Which way to drive on HWY 1 with Regents Slide Road Closure

Question

Hello, I was planning to drive down HWY 1 in early November from San Francisco to Los Angeles, because I thought it was the better route, but I am hearing driving north from Los Angeles to San Francisco is great too. Part of this drive is now closed due to the Regents Slide, and I am told I will need to get off the highway at some point after Carmel, but can get back on again around Cambria. With the Regent Slide closure, is it better to drive one way vs the other (North Vs South), or does it not matter? Thank you.

Answer

Driving California’s Highway 1, especially with the Regents Slide closure, requires some planning to optimize your route and experience. The closure, which affects the stretch between Carmel and just north of Cambria, means that drivers must detour inland, usually via US-101, before rejoining the coastal highway.

Whether to drive northbound (Los Angeles to San Francisco) or southbound (San Francisco to Los Angeles) depends on your priorities, timing, and sightseeing preferences:

Southbound (San Francisco → Los Angeles): Starting in San Francisco allows you to experience Big Sur and the iconic coastal vistas earlier in your drive. The main consideration is that with the Regents Slide closure, you will reach the detour shortly after Carmel. Driving south, you hit the detour earlier, but you will still rejoin HWY 1 near Cambria, so the majority of the southern coastal views remain intact. Some travelers prefer this direction because you “finish” with the scenic Malibu and Santa Barbara coastlines, which can be a nice crescendo toward Los Angeles.
Northbound (Los Angeles → San Francisco): Driving north allows you to enjoy the final Big Sur coastline as the “highlight” at the end of the route. You will still need to detour around the Regents Slide area, but since you’ve come from the south, it might feel like the scenic portion builds up gradually. This direction is preferred by some for photography, as many iconic vistas (e.g., Bixby Bridge) look better with morning light when heading north.
Detour considerations: The detour around the closure is via US-101 and can take 1–2 hours longer depending on traffic. Either direction will require this inland diversion, so there is no major difference in travel time or difficulty due to direction alone.

Additional tips:

Check current road conditions just before your trip. Caltrans provides updates on slide repairs and closures.
Plan stops: If driving southbound, schedule stops before the closure for Big Sur sights like Pfeiffer Beach, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, and McWay Falls. Northbound travelers may stop at similar spots after rejoining HWY 1.
Fuel and supplies: Gas stations are limited in Big Sur; fill up before entering the stretch affected by the closure.

In summary, the direction you drive doesn’t drastically change logistics due to the Regents Slide closure. The choice mainly comes down to whether you prefer to “start” or “finish” your trip with the dramatic Big Sur coastline. Southbound tends to end with the sunlit southern coast, while northbound ends with the Big Sur scenic highlight.