Live Your Best Lives
  1. Travel FAQs
  2. United States
  3. California (CA)

Highway 1

We are in Los Angeles in August and are driving to Monterrey and I am just wondering if the road is open yet or does anyone know when it maybe opening

Good question. Unfortunately, Highway 1 (Big Sur) is *not fully open* for your trip in August: there is a major closure currently in place. Here’s the latest on the situation and what to expect.

Current Status of Highway 1 (Big Sur)

  • There is an active closure at Regent’s Slide, a 6.8-mile stretch that is *not yet open to through traffic*.
  • Caltrans estimates that this portion will not reopen for full through traffic until around March 2026, though that timeline may change depending on slope stability and weather conditions.
  • Work is also ongoing at Rocky Creek Bridge (just south of Carmel), including emergency repairs.
  • Daytime traffic in some sections near Rocky Creek is flagged (one lane controlled) per Caltrans.

What That Means for Your Trip

  • You *cannot* drive the entire scenic coastal stretch of Highway 1 through Big Sur—there is no continuous through route between certain points.
  • If you’re coming from Los Angeles up to Monterey, and you planned to take Hwy 1 for a full coastal drive, you’ll need to plan for a detour or change your route for the closed section.
  • With the closure, many travelers via Monterey/Carmel can access scenic areas *north of the closure*, but the stretch south toward Lucia / San Simeon is cut.

Recommendation:

Given the closure, it’s not reliable to plan for a continuous coastal drive on Hwy 1 through Big Sur in August. It’s better to:

  • Plan to drive up to Monterey or Carmel, then pick up Hwy 1 for the open northern Big Sur sections.
  • Use US-101 (or other inland highways) to bypass the closed section and reconnect to Hwy 1 further south (if needed) or continue to your next destination.
  • Check road updates right before your trip (Caltrans District 5, Big Sur Chamber of Commerce) for the most current conditions.

In short: No, you likely won’t be able to drive the full coastal route in August due to the Regent’s Slide closure. But you can still enjoy many of the open, scenic portions if you plan around the closure.

More California (CA) Travel Questions

The attractions mentioned in this question

Los Angeles

Popular Destinations

Pujiang Town
Hangzhou Li Shutong Memorial Hall
Ouyang Xiu Mausoleum
Huangyao Ancient Town-Stone Street

Popular Travel Questions