Things To Do

Highway 1 Road Trip logo - links to homepage
Tidepool Children
Your ultimate guide to the best things to do along the iconic Highway 1. Immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty of the California coast, from the grandeur of Hearst Castle to lazy beach-side hamlets. Discover hidden gems, encounter diverse wildlife, and indulge in the region’s vibrant art and culture. Let this comprehensive resource be your compass for an unforgettable road trip adventure.

Featured Attractions

Activities

All Things to Do

Search
Destinations
Features
82 found
82 found
1
Cayucos Pier on Cayucos Beach

Cayucos

The Cayucos pier was constructed in 1872 by Captain James Cass, the founder of Cayucos, and was then rebuilt and…

Cayucos Beach surfer
Cayucos State Beach

Cayucos

The sandy beach offers mild weather, watersports such as surfing and swimming, tidepooling. 

Cayucos Pier
Stewardship Travel for Good Logo
Cayucos State Parks and Beaches

Cayucos

Sunshine, shoreline, surf and even starfish — these are just a few treasures to be found in Cayucos State Beaches…

Cayucos Polar Bear Plunge
Central Coast Polar Bear Dips

Cayucos

The SLO CAL stretch of Highway 1 boasts two “polar bear dips” on the first day of the year, both…

Tour the Dana Adobe in Nipomo
Stewardship Travel for Good Logo
Dana Adobe

Nipomo

The historic Dana Adobe in Nipomo transports visitors back to the time of vaqueros, ranchos and Mexican land grants.

Highway 1 Dream Drive
Day Trips on Highway 1

Various

Welcome to California’s quintessential coastal journey, where Highway 1 unfurls an enviable collection of seaside escapes perfect for day trips…

Cayucos surfer & dog
Dog-Friendly Highway 1: The Best Places to Explore with Your Dog

Various

The best road trips are built for two: your dog, ears flapping in the coastal breeze, and you, taking in…

Cayucos Pier Aerial
Downtown Cayucos

Cayucos

The quaint downtown of Cayucos boasts field-to-table restaurants, antique stores, public art and cafes ― all just steps from the…

Paso Robles Downtown
Downtown Paso Robles

Paso Robles

Downtown Paso Robles provides a walkable wonderland of restaurants, boutique shops, wine tasting rooms and art galleries to explore. Known…

Pismo Beach Golf Course
Downtown Pismo Beach

Pismo Beach

With surfing, shopping and dining on the itinerary, downtown Pismo Beach is all about overdelivering on classic California fun in…

Elfin Forest
Elfin Forest

Los Osos

El Moro Elfin Forest Natural Area An ancient oak grove, the Elfin Forest is home to trees that grow only…

Family at Tide Pools
Family-Friendly Things to Do on Highway 1: Best Activities for Kids From Ragged Point to Nipomo

Avila Beach

For easy-breezy family fun, nothing beats a hike. Lace up your walking shoes, grab a hat and a water bottle,…

Farmstand
Stewardship Travel for Good Logo
Farm to Table Near Highway 1

Nipomo

The stretch of Highway 1 between Ragged Point and Nipomo owes much of its magic to remarkably authentic farm-to-table abundance.

Million Dollar View Ragged Point
Gateway to Big Sur

Ragged Point

Big Sur represents the best of the West. As one of the nation’s top attractions, Big Sur sparkles with vast…

Highway 46, Cambria
Highway 46 Scenic Drive

Cambria

Beginning at the forested seaside town of Cambria, where houses are built on stilts to mimic the stately pines that…

Bluffs Hike in Montana De Oro State Park
Stewardship Travel for Good Logo
Hiking Los Osos

Los Osos

A hiker’s paradise, Los Osos lies in a valley at the edge of the Pacific Ocean. Trails of all lengths…

How to Get to Highway 1

Various

Between Ragged Point and Nipomo stretches a section of Highway 1 where time slows and landscapes dazzle. Here, rugged cliffs…

Spooners Cove
Montaña de Oro State Park

Los Osos

This park features rugged cliffs, secluded sandy beaches, coastal plains, streams, canyons, and hills, including 1,347-foot Valencia Peak.

Moonstone Beach Boardwalk Wildflowers
Moonstone Beach

Cambria

Considered one of the Central Coast’s best beaches, Moonstone Beach is an ethereal outpost where waves meet a shoreline perfect…

Avila Beach pier
Olde Port Beach

San Luis Obispo

This is the first beach you will find after crossing the bridge out of Avila and into Port San Luis.

Oso Flaco Lake hike in Nipomo along Highway 1
Stewardship Travel for Good Logo
Oso Flaco Lake

Arroyo Grande

Just north of Guadalupe, California, lies one of the most scenic natural areas all along California’s coast, Oso Flaco Lake.

Highway 46, Cambria
Scenic Drive: Your Highway 1 Road Trip

San Simeon

If you want the inside scoop on the best places to stop while driving the Pacific Coast Highway, you’ll need…

Walking dog along coastal trail
Solo Travel Highway 1’s Wide Open Spaces

Various

With the need for social distancing, there’s never been a better time to dream about your next party-of-one trip.

Spooner’s Cove

Los Osos

Traveling to Spooner's Cove, located within Montaña de Oro State Park, you'll take in views of rugged cliffs, sandy beaches…

Load More