Big Sur travel guide
Big Sur Tourism | Big Sur Guide
You're Going to Love Big Sur
With a population of 1,000, Big Sur is a must-see destination in California, United States. Consider staying at least one whole day in Big Sur to see all of its attractions.
Activities & attractions in Big Sur
Where to Eat in Big Sur
If you’re looking for affordable options, Sierra Mar - Post Ranch Inn (47900 State Highway 1) and Homestead Restaurant at Big Sur Lodge (47225 Highway 1) are great picks.
When to visit Big Sur
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Big Sur in August, when the average temperature is 64.4 °F, and the highest can go up to 77 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 42.8 °F, with an average temperature of 51.8 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in January, when precipitation is around 8.5″. In contrast, July is usually the driest month of the year in Big Sur, with an average rainfall of 0″.
How to Get to Big Sur
Plane
Although Big Sur doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Mineta San Jose Airport (SJC), which is located 76 miles from Big Sur. San Luis Obispo County is the most popular, with regular flights from Alaska Airlines, Finnair, Qatar Airways and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to Big Sur departs from Ontario and takes around 1h 20m.
Train
Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Big Sur. The train journey from Big Sur to Santa Clara takes 1h 02m and costs around $18 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from San Jose, expect to pay about $19 for a 1h 15m trip.
Car
Another option to get to Big Sur is to pick up a car rental from San Francisco, which is about 110 miles from Big Sur. You’ll find branches of Kyte and Sixt, among others, in San Francisco.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Big Sur, including Greyhound, FlixBus and CoachRun. From Coral Hills, the bus ride to Big Sur takes 45 miles and will cost you around $18. From Reno, the ticket costs about $52 for a journey of 395 miles.