5-Day Adventure Itinerary for Pacific Coast Highway

  • Day 1: Santa Monica Pier
    10 minutes (1.3 miles) from Downtown Santa Monica

    The Santa Monica Pier is a landmark and popular attraction located in Santa Monica. It’s known for its amusement park, beautiful beach, and various attractions for tourists and locals to enjoy.

  • Day 2: Malibu Surfrider Beach
    36 minutes (24.4 miles) from Santa Monica Pier

    Malibu Surfrider Beach is a great place for adventure travelers, surfers, and beach lovers. It is known for its beautiful beaches and perfect waves for surfing. There are also nearby hiking trails to explore.

  • Day 3: Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
    3 hours (160 miles) from Malibu Surfrider Beach

    Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is a must-visit place for nature lovers and adventure travelers. The park is known for its beautiful waterfall, McWay Falls, which flows onto the beach below. The park also has hiking trails and breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and coastline.

  • Day 4: Monterey Bay Aquarium
    1 hour 55 minutes (89.5 miles) from Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

    The Monterey Bay Aquarium is a popular attraction for both kids and adults. It is known for its wide variety of marine life and interactive exhibits. Visitors can also take a boat tour of the bay to see the marine life up close.

  • Day 5: San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge
    2 hours 12 minutes (114 miles) from Monterey Bay Aquarium

    The Golden Gate Bridge is an icon of San Francisco and a must-visit place for adventure travelers. Visitors can walk or bike across the bridge, take a boat tour of the bay, or hike nearby trails for breathtaking views of the city and bay.

Time and Costs Estimates

  • Santa Monica Pier (2 hours, free)
  • Malibu Surfrider Beach (4 hours, free)
  • Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park (5 hours, $10 per car)
  • Monterey Bay Aquarium (4 hours, $50 per adult)
  • San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge (2 hours, free)
  • Total Estimated Costs: $60 per person

Transportation

For this itinerary, a rental car is recommended to travel the Pacific Coast Highway. The estimated cost for a 5-day car rental is roughly $200 - $300 depending on the car rental company and car type. There are also public transportation options available, such as bus and train, but travel times may be longer and less flexible.

Useful Tips

If you have more time, consider visiting other attractions along the Pacific Coast Highway such as Big Sur State Park, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, or the Hearst Castle. For travelers with less time, shorten the itinerary by skipping a destination or reducing the time spent at each location.

Airports

The major airport in the area is the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) located approximately 11 miles southwest of Downtown Los Angeles. Other airports in the area include Burbank Bob Hope Airport (BUR), Long Beach Airport (LGB), and John Wayne Airport (SNA).

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