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Big Sur, United States

✺ United States · The Americas

Big Sur

Redwoods, cliff-top hot tubs and Highway 1.

🏔️ Wild & remote🌿 Reset & restore
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Photo: Diliff · CC BY-SA 3.0

Executive Summary: Big Sur (United States) is at its prime during Apr–May, Sep–Oct. Characterized by wild & remote, reset & restore, it ranks #40 on the Luxe score and is best suited for the two of us and just me planning a a long weekend journey.

The feeling

Ninety miles of coastline where the mountains drop into the Pacific. Check Highway 1 conditions before you go, as slides can close sections.

The scorecard #40 of 63

3.6Luxe score out of 5 · #40 of 63
🍜 Food–Not scored: the model wasn't sure
🏞️ SceneryWorld-famous, breathtaking scenery
🛎️ Luxury stays–Not scored: the model wasn't sure
🛡️ SafetyGenerally safe with normal precautions
🧭 Easy to visitManageable for most travellers
💞 RomanceVery romantic
🍸 NightlifeAlmost no nightlife
🧸 FamilySome things for children
💸 Cost$$$$Expensive
👥 CrowdsBusy in peak season

Scored across structured editorial rubrics from our notes on Big Sur. How we score →

When to go

At its best Still lovely Off season

Best for
💞 The two of us · 🎒 Just me
Give it
A long weekend
Right now
October is peak season.

On the travel desks

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✺ Your Luxentravel trip

Three days in Big Sur

Three days on the edge of the continent, where the Santa Lucia Mountains drop into the Pacific: redwood hikes, cliff-top soaks and Highway 1 at its most cinematic.

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  1. Day 1

    Point Lobos and Bixby Bridge

    Morning

    Walk the trails at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, watching for sea otters, seals and cypress trees bent by the wind.

    Afternoon

    Drive south on Highway 1 across the Bixby Creek Bridge, pulling over at the turnouts for the coastal views.

    Evening

    Check into your cliff-top lodge and watch the fog roll in over the ocean.

  2. Day 2

    Redwoods and a waterfall

    Morning

    Hike among the redwoods of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, where trails follow the Big Sur River and climb to views of the coast.

    Afternoon

    Visit Pfeiffer Beach with its purple-tinged sand and Keyhole Arch, then soak in a cliff-top hot tub.

    Evening

    Walk to the overlook at McWay Falls in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park as the waterfall glows at sunset.

  3. Day 3

    A slow coastal morning

    Morning

    Sleep in, then take the short trail down to Partington Cove and its rocky inlet.

    Afternoon

    Drive north slowly, stopping at Garrapata State Park for wildflowers and bluff-top walks.

    Evening

    End in Carmel-by-the-Sea for a final dinner and a walk on the white sand beach.

Where to stay

A cliff-top lodge or cabin along the central stretch of Highway 1, between Pfeiffer Big Sur and McWay Falls.

Our tip

Slides close sections of Highway 1 from time to time; check road conditions before you go and fill up the tank before entering Big Sur.

When

Best Apr–May, Sep–Oct; still lovely Jun, Nov.

✺ Make it happen

From daydream to departure

Live from travel partners when you ask: real fares, a walk through the city, guided trips and ferries. You book with them directly.

★ marks Big Sur's best months. We search ±3 days around the middle of the month.

Live fares from Kiwi.com; prices change quickly and are confirmed when you book with them.

✺ Pair it with

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