Travel Kuoni

California's Highway 1 Road Trip

From San Francisco, drive straight to Highway 1 and take a slow journey south to the sunny skies of Los Angeles

Drive south from San Francisco to Los Angeles on a coast-hugging trip that scores all the big sights. Take your time on the Slow Coast, then pause for a few nights in Monterey. Feel the sunshine on your face and the wind in your hair as you head south via the incredible Big Sur to stay in Santa Barbara before the final leg of your road trip brings you to the incomparable Los Angeles.

Self drive
San Francisco, Carmel & Monterey, Pismo Beach, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles
Multi Centre

From £1,825 including international flights

Ideal for
Seeing the most scenic stretch of California’s Highway 1.

Itinerary overview

Days 1-3

Whether the Golden Gate Bridge is displayed in all its glory with a backdrop of a summer sky or w...

Day 4

Your first drive on Highway 1 would take around two and a half hours if you didn’t stop, but you’...

Day 5

Take Highway 1 and stop in Big Sur for big sights, including Bixby Bridge, giant redwood groves, ...

Days 6-7

Continue on Highway 1 and you’ll reach Spanish-style Santa Barbara, where you’ll stay for a few n...

Days 8-10

The shortest drive of your trip is between Santa Barbara and LA. Continue to follow Highway 1 and...

Extend your holiday

Head into the desert for a few days of poolside relaxation following your incredible coastal drive.

Days 1-3

San Francisco

Whether the Golden Gate Bridge is displayed in all its glory with a backdrop of a summer sky or wears a more mysterious guise when the San Francisco fog rolls in, there's no bad time to experience this West Coast wonder city. Spend a few days here before picking up your hire car. You could join a guided tour to see all the highlights of San Francisco in double-quick time, visiting landmarks like Nob Hill, Chinatown, and Lombard Street. You'll also explore the old docks of Fisherman's Wharf by taking a local-led route, where you can smell the sourdough at Boudin Bakery and watch the sea lions’ antics at Pier 39. The tour also includes a stop at Ghirardelli Square to sample some world-famous chocolate. Finally, the tour wraps up with a cruise of San Francisco Bay and a sighting of the infamous Alcatraz.

Bay Catamaran Sailing - Bay Sail
San Francisco

This 90-minute catamaran sail is an easy way to appreciate San Francisco from the water. Once you’re out on the bay, the views open up quickly. You’ll pass Alcatraz Island, follow the city skyline, sail under the Golden Gate Bridge, and head towards the edge of the Pacific. It’s well-suited to first-time visitors who want a simple overview of San Francisco, and to return travellers who fancy doing something a bit different. In the summer months, it’s a perfect way to spend time outdoors without the crowds, though trips run year-round.

• Duration: 90 minutes
• Daily departures 
• Operates daily
• Group experience

Major League Baseball Tickets
Miami

Enjoy the excitement of a thrilling Major League Baseball game. Subject to availability, we can arrange tickets for games which take place across the United States and Canada throughout the season which runs from March to November. Watch as the pitcher throws the ball as the batter takes aim to hopefully score a run. No matter which team you are cheering for, being in the crowd can be just as exhilarating as watching the game.

Napa & Sonoma Wine Tour
San Francisco

Wine connoisseurs, this one's for you. Board a luxury coach as you make our way to the postcard-perfect Napa Valley for a sun-splashed tour of America’s famous wine country. This full-day tour begins with a picturesque drive over the Golden Gate Bridge before arriving at Napa Valley and Sonoma Wineries for the ultimate tasting experience. With plenty of fun, facts and souvenirs thrown in for good measure, this elegant tasting experience welcomes you to wrap your mouth around the finest wines Napa has to offer before swapping sips for snacks with a luscious lunch in Sonoma Square Plaza.

• Duration: Eight hours
• Daily departures
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Good to know
Timings available upon request. Luxury coach transfer is included. Wine tasting is included. Additional tastings and purchases can be made on the day.

National Basketball Association (NBA) Tickets
Miami

If you are travelling to the United States or Canada between October and June, you may wish to include tickets to see a National Basketball Association (NBA) game. Subject to availability, we can arrange tickets so you can witness the speed of the game as the players power across the court to shoot at the hoop. As each quarter unfolds, the atmosphere being part of the crowd can be electrifying.

San Francisco City Tour & Alcatraz
San Francisco

Hop on a luxury motor coach for a fun-filled wander around San Francisco’s winding city streets. Uncover a profusion of famous landmarks and hidden marvels as you flit between The Golden City’s colourful neighbourhoods and be sure to seize every photo opportunity that comes your way. The endless rows of Victorian homes are enriched with character, while buzzing Chinatown is peppered with top tier eateries to grab an authentic Asian bite.

Cravings curbed, it’s time to swap the hustle and bustle of the city for the bay as  you cruise to the ghostly enclave of Alcatraz Island for a tour of the maximum-security prison.

• Duration: Four hours
• Departs: Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Good to know
City tour stops with photo opportunities include: Golden Gate Bridge, Palace of Fine Arts, Twin Peaks, Land’s End Ocean Beach (Sutro Baths), Mission San Francisco de Asis (Mission district). Alcatraz audio guide included. Guests must be aged 5 years or older.

Big Bus San Francisco Hop-On Hop-Off: 1- or 2-Day Ticket (Incl. walking tour)
San Francisco

Hop on board a Big Bus Sightseeing Tour of the City by the Bay and catch the best views of its distinctive landmarks and hear live commentary about its history as you go. There are 20 stops all around spectacular San Francisco. You'll see the beautiful parks, architecture you'll recognise from the big screen, and pretty views from an open-top bus. Hop on and off to create a customised journey around the city. Your ticket also includes a choice of four walking tours.

Explore either Chinatown, North Beach, Barbary Coast, or Fisherman's Wharf on foot - don't forget to check what time they start. The fun doesn't stop at night - your ticket includes a Night Tour of the city, a panoramic bus tour that starts by climbing historic Nob Hill for a magnificent close up of Grace Cathedral. The bus then makes its way across the Bay Bridge to Treasure Island to view the skyline. Back in the city, the tour concludes along the Embarcadero.

Golden Gate Seaplane Tour
San Francisco

This short but utterly fabulous seaplane flight takes off from the calm waters of Richardson Bay in Sausalito, just north of San Francisco. You’ll fly in a beautifully restored DeHavill and Beaver seaplane, a classic aircraft designed for water landings and low-level flying, with wide windows that make every seat a good one.

Once you’re airborne, the Marin coastline begins to fall away. Ahead, the Golden Gate Bridge comes into view. From the air, its red-orange arches stretch wide across the mouth of the bay and flying past them gives you a sense of scale and drama that’s impossible to get from the road or the pavement below.

The route traces the edge of the city, revealing San Francisco from angles most people never see. Alcatraz appears below as a compact, unmistakable silhouette in the water, while nearby Angel Island looks greener and quieter, layered with its own history. Along the shoreline, Baker Beach and Crissy Field unfurl where the city meets the Pacific, all open space and wind and light.

Further across the bay, you’ll spot the sweep of the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge, the rugged headlands of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and the Point Bonita Lighthouse clinging to the cliffs at the water’s edge. Throughout the flight, your pilot adds context and stories, helping connect what you’re seeing to how the city grew, moved, and defined itself around the water.

• Duration: 30 minutes 
• Daily departures 
• Operates year round
• Group experience

The Best of San Francisco Electric Bike Tour
San Francisco

San Francisco looks compact on a map. Then you meet the hills. And that’s where the e-bike earns its keep. This guided electric bike tour is a brilliant way to get your bearings in a city. Over around four hours, you will roll through some of San Francisco’s most characterful neighbourhoods while a local guide fills in the stories. The famous ones, the strange ones, and the ones you would never stumble across on your own.

You’ll start near Fisherman’s Wharf at Ghirardelli Square, once a working chocolate factory and now a very scenic place to begin. From there, the route heads through Hayes Valley, a favourite with locals thanks to its independent shops and excellent coffee culture. Then it is on to Alamo Square for the classic Painted Ladies view, instantly recognisable from films and TV like Vertigo, Mrs Doubtfire, The Rock and Full House.

There is time to pause in Haight Ashbury, the heart of the 1960s counterculture scene and former home to Janis Joplin and the Grateful Dead. These days, it’s more vintage trainers than flower power, but the history is still very much part of the place. The ride finishes with an easy glide along the Panhandle of Golden Gate Park, a long green stretch that shows off San Francisco’s love of open space right in the middle of the city.

Day 4

Carmel & Monterey

Your first drive on Highway 1 would take around two and a half hours if you didn’t stop, but you’ll want to make a day of it and pause to admire the views – perhaps to hike at Lands End or spot sealife at Pigeon Point. Monterey and Carmel are two charming towns on California's central coast. It’s a place known for the sensational Monterey Bay Aquarium, the gazillionaire mansions on the 17-Mile Drive, and the world-class golf at Pebble Beach. Boat trips and sailing cruises aplenty depart from Old Fisherman’s Wharf. When you’ve returned with a camera full of shots of breaching whales and frolicking seals, stay for clam chowder at a wharf’s restaurant overlooking Monterey Bay and get a second glimpse of the seals playing on the rocks.

Chris' Whale Watching Tour
California's Central Coast

This whale watching trip explores Monterey Bay, where marine life gathers unusually close to shore. Thanks to the bay’s underwater geography, boats don’t need to travel far offshore to find activity, which means more time with wildlife and less time in transit. You head out with experienced skippers, follow sightings as they develop, and see whatever turns up on the day, from humpbacks and grey whales to dolphins and sea lions.

Monterey Bay is one of the most reliable places on the California coast for whale watching. The skippers spend most days on this water, reading swell, bird activity and animal behaviour to decide where to go. The pace is unhurried, with time to stay with sightings rather than rushing on to the next location.

What you see varies by season and by day. Humpback whales are common and often active at the surface, grey whales pass through during migration, and blue whales appear in the warmer months. Dolphins frequently ride the bow wave, with sea lions and seabirds close by.

• Start times: 10am and 1.30pm 
• Duration: 3 hours
• Daily departures 
• Operates year round
• Group experience

Day 5

Pismo Beach/SLO Cal

Take Highway 1 and stop in Big Sur for big sights, including Bixby Bridge, giant redwood groves, and waterfalls in Pfeiffer State Park. Break up your Route 1 journey and slow the pace with a night in Pismo Beach, or one of the other Slo-Cal coastal towns like Morro Bay. Watch the locals catch the waves and soak up the chilled-out vibe at farm-to-fork restaurants, cool bars and independent shops.

Days 6-7

Santa Barbara

Continue on Highway 1 and you’ll reach Spanish-style Santa Barbara, where you’ll stay for a few nights. The red-tiled roofs and white stucco buildings house local wine-tasting rooms, sustainably minded restaurants, and designer shops. They serve the dollared-up visitors and wealthy residents who live in the villas and bungalows that cling to the hillsides, commanding Pacific Ocean views. Drive Santa Barbara's delightful 25-mile Scenic Drive for a helpful orientation around the city's landmarks and most exclusive real estate. See the Chromatic Gate - a colourful set of arches in front of the Pacific Ocean on Cabrillo Boulevard. Or people-watch on the electric Santa Barbara Trolley as it runs up and down State Street.

Days 8-10

Los Angeles

The shortest drive of your trip is between Santa Barbara and LA. Continue to follow Highway 1 and plan to stop at beaches on your way to the city, arriving in LA via Malibu. Then plunge into this glitter-dusted, star-studded metropolis, getting swept up in the promises of Hollywood. Then, head up to the hills or down to the beaches because there’s more to LA than urban utopia. Hollywood is as close as you can get to the land of dreams. It’s the classic LA experience. The Boulevard throngs with tourists, but you’ve got to see it at least once. Head to hipster Franklin Village for a scene that feels more like NYC and stay long enough to swim in Hollywood Roosevelt’s David Hockney-designed pool.

Major League Baseball Tickets
Miami

Enjoy the excitement of a thrilling Major League Baseball game. Subject to availability, we can arrange tickets for games which take place across the United States and Canada throughout the season which runs from March to November. Watch as the pitcher throws the ball as the batter takes aim to hopefully score a run. No matter which team you are cheering for, being in the crowd can be just as exhilarating as watching the game.

National Basketball Association (NBA) Tickets
Miami

If you are travelling to the United States or Canada between October and June, you may wish to include tickets to see a National Basketball Association (NBA) game. Subject to availability, we can arrange tickets so you can witness the speed of the game as the players power across the court to shoot at the hoop. As each quarter unfolds, the atmosphere being part of the crowd can be electrifying.

National Hockey League (NHL) Tickets
Florida

The National Hockey League (NHL) is something of an institution across North America. Established in 1917, 32 teams compete against each other in ice hockey from October to June. Subject to availability, we can arrange tickets so that you can be rink side to witness the power and speed of the players as they attack and defend across the ice.

Go City L.A. All Inclusive Pass (Incl. Universal Studios & Knott's Berry Farm)
Los Angeles

With the All-Inclusive Pass from Go City, the more you see, the more you save. You have two, three, five or seven days to cram in as much as you can from a huge list of options, including Universal Studios, LEGOLAND, and Knott's Berry Farm. Head to Malibu for a Celebrity Homes Tour, hike up to Griffith Park to gaze at Los Angeles from the above or join the Californians on the Santa Monica boardwalk with a full-day rental of a bike or rollerblades. And you don't just have to look at the water, as a whale watching trip is yours if you want it.

Good to know

The complete list of over 35 tours and attractions is included with your Digital Pass. We endeavour to keep our descriptions up to date, however inclusions on sightseeing passes can change without our knowledge. Please check closer to your departure date for the most up to date list of included activities.

Hollywood, Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles City & Beach Tour
Los Angeles

This is a lively introduction to Los Angeles that gives you more than just drive-by views. Over the course of the day, you’ll explore the city’s most recognisable neighbourhoods and landmarks by sightseeing coach, with time to step out, look around, and get a feel for how LA actually works.

The tour begins in Hollywood, where you’ll walk along Hollywood Boulevard and the Walk of Fame, spotting the names that have shaped film, music, and pop culture over the decades. Nearby, you’ll see landmarks like the Dolby Theatre and hear the stories that give this stretch of pavement its reputation, for better and worse. At Santa Monica, you’ll have time to enjoy the ocean air and the famous pier, where beach culture, street performers, and fairground nostalgia all collide. 

You’ll also pass through Beverly Hills, known less for landmarks than for atmosphere, with its wide streets, palm trees, and carefully understated luxury. A stop at the original Farmers Market adds a welcome break, with time to browse, grab a bite, and see where locals have been eating for decades. It’s casual, varied, and a good reset before heading back out. The tour also takes in elevated viewpoints around Griffith Park, where you’ll see the Griffith Observatory and enjoy wide views across the city basin, a moment that helps pull the whole day together.

• Start time: 9.30am
• Duration: 6½ hours
• Daily departures
• Operates year round 
• Group experience

Los Angeles Hop-on Hop-off Bus with Hollywood Celebrity Homes Tour
Los Angeles

Over 48 hours, you can explore the city at your own pace using an open-top hop-on hop-off bus, with the freedom to get off where something catches your eye and jump back on when you’re ready to move on. The route links more than 40 stops across Los Angeles, covering everything from the revitalised downtown area to coastal favourites like Santa Monica. Whether you want to wander, shop, eat, people-watch, or stay on board and take it all in, the choice is yours.

The Hollywood Celebrity Homes Tour is included, a separate guided drive through Beverly Hills and the Hollywood Hills. This is your peek behind the hedges, passing the homes of well-known actors, musicians, and industry names, with context on how these neighbourhoods became so closely tied to Hollywood life. It’s more about setting the scene than pointing at front doors, and it adds a bit of insider colour to the wider city tour.

Together, the two experiences strike a good balance. The hop-on hop-off buses give you independence and flexibility, while the celebrity homes tour adds a distinctly LA layer you wouldn’t get on your own. It’s easygoing, adaptable, and ideal if you want to see a lot of the city without committing to a fixed schedule. 

• Duration: 48 hour pass
• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Group experience

Extend your holiday

Palm Springs

Head into the desert for a few days of poolside relaxation following your incredible coastal drive.

Personalise your trip

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Other Itineraries

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