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The Atlas/California/Pacific Coast Highway (Big Sur)

Pacific Coast Highway (Big Sur)

California's Highway 1 hugging the Big Sur coastline — sheer cliff drop-offs, the Bixby Bridge, redwood canyons, and the most photographed stretch of road in California.

256 mi
Length
10
Verified stops
810 ft
High point
Scenic
Road type
// Mile by mile

What you'll hit along the way.

Rider-verified stops, overlooks, fuel, and the corners worth knowing about — in the order you'll meet them.

Mile 72.3

Morro Bay

Last classic harbor town before the cliffs — fuel up, grab clam chowder, and aim the wheel at the 581-ft Morro Rock on your way out.

Mile 101.3

San Simeon / Hearst Castle gate

The castle tour gate and last big fuel stop before the cliffs — gateway into the Big Sur run north.

Mile 105.3

Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery

Pull-off boardwalk over hundreds of elephant seals year-round — a 10-minute leg-stretcher right at the south end of the scenic stretch.

Mile 115.5

Ragged Point Inn

Cliff-edge inn, gas pump, and the official "Big Sur Begins" sign — last reliable fuel for the next 60 miles north.

Mile 152.9

McWay Falls (Julia Pfeiffer Burns SP)

80-foot waterfall tumbling onto a hidden cove beach — short paved trail from the parking pull-off, one of the most photographed spots on the coast.

Mile 161.3

Nepenthe

Cliffside restaurant 800 ft above the ocean — legendary lunch stop with the deck view that defines Big Sur.

Mile 163.7

Pfeiffer Beach turnoff

Sycamore Canyon Road spur down to the purple-sand beach and Keyhole Rock — narrow and steep, scout it before committing on a loaded bike.

Mile 171.2

Point Sur Lighthouse

1889 stone lighthouse on a volcanic morro — visible from the road, weekend tours only.

Mile 176.5

Bixby Creek Bridge

The 714-ft single-arch concrete span — the icon of the entire run. Pull off at either end for the obligatory photo.

Mile 190.9

Carmel-by-the-Sea

North end of the Big Sur stretch — fuel, food, and the easiest bailout to Monterey or US-101.

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// Nearby & related
StopCalifornia
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Bigfoot Scenic Byway (CA-96)
California
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