Its about an hour north of Monterey, and its a great place to get lunch or do some shopping. While youll see monarchs all around Big Sur, Andrew Molera State Park is the place to be to spot the most! Tip: Driving it can be challenging, but well worth it. 9. Morning Big Sur is the 90 mile stretch of California coast, nestled between Monterey and San Luis Obispo that is as breathtakingly beautiful and unreal as a dream, with the waves of the Pacific ocean crashing along its rugged shores, simply begging for a visit. Proving Travel is Possible with a Full-Time 9-5, last Updated: June 6, 2022big sur california central coast pacific coast highway. Book now from $9.99! If you found this article useful, consider using the links within the article or below. When is the Best Time to Visit Monterey and Big Sur? Youll find plenty of sunny days over here! This state park is absolutely beautiful and is full of wildlife everywhere! We loved visiting the Whalers Cabin in Whalers Cove and thought the scenery was the most spectacular around Bluefish Cove. Majority of the famous viewpoints are on the coastal side, so it would be best if you drove north to south, that way you make right turns in/out of the viewpoints. Stay for sunset as the rock formations on the beach make for some epic scenery! There are twists and turns along the cliff, with most parts of the highway being only one lane in either direction. The Best California Road Trips & Itineraries | Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur to Santa Barbara California: Places to Visit North America California Road Trip: Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur and Santa Barbara FIRST POSTED: 4th June 2019 | LAST UPDATED: 7th August 2020 9 minute read From free coffee available and interesting and unusual titles for purchase, its worth spending a while here to soak up the Big Sur atmosphere. This was one of my favorite stops on this trip. If you squint really hard, youll see the falls between the rocks going directly into the ocean in the photo below. This looks like a very fun trip and the food looks amazing. $8,790.00 USD per person. Theyre my two favorite spots in Point Lobos, and you wont find clearer waters. Hi Kate! Happy planning! This road trip itinerary is designed to be done in one to two days depending on your timeline and how much you want to get out and see along the way. I absolutely loved the houses in Pacific Grove. Since Big Sur is located between Carmel-by-the-Sea and San Simeon, its best to start from either of these (and finish in the other) if you wanna experience the entire coastline of Big Sur. Checking into the Madonna Inn: San Luis Obispos Quirkiest and Most Eccentric Hotel, Snorkeling in Maui: 12 Best Places to Snorkel in Maui (+ Safety and Packing Tips), The Massive Guide to Manarola, Italy: Things to do in Manarola, Cinque Terre, Cinque Terre Itinerary: The Perfect 3 Days in Cinque Terre, Italy, Fall in San Francisco: 25+ Fall Activities in the SF Bay Area You Cant Miss, Things to do in Cambria, California (The Cutest Seaside Village on the Central Coast). End of Big Sur Itinerary Turnaround: On your way back, you can choose to pull off and snap a few pictures of the beautiful ocean down below. : Sand dollar beach does indeed have sand dollars! As always, all opinions expressed are our own. Miles of misty coastline. Right outside of Carmel is Carmel Mission Basilica, dating clear back to the 1700s. Weekend Big Sur itinerary. Fun for young and old, exploring the rocky coastline in search of creatures is a must-do. 2. Be sure to take along a sweater as the trails are shaded and can be very cool the entire time, which makes for a spectacular break on a super hot day! Carmel-by-the-Sea. Carmel-by-the-Sea is probably one of the quaintest seaside towns in the world, which makes it a good starting point for your Big Sur road trip. 7. If you have a map, you can plan out some of the places you want to stop before you head out! As you arrive, drive straight to the Sea Lion Point parking lot and you can start on the trail there, Cypress Grove Trail. McWay Falls McWay Falls is likely the most iconic and most-photographed spot in Big Sur. There were all sorts of cute alleys you could go down to find more hidden gems. You can book a tour right on the wharf, but its possible that tickets might sell out. The location is so perfect in between Cannery Row and Fishermans Wharf and just a ten minute walk to the aquarium. San Francisco to Monterey, Carmel-By-The-Sea and Big Sur. Note that the color of the sand realllly comes alive right after it rains. If you and your group aren't ready to slow down yet, take this time to explore the shops on Fisherman's Wharf or Cannery Row. This is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Monterey . Where did you drive from? I recommend booking your whale-watching tickets in advance. There is a scenic 17-mile drive you can pay to drive and see iconic spots such as the Lone Cypress and Pescadero Point. Thank you for sharing! There is plenty to see and do in Monterey County outside of meeting room walls. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for California CA Big Sur Carmel Monterey Coastline Postcard Old Vintage Card View at the best online prices at eBay! Bring water and watch out for poison oak. There are so many scenic look outs to stop at so feel free to stop as much as you want along the way! Expect a daytime high around 64F in March, and nighttime lows around 47F. The clam chowder here is also amazing! Our favorite thing to get: almond croissant. Bring your binoculars for wildlife viewing! Specialties: World-famous Breakfast served Daily 8:00am-noon; Dinner Friday-Tuesday starting at 5:30pm. Pace yourself its all beautiful. Hearst Castle That is a lot to fit into 2-days. You can walk, jog, or bike on this trail. Coast of California Day 3: 17-Mile Drive, Carmel by the Sea, Big Sur, Pismo Beach Happy Friday, Everyone! *Tidefall = a waterfall that drops directly into the ocean (I didnt know either). 6 days / 5 nights / 4 rounds. It makes an excellent, However, if you wait until the summer rush is over and visit during either September or October, youll experience less crowds and actually better weather! And its large enough to split, for sure. Monterey Peninsula Recreational Trail is an 18-mile trail that runs from Pacific Grove up north to Castroville and alongside the old Southern Pacific Railway. The airport is small and easy to navigate. The road is narrow, so be extra careful when pulling over for the views (my advice only pull off in designated spots, theres plenty of them). The Bixby Bridge looked amazing. Each room also boasts a private deck with those magicnicant coastline views, a wood-burning fireplace to get cozy during the chilly nights, and an indoor spa tub. Thx!! Yes, youll definitely need to add these 2 to your list and drive along the 101 highway. Winding turns. This part of the bike trail was a lot busier. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for sharing. Answer 11 of 32: Hi all! Loading. Grab Life by the Moments Itineraries Highlights Itinerary Outdoors Itinerary Family Itinerary Girlfriend Getaway Itinerary Golf Itinerary It took my breath away. Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. The fog is usually gone by early Fall, and you can even witness whales and butterflies this time of year (yes, really, if you know where to look!). If youre from outta town, and by that not within driving distance, youll need to get yourself to SFO (San Francisco) first. When you visit Point Lobos, youll be amazed by its natural beauty, but please make sure to stay on trails as erosion is currently harming plants and wildlife in the area. Yes and No. We were going to get lunch, but decided to wait until Carmel since we ate so many samples! I love how comprehensive this is Monterery and Big Sur look like such BEAUTIFUL places ! I have yet to try Big Sur Bakery although Ive heard many good referrals about all the food from wood-fired sourdough to buttermilk biscuits and gravy. Day 2. Oh, and the bakery has public restrooms available, which is always good to know on a road trip without much service! Sign up for AirBnB with my link and get up to $40 off your first stay! But it's absolutely still worth visiting! A trailhead can be found from Monterey State Beach and from there heading south, it will take you to Fishermans Wharf, Cannery Row, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Its beautiful coastline views! Just note that the Monterey-Salinas Transit Lines stop running during . Maybe even take a walk on the Santa Cruz boardwalk! Not to mention, its adorable, so its a really fun place to stop for photos! 3 hours 20 minutes (150 miles) Difficulty level: Easy Public school whose 1931 auditorium served as Carmel's primary artistic, civic . There is memorabilia from the movies all over! This 11 mile road is what those back in the day had to use before the famed Highway One was complete! Price: $25-100. Here is the Monterey, Carmel and Big Sur itinerary I followed for a long weekend getaway! This stop is a definite must on your Big Sur Itinerary. While the food and drinks are good, youre paying for the view. Yes! If we get there earlier, we get saltwater taffy and enjoy them on our hikes/beach time. This was a great place to end the day in Carmel. Epic Golf Travel would love to be your resource for all your golf travel needs! There are a lot of incredible eateries in Carmel. You can always put your feet in if youd like! They also have bikes you can rent as well. With binoculars you can see sea otters and sea lions. Be aware that the trail is sometimes blocked off due to erosion, and you may not be able to get that picture perfect view. I saw sea otters, seals and dolphins! They were so colorful and unique! End: Mammoth Lakes. There were cute adorable dogs everywhere. Morning This can be easily done as a weekend trip out from the Bay Area or as part of a wider trip tracing California's coastline. 3. 5. In fact, they all have people outside of their cafes or restaurants giving out samples. With that being said, Im planning out this Big Sur road trip itinerary from north to south. I have to say, I was thoroughly impressed with your itinerary. At an early hour, you might be too early for Nepenthe the restaurant upstairs, but Cafe Kevah down below has a delicious selection for brunch. Cannery Row is near where we dropped off our bikes so we just walked right over! Havent had enough of the great outdoors on your Big Sur road trip just yet? It was a quick ride to Fishermans Wharf and we set up our bikes with a lock on a bike rack. Do take note of the tide schedule though high tide can essentially make the sandy beach disappear, making it difficult to find a place to sit. Pfeiffer Beach will be the second turnout, There are many more options for Monterey ranging from the, If youd like to stay in Big Sur, there is the, Blanket or lawn chairs for hanging out at the beach, Bike if youd like to explore Monterey by bike. I am a huge fan of aquariums! You would never imagine this town is in California, it feels like a fairy tale town in Germany. It is definitely in a really romantic setting. I flew into the San Jose, California airport on a flight arriving around 12:00 in the afternoon. As you drive up to this area, the ocean turns to the most pretty turquoise color! Monterey is a quaint, small town with attractions such as Fishermans Wharf and Monterey Bay Aquarium. Head back north and drive into the quaint little town of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Treebones Resort: Looking for something a bit different? You can find her on Instagram @herwanderfulworld. Hi Elena! It is located towards the end of the wharf, so beware that you may be tempted to stop at one of the restaurants before it. I teach 9-5 professionals how to maximize their limited time off with carefully planned out itineraries, long weekend inspiration, and general travel planning tips. The parking lot is large and yes, youll need to pay $10 (a common theme to use the beaches/parks in/near Big Sur). You are able to do wine tastings inside or if you dont drink, there is also a full service restaurant as well. Pick-up from centrally located hotels between 7:30am - 8:30am Duration: 11 hours Transportation: Comfortable Motorcoach Includes: Complimentary pickup/dropoff from centrally located hotels 6. Makes me miss San Francisco! There are so many places in this area to pick for dinner. Aubrie is a Utah based blogger/content creator. Wrap Up Your Perfect Monterey and Big Sur Itinerary, link to Her Wanderful World's Instagram account, link to Her Wanderful World's Facebook account, link to Her Wanderful World's Pinterest account, link to Her Wanderful World's Twitter account, Teaching English Abroad Everything You Need to Know, California Coast Roadtrip | San Fran all the way to San Diego, Check the website for openings and reservations, 17 Fun Things to do in Santa Rosa, California, 20 Incredible Things to do in Petaluma, CA, 17 Charming Things to do in Cambria, California, 17 Best Coastal Sunset Spots in Central California. Guide contents. There are cute dogs all over the place! Walking on the wharf doesnt take any more than 30 minutes if you just want to do a walk-through, but youd be missing out! Monterey State Historic Park. Over the three hours we spent together, we made multiple stops and learned about seals, sea otters, local history, plant life, and more. A stay at Deetjen's is a step-back in time; you are immersing yourself in the unique historic . Looking for more California content? Start your drive down the coast with snacks from Carmel Highlands General Store. There are also cute murals all over town and makes for a perfect pit stop before heading back home! Big Sur Road Trip Itinerary Carmel-by-the-Sea Start your Big Sur Road Trip in the charming small town of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Temps are mild year round, ranging from a cool 60 degrees to a balmy 75 degrees F. Its always wise to bring along a jacket no matter what month youll be frolicking around Big Sur, as it never gets particularly hot hot hot, and temperatures are always cooler on the coast than in the mountains nearby. There were also lots of lawn games. So exactly where is big sur located? (7/16/18), "Enjoy and let me know how it goes!" With that being said, you can easily see oh so much in even as little as one day. Ill receive a small commission when you purchase from my links (at no extra cost to you), which Ill totally blow on adult things like boba tea and avocado toast. It is possible to drive Big Sur in one day, but many people like to spend longer exploring the area. The location of the Carmel Mission isn't the original spot. The Bixby Bridge only cost $200,000 to construct. Johnathon was easy-going and the time we spent with Big Sur Adventures was the highlight of our weekend. We will be coming here mid-May and will definitely use your advice. That just means you'll have to go back! Monterey, which is further north of Big Sur, is located no more than 1-1.5 hours away from most of the attractions that we recommend seeing on a Big Sur itinerary. Youll know it by seeing cars lined up the hill up into the parking lot or various vehicles parked, waiting to get in. This Big Sur road trip will have you booking flights to California ASAP, promise! Limekiln State Park may be juuust what youre looking for. The inside had the most beautiful design and the outside was just as lovely with tables and benches everywhere and live music playing. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If you have time for more hiking and want to explore more of the Big Sur area on foot, check out this link for ideas. Cruises currently run for 4 hours at 10 AM or 3 hours at 2:30 PM (morning tours are recommended) so youll need to plan your time wisely if you are wanting to include this activity in your itinerary. You dont really need your bathing suit here as the water is waaaay too cold. Day Three There was a river right behind the Inn with lots of cute chairs to sit on and relax and people were even tubing on the river! It is an active parish and school, so be aware that special events such as mass or funerals may be taking place. Have you seen the photos?! Big Sur Bakery is typically pretty crowded, but its worth the wait. which is a favorite local hotspot and should not be missed when planning your Big Sur itinerary. You can easily park on the side of the road and forgo the paid parking, which is what most people do (Im not saying its a-okay just letting you know thats an option if the parking lot is full). You could spend all day in this area headed from winery to winery. Day 1 of Big Sur Itinerary: Carmel to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park Driving distance and time: 33.9 miles, about 1 hour and 5 minutes Start your day early with coffee and a pastry at Carmel Bakery. If this is your first time to the area dont rush it! (10/13/18). Not to be missed, youll need to visit the Point Pinos Lighthouse, which is the oldest operating lighthouse on the West Coast. The United States flag was first raised in Monterey in 1846 claiming California for the United States. South Iceland - 7 Places Your Family Will Love! Since you are now past the influx of traffic, you wont be in a rush to get into any of the popular sites. Absolute paradise, albeit rather crowded at times. Bixby Bridge was one of my favorite stops on my Big Sur Itinerary! California History Books for Kids. It was easy to find the area where we needed to take a shuttle to the rental car building. Even if you decide to end here and make this a San Francisco to Monterey drive, you won't be missing out. Thankfully theres hot chocolate, tea, and/or coffee waiting for you. Its known for its pristine scenery, full of turquoise water, beautifully-designed bridges, rustic hiking trails, and more. I too hope that tourists can make the kind of choices that will benefit everyone." Hours: 9 am - 6 pm (7 pm on Saturdays) daily at the Pacific Grove shops. Answer 11 of 11: Hello I'm hoping for some advice. Here are my picks and notes, either personally tested by me, or recommended by fellow travelers: Be prepared to spend some big money for dining out in Big Sur. Besides the gorgeous views, the houses in Carmel are also some to steal your breath away with their eccentricities and quaint vibes. Its a cute town, and there is a long sandy beach. Monterey is definitely one of my favorite places in CA! . We had to hurry back right after so we could get our bike rentals back in time!