This board is great! Been getting lots of advice just reading others' stuff, now I have a question too.

We're going to CA for about 2 weeks 9/6 - 9/19. Spending the 1st 3 days in San Francisco (Westin St. Francis via Priceline). Day 5 - 6 in Sequoia, Days 7-10 in Yosemite, then back to San Fran for 3 days.

Anyway, it's day 4 I'm asking about. We are planning on driving down the coast from San Francisco, and as of now have booked a hotel in Monterey (it's just my wife and me). But I've been hearing about the Hearst Castle in San Simeon, and wondering if I should skip the Monterey area, and just keep on driving to San Simeon. However, on the route 1 along the coast, I have no clue how long a drive that would be!

As may be obvious from all the time we're spending in the national parks, we prefer the outdoorsy stuff over shopping in the towns, etc.

We've never been to California (live in PA) and want to exprience it all!

Any thoughts about this (even if you tell me it's absurd to drive all the way to San Simeon!) would be appreciated.

hbark, Big Sur is breathtaking and I don't think you'll find anyone who will tell you otherwise. That being said, you're packing so much driving into your trip! How about heading toward Half Moon Bay? Check your map. If you only have one day, I think that might be the best option. It will take 5 to 6 hours to drive from Carmel to San Simeon (depending on traffic) and then it will be another 5 hours over to Sequoia.(In between would be a two hour Hearst Castle tour) Carmel has the beautiful Point Lobos State Park with wonderful tide pools. That would also be a great option for you. YOu will get lots of opinions here... enjoy your trip.

I would definately take 2 days to drive from SF down the coast to see both Big Sur and Hearst Castle. You can't beat the coast for beauty and the castle is very impressive. I live in SF and, although it is a great vacation spot, I would encourage you to spend time on the coast during your trip. After going to Monterey you could spend a second night at the Big Sur Lodge in the Julia Pfieffer State Park, visit Hearst Castle, and drive back to SF the next day.

Thanks for these responses!

Just to clarify, we only have 1 day to do the driving down the coast thing. Spending Sat - Mon nights in San Fran -- Tues night somewhere along the coast -- then Wed night - Mon nights in Sequoia and Yosemite.

It seems like Monterey is definitely doable in this itinerary? Leave San Fran first thing in the morning (when I can pick up the rental car) on Tuesday. Drive down the coast to Monterey area (how long should I expect that drive to be? We are in no hurry, want to enjoy the famous northern California coast!). Stay overnight in that area, then Wed morning drive over to Sequoia.

Thanks again.

Hi, hbark!

It's certainly possible to do SF to the Hearst Castle area in one day. I would suggest, as another poster, to start out early. Catch Highway 1 as soon as possible and go straight down. Think about breakfast in the Monterey/Carmel area, rather than overnight. Then on to Big Sur and a nice hike. Leave the Big Sur area no later than 4 pm, as it would not be advisable to be driving along that part of the coast at night.

For some idea of the kind of road you will be on along the coast and the fantastic views, try:

bigsurlandtrust.org

which has a picture of part of the coast.

After Big Sur, head on down to San Simeon (Heart Castle). Stay in that area - Cambria, etc.

You could take the evening tour at Hearst Castle or do an early morning tour.

Next day, continue on Highway 1 to Highway 46. Turn inland at 46, then at the branch take 41 eastward, then 198 to Kings Canyon. Highway 46 is pretty easy to drive and 41 as well as most of 198 will be mostly through the Central Valley, so it's very flat.

Have a great trip and welcome to California!

I think a night in Monterey is very doable and makes sense because you will be able to see some of the coast and it will shorten your drive the next day to Sequoia.

If you head straight down the coast on Hwy 1, then it will take about an hour and a half to get to Santa Cruz and then about another hour down to Monterey - not counting stops. Be sure to allow time for stops. Once you get to Monterey, if you want to experience some of the Big Sur coastline, then head down to Point Lobos which isn't very much further. This will give you a great overview of the central coast.

Another route would be Hwy 280/17/1. This would take you into San Jose and then over the Santa Cruz mountains. This route will probably be a little shorter than Hwy 1 all the way.

If you are interested in seeing some coastal redwoods, then Henry Cowell SP is a good stop. It is right in Felton, which you can get to from Hwy 17 cutting over at Scotts Valley, or from Hwy 1, heading up the mountain a few miles on Hwy 9 in Santa Cruz. These are coastal redwoods, which are different from the Sequoias you will see later on your trip.

just stick to montery. heading to hearst castle is too much driving in the time you have. plus the tour takes several hours i thinks. relax and enjoy the monterey/big sur area.

If I had the choice, I would squeeze out Sequoia in favor of Big Sur and the coast. You have to remember it is a pretty long drive from Sequoia to Yosemite (have to go almost down t Fresno).

If the itinerary is pretty well set, then just use day 4 as you described, staying in Monterey; don't try to go all the way down to Hearst Castle and San Simeon, but visit the northern part of Big Sur from Monterey.