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If you’re considering a road trip on the West Coast, chances are your itinerary involves driving along the famous Pacific Coast Highway 1. It’s considered one of the most scenic drives in the nation and we certainly agree.

The Big Sur section of PCH spans from San Luis Obispo to Carmel and is an official National Scenic Byway. The Big Sur byway was under construction for a while but the roads are finally back open as of April 2021.

We went on a dog-friendly road trip and made it a point to drive through Big Sur as we made our way to Carmel-by-the-Sea via Los Angeles. Since we were taking the same route back to Los Angeles, we were able to drive through Big Sur twice.

Big Sur is known for having cloudy and foggy weather year-round, so if you drive through on a sunny day then it’s considered extremely lucky. We didn’t get lucky on the way to Carmel-By-the-Sea, but on our way back to Los Angeles, we were graced with exceptionally beautiful weather.

There is a lot to explore in Big Sur, but since we were just passing through these were the areas we stopped at.

1. Ragged Point Inn

If you are heading to Big Sur from Los Angeles, you’ll definitely want to stop here. It’s hard to miss and it’s a great area to grab some food, take a bathroom break, and walk your pups. If you have time, there are trail walks here as well.

Plenty of Grass for the pups to run around in at Ragged Point Inn

The views at this stop are also incredibly beautiful and the property is very well maintained with lovely gardens. You could have a picnic here on the grass or sit at one of the many tables throughout the property.

View of the cliffs and ocean at Ragged Point Inn

There are a couple of gas pumps if you need to fill up, but it comes at a premium price which isn’t surprising as there are only a couple of gas stations on Hwy 1 Big Sur. Definitely gas up before you reach Big Sur because we saw prices starting at $5 a gallon.

Crystal in line to order some lunch. She got the chicken strips and fries.

2. Seal Beach Overlook

This was an unexpected surprise and we had to stop by since Crystal is a fan of seals. The area has plenty of parking and you can see Elephant Seals at a really close range.

There is an observation platform that separates you from the seals so that you don’t disturb their sunbathing/nap time. It was a fairly quick stop for us and kudos for it being dog-friendly as well.

Seal Beach Overlook is behind Crystal where the Elephant Seals are napping

If you’re wondering why Crystal loves seals, it’s because it reminds her of her pup, Kuma. Kuma is a corgi and when she gets excited, she puts her ears back, which then makes her look like a seal. Also, when Kuma lays on her side to sleep, it also looks like a seal.

3. Bixby Bridge

We couldn’t complete our Big Sur road trip without a stop at this iconic bridge. Since our road trip consisted of passing through Big Sur twice we were fortunate to see the bridge when it was both sunny and overcast. We definitely preferred the sunny weather over the cloudy one, but both presented a clear view of the most photographed bridge in California.

There isn’t a ton of parking here, but most cars aren’t parked for long. We were lucky both times and were able to secure a parking spot without having to wait for one.

4. Garrapata State Park Vista Point

Gorgeous views at Garrapata State Park Vista Point

As you can imagine, there are a ton of vista points along Big Sur and it can be a little overwhelming to know which ones to stop at. We simply winged it and stopped at this viewpoint that had an amazing view of the coastline.

5. Carmel-by-the-Sea

This was our final destination as we had booked a stay at the Hofsas House Hotel to spend the weekend with our pups. This dog-friendly village is rated the #1 Dog Friendly Town in America and is known to be a world-class pet-friendly destination.

It’s a very charming little town and we had fun taking our pups to a wine tasting room and to a gorgeous off-leash dog beach. Kuma loved the white powdery sand and Zooey enjoyed being chased by Kuma. The pups really enjoyed this beach, so we made it a point to visit the morning before our drive back to LA.

Massive tree at the entrance to Carmel Beach

Final Thoughts

The entire drive is very scenic and many people suggest giving yourself about 3 hours and we agree with this recommendation. The roads are pretty windy, so if you are prone to motion sickness, be prepared.

Zooey and Kuma having a blast running in and out of the water

Our road trip on the famous Pacific Coast Highway started in Los Angeles and ended in Carmel-by-the-Sea, but if you are keen on doing the entire PCH ride, it starts at Interstate 5 south of San Juan Capistrano and ends at U.S. 101 in Mendocino County.

Carmel Beach on a cloudy and misty morning

Some Tips

Public restrooms are very scarce, so we recommend taking a bathroom break at Ragged Point Inn. The State Parks provide restrooms and most businesses provide restrooms for guests if you purchase something.
Pack some light snacks and beverages just in case you get hungry. Some of the dining facilities have limited hours.
Dress accordingly. On cloudy days, it’s pretty chilly and windy. We definitely needed a sweater or a light jacket even though we drove through in June.
Fill up your gas tank before entering Hwy 1 Big Sur if you want to avoid paying for gas at a premium.
We suggest adding at least 2.5 hours to your driving time for Hwy 1 Big Sur. The roads are two lanes and windy, which means you will most likely be driving at a slower pace or possibly stuck behind a slower car at times.
Check for possible road closures on Hwy 1 Big Sur before you embark on your trip.