Pacific Coast Highway, Big Sur
CA 1SR 1Carmel to Big Sur · California
Distance23.4mi · 38 km
Drive time47 minon the road
DifficultyModerate
Coast
California's cliff-hanging coast road through Big Sur.
Highway 1 through Big Sur is one of the world's great coast drives, a ribbon of tarmac clinging to the cliffs from Carmel south past the Bixby Bridge toward San Simeon, the Pacific crashing far below. Slow, spectacular and busy; mind the tourists stopping for photos, the sea fog, and the rockfall closures.
Where it runs
CarmelStart · California
Big SurEnd · United States
Character
Corners42bends
Tightness5of 10
Max gradient7%≈ 1-in-14
Hairpins0tight bends
Climb341 mtotal ascent
Summit165 mhighest point · 541 ft
SpringSummerAutumn
Elevation
165 m rangeKnow before you go
- Cliff edges with stopping traffic
- Sudden coastal fog
- Rockfall closures
Along the road
- viewpoint China Lookout
- viewpoint Kasler Point
- viewpoint Sea Otter Refuge View Point
As seen on screen
Big Little Lies
Sources
In these collections
Nearby roads
The closest great drives to Pacific Coast Highway, Big Sur.
