Free Things to Do on the Pacific Coast Highway

There are lots of free things to do on the Pacific Coast Highway and here's our list of ten of them including wildlife, the best free views, and free museums.

We're not including obvious free things like going to the beach, visiting the Point Reyes National Seashore, driving the coast of Big Sur, or stopping to look at Bixby Bridge, as you'll be doing those anyway. But here are ten things you can do that are all free of charge.

Visit Balboa Park in San Diego

The Cactus Garden in Balboa Park in San Diego

The Cactus Garden Is One of Balboa Park's Many Free Attractions

There's lots of free stuff to enjoy in Balboa Park in San Diego. The Timken Museum is always free, and you can see some free outdoor displays at the Mingei Museum, and other places.

There are several gardens to stroll around, playgrounds for kids, and other free attractions. See this page on the San Diego website, and see our own page on Visiting Balboa Park.

Our Pick of San Diego Guides

Get the Best Free View of Los Angeles

Go to Griffith Park and head for the Griffith Observatory. Here you get a sweeping panorama of Los Angeles that is the best free view in the city. It's also free to visit the Griffith Observatory itself, though donations are welcomed.

Our Pick of the LA Guides

Walk on Santa Monica Pier

Santa Monica Pier - It's Free!

There's no charge to go on Santa Monica Pier and walk around, to get good views out to sea from the end. See our full page on historic Santa Monica Pier.

Elephant Seal Beach

Elephant Seals on Piedras Blancas Beach along the Pacific Coast Highway

A five-minute drive north of the entrance to Hearst Castle is Piedras Blancas Beach, better-known as Elephant Seal Beach. We always stop here when driving the Pacific Coast Highway to see the amazing sight of hundreds, sometimes thousands, of elephant seals on the beach. See our full page about Elephant Seal Beach.

Whale Watching

A Whale Breaching

Of course you can pay to take a whale-watching trip, which we've done several times, and they're always good value for money. However, it costs nothing to watch for whales from the coast. See our page on Whale-Watching in California for the best times and places, and our page on Whale-Watching from the San Diego Shoreline.

See Thousands of Butterflies

Monarch Butterflies

Visit the free Monarch Grove Sanctuary in Pacific Grove where thousands of monarch butterflies take their annual winter vacation from about November to February. You can look but you'd better not touch as disturbing the butterflies can turn your free visit into one with a fine of $1,000!

Stroll Cannery Row

It costs nothing to stroll along Monterey's Cannery Row, made famous by writer John Steinbeck, who was born about twenty miles (32 kms) away in Salinas. Fisherman's Wharf is also free and it's fun to watch the sea-lions that gather there.

Our Pick of the California Guides

See Free Museums in Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz may be best known for its boardwalk and amusement park, but there's a cultural side to the city too. What's more, many of its museums are free including the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, the San Lorenzo Valley Historical Museum, the Capitola History Museum, and the Aptos History Museum.

Take a Free Tour of San Francisco

The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco

Whether you want to see the Golden Gate Bridge or Chinatown, or any of the other 80 free tours they offer, check out the website of San Francisco City Guides for the full list of the free city tours they offer.

Our Pick of the Guides

Best Free View of San Francisco

In Golden Gate Park, the de Young Museum is only free to everyone on the first Tuesday of each month, but access to its Hamon Observation Tower is free. Just take the elevator from the lobby and you'll be whisked to one of the best free views of San Francisco that you'll find.

Other California Coast pages

Pismo Beach
Pismo Beach is a small beach town on California's Central Coast, a resort famous for surfing and clams.
Whale Watching in California
Whale watching in California is one of the most popular things to do along the Pacific Coast Highway, in places like San Diego, San Francisco and many more.
Best Time to Visit Mendocino
PCH Travel picks the best time to visit Mendocino, with a monthly summary of the weather, plus hotel prices and special events to help plan a visit.
California Coast Guide
One of the best California coast guides is the California Coastal Access Guide, describing the coast’s beaches, National Parks, State Parks, with many maps.
Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz on the Pacific Coast Highway in California has its famous boardwalk, beaches, wine tastings, Surfing Museum, Mission, and Marine Discovery Center.
Mendocino
Mendocino in Mendocino County is a small but pretty California coastal town, popular with artists and with travelers. It has featured in many songs and movies.
San Clemente California
San Clemente in California is a small city on the Pacific Coast Highway midway between San Diego and Los Angeles, noted for its beaches and surfing.
Vagabond's House Inn
Historic and romantic Vagabond's House Inn Bed and Breakfast in Carmel is a great place to stay with free wine and cheese and generous breakfast.
La Jolla, in southern California
La Jolla in southern California is north of San Diego off the Pacific Coast Highway and has museums, restaurants, hotels, beaches, and the Birch Aquarium.
Pacific Grove
Pacific Grove is a small city on the California coast, next to Monterey and close to Carmel, with attractions including its historic Victorian houses.
Lighthouse Inn at Point Cabrillo
The Lighthouse Inn at Point Cabrillo is a romantic, historic guesthouse on the Mendocino California coast, on the Pacific Coast Highway.
Bodega Bay
Bodega Bay is a small California coastal town on the borders of Marin County and Sonoma County, and the filming location for Alfred Hitchcock's the Birds.
Top Wildlife Spots on the California Coast
Pacific Coast Highway Travel recommends some of the top wildlife spots along the California coast.
Oceanside
Oceanside is a typical southern California beach town with a surf culture and with the Pacific Coast Highway running right through it.
Point Lobos State Reserve near Carmel and Monterey, with photos
A walk around the Point Lobos State Reserve near Monterey and Carmel provides lots of photo opportunities, especially of the Harbor Seal Birthing Area.
Carlsbad
Carlsbad is a beach city north of San Diego in southern California famous for its flower fields, LEGOLAND resort and water park, surfing and SEA LIFE Aquarium.
Visiting Hearst Castle
This Visiting Hearst Castle page gives all the practicalities including location, types of tour, length of tours, how long to allow, and much more information.
Coastal California Guidebook
Lonely Planet's Coastal California guidebook is the ideal travel guide for driving or cycling the Pacific Coast Highway from the Oregon border to Mexico.
Santa Catalina Island
Santa Catalina Island, or Catalina Island, is off the shore of Southern California and reachable from Long Beach, San Pedro, Newport Beach, and Dana Point.
San Simeon
San Simeon is a tiny town of a few hundred people close to Hearst Castle on the California coast midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Laguna Beach
The Pacific Coast Highway goes right through Laguna Beach, a relaxed artsy beach resort whose attractions include shopping, galleries, dining, and beaches.
Pelican Inn and Suites in Cambria on the Central Coast of California
The Pelican Inn and Suites in Cambria on California's Central Coast has oceanfront views, swimming pool, gardens, and is right on the beach near Hearst Castle.
Morro Bay
Morro Bay is a delightful small town on the California coast roughly halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles and noted for the huge Morro Rock.
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica in California is famous for its pier, and beaches, and is one of the best west coast vacation spots, with hotels, restaurants, surfing, museums.
Best Beaches in California
Pacific Coast Highway Travel's list of the best beaches in California with beaches in Santa Monica, Big Sur, Malibu, Carmel, Cambria, La Jolla and Coronado.