3 Day Carmel + Big Sur Getaway Itinerary
Bixby Creek Bridge, Big Sur, CA. Photo Credit: Neal Chopra
Carmel is a small, beautiful, and charming seaside town tucked between Big Sur and Monterey on the central coast of California. Famous for fairytale-like cottages and shops, great art, dining, charming B&B and boutique hotels, and of course the beautiful and exclusive pebble beach golf course.
While popular for romantic getaways, we quite enjoyed it as our family spring getaway. We chose to break away from our usual glamping option and stay in a boutique hotel experience local dining in the village town, and just simply walk and explore the town, jog, and bike on the beach.
Tip - Highly recommend staying in the village town in one of the boutique hotels & inns. Remember, rooms are small, so for family of 3+ should consider two rooms.Trip Highlights
Duration - 3 Days / 2 nights
Places - Carmel-By-Sea and Big Sur, California
Best for - Weekend Getaways
Travel Pace - Relaxed
Season - Spring (April)
Experiences - Bixby Bridge, Carmel-By-Sea trail running, E-Bike Pebble Beach, Stay @ a Lux downtown B&B, Charming Carmel Downtown French Cafe dining and local wine tasting
Trip Cost - $550/night 2 nights ((fabulous daily breakfast for 2, valet parking included), cost of gas ($100), food and drinks ($500 for a family of 3)
Trip Route
Day 1 Drive to Big Sur, Explore Bixby Creek Bridge, Check-in
Day 2 Explore Carmel-by-the-sea + E-Bike 17-mile drive on Pebble Beach
Day 3 Drive back home!
Tip: Download Full Itinerary in Google Maps with Pins Itinerary
Day 1 Drive from SF + Explore Big Sur (Bixby Bridge) + Check-in @ L’Auberge Carmel
Head towards Big Sur from San Francisco on US 101 South. Leave around mid-morning (10 or 11 AM), so you can enjoy the beautiful drive along California’s Pacific Coast. Perhaps stop for roadside strawberries and cherries stand - straight from the local farms on the coast. Your hotel check-in in Carmel is between 3-4 PM. So plan to first spend time at the iconic Bixby Bridge in Big Sur, before heading back to Carmel (20 minutes drive back on Hwy 1) your hotel. Check-in to your gorgeous L’Auberge Hotel (by Relaix and Chateaux) in the heart of Carmel-by-the-sea, relax in the beautiful courtyard and then head for a stroll or a jog along the seaside trail and wrap up the day with an early dinner in their sister restaurant!
Duration: 2 hours drive
Activity Level: Moderate
Good To Know: Bixby Bridge is very popular and parking is limited.
How to get there:
Drive for about 2 hours (135 miles) from San Francisco to Bixby Bridge (Big Sur). Note: This is about 15 miles further south from Carmel-By-Sea on CA Hwy 1.
Morning
Bixby Creek Bridge, Big Sur, CA. Photo Credit: Neal Chopra
Big Sur - Bixby Creek Bridge
Arrive at the Bixby Bridge area and enjoy the iconic bridge, take some photos and take a short hike along the bluff to soak in the beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean and the big foamy waves crashing against the rocks.
60-90 minutes
Afternoon
Take a 15 min drive back from Bixby Bridge to Carmel-by-the-sea and check in to your beautiful french chateau-inspired inn. Enjoy the afternoon in their beautiful courtyard or take a stroll in town.
Tip: Recommend booking Courtyard Queen room # 15Evening
Jog @ Carmel Beach Seaside Trail
Get some salt in your hair with a pre-dinner jog along this beautiful seaside trail. Honestly, I have driven on this road but did not appreciate how stunning it was and with the added benefit of actually staying in town to get here!
45 min
Dinner @ Cantinetta Luca
You can choose to grab a pizza at the inn’s casual Italian sister restaurant a few blocks from the inn or choose from the many other fabulous restaurants in the area.
Tip: The inn also has Michelin star prix fixe menu dinner in the courtyard ($$$) if you like that option
Dessert Time!
Head across the street from Luca and enter the wonderful world of chocolate and ice creams at All About Chocolates. You are in for a treat! Grab some chocolates and enjoy them as you walk back to the inn.
Day 2 Explore Carmel-by-the-sea + E-bike 17 Mile Drive at Pebble Beach
Today is a full day of exploring the charming village town of Carmel-by-the-sea, e-biking the pebble beach trails, and then wrap-up the day with some fabulous local wine tasting and dinner at the amazing La Bicyclette French-Italian bistro
But start the day with the sumptuous breakfast (included with your room!) at the inn’s courtyard and don’t forget to take an afternoon nap (I sipped some prosecco for the afternoon!) before your evening dinner.
Duration: Full Day
Activity Level: Moderate
Good To Know: 1. The e-bike store is closed on Mondays. 2. This restaurant has a typical wait time of 45-60min, so plan your dinner accordingly after a hectic day as they take no reservations
How to get there: Walk a few blocks to Ocean Avenue and you can navigate very easily from there.
Morning
Breakfast at L’Auberge Inn Courtyard
Rise and Shine! Start your day with a leisurely full continental breakfast in the courtyard. Just step out of the room, and enjoy this beautiful setting.
Fuel up as you will be doing a lot of walking and cycling today.
Tip: Breakfast for 2 is included in your room rate, but definitely add their French Toast, a’ la carte on one of the days.1 Hour
Explore the village town of Carmel-by-sea
Take a free-style, self-guided tour of the town. There are several galleries, shops, and restaurants now slowly started to open as the pandemic restrictions were being relaxed. Make sure you walk the side streets beside Ocean Avenue!.
1 Hour
Afternoon
E-bike Pebble Beach
One of the highlights is to rent an e-bike and ride along the beautiful pebble beach trail. While you can choose to do the full 17-mile, the problem is that there are so many beautiful spots to stop along that you will be tight on time before dinner!
Note: We had to ride our own bikes as the highly recommended bike store Mad Dog and Englishmen is closed on Mondays! So this is still on our wishlist.
Tip: Rent in the afternoon for a day so you can ride Carmel Beach the following morning!
Start the bike ride from Carmel Gate side entrance to Pebble Beach.
It’s a short 10-minute ride from the store to this gate.
Tip: The views are stellar and does distract people driving their cars too! So be careful when riding2 Hours
Lunch @ Dametra Cafe
Grab a salad and gyro at this lively and high energy Mediterranean Cafe, right on the popular Ocean Avenue. It was well worth it after a nice bike ride!
45 Min
Evening
Wine Tasting @ Dawns Dream
After a long day, there is nothing like starting the evening with some wine tasting. We just walked around and found this tasting room run by a local winery. It’s tucked away from the main streets but you will see signs for it. The host was great and shared great stories of the winery’s founder and how they gave it this name! You have to go there to find out!
Tip - They have sister wine tasting room called Galante down the street. If you are nice :) you could get a 2 for 1 tasting coupon!45 min
Dinner @ La Bicyclette
After a super active day, freshen up and get ready for dinner! Walk a few blocks to this lively, hip, and super friendly French-Italian bistro. The wait is worth it and the service absolutely prompt and fabulous. Our server very knowledgeable about wines and gave us small tastes too!.
Suggest starting with wine and charcuterie, sparkling water, and for the main course order “Champignons” the super delicious wood fire oven pizza, and Tuscan Stone fruit salad to share, and Steak au Poivre. For dessert - must order the tiramisu (to share) and an espresso Oh so fabulous!. Note: I hear their bowl of chocolate mousse is to die for.
Check out their menu here
Take an after-dinner walk back to the inn and close out the evening with some whisky or wine.
Tip: Choose the al fresca dining (outdoor street side patio) seating. Cozy with heaters!1-2 Hours
Day 3 Drive back to San Francisco
Today, is the last day but before driving back home, enjoy the delicious breakfast spread at the Inn again and take a walk around the village town and explore the Secret Gardens and perhaps a coffee on Ocean Avenue at Carmel Valley Roasting Company.
Plan to head drive back around 11am and take highway 1 back if you have time to enjoy the beautiful pacific coast highway.
Tip - If you like you can make brief stop in Monterrey and Pacific Grove on you drive back. See my list below on recommended places to see and eat there.Duration: 4 Hours (half day)
Before You Go
Pack layered clothing - light jacket as it can get windy and chilly in the evenings
Load your own bikes if you plan to ride on the coast and not rent!
Map It!
This map is a day-by-day list of places to stay, eat, and experience on this 3-day itinerary. Also indicated are recommended alternatives to help personalize this itinerary.
Download and use it for your trip. Have fun!
Recommended Alternatives
Here are some helpful alternatives to add /swap on this itinerary
In Carmel-By-Sea
Eat - wine-tasting at Talbots, fine dining at The Pocket $$$ (a local favorite) or lunch at Rise + Roam (Casual bakery)
Stay - Cypress Inn ($$$)
Do - Hike Point Lobos State Natural Reserve and then do a picnic beach lunch at Carmel Beach (10 min drive)
In Monterey
Eat / Drink - Perfectly Pressed Juicery (cozy tucked away in the back streets of downtown Monterey)
Do - Sea Kayaking; Hike to Point Pinos Lighthouse and Kissing Rock point in Pacific Grove
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Plan Your Trip
Take this itinerary as is or if you like to make some tweaks you can consider swapping with the recommendation additions above. If you have questions on planning your trip or have feedback on this itinerary, leave us a comment below.
