Is California Route 1 driveable in 2026?

Yes, but Big Sur—the most scenic and most famous section—is frequently closed without warning due to landslides. Check the Big Sur website before you drive and allow extra time. The rest of the route is open and spectacular: Route 1 winds along the California coast for hundreds of kilometres, offering some of the most beautiful coastal driving in the United States.

Plan your stops and timing

Route 1 rewards a slow pace. Travellers typically allow 10 days to drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles, making stops along the way. The drive can be completed faster, but the scenery and small towns make longer stays worthwhile.

The journey passes through or near several towns:

  • Santa Cruz (15 minutes south of Shark Fin Cove Beach): A historic surfing destination with a vintage boardwalk and amusement park
  • Monterey: Known for whale-watching and sea lions at Old Fisherman's Wharf
  • Carmel-by-the-Sea: An artist community at the northern edge of Big Sur
  • Big Sur: A 140-kilometre stretch of coastline running south to San Simeon, with limited services
  • Pismo Beach: A beach town known for restaurants and a long pier
  • Santa Barbara: A green city with Spanish architecture and the Urban Wine Trail, before reaching Los Angeles

Big Sur: The most scenic—and most problematic—section

This stretch from Carmel to San Simeon contains some of the most spectacular coastal scenery in North America. Highlights include:

  • Point Lobos State Reserve: An easy coastal trail with limited parking (arrive between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. for best availability)
  • Rocky Creek Bridge and Bixby Creek Bridge: Particularly striking at sunset
  • Hurricane Point: A viewpoint overlooking the Big Sur coastline
  • Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park: Features McWay Falls, a 25-metre waterfall that flows into the ocean

However, this section is regularly closed due to landslides. The road winds along steep cliffs, and debris from slides can close it for days while repairs are made. Check the Big Sur website for current conditions before driving, and have a backup plan or extra time in your schedule.

Fuel and supplies in Big Sur

This is critical: fuel stations in Big Sur charge significantly higher prices than elsewhere in California. Fill your rental car's tank before entering the Big Sur section. Small stations do exist in the area, but their prices reflect the remote location. Bring supplies or plan meal stops in Carmel or Pismo Beach.

17 Mile Drive near Monterey

Just south of Monterey, near Pacific Grove, a scenic private road called 17 Mile Drive runs along the Pebble Beach coastline. There is a fee to drive it, but the company provides a free app with detailed information about all sights along the route. The drive ends in Carmel-by-the-Sea.

Tolls on Route 1

California Route 1 itself is not tolled. However, if your road trip includes other California highways (particularly bridges or roads in the San Francisco Bay area), you may encounter tolls. Most California toll roads are now cashless with no booth to pay at. Rental cars carry an electronic transponder (typically branded PlatePass or TollPass). When you use a toll road, the charge is billed to the card you used for the rental, plus a daily service fee of around US$3–4, capped monthly.

On a longer road trip, this can add up to US$50 or more. Ask the rental desk at pickup how the toll program works and whether you can opt out on routes you know are toll-free.

Insurance and permits for international visitors

International Driving Permit

If your driving licence is written in English, most US rental companies will accept it on its own for a short visit. If your licence is in another language or alphabet, carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside it—though the IDP is only a certified translation and is never valid on its own. Get the IDP in your home country before you travel; you cannot buy one in the United States. Rental companies generally require that you have held your licence for at least one year.

Insurance

This is crucial: US rental prices typically do not include collision cover, unlike many European rentals. Before you arrive, check whether your travel insurance or credit card already includes rental Collision Damage Waiver (CDW)—many premium cards do, saving US$15–30 per day. If not, you will need to buy it at the rental desk. You should also consider Supplemental Liability Insurance (SLI) to cover damage you cause to others, as state-minimum liability cover is very low for visitors.

Bring written proof if you plan to decline the rental company's cover, and use a credit card (not debit) at pickup, as debit cards often trigger a large hold or credit check.

Booking tips for a one-way road trip

If you pick up a car in San Francisco and drop it in Los Angeles, you may face a one-way drop fee. This fee varies; some companies waive it within the same state, while others charge hundreds of dollars. Ask before booking.

Most US rentals include unlimited mileage, which is ideal for a long coastal drive, but confirm this in writing.

Book early and compare the total price including insurance, not just the daily rate. Photograph the car from every angle at pickup and drop-off, and ensure any existing damage is noted on the contract.

Best fuel policy

Always choose the full-to-full fuel policy: you take the car with a full tank and return it full. Refill just before drop-off. Prepaid-fuel options almost always cost more than filling up yourself at a regular station. US gas stations are self-serve and inexpensive by international standards.