Road Trippin' Big Sur
The West Coast of the United States is home to some of the country's most unique landscapes, from the idyllic beaches of Southern Cali to the temperate rain forests of the Olympic Peninsula. None more so than the section of coastline known as Big Sur.
This rugged section is accessed via California's State Route 1 and sits between Carmel and San Simeon. This dramatic coastline is made so spectacular by the Santa Lucia Mountains to the east and the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean to the west. The winding turns, steep drop offs either side of the highway, beach hideaways and an often misty coastline make this one of the worlds best drives and a must if you're road tipping Cali.
We drove the Big Sur coastline in the northbound direction, and these are my top tips if you're taking on this drive and exploring the area!
McWay Falls Sunset
McWay Falls is an absolute must stop if you're driving through Big Sur. A small waterfall spilling out onto a perfect little cove draining into the ocean makes for an epic scene, made even better with the sun setting over the Pacific and lighting up that thin stream of water. An absolutely epic location!
If you stay at the Pfieffer Big Sur Campground like we did you'll have quick access to all these adventures!
Pfeiffer Beach or Molera Point
There isn't much better thing to do than heading down to an epic beach, soak up the sun, listen to the waves and smell that salty air. That's exactly what you can do in Big Sur at Pfeiffer Beach or Molera Point. Just remember, because these beaches are in Californian State Parks there is a day use fee of $5 - $15 to head down to the beach, which surprised us!
Bixby Bridge
Bixby Bride is another super iconic spot on Route 1 and is, plain and simple an aesthetically stunning bridge! Pull in to the driveway pullout on the northern side of the bridge and explore the area and see what cool angles you can get of the bridge. Also head to the south side of the canyon and climb up the small hill to get that perfectly composed shot of winding road and bridge (as below). You could also head here at sunset for some epic lighting on the bridge or at dark to capture those long exposure shots of cars driving over the bridge.
This could be done while driving through or as a specific activity while in the Big Sur area.
If you haven't guessed already, I love this part of the US west coast! The rugged, dramatic coastline of Big Sur is a great place to explore over a few days, escape to in one of the many mountain chalets or drive through in a day.Whatever your choice, it is a must do on any California road trip! For my recommended Big Sur Itinerary, check it out here!