Driving PCH

Question

Spending 2 nights in Carmel and then was planning on driving PCH back down to LA with a stopover in Cambria.

Now with the closure on PCH, I’m planning to drive the PCH to Big Sur (should I drive all the way to the closure?) and then going back to Carmel. Grabbing some lunch there around midday. And then driving the 101 to King City and then heading west on Pine Canyon road all the way back across to PCH at Willow Creek. Then taking PCH to Cambria.

Is that too much in one day? Any better alternative routes? (Stay on 101 until 46 which would take me to Cambria quicker but would miss out a fair chunk of PCH) Would like to see as much of PCH as possible.

Answer

Driving the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) between Carmel and Cambria can be a stunning experience, but it requires careful planning, especially with closures. Your proposed route—Carmel to Big Sur, then back to Carmel, then taking 101 south via King City and Pine Canyon Road to reconnect with PCH—is quite ambitious for a single day. It involves a lot of backtracking and slower, winding roads along Big Sur.

Here’s a breakdown and some considerations:

Driving Carmel → Big Sur along the PCH can take 1.5–2 hours one way without stops. If you plan to return to Carmel for lunch, that doubles the drive time.
Adding the 101 → King City → Pine Canyon → PCH → Cambria leg adds another 2.5–3 hours of driving, plus navigating Pine Canyon Road, which is narrow and twisty.
Total driving time without stops can easily reach 6–7 hours, which is quite long if you also want to enjoy scenic viewpoints and take photos.

Alternative suggestions:

Option 1 – Partial PCH, then 101 shortcut: Drive Carmel → Big Sur to the closure (enjoy viewpoints and short walks), then return south and take 101 at King City directly to Cambria via Highway 46. This reduces backtracking while still letting you experience the best PCH sections.
Option 2 – Overnight stop in Big Sur: Spend a night in Big Sur, which lets you enjoy PCH without rushing, then continue south to Cambria the next day. This avoids a very long single day of driving.
Option 3 – Skip the backtrack to Carmel: From Big Sur, continue south on PCH as far as it’s open (check closure limits) and then use 101/46 to Cambria. Grab lunch along the way in a town like Gorda or San Simeon. This maximizes PCH driving without extra loops.

Given closures and the twisty nature of Big Sur roads, trying to drive up to the closure and back to Carmel for lunch is likely too much for one day if you want to enjoy the scenery. Either limit your PCH driving to one-way toward the closure and use 101/46 for Cambria, or consider an overnight stop along Big Sur to make it more relaxed.

Tip: Start early in the morning to catch sunrise views along the coast and minimize traffic, especially if you plan to stop for photos at Bixby Creek Bridge, McWay Falls, and other iconic spots.

Driving PCH

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