We are planning a trip down the coast from SF airport staying in Seaside. The next day we plan to drive to SLO via Big Sur and the Hearst castle. I would like to reserve a tour at the castle but have no idea of time driving there from Seaside. Of course we will want to make some stops along the way, so when do you think we can reasonably expect to tour? Would love input from all of you knowledgable Fodorites.

Seaside to Carmel is about 15-20 min, then it's nearly 90 miles down Big Sur highway. Only 1 lane each way, with lots of twists, turns, and wonderful views. Good time would be around 3 hours w/o stopping. You might want to schedule one of the latest tours of HC to allow plenty of time to enjoy the ride down the coast.

Is there a reason why everyone seems to go north to Hearst Castle and Big Sur rather than South (as we are)? We tried to do it on another trip to LA but had to turn around before we got there for time constraints. That is why we are going at the beginning of our trip this time, N to S.

The advantage to driving N to S is that you will be next to the cliffs and get the best views. Take advantage of the pull-outs to stop and enjoy the vistas.

Just did this exact trip last Thursday. We left Pacific Grove at around 9:45, stopped for around an hour each at Pfeiffer Beach and Nepenthe (highly recommend both), and made it to Hearst Castle just in time for our 2:40 tour, so 3 hours with no stops is about right. If you can schedule your trip for Thursday, you can make it to SLO in time for the farmer's market, which is a lot of fun (BBQ, bands, and produce).