MY ROAD TRIP TO BIG SUR, CA.

Houda Chami
Jun 3, 2022
3 min read

Updated: Feb 13, 2023

Heading to California and can’t wait to check off all the stops on this Big Sur road trip itinerary? Read on for my favorite Big Sur activities, where to stay, what to do in Big Sur, and (most importantly), what and where to eat! This Big Sur road trip will have you booking flights to California ASAP, promise!

Big Sur is one of my favorite places IN THE WORLD (hands down) and one of my favorite road trips from San Francisco. I mean, it’s absolutely GORGEOUS. I feel oh so lucky to only live a few hours away, which means I typically make it to Big Sur at least once a year!

Seaside cliffs. Winding turns. Miles of misty coastline. Purple sand (yup!). Just a few of the things Big Sur is well-known for. And just one reason it’s on every list of the most beautiful places in California.

Whether you’re driving down the entirety of the California coast or just making the short drive from SF, you’re in luck. And I’m jealous of you already. With more ocean views than you ever thought possible, eco-friendly and luxurious hotel stays, wooded hiking trails and nature for days, I can never get enough of this stretch of the coastline.

This rugged and mountainous section of the Central Coast of California is just begging to be explored. And trust me, there’s enough things to do in Big Sur to fill an entire weekend and then some.

Nearest City: Carmel (to the north, ~45 min drive) and San Simeon (to the south ~1.5 hour drive)
Closest International Airport: San Francisco (SFO), ~2.5 hour drive
Most Well-Known for: McWay Falls and the Bixby Bridge
When to Visit: April through October, although my favorite time of year is early Fall
How to Get Around: You’ll need (and want) your own car, 110%

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. The scenic pull-offs are along the coast, and driving north to south provides the easiest access to these. And plus, I’m from San Francisco so I’m typically driving down the coast, not up. 🙂

With that being said, I’m planning out this Big Sur road trip itinerary from north to south. 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.

From North to South:

First things first, if you’ve never been to Carmel or Monterey, I highly recommend spending at least a day discovering both. My favorites in that area include: Carmel Beach, Lover’s Point Park, Pavel’s Bakerei, the 17 mile drive, and whale watching! The Monterey Bay Aquarium is a popular favorite as well!

During my trip I stayed at the Intercontinental in Monterey. It‘s a luxurious beachfront Pet Friendly Hotel. I highly recommend staying there if comfortable with the prices. If you’re on a budget then, nothing to worry about! There are plenty of other beautiful hotels to stay in at affordable price.

I‘ve upload below pictures of my road trip! Let’s enjoy the views together and hopefully it will make you want to go see it for real :)

McWay Falls