The 17-mile drive stretches from Monterey to Carmel-by-the-sea, winding along the coast with gorgeous lookout spots throughout the drive. While it is not as long as the Road to Hana in Maui, Hawaii, it’s reminiscent with all the stops along the way! The whole drive is only 17 miles, but with all the stops, it can add up to a few hours. Give yourself plenty of time to enjoy each stop, take photos, have a picnic, and take a walk!

This is a self-guided tour where you drive your own car, but you can book a bus tour if you’d prefer to have an official tour guide/group.

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What to Bring

Water – I bring my 64oz stainless steel bottle on day trips to keep my water icy cold.
Snacks – The snacks you bring are up to you! If you really wanted to, you could grab takeout from a restaurant in Pacific Grove and have a picnic/tailgate at one of the stops!
Sunscreen – If you end up here on a sunny day, you’ll definitely spend some time in the sun. I’m allergic to most sunscreens, but Coola sunscreen is the one that works for me and feels more like moisturizer, less like sunscreen.
Camera – Your phone will suffice, but if you have a good camera, bring it! I shoot with the Canon R5. I used to shoot with the Canon t6i, which is no longer sold, but the Canon t8i is still sold!

Where to Start

Entrance: Put Pacific Grove Gate into your maps – this will take you right to the entrance!
Cost: $10.75 per non-commercial car (debit/credit only)
Drive North to South: This will put you on the right side of the road to pull over into the parking lots for each stop. You can go the other direction if you prefer driving from Carmel to Monterey.
First stop: The first stop after the Pacific Grove Gate entrance is actually stop 3. Stops 1 and 2 are out of the way from stops 3-17, so we didn’t go to them on our trip – they look worth a visit though!

17 Stops

Along the 17-mile drive, there are 17 stops. We only stopped at eight of them (noted with *), partly due to the dense fog obstructing the view for some. The great thing about the drive is you can stop at as many or as little as you want! You’re your own tour guide – unless you opt for a bus tour, of course.

Read below for a bit about what you’ll find at each stop and some of the history behind them!

1. Shepherd’s Knoll

This stop is on the east side of the loop. Once you pass through the Highway 1 gate after stop 17, turn left and drive north to this stop and stop 2. Here you’ll find views from above of Monterey!

2. Huckleberry Hill

Once you pass Shepherd’s Knoll, continue north along the 17-mile drive to an even higher viewpoint where you can see Santa Cruz! The hills here, as you can imagine based on the name, are covered in huckleberries.

3. Spanish Bay Beach

This stop got it’s name for the Spanish Explorers who stayed in this bay in search of Monterey Bay. While we completely missed this stop, I won’t make that mistake next time – on a sunny day, you’ll find a white sand beach and a boardwalk to walk along.

4. The Restless Sea

Like most stops, this spot was named for exactly what it is – choppy waters! The waves are wild, crashing over the rocks just below the surface. Definitely not a spot to swim (none of them are – this is some of the most choppy/dangerous coastline).

5. Point Joe*

The first place we stopped was Point Joe. We somehow missed the first couple parking lots for stops 3 and 4! One of the coolest things about it (coming from someone who is pirate-obsessed) is this stop is a site for many shipwrecks from people who thought it was the entrance to Monterey Bay. A man named Joe lived at this spot in the 1900s and sold touristy items to people who visited this point.

“It is debated whether Joe was named for the Point, or the Point was named for Joe.” – Pebble Beach Resort guide

6. China Rock*

While we did stop here, I don’t have any photos! There was a small Chinese fishing village here in the late 1800s. It’s said that you can still see cooking smoke on the rocks! We didn’t notice thanks to the fog, but something to look out for on our next trip.

7. Bird Rock*

Bathroom stop! This one of two stops with a bathroom, so use it if you need it. The parking lot is large and is a 180º view of the ocean. You’ll see sea lions (and hear them!), seals, and birds hanging out at this spot. The guide they gave us at the entrance says the rock here was covered in 4-5 feet of bird poop until it was harvested as fertilizer in 1930 (lol).

8. Seal Rock*

We stopped here briefly and couldn’t see anything, but we could hear the sea lions barking! Our map guide says this is a great stop for a picnic, tide-pooling, and walking along the boardwalk. Noted for next sunny visit!

9. Fanshell Beach Overlook

We didn’t stop here, but if you do, this is where the harbor seals and their pups hang out. Be sure to stay far back and respect the wildlife!

10. Cypress Point Lookout*

I’m sure this is a gorgeous stop, but it was allll fog for us! I could tell it would be an incredible view on a sunnier day. It has white sand, incredible sunsets, and even more harbor seals. Closed April 1 to June 1 during pupping season.

11. Crocker Grove*

For a bit of a different view, stop at Crocker Grove. Here you’ll find a grove of beautiful, old trees with tons of history. They’re actually the oldest Monterey Cypress trees in the world. It was a serene stop without any fog since it was further back from the coast.

12. The Lone Cypress*

The Lone Cypress might just be the most famous stop due to the well-known symbol of it. This cypress has been the logo for Pebble Beach Resorts since 191. I immediately recognized it! Like every other stop, it was foggy, but the silhouette of the tree stood right out against the fog. The Cypress is over 250 years old and looks incredible on top of its rock.

13. Ghost Trees At Pescadero Point*

This was our favorite stop! The Ghost Trees paired with the dense, eerie fog was perfect. While we couldn’t see the ocean, the trees popped right out! The name comes from the sun-bleached appearance of the Cypress trees.

14. Pebble Beach Visitor Center

Stop here to grab a drink, shop around, learn about the history of Pebble Beach, and use the bathroom! The Visitor Center is also where you’ll find The Lodge at Pebble Beach if you want to stay at a 5-star, well-reviewed hotel in the area.

15. Pebble Beach Golf Links

If you care about golf, this is rated the #1 course in America. I have zero interest in golf and drove right by, slightly annoyed that a stop was not a beautiful view of nature, but it’s supposedly worth a stop if golf interests you!

16. Pebble Beach Equestrian Center

We didn’t stop here, but I do love horseback riding! You can book a guided horseback tour ahead of your trip and stop here to begin the tour. Choose from a forest tour or coastal one!

17. Ford Meadow

While there’s no parking lot here to pull over, don’t pass this stop by too quickly. The meadow was named after Robert F. Ford, a donor to the Del Monte Forest Conservancy. The Pebble Beach Resort guide says Ford “knew he was ‘home’ when he passed by this meadow.”

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