satie37

We are now planning to drive from Santa Monica to San Simeon (4 hour drive) as we wish to visit Hearst Castle. We plan on staying overnight in Cambria (close to San Simeon). From the feedback I have received, we should not plan on visiting Hearst Castle the day of our arrival after a 4 hour drive. However, the next day we had planned on doing the route 1 from San Simeon to Monterey but adding Hearst Castle visit seems to be too much especially with time and stops along route 1. Any suggestions? Or are there any lodges along that section of route 1 that are close enough to break up the trip..... please do not suggest Post Ranch Inn LOL. Also we are travelling with our 10 year old so accommodations must be family friendly.

Thanks

bon_voyage

You're likely to run into traffic going through Ventura and Santa Barbara, but, other than that, it's not a difficult drive from Santa Monica to Cambria. If you got an early start and scheduled your Hearst Castle tour for the mid to late afternoon, I think you'd be ok.

ggreen

A little more than halfway along Route 1 from San Simeon to Monterey is the lodge at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. I haven't stayed in the lodge (had a campsite instead), but the restaurant there was very good! Looks like it gets decent reviews on Trip Advisor...
http://www.bigsurlodge.com/

Rastaguytoday

You also might want to decide ahead of time what tour(s) to take.

You can also reserve ahead of time, as it gets crowded. Check out the tours.

http://www.hearstcastle.org/tours/prices

november_moon

I would visit Hearst Castle on the first day, then have the 2nd day for the drive through Big Sur. If you get a reasonably early start you can be to Hearst Castle by early afternoon.

Shar

agree that you can do the visit of Hearst castle after the drive from santa Barbara. Make late afternoon tour. we have driven from SF to Hearst castle and visited and then spent the night. No problem...