How To Do A Budget California Coast Road Trip
After living in the Golden State my whole life, I spent 20 days driving down the beautiful California Coast. Here’s what I loved—and what I’d do differently next time.
“Every day I am more and more convinced that California is the most beautiful of all 50 states,” I wrote on day eight of my twenty-day road trip down the coast of California.
That day, for the first time, I drove across the famous Bixby Bridge in Big Sur. I finally saw McWay Falls, an 80-foot beachside waterfall that cascades from a seaside cliff into the turquoise ocean. And I ended the day surfing in stunning Morro Bay—and eating seafood at a fantastic spot on the embarcadero.
Day eight was one of many memorable days during that coming-of-age trip. I had dreamt of this trip since the beginning of high school—and meticulously planned a route from my hometown of Sacramento to Crescent City at California’s northern border, then all the way down to San Diego at California’s Southern frontier. A route filled with breathtaking sights, surf spots, great eats, and enjoyable hikes.
This trip was the most memorable and breathtaking road trip I’ve ever done.
If you want to truly experience California—whether it’s your first time or fifteenth—a coastal road trip is the best way to see it all.
The guide I’m sharing with you today is NOT for luxury travelers—for this budget trip, I slept in the back of my car, packed a cooler full of non-perishable food, and did mostly free activities.
This travel guide is for adventure travelers who want to see the California Coast on their own terms—spending slow, foggy mornings driving down the one, exploring hidden beaches and forest hikes, and surfing in the state’s best beaches.
But…there was just too much to include in one article, so I’ve broken it up. This is Part 1, and in this guide, you’ll get:
My 20 must-see destinations along the California Coast,
The places I recommend skipping (they might surprise you, but I have good reasons)...
My top hikes along the California Coast—and one I’m still dying to try,
An interactive Google Map with notes and recommendations from my trip.
Then, next week I’ll share Part 2: The Best Spots to Eat and Surf Along the California Coast…
Driving Along California’s HWY 1
Windy forest roads that take you underneath towering, 300-foot-tall ancient redwoods.
Magical coastal waterfalls that empty into turquoise ocean bays below.
Sea lions, seabirds, and ocean critters that play and fight on the shores.
Palm-tree-lined avenues home to the rich and famous.
California has it all.
And despite having grown up in California, there was still so much of this beautiful state that I hadn’t ever seen. And I wanted to see it all before I moved out of the country and across the world.
This guide will show you all the best stops along the California coast so you can explore this beautiful state and have the most memorable road trip of your life.
Where to Start: North or South?
I recommend you start your road trip in Northern California, then travel down the HWY 1 all the way to San Diego.
Why? Well, frankly, because you want to save the best for last. Southern California has much more swimmable and enjoyable beaches than Northern California, so you’ll want to spend more time there—espeically in the summer!
I started in Sacramento and drove north to Crescent City to begin my trip. If you’re flying into California, you can fly into San Francisco International Airport (SFO) or Sacramento International Airport (SMF) and rent a car nearby to begin your road trip.
⚠️ A Few Road Trip Essentials ⚠️
A road trip isn’t a spur-of-the-moment kind of thing. I spent months planning and weeks preparing for this adventure. From buying magnetic window shades to stocking up on non-perishable food items to finding cafes with free wifi to work at along the way, there were a lot of things to prep.
When the big day came, I loaded an air mattress, a cooler, my brand-new surfboard, my guitar, a few changes of clothes, and a notebook into the back of the RAV4 and set out to see the most incredible places along the California coast.
A few road trip essentials to remember before we get to the good stuff:
Never text and drive. Never drink and drive. You are about to drive along HWY 1, the Pacific Coast Highway, one of the country’s most stunning routes. Take lots of pictures—just not while you’re driving. Distracted driving kills.
Be aware of road closures on HWY 1. They’re often doing construction to keep this road safe for travelers and locals alike. Stay up to date on the latest road closures using this website.
Get a California Explorer Annual Pass. This $195 pass will get you into almost all of the California State Parks and also popular Southern California beaches like Huntington Beach and Doheny State Beach. If you plan on visiting multiple state parks on a multi-week road trip, it might be worth purchasing.
Find a safe place to park and sleep in your car. Since rules for this are constantly changing, make sure you do a bit of research. I parked in mostly parking lots, but also a few residential areas, and didn’t have a problem.
Download your playlist ahead of time. You won’t have coverage during parts of this route (Northern California redwoods area, I’m looking at you). Make sure you download your playlist so you can keep jamming all the way down the coast.
The California Coast Road Trip Budget
The first night, I was so scared I couldn’t sleep. I laid awake in the back of the RAV4, my heart pounding in my chest. Every brustle of tree branches, snapped twig, and thump sounded like an intruder coming to murder me.
But after looking at hotel prices and realizing that even the cheapest hotel would cost me anywhere from $80 to $150 a night, I summoned some bravery and decided I would stick it out.
California is notoriously one of the most expensive states to live in and travel to. However, road tripping and sleeping in your car is probably the most budget-friendly way to see the coast and enjoy California.
If you sleep in your car, eat a cheap breakfast and lunch (either packed ahead of time in a cooler or purchased at a nearby grocery story), splurge on dinner at restaurants along the way, and stick to mostly cheap activities (like the ones I’ll share with you in this guide), you’ll be able to experience the California coast for less than $75 a day (per person), plus gas*.
Here’s the daily breakdown:
Grocery store / packed-ahead breakfast and lunch: $15-20
Dinner: $30
Excursions / State Park Entrance Fees: $10-20
* The route from Crescent City to San Diego along HWY 1 is about 1,000 miles long. In July 2026, it cost me 70$ to fill up an entire tank of gas in a Toyota RAV4. I can usually drive about 240 miles on a full tank of gas, so right now it would cost me around $400 to drive down the entire coast of California.
Of course, gas prices are crazy right now, and every car gets different gas mileage, so you’ll have to do a little math to figure out your gas budget for this road trip.
20 Must-See Destinations Along the California Coast
You could spend a lifetime exploring California—and still not see it all (just ask John Steinbeck). There are so many hidden beaches, local favorites, and touristy gems. You just can’t see everything. But you can see all these incredible destinations in just one trip!
In Northern California:
Northern California is towering Coastal Redwoods, foggy grey beaches with frigid water and jagged rocks, and iconic cities like San Francisco and Santa Cruz. Make sure you stop to see:
Burney Falls—President Roosevelt called this 129-foot waterfall “the 8th wonder of the world.” Tucked inside a forest in Shasta County, this wide, powerful waterfall flows year-round, with a daily flow of 100 million gallons of water. You can walk around the nearby trails as the mist from Burney Falls keeps you cool—even on the hottest summer days.
Entry fee: $11 per vehicle.
Reservation needed? Yes, if you’re going on a holiday or weekend in May through September. Make a reservation here.
Avenue of the Giants—This scenic highway winds underneath towering 300-foot-tall ancient Redwoods. It’s a must-see in Northern California. (Although, in my opinion, the entrance to the two hikes I did in this area—Fern Canyon Loop Trail and Boy Scout Tree Trail—were even more beautiful than this stretch.)
Entry fee: FREE! But if you’d like to drive through the Shrine Drive Thru Tree, it’s $10 per vehicle.
San Fransicso—I highly recommend spending a day in SF. I loved renting a bike (or you can do a bike tour like this one) and riding around the (steep!) city streets and across the Golden Gate Bridge. Make sure you check out the Palace of Fine Art, Fisherman’s Wharf, and Pier 39 where all the seal lions hang out. (I’d skip Lombard Street, the view is best from the sky and it’s crowded and crazy if you’re driving.) If you have time, do a tour of Alcatraz too—an island prison that once held Al Capone!
