The Best Pescadero Weekend Itinerary for Hiking and Camping
Looking for a weekend getaway to the Pacific Coast? This Pescadero weekend itinerary is what you need!
Pescadero is located along the beautiful Highway 1 in California with stunning natural landscapes. It is sometimes overlooked as a hidden gem and many people just drive past this town. Here, you get to enjoy a quiet and relaxing weekend trip away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It’s also a great stopover if you’re travelling along Highway 1, with Santa Cruz located slightly south of Pescadero.
You can go down to the beach, go hiking up in the woods, spend the afternoon in the quaint downtown Pescadero, and more. If you love hiking and camping, I have the perfect Pescadero weekend itinerary for you.
I will also share more about what you can see, do, and eat in Pescadero. If there are people in your group who are not keen on camping, I also include some other Pescadero accommodation ideas at the end. This is a SF Bay Area hidden gem you don’t want to miss.
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- How To Get Started Tent Camping: Simple Tips for First-Timers
- An Easy Camping Starter Kit: Everything You Need For Weekends
California Camping Workbook
Use my Editable-Canva Templates to help you plan your camping trip in 60 minutes
Day 1 Morning: Visit Half Moon Bay on the way to Pescadero
Pescadero is located 46 miles from San Francisco, just a 1 hour drive away. If you started your day early you can also make a mid-way stop at Half Moon Bay. This is a popular town on the weekends, with lovely trails and cafes where you can grab coffee or lunch.
There are many beaches along Half Moon Bay, including Venice Beach and Poplar Beach. You can also stop by the epic Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay hotel sitting on a coastal cliff. There’s also the famous clam chowder and lobster roll at Sam’s Chowder, with a dining area that looks out to the beach.
Personally, I’m a big fan of tide pooling in Half Moon Bay!
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Day 1 Afternoon: Check in to Pescadero campsite
From Half Moon Bay, drive 30 minutes to Santa Cruz North/Costanoa KOA where we will be camping for the night. The tent campsites only cost $55 per night and check in starts at 2pm. Do remember to make reservations in advance.
This private campground is quite large and they have a variety of accommodation options to suit different needs. One of the great things about Costanoa KOA is the abundance of amenities that make you feel right at home even when you’re camping. This makes it easy to plan a quick Pescadero itinerary for the weekend.
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Amenities at Santa Cruz North/Costanoa KOA campground
Washrooms are called comfort stations because there is a sauna and a communal fireplace. They also provide shampoo and soap in the showers, which is especially useful for tent campers.
If you decide not to cook at your campsite, you can dine at one of the restaurants. It’s also not surprising to see a wedding held here, which says a lot about the quality of food along with the scenery.
Costanoa KOA is also a popular choice for families with kids. There are weekend activities organised regularly including crafts and games. At other times, you can see kids running, cycling, and playing at the playground.
The general store at Costanoa KOA is a nice place to look around for souvenirs. They also sell food and camping accessories. I was also surprised to find these within the same campground – a spa facility, and a goat and horse farm area.
Day 1 Evening: Hike Beach Trials to Franklin Point and along Atkinson Bluff
After checking in and taking your time to set up camp, let’s go explore the beach trails. There are coastal trailheads near Costanoa KOA campground, which makes it easy to find your way to the beach.
Follow signs to Eucalyptus Camp where you will find a dirt road leading towards Highway 1. After that, you will cross the road over to Franklin Point trail. This is a hidden trail 0.7 mile (15 minutes) with a small pullout by the road. It follows a sandy path guided by ropes, with short sections of boardwalk. You will love this quiet trail as it is a great place to watch the sunset and enjoy the ocean breeze.
You can also extend the walk by continuing along the Atkinson Bluff trail, making it a loop back to the campground entrance via Rossi Road. This is an extra 2.7 miles and will take 1 to 1.5 hours at a leisurely pace. You may be able to come across tide pools, wildflowers and elephant seals in the right season.
Day 2 Morning: Hike the Ohlone Ridge Lookout Trail
It’s Day 2! After having coffee or breakfast in the morning, pack up your equipment and park near the entrance of Costanoa KOA campground. Another hike that is easily accessible from the campground is the Ohlone Ridge Lookout Trail.
You will need to walk down Rossi Road as if you’re exiting the campground, and that’s where you’ll find the trailhead. After walking for a short while, cross the bridge, and make sure you are continuing onto paths that look suitable for mountain bikes and not cars.
The Ohlone Ridge Lookout Trail is a loop up and down a ridge overlooking the coast, just as the name suggests. It is a 3 mile journey that takes about 1.5 hours, perfect for working up a lunch appetite. Some sections of the trail to look out for include Pampas Heaven, and the Ohlone Ridge Overlook viewpoint.
Day 2 Afternoon: Visit Pie Ranch, Pigeon Point Lighthouse, and Downtown Pescadero
Pie Ranch
After leaving Costanoa KOA campground, make a quick 5 minute detour to Pie Ranch. It is a popular pie shop that also operates as a farm stand, and is worth adding to your Pescadero itinerary. The interior is lit up by pretty string lights, giving it a cosy feeling as you step in.
Aside from their tasty pies, you can also buy fresh produce, jams, pasture-raised eggs, and flowers. If you bought pies, you can bring them outside to eat at the picnic benches. I’m glad we didn’t miss this spot!
Pigeon Point Lighthouse
As you drive back north towards downtown Pescadero, make a stop at the Pigeon Point Lighthouse. Here, you can admire the beautiful coastal scenery and learn about its history. There were many shipwrecks here in the past, so the lighthouse was meant to guide ships on their journey.
Did you know that you can also book a hostel stay at the lighthouse? One of its unique amenities is the shared hot tub that overlooks the sea.
Downtown Pescadero
Turning in to downtown Pescadero, you’ll notice that this is a small town with most of the action concentrated along Stage Road. It’s a charming town that is worth stopping by for food, coffee, and shopping.
Lunch at Duarte’s Tavern
Duarte’s Tavern is a great place for lunch and is also an attraction in itself. It is a family-owned business and is currently run by the fourth generation. In fact, it was established as a saloon and barbershop in 1984. I highly recommend adding Duarte’s Tavern to your Pescadero itinerary.
One thing you must try is their cream of artichoke soup which came about in the 1960s. You can also ask for a half and half version of the artichoke soup and green chili soup. The Duarte family also had a pie-making tradition, and locals love the Olallieberry Pie served at Duarte’s Tavern.
Coffee at Downtown Local
You can get coffee just across the street at Downtown Local. It is a quaint store that also displays vintage art and retro items for sale.
Although the place is small, there are seats inside and outside the cafe and the atmosphere is very chill. This was the only decent cafe we could find in Pescadero – I’m happy to say the coffee is good.
Shopping at local boutique shops
As you walk further down the main Stage Road, you will find several small local shops selling all kinds of unique things. There are arts and crafts, antiques, thrift shops, jewellery, essential oils, organic soaps, and more. It’s a great place to find a unique souvenir to bring home.
Visit Arcangeli Grocery Co
One of the specialties of Pescadero is Artichoke Bread, and you can get some at Arcangeli Grocery. They bake their own artichoke garlic herb bread and it is usually still warm when it gets placed on the shelves.
We found it interesting that you can also buy partially baked bread. This means that they can be stored for longer and baked later on to finish it. They also sell deli sandwiches, which you can bring to the back of the grocery store to enjoy in the garden.
This is just one example of how you can plan a Pescadero weekend itinerary. Here are more ideas of where to stay, thing to do, and places to eat at.
Where to stay in Pescadero
Santa Cruz North / Costanoa KOA – Proximity to nature and rustic camping experience
- Tent sites: from $52
- Glamping tent bungalow: from $115
- Cabins: from $222
HI Pigeon Point Lighthouse Hostel – Unique location with outdoor hot tub
- Bunkbed in 6-person dorm: $45
- Triple room: $150
Pescadero Creek Inn – Convenient location near downtown Pescadero
- Queen room: from $200
Ocean View Cottage – Spacious vacation home with ocean view
More Hiking Trails and Attractions For Your Pescadero Itinerary
There are many great ways to spend your time in Pescadero. I highly recommend going on a hike to experience more of the coastal landscape.
Easy to moderate hiking trails
Ohlone Ridge Lookout
- Round trip distance: 3 miles (1.5 hours)
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Google rating: 4.8/5
Franklin Point Trail
- Round trip distance: 0.7 miles (15 minutes)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Google rating: 4.8/5
Atkinson Bluff Loop (North Whitehouse Creek Trail)
- Round trip distance: 3 miles (1 hour)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Google rating: 4.8/5
Whitehouse Creek Beach and Tide Pools (South Whitehouse Creek Trail)
- Round trip distance: 2 miles (40 minutes)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Google rating: 4.9/5
Bean Hollow Beach Trail: Arroyo Del Los Frijoles Trail
- Round trip distance: 1.5 miles (30 minutes)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Google rating: 5/5
Butano State Park: Six Bridges Trail + Goat Hill Trail + And Nuevo Trail
- Round trip distance: 3.7 miles (2 hours)
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Google rating: NA, but highly reviewed on alltrails.com
Scenic stops and attractions along highway 1
- And Nuevo State Park: Elephant Seal Overlook
- Pigeon Point Lighthouse
- Pescadero State Beach
Best cafes and restaurants in Pescadero
- Duarte’s Tavern
- Mercado & Taqueria De Amigos
- Downtown Local
- Pie Ranch
- Highway 1 Brewing Company
- Cascade Restaurant & Bar
- Loma Mar Store & Kitchen
Check out these articles for more road trip, hiking and camping ideas in California:
- California Coastal Road Trip: Best Places You Need To Stop At
- 10 Must-Go Places In California – An Outdoor Enthusiast’s Guide
- How To See Lassen Volcanic National Park: Weekend Itinerary
- Catalina Island Hiking & Camping Guide (Two Harbors to Little Harbor)
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- Perfect Christmas Cabin Rentals In California For The Best Getaway
- 5 Things To Do On The Mount Diablo Summit Drive
- Yosemite 2-Day Itinerary: The Best Sights For Weekend Warriors
- Places You Need To Hike In The Bay Area Now (Peninsula and South Bay)
- How To See Lake Tahoe: 2-Day Itinerary You Need
- Best Things To Do Around Palo Alto: Unique and Outdoorsy
- Fun San Francisco Day Trips You Need To Take
- The Perfect Big Sur Road Trip Itinerary For Best Camping
