Lodging Planner
Places to stay in Paso Robles:
Hotel Paso Robles Wine Country
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Paso Robles
Run Details
Get ready for an unforgettable weekend of winding backroads, breathtaking views of coastal cliffs, and charming historic towns as we kick off in Morgan Hill and cruise through California’s stunning Central Coast. Along the way, we’ll explore the artistic charm of Cambria, the coastal beauty of San Simeon, the laid-back surf town of Cayucos, and the rolling hills of the surrounding wine country. From scenic missions and cozy roadside stops to hill climbs and rolling countryside drives, every mile promises epic photo ops, tasty local bites, and the pure thrill of the open road.
Your Host(s) for the Event
Eddie Vergara
Register via MotorSport Registry
https://www.motorsportreg.com/events/norcal-minis-2025-cambria-paso-robles-run-461806
Day 1: Friday, August 15th - Morgan Hill to Bradley
Meet-up Location
Peet’s Coffee
755 Cochrane Rd.
Morgan Hill, CA
Meet-up Time / Departure Time
8:30 am / 9 am
Route
https://maps.app.goo.gl/oPyJzk6wNLtJ6BUD9
Run Details
We’ll start the adventure driving south from Morgan Hill, winding through the stunning landscapes of Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Luis Obispo counties. Relive nostalgic memories of 4th-grade California history as we visit some of the state's iconic missions.
Morgan Hill (Peet’s Coffee): We will meet at Peet’s Coffee in Morgan Hill. We’ll exit via Madrone Drive and head east on Cochrane Rd. to get onto Highway 101 South.
Salinas (Exxon Station): We’ll head south on Highway 101 toward Salinas, for a quick pit stop at the Exxon gas station.
Mission Soledad: As we cruise south on River Road, the scenic beauty of the run begins to unfold. Rolling hills, orchards, and vineyards line both sides of the road, offering a true taste of California’s Central Valley. We’ll make a quick photo stop at Mission Soledad—a peaceful, historic mission nestled in the heart of the Salinas Valley.
King City (The Forum @ Broadway): We’ll continue heading south on River Rd., Fort Romie Rd., and Arroyo Seco Rd., crossing over Arroyo Seco River Bridge (also known as “The Green Bridge”). Our lunch stop will be at The Forum fast/casual food center in King City.
Mission San Antonio de Padua: After lunch, we'll leave King City via Hwy 101 North for a short bit. We will be passing by the historic Ft. Hunter Liggett en route to Mission San Antonio de Padua. As one of California's oldest missions, this hidden gem is nestled among majestic oak groves,
Bradley (Pleyto Store): We’ll wind our way south on Jolon Road toward the Pleyto Store in Bradley—our final stop for Friday’s run. There, we’ll regroup for a quick debrief of the next day’s itinerary before giving drivers a chance to head to their accommodations for the evening.
Day 2: Saturday, August 16th
Morning Run: Paso Robles to Ragged Point
Route
https://maps.app.goo.gl/vYY9NKUpoNG9oavU6
Meet-up Time / Departure Time
8:45 am / 9 am
Meet-up Location
Starbucks
East Village Shopping Center
1495 Creston Rd., Paso Robles, CA
Run Details
Explore the scenic backroads west of Paso Robles, with a hill climb followed by a descent to Highway 1.
Paso Robles (Starbucks): We’ll meet 8:45am at the Starbucks in the East Village Shopping Center in Paso Robles.
Lake Nacimiento Dam: At 9:00am, Head northwest via Nacimiento Lake Drive towards Lake Nacimiento Dam, a beautiful reservoir surrounded by rolling hills.
Mission Creek Crossing: As we take a left onto Del Venturi Road. We may catch a glimpse of the Mission San Antonio De Padua.
Nacimiento-Fergusson Rd.: Heading west via Interlake Rd. and Jolon Rd., as we catch the east side of Nacimiento-Fergusson Rd. This is a 1-hour hill climb, winding through the rugged Santa Lucia range in the Los Padres National Forest. Although the roads are paved, there are occasional dips and bumps will require us to maintain a conservative pace. Additionally, most of the road is a lane and a half wide. But once we reach the top of the climb, get ready to take in some truly breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. It’ll make the careful driving effort worthwhile. Once we reach the peak, we continue downhill and intersect Hwy 1 to start our drive south towards Cambria.
Sand Dollar Beach: Once we reach Highway 1, we’ll head 15 minutes south and stop at Sand Dollar Beach for a quick bio break. To avoid the parking fee, we’ll park along the roadside—restrooms are free to use for walk-ins.
Lunch at Ragged Point: We’ll continue driving south on Highway 1 for about 30 minutes, bound for our lunch stop at Ragged Point. This iconic spot features a stunning cliffside viewpoint with breathtaking ocean panoramas and dramatic coastal scenery. The only on-site dining option is The Restaurant at Ragged Point, which offers brunch-style meals in the $20 range. Alternatively, you may want to pack your own lunch and enjoy it while taking in the views. Parking lot is small, so folks may need to park on the side or the road.
Afternoon Run: Ragged Point to Cambria
Route
https://maps.app.goo.gl/TNACNJihaQBePD5d6
Departure Time
1 pm
Run Details
We’ll continue the coastal exploration on Hwy 1 with stops at:
Elephant Seal Vista Point: check out the elephant seals and hang out for 15 minutes.
Cambria: We’ll stop at the parking lot of the Cambria Veteran’s Memorial at 1000 Main St. For those needing to refuel or take a bio break, there’s a Shell station at 589 Main St, just half a mile north of our stop. Feel free to stop there before heading into the Veteran’s parking lot—don’t worry, we won’t leave without you!
Cayucos: After our rest stop, we’ll embark on a 45-minute scenic route toward Cayucos, just south of Cambria. We’ll cruise north along Ocean Avenue for about a mile, showing off our MINI Coopers to the beach bums, before ending our drive at the Borradori Garage parking lot at 455 N Ocean Ave.
Following a debrief to discuss Sunday’s drive, folks are welcomed to check out the laid-back food and bar scene in Cayucos or drive back north to check out the charming stores in Cambria.
Day 3: Sunday, August 17th — Paso Robles Wine Country Outskirts to Port San Luis Pier
Meet-up Location
Starbucks
East Village Shopping Center
1495 Creston Rd., Paso Robles, CA
Meet-up Time / Departure Time
9:15 am / 9:30 am
Route
https://maps.app.goo.gl/re6bRZno6qMubYSn9
Run Details
We will finish the epic weekend with a drive through rolling vineyards and farmland, a hill climb overlooking the town of San Luis Obispo, and a final stop at San Luis Obispo Bay.
Paso Robles (Starbucks): We’ll meet 9:15 am at the Starbucks in the East Village Shopping Center in Paso Robles.
Hwy 41: We’ll head north on Golden Hill Road and Union Road in Paso Robles before joining Highway 46 eastbound. After about 15 miles, we’ll turn south onto Highway 41. This stretch should be nicknamed “MINI Cooper Highway” — it’s custom-tailored for our rides. With its gentle sweeping turns and rolling changes in elevation, this section offers an exhilarating drive that’s easy and enjoyable even for the most cautious drivers. (A big “Thanks!” to club member Steve Sandke for suggesting we include this fantastic route in our run).
San Luis Obispo: We’ll head west on Highway 41, then merge onto Highway 101 South at Atascadero toward San Luis Obispo. We'll stop at the Shell station in the Laguna Village Shopping Center for a quick bio-break before we continue on to our next hill climb.
Prefumo Canyon: As we exit the shopping center, we’ll turn right onto Los Osos Valley Road, then left onto Prefumo Canyon Road. This final 30-min hill climb of the run offers sweeping views of the San Luis Obispo area, surrounded by stunning natural scenery. Note that there will be a ¼ mile stretch of dirt road – we’ll take it slow through there.
Port San Luis Pier: At the bottom of the hill, we’ll head west on San Luis Bay Drive and Avila Beach Drive toward our final stop of the weekend. We'll park at the Port San Luis Pier lot for our closing debrief and group photos. Grab a bite at Fat Cat’s Café near the lot, enjoy fresh seafood at Mersea’s on the pier, or kick back with your packed lunch and feel the cool sand between your toes at nearby Fisherman’s Beach.
Other places to visit
Hearst Castle in San Simeon - https://hearstcastle.org/
Sensorio; Field of Light, Paso Robles - https://sensoriopaso.com/tickets
Additional Run Details
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