San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, California, United States

Drive our special stretch of Highway 1 between Ragged Point and Nipomo, and you can’t help but be awed by its natural beauty and scenic riches. These 81 miles are what make a Highway 1 road trip one of the top bucket-list excursions in the world. But finding all the secret treasures of this famous byway would take several days — and a local’s know-how.

Ragged Point

Ragged Point, California, United States

Home of the “Million-Dollar View,” Ragged Point offers some of the best scenery from the road. Park at the Ragged Point Inn, where you can grab a glass of wine or beer and enjoy panoramic views from the patio.

San Simeon, CA

As an alternative, park at the Elephant Seal Rookery viewing area, where thousands of Elephant Seals can be seen mere steps away. Enjoy viewing the wildlife, then walk the adjacent Boucher Trail, which travels to the Piedras Blancas Light Station, built in 1875.

750 Hearst Castle Rd
San Simeon, CA

Located just south of the entrance to San Simeon State Park, this vista point offers an ideal place for taking in effortless views. You can even park in the Hearst State Beach lot, off Highway 1, and see it all from the comfort of your vehicle. This is also a great place for whale watching, with its expansive ocean views.

Moonstone Beach Drive

Cambria, California, United States

From Highway 1, it takes just a moment to pull onto this 2-mile oceanfront roadway that parallels the shoreline. Moonstone Beach lies below, a favorite hidden beach where locals come for excellent beachcombing that includes sea glass, colorful worn stones, and driftwood.

750 Hearst Castle Road
San Simeon, CA

The majestic Estero Bluffs State Park allows visitors to explore the landscape and beaches on the northern end of Cayucos. Whether hiking the four miles of trail, watching whales, birds or tidepools, everyone is invited to enjoy this precious stretch of unspoiled California coastline.

Cayucos, CA

Of course, the view from just about anywhere in Cayucos is picture-perfect, but some of the best spots are really tucked away. Make like a local and travel to the southern end of Cayucos State Beach. Here, you’ll nearly be “on” the beach, with a wide open view of the waves.

3550 Pecho Valley Rd
San Luis Obispo County, CA

At 8,000 acres, with 7 miles of shoreline, Montana de Oro State Park makes for a lovely scenic drive. This special state park offers panoramas of Estero Bay as well as paths that wind beneath towering eucalyptus forests. The road that travels through it all is Pecho Valley Road, which extends directly from Los Osos to Montana de Oro State Park.

Avila Beach

Avila Beach, California, United States

Anyone who cruises Avila Beach Drive through Avila Beach can tell you what a stunning ocean-side drive it offers. But the hidden vistas and lesser-known views from historic Point San Luis Lighthouse are absolutely worth the hunt.

Oceano

Oceano, California, United States

Thousands of Monarch Butterflies migrate to the eucalyptus trees within the Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove each year. Directly on Highway 1, this incredible sight is one of the easiest wildlife viewing opportunities available on the Central Coast. The best place to stop on your Highway 1 road trip is the Monarch Butterfly Grove parking lot, just south of Pismo Beach.

CA-227
San Luis Obispo, CA

One of the best parts about wine country in the Edna and Arroyo Grande Valleys is how hidden and uncrowded it is. But you don’t have to travel far off the beaten path to discover the area’s crisp chardonnay and earthy pinot noir wines. But there’s much more here than wine: these valleys offer some of the most heavenly countryside views. Peer out at rolling vineyards and golden hills punctuated by farmhouses and rustic barns. So enjoy the scenery! And remember to keep yourself, your passengers, and your fellow drivers safe; don’t drink and drive.

Arroyo Grande

Arroyo Grande, California, United States

The backlands of Arroyo Grande and Old Huasna (pronounced WAH-znuh) might be the best-kept secret of any Highway 1 drive. First, land in the Village of Arroyo Grande, where the best place to stop is the parking lot behind Olahan Alley. Enjoy a delicious breakfast or lunch at any of the Village’s many eateries, then hit the road for a meandering countryside drive. Cut through patchwork farmland, past farm stands and quiet oak glens that feel like a world away.