Turn a classic road trip into a narrated adventure: this smartphone audio tour guides you from Los Angeles to Santa Maria along the Pacific Coast Highway, pointing out beaches, geological features, and local history as you drive. Download, listen, and stop where you like.
More ways to explore the area's outdoor wonders
You pull onto Highway 1 at the edge of Los Angeles and the ocean immediately starts to speak — gulls wheel, cliffs lean toward the water, and the road curves like a promise. This smartphone audio tour turns the drive into a guided ribbon of stops: Venice canals and Santa Monica piers give way to the Palisades, Malibu’s sea-swept bluffs, and the long agricultural stretches north of Ventura.
Difficulty
easy
Duration
4–5 hours (self-paced, can be split over a day or two)
Fitness Level
Minimal fitness required for driving; short hikes and viewpoint walks are low to moderate.
Wildlife
History
This coastline was long occupied by the Chumash people; later Spanish missions and 19th-century ranching shaped settlement patterns up through the development of coastal towns.
Conservation
Coastal preserves and nonprofits protect sensitive bluff habitats and tidepools—stick to trails, avoid trampling vegetation, and respect wildlife closures.
Reserve your spot on the Pacific Coast Highway: Smartphone Audio Tour, LA to Santa Maria today and enjoy a trusted, highly rated experience designed to help you make the most of your adventure.
Download before you go
Install the Tripvia Tours app and download tour code PACH65 on Wi‑Fi to avoid delays and to ensure no data is needed while driving.
Plan fuel and rest stops
Some coastal stretches have long gaps between gas stations—top off in larger towns like Santa Monica, Ventura or Oxnard.
Use designated pullouts
Many viewpoints and beaches have narrow shoulders—use official turnout areas to stop safely for photos and short walks.
Bring layers and sun protection
Marine breeze can make afternoons cool; sunglasses and sunscreen help with glare on open water.
Smartphone with Tripvia Tours app
Runs the downloaded audio tour and GPS cues that trigger commentary as you drive.
Car charger / power bank
Keeps your phone powered for GPS and app playback on a long route.
Sunglasses and sunscreen
Reduces glare off the ocean and protects during exposed stops and beach walks.
summer
Light windproof jacket
Marine breeze can be strong—layers make short hikes and cliff lookouts comfortable.
fall