Day Trip to Big Sur and Bixby Creek Bridge
19 Miles | 30 Minutes Drive
South of Carmel, Highway 1 follows the Big Sur coast, one of the most dramatic drives in the country. Bixby Creek Bridge, the classic first stop, is about 30 minutes from Scottish Fairway Inn. Farther south you will find redwood groves, waterfalls, and trails in state parks such as Pfeiffer Big Sur and Julia Pfeiffer Burns.
Big Sur is remote. Services are spread out, cell coverage is patchy, and the highway is sometimes closed by landslides or roadwork, so plan before you go. Starting from the north side of Monterey, you can be on the coast road early and back for a barbecue in the hotel's picnic area by evening.
Tips
- Check Caltrans QuickMap for Highway 1 conditions before you set out.
- Fill up on gas and download offline maps before you leave Monterey or Carmel.
- Use the marked pullouts only, and never stop on the bridge.
Caltrans QuickMap (road conditions)
Photo: Bixby Creek Bridge July 2024 by John Dillenbeck, via Wikimedia Commons. Released under CC0 1.0. Resized; website renditions may be cropped and converted in format.
