Know Before You Go, Pacific Coast Highway: San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara

Created by Shaka Guide, Modified on Thu, 2 Apr at 4:53 AM by Shaka Guide

Start Planning!

You’re about to go on an epic adventure with the Pacific Coast Highway Tour in Central Vines & Valleys! Here’s what you need to know before you go.

The tour takes about 3 hours driving, but plan a full day with stops.
Covers 15 stops with 87 audio points along the route.
Starts from San Luis Obispo or Santa Barbara—works both northbound and southbound.
The route includes a detour into Santa Barbara wine country.
No reservations required for the tour itself.
The weather is good year-round, but summer fog may reduce visibility.
Monarch butterfly season runs from November to February along parts of the route.
Ocean water is cold with strong waves—most beaches are unsafe for swimming.
Bring sunscreen, water, proper footwear, and a phone mount/charger.
Avoid leaving valuables in your car—break-ins can happen in parking areas.
Wine country stops require responsible drinking and a designated driver.
State park beaches charge parking fees—one pass can cover multiple parks.
Many stops operate from sunrise to sunset; hours vary by location.

Budgeting and Hours of Operation

A warm, high-angle sunset view looking down over a wooden staircase and boardwalk that winds down a bluff toward a sandy beach. Lush green bushes with orange-tipped leaves frame the foreground. The calm Pacific Ocean stretches to the horizon under a soft, golden sky, with the sun's rays casting a hazy glow over the water and the distant coastline. Shutterstock Image

Budget

How much you spend truly depends on what you do along the tour route:

The $10 day-use fee (or $3/hour) applies to El Capitan State Beach, Refugio State Beach, and Gaviota State Park, and is valid for all three parks on the same day, per vehicle.
Ostrichland USA:
- $7 general,
- $5 seniors 65+,
- $3 children 12 years and under.
- $1 to feed ostriches.
- Rates may increase for holidays and long weekends.
Mission Santa Inés
- Self-guided tour $8 ages 13 and up,
- $7 seniors 64+,
- $5 ages 6-12
- free for children 5 and under
La Purisima Mission State Historic Park
- $6 parking fee ($5 for seniors 62+)
Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center
- $7 adults,
- $6 seniors,
- Children 12 and under are free
Oso Flaco Lake: $5 parking
Pismo Beach: Free to visit, street parking fees may apply

Hours of Operation

Pro Tip: To make the most of your day, we recommend aiming for the 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM window to ensure everything is open!

Rancho Guadalupe Dunes Preserve
- Noon to sunset on Mon, 7 am to sunset Tues-Sun
Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center
- Tues-Sat 10 am to 3 pm

Get Packing!

A high-angle view of a vast coastal dune system under a wide, blue sky with wispy white clouds. Large sand dunes are covered in patches of green coastal scrub and low-lying vegetation. In the background, white waves of the Pacific Ocean break on the shore, and a long, dark green mountain range stretches across the horizon. Shutterstock Image

Here’s our packing list for this tour. It may seem a little long, but remember, what you bring depends on the activities you choose to do for the day.

Swimsuit
Water shoes or flip flops
Canteen/refillable water bottle
Hiking shoes and clothes
Sunscreen
Hat
First Aid Kit
Phone charger/mount

Best Time to Visit

A low-angle, wide shot of the Pismo Beach Pier at sunset. The pier’s silhouette stretches across the mid-ground, with the sun glowing brightly between its support pilings. In the foreground, wet sand and shallow ocean water reflect the vibrant orange and purple hues of the sky. Fluffy, pink-tinted clouds fill the sky, and a small flock of birds is visible in the upper left corner. Shutterstock Image

Southern California has great weather all year round. Fog may be a factor during the summer.
If you want to catch the monarch butterfly migration, then November to February is when they are wintering in stops along the tour route.

Safety Information

The Pacific Ocean is surprisingly cold and has dangerous waves. Most of the beaches we visit are not safe to swim in. Carpinteria is an exception.
Avoid keeping valuables in the car. Break-ins may occur in parking lots.
A large portion of this tour travels through Santa Barbara Wine Country. Please drink responsibly and have a designated driver.

Additional Need to Know Information

Shutterstock Image

The state park beaches on this tour all charge a parking fee. However, you can pay at only one location and display your parking pass on your dashboard for the rest.

Leave No Trace

While exploring Salem, we encourage you to follow leave-no-trace principles. Embrace the city responsibly with our commitment to preserving its historic charm.

Respect public spaces, minimize your footprint, and create memories, not waste. By following Leave No Trace principles, you help protect Salem’s streets, parks, and landmarks for generations to come.