Big Sur, Highway 1 motorcycle ride
Highway 1 through Big Sur follows the cliffs above the Pacific for about 90 miles between Carmel and San Simeon. Bixby Bridge, redwood canyons and the ocean on one side for the whole ride make it one of the most famous coast roads in the world.
Opens Carmel-by-the-Sea to San Simeon in the MotoCurve planner on the Curvy style. Change the start to your home or hotel, then send it to the app for voice navigation.
Is the Big Sur, Highway 1 open?
Open all year, but landslides close parts of the Big Sur coast from time to time, sometimes for months.
Official status: Caltrans QuickMap
Highlights
- Bixby Creek Bridge near the north end.
- Turnouts above the ocean for most of the ride, and redwoods in the canyons.
- Elephant seals near San Simeon at the south end.
Before you ride
- Landslides close parts of Highway 1 in Big Sur from time to time, sometimes for months. Check Caltrans QuickMap before you go.
- Fuel is scarce and expensive along the coast. Fill up in Carmel or Cambria.
- Summer fog is common on the coast, even when it is clear inland.
When to ride
Rideable all year when open. Spring and fall are clearer and less crowded than summer.
Questions
- Is the Big Sur, Highway 1 open?
- Open all year, but landslides close parts of the Big Sur coast from time to time, sometimes for months. Today's status is posted by Caltrans QuickMap.
- How long is the Big Sur, Highway 1?
- As MotoCurve routes it, Carmel-by-the-Sea to San Simeon is about 98 miles, roughly 2 h 40 min of riding without stops.
- When can you ride the Big Sur, Highway 1?
- Rideable all year when open. Spring and fall are clearer and less crowded than summer.
- How high does the Big Sur, Highway 1 go?
- The route runs between about 10 and 1,020 feet above sea level.
- Can I get turn-by-turn directions for the Big Sur, Highway 1?
- Yes. Open it in the free MotoCurve planner, change the start to your home or hotel, and send it to the MotoCurve app for voice navigation on Android or iPhone. You can also download the GPX for a Garmin or another GPS.
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Distance, time and elevation are measured on MotoCurve's own routing. See every road.