Big Sur travel guide
Big Sur Tourism | Big Sur Guide
You're Going to Love Big Sur
With a population of 1,000, Big Sur is a must-see destination in California, United States. Consider staying at least one whole day in Big Sur to see all of its attractions.
Where to Eat in Big Sur
If you’re looking for affordable options, Sierra Mar - Post Ranch Inn (47900 State Highway 1) and Homestead Restaurant at Big Sur Lodge (47225 Highway 1) are great picks.
When to visit Big Sur
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Big Sur in August, when the average temperature is 18 °C, and the highest can go up to 25 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 6 °C, with an average temperature of 11 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in January, when precipitation is around 216 mm. In contrast, July is usually the driest month of the year in Big Sur, with an average rainfall of 0 mm.
How to Get to Big Sur
Plane
Although Big Sur doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Mineta San Jose Airport (SJC), which is located 122 km from Big Sur. The shortest flight to Big Sur from New Zealand departs from Auckland and takes around 12h 05m.
Train
Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Big Sur. The train journey from Big Sur to Santa Clara takes 1h 01m and costs around $29 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from San Jose, expect to pay about $31 for a 1h 16m trip.
Car
Another option to get to Big Sur is to pick up a car hire from San Francisco, which is about 177 km from Big Sur. You’ll find branches of Thrifty and Dollar, among others, in San Francisco.
Bus
You can travel by bus to Big Sur using Greyhound or FlixBus. From Fresno, the bus ride to Big Sur takes 652 km and will cost you around $87. From Los Angeles, the ticket costs about $151 for a journey of 684 km.
Airlines serving Big Sur
Where to stay in popular areas of Big Sur
Hiring a car in Big Sur
Expect to pay $1.69 per litre in Big Sur (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $20.23 and $26.97.