Destinations United States
Kristin Conard
The 72 miles of California’s Highway 1 through Big Sur along the Central California coast takes you through such breathtaking beauty that it’s been named an All-American Road by the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. While many people may think of a road or highway as a way to get to their ultimate destination (don’t forget these safety items for your next road trip), an All-American Road is both road and destination at once. It’s popular enough that an estimated 4.5 to 7.5 million tourists travel through Big Sur along Highway 1 every year, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
The road runs from south of Carmel down to San Simeon, and it’s worth slowing down and enjoying the journey. Literally slowing down since it’s a two-lane road with lots of hairpin turns through the Santa Lucia Mountains, but then making sure to marvel at the views of the redwood forest and the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. While it can be driven in a few hours, you should take the time to stop and savor the rugged natural beauty. And what better way than on a glamping trip?
Ventana Campground has a dedicated glamping area
Courtesy of Alila Ventana Big Sur
Big Sur’s Ventana Campground is set within a redwood grove on the mountain side of Highway 1. It’s got about 75 campsites, and 15 of those are glamping tent cabins — where you’ll get the feel of camping in the great outdoors without the hassle. The safari-style tent cabins are managed by the nearby Alila Ventana Big Sur resort, and they’ve got comfy beds made up with high-end linens including a heated blanket. The campsites come with fire pits as well.
Ventana Campground, and its glamorous tent cabins, is just south of Pfieffer Big Sur State Park, which has miles of trails along the Big Sur River Gorge. Also nearby is Pfeiffer Beach with its purple sand and one of Big Sur’s most photographed landmarks: Keyhole Arch, per Travel Caffeine. It’s the perfect place to watch the sunset before you tuck into your cozy tent cabin beneath towering redwoods.
Explore wants to acknowledge that this is the traditional territory of the Esselen.
Big Sur is full of beauty around each turn
Rudy Balasko/Shutterstock
As you wind your way through Big Sur, it may seem like there’s a new scenic view around each bend. One that you might recognize is Bixby Bridge, particularly if you’re a fan of the show “Big Little Lies.” It’s north of Ventana Campground by about 15 miles, and to get the most well-known picture of the concrete open arch bridge, according to Roadtripping California, stop at Castle Rock Viewpoint. The parking lot is on the north and west side of the bridge, and prepare for it to be crowded.
Another iconic Big Sur landmark is McWay Falls. Inside Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park south of Ventana Campground, the beautiful waterfall flows from 80 feet from the cliffside down onto the beach. Enjoy the view of this natural wonder from the short and aptly named Waterfall Overlook Trail, but keep in mind that trying to get to the beach next to the falls is both off-limits and dangerous. Along with the trail, the park has other trails through canyons filled with redwoods and stunning coastal views. Keep an eye out for gray whale spouts during the winter as they migrate along the Central California coast.
