California's coast road runs from the Golden Gate past Monterey, Carmel and the Big Sur cliffs to Hearst Castle, Santa Barbara and finally Los Angeles. Allow at least five days; drive south so the ocean is on your side. Spring and autumn are clearest; summer mornings are often foggy.
Month by month
Best: April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Avoid Poor OK Good Excellent Peak
Shoulder season: June, good weather with typically fewer crowds and lower prices.
Weather and crowds
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Wet days | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 14°C / 58°F | 8°C / 46°F | 9 | Moderate |
| February | 15°C / 59°F | 8°C / 46°F | 9 | Moderate |
| March | 15°C / 58°F | 9°C / 47°F | 11 | Moderate |
| April | 16°C / 61°F | 10°C / 49°F | 3 | Moderate |
| May | 18°C / 64°F | 11°C / 52°F | 2 | Moderate |
| June | 19°C / 66°F | 12°C / 54°F | 0 | Moderate |
| July | 18°C / 65°F | 13°C / 56°F | 0 | Busy |
| August | 20°C / 69°F | 14°C / 57°F | 0 | Busy |
| September | 21°C / 69°F | 14°C / 58°F | 1 | Moderate |
| October | 21°C / 69°F | 13°C / 55°F | 4 | Moderate |
| November | 17°C / 62°F | 10°C / 50°F | 7 | Moderate |
| December | 14°C / 57°F | 8°C / 47°F | 12 | Moderate |
Weather: averages of recent years from Open-Meteo historical data (CC BY 4.0). Crowds: estimated from the seasons and holiday periods, not measured.
How long to stay
5–10 days is the sweet spot.
Flight time
About 6h from the US East Coast, 11h from Europe, 17.5h from South Asia.
Good to know
- Landslides close parts of Highway 1 through Big Sur from time to time (it fully reopened in January 2026 after the Regent's Slide closure); check Caltrans QuickMap before you set off.
- A one-way rental has a drop-off fee; booking early keeps it down.
- There's little fuel or phone signal in Big Sur; fill up in Carmel or Cambria.
Plan a trip to Pacific Coast Highway
Pick your dates and Offdays builds a day-by-day itinerary from Pacific Coast Highway's best places.
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