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
170 found
170 found
1
Aerial views from Pismo Beach Preserve
Pismo Beach Hiking

Pismo Beach

Hiking in Pismo Beach is all about blue skies, golden sand and gorgeous coastal vistas. With a bevvy of beach…

Pismo Beach Pier
Pismo Beach Pier and Plaza: Parking, What to Do, and How to Plan Your Visit

Pismo Beach

Step out onto one of California’s longest piers and experience the laid-back rhythm that makes Pismo Beach one of the…

Preserves, Estuaries and Sanctuaries on Highway 1

Avila Beach

Find thousands of acres of protected open space, both on land and at sea. These estuaries, preserves, and sanctuaries are…

Highway 1 scenic aerial view
San Luis Obispo North Coast Byway – Route 1

Various

The San Luis Obispo North Coast Byway provides an extraordinary experience.

Hearst Castle in San Simeon, CA
Stewardship Travel for Good Logo
San Simeon Activity Map

San Simeon

The stunning natural beauty of San Simeon Cove; the enchantment of a hilltop castle – what a beautiful way to…

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…

Highway 1 aerial view near San Simeon
State Parks and Beaches of the Central Coast

Highway 1

From Ragged Point to Nipomo, you’ll find unspoiled beaches, quiet woodlands, marine protected areas, art, antiquities, and driveable dunes.

Kids playing at park Avila Beach
The 10 Best Parks on Highway 1

Various

In a land of natural splendor, it’s no surprise that the public has access to breathtaking, fun, and fascinating parks.…

Cayucos Beach Aerial
Stewardship Travel for Good Logo
The Perfect Cayucos Weekend Itinerary: Beaches, Bluffs and Small-Town Charm

Cayucos

Cayucos rewards travelers who slow down. Park the car, walk Ocean Avenue, and let the tide set the pace. A…

Pismo Preserve
The Pismo Preserve

Pismo Beach

Already a beloved local open space, the Pismo Preserve shows hikers, bikers and equestrians ocean views they hadn’t seen before…

Sweet Springs
Stewardship Travel for Good Logo
The Sweet Springs Nature Preserve

Los Osos

Located at the meeting of freshwater run-off and the saltwater ocean, the Sweet Springs Nature Preserve is a jewel of…

Highway 1 Sunset
The Ultimate Highway 1 Road Trip Itinerary: Ragged Point to Nipomo

Various

Want the ultimate Highway 1 road trip itinerary? Ours turns this stretch from Ragged Point to Nipomo into a full…

Cycling in Edna Valley Vineyards
Stewardship Travel for Good Logo
Things to Do in Arroyo Grande and Edna Valley

Arroyo Grande

Some corners of California’s Central Coast especially reward the people who get off Highway 1 and go looking. Arroyo Grande…

Aerial views Libertine Avila Beach
Stewardship Travel for Good Logo
Things to do in Avila Beach

Avila Beach

Splash into a world of sun-soaked wonder in Avila Beach. With a protected cove, iconic pier and friendly locals, there’s…

Moonstone Beach Boardwalk Cambria
Stewardship Travel for Good Logo
Things to do in Cambria

Cambria

Where pine forests meet the Pacific, Cambria rewards the slow wander over the quick stop. Lean into the town’s tranquil…

Walking along the Cayucos Pier
Stewardship Travel for Good Logo
Things to do in Cayucos

Cayucos

Cayucos beckons as a classic California surf town. Here, mornings start with coffee and cookies, days drift between pier strolls,…

Back Bay Inn Los Osos
Stewardship Travel for Good Logo
Things to do in Los Osos Baywood

Los Osos

Tucked along one of Highway 1’s most unhurried back bay stretches, Los Osos and Baywood Park are a choose your…

A couple walking on sand dunes at the Oceano Dunes
Stewardship Travel for Good Logo
Things to do in Oceano/Nipomo

Oceano

Where coastal dunes roll into oak-studded farmland, Oceano and Nipomo unfold as Highway 1’s quieter thrill—the kind of place where…

Viewing Elephant Seals
Things to do in San Simeon

San Simeon

Step onto windswept bluffs where world-famous architecture commands views of vast Pacific blue. This is San Simeon, the quintessential Highway…

Santa Barbara Downtown
Stewardship Travel for Good Logo
Things to Do in Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara rewards wanderers who look beyond the postcard. Where the Santa Ynez Mountains meet the Pacific, Spanish-style architecture and…

Downtown Arroyo Grande Village
Things to do on Highway 1

Various

Highway 1 isn’t just a drive — it’s where the coast invites you to slow down, breathe deep and just…

WR Hearst State Beach
Stewardship Travel for Good Logo
W.R. Hearst State Beach

San Simeon

William Randolph Hearst Memorial Beach provides the scenery, sand, and surf for an ideal beach day on Highway 1. This…

Load More