LA to Hearst Castle

Pacific Coast Highway travel offers advice on driving from LA to Hearst Castle, including distance, journey time, and route.

Here's all the advice you'll need if planning to drive from LA to Hearst Castle, whether you go by the coastal route or use I-5. Here's the info on driving times, distances, and route options, with two interactive maps you can use.

Our Pick of the LA Guides

Fodors-Los-Angeles-travel-guide.png

LA to Hearst Castle: Distance

From downtown Los Angeles to Hearst Castle is a distance of between 235-260 miles (376-416 kms), depending on the exact route you take (see below). 

You don’t absolutely have to take one of the coastal route options, though they are more scenic for parts of the route. You could consider taking I-5 and then cutting back across to the coast somewhere, which is only about 250 miles (400 kms) and also has a really scenic stretch at the end through Paso Robles wine country. 

You would need to do this if the coastal route was blocked somewhere, but the closures of the Pacific Coast Highway which make the headlines usually happen north of Hearst Castle on the Big Sur stretch.

Big Sur

LA to Hearst Castle: Driving Time

Taking the I-5 route from LA to Hearst Castle should take 4-5 hours, depending on how fast you drive and the state of the traffic. It ought to be faster for the first stretch along I-5, but you would then slow down as you have to cut across to the coast on slower roads.

Taking the coastal option and heading north through Santa Monica and Malibu will probably take 5-6 hours, again depending on the traffic and your own average driving speed. Although it’s a similar distance to the I-5 route, it’s a lot slower as the road twists and turns, and is single-lane in many places. It also attracts slower-moving vehicles, which can be difficult to overtake.

LA to Hearst Castle: Routes

The Coastal Routes

Take I-10 to its end in Santa Monica and merge onto Highway 1 there. It begins near Santa Monica Pier, then stays near the coast through Malibu and is a pleasant start to the drive, quickly leaving LA behind.  

Stay on Highway 1 along the coast until you reach Oxnard, where Highway 1 goes inland through the city and merges with Highway 101. You continue north on 1/101 through Ventura, which is the only tricky part of the drive. We often manage to get lost in Oxnard or Ventura, as the routes aren’t well-signed. You’ll need to rely on your satnav or human equivalent.

Santa Barbara

Beyond Ventura the road rejoins the coast and passes by Santa Barbara. If you want to see Santa Barbara you’ll have to exit and head for the ocean, then rejoin 1/101 again.

West of Santa Barbara the roads divide, with 1 staying nearer the coast through Lompoc and 101 going further inland through Buelton, where you could make a short detour to see Solvang. It doesn’t make much difference which way you go in terms of time or distance. We quite like the slightly more rural route through Lompoc and Guadalupe, though it’s another stretch of the drive where a satnav is useful.

Our Pick of the California Guides

Rough-Guide-California-2023.png

Near Pismo Beach the roads rejoin, swing inland for a while, get back near the ocean at Morro Bay and then it’s a straight drive north to Cambria and San Simeon, where Hearst Castle is. We usually stay in Cambria when visiting Hearst Castle, which we’ve done several times as there’s always something different to see on the different tours there. Check our Cambria page where we tell you about the different places we’ve stayed in there.

Hearst Castle

Taking I-5

The I-5 Interstate runs right through Los Angeles so pick it up wherever you can. You stay on I-5 for about 125 miles and take the exit for Lost Hills/Paso Robles onto CA-46 West. You then stay on 46 through Paso Robles and all the way to join the Pacific Coast Highway on the coast just south of Cambria. This last section of the drive is really beautiful, through the rolling green hills and farmland of Paso Robles wine country. 

When you reach Highway 1 on the coast, turn right (north) and the entrance to Hearst Castle is about 12 miles north of here, on the highway.

Where to Stay near Hearst Castle

Other driving pages

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel reviews 111 Places in Hollywood That You Must Not Miss, a guide that includes iconic attractions and hidden secrets too.

    Must-See Hollywood

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel reviews 111 Places in Hollywood That You Must Not Miss, a guide that includes iconic attractions and hidden secrets too.

  • 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.

    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.

  • Review of the Pacific Coast Highway Road Trips book from Lonely Planet, which includes a California Driving Guide, by the Pacific Coast Highway Travel website.

    Pacific Coast Highway Road Trips: Lonely Planet Guidebook Review

    Review of the Pacific Coast Highway Road Trips book from Lonely Planet, which includes a California Driving Guide, by the Pacific Coast Highway Travel website.

  • 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.

    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.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel picks the ten best films set in Los Angeles from classics like Chinatown and Sunset Boulevard to The Big Lebowski and La La Land.

    Ten Best Films Set in Los Angeles

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel picks the ten best films set in Los Angeles from classics like Chinatown and Sunset Boulevard to The Big Lebowski and La La Land.

  • Here are the basic facts if you plan to drive the Pacific Coast Highway, including which is the best direction and when is the best time to go driving.

    Drive the Pacific Coast Highway

    Here are the basic facts if you plan to drive the Pacific Coast Highway, including which is the best direction and when is the best time to go driving.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel’s guide to car rental in Los Angeles including airport rentals, rental requirements, insurance, parking, and more.

    Car Rental in Los Angeles

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel’s guide to car rental in Los Angeles including airport rentals, rental requirements, insurance, parking, and more.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel's guide to Oregon coast charging stations for electric vehicles, from Brookings in the south to Astoria in the north.

    Oregon Coast Charging Stations

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel's guide to Oregon coast charging stations for electric vehicles, from Brookings in the south to Astoria in the north.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel recommends the best new dining experiences in Los Angeles, Hollywood, Bel-Air, Venice and elsewhere.

    New Dining in Los Angeles

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel recommends the best new dining experiences in Los Angeles, Hollywood, Bel-Air, Venice and elsewhere.

  • California coast charging stations are so numerous that the Pacific Coast Highway is one of the best US road trips to drive in an electric vehicle or EV.

    California Coast Charging Stations

    California coast charging stations are so numerous that the Pacific Coast Highway is one of the best US road trips to drive in an electric vehicle or EV.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel picks the best museums in Los Angeles including the top art museums and museums for families.

    Best Museums in Los Angeles

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel picks the best museums in Los Angeles including the top art museums and museums for families.

  • Driving from San Francisco to San Diego has two main options, the fast way on I-5 or the scenic route along the Pacific Coast Highway.

    San Francisco to San Diego

    Driving from San Francisco to San Diego has two main options, the fast way on I-5 or the scenic route along the Pacific Coast Highway.

  • 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.

    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.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel’s travel guide to Los Angeles, including dining and accommodation options, public transport, and the city’s best things to do.

    Los Angeles

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel’s travel guide to Los Angeles, including dining and accommodation options, public transport, and the city’s best things to do.

  • If visiting California and planning to drive the Pacific Coast Highway it's important to know California driving laws in case they differ from your own state.

    California Driving Laws

    If visiting California and planning to drive the Pacific Coast Highway it's important to know California driving laws in case they differ from your own state.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel picks the most romantic hotels in Los Angeles, including beach-front beauties as well as those in the heart of the city.

    Most Romantic Hotels in Los Angeles

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel picks the most romantic hotels in Los Angeles, including beach-front beauties as well as those in the heart of the city.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel reviews the Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Guide book covering the drive from Vancouver to San Diego.

    Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Guide

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel reviews the Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Guide book covering the drive from Vancouver to San Diego.

  • Los Angeles Airport hotels include Hilton, Radisson, Marriott, Embassy Suites, Crowne Plaza and other top names, all of them within a mile or so of LAX.

    Los Angeles Airport Hotels

    Los Angeles Airport hotels include Hilton, Radisson, Marriott, Embassy Suites, Crowne Plaza and other top names, all of them within a mile or so of LAX.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel brings your guide to public transport in Los Angeles to show how you can get around in the city without a car, even to the beaches.

    Public Transport in Los Angeles

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel brings your guide to public transport in Los Angeles to show how you can get around in the city without a car, even to the beaches.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel's advice on driving the Pacific Coast Highway in four days, including the best places to stay, and the best things to do and see.

    Driving the Pacific Coast Highway in Four Days

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel's advice on driving the Pacific Coast Highway in four days, including the best places to stay, and the best things to do and see.

  • When to Drive the Pacific Coast Highway depends on whether you want to drive in Oregon and Washington as well as California, and on the weather.

    When to Drive the Pacific Coast Highway

    When to Drive the Pacific Coast Highway depends on whether you want to drive in Oregon and Washington as well as California, and on the weather.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel picks the best budget hotels in Los Angeles so you can have a cheap stay in LA and still be near Hollywood or Universal Studios.

    Best Budget Hotels in Los Angeles

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel picks the best budget hotels in Los Angeles so you can have a cheap stay in LA and still be near Hollywood or Universal Studios.

  •  

    Hearst Castle Tours

    Hearst Castle tours show you round the former home of William Randolph Hearst in San Simeon, one of the best things to do along the Pacific Coast Highway.

  • Soul of Los Angeles from French publishers Jonglez is a travel guide to 30 Exceptional Experiences in California's largest city.

    Soul of Los Angeles

    Soul of Los Angeles from French publishers Jonglez is a travel guide to 30 Exceptional Experiences in California's largest city.

  • Vintage Hollywood in Los Angeles is an extract from the Lonely Planets book Culture Trails.

    Vintage Hollywood

    Vintage Hollywood in Los Angeles is an extract from the Lonely Planets book Culture Trails.

Recent Articles

RSS

  1. The Great California Power Trip: 13 Stops of Pure Adrenaline

    Nov 25, 25 03:29 AM

    The growl of a supercharged engine bouncing off canyon walls feels like your personal soundtrack. Behind the wheel of the Ford Venom 800, the world feels bigger, faster and a little more electric. The…

    Read More

  2. An Optimized Road Trip Maps The Shortest Route Between National Parks Across America

    Nov 25, 25 03:29 AM

    The United States is pretty hallowed ground when it comes to road tripping. This is the land of the Blue Ridge Parkway, a fall foliage odyssey through charming mountain towns in Appalachia. It's got a…

    Read More

  3. An Optimized Road Trip Maps The Shortest Route Between National Parks Across America

    Nov 25, 25 03:27 AM

    The United States is pretty hallowed ground when it comes to road tripping. This is the land of the Blue Ridge Parkway, a fall foliage odyssey through charming mountain towns in Appalachia. It's got a…

    Read More