I love Big Sur – probably more than anyone I know. I am constantly encouraging friends & family who haven’t experienced it to go ASAP to experience this magical place. It’s mind-boggling to me how many native Californians haven’t seen it for themselves. I truly can’t think of a better way to spend a weekend than spending 48-hours in Big Sur.
If you’re coming from LA, like I am, the 6-hour drive probably feels a bit daunting. But let me tell you that it’s 1000% worth it. The drive itself is a surreal experience – you’ll find yourself stopping at lookout points, and honestly, just on the side of the road in some places, the entire way up the coast.
Since it’s not always easy to take a day off for this road trip, or if you have friends in town and want to show them Big Sur, but don’t have too much time, this route is a perfect option. It’s very doable if you’re ready to grind through the weekend in Big Sur. And, if you’re not an avid hiker, and just want to experience the beauty of Big Sur, this is the way to go.
You can start out on Saturday morning, leaving LA at 6AM, with mostly sight-seeing on the way up. Then wake up bright and early Sunday to begin the day and start trekking back down the coast. And, I even buffer in some extra time to stop at the random locations on the side of the road, just to take it all in. Yes, even in this short of a trip, it’s still possible not to rush!
Here in 2025? Check out my updated 2025 Big Sur itinerary which has an updated route accounting for the Highway 1 closures.
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48-Hours in big sur Itinerary
Day 1: Drive up the pch to big sur
As mentioned, you’re gonna want to get on the road as early as possible to start this trip. We typically leave around 6AM, and drive for a bit before grabbing a coffee at a drive-through Starbucks on the way – caffeine this early is necessary. And, leaving this early allows you to skip out on all the LA traffic.
It takes about 3 and half hours to get to the first stop, Morro Bay, but your drive is mostly on the coastline – even in the beginning. When we leave from Santa Monica, we just hop on the PCH and take it to the 101. From there on, the rest of the stops are all much closer together.
Morro Rock – 9:30-10:00
The first stop on your trip is Morro Bay in San Luis Obispo. After 3 hours and 30 minutes on the road, it’s a nice spot to get out and stretch your legs. The huge rock is really cool to see up close. It is actually a volcanic plug from a now extinct volcano. You can drive out to the rock, and walk around for a bit.
It’s also a good place to grab coffee and some breakfast. There’s tons of cute spots on the drive out, but we decided to hold out another 30-minutes until Cambria!
Cambria – 10:30-12:00
Cambria is the cutest little beach town, filled with historic architecture and quaint little shops and restuarants. We were craving breakfast burritos so headed to Boni’s Tacos, a taco truck off of Main Street. It’s right across from French Corner Bakery, where we popped in for coffee after eating, and then strolled around the town.
After a casual stroll around the streets, looking at the historic homes, we headed to Moonstone Beach to check out the view. Sadly, it was still a bit foggy this morning, so we didn’t have the best visibility. But nevertheless is a nice stop to explore, with a little boardwalk that allows you to walk further down along the bluffs.
San Simeon – 12:15-12:30 PM
The next stop on the list is to check out San Simeon and it’s Elephant Seal Rookery – just 10-minutes from Cambria. Here you can admire hundreds of seals laying in the sand, playing with one another, and venturing out into the sea. It’s wonderful to watch these creatures up-close, so you’ll definitely want to spend a few minutes hanging out.
Ragged Point – 1:00-1:30 PM
Another 20-minutes up the road is Ragged Point Inn, a hotel and restaurant located right on the cliff, with gorgeous views. After stopping here on our last visit, I’ve already made plans to stay at this hotel. The Ragged Point Inn is a great spot, with hotel rooms overlooking the ocean. This is also a great spot to grab a bite before getting back on the road.
It’s an exciting stop, since it’s the first view that feels very Big Sur-esc. And, if you’re like us, after a bit of a drive and a long morning, it’s super exciting to make it to this point and take in the views of Ragged Point! Typically, past noon, the fog starts to clear, so you’ll have wonderful views.
They do have hike access to the Black Swift Waterfalls, but I’d suggest just taking in the view from the walking path, and saving your hiking energy for later in the trip! We did pick up a few snacks at the gas station next door to keep us fueled up until dinner. It’s also the last gas station for quite a bit, so make sure to refill your tank if running low!
Sand Dollar Beach – 2:00-2:45 PM
Another 25 minutes up the road, you’ll come across Sand Dollar Beach on your left. Pull over and park on the street to walk into the parking lot, where you can follow the trail to walk down to the beach. If you park in the lot, it is a $10 fee.
There’s a long staircase down to the stairs, but you’ll have access to this beautiful beach – which is also dog-friendly! It’s actually the longest stretch of beach in all of Big Sur. It’s named accordingly, as often, you’ll find sand dollars washed up onshore! Sadly, I have yet to find one, but here’s hoping you have success!
Spend some time and enjoy the beach, and if it’s warm enough, even take a dip!
A Flower Trap – 2:50-3:05 PM
Just 5-minutes up the road, you’ll see bright colorful flowers peaking out on your right. A Flower Trap was created by local florists, and it truly is a lovely sight. Bright pinks and oranges brush over the hills. Take a break here for some amazing pictures! The photo below has been my screensaver on my phone since I’ve stopped by 🙂
McWay Falls – 3:30-4:15 PM
Next, we’re onto one of the most famous Big Sur lookouts – McWay Falls in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. It’s about a 30-minute drive from the Flower Trap. This is another location where you can park on the street and walk to the spot, to avoid the $10 parking fee.
It’s just a short walk to the viewing point, where you’ll be mesmerized by the huge waterfall crashing into the bright blue water.
Partington Cove – 4:20-5:30 PM
Up next is one of my favorite trails in Big Sur – Partington Cove, just 5-minutes up the road. You’ll have to park on the side of the street to access the trailhead.
It’s a steep half-mile trail, but well worth it for the views the entire trek. At the end of the trail, you are greeted with the cove itself – crystal clear blue water that crashes against the rocky shore. Stay awhile and explore the cove for wildlife. Oysters line rock, and crabs can be spotted crawling around. We’ve seen a few starfish here, too!
**Nepethene
Depending how long you stopped, you may want to head over to Nepthene for a bite! In the summer, you may have time to stop before sunset for dinner. But in the winter, if catching the sunset in Big Sur is important to you (and it is to me), bring out those snacks and wait it out. This spot is known for it’s amazing views of the ocean while you’re eating, but I find the food not really worth the price. Get the burger, and maybe a glass of wine!
Bixby Bridge – 6:00-6:30 PM
The iconic Bixby Bridge – home to the backdrop of the Big Little Lies intro. It truly is a wonderful sight, and you’ll want to stop on the side after crossing, where you can get out and take in a couple different vantages points of the bridge and the ocean.
Rocky Creek Bridge / Notleys Landing Viewpoint (Sunset) – 6:30-7:30 PM
Head a bit North from Bixby Bridge over the Rocky Creek Bridge for your first lookout while the sun is setting. There’s a place where you can park, righty after crossing the bridge, that allows for a gorgeous view of the water crashing onto the sand. With the sun setting it gives the entire landscape a bright warm glow.
Just a bit further up the road, you’ll come across Notleys Landing Viewpoint, which is one of my favorite spots to take in the last few minutes of sunlight. You can park off the road, right next to a sprawling grass plain. It’s home to some cattle grazing – I swear these cows do not know how lucky they are!. You can see Rocky Creek Bridge from here on a clear day, and the orange tones of the sky just highlight the green plains in the most magical way.
Stay in Carmel-By-The Sea / Pacific Grove
After sunset, we headed up to our hotel in the quaint town of Pacific Grove, which is about an hour drive. We stayed at Gosby House Inn, A Four Sisters Inn, which was a wonderful victorian bed and breakfast, with a super special, homey vibe. There we were greeted with a glass of wine and a cheese plate to take up to our room. I couldn’t have been more happy to be greeted with such hospitality after the long day we had.
The rooms at Gosby House our gorgeous and spacious, with a fireplace, a huge bathroom with a tub, and a large patio area accessed by lovely French doors. We sipped on our wine while we planned a move for dinner.
There are tons of cute spots for dinner and drinks in Pacific Grove, but if you need a quick solution at the end of the day, MidiCi Pizza down the street checks that box. We ordered pizza and a bottle of wine for pickup, scooped it up and went back to the hotel to relax after a long day, knowing the next morning would be early, as well.
Bonus point: the bathroom’s huge tub is a great way to unwind after the day.
Day 2: Carmel by the sea & Back down the Big Sur coast
Pacific Grove – 7:00-9:00 AM
Another early day, again! Aim to be out of the hotel by 7am, and if you stay in Gosby House, take advantage of their complimentary breakfast bar downstairs. The space is just as inviting as our hotel room. It felt like the kind of place grandmothers take their granddaughters for a morning brunch. Tables look out to bay windows for some nice people watching and admiring of the adorable town.
If you’re up early enough, definitely take an hour or so to stroll through town and go on a little exploration of Pacific Grove – the sleepiest, daydreamy oceanside town. We also stopped at Bookworks, a sweet coffee & pastry shop connected to a bookstore, where we grabbed some goodies to take back to our friends & family.
Stroll on over to Lover’s Point Park and walk around the coast up to Point Pinos Lighthouse. With our coffees in hand, the walk felt like a dream, with bright pink flowers blooming all against the coast. Then head back to your car and get back on the road for the day!
17-Mile Drive – 9:15-10:00 AM
17-Mile Drive is probably what you would expect – a 17-mile drive – but it’s a wonderful experience to explore Pebble Beach while driving along the coast of this exclusive neighborhood. You may recognize Pebble Beach as the famous golf course, but it’s also an elite neighborhood home to many stars, and it’s no wonder why. The drive along the coastline is quaint and gorgeous.
You can enter through the Pacific Grove entrance, which is only about a 10-minute drive from Lover’s Point, and make your way out into Carmel, right on track for the next adventure. Cost per admission is $11.25 per vehicle.
You can take your time exploring, hopping out to see some main attractions, which will all be pointed out on the pamphlet handed to you at the entrance gate. In order to make it through the rest of the day, you’ll want to keep this stop at about 1-hour, which is plenty of time to drive through and explore!
Point Lobos – 10:30-11:30 AM
From the exit of 17-Mile Drive (in Carmel), it takes about 20-minutes to head South to Point Lobos. There is no entrance fee for this location, but if you want to park inside their lots, it costs $10. A lot of times, the lots are filled anyways, and you can just park on the side of Highway 1 and walk towards the entrance – we’ve done this every time we’ve come to Point Lobos.
There’s quite a few trail options here, but since we’re moving quickly down the coast, you’ll want to just stick to some shorter options. The views are still incredible, though!
Start out with Sea Lion Point Trail, a quick 0.6-mile trail with incredible water views and a peak into Sea Lion Cove to check out the creatures lounging on the beach.
Garrapata State Park – 12:00-1:15 PM
Ugh, this place is so dreamy! I’m fully obsessed with this park, and could spend hours just exploring. You can pull over at any. part on the side of the road by the Bluffs Trail, and hop out to explore. With multiple walking paths and bridges overlooking the vast ocean, and hills with green grass and flowers adding a contrast to the bright blue sky (here’s hoping you get a sunny day!).
Take about an hour and 15-minutes to explore the random paths, both to the ocean and up around the hills.
Big Sur River Inn & Restaurant – 1:45-2:45 PM
This is our go to lunch spot in Big Sur. It’s just a 15-minute drive from Garrapata State Park. You’ll want to allocated about an hour here to order food, relax and explore, especially after a morning of hiking. In the front of the restaurant, where you’ll order, and you will bring your number to the back patio area. You have the choice of finding a table, sitting down right in the chairs they have placed in the river, where you can sit with your feet in the water, or bringing a blanket and setting up on the grass.
On weekends, they have live music, which just adds to the magic at this spot. Food will come out in coolers, making the picnic or lake sitting option easier, too. The food is great, the vibes are wonderful, and it’s just a great, casual spot to relax before heading back out.
Pfeiffer Beach – 3:00-3:45 PM
Pfeiffer Beach is just a 15-minute drive from lunch, and will be the last big stop before you head back to Los Angeles. It’s another popular location, known for its purple sand and the Keyhole Arch rock in the ocean.
Beware, it’s a tough spot to find since you won’t find any signage for the turnoff. You’ll pass over a bridge (Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge), and then right after will be a turnoff for Sycamore Road. You can see a yellow “Narrow Road” sign, which is where you turn left. Take this road to the end, following the signs for Pfeiffer Beach, and you’ll end up at the parking lot.
It’s just a short, sandy path to the beach, and then you’re there, with the lovely Keyhole Arch in the distance. It’s a lovely spot to stroll the beach, or pop a squat, and take in the views!
**Nepethene
If you didn’t get to stop here on the way up, and are okay with driving home late, it’s worth grabbing dinner here for the sake of the views. The food is so-so, but the views are really what you are here for. The seating overlooks an incredible view of the ocean, and is just a peaceful way to wind down before you head back.
You can also stop in just to grab a coffee before your drive home!
Gamboa Point – 4:30-4:45 PM
You’ll want to make sure you stop here before you head back home, if only for a few minutes! It will take about 40 minutes to get back down to this point from Pfeiffer Beach (we’ve seen most of these stops already on the way up!).
I’ve never really seen people mention this lookout point, but it’s become one of my favorites in all of Big Sur, with what I think is one of the most quintessential Big Sur landscapes. It’s tough not to be in awe of the bright blue water against these cliffs, with the ragged coastline going as far back as your eyes can see.
Stop here are really just take in your last precious moments in Big Sur.
Book It Home
And, now it’s time to say goodbye to Big Sur and hit the road. It’ll take about 5-hours and 30 minutes to get back to LA from Nepethene, and if you skipped that and leave from Gamboa Point, 5-hours.
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