Our plane is scheduled to arrive in SFO from NYC at 12:30pm. We plan to grab the car and head immediately to our hotel in Pacific Grove.

We'll be taking the 280-85-101-156-1 route that should hopefully get us there around 4 or 5pm. We then plan to spend the remainder of the day along Ocean View Blvd, Asilomar beach, and one of Carmel's beaches. (Aside: Any suggestions on the best place to catch the sunset?)

After spending the night, we'd like to be able to see both Point Lobos State Reserve and Big Sur before driving back up to SF for the night.

Is this doable in a day?

We don't plan on doing any real hiking and are primarily looking to enjoy the scenic views along the coast. How far south should we go into Big Sur before turning back? How long of a drive is it to that point?

I've read about some wonderful waterfalls in the Big Sur area. Are any of these easy to get to, especially given our limited time?

And lastly, what would be the best and fastest route to get back to SF from the area in the evening?

Thanks so much!

I would either skip the Pacific Grove (Asilomar) beach(es) - which are great beaches - or go straight to that area when you get in. You won't have enough time to do both Carmel and Asilomar at that hour. The Carmel beach is also wonderful, in a different way. The Carmel beach is sandy and rather large and there are lots of people walking and you see Pebble Beach GC and it's nice. Asilomar is more rugged, fewer people, possibly a few sea lions or whatever...also really, really nice.

I guess someone else can tell you how far south to go in the Big Sur area. I haven't been farther than Ventana in many years.

You can get the feel of Point Lobos in less than an hour...and you'll just wish you had a full day there. Then head to Big Sur...and you will have to plan that your drive back to Carmel will take as long as your drive down to wherever you decide to stop...and then add 2.5 hours from Carmel to SF. I would take 156 to 101 and stay on 101, myself...but it depends on where in SF you want to be. 280 is smoother but I'm not so sure that I would go back and forth from freeway to freeway. I don't think it will gain you much time - if any - and 101 is not that bad at night.

I was just in that area in June, so I think I recall the timing issues pretty accurately (pls correct me, anyone who knows better). We were going opposite direction, however, so you'll have to "do the math" in way that makes sense for you.

We left Ragged Point (South of Big Sur)around 9:00 AM heading North. We stopped for couple of short hikes in State Parks (Pffeiffer?) in Big Sur area (about 1 hr each)on way to lunch in Big Sur proper (the small settlement that counts as the "town"). From there, went to Point Lobos without further stops and I think that took us about an hour to Park entrance. We spent about 2 hrs at Pt. Lobos which was enough to do one of the loops out to look at seals, etc, and another short loop. That was admittedly just a taste but probably all you'll have time for in order to fit everything in. (It was still worthwhile, IMO). From Monterey to SF took us about 3 hrs in non-rush hour, so add another hour from Carmel area.

To sum, assume you are starting in Carmel area, going South as far as state park, working your way back up through Big Sur, doing Pt.Lobos (if on weekend, you might not get into park with car as they limit number of vehicles - we were fine late in day on weekday), and then driving to SF. I'd estimate about 3-3.5 hrs to go from Carmel, down to Park area along coast, and back to Carmel, without stops. So add in some stopping,hiking,eating time and the trip from Carmel to SF for total. I thinks it doable in a day, especially if you don't mind getting back to SF late. Not ideal as either Pt. Lobos or Big Sur area could easilty take up a day, but if that's all you've got and want to pack in as much as possible, go for it. Weather is a consideration as all these places are much more spectacular without fog or other low vis conditions. If that's an issue, you may want to stick to Pt. Lobos instead of spending time driving to Big Sur and back when you can't see the views.

When are you coming to CA? Have you looked at www.sunrisesunset.com to check the sunset time?

Also, SFO is right on 101. At that hour of the day I would just come out of SFO and head south on 101. Then go 156 and 1. Happy travels.

When are you coming? Sunsets vary.

I'll be arriving this Thu, so I will be there Thu late afternoon and Friday.

After doing some more research, how does this sound?

- See the sunset on one of the beaches on Thu (any recommendations?)
- Visit Pt. Lobos Fri morning for an hour or two
- Drive down through Big Sur to Nepenthe, have a dessert or drink, then head back to Carmel/PG/Monterey area for dinner

I'd love to go all the way down to Julia Pfeiffer Park to see the waterfall, but would there be enough time to do that? Keeping in mind I'm a bit of photobug, I'm probably going to take quite a few stop-offs to take pictures as well.

Thanks again!

"Also, SFO is right on 101. At that hour of the day I would just come out of SFO and head south on 101. Then go 156 and 1."

How much time would that save me? I'm partly interested in the 280 because it's supposed to be a very scenic drive.

Just did this a couple of weeks ago. It was foggy the morning we planned to go to Big Sur, so we waited until about 12:30 to start from Carmel when it had cleared somewhat. The fog had lifted in some places, so we were able to get pictures while driving down. On the way back it was totally foggy -- if that is the case, although I'm not sure how you would know until you were there, you won't see anything along the coastline but road. We stopped at Nepenthene and although we couldn't see the views of the ocean, it was clearing on the mountain on the other side. We still enjoyed seeing the place and it was neat to watch the fog go in and out on the mountain. I would definitely go to McWay Falls. It isn't much farther than Nepenthene and, at least while we were there, the fog didn't obstuct the views at all.

We stopped at Pt. Lobos on the way back, and again, while somewhat foggy, we were able to get some good pictures of the sea lions, etc. We left the park when it closed (and that time changes at some point, so probably check their website).

Is there more than one beach in Carmel? There were quite a few people there for the sunset (and not a whole lot of parking), so if you are going there, probably want to get there early. Also, I read somewhere here that the falls at Pfeiffer Big Sur are not that great in the fall -- might want to check that out before you bother with those hikes. McWay still had plenty of volume.

I don't know that I would call 280 scenic, but I haven't done the whole 101 route down. We took the route you are planning and found it a very easy way and quick way to go.

It took us a little longer to get our rental car than we had anticipated. Before we left, at the last minute, I decided to use Hertz express checkin. I had to give them our drivers license number, but when we got there we were in a line with one person ahead of us. The regular line was about 25 people long. If your car rental has anything like that -- I would take advantage of it.

280 is not scenic. it is prettier than most freeways because it has almost nothing commercial around it. So when you are driving you don't see billboards or ugly buildings and it isn't gross. but the scenery is nothing that you haven't seen elsewhere. rolling hills and trees at best. with one brief glimpse of SFO from above at one point. if it doesn't save you MUCH time it isn't worth much effort. however, in most instances it is almost a toss-up time-wise. I'm on it all day long.

By the time you get your car and your luggate, it will be at least an hour. So, we're looking at roughly 2:00. Living on the Monterey Peninsula, I've frequently traveled up and down 101 and 280. That time of day, you could flip a coin for traffic. From SFO, if you take 380 Daly City, then 280 S to 85 to 101 to 156-1, you'll have a prettier drive with less traffic and nicer freeways. 101 is always more congested but route-wise it's easier because it's a straight shot to 156 and then 1.

You will probably arrive in Pacific Grove around 4:00. You could check into your hotel, relax, shower, have a drink and head to Carmel around 5:30 Sunset is around 6:45 but you want to get their early to watch it go down. From Highway 1 South, take the Ocean Avenue exit in Carmel, drive straight downtown, all the way to the end and there's the beach...easy. I hope it's not foggy so you can experience a beautiful moment. Dress warmly.

The next day, get up early, head to Pt. Lobos for a few hours and then on to Big Sur. Stop at Nepenthe for a bad lunch and a fabulous view or just a drink and have a sandwich in your car on the way down. You could easily see Julia Pfeiffer afterward and head back up to Carmel/Monterey/PG for dinner.