Pacific Coast Highway south: Malibu to San Diego
From Santa Barbara along the Malibu coves, through Orange County’s beach towns and past a mission to the bluffs and seals of La Jolla.
- Distance
- approx. 378 km (235 mi)
- Driving
- 4 h 12 min
- Suggested days
- 4
- Stops
- 9
- States
- CA
- Best time to go
- September–June
- Tolls and vignettes
- None expected
- Updated
- July 16, 2026
At a glance: 4-day road trip of about 378 km (235 mi) with 9 stops, from Santa Barbara to San Diego. About 4 h 12 min of driving in total. Best time to go: September–June. No toll roads expected for a car.
More road trips in California · More road trips from Santa Barbara
Photos along the route
Route description
Leave Santa Barbara south on US-101 and switch to Highway 1 at Oxnard, where the Pacific Coast Highway runs past Point Mugu and into Malibu. El Matador State Beach is the first stop: a small paid lot, a steep path and a cove of sea stacks. A few miles on, Point Dume has a short boardwalk up the headland and views along the whole curve of Santa Monica Bay.
The stretch from Malibu through Santa Monica, the South Bay and Long Beach is slow city driving on PCH, often two hours or more for about 60 miles. Avoid weekday rush hours and weekend afternoons, or jump onto I-405 and rejoin the coast at Huntington Beach. Crystal Cove State Park, between Newport Beach and Laguna Beach, has tide pools and a row of 1930s beach cottages.
Laguna Beach is a good overnight stop, with coves below the town and small galleries along the highway. Continue to Dana Point and turn inland for Mission San Juan Capistrano, founded in 1776, with ruins of its great stone church. South of San Clemente, I-5 is the only road through Camp Pendleton; take the old coast road again through Carlsbad, Encinitas and Del Mar.
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve protects wind-shaped pines on sandstone bluffs; park at the beach lot and walk up. In La Jolla, sea lions and seals lounge on the rocks by the Cove, and parking is tight, so a smaller vehicle helps. Motorhomes are best left at campgrounds such as those at state beaches along the way, which you should book months ahead for summer.
Which stops are on Pacific Coast Highway south?
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Santa Barbara
CA - 2104 km
El Matador State Beach
NatureMalibu, CAA small cove below the bluffs of western Malibu with sea stacks and rock arches. A steep path and stairs lead down from a small paid lot on PCH; come at low tide and arrive early on weekends.
- 39 km
Point Dume
ViewsMalibu, CAA rocky headland at the west end of Santa Monica Bay with a short boardwalk trail to the top. Gray whales pass in winter; parking is limited to a small beach lot and neighbourhood streets.
- 4121 km
Crystal Cove State Park
NatureLaguna Beach, CAThree miles of beach, tide pools and a historic district of 1930s beach cottages between Newport Beach and Laguna Beach. Day-use parking is paid; the Los Trancos lot connects to the cottages by a tunnel.
- 57 km
Laguna Beach
CA - 615 km
Mission San Juan Capistrano
HistorySan Juan Capistrano, CAFounded in 1776, the mission has adobe courtyards, gardens and the ruins of a stone church brought down by an earthquake in 1812. There is an admission fee; park in the public lots near the train station.
- 789 km
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
NatureLa Jolla, CASandstone bluffs above the Pacific protecting the rare Torrey pine. Short trails lead from the old lodge to viewpoints and down to the beach; park in the paid beach lot and walk up the road.
- 810 km
La Jolla Cove
NatureLa Jolla, CAA small sheltered cove where sea lions haul out on the rocks and harbor seals rest at the nearby Children’s Pool. Snorkelling is good in summer; street parking is scarce, so come early or use paid garages.
- 922 km
San Diego
CA
How do you drive Pacific Coast Highway south in 4 days?
4 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Santa Barbara → El Matador State Beach · 65 mi · 1 h 09 minOvernight nearby, for example: Malibu Creek Campground (10 mi); Camp Summertime (5 mi).
- Day 2: El Matador State Beach → Crystal Cove State Park · 81 mi · 1 h 27 minOn the way: Point Dume.Overnight nearby, for example: Crystal Cove State Park Moro Campground (1 mi); Arroyo Campground (15 mi).
- Day 3: Crystal Cove State Park → Mission San Juan Capistrano · 14 mi · 0 h 15 minOn the way: Laguna Beach.Overnight nearby, for example: Crystal Cove State Park Moro Campground (10 mi); Arroyo Campground (11 mi).
- Day 4: Mission San Juan Capistrano → San Diego · 75 mi · 1 h 21 minOn the way: Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, La Jolla Cove.Overnight nearby, for example: Tijuana River Valley Regional Campground (12 mi); San Diego KOA Campground (6 mi).
When is the best time for Pacific Coast Highway south?
The most pleasant months are usually September–June. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
More routes for the best months
Practical guides for this route
Photo by Malivez on UnsplashDriving in the US: The Rules European Visitors Most Often Get Wrong at the Wheel
Photo by Aleksandr Dalakian on UnsplashFuel, Tolls and Distances: Practical US Driving Math for Motorhome and Camper Travelers
Photo by Tracy Zhang on UnsplashUS national parks: entry fees, passes and reservations in plain terms
Themes
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FAQs
How long is Pacific Coast Highway south: Malibu to San Diego?
4-day road trip of about 378 km (235 mi) with 9 stops, from Santa Barbara to San Diego. About 4 h 12 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Pacific Coast Highway south: Malibu to San Diego?
We suggest 4 days: about 4 h 12 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Pacific Coast Highway south: Malibu to San Diego start and end?
It starts in Santa Barbara and ends in San Diego.
Which states does Pacific Coast Highway south: Malibu to San Diego pass through?
California.
Where can you camp along Pacific Coast Highway south: Malibu to San Diego?
OpenStreetMap lists 98 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 19 mi of the stops on this route. For example: Tijuana River Valley Regional Campground, Santa Barbara Sunrise RV Park and Malibu Creek Group Camp Site.
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