Big Sur

A Guide to Visiting Big Sur in California

We drove all the way up the coastal highway to Carmel-By-The-Sea, camping and hiking in the state parks, enjoying the amazing scenery, and finding fun places to stop along the way.

Is Big Sur Worth Seeing?

Most definitely! After traveling all over the United States, Big Sur is still one of the most beautiful places we have ever been, and definitely our favorite place that we have visited in California. If you love epic coastal hikes, amazing views, and beautiful weather, Big Sur is the place to visit.

Is Big Sur Expensive?

Although visiting California in general can be expensive, we actually did everything we wanted to do within our budget. Big Sur has a plethora of state parks - and you can see as many state parks as you want within the day for only $10. We tent camped in state parks every night, which was also very affordable. The most expensive thing in Big Sur are hotels, as they are hard to come by. If you do plan on staying in a hotel, it is more affordable to stay in the nearby town, Monterey.

Where Should I Camp in Big Sur?

We stayed in Pfeiffer Big Sur Campground - which is owned by California State Parks. You can also tent camp in Andrea Molera (hike-in), Limekiln, and Pfeiffer Burns, all of which are state owned campgrounds. It is best to reserve these campground as far in advance as possible, as they fill up fast. There are also many private campgrounds nearby.

What is There to Do in Big Sur?

I list below all of the places we visited in Big Sur. Most of them are in close proximity to each other. Our favorite places to visit were the state parks, where you can see some amazing things (waterfalls, pink-sand beaches, and marine life). Everything we did was in pretty close proximity to each other.

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

This park is famous for its 80-foot waterfall (pictured above), and it is a very short hike to view the waterfall from the parking lot. You can purchase a $10 state park pass for the day, and have access to all state parks. You cannot access the beach at the falls, as it is fenced off, but regardless you will be rewarded with amazing views.

Henry Miller Memorial Library

If you enjoy bookstores (which I do immensely), Henry Miller Memorial Library is a must if you are traveling in Big Sur. They even had coffee and tea outside for all to enjoy while reading a book. The Library is located near Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park.

Andrew Molera State Park

Easily one of the most beautiful and memorable trails that we have hiked. The creamery meadow, bluffs, panorama, and ridge trail loop at Andrew Molera was recommended to us by one of the parks employees, and we will be forever grateful. It was a fairly easy hike and had spectacular views and a hidden trail inside of the forest. We enjoyed almost the entire hike in solitude. It is an 8 mile loop, where you will have to wade through an ice-cold creek. You will also have beach access at a couple of different spots along the trail, where we found drift wood and purple sand. There is some elevation if you do the entire loop (1,440 feet), but it is worth the effort.

Limekiln State Park

Another state park with beautiful trails, Limekiln is home to four lime kilns from the 1800s and a 100 foot waterfall. Unlike Andrew Molera, Limekiln is shaded in a forest, instead of a coastal hike. Personally, we enjoyed Andrea Molera more for the views.

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

This is another must-see destination off of the coastal highway, further north near Carmel-By-The-Sea. It does cost $10 to park, but it is well worth it for all of the beautiful hikes and views. All of the trails are short and easy, with big payoffs for little effort. We also saw a fair amount of seals and sea lions on the beach during one of the hikes.