San Francisco–Monterey Self-Guided Pacific Coast Audio Drive

Turn the Pacific Coast Highway between San Francisco and Monterey into a flexible, self-guided road trip. GPS-triggered stories play automatically through your smartphone as you pass Devil’s Slide, Half Moon Bay, Pescadero, Pigeon Point, Año Nuevo, Shark Fin Cove, Natural Bridges, Santa Cruz and Elkhorn Slough. Start at either end, drive in either direction, pause for viewpoints and explore on your schedule. Pigeon Point’s grounds remain open, although the lighthouse tower is closed for restoration. Download before departure; no signal is required during the tour. Transportation, parking, attraction admission, a smartphone and an in-person guide are not included.

1. 1

   San Francisco

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   SAN FRANCISCO. Begin a scenic Pacific Coast drive from this landmark city of neighbourhoods, hills and waterfront views.

2. 2

   Stop 2

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   DEVIL’S SLIDE. Follow the dramatic former Highway 1 alignment above steep coastal cliffs and sweeping ocean scenery.

3. 3

   Montara

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   MONTARA. Pass this coastal community, Montara State Beach and the northern reaches of the California Coast Ranges.

4. 4

   Moss Beach

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   MOSS BEACH. Discover a quiet seaside community beside protected tide pools and rich marine habitat.

5. 5

   Montara Point Lighthouse

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   MONTARA POINT LIGHTHOUSE. View the historic 1875 lighthouse that still marks this rugged stretch of coast.

6. 6

   El Granada

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   EL GRANADA. Pass the town’s distinctive circular street plan, Pillar Point Harbour and the nearby Coastal Trail.

7. 7

   Half Moon Bay

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   HALF MOON BAY. Explore a lively coastal town known for beaches, harbour scenery and a colourful local history.

8. 8

   San Gregorio

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   SAN GREGORIO. Pass the historic village and its broad state beach on a scenic stretch of Highway 1.

9. 9

   Stop 9

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   CALIFORNIA COASTAL NATIONAL MONUMENT. Look across protected offshore rocks and islands that shelter wildlife along the coast.

10. 10

    Pescadero

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    PESCADERO. Pass a charming farming and ranching community with roots reaching back to the 19th century.

11. 11

    Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve

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    PESCADERO MARSH NATURAL PRESERVE AND GREYHOUND ROCK. See vital wetland habitat and a dramatic coastal viewpoint along Highway 1.

12. 12

    Stop 12

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    PIGEON POINT LIGHTHOUSE. View the historic tower from the open grounds while its interior remains closed for restoration.

13. 13

    Ano Nuevo State Reserve

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    AÑO NUEVO STATE PARK. Pass a renowned elephant-seal colony where viewing access varies by season and may require a permit or guided walk.

14. 14

    Davenport

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    DAVENPORT. Pass a compact coastal town known for dramatic beaches, local history and striking ocean views.

15. 15

    Shark Fin Cove

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    SHARK FIN COVE. Spot the fin-shaped sea stack that makes this secluded cove one of the coast’s most memorable viewpoints.

16. 16

    Stop 16

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    COTONI-COAST DAIRIES STATE BEACHES. Trace a string of scenic beaches and rugged coastal landscapes beside Highway 1.

17. 17

    Wilder Ranch State Park

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    WILDER RANCH STATE PARK AND REDWOOD COUNTRY. See the historic ranch complex and nearby state parks that protect towering coast redwoods; the park is open, although its store is temporarily closed.

18. 18

    Natural Bridges State Beach

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    NATURAL BRIDGES STATE BEACH. See the wave-carved rock arch, tide pools and seasonal monarch habitat at this active state beach.

19. 19

    Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

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    SANTA CRUZ BEACH BOARDWALK. Pass the historic oceanfront amusement park and its landmark wooden roller coasters.

20. 20

    Santa Cruz

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    SANTA CRUZ. Discover an eclectic seaside city known for beaches, surf culture and a lively waterfront.

21. 21

    Aptos

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    APTOS. Travel through a collection of charming coastal villages with deep roots in Santa Cruz County.

22. 22

    Watsonville

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    WATSONVILLE. Pass an agricultural city shaped by Indigenous Ohlone history and the fertile Pajaro Valley.

23. 23

    Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve

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    ELKHORN SLOUGH NATIONAL ESTUARINE RESEARCH RESERVE. See a seven-mile tidal estuary renowned for birdlife, sea otters and protected wetland habitat.

24. 24

    Stop 24

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    MOSS LANDING WILDLIFE AREA. Look across expansive salt marshes and productive habitat beside Monterey Bay.

25. 25

    Castroville

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    CASTROVILLE. Pass the small farming town celebrated as the Artichoke Center of the World.

26. 26

    Salinas

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    SALINAS. Discover the agricultural heart of the Salinas Valley and the hometown landscape associated with John Steinbeck.

27. 27

    Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

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    MONTEREY BAY NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY. Look out over protected ocean waters and the vast submarine Monterey Canyon just offshore.

28. 28

    Monterey

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    MONTEREY AND THE MONTEREY PENINSULA. Finish in a historic coastal city surrounded by marine life, harbour views and layered California history.

• Service animals allowed
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
• Wheelchair accessible
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.