Know Before You Go, Pacific Coast Highway: Santa Barbara to Santa Monica

Start Planning! 

You’re about to go on an epic adventure with the Pacific Coast Highway Tour from Santa Barbara to Santa Monica! Here’s what you need to know before you go. 

• The drive takes about 2 hours, but plan half to a full day with stops.
• Covers 14 stops with 74 audio narration points along the route.
• Starts from Santa Monica or Santa Barbara—works both directions.
• The route includes short detours to beaches and scenic viewpoints.
• No reservations required for the tour itself.
• The weather is good year-round, though summer fog may reduce visibility.
• 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 occur in parking areas.
• State beaches generally open 8 am to sunset, with paid parking required.
• One paid parking pass can be used across multiple state beaches in a day.
• Parking fees vary by location, typically $8–$12 per vehicle.
• Many stops operate from dawn to dusk; hours vary depending on location.

Budgeting and Hours of Operation 

Shutterstock Image

Budget

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

• If you pay at one state park, you can display your pay stub on your dashboard and park at other state parks for free the same day.
• Malibu Lagoon State Beach
  • All day – $12.00 per car, per day
  • 3 hrs – $9.00 per car
  • 2 hrs – $6.00 per car
  • 1 hr – $3.00 per car
• El Matador State Beach
  • Parking $8 
• Leo Carrillo State Beach
  • All day – $12.00 per car, per day
  • 3 hrs – $9.00 per car
  • 2 hrs – $6.00 per car
  • 1 hr – $3.00 per car
• Carpinteria State Beach
  • $10 in the beach lot, but free street parking in town
• Malibu Pier
  • Parking $15 (or park on the road for free, or at Malibu Lagoon SP for less)
• Adamson House (Malibu Lagoon State Beach)
  • $7 adults, $2 ages 6-17
• Escondido Falls: $12 parking
• Point Dume/Westward Beach
  • Free street parking up on Point Dume in the very small lot
  • Westward Beach
    • All day – $12.00 per car, per day
    • 3 hrs – $9.00 per car
    • 2 hrs – $6.00 per car
    • 1 hr – $3.00 per car
• Stearns Wharf: Free parking for 90 minutes, after which it’s $2.50/hour

Hours of Operation 

• Malibu Pier
  • 7 am-9 pm daily
  • Bait and tackle shop open 8 am-8 pm
• Adamson House (Malibu Lagoon State Beach) 
  • open Wed-Sat 11 am-2 pm, 
  • Last tour begins at 2 pm
• Solstice Canyon: Open dawn to dusk
• Escondido Falls: Open dawn to dusk
• Neptune’s Net
  • March to October
    • 10:30 am-8 pm Mon-Thurs
    • 10:30 am-9 pm Fri
    • 10:30 am-8:30 pm Sat & Sun
  • October to March
    • 10:30 am-7 pm Mon-Thurs
    • 10:30 am-8 pm Fri
    • 10:00 am-7 pm Sat & Sun
• Carpinteria Bluffs Nature Preserve: Open dawn to dusk
• Stearns Wharf: Open 24/7, but business hours vary

Get Packing!

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     

Shutterstock Image

• Southern California has great weather all year round. Fog may be a factor during the summer.

Safety Information 

• The Pacific Ocean is surprisingly cold and has dangerous waves. Most of the beaches we visit are not wise to swim in. Carpinteria is an exception. 
• Avoid keeping valuables in the car. Break-ins may occur in parking lots.

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 the 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.

About the Writer: Matt Caracciolo

Matt Caracciolo is a travel writer based in Ohio and author of the Shaka Guide tour for the Pacific Coast Highway. Born and raised in Columbus, Matt fell into travel writing while teaching English abroad in South Korea.

He has written two travel books, including the Moon Ohio guidebook, and enjoys writing and editing tours for Shaka Guide. Matt follows Mark Twain’s belief that “travel is fatal,” embracing travel as a way to learn more about the world and ourselves.

Like this article? Share it on Pinterest!