Big Sur Long Weekend
based on 18 votes
Highway 1 in Big Sur has amazing ocean and mountain views, and is one of the world's most scenic drives. The term "Big Sur" refers to the 90 miles of coast between Carmel and Cambria, as well as the "village" of Big Sur, which is really just a few widely-spaced hotels and restaurants in the Big Sur River valley, in and around Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park.
The village of Big Sur is about 3 hours south of the San Francisco airport, taking Highway 280 to 85 to 17 to 1. From the Los Angeles airport, the route is 405 to 101, exiting onto 1 in San Luis Obispo, about 6-7 hours. Best times to go are in the fall and early winter, when the summer fog clears and the roads have less traffic. Rainy season begins in late December and continues through March.
Make sure to have hotel or campground reservations before you go - most places are booked solid months in advance. Because Big Sur has no stoplights and essentially no cross streets, addresses can be tricky, and are usually given in terms of their distance from prominent landmark locations. Travel times are hard to predict, but most drivers manage an average of 30-35 miles per hour on Highway 1. Rushing through is definitely not the point in this place.
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Explore locations featured in this Traveler List:
Big Sur, San Simeon
- Category: Perfect weekend
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Traveler type: Sightseeing, Active/Outdoors
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Appeals to: Couples/romantics, Singles, Active/adventure
- Seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
- Tags: Big Sur, romantic weekend, scenic drive, hiking
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1. Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
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| If you stop nowhere else in Big Sur, you should here. A 15 minute visit is rewarded with one of the most unforgettable views on Earth. The must-see view of McWay Falls tumbling directly into the Pacific is wheelchair accessible, unlike most points of interest in this part of the world. Just park and take a short walk following the sign marked "waterfall trail." Not to be confused with Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park 11 miles to the north; Gorda is 25.8 miles to the south. |
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2. Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
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| No ocean views, but features beautiful hikes through redwood forests, a waterfall, a handsome mid-century stone lodge with restaurant, well-stocked gift shop, grocery store, and frequent "around the campfire" summer activities for kids. Located 27 miles south of Carmel, and 36.7 miles north of Gorda. |
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| One of the very few publicly accessible beaches in Big Sur. Parts of the Elizabeth Taylor/Richard Burton film "The Sandpiper" were shot here in 1965, and fortunately the place looks much the same today. Highlights include a natural rock arch just offshore, where the waves crash through. Enter from Sycamore Canyon Road (the first paved road on the left after the Big Sur Post Office) 1.1 miles south of the entrance to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, and 0.6 miles north of the Loma Linda gas station. It's a 2 mile drive to the parking lot, down a winding road - RVs not recommended - and then a short walk over a hill to the beach. |
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| Another of the rare beach access areas in Big Sur, which features grand views up to Cone Peak, only three miles from the coast; at 5,177 feet, Cone Peak is the highest coastal mountain in the continental US. Jade Cove shares a parking lot with Sand Dollar Beach, 3.7 miles north of Gorda and 22 miles south of the entrance to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. The beach is accessed by steps down a 50 foot cliff, a short walk from the parking lot. |
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| One of the few man-made landmarks in Big Sur, this dramatic single arch concrete bridge, built over a yawning chasm, opened the region up to the outside world when it was completed in 1932. Tourists love to stop here and take pictures, and it's easy to see why: the views are spectacular. Bixby Bridge is 14 miles south of Carmel, and 12.6 miles north of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. |
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6. Nacimiento-Fergusson Road
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| This winding, hairpin turn road has amazing views down to the ocean. On foggy days, it's a good vantage point to see the area, as it climbs over 2000 feet above sea level, and is usually high above any fog banks. There are several scenic turnouts large enough to park a car and enjoy an impromptu picnic. This is also the easiest way from Highway 1 to reach the top of Cone Peak, as Cone Peak Trail exits from this road a few miles inland. Nacimiento-Fergusson Road is exactly 17 miles south of the entrance to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, and 8.8 miles north of Gorda. |
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Ave price:
$1317
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Extremely beautiful and romantic hotel with spectacular views 1200 feet above the Pacific, in a "California modern" style: plenty of glass, rough-hewn wood, and stone that harmonize with the natural setting. The rooms don't have TVs; perfect for those seeking respite from the outside world. Every room has a king-size bed, a shower/whirlpool bath for 2 with a private view of the mountains or ocean, and a wood burning fireplace.
The prices vary wildly with the view: ocean views start above $1000/night. However, the cheaper rooms are also architecturally interesting, with thoughtful touches like window seats, and have great mountain views. You won't feel nickel-and-dimed here with hidden fees, either. An elaborate buffet breakfast is free; so is the minibar, and it's re-stocked daily, or more often upon request. Don't go if you expect a swinging nightlife or wild pool scene, because the place caters to adult couples, and no one under 18 is allowed. Located 2.2 miles south of the entrance to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, and 8.7 miles north of Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. |
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Ave price:
$259
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| Budget option if Post Ranch Inn doesn't fit your wallet. It's located within Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, nestled in a redwood forest in the Big Sur River valley, so there's no ocean view. The cottage-style rooms, joined together in motel-like groups of 4, are cute and well-maintained; some have fireplaces. |
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| Recently renovated, this adobe roadside motel, surrounded by a redwood forest close to Highway 1, now features updated, ultra chic décor that you might expect to find in a New York boutique hotel. Some reviewers on this site have complained about road noise, because most of the rooms are fairly close to Highway 1. |
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| Clifftop ocean view dining at the Post Ranch Inn, 1200 feet above the Pacific. The best times (around sunset) are reserved for Inn guests, but the restaurant is also open to the public for lunch. Menus change nightly depending on what the chef can source locally - it's high end California cuisine at its best. The prix fixe menu is a great value, and there's a huge wine list. |
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| Gorgeous modernist glass and wood gallery space, with expensive art and decorative items, located just across Highway 1 from Nepenthe. The building alone is worth a visit, and it has an elevated outdoor deck with ocean views. |
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12. Deetjen's Big Sur Inn Restaurant
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| Quaint, cozy place for dinner, crammed with antiques and a wood burning fireplace. The building dates from the 30's and is tucked into a redwood forested canyon, 0.6 miles south of Nepenthe and 2.3 miles north of the Coast Gallery. The effect is especially romantic at night - the food is a bit pricey, but the experience is worth it. It's easy to be confused because the entrance sign says "Big Sur Inn", not "Deetjen's." |
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| Casual dining in a relaxed setting. The room has a rustic mid-century lodge feel, with rough-hewn wood columns, plenty of glass, skylights, and a roaring fireplace. The bar area has a flat screen TV and sometimes draws a small, lively crowd. The outdoor space is great on warm days. One of the few restaurants in Big Sur with some entrées below $20. Note: this place also has a small hotel, which gets mixed reviews from other visitors to this site. |
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14. Big Sur Bakery & Restaurant
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| Modern, well-executed food. A little on the expensive side for a restaurant with no ocean view, but worth at least one visit. Located in the Loma Linda "complex," which includes one of the three gas stations in Big Sur, and a few small shops, 1.7 miles south of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, and 1.3 miles north of Nepenthe. |
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15. Nepenthe Restaurant, Cafe Kevah
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| Legendary views 800 feet above the Pacific if you don't want to pay Sierra Mar prices. The service is efficient, sometimes friendly, and the food is good. The main attraction is the scenery. Also has a large gift and book shop with many locally-made items. Located 3 miles south of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, and 8 miles north of Julia Pfeiffer Burns State park. |
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16. Coast Gallery Big Sur
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| Not recommended, but it may trap the unwary tourist. Interesting architecture on the outside gives way to a cramped, unwelcoming space that hasn't been renovated since the 60's. Fluourescent lighting and tasteless bric-a-bric abound. |
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17. Henry Miller Memorial Library
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| Henry Miller scandalized Americans in the mid 20th century with his frank, unapologetic writing about human sexuality. He retreated from the "air-conditioned nightmare" (one of his book titles) of conventional society, living in a Big Sur cabin from 1944-1962. Like its namesake, the Henry Miller Library, which includes a conference center and music performance space, is militantly non-commercial and more than a bit grungy. I found the effect depressing and run-down, but Henry Miller fans will probably love this place. |
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| Not necessarily recommended, but many travelers end up here as it has one of only three gas stations in the Big Sur area. In fact, Gorda has the dubious distinction of the most expensive gasoline in the US, according to a March 2008 New York Times article. The place also has a small cafe and motel. It's located 33.5 miles north of Cambria and 36.7 miles south of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. |
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| The southernmost restaurant and hotel in Big Sur, with great cliffside ocean views and handsome landscaped grounds. These are open to the public and worth a visit. Unfortunately, the cuisine and service aren't equally spectacular. Located 22 miles north of Cambria and 11.6 miles south of Gorda. |
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Compliment scooterboss
scooterboss
Frequent traveller to Big Sur
