Stay, Play, and Sustain: A New Way to Travel
The Highway 1 Road Trip is more than a scenic drive. It’s about getting out of the car and connecting with the natural wonders of the California coast through unforgettable experiences.
We invite you to hike to the best views of elephant seal colonies resting on the shoreline. Paddle out into the Pacific to see a whale breach the surface. Then slow down and enjoy the aerial ballet of Monarch butterflies and stroll among the vibrant wildflowers. Or watch from afar as majestic zebras trot across rolling plains.
But most of all, we ask you to explore responsibly and be a conscious traveler to help us protect these epic California experiences.
Look for this logo
When you see this logo, you can partake in a Travel For Good activity along the Highway 1 Road Trip. Feel good about your travel.
Stewardship Travel for Good
Stewardship travel along California’s Highway 1 means experiencing the coast in a way that gives back (makes a difference). As you take in dramatic ocean views, watch wildlife and wander through historic seaside towns, you also have opportunities to help care for this remarkable place. You might join a beach cleanup, support local farmers’ markets, stay in eco-friendly inns or learn about wildlife preserves that protect local wildlife. It’s about exploring one of the world’s most iconic drives while ensuring its beauty and culture thrive for future travelers.
Why Travel for Good?
• Feel good about your travel.
• Meet new people.
• Learn from local experts.
• Understand how your donations help.
• Make a difference when you travel.
• Help keep our stretch of Highway 1 beautiful for everyone.
Stewardship Program Awards
Poppy Award winner
Sea Star Award winner
Stewardship Travel for Good Activities
With your help, we can ensure this extraordinary stretch of Highway 1 thrives for generations to come.
Along your journey, more than 50 attractions invite you to slow down, explore and connect with the California coast in meaningful and memorable ways. Wander solo, gather your family or join a group adventure. No matter how you travel, each experience offers a chance not just to discover, but to give back (make a difference). Along these miles of protected shoreline, within a national marine sanctuary, across 13 state parks and inside countless wildlife preserves, opportunities abound to enjoy nature while helping to preserve it.
Because the truest way to experience this place is to care for it as you go.
View Stewardship ActivitiesWays to Become a Highway 1 Steward
Wildlife Viewing
Sea otters drift among the kelp, snowy plovers scurry across the sand, gray whales breach just offshore, elephant seals sprawl along the beaches, and Monarch butterflies drift through eucalyptus groves. Some stay for a season, others only for a moment. Yet all remind us how vibrant this coast truly is.
Learn MoreBack To Nature Tours
To help you fully experience the wildlife of the California Coast, we invite you to embark on our Back to Nature Tour, designed to let you choose your own path. Wander with a guide or set out on your own route. Seek out wildlife, visit local farms, step into the water, trace the stories of history and heritage and roll the windows down for a scenic drive. You can even lend a hand in stewardship activities that give back to the land you are exploring.
Learn MoreHistory & Heritage Trail
History runs deep along this stretch of Highway 1, where nine heritage sites on the National Register and dozens of other landmarks invite you to step back in time. The trail spans 72 miles and highlights places that have stood for more than a century, each one with a story to tell.
Learn MoreCoastal Discovery Trail
The Coastal Discovery Trail was created to help visitors experience these treasures in ways that deepen appreciation while protecting them for generations to come. Every step along the trail is an invitation to explore responsibly, connect with nature and play a part in conserving California’s beautiful coast.
Stewardship Travel Articles
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There’s no doubt about it—Highway 1 is wild. With Elephant Seals sunbathing, Monarch Butterflies fluttering and seabirds soaring, there’s countless wildlife experiences unfolding along Highway 1’s 100 miles of Pacific coastline. -
From Sarah Kuta at Smithsonian Magazine Volunteers with Friends of the Elephant Seal educate tourists to prevent conflicts, inspire awe… -
It feels good to do good! Soak up the sun while diving into Stewardship Traveler for Good activities along awe-inspiring Central Coast beaches this September. -
Pull into any overlook along Highway 1 and you’ll understand why this coastal stretch makes wildlife photographers weak in the…
