Routes at a glance
| From | How | Time | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | Car | 2–2.5 hours | Highway 101 then 156; slower but prettier on Highway 1 via Santa Cruz |
| San José airport (SJC) | Car | About 1.5 hours | The nearest large airport |
| San Francisco | Guided day tour | About 11 hours return | Covers Monterey, 17-Mile Drive and Carmel |
| Monterey to Carmel | Car or bus | 10–15 minutes | Local buses run between the two |
| Carmel to Bixby Bridge | Car | 25–30 minutes | The start of the Big Sur coast |
| Carmel to McWay Falls | Car | About 1 hour without stops | Allow most of a day with viewpoints |
| Santa Barbara | Car | 4–4.5 hours via US-101 | Much longer via Highway 1 through Big Sur, when it is fully open |
| Los Angeles | Car | 5–6 hours | Via US-101 and Salinas |
Highway 1 through Big Sur
Between Carmel and San Simeon the road is two lanes, winding, often without guard rails and exposed to rockfalls. Winter storms have repeatedly cut it in recent years, closing sections for months at a time. When that happens you can usually still drive from Carmel as far as the closure — and from the south as far as the other side of it — but not all the way through.
Before you set off, check the Caltrans road-conditions service for Highway 1. If the route is broken, take US-101 inland between Salinas and San Luis Obispo instead. Drive in daylight, use the pull-outs to let faster traffic pass and never stop on the road itself.
Arriving without a car
Monterey has a small regional airport with flights from several western US cities. Public transport from San Francisco involves a train or bus to San José or Salinas and a connecting bus, taking around four hours. In the main season, a local bus runs from Monterey and Carmel down the coast into Big Sur on some days, but services are limited; a guided tour is the practical car-free option.
Getting around locally
- Monterey’s waterfront — Fisherman’s Wharf, Cannery Row and the aquarium — is walkable along the coastal trail, and a free trolley links them in summer.
- Carmel is best explored on foot; park once and walk. Houses have no street numbers.
- In Big Sur, parking at viewpoints and state parks is limited. Start early and never park on the highway where it is prohibited.
- There are only a few petrol stations in Big Sur, with very high prices. Fill up in Monterey, Carmel or Cambria.
- Expect little or no mobile coverage south of Carmel Highlands.
