Need a dramatic coastal escape with cliffs, redwoods, and winding roads? Head to Big Sur! This iconic stretch of California’s Highway 1 offers world-class views, secluded beaches, luxury lodges, and unforgettable hiking. Whether you're chasing waterfalls, picnicking by the ocean, or stargazing under redwoods, Big Sur is nature at its most awe-inspiring.
Big Sur, CA Highlights:
- For Adventurous Travelers: Hike the Ewoldsen Trail at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park – A scenic loop with ocean views, canyons, and old-growth redwoods.
- For History Buffs: Visit Point Sur Lighthouse – Take a guided tour of this 19th-century light station perched on a volcanic rock outcrop.
- For Shoppers: Browse the Big Sur River Inn Gallery and Local Shops – Find handmade jewelry, ceramics, and coastal artwork nestled among redwoods.
- For Couples: Watch the sunset at Bixby Creek Bridge – One of the most photographed bridges in the world, with sweeping ocean views and romantic golden light.
- For Families: Picnic and play at Pfeiffer Beach – Known for its purple sand and unique rock arch, this beach is a hidden gem with tide pools and surf.
Best Time to Visit Big Sur, CA
The best time to visit Big Sur is from April to October. Spring and fall offer fewer crowds and mild weather, while summer is ideal for hiking and beach visits. Winter can be beautiful but often brings rain and road closures due to mudslides.
How to Get to Big Sur, CA
- If you are traveling by car: Big Sur is located along California’s Highway 1, about 2.5 hours from San Francisco and 1 hour from Monterey or Carmel.
- By Air: The closest airports are Monterey Regional Airport (MRY), San Jose International (SJC), and San Francisco International (SFO).
- Note: Public transportation is limited, and driving is the best way to explore Big Sur’s winding coastal highway and park entrances.
Where to Stay in Big Sur, CA
- Recommended for Families: Big Sur River Inn – Historic lodge with rustic charm, a riverside restaurant, and family-friendly rooms.
- For Couples: Ventana Big Sur – Luxurious adults-only resort with forest views, spa services, and elevated glamping options.
- For Budget Travelers: Big Sur Campground & Cabins – Affordable tent sites and rustic cabins under the redwoods, close to top trails.
Best Things to Do in Big Sur, CA
1. Cruise One of the World’s Most Scenic Routes on 17-Mile Drive
Gently winding from Pebble Beach to Pacific Grove, the 17-Mile Drive will take you through magnificent cypress forests along a dramatic rocky coastline, passing some absolutely spectacular homes and some of world-class golf courses in Pebble Beach. You can head straight to Pacific Grove to enjoy its attractions, or savor the drive with many stops along the way. Stop by Fanshell Overlook to take in the view of the ocean and watch the harbor seals and, if you pass from April to June, their babies too.
As you come by a lovely little beach in Spanish Bay, take a break and have a picnic. If you are in the mood to celebrate, treat yourself to a gourmet meal at the Lodge. 17-mile Drive is privately managed, but passing through is free whether you drive, walk, or bike.
2. Hike Coastal Trails and Surf the Waves at Andrew Molera State Park
Located about 21 miles from Carmel, Andrew Molera State Park is one of the less developed parks in the Big Sur area. There are miles of hiking trails that cross the verdant meadows, dramatic bluffs, sandy beaches, and gentle hilltops. There is a simple, rustic trail camp that is very popular with hikers about a third of a mile from the park’s parking area. The park borders the private El Sur Ranch and the visitors are requested to respect the boundary and not enter the ranch’s cattle grazing fields when looking for the beach access. Fires are allowed in the park only in the designated metal fire rings. The beach is great for strolling and beach combing.
45500 CA-1, Big Sur, CA 93920, Phone: 831-667-2315
3. Spot Playful Otters at the California Sea Otter Game Refuge
The California Sea Otter Game Refuge is a marine park in Monterey, a part of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The refuge covers the area from the Carmel River to the Santa Rosa Creek in San Luis Obispo County. While you can see these charming sea animals floating in the sea of kelp all over Big Sur, there was a time when they were believed to be extinct as they were hunted for their pelts. In 1938 a small group of California sea otters was discovered near the Bixby Creek on Big Sur Coast. Thanks to efforts of people like Margaret W. Owings and the Friends of the Sea Otter society, which she founded, their numbers increased significantly.
Highway 1 Gate, 17 Mile Dr, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93923, Phone: 831-647-4201
4. Wander Through Blooming Beauty at Calla Lily Valley
If you are driving along Highway 2 in early spring, stop at lovely Garrapata Park for a very special treat. At the small narrow ravine where Doud Creek passes through on the way to Garrapata Beach, there is a valley filled with elegant, wild calla lilies. To protect the beautiful but fragile flowers, there are stairs and trails through the valley. Take your time and enjoy the scene of rare but very fleeting beauty – the lilies do not last long. After enjoying the scene, keep going through the park to the 2-mile-long beach surrounded by coarse coastal vegetation. The park’s spectacular headlands at Soberanes Point are a perfect spot for watching harbor seals, point sea lions, and passing gray whales.
5. If You Want to Uncover Local Stories, Then Visit the Carmel Heritage Society
Located in Carmel at the corner of 6th Avenue and Lincoln Street is the First Murphy House, maintained by the Carmel Heritage Society and owned by the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea. The house is a home to the Carmel Heritage Society, a non-profit organization that has a goal of protecting, promoting, and preserving the cultural heritage of Carmel. Visitors to the First Murphy House can enjoy a range of historical exhibits as well as a research library with books, video, and audio tapes and periodicals about the history of Carmel. The First Murphy House is also a place for friends and residents of Carmel to get together.
Lincoln St, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93921, Phone: 831-624-4447
What to do if you are traveling with kids:
6. Kayak, Swim, and Relax at Carmel River State Beach
Carmel River State Beach is a mile-long state park in Carmel Bay, a protected beach where the Carmel River creates a lovely lagoon. The beach is very popular with bird watchers as the lagoon is a natural habitat that attracts a huge number of migratory birds. The area has been declared a bird sanctuary for its diversity of waterfowl, song birds, and many other species of birds. Monastery Beach, also known as San Jose Creek Beach, is also part of the park and is very popular with scuba divers, Other activities, such as swimming or even walking near the edge of the water, are considered dangerous due to the very strong currents.
Carmelo St, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93923
Activities and Attractions for Couples and Singles:
7. Trek Rugged Trails and Take in Cliffside Views at Garrapata State Park
Garrapata State Park is a 2,939-acre park established in 1979, located less than 7 miles from Rio Road in Carmel. The park has a lovely 2-mile-long beach, fantastic hiking trails, and a 50-foot climb in order to enjoy the most spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean and nearby Santa Lucia. The beach is at times used for nude swimming and sunbathing. The trails through the park are surrounded by thick coastal vegetation and run through dense groves of magnificent redwoods. The coastal headlands at Soberanes Point are a great spot to watch sea lions, sea otters, and harbor seals as well as gray whales during their yearly migration.
Highway 1, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93923, Phone: 831-624-4909
8. Experience Literary Legacy and Art at the Henry Miller Memorial Library
Located in a redwood grove on the mountain side of Highway 1 about a quarter mile from the famous Nepenthe restaurant in Big Sur, the Henry Miller Memorial Library is not a normal kind of library: It is an unofficial Big Sur art hub as well as a book store with a focus on promoting the artistic and literary works of Henry Miller. Known as a fiction writer, Miller also wrote some very good travel books, mostly about Greece. The library’s founder was Miller’s friend Emil White, who founded the library on his property in memory of a friend. The library soon became a gallery and a gathering place for local artists.
48603 CA-1, Big Sur, CA 93920, Phone: 831-667-2574
9. Stand in Awe of Coastal Waterfalls at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is located 37 miles from Carmel, stretching from the coast of Big Sur to the 3,000-foot-high mountain ridges. The park’s lush vegetation consists of ancient redwood, madrone, tan oak and chaparral. The park’s most outstanding feature is an 80-foot-high waterfall that drops from the massive granite cliffs at the Overlook Trail straight into the ocean below. The trails through the park offer fantastic views of the rugged coastline and the endless ocean. There is no beach access from the park. Fenced cliff areas, the beach, Saddle Rock, and McWay Falls are off limits from the park and accessing them from the park is considered very dangerous.
52801 California State Route 1, Big Sur, CA 93920, Phone: 831-667-2315
Where to Eat in Big Sur, CA
- Recommended for Families: Big Sur Roadhouse – Southern-inspired California fare in a relaxed, woodsy setting with outdoor seating.
- For a Romantic Dinner: Sierra Mar at Post Ranch Inn – Fine dining with floor-to-ceiling ocean views and an award-winning wine list.
- For a Casual Bite: Nepenthe – Cliffside restaurant offering burgers and beer with unforgettable views and a funky gift shop next door.
If you are interested in local events:
- For Music & Art Lovers: Big Sur International Short Film Screening Series (Summer) – Outdoor screenings under the stars at various Big Sur venues.
- For Foodies: Big Sur Food & Wine Festival (November) – Multi-day culinary event with wine tastings, chef dinners, and coastside charm.
- For Fitness Fans: Big Sur International Marathon (April) – One of the most scenic marathons in the world, winding along Highway 1.
Day Trip Itineraries Within 30 Minutes of Big Sur, CA:
- For Beach Lovers: Pfeiffer Beach (20 min) – Known for its purple sand and iconic sea arch; access via Sycamore Canyon Road.
- For Scenic Hikes: Andrew Molera State Park (25 min) – Coastal and inland trails through bluffs, meadows, and redwood groves.
- For Art and Culture: Carmel-by-the-Sea (30 min) – A charming village with art galleries, boutiques, wine tasting rooms, and white-sand beaches.
- For Marine Life: Point Lobos State Natural Reserve (30 min) – Known as the “crown jewel” of the state park system for its sea otters, kelp forests, and coastal beauty.
- For Hot Springs: Esalen Institute (advance booking required) (30 min) – Book a massage or late-night soak in the cliffside mineral baths.
I get asked this a lot so I decided to include it:
- Where is Big Sur located?
- Big Sur is a spectacularly beautiful, rugged, and scenic stretch of the Pacific Coast in central California, located between San Simeon and Carmel and nestled between the ocean and the Santa Lucia Mountains.
- What is the main road through Big Sur?
- The main road through Big Sur is the scenic two-lane State Route 1, which winds along steep cliffs and offers breathtaking views of the coast.
- What makes Big Sur unique?
- Big Sur is sparsely populated but is rich in parks, hot springs, nature reserves, and sanctuaries that feature a diverse range of plants, trees, and animals rarely seen elsewhere.
- What is the best way to explore Big Sur?
- Big Sur is best explored on foot, as it features a network of hiking and biking trails that pass through spectacular redwood forests, descend through flower-filled valleys, and lead to lovely, secluded beaches.
Map:
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