The exit is north of Carmel-by-the-sea which is a perfect pitstop with its charming, bohemian city center with lots of artisanal coffee shops, bakeries (our favorite bakery is “Carmel Bakery”), and shops. The primary entrance (~$ 10 fee) to the 17-Mile Drive (27 km) is at the California State Route 1, which makes it the perfect starting point for the Big Sur road trip. The road follows the coastline, passes the famous golf course, lavish mansion, and attractions including the Lone Cypress, Bird Rock, and the Del Monte Forest. The 17-Mile Drive is a scenic road on the Monterey Peninsula through Pebble Beach and Pacific Grove. There are great scenic flights over Big Sur offered from the Monterey airport for a birds-eye perspective. Other attractions are the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Lover’s Point Grove, Cannery Row, Monterey coastal trail, the sea lion lookout, Fisherman’s Wharf, Monarch Grove Sanctuary, and whale watching tours. His old house in Salinas is open for visitors. One of the most famous citizens was John Steinbeck, author of “Cannery Row”. The city has always attracted artists and there are several music and art festivals every year. Not only is Monterey worth a visit in itself, but it also offers many options for accommodations and the 17-Mile Drive can’t be missed when visiting the area. Monterey is the perfect point of departure for a Big Sur road trip in our opinion. You can drive down from San Francisco and stop along the way or start closer to the Big Sur region. If possible, start in the north and drive south so you drive on the roadside next to the ocean for the best view. The Santa Lucia Mountains extend between 3 to 12 miles (5 to 19 km) inland, and some consider the Big Sur eastern border to be at the foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountains. The Big Sur region stretches much further inland than most visitors cruising along the coastline would imagine. Just always check ahead of time if there are any road closures as there is no detour available.īig Sur has several state parks and reserves, as well as several areas that are federal land, and are therefore protected and not very developed apart from small residential communities. This drive is by no means dangerous though. We had to drive back up due to a road closure caused by a landslide. We managed to drive from Monterey to McMay Falls and back up to Monterey in approximately 10 hours with countless stops and a few short hikes. Book your room well in advance as there is limited availability in Big Sur. However, if you would like to go on some hikes, we would advise you to spend a night in one of the great hotels / B&Bs / campsites. The drive along the Big Sur coastline can easily be done in one day. Condé Nast Traveler named State Route 1 through Big Sur one of the top ten world-famous streets, comparable to Broadway in New York City and the Champs-Élysées in Paris. Highway 1 (California State Route 1) connects San Francisco in the North with Orange County in the South. Here, the Santa Lucia Mountains acutely rise from the Pacific Ocean which creates an extraordinary landscape.īis Sur is known as one of the most scenic coastlines in the world, and the perfect road trip destination. Big Sur is located on the Central Coast of California between Carmel and San Simeon.
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