Self guided multi-day bike: coast – camping trips

coast - camping trips

Overview – CAMPING – Self Guided Bike Tour

Cycling all the way from San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge to the beaches of Los Angeles is one of the classic bicycling odysseys in the world. The coastal route between these two California cities is possibly one of the most diverse coastal bicycle rides in the world, featuring iconic urban areas, rugged coastline, towering redwood forests, marine wildlife viewing, historic lighthouses, winery areas and surfers plying the waves of the Pacific Ocean off sandy beaches.

***This page also includes information about self guided bike camp tours that start somewhat south of San Francisco (i.e. Monterey) and end north of Los Angeles (i.e. San Luis Obispo or Santa Barbara).***

Starting your California coast self guided cycling tour in San Francisco, you’ll cycle past Golden Gate Bridge, and dramatic Pigeon Point Lighthouse in the isolated coastal area south of Half Moon Bay. You’ll pass through the surfing town of Santa Cruz, with it’s historic boardwalk and also pass through artichoke fields on the way to the Monterey Peninsula, home to Monterey Bay Aquarium and the epic 17 Mile Drive that winds through Pebble Beach and its famous golf courses. Continuing south, the legendary Big Sur coast with its stunning coastal views and redwood canyons will thrill even the most well traveled cyclist. Diverse San Luis Obispo County is next, with Hearst Castle, elephants seals and beaches galore.

GG Bridge

If you continue south past SLO County, the rich agricultural and winery areas of Santa Barbara County beckon, as well as the palm tree lined waterfront of Santa Barbara itself. Iconic surf spots line the route south from Santa Barbara to the Malibu coast and the traditional end of the long version of the tour at Santa Monica Pier.

***ALL CENTRAL COAST OUTDOORS SELF GUIDED BIKE TOURS ARE PRIVATE***

Map San Francisco to Santa Monica

San Francisco to Santa Monica (LA) – CAMP – 491-517 Total Miles

# DaysAverage Daily MileageDaily Mileage RangeItinerarySolo cost (per person)2 ppl cost (per person)3 ppl cost (per person4+ ppl cost (per person)Daily Luggage Delivery Cost
59888-113Inquire$1070$660$505$430NA
68669-98Inquire$1090$680$525$450NA
77457-91Inquire$1110$700$545$470NA
8 v16542-91Inquire$1130$720$565$490NA
8 v26546-76Inquire$1130$720$565$490NA
95734-76Inquire$1150$740$585$510NA
105233-76Pdf File$1170$760$605$530NA
114732-69Pdf File$1190$780$625$550NA
124332-68Pdf File$1210$800$645$570NA
134027-68Inquire$1230$820$665$590NA
14+  Inquire    NA

San Francisco to Santa Barbara – CAMP – 429 Total Miles

# DaysAverage Daily MileageDaily Mileage RangeItinerarySolo cost (per person)2 ppl cost (per person)3 ppl cost (per person4+ ppl cost (per person)Daily Luggage Delivery Cost
58657-98Inquire$930$600$460$400NA
67257-91Inquire$950$620$480$420NA
7 v16142-91Inquire$970$640$500$440NA
7 v26146-74Inquire$970$640$500$440NA
85434-68Inquire$990$660$520$460NA
94833-68Inquire$1010$680$540$480NA
104332-68Inquire$1030$700$560$500NA
113927-68Inquire$1050$720$580$520NA
12+  Inquire    NA

San Francisco to San Luis Obispo (SLO) – CAMP – 280 Total Miles

# DaysAverage Daily MileageDaily Mileage RangeItinerarySolo cost (per person)2 ppl cost (per person)3 ppl cost (per person4+ ppl cost (per person)Daily Luggage Delivery Cost
47141-92Inquire$790$475$365$325NA
55734-75Inquire$810$495$385$345NA
64834-61Inquire$830$515$405$365NA
74122-50Inquire$850$535$425$385NA
8+  Inquire    NA

Monterey to San Luis Obispo (SLO) – 155 Total Miles

# DaysAverage Daily MileageDaily Mileage RangeSolo cost (per person)2 ppl cost (per person)3 ppl cost (per person4+ ppl cost (per person)Daily Luggage Delivery Cost
278Inquire$715$425$335$275NA
352Inquire$735$445$355$295NA
439Inquire$755$465$375$315NA
531inquire$775$485$395$335NA
626Inquire$795$505$415$355NA
7+      NA

Accommodations – Camping

You are responsible for booking and paying for your own accommodations. For camping trips, many campgrounds have Hike/Bike sites and these do not need to be reserved in advance. Some campgrounds do not have Hike/Bike sites and it is highly suggested to reserve in advance at these campgrounds.

Traffic, Road Conditions and Terrain

California coast bike tours that start in San Francisco or Monterey and continue south to San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara or Santa Monica (LA) will be on Highway One for significant stretches. Traffic, road conditions and terrain are all highly variable. Cyclists should be comfortable riding with traffic and over hilly terrain.

In winter and early spring there may be highway closures on the Big Sur coast that might impact the tour. 

Meeting Times and Logistics – Tour Start/End

For tours that start in San Francisco, we usually meet you at 12:00 pm (noon) on the first day of cycling if you are just going to Half Moon Bay. If you are going further on the first day, we usually meet at 8:00 am or 9:00 am. Trips that start in Monterey usually meet at 10:00 am. We meet wherever is best for you. If you arrive the night prior to the first day of cycling, we usually meet at your accommodations. If you are traveling to the start town on the morning of the first day of cycling, we usually meet at a transportation center (train or bus station) or at a location convenient to starting cycling.

At the tour end, we usually meet in the mid to late afternoon on the last day of cycling, at a time we agree upon beforehand. We typically meet at your accommodations if you are spending the evening in town. If you are traveling onward that day, we usually meet at a transportation center (train or bus station).  If necessary, we can usually meet earlier than mid afternoon if you are catching an earlier train or bus.

For tours that end in Santa Monica/LA, we usually meet at 3 pm on the last day of cycling. If you are staying near the Santa Monica Pier that evening, we can meet at your accommodations. If you are not staying near the pier or are traveling onward that day, we usually meet at the pier at 3 pm.

Transportation

The tours on this page are all one way tours and do not include a shuttle from the end of the tour back to the start. You are responsible for making your own transportation arrangments to get to the tour start and away from the tour end.