Road trips · California
Circuits
One definitive statewide circuit, five regional weekend trips, and four focused itineraries. Circuits are recognized collections; itineraries are suggested ways to experience them.
Flagship · 10–14 days
The Flagship 12
The definitive statewide circuit
Twelve curated lighthouses from San Diego to the Oregon border, anchored by Old Point Loma in the south and Battery Point in the far north. If you only do one lighthouse trip, start here.
See the full route →
Regional
Weekend-scale routes you can drive without taking a week off.
3–4 days
Southern California
San Diego to the Channel Islands
Nine lighthouse sites across San Diego, the Los Angeles harbors, Ventura County, and Anacapa Island. Five have some public access; the rest are view-only, restricted, or demolished context.
9 stops · Basecamps: San Diego, San Pedro, Ventura
3–4 days
Central Coast
Highway 1 from Santa Barbara to Pescadero
Six lighthouses along the most cinematic stretch of California coastline. Point Sur is the crown jewel — reserve a tour weeks ahead.
6 stops · Basecamps: Santa Barbara, Monterey/Pacific Grove, Half Moon Bay
2–3 days
Bay Area Islands & Headlands
Ferries, tunnels, and fog
Four standout stops you can do over a long weekend. East Brother is the ultimate Bay Area lighthouse experience — overnight at the B&B if you can swing it.
4 stops · Basecamps: San Francisco, Sausalito, Richmond
2 days
Mendocino Coast
Two perfect stations, one weekend
Both stations offer on-site overnight stays. Booking a night at either makes for an unforgettable weekend.
2 stops · Basecamps: Point Arena, Mendocino, Fort Bragg
2–3 days
Wild North Coast
Tides, redwoods, and tsunami history
The least-visited stretch of the California coast, and arguably the most rewarding. Cell service can be spotty. Check tide tables for Battery Point.
4 stops · Basecamps: Eureka, Trinidad, Crescent City
Itineraries
Thematic itineraries for boats, overnight stays, ruins, and the truly hard-to-reach.
5–7 days
Sleep at a Lighthouse
Five stations where you can stay the night
From hostel bunks at Pigeon Point to a full B&B on East Brother Island, these five stations let you wake up at a light. Book months ahead for East Brother.
5 stops
4–5 days
Boat Access Only
Lighthouses you reach by water
Four lights only reachable by ferry or charter. Weather-dependent and prone to cancellation — build slack into your itinerary.
4 stops
Varies
Extreme Access
The hardest lighthouses to visit in California
Two are effectively closed to the public; one is reachable only by helicopter on a handful of dates per year. Include here for honesty more than itinerary planning.
3 stops
2–3 days
Ruins & Relics
Decommissioned, demolished, or relocated
For the historically minded: foundations, displaced towers, and a museum-ship lightship. The California coast has more ghosts than active lights.
5 stops