate drives and save routes.