The Perfect 3 Day Big Sur California Road Trip: How I Spent 3 Days in Big Sur 2026

I have always wanted to do a huge road trip down the coast of California, and now that I finally did it, I can tell you two things: first, it was absolutely amazing, and second, Big Sur was definitely one of my absolute highlights of my entire trip.

Big Sur is the beautiful coastal region south of San Francisco with stunning cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the legendary Highway 1, which we of course drove up and down, and loads of amazing hikes and other cool things to do.

I spent a full three days in and around Big Sur during my road trip through California. In that time, I really tried to pack in as many activities as possible. 

That is why I figured I would put together this guide for the perfect 3 day Big Sur California road trip, including all of my favorite activities, essential tips for visiting, and my favorite places to stay.

Big Sur California Road trip – My Own Experience

As I already mentioned, we did a whole road trip from San Francisco down to San Diego, and within that road trip, we also stopped in Big Sur and spent three full days here driving down the coast.

We started out in Carmel-by-the-Sea. While it technically isn’t part of Big Sur, it is basically the gateway to Highway 1 as you head south. 

From there, we visited a few awesome wineries, which I enjoyed a lot, before heading down further past Pfeiffer Falls. Along the way, we went hiking a lot, ate a ton of good food, and really enjoyed some of the most beautiful views you can imagine.

Some of my favorite spots were definitely our hike to Timber Tops, which was super hard but had amazing views and I also absolutely loved grabbing lunch and some drinks at the Big Sur River Inn, which was a super cool outdoor patio.

All in all, I had an amazing time here and I have to say that Big Sur is probably one of my favorite places in California. 

The nature here is incredible, with so many amazing hikes, waterfalls, and beaches. I also loved the fact that we stayed in a little log cabin at the Big Sur Campground and Cabins, which gave the whole trip a very cozy but outdoorsy experience that is right up my alley.

My Tips For 3 Days in Big Sur California

Pick the right pickup location for your rental car 

This is great advice for your whole time in California, not just for Big Sur: make sure you have a rental car, and pick it up at a convenient location. 

While there are rental companies in Monterey or Santa Barbara, we rented our car in downtown San Francisco and kept it for our entire trip, which was super handy. Pretty much all motels in the US offer free parking, which is awesome. I usually use Kayak.com to book my rental cars. 

You also don’t need a massive SUV or anything, a regular sedan is totally fine, even for navigating the curves of Big Sur.

Book your accommodation well in advance 

We tried our best to book our hotels as far in advance as possible because it saved us a ton of money. In highly popular areas like Big Sur, especially on weekends and during the peak travel season, hotel prices can skyrocket quickly. 

Booking early is the best way to secure a reasonable deal. If you’re looking for a recommendation, we stayed at the Big Sur Campground and Cabins, which was super cute and cozy.

Be prepared for tricky parking along Highway 1 

Big Sur isn’t really a traditional town. It is essentially just a long highway along the coast with small lodges, restaurants, trailheads, and beaches alongside. 

We pulled over on the shoulder of the highway quite a bit to stop for a trailhead or check out a viewpoint. Since everyone else is doing the same thing, just expect traffic to suddenly slow down along Highway 1. The more popular spots like the Bixby Creek Bridge can get especially chaotic, so stay alert.

Pack the proper gear (especially if you plan on hiking) 

I ended up doing a fair bit of hiking in Big Sur, even though I hadn’t originally planned to, and I deeply regretted not bringing proper hiking shoes. 

I did all of our hikes in regular tennis shoes, which worked, but was definitely not ideal. Make sure to pack some decent trail shoes if you plan on doing any outdoor activities.

Secure reliable internet access before you go 

Whenever I travel, but especially on a road trip, having internet access on my phone is a non-negotiable. I rely on it constantly for Google Maps, looking up directions, finding restaurants, and checking hotel details. 

For this entire California trip, I used a Holafly eSIM and it was absolutely fantastic, super reliable, affordable, and I had zero issues with it. Click here to check out plans & prices for Holafly!

Where to Stay in Big Sur California

As I already mentioned above, Big Sur is not really a proper city or town. It’s more like a collection of lodges and restaurants scattered along Highway 1, and because of that, accommodation options are definitely more limited.

We stayed at Big Sur Campground & Cabins and I absolutely loved it. We stayed in a little cabin in the woods which was super cozy. We had our own little kitchen, and it was just so peaceful and definitely very on-brand with my Big Sur experience. It is definitely a little more of a rustic vibe, but I still highly recommend it!

Alternatively, I have heard great things about Alila Ventana Big Sur if you are looking for a more upscale experience. At Alila Ventana, they have a pool and a hot tub, which honestly sounds kinda great, especially after a day of hiking.

► Check out prices & availability for Big Sur Campground & Cabins

► Check out prices & availability for Alila Ventana Big Sur

My Perfect 3 Day Big Sur California Itinerary

Day 1: Point Lobos State Park & Wineries

Spot Otters & Sea Lions at Point Lobos State Park

One of the most beautiful places in Big Sur is Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, which for us was basically the very start of our Big Sur journey. It is located at the very northern end of Highway 1, right below Carmel and Monterey (by the way, there is loads of stuff to do in those places too, so be sure to check out my other guides!).

Point Lobos is well known for its incredible hiking trails right by the coast with stunning views. There is also the Whalers Cabin Museum, which is super interesting. But the real highlight here is definitely spotting the cute little otters and sea lions hanging out all around the cliffs and coves.

One thing I will say, though, is that Point Lobos gets busy like nowhere else in Big Sur. When we arrived around 10:00 AM, the parking lot inside was completely full and the side of the road was lined with cars in all directions. It was honestly crazy busy, so I highly recommend getting here early, maybe even around 8:00 AM if you can.

Enjoy Wine at Folktale Winery

I know, I know, the wineries in Carmel Valley aren’t technically in Big Sur! But they are only about a 30 to 45-minute drive away, and I enjoyed Folktale Winery so much that I just had to include it here.

There are a bunch of different wineries in Carmel Valley, but my absolute favorite was Folktale. The entire location is so beautiful, with a stunning vineyard, and the wines were all delicious. We even got a whole bottle of wine on the house, which was awesome, and ordered a pizza that was incredibly tasty. They also have super fun events going on, when we went, they were hosting line dancing classes! It is definitely a great spot for lunch and afternoon wines.

I think we spent about 4 hours there just enjoying wine and eating and I had the best time. I’m pretty sure we went there on a weekend so they had live music on which was awesome. We did not make a reservation either but we really should’ve made one but we got lucky and got a table after we waited for only about 20min.

Day 2: Bixby Bridge & Pfeiffer Falls

Take a Photo at Bixby Bridge

On the second day of our Big Sur trip, we made sure to head to some of the most iconic spots in the area, and the number-one iconic photo spot is definitely Bixby Bridge. 

We actually drove there kind of late in the evening because we knew how busy it could get. The thing is, there isn’t really a proper parking lot, just a bit of dirt on the side of the highway, so finding a spot while cars are zooming up and down Highway 1 can be super tricky.

However, we arrived around 6:00 PM and got lucky, getting a parking spot right away. Then, yep, we took the classic picture! 

I’ll be honest with you guys, it’s not the most exciting activity in the world, but when in Rome, right? I just had to get the photo. I do want to say, though, the cliffs there are incredibly steep, so please make sure you don’t stand too close to the edge. Stay safe out there!

Lunch at Big Sur River Inn

I tried quite a few different lunch and dinner spots in Big Sur. I’m just a big patio guy, so whenever I get the chance to have a beer outside surrounded by nature, I usually try to take it.

Anyway, the Big Sur River Inn was my absolute favorite spot in Big Sur. It was right next to where we stayed at the Big Sur Campground & Cabins, so we could literally just walk over. 

They have an amazing outdoor seating area and great food, but the best part is that they have wooden chairs placed literally in the river. I genuinely sat down, drank a cold beer, and put my feet in the running river water after a long day of hiking. It seriously doesn’t get much better than that!

Pfeiffer Falls Trail

I wrote a whole separate guide on the best hiking trails in Big Sur (make sure to check it out here!), and one of my absolute favorites was definitely the Pfeiffer Falls Trail. We did a bunch of different hikes during our three days, but in the end, this one was my number 1 for a few reasons.

For starters, Pfeiffer Falls itself was stunning. We began the hike right at the Big Sur Lodge, and from there, we wandered deep into the redwood forest, crossing over creeks and walking along beautiful wooden pathways all the way to the waterfall. As far as sheer beauty goes, this was easily the most beautiful hike I did in Big Sur.

I also highly recommend this trail for families, kids, the elderly, or really anyone who wants to get out in nature but doesn’t want to get all sweaty and exhausted hiking up a mountain.

Day 3: Henry Miller Memorial Library, McWay Falls & Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

Henry Miller Memorial Library

The Henry Miller Memorial Library is one of the most unique places in Big Sur, and whether you like books or not, I think it is totally worth a quick visit. 

Weirdly enough, I always seem to end up visiting quirky bookstores and libraries when I travel, even without trying! (For example, I also went to an amazing outdoor bookstore in nearby Ojai called Bart’s Books.)

The Henry Miller Memorial Library is located in the middle of the woods, including a large outdoor area, quirky little art installations, and a very mystical vibe that I absolutely loved. 

It’s not necessarily the best spot to actually buy or borrow a book (At least I didn’t get anything), but the location itself is so cool that it is definitely worth stopping by.

McWay Falls

McWay Falls is just super cool, and let me tell you why. For starters, it is a waterfall that flows straight onto the beach and into the ocean. It comes shooting right out of the cliffs, almost looking like someone left a giant tap running. 

The entire scenery, with the cliffs, the waterfall, the sandy beach, and the trees, looks absolutely incredible and almost unreal.

On top of being beautiful, it is also incredibly easy to get to. It is literally right off the side of the road. We drove there in our rental car, pulled over right where Google Maps told us to, and had straight-up amazing views immediately. 

There is a little walkway that leads to a viewing platform, but unfortunately, it was closed when we visited. Other than that walkway, there is no access to the beach down below since it is a protected area, so the views from up by the highway are the absolute best you can get here.

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

The McWay Falls trail I mentioned above is actually part of Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, but there are tons of other trails, coastal hiking paths, and a beautiful redwood grove to explore here. 

I personally didn’t do any of those other hikes, but if you still haven’t had enough of Big Sur’s incredible nature, there is plenty more to explore in this park!

FAQs About The Perfect Road trip Big Sur California

Can I go backpacking in Big Sur?

If by backpacking you mean hiking in with a tent and sleeping in the wild, then the answer is absolutely yes. A huge portion of the Big Sur region is located within the Los Padres National Forest, where backpacking and backcountry camping are highly popular.

Just keep in mind that while you don’t need a permit to hike in, you will definitely need a free California Campfire Permit if you plan to use a portable camp stove.

Do I need a four-wheel-drive vehicle for Big Sur?

Not in my experience. I rented a standard sedan for our entire three-day trip, and we never ran into a single situation where we needed a 4WD vehicle. Every major trailhead, viewpoint, and lodge we visited sat right off of paved, well-maintained roads. As long as you are comfortable driving along winding coastal cliffs, a normal car is completely fine.

Is Big Sur expensive?

Yes and no. On one hand, accommodation in California is notoriously expensive, and because options are limited in Big Sur, lodges and hotels can cost a pretty penny.

On the other hand, the vast majority of the activities that we did, like hiking the redwood trails, stopping at roadside viewpoints, hanging out on the beaches, and viewing the waterfalls, were completely free or only cost a small state park parking fee. If you camp or stay in a cabin and pack your own lunch, you can actually keep the trip incredibly budget-friendly.

How do I get to Big Sur?

We flew directly into San Francisco (SFO) and drove south down the coast to get to Big Sur, which was a really scenic and straightforward route. Alternatively, you can fly into Los Angeles (LAX) and make the drive north. Whichever airport you choose, you will absolutely need a rental car to get to and navigate around Big Sur.

Is Big Sur, California worth visiting?

100% yes! Big Sur is for sure one of my absolute favorite places in all of California. To be fair, I am a massive outdoor lover, so this landscapehere in Big Sur  is right up my alley. But honestly, if you have any appreciation for coastal cliffs, massive redwoods, and gorgeous scenery, you will fall in love with it, too.

Final Thoughts on My 3-Day Big Sur Itinerary

All in all, I think three days is the perfect amount of time to get a complete Big Sur experience. That is exactly how much time I had, and while I easily could have stayed longer to hike more trails or spend extra afternoons lounging by the river, three days allowed us to see all the major highlights without feeling rushed.

My personal trip was very rustic, we stayed in a cozy cabin and went hiking every day but you can also just easily plan a highly luxurious, relaxing getaway here. 

There is even plenty of upscale lodges with heated infinity pools and hot tubs tucked into the forest, so Big Sur really does have something for everyone, whether you are a backpacker or someone looking for a luxury weekend trip.

I hope this guide gives you a great idea of how I spent 3 days in Big Sur California and helps you plan your own trip.. Happy travels!

Check Out My Other Big Sur Travel Guides

Things to Do in Big Sur California: My Top Activities

Is Big Sur California Worth Visiting? My Honest Review

Best Hikes in Big Sur California: The Best Trails for Beginners

Best Cafes & Restaurants in Big Sur: My Top Foodie Spots

3 Day Big Sur California Road Trip: The Perfect 3 Day Itinerary Big Sur

Best Time to Visit Big Sur California: When I Would Go Again

Where to Stay in Big Sur California: My Favorite Hotels & Lodges