With Highway 1 Reopening, the Iconic Big Sur Spots You Can Visit From the Bay Area Again

Three years after a landslide closed a stretch of Highway 1 through Big Sur — cutting off the coastal route from San Francisco to Los Angeles for locals and visitors alike — the road is finally open again.

And while visitors to Big Sur from the Bay Area have still been able to access much of the storied coastline north of the closure, the entire south section of this stunning region has been inaccessible to Highway 1 travelers from the north for the last few years — something that’s all changed this week.

“This stretch of highway is just iconic,” said Dan Falat, district superintendent for California State Parks’ San Luis Obispo Coast District.

“If you’ve never driven it — or you haven’t driven it since you were a child — it’s really a wonderful connection between north and south.”

So now that you can drive all the way through Big Sur in its entirety from the Bay Area, keep reading for our list of everything you’ve been missing south of the slide: from scenic campsites to must-see views, attractions and wildlife.

Just remember: There is little to no cell phone service on this drive, so make sure to download an offline map ahead of time. And if you need a refresher on the best Big Sur spots north of the now-reopened closure, we’ve got you covered here.

Jump straight to:

• Stays (and castles) for history buffs
• Native wildlife that’s in season

Iconic campsites and hikes

Just south of the previous closure is Limekiln State Park, open only for day use right now. And while this means you currently can’t camp there, you can still take the easy half-mile Limekiln Trail to see the namesake furnaces that, in the late 1800s, were used to purify limestone to be used in concrete.

But you can stay at Kirk Creek Campground, whose blufftop spots boast spectacular ocean views. While this location is in extremely high demand, as a U.S. Forest Service campground, Kirk Creek has a couple of first-come, first-served spots too. If you want to take your chances, get there early – frequent campers suggest from 9 a.m. to checkout time – for the best shot at a spot.

If you’re in for a multi-night Big Sur adventure, this entire area of wilderness is part of the Los Padres National Forest, where hiking and backpacking trails abound. The best part: backcountry campsites are plentiful and permit-free, although you will need a campfire permit.

Day trippers can keep driving south for a short jaunt to Sand Dollar Beach — perfect for a picnic — and Salmon Creek Falls, a quick out-and-back to a 120-foot waterfall that should be flowing in the winter months.

Just across the highway, you can also check Plaskett Creek Campground for first-come-first-served campsites.

Once you’re past the steepest cliffsides of the drive, check out the network of trails at Hearst San Simeon State Park, the Moonstone Beach Boardwalk, Estero Bluffs or Morro Strand state parks and beaches.

Each of these has ample trails to explore if you need to stretch your legs after the long drive.

Just remember: If you’re going to visit any of these on-the-highway attractions, make sure you pull all the way off the highway to park — and be aware of oncoming traffic in both directions, California State Parks’ Falat said.

“Take your time; don’t rush,” he said. “Be prepared for it to take a while.”

“But just know that whether you’re coming from the north or coming from the south, it’s a beautiful drive and just enjoy it,” he urged.

Historic cliffside haunts

Looking for a luxurious night’s stay along the coast? Just past the closure are two iconic resting points: Treebones Resort, which offers high-end yurt-style accommodations and top-tier seafood, and Ragged Point Inn, an all-in-one hotel, restaurant, gift shop, coffee bar and mini mart all on one tiny outpost.

Both those stays are within striking distance of two-storied spots for southbound travelers who make it the full distance: Piedras Blancas Light Station and Hearst Castle.

The light station, which just celebrated its 150th birthday, has been a longtime critical navigation point for sea travelers — flashing its lights every 15 seconds since 1875, according to Cressant Swarts, the location’s gift shop manager. Today, visitors can tour the grounds with an advance reservation, which is $10 for adults and $5 for kids, plus a $1 processing fee. In the winter, there’s just one tour a day on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, which can fill up quickly, Swarts advised.

While there was a lot less traffic to the historic site during the road closure, in the new year, Swarts said the light station’s staff “don’t really know what to expect” in the weeks after the Hwy 1 reopening. “It’ll be interesting to see how long it takes people to really get used to the road being open again, since it’s been closed so long.”

And if you make it all the way to San Simeon, reward yourself with a visit to famed Hearst Castle: the lavish estate of publishing tycoon William Randolph Hearst, where he threw star-studded parties during Hollywood’s Golden Age in the 1920s.

Renowned for architect Julia Morgan’s eclectic Arts and Crafts style, the castle is an imaginative, over-the-top wonderland full of art, gardens and pools. But you can’t visit without a tour, so be sure to book one – the Grand Rooms Tour is the most popular and iconic.

Unforgettable wildlife

The entire Big Sur coast is ideal for animal lovers – and bird watchers are especially spoiled north of where the rockslide closed the road. Summertime travelers can even pop into the Discovery Center’s The Wildlife of Big Sur exhibit at Andrew Molera State Park.

But south of the former closure is where mammal aficionados can really get their fix. Don’t miss the Elephant Seal Rookery at Piedras Blancas, just south of the light station — which, contrary to what the name suggests, isn’t just about the elephant seals. You’ll also find harbor seals, sea lions, sea otters, sea birds and other native wildlife at the rookery, and you may be lucky enough to see migrating whales passing by.

And right now is an especially great time to visit, said Carla Swift, president of the Friends of the Elephant Seals’ board of directors, as it’s pupping season for the seals: “the only time of year the whole family is on the beach.”

Just be extra mindful to observe the seals from afar and not disturb them while they’re resting on the beach, Swift said.

And for those traveling with kids, the Friends of the Elephant Seal Visitor Center is just a few miles south of the viewpoint, where you can learn more about the seals and their habitat.