Short and sweet, but this 200-mile stretch of Californian coastline takes in some of the state’s best waves and most iconic surf spots. Ventura’s C-Street fits both those bills and pulls in most swells to its boulder-strewn pointbreak.
Heading south, keep the Santa Monica Mountains on your left flank and the Pacific Ocean on your right until you hit Malibu, the spiritual home of surfing in the States and home to excellent rolling waves and celebrity spills.
You’ll then drive, slowly, through the LA sprawl, although a detour to legendary Newport Beach and its infamous Wedge is a must. At Dana Point, hop on the I-5 and meander down to the famous surf spots of Trestles and the cruisey surf towns of Carlsbad and Encinitas before celebrating your good fortune in San Diego.
