Day Trips South of San Francisco

Highway 1 south of SF is one of the great American drives. Sea cliffs above the Pacific, surfing towns, and state beaches.

3 destinations · 40 min to 2.5 hrs · car required

🚗 40 minutes

Half Moon Bay

The easiest coastal escape from the city. Main Street runs into blufftop trails, seafood shacks, and wide sandy beaches. A half-day trip when you want ocean air without committing to a longer drive. The Pumpkin Festival is in October. The Mavericks big-wave surf competition runs in winter when the swell is right.

🏄 Beaches 🦞 Seafood 🥾 Coastal Trails 🏄 Surfing

Local tip: Sam’s Chowder House does the lobster roll. The Coastside Trail is flat and good for walking or biking. Go on a weekday. Highway 92 backs up badly on sunny weekends.

🚗 1.5 hours

Santa Cruz

A full day of California beach culture. The Beach Boardwalk is the last remaining seaside amusement park on the West Coast. Admission is free; rides cost extra. Beyond the boardwalk, there is surfing at Steamer Lane, a downtown of bookstores and taco shops, and redwood forests in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

🎢 Beach Boardwalk 🏄 Surfing 🌲 Redwoods 🛍 Downtown

Local tip: Take Highway 1 down for the scenic route, Highway 17 back through the mountains for speed. Steamer Lane is one of the famous surf breaks. Worth watching even if you do not surf. Stop at the Santa Cruz Wharf for seafood.

🚗 2.5 hours each way

Big Sur

The California coast drive. Highway 1 threads between sea cliffs and the Pacific. Bixby Bridge is the photo stop. McWay Falls drops 80 feet onto the beach. Nepenthe restaurant has the lunch view that justifies the drive.

🌊 Coastline 📷 Bixby Bridge 💧 McWay Falls 🍽 Cliffside Dining

Local tip: Long day. Leave early and plan for at least 10 hours round trip. Gas stations are rare and expensive on Highway 1. Check road conditions before you go. Landslides close sections regularly.