# Pacific Coast Highway 1 Guide — GPS Guided California Tours

> Narrated GPS driving tour of California's Pacific Coast Highway. (iPhone/iPad app by 17 Mile Drive Day Trips, LLC.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pacific-coast-highway-1-guide/id1497522513 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [17 Mile Drive Day Trips, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1665165528)
- Category: Travel, Entertainment
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.50/5 from 92 App Store ratings · 11 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 15.6 · 176 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2020-02-07
- Data updated: 2026-08-01
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pacific-coast-highway-1-guide/id1497522513/reviews.md

## What is Pacific Coast Highway 1 Guide?

Welcome to the narrated driving tour of California’s famous Pacific Coast Highway!

This gorgeous highway winds along California’s coast and features some of the most jaw-dropping sights and picturesque towns you’ve ever seen. This flexible tour takes you south from San Francisco to Los Angeles or north from Los Angeles to San Francisco in four scenic segments:

San Francisco to Monterey:
Cruise down the most beautiful roadway in the world while getting a taste of the west coast way of life. Discover stunning ocean vistas, learn the fascinating history behind towns like Santa Cruz, and find your literary muse in the artsy haven of Monterey.

The 17-Mile Drive:
Roll your windows down and ride along the Monterey Peninsula, taking in unbroken views of the untouched coastline. See can’t-miss landmarks like the Lone Cypress and walk along the shores of the gorgeous Pebble Beach.

Big Sur (Monterey to San Luis Obispo):
Imagine hitting the open road. Rolling the windows down, listening to crashing waves as an ocean breeze tousles your hair, and just... driving. Stopping to visit a little coastal village, sampling the freshest seafood you've ever tasted, and watching the sun set over the deep blue Pacific. It’s not just the stuff of daydreams, it’s a real place called Big Sur!

San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles:
Experience the laid-back pace of “SloCal” life in San Luis Obispo, get acquainted with Santa Barbara’s rich history, and soak up some sun and surf at the world-famous Malibu beaches. This is the quintessential California experience in a single drive.

Popular points of interest along Highway 1 or Pacific Coast Highway (PCH):
■ Pedro Point
■ Gray Whale Cove & Mavericks Beach
■ Half Moon Bay
■ Pigeon Point Lighthouse
■ Butano & Año Nuevo State Park
■ Santa Cruz Boardwalk & Mystery Spot
■ Monterey & 17 Mile Drive
■ Carmel-by-the-Sea
■ Bixby Creek Bridge
■ Pfeiffer Beach & Canyon Bridge
■ Seal Beach Scenic Overlook
■ Big Creek Bridge
■ Piedras Blancas Light Station
■ Elephant Seal Vista Point
■ Hearst Castle
■ Morro Bay
■ Bubblegum Alley
■ Pismo Beach
■ Guadalupe
■ El Camino Real
■ Goleta’s Butterfly Grove
■ Thousand Steps Beach & Stearns Wharf
■ Ventura
■ Malibu
■ LA: Santa Monica

HOW IT WORKS:
As you travel, audio stories play automatically based on your location. Simply go to the starting point of the tour and begin following the given route. Each story begins playing on its own, usually just before you reach a point of interest.

TOUR FEATURES:

▶ Freedom of travel
No scheduled tour times, no crowded buses, and no rush to keep moving past stops that interest you. You have total freedom to skip ahead, linger, and take as many photos as you’d like.

▶ Automatic play
No muss, no fuss. Just follow the app’s built-in route to all the must-visit spots — the audio stories about everything you see will play automatically!

▶ Works offline
Download the tour in advance and then use it seamlessly, even in areas with no service!

▶ Lifetime purchase
No monthly subscription. No time limits. No usage limits. Enjoy this tour as many times as you like.

▶ Incredible stories
Immerse yourself in the history, culture, and secrets of this famous site with the help of a top-tier narrator and fascinating stories written by experts.

▶ Award-winning app
Featured on Thrillist and WBZ, this easy-to-use app won the Laurel Award for Technology from the Newport Mansions, who use the app for over a million tours per year.

FREE DEMO vs FULL ACCESS:
Check out the totally free demo to get an idea of what this tour is all about. If you like it, purchase the tour to get full access to all of the stories.

IMPORTANT NOTES:
Download the tour ahead of time over data or WiFi for full offline use.

Be sure your phone battery is fully charged or take an external battery pack. Continued use of the GPS can drain your battery.

Allow the tour to access location services and GPS tracking features to play stories automatically during the tour.

## Key features

- GPS guided audio tours
- Automatic story playback
- Offline functionality
- Flexible travel pace
- Southbound and northbound routes
- Detailed points of interest

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 17 Mile Driving Guide | $9.99 | one-time |
| San Francisco City Tour | $9.99 | one-time |
| Sequoia & Kings Canyon Tour | $9.99 | one-time |
| Pacific Coast Highway Tour | $19.99 | one-time |
| Big Sur Audio Tour Guide | $14.99 | one-time |
| PCH & 17 Mile Drive Combo Tour | $24.99 | one-time |
| Silicon Valley Driving Tour | $14.99 | one-time |
| Hollywood Full Tour | $16.99 | one-time |
| California Combo Audio Tour | $29.99 | one-time |
| Big Sur & 17 Mile Drive | $16.99 | one-time |
| PCH & Big Sur Audio Tour Guide | $16.99 | one-time |
| 17 Mile Drive Audio Tour | $9.99 | one-time |
| Action Plus Tour | $99.99 | one-time |


## Recent user reviews (10 of 11)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pacific-coast-highway-1-guide/id1497522513/reviews.md

### 3/5 — Just ok

*2026-06-11*

Directions were frequently late and had many periods of no information and thought we were off track

### 5/5 — P

*2026-03-22*

Vary good for kids

**Developer response:** Hi Pafick, thank you for the review. I’m so glad to hear the tour was a good fit for kids. Making the experience easy, engaging, and fun for families is always my goal, and I really appreciate you sharing your feedback.

### 3/5 — Good audio commentary, but tech needs work.

*2023-08-12*

I recently took this app on a road trip from LA to SF. The commentary from the tour guide is insightful and useful, but I encountered multiple issues with the design and implementation that caused me to abandon using it part way through.

1. It’s difficult to use this app for navigation because A) it doesn’t provide enough instruction prior to ALL turns B) the route it uses is not straightforward to plot into a background map app as a supplement.

2. App had trouble detecting when I reached locations, and did not begin audio about 5-10% of the time.

3. App does not handle audio switching between a background music app properly. It pauses the music to play tour commentary, but it does not resume music after. This means you have to either manually resume after each comment (dangerous) or listen only to the tour for your whole trip.

4. Because the audio commentary causes a full screen takeover, the driver loses the ability to see the map without manual intervention. This can cause some wrong turns.

5. It’s unnecessary to read “Look at the map when it pops back up…” after every comment.

6. The “Learn more” option on some of tours doesn’t make sense since the driver shouldn’t be messing with the app. I think it would be better to hear append that commentary to its predecessor.

I really wanted to like this app because there isn’t really another app (that I know of) on the market that offers a great audio tour package for the entirety LA to SF, but overall, it feels very much like this app hasn’t been sufficiently user tested by the developers.

**Developer response:** I’m so sorry to hear that! Could you provide more details about the specific route issues encountered? Also, knowing your phone mode would help us in reproducing the issue: support@actiontourguide.com

### 1/5 — Won’t even download!

*2022-09-03*

We haven’t even left Canada so I can’t tell you anything about the actual tour yet. However, when the tour wouldn’t download properly and I chatted with support he gave me a code to use that was expired. By the end of the session I have now paid three times for the tour following Marc’s instructions how to get it to download! His helpful suggestion now is the link to apple support to put in for a refund. Not happy!

**Developer response:** We are sorry for the inconvenience. Usually, with in-app purchases you are not charged more than once. But we would be happy to help you get a refund if charged more than twice. Can you send more details at support@actiontourguide.com? We would like to offer a free tour of your choice from 80+ tours that we have from.

### 4/5 — Tragedy at every turn!

*2022-08-15*

A nice counter to the epic beauty of PCH is the Action Tour Guide narrator. Nearly every point of interest between Ventura and Carmel is marked by something horrible. Fires, floods, death, extinction! We would wait in anticipation for the tragic turn to every story and laugh out loud when it came without fail. It became a game for us to predict and embellish the dark side of every mark on the map.

**Developer response:** Thank you so much for your feedback! We’re so glad you enjoyed your drive along PCH, and we appreciate your comment about the nature of the stops between Ventura and Carmel. We just released a new version of the tour after taking your review into consideration and added more than 20+ new stops. Feel free to download the tour again as it is valid for lifetime. And remember that we have plenty of other tours (with both dark and uplifting stories).

### 1/5 — Never Worked

*2021-07-04*

Buy the expensive $6.99 app.. then open it .. all it does is RE-direct you to maps and maps a one road Rt for you .. Shame on you 17 mile drive company ..👎

**Developer response:** The map is only to help you get to the start of the tour where the audio kicks in and the tour begins! It sounds like you never got to experience the actual tour. (If you don’t need the map to reach the start, select “No” on the pop-up). I’d be happy to exchange this tour for another one since you never really got to use this one — let me know!

### 1/5 — Never downloaded

*2021-06-27*

My husband and I both downloaded app and never could get anything to open! Very disappointing!

**Developer response:** Thanks for the feedback. We’ll definitely consider improving and  adding this in a future update!

### 2/5 — Disappointed

*2021-03-07*

I would not recommend this tour. There is not a lot of good information shared. The number of points is also quite low. I would recommend a gypsy guide or some of the other brands instead.

**Developer response:** Thanks for the feedback. We’ll definitely consider improving and  adding this in a future update!

### 5/5 — Very creative stories

*2020-02-21*

I loved this app. The stories played when we got to the point. The best part is that stories are quite unique; very creative. They talk about what happened at each point. Nice !

**Developer response:** We're so glad you enjoyed the tour! Thanks for the review!

### 5/5 — Highly recommended buy!

*2020-02-13*

We were doing the Highway 1 road trip and had used their App for LA to San Luis Obispo. We  loved that App, so we went all in and bought all their tours for Highway 1 upto SF. You won’t regret it. It works beautifully and makes the drive interesting and informative with titbits about the area we were driving through. Since it is GPS enabled, we just had the phone hooked to the car stereo and periodically it pointed out facts along the way.

**Developer response:** We're so glad you enjoyed the tour! Thanks for the review!

## Frequently asked questions about Pacific Coast Highway 1 Guide

### What is the Pacific Coast Highway 1 Guide?

The Pacific Coast Highway 1 Guide is a narrated driving tour app that uses GPS to play audio stories automatically as you travel along California's famous coastal highway. It covers routes both north and south between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

### How much does the Pacific Coast Highway 1 Guide cost?

The app itself is free to download. While the description doesn't detail specific in-app purchase costs, it indicates that there are in-app purchases available for additional content or features.

### Can I use the Pacific Coast Highway 1 Guide without an internet connection?

Yes, the app works offline. You can download the tour in advance and use it seamlessly even in areas with no cellular service, making it ideal for remote coastal drives.

### What devices support the Pacific Coast Highway 1 Guide?

The Pacific Coast Highway 1 Guide is supported on iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices. It is rated for ages 4 and up.

### How often is the Pacific Coast Highway 1 Guide updated?

The app was last updated on January 17, 2026, to version 2.2. This indicates a recent update, suggesting the developer actively maintains the application.

### What are the main benefits of using the Pacific Coast Highway 1 Guide?

Users can enjoy the freedom to travel at their own pace without scheduled tours or crowded buses. The automatic audio playback provides information about points of interest just before you reach them, enhancing the discovery experience.

### What is the user sentiment for the Pacific Coast Highway 1 Guide?

The app has a high rating of 4.5 stars from 87 ratings, indicating positive user sentiment. Users generally appreciate the convenience and informative nature of the narrated tours.

### Does the Pacific Coast Highway 1 Guide offer different tour segments?

Yes, the tour is divided into four scenic segments: San Francisco to Monterey, the 17-Mile Drive, Big Sur (Monterey to San Luis Obispo), and San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles, allowing for flexible exploration.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.2 — 2026-01-17

Bug Fixes.

### 2.1 — 2024-10-11

Improved navigation guidance with more timely instructions before turns and better route plotting support.
Enhanced location detection to ensure audio commentary starts consistently at each stop.
Fixed the issue with background music, so it now resumes seamlessly after the commentary.
Removed the full-screen takeover during audio playback, allowing easier access to maps without manual intervention.
Streamlined the “Learn more” feature for safer, hands-free driving.

### 2.0 — 2023-12-01

Map & Audio for better Navigation.
New Stops added.
Nearby California Tours added.

### 1.6 — 2022-03-30

New Audio Tour added!
Supports AirPods Control.
Background Download.
Bug fixes and Performance Improvements.

### 1.2 — 2020-12-14

New tours added.
Supports AirPods Control.
Content additions.
Performance Improvements.

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## More apps by 17 Mile Drive Day Trips, LLC

- [17 Mile Drive Audio Tour Guide](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/17-mile-drive-audio-tour-guide/id1451171790)
- [Big Sur Highway GPS Audio Tour](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/big-sur-highway-gps-audio-tour/id1471633495)
- [San Francisco Driving GPS Tour](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/san-francisco-driving-gps-tour/id1505318690)
- [Hollywood & Star Homes Tour](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hollywood-and-star-homes-tour/id1535927847)
- [Joshua Tree Audio Tour Guide](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/joshua-tree-audio-tour-guide/id1555055291)

All apps by 17 Mile Drive Day Trips, LLC: https://appshunter.io/developer/1665165528

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-01.*
