Skip to main content

Pacific Coast Highway Honeymoons

Feel the wind in your hair and take in some of America’s best scenery by spending your honeymoon cruising down the Pacific Coast Highway.

Information · Discussions · Agencies

Pacific Coast Highway Honeymoon

For couples who love a good road trip, a Pacific Coast Highway honeymoon is a great choice. The Highway takes you past some of the most breathtaking scenery in North America, such as stunning bluffs and beautiful sunsets over the ocean. There are nearly endless quality restaurants, fantastic beaches and attractions for any type of honeymooner, as well. The Pacific Coast Highway is often considered America’s favorite drive, and it’s easy to see why. From massive cities like Los Angeles, to the nearly unpopulated Big Sur, a Pacific Coast Highway honeymoon will give you a taste of big city sparkle and glam as well as the rugged nature that defines the central coast. There are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the beach during your trip, too! So, if you and your S.O. love to be on the road and want to spend your romantic getaway driving through Cali’s beautiful countryside, then definitely consider a Pacific Coast Highway honeymoon.

Here’s everything you need to know in order to plan the ultimate Pacific Coast Highway honeymoon.

pacific coast highway

When to Go

The weather in California is nearly always beautiful, but couples who wish to drive the entire route for their Pacific Coast Highway honeymoon should avoid visiting during July and August. During the mid-summer, the beach resorts in the southern part of California get very busy and traffic on the Highway can be quite bad. We suggest that couples take Pacific Coast Highway honeymoon sometime during early fall, in order to get beat the heavy traffic and crowds. Winter months also are a decent time to visit and couples can easily snag a deal on lodging

Top Sights and Activities

  • Golden Gate Bridge: Iconic suspension bridge which spans one mile across the Golden Gate Strait.
  • San Jose Flea Market: The largest open air flea market in the United States with 2,000 vendors selling a range of goods.
  • Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk: The boardwalk features an amusement park with games and rides on a mile-long stretch of beach.
  • Monterey Bay Aquarium: Large public aquarium that is home to more than 600 species. The aquarium circulates fresh water from the ocean.
  • Big Sur: Undeveloped lightly populated area of rugged, mountainous coastline in the Central Coast region of California.
  • Esalen Institute Retreat: Center in Big Sur that focuses on alternative education. Fantastic hot springs.
  • Hearst Castle: Historic estate, art collection and grounds available for tours.
  • Bubblegum Alley: 70-foot long, 15-foot high alley lined with used bubblegum.
  • San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden: 150 acre botanical gardens in the hills of the El Chorro Regional Park.
  • Pismo Beach: Self-proclaimed Clam Capital of the World. Popular location for surfing, kayaking, canoeing and outlet shopping.
  • Stearns Wharf: Pier in the Santa Barbara harbor with restaurants, shops and recreational activities.
  • Ventura Beach: Surfing hotspot. Hit up the boutiques in the historic downtown for interesting shopping.
  • Topanga State Park: Largest park in the Santa Monica Mountains. Preserves California coastal ecosystem including many plants.

Get access to travel deals when you book your honeymoon through WeddingWire

Recent discussions

View all
Whitney
West Coast Honeymoon Ideas
Whitney, on October 2, 2021 at 4:34 AM

My FH and I are getting married on the beach in Oregon. We want to honeymoon on the west coast somewhere, but we aren’t sure where to go. We are from the Midwest. All ideas are welcome!!

MaryWilliams, Nov 8, 2021 8 349
Christy
Recommendations on “must-see stops” on the Pacific Coast highway
Christy, on October 19, 2021 at 10:27 PM

We were going to do Italy, but have had to change plans for personal reasons. Anyone have a recommended itinerary for the PCH? We aren’t big into the “hustle” but would like a mix of nightlife &...

Christy, Oct 24, 2021 9 163
Valencia
California Honeymoon for cheap
Valencia, on April 4, 2017 at 6:49 PM

My Fiance and I are young and paying for our wedding ourselves so we want to do a honeymoon as cheap as possible as we will obviously be paying for that ourselves as well. We are from Utah and want to...

Ang, Jan 6, 2023 26 2,876