Central Coast and Big Sur by RV

US-101 up the Central Coast to Pismo Beach and Morro Bay, then Highway 1 north along the Big Sur coast.

Photo: King of Hearts, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Suggested length
5 nights
Round trip
592 mi
Driving
about 12 h 51 min (car, no traffic)
Best season
Year-round

Sources last checked 2026-10-28.

Itinerary

US-101 up the Central Coast to Pismo Beach and Morro Bay, then Highway 1 north along the Big Sur coast.

  1. Days 1–2 · Pismo Beach

    Downtown LA → Pismo Beach: 177 mi · 3 h 41 min by car

    Suggested area: Pismo Beach · no campground chosen · choose one

  2. Day 3 · Morro Bay

    Pismo Beach → Morro Bay: 27 mi · 41 min by car

    Suggested area: Morro Bay · no campground chosen · choose one

  3. Days 4–5 · Big Sur

    Morro Bay → Big Sur: 94 mi · 2 h 13 min by car

    Suggested area: Big Sur · no campground chosen · choose one

  4. Day 6 · Return

    Big Sur → Downtown LA: 294 mi · 6 h 16 min by car

Dates, travelers and nights
  1. Downtown LA → Pismo Beach: 177 mi · 3 h 41 min by carPismo Beach2 nights
  2. Pismo Beach → Morro Bay: 27 mi · 41 min by carMorro Bay1 night
  3. Morro Bay → Big Sur: 94 mi · 2 h 13 min by carBig Sur (Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park)2 nights
  4. Big Sur → Downtown LA: 294 mi · 6 h 16 min by car
5 nights592 mi round trip12 h 51 min driving (car time)

At this pace, Big Sur → Los Angeles is longer than 5 h by car; RVs drive slower, so consider an extra stop.

Drive times are OSRM road-routing estimates for a car, without traffic; an RV is usually slower. Changing nights updates the dates, campground sections, RV prices and search link on this page.

Find an RV for this trip

Numbered: overnight areas · ⛺ recommended campgrounds · select a stop to jump to its day.

Routing: OSRM route over OpenStreetMap data (car profile), 2026-10-28. Car times; allow more in an RV.

RVs for this trip

Priced for 5 nights. Shorter rigs fit more of this route's campgrounds.

  • 2019 Thor Four Winds 23U O2Class C motorhome · sleeps 7 · 24 ft$201/night listed · $1,005 for 5 nights before fees
  • Sunshine DaydreamClass C motorhome · sleeps 6 · 25 ft$195/night listed · $975 for 5 nights before fees
  • 2019 Thor Four Winds 23U O3Class C motorhome · sleeps 7 · 24 ft$201/night listed · $1,005 for 5 nights before fees
  • Cruise America: Compact (19')Sleeps 3Price by quote

See all 248 matching RVs with your dates

Full RV details and vehicle considerations
RV length limits on this trip

A 20 ft RV matches the published length guidance at 28 of 29 route campgrounds that post a maximum length. Posted limits don’t guarantee a site; confirm your selected campsite.

Camper van

Why
  • Shorter than most motorhomes, so easier to park at beach lots and in town; check posted length and height limits.

Class C motorhome

From a rental company

Cruise America Compact (19')

Cruise America Fleet class · Ford · unit assigned at pickup

Compact (19')

Sleeps 3 · 20 ft long · 2 beds · Generator

Check with Cruise America: Name says 19 ft; specs say 20 ft. We show both rather than pick one.

Tanks: Fresh 21 gal, grey 16 gal, black 17 gal, propane 11 gal · 40 gal gas fuel

Why this fits
  • Matches published length guidance at 28 of 29 route campgrounds that post one; confirm your campsite
  • Compact at 20 ft for tight campground loops
  • Sleeps 3

Pickup: not listed at a nearby depot; ask Cruise America

Ratenot shown; quoted by Cruise America for your dates
Mileage estimate≈ $231 for 592 mi round trip at 39¢ per mile source
Unknownnightly rate, taxes, insurance, kits, fuel

Specs and photos: Cruise America: 19' Compact RV Rental, checked 2026-10-28.

Check rates on Cruise America
Cruise America Compact Plus (20')

Cruise America Fleet class · Ford · unit assigned at pickup

Compact Plus (20')

Sleeps 4 · 20.5 ft long · 2 beds · Generator

Tanks: Fresh 21 gal, grey 16 gal, black 17 gal, propane 11 gal · 40 gal gas fuel

Why this fits
  • Matches published length guidance at 27 of 29 route campgrounds that post one; confirm your campsite
  • Compact at 20.5 ft for tight campground loops
  • Sleeps 4

Pickup: Los Angeles (Carson) (26 min drive from downtown LA)

Ratenot shown; quoted by Cruise America for your dates
Mileage estimate≈ $231 for 592 mi round trip at 39¢ per mile source
Unknownnightly rate, taxes, insurance, kits, fuel

Specs and photos: Cruise America: Compact Plus 20' RV Rental, checked 2026-10-28.

Check rates on Cruise America
Cruise America Standard (25')

Cruise America Fleet class · Ford · unit assigned at pickup

Standard (25')

Sleeps 5 · 25 ft long · 3 beds · Generator · Solar

Tanks: Fresh 40 gal, grey 25 gal, black 25 gal, propane 12 gal · 55 gal gas fuel

Why this fits
  • Matches published length guidance at 26 of 29 route campgrounds that post one; confirm your campsite
  • Sleeps 5

Pickup: Los Angeles (Downey) (15 min drive from downtown LA), Los Angeles (Carson) (26 min drive from downtown LA), Costa Mesa (49 min drive from downtown LA), Fillmore (1 h 11 min drive from downtown LA) +5 more

Ratenot shown; quoted by Cruise America for your dates
Mileage estimate≈ $231 for 592 mi round trip at 39¢ per mile source
Unknownnightly rate, taxes, insurance, kits, fuel

Specs and photos: Cruise America: Standard 25' RV Rental, checked 2026-10-28.

Check rates on Cruise America

From a local owner

Class C motorhome: 2019 Thor Four Winds 23U O2

Outdoorsy Owner’s RV · this specific vehicle

Most popularTop rated

2019 Thor Four Winds 23U O2

Class C motorhome · Sleeps 7 · seatbelts not listed

24 ft long · 2019 · Generator · Pets allowed

Pickup: owner in Santa Ana, CA · delivers up to 100 mi★ 4.9 (32)

Why it fits Big Sur
  • Matches published length guidance at 26 of 29 route campgrounds that post one; confirm your campsite
  • Compact at 24 ft for tight campground loops
  • Sleeps 7
  • Pets allowed
Listed price$201/night listed · $1,005 for 5 nights before fees
Mileageset by the owner; not in our data
Unknownservice fees, taxes, protection, deposit

Also listed on RVshare.

Check availability on Outdoorsy
Class C motorhome: Solar-Powered, Pet Friendly, Ready-to-Go Sunshine Daydream

Outdoorsy Owner’s RV · this specific vehicle

Most popularTop rated

Solar-Powered, Pet Friendly, Ready-to-Go Sunshine Daydream

Class C motorhome · Sleeps 6 · 6 seatbelts (listed)

25 ft long · 2022 · Generator · Solar · Pets allowed

Pickup: owner in Long Beach, CA · delivers up to 25 mi★ 5.0 (22)

Why it fits Big Sur
  • Matches published length guidance at 26 of 29 route campgrounds that post one; confirm your campsite
  • Sleeps 6
  • Pets allowed
Listed price$195/night listed · $975 for 5 nights before fees
Mileageset by the owner; not in our data
Unknownservice fees, taxes, protection, deposit

Also listed on RVshare.

Check availability on Outdoorsy
Class C motorhome: 2019 Thor Four Winds 23U O3

Outdoorsy Owner’s RV · this specific vehicle

Most popularDelivers to you

2019 Thor Four Winds 23U O3

Class C motorhome · Sleeps 7 · seatbelts not listed

24 ft long · 2019 · Generator · Pets allowed

Pickup: owner in Santa Ana, CA · delivers up to 100 mi★ 4.7 (25)

Why it fits Big Sur
  • Matches published length guidance at 26 of 29 route campgrounds that post one; confirm your campsite
  • Compact at 24 ft for tight campground loops
  • Sleeps 7
  • Pets allowed
Listed price$201/night listed · $1,005 for 5 nights before fees
Mileageset by the owner; not in our data
Unknownservice fees, taxes, protection, deposit

Also listed on RVshare.

Check availability on Outdoorsy

Where to stay

Two or three options per overnight area. Hookups are not in our campground data, so check each listing for hookups or dry camping.

Pismo Beach 2 nights · set a start date for exact nights

  • Holiday RV Park, listing photo
    Photo: Hipcamp listing
    Holiday RV ParkPismo Beach · 0.7 mi · 4 min drive from the stop area · longest posted site 36 ft (listing data)Availability not shown online
    • Posts sites up to 36 ft, which matches the published length guidance for a 20 ft RV; confirm your campsite
    • Closest of these to the stop area
    Reserve on Hipcamp ↗
  • Pismo SB, listing photo
    Photo: Park website listing
    Pismo SBOceano · 2.6 mi · 7 min drive from the stop area · longest posted site 36 ft (listing data)Availability not shown online
    • Posts sites up to 36 ft, which matches the published length guidance for a 20 ft RV; confirm your campsite
    Reserve on Park website ↗
  • Camp Arroyo Grande, listing photo
    Photo: Hipcamp listing
    Camp Arroyo GrandeArroyo Grande · 4.9 mi · 11 min drive from the stop area · longest posted site 26 ft (listing data)Availability not shown online
    • Posts sites up to 26 ft, which matches the published length guidance for a 20 ft RV; confirm your campsite
    Reserve on Hipcamp ↗

9 more RV campgrounds within 20 miles in our data.

Morro Bay 1 night · set a start date for exact nights

  • Cerro Alto Campground, listing photo
    Photo: Recreation.gov listing
    Cerro Alto Campground10.5 mi · 19 min drive from the stop area · longest posted site 35 ft (listing data)Online availability on Recreation.gov
    • Posts sites up to 35 ft, which matches the published length guidance for a 20 ft RV; confirm your campsite
    • Takes online reservations on Recreation.gov
    • Most reviewed of these (266)
    Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
  • Morro Strand RV Park, listing photo
    Photo: Campspot listing
    Morro Strand RV ParkMorro Bay · 2.6 mi · 5 min drive from the stop area · longest posted site 62 ft (listing data)Availability not shown online
    • Posts sites up to 62 ft, which matches the published length guidance for a 20 ft RV; confirm your campsite
    Reserve on Campspot ↗
  • Morro Bay SP, listing photo
    Photo: Park website listing
    Morro Bay SPMorro Bay · 0.3 mi · 1 min drive from the stop area · longest posted site 40 ft (listing data)Availability not shown online
    • Posts sites up to 40 ft, which matches the published length guidance for a 20 ft RV; confirm your campsite
    • Closest of these to the stop area
    Reserve on Park website ↗

19 more RV campgrounds within 20 miles in our data.

Big Sur 2 nights · set a start date for exact nights

  • Arroyo Seco, listing photo
    Photo: Recreation.gov listing
    Arroyo SecoGreenfield · 71.4 mi · 132 min drive from the stop area · longest posted site 50 ft (listing data)Online availability on Recreation.gov
    • Posts sites up to 50 ft, which matches the published length guidance for a 20 ft RV; confirm your campsite
    • Takes online reservations on Recreation.gov
    • Most reviewed of these (205)
    Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
  • Riverside Campground & Cabins, Big Sur, California, listing photo
    Photo: Campspot listing
    Riverside Campground & Cabins, Big Sur, CaliforniaBig Sur · 2 mi · 4 min drive from the stop area · longest posted site 34 ft (listing data)Availability not shown online
    • Posts sites up to 34 ft, which matches the published length guidance for a 20 ft RV; confirm your campsite
    Reserve on Campspot ↗
  • Pfeiffer Big Sur SP, listing photo
    Photo: Park website listing
    Pfeiffer Big Sur SPBig Sur · 0.4 mi · 2 min drive from the stop area · longest posted site 32 ft (listing data)Availability not shown online
    • Posts sites up to 32 ft, which matches the published length guidance for a 20 ft RV; confirm your campsite
    • Closest of these to the stop area
    Reserve on Park website ↗

2 more RV campgrounds within 20 miles in our data.

Costs

RV rentalFrom $545 base subtotal ($109/night × 5, lowest listed match: Cozy Affordable Family 2018 RV (Discount… on Outdoorsy)Estimate
Rental fees, insurance, mileageSet by the provider at checkout; not included above.Unpriced
Campgrounds (3 stops)Rates are shown on each booking site.Unpriced
Fuel592 road miles round trip; fuel is not estimated here.Unpriced

There is no complete trip total: only the RV base rate is known before you get a quote.

Before you go

Related trips

Big BearSanta Barbara coastSequoiaSan Diego coast

5 nightsFind RVs