big sur 5d

5days
17stops
Day 1: Day 1 · Carmel & 17-Mile Kickoff
3 stops
17-Mile Drive Entrance
14:00
Pebble Beach
14:30
Point Lobos
17:30
Day 2: Day 2 · Bixby to Big Sur Village
4 stops
Bixby Creek Bridge
09:00
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
11:00
McWay Falls
14:00
Pfeiffer Beach
17:00
Day 3: Day 3 · Deep Big Sur & Hot Springs
3 stops
Pfeiffer Falls Trailhead
08:30
Ventana Campground Trails
12:00
Esalen Institute
19:00
Day 4: Day 4 · South to San Simeon
4 stops
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
09:00
Piedras Blancas
13:00
Hearst Castle
15:30
Moonstone Beach
18:30
Day 5: Day 5 · Morro Bay & Slow Exit
3 stops
Morro Bay Kayak
09:00
Morro Rock
12:00
Pismo Beach
14:30

big sur 5d

5 day Roadigo trip with 17 stops

  1. Day 1 · Carmel & 17-Mile Kickoff

    Start slow with world-class golf views and Carmel's fairy-tale cottages. Don't rush — this is your warm-up.

    • 17-Mile Drive Entrance

      Pay at gate, grab map. Pebble Beach and Spanish Bay first.

    • Pebble Beach

      Park at The Lodge, walk the 18th fairway — game-changer views.

    • Point Lobos

      China Cove and Cypress Grove trails. Best sunset spot on the peninsula.

  2. Day 2 · Bixby to Big Sur Village

    This is THE photo day — charge your camera. Bixby Bridge, McWay Falls, redwood canyons.

    • Bixby Creek Bridge

      Park at north turnout for classic angle, then walk across.

    • Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park

      Pfeiffer Falls trail — 2mi round trip through redwoods.

    • McWay Falls

      80ft waterfall dropping to beach. 0.6mi easy trail, totally worth it.

    • Pfeiffer Beach

      Purple sand, Keyhole Rock sunset. $15 parking, bring layers.

  3. Day 3 · Deep Big Sur & Hot Springs

    Go inland for old-growth magic, then soak at Esalen if you can swing it. Pure bliss day.

    • Pfeiffer Falls Trailhead

      Early start for misty redwood light. Valley View extension adds 1hr.

    • Ventana Campground Trails

      Less crowded than Pfeiffer, old-growth loop to Big Sur River.

    • Esalen Institute

      Night bathing 1-3am or book dinner+bath. Life-changing soak, cliffside.

  4. Day 4 · South to San Simeon

    Highway 1's wilder stretch. Hearst Castle is touristy but the pools are unreal — skip if short on time.

    • Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

      Partington Cove trail — locals' secret, fewer crowds than McWay.

    • Piedras Blancas

      Free boardwalk, thousands of seals. Docents 10am-4pm with scopes.

    • Hearst Castle

      Bus up the hill, tour the pools. Book 2pm or later for smaller groups.

    • Moonstone Beach

      Stroll the boardwalk, tide pools at low tide, dinner after.

  5. Day 5 · Morro Bay & Slow Exit

    Chill final day. Paddle the estuary, eat oysters, don't rush the drive out.

    • Morro Bay Kayak

      Rent at Embarcadero, paddle to sandspit. Seals and otters guaranteed.

    • Morro Rock

      Walk the beach, watch surfers. No climbing, but base trail is scenic.

    • Pismo Beach

      Classic California beach town, pier stroll, last fish tacos.