Big Sur: An Epic Weekend Trip from The Bay Area

Big Sur has been on my California bucket list for a while, and now I can say I finally checked it off the list! During my Oakland travel nurse contract, my husband and I planned our weekend getaway to Big Sur. It did not disappoint! 

Getting from the Bay Area to Big Sur

We left from Oakland to Big Sur mid-afternoon on a Friday. It took us about 3 hours to drive (thank you Bay Area traffic). For context, the drive only took about 2 hours for our return on Sunday afternoon. 

Other than the traffic, the drive was painless and easy. We went ahead to our airbnb before heading out again for dinner. 

Where to Stay

My husband and I stayed in an airbnb in Carmel Highlands. This area is the north-end of what is considered Big Sur. It’s also really close to the towns of Carmel and Monterrey- which means more options for food. 

There are several beautiful options for places to stay in Big Sur, but they also tend to be really expensive. When I was doing my trip planning research, I went through several other blogs for suggestions. Ultimately, I found their suggestions either too expensive or completely booked for my little weekend trip. I had also just returned from a spontaneous trip to Hawaii, so I wasn’t exactly wanting to splurge (hard life, right?). 

What I recommend instead, is booking an airbnb or hotel in Carmel, Carmel Highlands or Monterrey then driving to Big Sur. This will save you money and will still be convenient for exploring Big Sur. 

If you are wanting to save money, but really have your heart set on staying inside the Big Sur area, you can opt for a campsite. If you go with this option, plan ahead as spots book up quickly. Also, expect to spend a little more than what you normally would for camping. 

Top Things To Do and See in Big Sur

Okay, now for the fun part!

Big Sur is the name for the stretch of coastline between Carmel Highlands (north) and San Simeon (south). It’s known for it’s rugged, dramatic natural beauty. 

In my opinion, the best way to experience Big Sur is mini-roadtrip style. You’ll be driving along the Pacific Coast Highway (aka. Highway 1) with several stops for hikes and photos along the way.

 There isn’t much cell reception throughout most of this drive, but it’s pretty much a straight shot anyway. I do recommend downloading the area on google maps. If nothing else, it will help make sure you don’t miss the top things you want to see. 

Follow along for the stops my husband and I found during our mini-roadtrip. 

Un-named pull-outs

I realize it’s a little odd to create a list of the top things to do and see, then call the first one “un-named”. Hear me out on this- Big Sur is full of epic beauty. Almost anywhere you see a chance to pull over will give you amazing sights– like this one that we found 5 minutes into our drive: 

Bixby Bridge

The next stop we took was Bixby Bridge. This one was mentioned in almost every Big Sur piece of content I reviewed before my trip. It’s both iconic and beautiful (It’s also the photo at the top of this post). 

There is an large area to pull over before the bridge as well as a smaller area after. Bixby bridge is actually the second bridge on our route. Many tourists think they are a Bixby when they see the first bridge (keep going, Bixby is better). 

Point Sur Lighthouse and Pfieffer Beach

These two stops came up a lot when I was doing my research, but we did not stop at either of them. In case you do, I’ll pass on what I know here. 

Point Sur Lighthouse (pictured in the distance below)- To see the lighthouse you have to book a tour (around $15-$25 per adult). The tour times are limited, so plan ahead if this is something that interests you. 

Pfieffer beach– This one is famous for it’s purple sand (from what I’ve read, it only kind of looks purple which is why I skipped it). The road to this is easy to miss, so downloading google maps will help. You’ll have to turn onto syncamore road (off hwy 1) to get here, and it cost’s money to enter the park (around $12/vehicle as of 2024). This is different from Julia Pfieffer Burns State Park (just pointing that out to avoid confusion). 

Partington Cove

I didn’t know about this stop before getting to Big Sur, but it ended up being my favorite. I saw a bunch of other cars parked, so I assumed there must be something good. Here is what the stop looks like from the road so that you don’t miss out:

There are two really pretty areas in Partington Cove to see. The first is a straight shot down this dirt road (pictured next).

To get to the second Partington cove area, take the hiking trail off the side of the dirt road (towards the bottom) and head in the direction of the water. You’ll go through a tunnel and end up with a really beautiful view on the other side. Keep an eye out for wildlife- we watched a sea otter playing in this cove. 

McWay Falls

This is one of the most popular stops in Big Sur. McWay Falls is a waterfall that spills directly into the ocean (or the beach depending on the tide). This stop is inside Julia Pfieffer Burns State Park.

 It costs $10 per vehicle to park here. If you already visited another state park the same day, the same pass should work here too. There is a short hiking trail (a little over half a mile) that takes you to the waterfall. 

Where to Eat

There are several places to choose from within this route, but I suggest a place with a view. Isn’t that the point of Big Sur? 

So if we narrow down to places to eat with a view, that leaves us with Nepenthe or Big Sur Coast Gallery and Cafe. 

My husband and I chose Big Sur Coast Gallery and Cafe. The food was delicious, but I’m pretty sure it was vegan or at least vegetarian. It doesn’t mention that on their website or any signage, but I couldn’t find any meat either. Regardless, it was well prepared. 

What To Do Near Big Sur

We spent 1 day on our Big Sur mini-roadtrip, but we also spent a little time Friday evening and Sunday morning exploring Carmel. 

If you have the time, check out Carmel-by-the-Sea. It’s a cute, walkable beach town with lots of shops and restaurants to choose from. 

You should also check out Point Lobos State Park. Even if you think you had enough views in Big Sur, trust me, you don’t want to miss this. It costs $10 per vehicle. There are loads of hiking trails to choose from, but you can’t go wrong if you pick whatever is closest to the water. 

I hope you get a chance to visit this awesome getaway from the Bay Area. 

If you’re interested in more California things to do, check out my travel tips, guides and destinations page.