Big Sur...day trip or longer?
 

We live in San Jose but are planning to go to Big Sur for a weekend. Is it worth staying at a hotel to visit the area for 2 days, or is there only enough things to visit that it could be a day trip??

Also, if we do stay overnight on the saturday, would it be worth driving to see the Hearst castle??

Sorry, meant to say we're planning to either go for a day or stay for the weekend, not sure how long is needed to visit.

Although theoretically it could be done as a daytrip, staying overnight is the best way to really be able to appreciate the scenary. I would recommend seeing Hearst Castle. It's about 65 miles south of the Big Sur area. If you decide to go there, do make reservations.

http://hearst-castle.org/

I'd stay at least a night, if not 2 (or 3). If you like hiking, or just generally being outdoors, there be loads of things for you to do in 2 days.
I think to try to do it in a day would be way too tough given the drive. I just back from Big Sur (started in LA, drove to Big Sur, back to Santa Barbara, then back to LA)(we had 10 days) and the drive was brutally long. But gorgeous. I like to drive and I absolutely love to drive through Big Sur. Wow. BUT -- it was a LOT of driving.

Jack, it's a shorter drive from San Jose, about 3 hours...

Ok, we'll be camping overnight at the Fernwood camping grounds (anyone been there?), next question is...is it worth it to drive to Hearst Castle, or will we not have time for that? We're only staying one night in Big Sur...