Big Sur - Pacific Cost Highway

Portsmouth, United...
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Big Sur - Pacific Cost Highway
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Hey all

I’m Laurie (male) and having recently retired been planning for a trip to California in September. One part of this trip was going to be a drive down PCH taking in Big Sur too.

Our current plans are to fly into SF, stay for a few days then pick up a rental. From there go to Carmel for 2 days then drive down to Santa Barbara for a short stay there, then onto LA, San Diego etc.

Having seen the recent photos we are concerned that we may have to miss out on that drive.

What I’d like to understand is, will that section from Carmel to Santa Barbara Be fully open by September (I’m going by British repair timescales so forgive me if this is a daft question) and if there are closures what other routes might offer us in terms of alternative options and nice things to see.

I’m a former DE in my own city and Portugal so would very much appreciate some nice local guidance.

Many thanks

9 replies to this topic
Munich, Germany
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1. Re: Big Sur - Pacific Cost Highway
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If the Hwy. 1 is open totally in September, then don't drive all the way from Carmel to Sta. Barbara in one day. This is the most beautiful part of the hwy, you''ll want to stop evere few miles and enjoy the view or take pictures. So the best would be staying one night inbetween in Pismo Beach.

Grover Beach...
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Hi Laurie

No one can predict with any certainty whether Highway 1 through Big Sur will be fully open by the time of your visit. There's one particularly difficult slide area that requires an inordinate amount of work before Caltrans will feel confident that it will be safe for drivers to pass through. Likely that section will be down to one lane if open by then, so expect some delays.

Monterey/Carmel to Santa Barbara via Highway 1 would make for a long, tiring day. 5 to 5 1/2 hours without stops.

I strongly recommend spending a night close to where Bug Sur ends, such as Cambria or Morro Bay. There is little to no room for error driving Big Sur. The road sits hundreds of feet above the ocean with steep drop offs and several seriously tight, blind curves that rise and fall. A mountain range hugs the inside lane, which makes the drive that much more ardouos. It also requires the driver's rapt attention, so frequent stops are recommended so that the driver can enjoy the view, too.

If for some reason the highway through Big Sur is still impassable, then use your full day while in Monterey/Carmel to explore the northern end of Big Sur.

Portsmouth, United...
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Hi Kibbles,

Many thanks for the considered answer. Part of our planning is a couple of days in Carmel and Sta Barbara was to give us additional time to explore the Big Sur region from either end.

I’ve taken on board your comments on driving time and will allow time to appreciate everything Big Sur has to offer…. we set aside a whole day for that drive and understand the complexity of that route.

I’ve done PCH from San Diego to Los Angeles while working years ago and always wanted to share it with my wife. Any other advice would be greatly appreciated.

Orange, California
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Laurie, there is no way to tell if the road will be open by the time of your visit in September. This year was unprecedented in the amount of rain and snow across California. You can monitor the closure on the following website: https://www.bigsurcalifornia.org/highway_conditions.html

Currently Highway 1 is open through the most visited sections of Big Sur and you can plan to see those areas. The easiest alternate route from Monterey is Highway 68 to the 101. This will take you through farmland and then lovely golden hills dotted with oak trees. Paso Robles is a major town along this route that is well known for showcasing the wineries in the area. Several wineries in the region offer tastings and have restaurants.

Highway 46 will take you back to the coast south of the closure. Cambria is a charming town to explore. The nearby Moonstone beach has a beautiful wooden walkway parallel to the beach for exploration.

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While Carmel is a good base to explore the northern part of Big Sur, Santa Barbara is a terrible base to see the southern part. Stay on the Monterey Peninsula...Carmel okay....for a couple of nights. If Big Sur is open, then drive through and STOP and overnight in San Luis Obispo County hopefully in a coastal town like Cambria or Morro Bay. If the route through Big Sur is closed then Santa Barbara is a reasonable destination via 68 and 101....but not for seeing the southern side of Big Sur.

Grover Beach...
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Yeah, Santa Barbara is WAY too far south of Big Sur to use as a base to explore the south end. San Simeon or Cambria would be closest to where Big Sur ends. As I said previously, Santa Barbara is a good 2 1/2 to 3 hour drive AFTER descending from Big Sur. Not a viable base.

Aptos, California
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7. Re: Big Sur - Pacific Cost Highway
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I’m on the same bandwagon as everyone else. Santa Barbara is too far south to explore the southern half of Big Sur. If Highway 1 is open and you want to explore the southern end then your choices are San Simeon, Cambria and Morro Bay, although Morro Bay is a bit for for to be convenient.

Two nights in Carmel is good. You’ll either enjoy Carmel and the Monterey area for two days or if 1 is still closed you can take a day to explore the northern end of Big Sur returning to Carmel.

If Highway 1 is open you’ll need a stop in Cambria, Morro Bay, Cayucos or Pismo Beach. San Simeon if you’re interested In Hearst Castle, although I’d prefer Cambria for Hearst Castle. . From there you can still go on to Santa Barbara and enjoy that area. There is plenty to do in Santa Barbara that has nothing to do with Big Sur.

There is zero comparison to Highway 1 south of Los Angeles to Highway 1 between Carmel and San Simeon. Even if you drive straight through with no stops the 3 hour drive will feel like 6 hours. The the road needs your full attention at all times. Especially since we don’t know what an open Highway 1 will look like. There could be many one lane sections with construction going on with a flag person holding up traffic or there could be stop lights, there already are some, holding up traffic letting one lane go at a time. When you’re driving you are 100s of feet above the Pacific on a twisty and curvy road. You’re sharing the road with other tourists that are driving it for the first time as well. You have to not only watch for falling rocks but you also need to watch out for bad drivers making dangerous decisions.

It will be easy to have a plan A and a plan B.

Plan A: SF-Carmel-Cambria-Santa Barbara

Plan B. SF- Carmel (using a day to sightsee the northern end of Big Sur) - Santa Barbara

Take a Santa Barbara day and book something in a San Luis Obispo beach town. If Highway 1 isn’t open cancel it a go with plan B.

These websites and blogs are helpful for Big Sur driving tips and Kates blog updates the conditions on Highway 1 almost daily.

http://www.bigsurvisitorguide.com/

https://www.bigsurcalifornia.org/

https://bigsurkate.blog/amp/

Edited: 4:34 pm, April 14, 2023
Portsmouth, United...
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8. Re: Big Sur - Pacific Cost Highway
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Thank you so much for all the replies and advice. We will review our plans accordingly and possibly make some adjustments where sensible.

I have to say that when I’ve used TA in Europe I’ve never experienced such a high level of interest and volume of information. You guys certainly show a lot of consideration to fellow travellers 👍🏻

Grover Beach...
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9. Re: Big Sur - Pacific Cost Highway
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Glad to be of help, Laurie.

Feel free to check back closer to your trip for updated info on road closures and alternate routes.

Edited: 3:37 pm, April 15, 2023
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