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3 Day Itinerary - Morro Bay

Hearst Castle near Morro Bay
Jenn Tolson
Jenn Tolson
May 8, 2020

One of the best things about traveling to Morro Bay is that you can see the top attractions in as little as three days. You can arrive on Friday and check into your room before hitting the town. With a weekend trip, you'll have time to catch a few spots on Sunday before you leave too. As long as you plan a Morro Bay itinerary for three days, you can know ahead of time when to do everything on your list.

Morro Rock

Morro Rock

As you plan your trip, you'll want to head over to Morro Rock. This natural volcanic plug sits near both the Morro Bay Harbor and the Pacific Ocean. Native Americans believed that it was a sacred site, and it is now part of a larger protected area. You can spend your visit checking out the marine life and local fauna, including gulls and sea cucumbers. Many visitors also like walking along the beach and having fun in the water or checking out the boardwalk. Depending on how much time you have, you may want to take a cruise of the harbor too.

Hearst Castle

Just 30 minutes away from Morro Bay is Hearst Castle, which is a beautiful piece of architecture. William Randolph Hearst worked closely with Julia Morgan to design the estate on land that his father owned and where he took vacations as a child. After separating from his wife, Hearst moved to the estate with his girlfriend, Hollywood actress Marion Davies. During the 1920s and 1930s, anyone who was anyone in Hollywood visited for one of their lavish parties. Hearst Castle is now open to the public and features collections of textiles, sculptures, paintings, and antiques on display. You can also tour the property and view the landscaping, much of which dates back to the home's early days.

Montana de Oro State Park landscape

‍Montana de Oro State Park‍

On the last day of your Morro Bay trip, you may want to head over to Montana de Oro State Park. Called one of the best parks in California, it boasts several places where you can camp and stay the night as well as things to do during a daytime visit. You can bring a bike to hit the biking trails and take a horseback ride before wandering along some of the hiking trails. The picnic areas are the perfect place to grab lunch while you're waiting for one of the guided tours. Visitors can also go windsurfing, scuba diving, and snorkeling or check out the exhibits in the welcome center.

Though planning a Morro Bay itinerary for three days is easy, you may want to look at the weather. This can help you find the best time to visit Morro Bay based on whether you prefer lots of sunshine and warm temperatures or cloudy and overcast days with slightly cooler temps. As you plan your trip, think about the region's top attractions and what you want to do. You may have time to see more than the Hearst Castle, Morro Rock, and Montana de Oro State Park.

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