17-Mile Drive: Pebble Beach’s scenic road in California

The 17-Mile Drive is a paid scenic American road that will allow you to discover, among other things, some of California’s most beloved beaches. As you drive along it, you’ll have the opportunity to journey through cypress forests, and tranquil and exclusive neighborhoods, and immerse yourself in the serenity of coastal landscapes with their captivating views of the ocean.

If you’re planning an itinerary along the California coast, it’s definitely an activity to consider. Let’s find out how to best organize a visit.

How to Get There

Hours, Entrance Fee and Other Information

You can access the 17-Mile Drive every day of the year from sunrise to sunset. To drive along it, there is a fee of $11.25 per vehicle. This fee can be refunded if you spend more than $35 at one of the restaurants within Pebble Beach Resorts (excluding Pebble Beach Market), which, considering the average prices, should not be difficult to exceed.

Keep in mind that once you’ve purchased access to the 17-Mile Drive, you can exit and re-enter multiple times within the same day.

If you’re wondering how much time to allocate for this excursion, simply driving the entire 17-Mile Drive doesn’t take much time. However, due to the numerous stops required to fully enjoy the various viewpoints, I suggest budgeting one to two hours to cover the entire route without missing out on the best this road has to offer.

17-Mile Drive Entrance

Here are the entrances that provide direct access to the 17-Mile Drive:

• Carmel Gate: coordinates 
• Highway 1 Gate: coordinates 
• Pacific Grove Gate: coordinates 
• Samuel F.B. Morse Gate: coordinates 
• Country Club Gate: coordinates 

17-Mile Drive Best Stops

Here are the main attractions you can encounter described from the Pacific Grove Gate as you travel south along the 17-Mile Drive:

• Spanish Bay: Named because it’s the place where Spanish explorers led by Gaspar de Portolà camped in 1796 while searching for the entrance to Monterey Bay. The beach here is so white and beautiful, making it one of the highly recommended spots for a souvenir photo and to soak in the atmosphere. Nearby, you’ll find the renowned Inn at Spanish Bay, connected to the golf course known as “The Links at Spanish Bay”.
• Restless Sea and Point Joe: This stretch of coastline is known for its particularly turbulent and restless waters. Point Joe was one of the most dangerous areas for sailors, partly because many mistakenly identified it as the entrance to Monterey Bay. If you’re wondering about the origin of the name “Joe” associated with this scenic point, it’s quite simple: it was named after a Chinese fisherman named Joe who lived in a small wooden house in this location. He managed to make a living by selling trinkets to passing tourists. However, as the informational sign suggests, it’s not entirely certain whether Joe was named after the promontory or if the promontory was named in honor of Joe.
• Bird Rock and Seal Rock: From this viewpoint, you can see these two famous rocks, known as resting spots for sea lions and various bird species.
• Fanshell Beach and Fanshell Lookout: One of the area’s popular sandy beaches, reached via a short staircase from a small parking area along the road. It’s a favored resting place for seals, so the beach is closed to the public in April and May. Just ahead, you’ll find the well-regarded Fanshell Overlook.
• The Crocker Cypress Grove: Not a coastal viewpoint but an inland area where you can observe and touch the world’s largest and oldest Monterey cypress trees.
• Lone Cypress: Considered the midpoint of the 17-Mile Drive along the coast. This viewpoint is famous for offering a view of a cypress tree standing alone on a rocky promontory for over 250 years. It’s not uncommon to find many photographers seeking the perfect shot, especially at sunset. Some have even suggested it may be the most photographed tree in the United States. It holds such importance in the local community that the lone cypress has been chosen as the logo for Pebble Beach Resort since its founding in 1919.
• The Ghost Tree and Pescadero Point: From the Pescadero viewpoint, you can enjoy beautiful panoramas of Carmel and Stillwater Bay. This area is also known for the presence of “Ghost Trees,” which are dead cypress trunks that still reach toward the sky, creating a captivating sight during the day and a slightly eerie one at night.
• Pebble Beach: The beach after which the entire area is named has long disappeared. What remains is a cliff where the shoreline used to be, and it was once used as part of a golf course. Over time, a retaining wall had to be built to prevent erosion that was encroaching inland, endangering parts of the popular golf club.

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If you wish to continue your journey to complete the loop, there are three more points of interest worth mentioning:

• Shepherd’s Knoll: This is the first recommended stop on the map if you enter from the Highway 1 entrance. It’s an elevated point that offers a partial view of Monterey Bay, although much of it may be obstructed by vegetation, leaving limited space for the panorama.
• Huckleberry Hill: è This is a hill where you can take a walk among the trees and enjoy the peace and tranquility of the area. It’s said that both John Steinbeck and Robert Louis Stevenson came here for walks to find inspiration for their novels. From the highest point, especially on clear days, you can see the city of Santa Cruz in the distance.
• Ford Meadow: Rather than a major attraction, this is a historical curiosity. This meadow is dedicated to the memory of Robert Ford, a lover of these lands and a member of the Del Monte Conservancy, an organization dedicated to preserving the natural and cultural environment of the Monterey area.

Additionally, the Pebble Beach Visitor Center located in front of The Lodge at Pebble Beach, just beyond Pescadero Point, deserves a special mention. Here, you can find numerous exhibitions that trace the history of the region and the famous golf courses that have been built. Particularly interesting is the presence of an interactive map of the 17-Mile Drive that traces its route and the main attractions you can visit.

You can’t miss the well-stocked gift shop where you can purchase many themed souvenirs to remember this excursion. The opening hours are from Monday to Friday from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and on Saturdays and Sundays from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

17-Mile Drive Events

In addition to all the golf-related events, there are two significant annual events worth noting in this area:

• Concours d’Elegance: This is a parade of vintage cars along the 17-Mile Drive that draws a large crowd. The event attracts vintage car collectors, automobile enthusiasts, and curious visitors from around the world. The showcased cars are judged by experts based on criteria such as condition, historical authenticity, and aesthetics. It usually takes place every year in the month of August. For the exact date, I recommend checking the official event website.
• The Spanish Bay Bagpiper: This is a tradition at The Inn at Spanish Bay Hotel. It involves a bagpiper playing traditional music outdoors during sunset. The reason behind this tradition is that the Spanish Bay golf course was designed in a Scottish style, and Tom Watson, a well-known golfer, once remarked that this place was so reminiscent of Scotland that you could almost hear bagpipes playing. During daylight saving time, the bagpiper starts around 5:45 PM, while in standard time months, the event begins half an hour before sunset, lasting for about 45 minutes.

Nearby Attractions

• Pacific Grove: A picturesque coastal town with a rich history, known for the Monarch butterflies and the tranquil, relaxed atmosphere it offers to its visitors.
• Monterey: The former capital of California where you can visit one of the nation’s most famous aquariums and explore the marine wonders of the bay with the same name.
• Carmel-by-the-sea: A charming coastal village renowned for its picturesque streets, art galleries, and historic mission.
• Point Lobos: A natural reserve that offers spectacular coastal landscapes, scenic trails, and abundant wildlife.
• Big Sur: An incredibly scenic coastal area along Highway 1, celebrated for its breathtaking vistas and numerous natural attractions.

17-Mile Drive Hotels

Let’s start by saying that if you have no budget constraints and wish to stay in one of the two luxurious resorts in the area, you can check availability for both The Lodge at Pebble Beach and The Inn at Spanish Bay.

However, if your budget doesn’t allow for this choice, you can opt for one of the many accommodations available in the nearby cities of Monterey, Pebble Beach, Carmel and Pacific Grove.

Alternatively, you can click on the link below to get an overview of the best accommodation options in the area.

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