Check out this packing guide of my favorite items to pack on my trips, however, listed below is a tailored guide for a Monterey and Big Sur itinerary. The drive from Carmel-by-the-Sea to San Simeon is 2 hours and 20 minutes of curvy, cliff-side driving. Also, as mentioned before Carmel is known for their wineries so there are several you can head to for wine tastings. Or Big Sur, Carmel, Monterey to San Francisco. It was nice to arrive at the hotel after a long day and just relax for a minute and eat some snacks! If youre looking to take a much longer trip down the PCH, check out all my favorite stops on the Pacific Coast Highway yes, all 75 of them! Driving Big Sur: Best Big Sur Road Trip Itinerary (Top Views + Stops!) Thank you! Evening House dating to 1867 of one of the first American families to homestead the Big Sur coast, with a New England-style saltbox wing built in 1877. Just a few of the things Big Sur is well-known for. With that being said, Im planning out this Big Sur road trip itinerary from north to south. 2-Day Big Sur Itinerary: 25 Best Things To Do For An Epic Road Trip In Youll be able to come back to a small town and enjoy a night on the town after you explore the nature scenes of Big Sur. You'll likely hit Carmel-By-The-Sea first, which is where you should bed down; the famed L'Auberge Carmel offers old-world luxury. As well as (chive and cheddar) scones and strudels and coffees and cream-filled donuts. In addition, since California is still somewhat in a drought, the falls may be quite dry during the summer months. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. How to Spend One Day in Big Sur: Day Trip Guide from the Bay Area Then head over to the American Tin Cannery Outlets and meet up with Big Sur Adventures for an e-bike tour of the coast. Hi, Im Jess. Hi Kate! 10 Things You Should Know About The Brando Resort in Tetiaroa, A First-timer's Trip to Australia; Sydney, the Whitsundays and the Central Coast, Paradise in the Dominican Republic: The Samana Peninsula, Explore the North Coast of the Dominican Republic, A 3-Day Itinerary for Charleston, South Carolina, How to Spend 3 Days in Nashville, TN - A Girls' Trip, Balboa Island in Newport Beach,California, Carmel, Monterey & Big Sur - A Perfect 3-Day Itinerary, Mission San Carlos Borromeo del Rio Carmelo, "I've actually been meaning to take the kids on this road trip. I absolutely fell in love. I would love to visit all of the beautiful beaches, go on those hikes and eat the saltwater taffy and ice cream! . all my favorite stops on the Pacific Coast Highway. Our itineraries will help get you on your way to a memorable Monterey County experience. Theres also some hiking in the state park, with sea lions and starfish in the tide pools nearby. Hi Elena! If we get there earlier, we get saltwater taffy and enjoy them on our hikes/beach time. You can easily follow along the road trip stops, doing every single one (my recommendation) or picking and choosing a few if you only have part of a day. Let's talk travel, teaching abroad, and travel blogging.I also love sharing about my love for Asian dramas and #allthethings to create memorable experiences! The official name of the Carmel Mission is Mission San Carlos Borromo del ro Carmelo. A short 10 minute walk from the parking lot will get you to a beautiful waterfall crashing directly into the Pacific Oceans emerald water. Its a cute town, and there is a long sandy beach. 6. Pacific Grove is a small area right on the edge of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary about a 10-minute drive from Fishermans Wharf. Mmm! Thanks for stopping by! 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! Hiking and tide pooling are great here. When is the Best Time to Visit Monterey and Big Sur? Thank you! You can drive all of these Big Sur road trip stops from either north to south (starting in Carmel) or south to north (starting in San Simeon) of course, but I prefer driving from NORTH to SOUTH. Channel Islands National Park The beach there was beautiful with views of the cliffs next to the ocean. Homewood Suites by Hilton in San Jose Four Points by Sheraton Hotels in San Jose Aloft Hotels in San Jose InterContinental (IHG) Hotels in San Jose Extended Stay America Hotels in San Jose Residence Inns in San Jose Choice Hotels in San Jose Best Western Hotels in San Jose Motel 6 Hotels in San Jose Fairfield Inns in San Jose Four Points by Sheraton Hotels Afternoon I was really excited to go here because I hadnt seen redwood trees since I was a little kid. We were going to get lunch, but decided to wait until Carmel since we ate so many samples! 3. 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! This mountain range, just inland from the not-so-hidden gem that is Big Sur, runs from below Monterey and Carmel down to about San Luis Obispo. I love the mixture of beautiful scenery, learning about new things, and getting outside and being active. 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! Things to Do in Big Sur | Big Sur, CA Itinerary - Visit Monterey If you start at Big Sur, put your location in as San Simeon and then drive north from there. Whether youre driving down the entirety of the California coast or just making the short drive from SF, youre in luck. Options for Dinner on Your Monterey Itinerary, Added Excursions for Your Monterey and Big Sur Itinerary, Map of Places for Your Monterey and Big Sur Road Trip, Where to Stay on Your Monterey and Big Sur Road Trip, More Places to Eat on Your Monterey and Big Sur Itinerary, Phils Fish Market & Eatery in Moss Landing, What to Pack for Your Monterey and Big Sur Road Trip, FAQs About Your Monterey and Big Sur Itinerary. It was moved to get away from the military garrison. Even more than that, Point Lobos doesnt classify itself as a state park, but rather as a natural reserve with the highest protection for nature and wildlife found here. If you are looking to stay right in Big Sur, you can find Big Sur Lodge and Big Sur River Inn.If you would like to save money and don't mind staying a little further away, you can find accommodations in Carmel-by-the-Sea or Monterey by searching on booking.com.Carmel-by-the-Sea is about 10 minutes away from the north part of Big Sur, and Monterey is about 20 minutes away. After checking out Cannery Row, we walked to Big Sur Adventuresabout 5 minutes away to rent bikes. This is definitely a place I would like to spend more time at if I head back to this area. We ended up booking the Hideaway an adorable boutique hotel. Read on for the most perfect Big Sur road trip itinerary! You are able to do wine tastings inside or if you dont drink, there is also a full service restaurant as well. Bring a blanket and a cooler with your favorite sandwich to enjoy, which we wish we had done. Morsels 03.02.23 | Eat + Drink - Monterey County Weekly NOW I would advise sharing a sundae with your BFF as the portions are huge, but its delicious nonetheless. I recommend the shrimp mac and cheese! 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. Big Sur Road Trip: Best Stops on a Scenic California Coast Adventure! From SF, Big Sur is about 2.5 hours south. Big Sur Road Trip - Includes ALL the Best Viewpoints! 6. Being Big Surs largest beach, as long as the tide is low, youll find plenty of space to lay your towel down and relax. Accommodation in Big Sur is pricey. The 45 minute drive can last all day as you delight in the views (and the cuisine!) Riding bikes was definitely a blast and I highly recommend everyone ride bikes along this trail. 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!). Morning We also went on the Cyprus Grove Trail and we loved that one too. We chose the 17-mile ride and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of our 3-hour outing. This is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Monterey . It is about a 20-minute drive from the Monterey area, but its named one of the Best Beach restaurants named by BBC Travel. 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. Now part of the Ventana Inn resort. 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. (7/19/18), "This area has been on my must-see/do list for years. Here is the Monterey, Carmel and Big Sur itinerary I followed for a long weekend getaway! Filed Under: North America, USA Tagged With: big sur, california, central coast, pacific coast highway, Your email address will not be published. Thank you for this helpful resource. Bring water and watch out for poison oak. It was so delicious and the outdoor dining setting right over the ocean was such a dream. The waves are unpredictable and pretty rough. Phils Fish Market & Eatery sounds so fun too! A 75-room Big Sur boutique hotel just yards from the beach in a restored mansion built in 1905, La Playa Carmel was first constructed by artist Christian Jorgensen as a gift for his wife and had the first swimming pool in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Answer 11 of 11: Hello I'm hoping for some advice. Thanks for the inspiration to put it on the top of my travel list." Coast of California Day 3: 17-Mile Drive, Carmel by the Sea, Big Sur, Pismo Beach Happy Friday, Everyone! Big Sur Monterey California Coast McWay Falls from San Jose There is a small parking lot off the north end of Bixby Bridge where you can step out and take some iconic photos of it. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hi I am Aubrie, thanks for stopping by! (If you come between April-June, there are purple flowers all over the place in this area and Pacific Grove!). And plus, Im from San Francisco so Im typically driving down the coast, not up. Not many out-of-towners know this, but. Bixby Bridge was one of my favorite stops on my Big Sur Itinerary! , Point Lobos looks absolutely stunning! Yes, its that impressive. They were so colorful and unique! Whats your favorite local spot? Next up on this Big Sur road trip itinerary the Point Sur Lighthouse! Be sure to checkout some of my blog posts which include information about travel, fashion, lifestyle and photography. (Keep this in mind if you are headed off to the airport so that you give yourself plenty of time.). There is also the Old Downtown Marketplace every Tuesday from 4 -7 PM in the fall and 4 8 PM in the summer. These are the items on our list that we are possibly looking to hit: Highway 1 Mcway Falls Bixby. I think you. 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. (7/19/18), "We were here in Spring of 2017 and, sadly, Big Sur was closed, but we still LOVED this area and can't wait to return one day. " As you arrive, drive straight to the Sea Lion Point parking lot and you can start on the trail there, Cypress Grove Trail. Public school whose 1931 auditorium served as Carmel's primary artistic, civic .