Monterey's 17-Mile Drive - The World To See
September 10, 2017 While visiting family in Northern California, we took a week off in Carmel, California. While there we hopped into the car for a driving…
September 10, 2017
While visiting family in Northern California, we took a week off in Carmel, California. While there we hopped into the car for a driving tour of Monterey’s 17-mile drive. The drive winds through Pebble Beach and Pacific Grove and passes many world famous golf courses and vistas such as the Links at Spanish Bay and the Lone Cypress.
There are several main entrances to 17-mile drive (referred to as gates), which include the Pacific Grove Gate off Highway 68, the Highway 1 Gate, and the Carmel Gate, the latter of which we entered through. At every entrance gate there is a toll station where you pay $10.25 to enter and receive a map with a list of stops and points of interest. There is also a red dashed line down the center of the road along route to help keep you on track. The drive runs in a loop, following along the coastline and then through several hills to return you to your starting point. Since we had plans in Monterey for the evening, we took the coastal drive and left the hills unexplored.
Recommended Stops
Pescadero Point
Since we started from the South end of the loop, this was our first stop. This point has views of the Carmel Bay and the small Stillwater Cove. Although a nice stopping point, I found that the Lone Cypress had more stunning vistas than here.
The Lone Cypress
The Lone Cypress tree is known as the symbol of Pebble Beach. An excellent example of the Monterey Cypress tree which only grows naturally in Pebble Beach and Point Lobos, this tree particular tree has been around for 250 years! It is currently tree held in place with cables, protecting it from the wild Pacific waves, and has been for 65 years.. This is a great spot to get one of a kind photographs!
Cypress Point Lookout
This lookout is closed from April 1 to June 1 every year for harbor seals to have their pups. A dramatic viewpoint to catch your final glimpse of the Carmel Bay, I highly recommend a stop here.
Fanshell Overlook
This is another stop that is closed from April 1 to June 1 of each year for the harbor seals. The lookout showcases a pure white sand beach that is a hit with the local wildlife. The view is obstructed by a chain linked fence however, so this is not a ideal location for pictures.
Seal Rock Picnic Area and Bird Rock
Across from the Spyglass Hill Golf Course, these two stops make an ideal picnic stop. You can wander down to the shoreline and walk along the waves, or sit and watch the wildlife. Wildlife are plentiful at these stops and bird rock was bustling with activity while I wandered around with my cameras.
Point Joe/The Restless Sea
Another two stops that blend together, there are panoramic vistas to be had here. Point Joe is where many early Chinese fishermen built lean-tos along the rocks. At The Restless Sea you can watch the turbulent waters churned up by an offshoot of the underwater Monterey Canyon. You can also see the Spanish Bay, which you can stroll down to along a seaside path.
Spanish Bay
Another great picnic spot. In the evening you can listen to the bagpiper that closes the Spanish Bay golf course. The water is far less turbulent here, and great for dipping your toes in while enjoying the beach.
Other Stops
Huckleberry Hill, Shepherd’s Knoll, China Rock, Crocker Grove, The Ghost Tree, and the several golf courses along the drive are also great stops to make if you have the time!
Helpful Tips:
- If you spend $35 or more along the drive you can get the cost of your gate entry fee taken off your meal.
- Bicycling along 17-Mile Drive is free!
- No motorcycles are allowed.
- There are many great picnic spots along the drive, so I recommend a packed lunch or even a light snack along the route.
- You can catch a tour bus in San Francisco if you want to make a day trip. The bus takes you down to Carmel and Monterey and you are taken to several of the stops along the 17-mile drive.
- Strictly driving with no stops takes about 20 minutes, but if you want to get out and see all the sights plan on up to 3 hours. I took lots of photo stops along the way and our trip ended up being around 2.5 hours long.
- There are several of bathroom stops along the way that are clearly marked on the map.