This summer has been the ultimate California adventure! Since we haven’t been traveling abroad due to Covid, we’ve spent every weekend and every bit of free time exploring our beautiful Golden State! Big Sur was definitely one for the books!
These are my must-see stops along the gorgeous Big Sur road trip from San Simeon to Carmel By-The-Sea!
FYI: Fill up with gas before you start your drive on Big Sur! Gas is few and far between once you get on the roughly 85 mile stretch from San Simeon to Carmel. There are only a couple of gas stations and they’re extremely far along the drive and crazy expensive!! So learn from my mistakes and fill up all the way or charge if you’re in an EV.
San Simeon – The Big Sur Starting Point!
San Simeon has some must-see spots to check out as well! Take a look at my Hearst Castle and Elephant Seal Vista Point blog for more ideas of what to see and do in San Simeon.
Heading Up the Coast!
First Stop along Big Sur:
McWay Falls is stunning! It’s a gorgeous cove/beach with a waterfall pouring straight into the clear turquoise water below. It’s a perfect first stop along the way!
Unfortunately, you’re not allowed to go down onto the beach or swim, but it’s for preservation purposes, so it’s a good thing they don’t allow people on it. Otherwise, it may not be as perfectly kept as it is.
Parking: There’s a parking lot on both sides of the highway. So, you can easily pull off, park, and enjoy the gorgeous viewpoint!
Second Stop along Big Sur:
Next, we stopped at the famous Nepenthe restaurant. There are two sides to the restaurant. One side is more casual dinner style food, and the other side is more expensive. It’s right along the cliff’s edge overlooking the Pacific Ocean, so the view is beautiful, especially if you sit right on the balcony bar seating. Of course, anywhere with a view in a touristy destination is going to be pricy, so if that’s not your thing, I have another food option for you below!
Parking: There are two very large parking lots! So you should be able to easily find a spot.
Third Stop along Big Sur!
Make sure not to miss the turn off for Pfeiffer Beach! It’s easy to miss, so have it pulled up on your navigation so you don’t have to turn around. It also fills up quickly on weekends, so try to get to this beach early. It’s known as the purple sand beach because when it rains or when the water hits the sand it turns is a light shade of purple.
We, unfortunately, got there too late on the weekend and the parking lot was full. The attendant said it was at capacity by 8 am! They won’t let anyone in once the parking hits capacity. So, we’ll have to check this one out next time, because it looks beautiful and it’s a great swim stop! There’re also some cave-like rocks on this beach that look quite dynamic.
Parking: There’s a parking lot near the beach, at the bottom of a one-way windy road. Once it’s filled no one else is allowed on the beach.
Fourth Stop along Big Sur!
Big Sur River Inn is a great stop to grab a drink or a bite to eat and enjoy the view as you sit in the river and eat! It’s really cute, they have chairs that are actually in the river. They’ll pack your food and drinks in a cooler for you to take to the river. So you can splash around and take in a part of Big Sur that you can easily miss from the highway.
Parking: There’s a parking lot here with a big sign for the hotel/restaurant. You can’t miss it!
Fifth Stop along Big Sur!
This is the most famous site to see on Big Sur and rightfully so! Bixby Creek Bridge is a jaw-dropping viewpoint where you can stop, take pictures, and take in the scenery of the Bixby Bridge with one of the gorgeous desolate beaches of Big Sur below.
Someone was swimming at the beach beneath the bridge when we were there, but I have no idea how anyone would get up or down from there. If you know how, please let me know in the comments below! There’s no marked trail and it’s a very steep descent. I’m sure some of the locals know of a route, but I’m happy with just getting to gaze at it from above for now. The color of the water mixed with the bridge and the mountainous highway is absolutely beautiful!
Parking: There are two small parking lots on both sides of the highway.
Sixth Stop along Big Sur!
Garrapata Beach is a must stop swim spot! This beach is a sprawling pristine part of this coastline. The water is so blue and the sand’s a stunning white! It’s quite an extensive beach, so there’s plenty of room to sprawl out, layout, and swim!
Parking: There’s parking along the side of the highway for this beach. It’s very easy to see and the Garrapata Beach sign is right near where you park.
Seventh Stop along Big Sur!
Point Lobos State Marine Reserve is an awesome reserve with multiple hikes to different beaches and coves. We had limited time, so we went with Gibson Beach and China Cove. They’re right next to each other and it’s a short hike from the highway. Gibson Beach is beautiful with crystal clear turquoise water, but since it’s a reserve, you can’t swim. China Cove is just a pretty overlook. With the hike to and from both locations, and walking around on Gibson Beach, it took us a little over an hour to explore the reserve.
Parking: You’ll see parking on the side of the road right next to the sign for the natural reserve. There’s also a parking lot inside the reserve, but you have to pay $10 for it. If you walk in, it’s free!!
Big Sur’s Final Destination! Carmel & Monterey!
Carmel By-The-Sea is the perfect place to watch the sunset on the incredibly gorgeous, white sand, Carmel Beach. Afterward grab a bite to eat at the Dametra Cafe, a delicious authentic Greek restaurant in town, and spend the night at one of the adorable Carmel Inns or Bed and Breakfasts after your beautiful trek along Big Sur.
Here is a Custom Map to help you plan your trip! Every place I’ve mentioned is perfectly placed in order on this map to make it easy for you to plan your Big Sur adventure!
To Sum it Up!
Big Sur is a must-see California destination, and an incredible drive! Here are my tips for road tripping up Big Sur. I hope you enjoy them! As always, if I left anything out, let me know in the comments below, and have fun when you go! If you’re interested in checking out more California weekend getaways and road trips, take a look at my suggestions for Hearst Castle & Elephant Seal Vista Point, Los Alamos, Avila Beach, Sycamore Springs, Cambria, La Jolla, Catalina Island, Lake Tahoe, and Mammoth Lakes.
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