Scenic Big Sur Drive: Must-do Stops and Attractions from my visit!
Big Sur in Central California is a stunning coastal region known for its bucket-list drive, with dramatic cliffs on one side and panoramic ocean views on the other.
Being a Northern California local for 20+ years, I have driven down the Pacific Coast Highway via Big Sur several times to go to Pismo Beach or Los Angeles but never took the time to explore all the attractions in Big Sur till recently.
In July 2024, my husband and I took the time to dedicate a full day to just exploring Big Sur. Big Sur drive lived up to its name, and its iconic attractions like Bixby Bridge and McWay Falls are really a must-see.
Although I felt the real beauty of Big Sur was the coastal drive, the vista points, and exploring the numerous state parks along the way. Let’s get into the details of my Big Sur day trip.
Where is Big Sur
Big Sur begins just south of Carmel-by-the-Sea and extends to around San Simeon, spanning roughly 90 miles along California’s Highway 1, also called the Pacific Coast Highway.
This scenic stretch is framed by the Santa Lucia Mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west.
Note: During our visit, Highway 1 was closed from just south of McWay Falls to north of Lucia. Although Big Sur stretches all the way to San Simeon, we only explored from south of Carmel to McWay Falls due to the road closure. After visiting McWay Falls, we turned back to Carmel. If Highway 1 is open during your trip, you can drive the full length to San Simeon and beyond. Check the latest road closure updates for Highway 1 here.
Top Things to Do in Big Sur
Big Sur road trip is really one of the best scenic drives I have done so far. In the early morning, fog lingered along the coast, and mist was in the air. It felt amazing being there and taking in the sights and sounds of waves crashing against the rocks.
After our visit, I feel below are the top 5 things to do in Big Sur in the order from North to South –
- Point Lobos State Park – excellent coastal hikes and wildlife
- Bixby Bridge – an iconic landmark
- Pfeiffer Beach – traces of purple sand and Keyhole Arch rock structure
- Nepenthe (for views from the terrace)
- McWay Falls – unique falls on a secluded beach cove
How we spent a day in Big Sur
I am local to Northern California, and the start of Big Sur, which is south Carmel, is around a 2-hour drive from home. But traffic can be unpredictable in the mornings, so to get a headstart on our Big Sur journey, we spent the night in Monterey.
I was looking for a simple, no frills hotel as it was just to sleep, but still clean and safe. Settled on Comfort Inn Marina on the Monterey Bay, and it was perfect for an overnight stay. Big, clean room and a 20-minute drive from the start of Big Sur. It also had free continental breakfast although we didn’t eat there.
Our favorite breakfast place in Carmel is From Scratch Restaurant. We had a hearty breakfast here to fuel up for the day ahead.
We started on the road to Big Sur around 9 AM after breakfast.
My #1 Tip for Big Sur road trip: We purchased and downloaded this Big Sur audio tour app on our phone the night before, and it was super helpful to tell us about upcoming stops. Many of the parking lots and entry points for Big Sur attractions are easy to miss as they are not well marked, and there is no cellular network. The audio tour, once downloaded on your phone, works via GPS and does not need a cellular network. We saw a lot more than we would have without the audio tour. Highly recommend this!
Below is the order of the stops on the Big Sur Drive from Carmel to McWay Falls. Depending on your time, you can make all of them or skip some.
Note: We visited Point Lobos State Park on a separate trip. We also skipped Andrew Molera State Park, Pfieffer Big Sur State Park, and Partington Cove on this trip, but I have listed them here in the order they appear while driving in Big Sur from North to South.
Point Lobos State Park
I believe Point Lobos State Park has the best coastal views, well-maintained hiking trails, and wildlife viewing opportunities in Big Sur. Unfortunately, that also means that it is the most visited, and parking inside the state park is hard to get.
If you are able to get into the park by car, you can drive around and hike the Bird Island trail and China Cove in an hour. This, I believe, is the best section of the park.
If parking is full, you can park on Highway 1 and walk the trails. Walking the loop to Bird Island trail from the entrance takes around 2 to 3 hours.
We did Point Lobos on a different trip and parked on Highway 1. We did the trail loop from Lace Lichen Trail to South Shore Trail to Bird Island Trail and finally returned via South Plateau Trail. It took us around 3 hours to hike this loop.
Point Lobos is only 10 min drive from Carmel so you can also do this on the day before if possible, to allow more time for other stops on your Big Sur drive.
➡️ Check my full write-up here about my visit to Point Lobos State Park.
Garrapata State Park Bluff Trail
Garrapata State Park is popular for its coastal bluff trails and also for the Cala Lily Valley, which blooms during the spring months. There is no designated parking lot here, but there are several stretches of parking spots on both sides of Highway 1.
We did the Soberanes Point Trail. Depending on where you park along Highway 1, there are several starting points that lead to this trail. It was a nice flat walk along the ocean bluffs with some viewing platforms. Yellow wildflowers were blooming in abundance, a striking contrast to the tan cliffs and ocean waves.
There is a small hill here called Whale Peak that you can climb to get epic views. We saw several people at the top.
As the parking spots are on both sides of the highway, you can also visit Garrapata State Park on your way back.
Bixby Bridge
Bixby Creek Bridge is one of the most iconic landmarks in Big Sur, known for its stunning architecture and breathtaking views.
But to my surprise, there is no proper parking lot to see this popular attraction. I guess when they constructed the bridge, they must not have realized it would become so popular that clicking a selfie with the bridge would become a must-do on everyone’s list!
When driving from North to South, we missed the parking lot and went over the bridge and further! Then we stopped at a pullout and turned and went back.
Coming from the North, just before the bridge, there is a space for about 5-6 cars on the side of the highway. On the left side, there is a dirt road called ‘Coast Road,’ which goes up the hill. We went on the dirt road and parked up there.
After all the parking drama, we got excellent pics of the Bixby Bridge! So, in the end, all was well!
Hurricane Point
The Hurricane Point is a vista point about a mile south of Bixby Bridge. This viewpoint has a large parking lot on the ocean side.
From here, you can see panoramic ocean views, far-off views of Bixby Bridge to the North, and the Point Sur Lighthouse on a huge rocky island to the South.
It was foggy in the morning, which I think enhanced the beauty of the coastal scenery. I personally prefer a foggy coastal day over a hot day any day!
Point Sur Lighthouse
Point Sur Lighthouse sits on a huge volcanic rock along the Big Sur coast and has guided ships since 1889. The lighthouse offers a 3-hour guided tour of the facility on most Wednesdays and Saturdays.
There are pull-outs with parking spaces on the side of the highway to admire the lighthouse from far. We did just that and snapped some pics.
Andrew Molera State Park
Andrew Molera State Park is a beautiful and less-crowded state park in Big Sur. It is known for its beaches and several hiking trails along the scenic Big Sur River. We were short on time, so we didn’t stop here, but I have saved it for a future visit.
Big Sur Lodge
We stopped at the Big Sur Lodge for a restroom and snack break. This historic Lodge has a cafe and a restaurant as well as a gift shop. I bought my Big Sur magnet here.
A great place to have lunch, but there is another lunch place coming along with dramatic views (more on this later).
There is a small parking lot at the lodge where you can park for around 2 hours to eat and shop at the lodge. There were two spots for 15-minute parking as well. The lodge was surrounded by beautiful redwood trees and there are several trails here.
I have made a note to come back and stay at the lodge for a weekend getaway in the near future so that I can explore more of the Big Sur state parks.
Pfieffer Big Sur State Park
Pfieffer Big Sur State Park entrance is right next to the Big Sur Lodge. This State Park is home to some great hiking trails among the redwoods. The most popular hiking trail here is the Pfieffer Falls hike but the trail was closed when we visited.
There is a more strenuous Valley View trail that can lead you to Pfieffer Falls, but we were short on time to tackle any strenuous trails on our Big Sur day trip.
There is an easy Nature Trail along the Big Sur River path that starts next to the Lodge, which we explored a bit. There is a nice deck here to explore some really tall redwood trees up close.
I will explore more of Pfieffer Big Sur State Park in the future when we are able to snag an accommodation at Big Sur Lodge.
Pfieffer Beach
😭I was not able to reach Pfieffer Beach due to the parking lot being full! My biggest disappointment for the day!
Pfieffer Beach is the most popular beach in Big Sur due to the traces of purple sand and a large rock in the ocean called Keyhole Arch.
Apparently its quite dramatic to see waves crashing through the hole in the rock and on winter days at sunset you can sometimes see sunlight filtering through the hole. I never saw it so can’t say if the purple sand is still there.
The road to Pfieffer Beach is quite easy to miss, and we only came to know about it because the audio tour pointed it out, as we didn’t see any signs of it.
While going down South its on the ocean side and a very sharp turn to the right below a big yellow sign that says ‘Narrow Road’.
We went down the narrow road but were turned away by the ranger as the beach parking lot as full. We went back and waited at the lodge parking lot and came back in 30 minutes, but were turned away again.
Hopefully, on a future visit, I will be able to see this beach.
Nepenthe Restaurant (for views)
Nepenthe Restaurant in Big Sur is a cliffside restaurant renowned for its panoramic ocean views. The spacious viewing terrace offers panoramic vistas of the rugged coastline and the Pacific Ocean.
I highly recommend stopping here and going up to the terrace. The terrace is part of the restaurant, but I asked the staff there, and they said we are welcome to enjoy the views even if we are not eating there.
The restaurant itself looked lovely and was a great place for lunch. There is also a cafe and gift shop here.
Grimes Point
Grimes Point was a nice large pullout area on the ocean side with panoramic ocean views. The coastline was a bit foggy, which made it more beautiful. You might often spot California Condors here, but we didn’t.
Partington Cove
If you have an extra hour, visiting Partington Cove is a good hike to stretch your legs and explore a tunnel and a cove.
Partington Cove is a hidden gem in Big Sur, accessible via a short hike through a tunnel and down a steep trail. The cove features crystal-clear blue waters and rocky shores, perfect for exploring tide pools or enjoying a quiet moment by the sea.
We did not visit the cove because we were short on time. The trail looked quite a downhill incline from the highway.
McWay Falls
McWay Falls is a breathtaking 80-foot waterfall in Big Sur, located within Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park.
The waterfall is not big by any means, but the unique draw of McWay Falls is that it falls directly on a crescent-shaped beach, which looks picture-perfect!
There is a bigger parking lot here and restrooms with running water. The turnaround time is quick, so if you don’t find parking, just wait around, and you should get it.
There is a $10 entrance fee per vehicle, which we paid in cash at the self-serve kiosk. Make sure to carry cash with you. If you have the California Explorer annual pass then this park is covered in that.
The trail to the waterfall overlook area is about half a mile long and mostly flat. We went through a short tunnel under the highway and reached the overlook area. There was no access to the beach, and we admired the waterfall and the surrounding scenery from the overlook.
After Bixby Bridge, visiting McWay Falls is the second most popular thing to do in Big Sur. And it lived up to the hype for me. I loved the postcard-perfect scenery of the waterfall falling from a cliff on a secluded beach.
Due to the road closures south of McWay Falls, we returned back to Carmel after visiting McWay Falls.
Tips to make the most of your visit to Big Sur
After spending a full day exploring Big Sur, below are my travel tips to help you make the most of your driving in Big Sur.
✅ Drive North to South – Most vista points are on the ocean side, so this route is enjoyed best driving south from Carmel.
✅ Audio tour app – We used this audio tour app, and it made it easy to know about upcoming stops. The entry points to beaches, state parks, and parking lots are easy to miss, and the audio tour would tell us ahead of time when an attraction was coming up.
✅ Carry cash for State Park entrance fees – We had to pay $10 cash for McWay Falls. Pffiefer Beach (if we had got parking) was another $15 cash. So make sure you have enough cash for state park entrance fees.
✅ Start early – We started really early; we were already on Bixby Bridge around 10 AM, and parking was not an issue at most places. When we were returning back in the evening most parking lots seemed full.
✅Be prepared for all kinds of weather – It can get foggy, cold, windy, sunny, at any point in the day. So be prepared with layers, a wind jacket and a beanie. In the morning it was foggy, then it became sunny in the afternoon, and later on foggy again.
✅Fill up on gas in Carmel – We did this, as we were not sure if there would be fuel stations ahead. We saw one around Big Sur River Inn.
✅Carry water and snacks – We did this, unsure what to expect due to the road closures, but were pleasantly surprised at the nice restaurants along the way. See next section on where to eat.
Where to eat in Big Sur
We found several nice restaurants and cafes along Big Sur. Below are some of them:
- Big Sur Lodge – It has a cafe where you can purchase snacks, coffee, and ice cream and a sit-down restaurant. The menu has vegetarian options.
- Nepenthe – Cliffside dining with panoramic ocean views! Expensive, but the views are worth dining here once. This is on my list to come back to!
- Restaurant at Big Sur River Inn – This place with patio seating looked nice, but we didn’t stop there.
Where to stay for Big Sur Drive
You can stay in Monterey or Carmel for exploring Big Sur. Along Big Sur, there are very few accommodation options.
Big Sur Lodge – If you want to stay overnight in Big Sur, Big Sur Lodge is right outside Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and seems like a great place to stay overnight to explore the hiking trails. This is already on my list of places to come back to in the future!
Hyatt Carmel Highlands – A luxury resort at the start of the Big Sur scenic drive. If affordability is not an issue, this is the place to be. Maybe someday, for a special occasion, we could stay here!
Carmel River Inn – We stayed here once during our weekend getaway to Carmel. This is a mid-range hotel, and I recommend booking one of their newer cottages. It had basic amenities, but the location was great.
Comfort Inn Marina on the Monterey Bay – A budget hotel in Monterey that is around a 20-minute drive from the start of Big Sur. We stayed here this time as we only needed it to sleep overnight. It was clean and comfortable and it had free continental breakfast.
Final Takeaways
Driving the Big Sur Coast from Carmel to McWay Falls was a memorable road trip through some of California’s most stunning coastal scenery.
I loved the Bixby Bridge and McWay Falls, but my favorite part of the Pacific Coast Highway drive was the infinite views of the fog-covered coastline.
Although our trip ended at McWay Falls due to road closures, it was the perfect experience of Big Sur. Hopefully, in the future, once the road is open, we will drive all the way to San Simeon and beyond.
Nearby Places of Interest
⭐ Got questions about your trip?
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