Whether you live in Los Angeles or are planning a trip to and through California’s Central Coast, spending a day visiting both the Hearst Castle and Madonna Inn is both possible and very much worth the time. Hearst Castle, a National Historic Landmark, was owned by publishing tycoon William Randolph Hearst who began building his ‘Enchanted Hill’ castle in 1919 with his architect, Julia Morgan. The construction of the estate took 28 years to build and after he passed Hearst turned the Castle and property over to the state of California, allowing millions of visitors the pleasure of experiencing his dream property.

Indoor Roman Pool - uniformly deep throughout

The Madonna Inn opened in 1958 by couple Alex and Phyllis Madonna and opened their dream property on Christmas Eve that year. This kitschy inn has 113 uniquely designed rooms and the property includes a spa, cafe, restaurant, cocktail lounge, pool bar, bakery, boutique, gift shop, pool, fitness center, on-site wine tasting, horse-back riding and more. This region of central California is known for its wine and its beef. If you enjoy either of those, check out Alex Madonna’s Gold Rush Steak House.

So pack a cooler with some lunch and snacks, your camera equipment and your sense of adventure and you’ll be on your way to making memories that will truly last a lifetime.

A Day Trip to Hearst Castle & Madonna Inn

The Neptune Pool - view of The Roman Temple

A few key things to know before you set out on your adventure:

Tickets to Hearst Castle tours book up quickly. It is recommended to buy your tickets in advance. Tours start at 9 am.
The recommended tour for first-time visitors is the Grand Rooms Tour.
Since tickets to Hearst Castle are sold by time-slot, ensure you give yourself plenty of travel time before arriving at the property.
There are a free movie and mini-museum available in addition to the tour of the grounds. You can also buy food there if you don’t pack meals.
You can download the Hearst Castle App to get information about what to see on the grounds.
The tour will be 60 minutes.
Your tour of the property will be guided, but you are able to stay on the grounds until before closing if you wish to explore more on your own. Also, consider this timing when making a reservation for dinner.
The restaurants at Madonna Inn are also very popular. If you plan to have dinner at Alex Madonna’s Gold Rush Steak House, do make sure you make a reservation.
If you are coming from Hearst Castle for dinner at Madonna Inn, give yourself enough time to make your way south and handle any traffic on the one-lane roadway.
You cannot have a tripod at Hearst Castle, but you can have a mono-pod. Keep this in mind if you are making the journey solo.
If you drive an electric car, there is a Tesla charging station at the main entrance to the Madonna Inn.

A Hearst Castle & Madonna Inn One Day Itinerary from Los Angeles

6:00 am - depart Los Angeles for San Simeon (estimated time 4 hours)

10:30 am - stop in San Simeon (or Cambria) to see elephant seals on the beach or just stop along any part of the coast for fresh air and ocean views.

11:30 am - arrive at Hearst Castle - have a snack, freshen up, check-in for your pre-purchased tickets

12:20 pm - take grand rooms tour - explore grounds - experience property at sunset (dinner reservation/onward journey pending)

4:30 pm - make the drive to Madonna Inn and Gold Rush Steak House

5:30 pm - dinner reservation

7:30 pm - drive back to Los Angeles

10:30 pm - arrive in Los Angeles

If you are planning an onward journey or want to take your time making your way back to Los Angeles, a couple of great cities to stop and stay are San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ojai. There’s camping on the beach and of course, great hotels.