Road trip advice

Question

Hi we are 2 couples from UK we start at San Francisco 3 nights, 1 night Capitola to see a friend. We then have 3 days in pacific Grove for Monteray/Carmel. My question we want to break up the drive between here and our next stop in Santa Barbara for 1 night. And can’t decide all help appreciated. We thought Pismo but was unsure if that’s too far a drive and should look elsewhere.

We then travel down to LA staying in Santa Monica and onto San Diego for 3 nights before our final drive to Las Vegas. Any advice is welcome please

Answer

Your road trip along the California coast sounds fantastic! Breaking up the drive from Pacific Grove (Monterey/Carmel area) to Santa Barbara is a good idea, as it’s a long drive—roughly 4–5 hours non-stop on US-101 or slightly longer along the scenic Pacific Coast Highway (CA-1). Here’s some advice on stops and overnight options:

Pismo Beach is a popular choice and sits roughly halfway between Monterey and Santa Barbara if you’re taking US-101 south. The drive from Pacific Grove to Pismo is about 3.5–4 hours, so it’s not too far and makes for a comfortable break. Pismo has plenty of hotels, beach access, and restaurants, making it family-friendly and scenic.

Pismo Beach: Good halfway point, coastal town with sandy beaches, pier, and restaurants. Nice for a sunset walk.
San Simeon/Cambria: Slightly north of Pismo Beach, a charming coastal village. Great for smaller boutique hotels and very close to Hearst Castle if you’d like a tour.
Morro Bay: Just north of San Luis Obispo, picturesque bay town. Good for a short stop or overnight, with great seafood restaurants and views of Morro Rock.

If you prefer a more scenic route, you could consider driving a portion of the Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1) south from Carmel through Big Sur, stopping for a quick look at Bixby Bridge, McWay Falls, and other viewpoints. This will add time but is incredibly beautiful. However, it might make your total travel day long if you try to combine it with an overnight, so plan accordingly.

After your overnight stop, continuing to Santa Barbara is straightforward, around 1.5–2.5 hours depending on whether you take CA-1 or US-101. Santa Barbara offers a pleasant downtown, beach promenade, and Spanish-style architecture—good for an evening stroll after a day’s drive.

If timing and energy are tight, Pismo Beach or Morro Bay is simplest.
If you want a more scenic experience and don’t mind a longer drive, consider San Simeon/Cambria with a quick stop at the coast.
Try to avoid doing the entire Monterey to Santa Barbara drive in one go—it’s long and can be tiring.

For the rest of your trip: LA (Santa Monica) and San Diego are well-positioned for exploring Southern California, and your final drive to Las Vegas is a solid 5–6 hours from San Diego, so plan for a midday departure if possible to enjoy the desert scenery along I-15.

Overall, Pismo Beach is a very reasonable and convenient choice for your overnight stop—neither too far nor too close, offering a comfortable break in your trip.

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