This itinerary takes you from the heart of Big Sur, in Central California, down Highway 1 to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park (with McWay Falls), and Limekiln State Park (if open, was closed summer 2023). It’s meant to complement another itinerary that focuses on points north of Big Sur “town,” and assumes you’ve already spent time exploring Big Sur on at least a day trip. If you are heading up the coast on Highway 1 from Ragged Point in San Luis Obispo County, just reverse the itinerary.
Before you go:
• Highway 1 is sometimes closed for road repairs, so you can’t always drive all the way down to San Luis Obispo County. Best to check on Highway conditions before you make plans.
• Download a list of mile markers so you know where you are and what’s up next along the road. GPS doesn’t work in most places!
• Read about sustainable practices to protect and preserve Big Sur.
Deetjen's Restaurant, California 1, Big Sur, CA, USA
Big Sur Bakery, California 1, Big Sur, CA, USA
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, CA-1, Big Sur, CA, USA
Pfeiffer Beach, California, USA
McWay Falls, Big Sur, CA, USA
Wild Coast Restaurant, California 1, Big Sur, CA, USA
Sierra Mar, California 1, Big Sur, CA, USA
Sur House
Treebones Resort, California 1, Big Sur, CA, USA
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, California 1, Big Sur, CA, USA
Big Sur Lodge, California 1, Big Sur, CA, USA
Big Sur River Inn, California 1, Big Sur, CA, USA
Big Sur Roadhouse, California 1, Big Sur, CA, USA
Nepenthe, California 1, Big Sur, CA, USA
Ragged Point, CA, USA
Best Places for Breakfast in Big Sur & Highway 1
Deetjen's Restaurant
The cozy restaurant at historic Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn serves one of the best breakfasts in the region. Fill up on eggs benedict, buttermilk pancakes, huevos rancheros, or a breakfast burrito before heading out to the trails.
Big Sur Bakery
Mmmm. The scent of fresh-baked pastries wafts through the redwoods and leads to the beloved Big Sur Bakery, in a funky, unassuming 1936 ranch house. A loyal following congregates here every morning to pick up their daily cuppa joe, breakfast items, and healthful breads and croissants along with sinful delights like jelly doughnuts. Mile marker 45.
Best Things To Do in the Morning in Big Sur & Highway 1
Spend the morning hiking in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, followed by a drive down to Pfeiffer Beach.
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
The big kahuna of Big Sur state parks, Pfeiffer Big Sur bears the name of pioneer John Pfeiffer. The Big Sur River runs through it, morphing into waterfalls and swimming holes at various points along the way. Hiking choices run the gamut, with miles of trails for all levels (check on trail status on the website and at Big Sur Station, 1/4 mile south of the park entrance, as bridges and trails were damaged during winter 2023.) Location: near mile marker 47
Pfeiffer Beach
Ever dug your toes in purple sand? Clambered through a sea cave? Sat beneath giant rocks? Head 2 miles down narrow, winding Sycamore Canyon Road, to Pfeiffer Beach, with towering cliffs, sea stacks and unusual rock formations, plus the most interesting sand, purple-hued from manganese garnet particles. Sunsets here are usually awesome spectacles, a collision of gold, blue and purple light bouncing off the rocks.
Best Places for Lunch in Big Sur & Highway 1
Have lunch in Big Sur before heading south; try Big Sur Roadhouse or Nepenthe (details below). Alternatively, stop at Big Sur Deli, Big Sur Bakery, or COAST Big Sur.
Nepenthe
Legendary Nepenthe, famed for its terraces overlooking miles of Pacific coastline to the south, draws a steady stream of visitors year-round. Nosh on an Ambrosia burger, shrimp BLT, or other casual California dishes and sip wine while enjoying stunning panoramic ocean views.
Best Things To Do in the Afternoon in Big Sur & Highway 1
Spend time exploring Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, and gaze at its most iconic scene: McWay Falls. Then continue south along Highway 1, through Lucia and Gorda, stopping if you are so inclined at Plaskett Creek, on your way to Ragged Point in San Luis Obispo County.
Julia Pfeiffer Burns SP
Even if you’re short on time, check out this tiny, gorgeous piece of California coast. We can thank Helen Hooper Brown for this gem — in 1962 she donated her family ranch to the state to commemorate her friend and notable pioneer woman, Julia Pfeiffer Burns. The parking lot and picnic area sit on the east side, below 3,000-foot ridges covered with redwoods. From there walk through a tunnel under Highway 1 out to the Scenic Overlook trail, about a mile walk roundtrip, for spectacular views of 80-foot McWay Falls.
Best Places for Dinner in Big Sur & Highway 1
Dinner depends on whether you started from the south and are ending up in Big Sur, or the opposite. If you are heading south from Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, you can stop off in Lucia or Gorda, or make a reservation well in advance at Wild Coast Restaurant or The Lodge Restaurant at Treebones Resort, just a mile north of Gorda. If you are heading north, you have a few options in Big Sur, including the high-end Sur House and Sierra Mar, the mid-range Deetjen’s, or budget (not inexpensive, but it’s all relative here), at Big Sur River Inn or Homestead at Big Sur Lodge.
Deetjen's Restaurant
Dine by candlelight in one of four romantic dining rooms at Deetjen’s Restaurant at historic Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn. The menu changes frequently, depending on seasonal local ingredients, but always have a homestyle focus: think lamb chops, fresh fish, maybe something wild from the nearby mountain community? Excellent wine list.
Best Places to Stay in Big Sur & Highway 1
Deetjen's Big Sur Inn
When Highway 1 opened to auto travel in 1937, Helmut Deetjen scavenged locally milled redwood and built a cluster of cabins and rooms in the style of his native Norway. Deetjen’s is now a 20-room national historic landmark. It’s a true rustic getaway: no phones, no TV, but hella Big Sur character and charm.
Treebones Resort
Treebones is a true Big Sur getaway — just you and a few other guests and umpteen miles of wide, open space and stunning views. The 10-acre glamping eco-resort with yurts, a tree-nest, two upscale autonomous “tents,” and a few campsites, plus two fab restaurants, sits on a hilltop edging the Los Padres National Forest just above Highway 1.
Big Sur: Deep Dive for Nature Lovers, North End