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Positioned on the Pacific Coast of Central California, Giant Sur is a stupendous trip spot stretching 90 miles alongside California Freeway 1. It may be fast nonetheless a Giant Sur road journey packs an infinite punch filled with unbelievable environment, a variety of state parks, culinary delights, and pleasant seaside communities.
It’s no marvel the Giant Sur Freeway Journey is usually rated as among the many best road journeys on the planet. With sea stacks and waterfalls, mountaineering trails, and ocean cliffs, that is no doubt one of the vital beautiful areas we’ve been to within the US. It’s worth spending higher than solely a day driving from Los Angeles to San Francisco alongside this route. Take your time to see the sights and you may wish to preserve the night.
Giant Sur Freeway Journey Itinerary
We now have now put collectively a Giant Sur Freeway Journey itinerary highlighting all of the prime viewpoints on California Freeway 1, immediate resorts, and prime sights. The Giant Sur drive could merely be executed as a day journey from San Francisco, nonetheless there could also be rather a lot to see, that we advocate spending at least 4 days driving alongside this stretch of the Pacific Coast Freeway 1.
Giant Sur is meant to be taken slowly, so profit from the journey, pullover when you’ll, or adjust to a backroad to wherever it goes. Benefit from!
Discover: Parks in Giant Sur are regularly altering with openings and closures. Preserve up to date on the California Authorities Website proper right here. Freeway 1 moreover usually has closures so you may wish to adjust to this Website all through your Giant Sur itinerary for updates on any points.
Strategies to Get to Giant Sur
To Get to Giant Sur from San Francisco, adjust to US 101 to 85 South after which merge onto 17 South until you come to freeway 1. You may then adjust to Freeway 1 all the way in which during which to Monterey the place you may begin your drive alongside the Giant Sur shoreline of the Pacific Coast Freeway.
Our Giant Sur Freeway Journey itinerary follows a route from north to south, nonetheless it could be driving south to north from L.A. The official Giant Sur drive begins in Carmel by Sea persevering with south to San Simeon. Should you want to exploring each factor alongside California Freeway 1 you’ll study our Full California Freeway Journey info proper right here: The Closing California Freeway Journey Itinerary
The two closest airports to Carmel by the Sea are San Francisco and San Jose Airport (they’re solely half-hour apart, so it doesn’t matter which on you fly into nonetheless San Jose is the closes). We advocate flying into San Francisco and spending just some days inside the metropolis you may start your road journey by driving all through the Golden Gate Bridge! Study our info at 72 Hours in San Francisco – A Native’s Info to the Metropolis
We picked up our rental automotive on the airport and had the freedom to find the city by automotive sooner than shifting on to Giant Sur. It’s possible you’ll’t truly get to Giant Sur in the event you occur to don’t drive. There are some excursions and day journeys nonetheless in the event you occur to don’t have your private automotive, we extraordinarily advocate renting a automotive to experience Giant Sur to the fullest. Consider rental automotive prices at RentalCars.com for quotes on autos.
Giant Sur Freeway Journey – Components of Curiosity
After you may have made your technique to Carmel, we advise making a base each proper right here or in Monterey. Carmel is just a few minute’s drive from Monterey and there are a lot of points to do in every communities.
We now have now full posts dedicated to all the points to do in Monterey and Carmel nonetheless let’s break down just some points to see in every communities to start the road journey off correct. Should you want to study further about them, you’ll be able to achieve this at Points to do in Carmel by the Sea, California, and 20 Good Points to do in Monterey, California
1. Monterey
Monterey is a trip spot in its private correct and is a unbelievable place to go to in California. I consider the very best entice Monterey is the Monterey Bay Aquarium which is dedicated to evaluation and conservation to guard wildlife inside the waters offshore. It has interactive exhibits and an open sea exhibit displaying tons of of species of marine life. It is positioned on Cannery Row which is a historic avenue filled with procuring and consuming locations.
When strolling alongside Cannery Row, you feel as in the event you occur to stepped once more in time proper right into a John Steinbeck novel. This has saved the feel of when it was the sardine capital of the world. We moreover advocate getting on the water, you’ll go whale watching, kayaking and see the resident sea lions and sea otters. Study further: 20 Good Points to do in Monterey, California
2. Carmel by the Sea
The first official stop on our Giant Sur road journey itinerary is Carmel by the Sea. It is a beautiful seaside neighborhood that’s no doubt one of the vital distinctive communities within the US. Clint Eastwood was the mayor of this beautiful seaside metropolis and there are a lot of points to do in Carmel to keep up you occupied for a day or two. Carmel actually does actually really feel like a storybook with fairy story cottages, paintings galleries, and beautiful ocean views.
We stayed at The Hideaway which had enticing rooms and was positioned solely a half a mile from the seashore. It was centrally positioned in downtown Carmel so we could stroll to consuming locations at night making it a tremendous base for the north portion of your Giant Sur road journey. TripAdvisor / Reserving.com
3. 17 Mile Drive
There is a road journey inside a road journey proper right here the place you’ll take a detour to see 17-Mile Drive. We rented an e-bike to see this drive. It was a great way to stay away from guests and to have the power to stop the least bit the well-known viewpoints along with the Ghost Tree and the Lone Cypress.
This stretch of road goes by the distinctive neighborhood of Pebble Seashore the place there are world-class golf packages, a great deal of seashores, and scenic views. Study all about our time proper right here: 17 Mile Drive – What to See on the Scenic Drive of Pebble Seashore
4. Stage Lobos State Park
The first designated stop on the Giant Sur road journey is the Stage Lobos State Park which is positioned merely exterior Carmel by the Sea. That is no doubt one of the vital picturesque stops alongside the Giant Sur road journey positioned inside the north end of the drive. There are mountaineering trails fundamental out to scenic views, and it is a scuba diving mecca for people keen to find the underwater sea kelp forests. Nevertheless Stage Lobos State Pure Reserve can be a fowl lovers’ paradise. Worth: $10 per car.
Whale Watching and Historic previous
Guarantee to check out Whalers Cove to review regarding the 1800s whaling and abalone enterprise. Whales migrate by this route of the Pacific Ocean and it was as quickly as a giant whaling area. It’s darkish positive, nonetheless essential to search out out about all historic previous. This small cabin was as quickly as home to Chinese language language Fishermen and has now been remodeled proper right into a museum.
To go to Stage Lobos State Park there is a $10 cost per car. You’ll uncover that you just’ll be paying $10 moderately rather a lot on the Giant Sur road journey as there is a $10 cost per car to enter State Parks. Within the occasion you propose on visiting numerous the parks, we advocate a State Park Cross.
5. Garrapata State Park
One different one among many many California state parks positioned alongside this drive exterior of an metropolis center is Garrapata State Park. This was thought of one among our favorite stops and it’s no doubt one of many biggest free points to do in Giant Sur. With mountaineering trails fundamental out to sea cliffs, Garrapata State Park presents beautiful views of rock formations off the coast of the Pacific Ocean.
Positioned in Northern Giant Sur, you’ll uncover the pull-off between mile markers 17 and 18. As soon as we had been there hardly anyone else was strolling the mountaineering trails. We felt like we had extraordinary views all to ourselves.
Discover: Most of Garrapata State Park stays closed as a result of the 2016 Soberanes Hearth nonetheless the primary 1.25 miles of the trail is open. Worth: Free
6. Bixby Creek Bridge
The Bixby Creek Bridge (often merely generally known as Bixby Bridge) is actually probably the most well-known of sights alongside our Giant Sur Freeway journey and is a spot that you shouldn’t miss pulling over to snap some pictures. It’s been featured in quite a few films and most currently, The Bixby Bridge was entrance and center inside the sequence Giant Little Lies. On the opening of each episode, the Bixby Creek Bridge is featured.
The Bixby Bridge is a scenic stop alongside the Giant Sur shoreline with pull-offs on each side. It’s no doubt one of the vital photographed spots inside the area and with good trigger. The bridge stands 260 toes above a deep canyon and was in-built 1932. It truly is a feat of engineering and is worth making a stop to absorb the enticing views up the coast.
- There is no cost to park on the Bixby Bridge, nonetheless parking is proscribed. We went at daybreak and nobody else was there. We stopped as soon as extra at sunset and in mid day and situated it robust to hunt out parking.
7. Andrew Molera State Park
Should you’re looking out for an prolonged sandy seashore in your Giant Sur drive, Andrew Molera is an environment friendly stop. Moreover it’s an important of the assorted State Parks alongside this road journey so be prepared to walk. For a pleasurable journey, take the seashore path strolling alongside a 1-mile prolonged route (1.6km) to the seashore the place you’ll should wade by the waters of the Giant Sur River. When the water is extreme, the park locations up seasonal footbridges.
8. Stage Sur lighthouse
Persevering with north, make your technique to Stage Sur Lighthouse, part of the California State Park system. What was as quickly as an essential beacon of navigation for ships touring by the treacherous waters of the Pacific Ocean of the Central California Coast, can proper this second be thought of on a guided strolling tour. Courting once more to 1889, it presents beautiful views from its coveted perch.
9. Giant Sur River Inn & Restaurant
Thought of one among our favorite stops on our Giant Sur road journey was the Giant Sur River Inn and Restaurant. Positioned on the Giant Sur River, guests can relax on the Adirondak Chairs (or as residents of Ontario, Canada want to identify them – Muskoka Chairs) and profit from the peace and solitude.
This inn was the first restaurant and resort inside the area and is a must-stop. Courting once more to 1888, the property was initially owned by early homesteader Jay Pheneger after which provided to Michael and Barbara Pfeiffer. (I knowledgeable you the Pheiffer’s acquired spherical).
Guarantee to peruse the memorabilia hanging on the partitions of the restaurant. It’s moreover an excellent place to replenish on the gasoline station, resolve some meals on the conventional retailer and seize and ice cream on the ice cream truck. It’s a staple inside the area and an excellent place for lunch in your Giant Sur drive or to pick up some snacks for the road on the Fundamental Retailer. Don’t overlook to grab an ice cream there as correctly. It is to die for.
10. The Giant Sur Roadhouse
The Giant Sur Roadhouse was a tremendous stop for lunch with meals constructed from native substances and a farm-to-table menu. The meals was unbelievable, nonetheless we moreover preferred the relaxed surroundings. Sure, the rich and well-known frequent this spot, nevertheless it absolutely doesn’t actually really feel snooty or unwelcoming. In reality, it nonetheless has that hippie vibe that made it so explicit inside the first place.
11. Pfeiffer Seashore
Thought of one among our favorite areas to go to in Giant Sur was Pfeiffer Seashore. Positioned merely south of Giant Sur Station, Pfeiffer Seashore was a bit robust to hunt out, nonetheless luckily, Viktor Elizarof wrote a tremendous Photos Info proper right here to help us uncover it!
Strategies to get to Pfeiffer Seashore: Take the cut-off at Sycamore Canyon Freeway and drive the rugged two-mile monitor proper right down to the seashore. Proper right here you’ll uncover the enticing Dollar Seashore and Keyhole Arch rock formation. Pfeiffer Seashore has an prolonged sandy seashore which may be a beautiful stroll at sunset with great views. It’s a big seashore with extreme sand dunes and the place Sycamore Canyon Creek empties into the Pacific Ocean.
Make sure you are taking a stroll all the way in which during which alongside the seashore the place you’ll uncover the purple sand that made Pfeiffer Seashore well-known. The purple colour was created from the manganese garnet rocks found inside the sea cliffs. There is a $10 entrance cost to Pfeiffer Seashore.
12. Stop in at Nepenthe
This coast has drawn artisans for a few years and no place reveals that higher than Nepenthe. Sitting extreme atop a sea cliff wanting over the Pacific Ocean and Santa Lucia Mountains, this has been the go-to spot for poets, vacationers and artists.
There could also be nothing larger than sitting on its outdoor terrace to have a look at the sunset and movie who else has liked these views. It was as quickly as owned by Rita Hayworth and Orsen Wells. Make sure you peruse the Phoenix Retailer that features native artists.
13. Ventana resort
We stayed a night in every Monterey and Carmel nonetheless we moreover stayed two nights at Ventana Resort. There could also be tenting and completely different lodging alongside the route as correctly. Ventana Resort is pricey nonetheless as well as they provide tenting and Glamping so there are cheap decisions Study further about Ventana proper right here at Glamping in Giant Sur – Luxurious inside the Redwood Forest
Two Sides to Ventana
Ventana Resort – We camped inside the luxurious tented camp among the many many redwoods of Ventana resort after which spent the night in thought of one among its luxurious suites. Should you want to actually really feel what it’s want to reside like movie stars, splurge for a night on this place. It makes for a tremendous base to find all the very best points to do in Giant Sur as correctly. Study: Glamping in Giant Sur – Luxurious inside the Redwood Forest
Ventana Giant Sur An Alila Resort is an opulent preserve in Giant Sur with decadent suites which have outdoor showers, scorching tubs and hammocks. Should you’re searching for to splurge merely as quickly as in your life, preserve proper right here. Taylor Swift and Mark Zuckerberg have stayed at this resort.
14. Glamping at Ventana
A further cheap to benefit from Ventana is to camp together with your private RV amongst its redwoods or e e-book a night inside the Glamping Tents. We stayed in one among many tents they often outfitted each factor from scorching water bottles to cooking utensils and each factor we wished to make SMores. You can also us the facilities when tenting on the campground and profit from the consuming locations. Strive completely different tenting areas in Giant Sur at these 15 campgrounds alongside the route.
15. Put up Ranch Inn
Put up Ranch Inn is one different place to stay on you Giant Sur road journey. It is previous unbelievable resort with private suites, infinity swimming swimming pools, and ridiculous luxurious. (albeit moderately less expensive than Ventana) However whenever you’ll splurge wherever in your life, it might as correctly be on this luxurious drive in California. Profit from the lifetime of a movie star for a night or to as you rejoice an anniversary or big day.
16. Henry Miller Memorial Library
The Henry Miller Memorial Library honors the writer who was a long-time resident. It moreover choices resident artists with reside performances, and books in the marketplace by native writers and it showcases native artists with rotating reveals. It is open Wednesday by Saturday. Go to the site for events.
17. McWay Falls at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
Positioned inside the south of the Giant Sur at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is McWay Falls. It’s no doubt one of many hottest points to do in Giant Sur. To not be confused with Pfeiffer Giant Sur State Park (we’ll get to that in a minute), Julia Pfeiffer State Park was named after Julia Pfeiffer, an early pioneer inside the area. Take a short half-a-mile hike (800 meters) to primarily probably the most beautiful waterfall tumbling into the ocean.
McWay Falls is no doubt one of the vital photographed web sites in Giant Sur and with good trigger. This glorious little cove plunges 80 toes/24 meters from a granite cliff. Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is a stupendous place for daybreak or sunset. How do everyone knows? We went for every!
Worth to see McWay Falls at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park – You guessed it, $10 per automotive. For daybreak, we took a chance and didn’t pay. No individual was there that early/
18. Redwood Forests of Pfeiffer Giant Sur State Park
I’ve to say, the Pheiffer’s acquired spherical! (not in the way in which during which you may be contemplating). The Pfeiffer Giant Sur State Park takes you to the southernmost place of the California Redwoods. Get off the coast and hike by the redwoods to Giant Sur River. Therea are 38 miles of trails at Pfeiffer Giant Sur and likewise you’ll uncover among the many oldest and largest redwoods inside the area proper right here.
Within the occasion you are taking the George Path, you’ll have the power to see a recreation of early homesteader John Pfeiffer’s 1884 cabin. Uncover this half to witness the Santa Lucia Mountains rising from the Giant Sur River Gorge and get misplaced on this 1,000-acre shield. Worth: $10 per car.
19. Limekiln State Park
Can’t get adequate of Redwoods? Should you want to do some tenting, Limekiln State Park has campgrounds at Limekiln Creek and at a seashore. Be taught regarding the historic previous of Giant Sur proper right here as you uncover the Eighties enterprise of lime harvesting. Once more then lime was taken from the ocean cliffs and processed in lime kilns fuelled by the massive redwoods. Boy am I glad they stopped this enterprise. Although they didn’t have a whole lot of a variety, the lime and the redwoods had been exhausted and left in ruins. Nevertheless nature has grown once more throughout the iron-and-stone kilns connects.
20. Sand Dollar Seashore
Only a bit farther south is the longest seashore in Giant Sur, Sand Dollar Seashore. Along with being the longest seashore, it is a trendy spot for searching. There is a shut by campground so in the event you want to spend some time on the seashore, you’ll prepare retailer merely down the road. Sand {{dollars}} may be found on the seashore at low tide making this a most popular tide pooling spot. Merely make sure that to look and don’t contact.
There is a $10 cost per car to go to Sand Dollar Seashore.
21. Ragged Stage
Should you’re looking out for a break, stop in on the Ragged Stage Inn and Resort which sits extreme on a sea cliff. Positioned north of San Simeon, Ragged Stage was as quickly as part of the Hearst Ranch. The Ramey family prepare retailer proper right here inside the Nineteen Fifties and it has been handed proper right down to generations as proper this second the great-grandchildren run the resort and restaurant. Even in case you aren’t staying at Ragged Stage, make sure that to benefit from a meal and take inside the views of the California Coast. Guarantee to stop at Piedras Blancas State Marine Reserve to see the resident elephant seals.
22. End at San Simeon
San Simeon is the place the Giant Sur Freeway Journey ends nonetheless the Pacific Coast Freeway continues on to Los Angeles. It’s also possible to make a base proper right here as there are a lot of points to do. That’s home to Hearst Citadel, there are seashores, mountaineering trails, and like this entire road journey, a great deal of marine life and pleasant views of the Pacific Ocean. It’s possible you’ll take excursions of Hearst Citadel starting at $30.
Study These completely different posts to help plan your Giant Sur road journey
The place to Eat On Your Giant Sur Drive
Ventana
Unimaginable Prix Restore meals and very good consuming overlooking the Pacific Ocean from extreme atop sea cliffs. We even observed whales inside the distance all through our breakfast proper right here. (make sure that to convey your binoculars). This place is busy for dinner so reservations are advisable.
Nepenthe
Nepenthe is no doubt one of many hottest areas to eat as a consequence of its superior view. With views of the Santa Lucia Mountains to the Pacific, make sure that in order so as to add it to your Giant Sur itinerary. We preferred our meal and the surroundings of Nepenthe and very advocate having dinner proper right here.
Are there Funds Lodges in Giant Sur?
In all probability not, this area caters to the luxurious market besides you may be tenting. The historic Giant Sur River Inn is the closest to cheap nevertheless it’s nonetheless pricey. Nonetheless, ti doesn’t attain the lots of of {{dollars}} per night of the Put up Ranch in or Ventana.
Fernwood Resort can be an excellent alternative with a variety of tenting, cabins, and a motel.
Tenting in Giant Sur
Don’t concern, in the event you occur to don’t want to put our a fortune on a room for a night, there could also be a great deal of tenting alongside the Giant Sur road journey. Some trendy campgrounds are Pfeiffer Giant Sur Campground, Giant Sur Campground and Cabins, and Riverside Campground and Cabins.
Should you’re looking out for cheap lodging, check out resorts in Monterey and Carmel by the Sea. They’re good areas to make a base whereas in your road journey.
Rent a Automotive – California is a state for driving so lease a automotive in your Giant Sur drive. It’s possible you’ll consider automotive rental prices at RentalCars.com
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Often Requested Questions
There is no harmful time to go to Giant Sur. Being California it could be explored year-round. The peak season is from April to November with crowds being heaviest in July and August. September to November continues to be beautiful and fewer crowded and winter is an environment friendly time to hunt out provides on lodging. We went in Might and June and had few crowds and the local weather was fairly with sunny days and chilly evenings.
You may even see all the viewpoints and sights in in some unspecified time in the future, nonetheless we advocate a 3 day Giant Sur itinerary to primarily uncover it and to do all the hikes, profit from the consuming locations and resorts.
It’s possible you’ll drive to Giant Sur from Los Angeles or San Francisco. It is trendy to make a base in Carmel by the Sea or Monterey. It is a five-hour drive from Los Angeles and is 2 hours and half-hour from San Francisco.
There is no explicit begin line for a Giant Sur itinerary, nonetheless the drive is usually thought-about to begin in Carmel by the Sea in case you might be coming from San Francisco and ends near the San Carpóforo Creek inside the north of San Simeon.
And these are the very best points to do in Giant Sur along with primarily probably the most beautiful areas to go to. Should you’re planning a go to to California, you may need to check out this enticing stretch of freeway alongside the Pacific Coast.