7-Day Pacific Coast Highway RV Trip

California’s Highway 1 — the Pacific Coast Highway — runs from San Francisco to San Diego with the ocean on one side and cliffs on the other. Seven days is enough to enjoy the stops instead of racing them. The winding Big Sur section (about 90 miles between Monterey and San Simeon) has no fuel, food, or cell service for long stretches, so top off before you enter and watch for road closures after winter storms.

RV driving on Pacific Coast Highway with ocean views

Photo by Jonatan Pie on Unsplash

Day 1: San Francisco to Monterey

Pick up the RV in San Francisco (or San Jose, easier for big rigs).
Drive: south on Highway 1; stop at Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz.
Camp: a Monterey or Marina (CA) state beach campground — these book six months out and go fast.
Do: the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Cannery Row.

Day 2: Big Sur

Drive: the iconic cliffs; pull off at Bixby Creek Bridge and McWay Falls (Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park).
Note: no services in Big Sur; the drive is slow (30–40 mph) and not for the impatient. Big RVs fit, but turnouts are tight — don’t block them.
Camp: Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park (reserve early) or a private park in Big Sur.

Day 3: San Simeon and Hearst Castle

Drive: south to San Simeon; tour Hearst Castle (book ahead).
Camp: San Simeon Creek Campground (CA state beach) or a Cambria private park.
Do: the elephant seal vista point just north of San Simeon.

Day 4: San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara

Stop: Morro Bay (the rock) and Pismo Beach.
Camp: a Santa Barbara or El Capitán/Refugio state beach campground (book 6 months out).
Do: downtown Santa Barbara’s mission and waterfront.

Day 5: Ventura to Malibu

Drive: through Ventura and Malibu; the stretch near Los Angeles gets busy.
Camp: Leo Carrillo or Point Mugu state beaches (reserve early) or a private park.
Do: a beach walk and a look at the surf culture.

Day 6–7: Los Angeles to San Diego

Drive: through LA (avoid rush hour with a big rig) to Orange County and San Diego.
Camp: a San Diego coast campground (South Carlsbad SB, or private) — book months ahead in summer.
Do: La Jolla Cove, the San Diego waterfront, and Cabrillo National Monument before dropping the RV.

RV Notes

Reservations: California state-beach campgrounds are among the hardest in the country — book the day the six-month window opens on ReserveCalifornia.
Length and turns: Big Sur and coastal campgrounds can be tight for Class A units; check site length and approach grades.
Fuel: fill before Big Sur and before long gaps elsewhere; coastal stations are sparse and pricey.
Tow a car: helpful for city days in SF, LA, and San Diego where parking a 30-footer is miserable.

Use the RV Trip Budget Calculator to budget the high coastal campground fees (state beaches run $35–$65/night).

7-Day Pacific Coast Highway RV Trip: California Coast Adventure