I personally love #doingallthethings at the beginning of my trips and then slowing down as I stay longer, but you can puzzle this Monterey and Big Sur itinerary out to best fit your weekend and travel style. Monterey Carmel Big Sur Pebble Beach Private Charter by Luxury Vehicle 6 hrs~ 6 hours Hotel pickup offered. Professional wanderluster and trip planning aficionado. There is plenty to see and do in Monterey County outside of meeting room walls. After you finally find it (the road to get to Pfeiffer Beach is a bit hidden and narrow with no signs), youll be pleasantly surprised that the sand is actually truly purple in some spots on the beach. 9. Looking for more California content? Evening
There are a lot of really good options of places to stay in Carmel. Once you get to Pacific Grove, everything is accessible by foot or bike. (Keep this in mind if you are headed off to the airport so that you give yourself plenty of time.). The perfect amount of time to see Monterey and Big Sur is 2-3 days. Psst: If youre visiting in early spring, dont miss Calla Lily Valley right near Garrapata Beach (different location than the Bluff Trail). It is about 15 minutes from Monterey, spend at least 3 hours. 47900 CA-1, Big Sur, CA 93920. It was quite busy at the time we arrived and we probably waited in line for 30 minutes-1 hour so make sure to add this in when planning your itinerary! Big Sur and Monterey/Carmel I'll be spending this upcoming weekend on a road trip from Los Angeles to Monterey and thought I'd post my general itinerary and pose a few questions for the Big. However, you can also stop at a local restaurant for lunch too! However, if you are here early, the pictures are still pretty amazing and youll miss the 9-10 AM traffic congestion so thats a win! And plus, the water is chilly over here! If youre not in a rush on your Big Sur road trip, why not make the extra stop? We loved visiting the Whalers Cabin in Whalers Cove and thought the scenery was the most spectacular around Bluefish Cove. I saw sea otters, seals and dolphins! Our other option is to do Monterey/Carmel on Tuesday (aquarium, 17-mile drive, etc), and then Big Sur first thing Wednesday morning (July 4th). Renting a Car : Note that you'll undoubtedly need a car for this Big Sur road trip (it is a mini road trip after all!) Answer 11 of 11: Hello I'm hoping for some advice. And yes, theres so much history in this little area. I had remembered going to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk when I was a kid so I was excited to go back. Comment below. Beautiful, post-card like views. Continue driving south on Hwy 1 towards your next stop in this Big Sur itinerary: Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, which is not to be confused with Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. In fact, I thought about being a Marine Biologist for awhile. I loved seeing the open sea, the jelly fish and the really adorable sea otters! Hi Elena! Just be careful to watch out for other vehicles coming and livestock roaming around! You could spend 1-2 hours here and then continue on to Big Sur. I think you. Is driving to Big Sur dangerous? 4.. Can You Start from San Francisco to Big Sur on the Road Trip Itinerary? If you want a taste of France in sweet Monterey, Paris Bakery is your go-to spot! 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! 3. Let me know how your travels go! We definitely have gone back multiple times and found new places to explore every time! Make sure to have these essentials on your list: The best time to visit Monterey and Big Sur is in the fall during the months of September to November or in the spring during the months of April to May. Guide contents. Big Sur Itinerary Get away to Big Sur to decompress, lose your stress and soothe your soul. Thank you for sharing! Definitely adding this road trip to my bucket list. Hi.. we are driving in from Santa Barbara and wanted to plan a Big Sur , Monterey trip where should we stop first where would u stay if u want to see Carmel too? There are warm fires all over the place and lights hanging in the trees. Hi Shafinah! Big Falls Trail near the south end of the range is a . If you are a morning person, you might want to head out earlier to avoid the other tourists. There are numerous places to eat and drink in Big Sur, although some are definitely better than others. The inside had the most beautiful design and the outside was just as lovely with tables and benches everywhere and live music playing. Dont fret if you dont drink, they have tons of snacks you can eat as well! Im going next year to visit a friend and we plan on road tripping so Im hoping Ill finally get to go! And if theres still orchids and wildflowers out, youll think youre in Hawaii. Be sure to dabble your toes in the river at Big Sur River Inn and then end your day with a sunset dinner and ocean view at Pacific's Edge. On arrival, our room wasnt quite ready so we had lunch at the hotels restaurant and I got clam chowder in a bread bowl! A stay at Deetjen's is a step-back in time; you are immersing yourself in the unique historic . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for sharing. It could take as little as 2 hours (if you dont stop at all), or 2 days if you make all the stops for the views, foods, and hikes. Use caution while driving as the road is rather windy and narrow! It was going on right when we arrived at the hotel. Whether youre driving down the entirety of the California coast or just making the short drive from SF, youre in luck. Here is the Monterey, Carmel and Big Sur itinerary I followed for a long weekend getaway! Pacific Grove is a small area right on the edge of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary about a 10-minute drive from Fishermans Wharf. Today, he has a wholesale warehouse where he provides his delicious fresh-baked pastries to hotels and restaurants around the area. Big Sur Itinerary - Best View Points! Seaside cliffs. There are plenty of other beaches to hang around, so do your part and just stay where youre supposed to be. The airport is small and easy to navigate. Thanks for your support! Proving Travel is Possible with a Full-Time 9-5, last Updated: June 6, 2022big sur california central coast pacific coast highway. Dont go during the rain or after its just rained as the road is all dirt and can get quite muddy at times. Thank you! 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 Yes! Famous for fairytale-like cottages and shops, great art, dining, charming B&B and boutique hotels, and of course the beautiful and exclusive pebble beach golf course. Once here, you can hike down to this spectacular crescent-shaped beach and relax. With binoculars you can see sea otters and sea lions. Some of the overgrown trails are known to have poison oak to get to the beach views, so make sure to protect yourself if you want to get to the water. When is the Best Time to Visit Monterey and Big Sur? PCH Road Trip Planning Essentials. Since the road to Big Sur is finally open again (after months of closure due to horrific mudslides), nows the time to visit! Hi MacKenzie! This looks amazing. Big Sur Itinerary - Day 2: 1. I'll be sharing a relaxed pace three-day itinerary, with overnight stops in both Monterey and Santa Barbara. Drive about 2 miles to get to the ticket booth and have cash with you to pay for the $12 entry fee. By this time, youll likely be hungry, so stop in at the Big Sur Roadhouse for their famous avo toast, or other wraps or sandwiches. The entire area is pricey, so expect to pay big city prices (~$15ish for a cocktail, ~$20-30ish for an entree). Coast of California Day 3: 17-Mile Drive, Carmel by the Sea, Big Sur, Pismo Beach Happy Friday, Everyone! Limekiln State Park may be juuust what youre looking for. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I discuss Nepenthe below as a must-visit stop on your Big Sur itinerary! There are so many places in this area to pick for dinner. We ate a quick breakfast at the hotel (one of the other perks of staying there) and then headed to the 5th Avenue Deli. Stay and Play in Monterey. Treebones Resort features seven ocean view tent campsites, along with 16 yurts with great views of the Pacific at Cape San Martin! I repeat, the almond croissant is orgasmic. Day 3. . Weve always been planning to do a road trip in this part of California, so will be bookmarking this. We chose the 17-mile ride and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of our 3-hour outing. 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. 3-day Big Sur itinerary. Cannery Row is filled with boutiques, restaurants and waterfront hotels. Phone: (831) 515-6403. Youll want an all-wheel drive for best mobility, but if all youve got is a regular sedan, go slow and you should be a-okay! There are also hiking trails you can check out here, too, and if youre wanting a more rugged experience, camp out at the park. There are also cute murals all over town and makes for a perfect pit stop before heading back home! From here, you can make a decision on what youre feeling but here are some recommendations! Head back north and drive into the quaint little town of Carmel-by-the-Sea. from $900. There is also the Old Downtown Marketplace every Tuesday from 4 -7 PM in the fall and 4 8 PM in the summer. 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. Carmel is one of the most charming and quintessential towns I have ever been to. After Bixby Bridge, this is on everyones must see list during any Big Sur road trip. Day 1. It was nice to arrive at the hotel after a long day and just relax for a minute and eat some snacks! There is a scenic 17-mile drive you can pay to drive and see iconic spots such as the Lone Cypress and Pescadero Point. Price: $25-100. The grounds are incredibly beautiful and this place is definitely worth a stop for the gorgeous grounds and architecture. Looks like such an awesome road trip. 6. 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.