Big Sur in One Day
“The best of Big Sur in one day, out and back from Carmel.”
Six classic stops, lunch on a cliff, back to Carmel by dark.
Check Caltrans for Highway 1 status before you go.
- Carmel
- 26 miBig Sur Village
- 11 miJulia Pfeiffer Burns
About 37 miles of driving in total. Rough numbers.
Morning · Carmel → Bixby
- 1Point Lobos State Natural ReserveSight · Get there by 9 for parking and sea otters.
- ↓ About 23 min drive · 13 mi
- 2Bixby Creek BridgeSight · The classic Big Sur photo.
Midday · Big Sur Village
- 1Big Sur BakeryFood · Wood-fired breads and pastries in an old ranch house.
- ↓ About 8 min drive · 3 mi
- 2Pfeiffer BeachSight · Purple-streaked sand and the Keyhole Arch.
Afternoon · South coast
- 1NepentheFood · Late lunch on the terrace.
- ↓ About 23 min drive · 9 mi
- 2McWay FallsSight · A waterfall that drops straight onto a hidden beach.