17 Mile Drive is among the most scenic drives on this planet with lovely seashores, well-known cypress timber, rocky outcrops, and luxurious mansions. Situated on the Freeway 1 Coastal Route between Carmel by the Sea and Monterey, this drive takes you alongside the Monterey Peninsula by means of the Del Monte Forest and thru one of the unique communities within the nation, Pebble Seashore, California.
Many individuals pay $11.25 to enter the well-known route in Pebble Seashore by automotive, however when you trip a bicycle or stroll alongside the 17-mile stretch, it’s free!
Bikes usually are not allowed on 17 Mile Drive and we didn’t need to be caught in a automotive, so we determined to cycle 17 Mile Drive. However as an alternative of exerting an excessive amount of vitality, we did it in model on an e-bike. The fantastic thing about e-biking is you may discover the gorgeous highway on two wheels with the consolation and velocity of a bike freed from cost!
17 Mile Drive from Monterey – Pacific Grove to Carmel
Most individuals drive 17 mile Drive by renting a automotive or taking a highway journey. You may examine automotive rental comparisons at RentalCars.com.
17 Mile Drive Value
- The entry charge is 11.25 for vehicles.
- Strolling and biking are free.
- Bikes usually are not allowed on 17 mile drive.
- For those who eat at one of many 17-mile drive eating places, you’ll get your gate charge reimbursed.
To Drive or Cycle 17 Mile Drive
17 Mile Drive is situated in the neighborhood of Pacific Grove, It’s only a five-minute drive from Monterey, so it is rather straightforward to get to if you’re staying on the town. We met our information at Huge Sur Adventures on Cannery Row the place we equipped with helmets, water, and state-of-the-art e-bikes.
Irrespective of which method you select to see 17 Mile Drive, you will love the surroundings. Nonetheless, site visitors might be heavy and there’s a lineup to get into this scenic drive.
We discovered that by biking, we had plenty of freedom and zipped previous stopped vehicles in site visitors. Plus, with e-bikes, we didn’t work very exhausting as a result of they’re electrical bikes. We had the enjoyable of utilizing pedal energy however had the additional enhance of velocity to go uphill and trip sooner with ease. We coated plenty of floor in our afternoon tour.
These E-bikes are quick. We averaged 20 miles (32km) an hour with out having to do any exhausting work. If you wish to zip round from place to put, the gears and throttle make it straightforward to hit high speeds, even going uphill. We barely broke a sweat.
Issues to See on 17 Mile Drive
There are such a lot of issues to see and do on 17 Mile Drive, however Ocean View Boulevard and Sundown Drive have rather a lot to see as effectively, so we propose making a whole day journey to discover this scenic coastal drive.
Right here’s a breakdown of the factors of curiosity on 17 Mile Drive and Ocean View Boulevard to Carmel.
1. Lovers Level – Ocean Blvd
Lovers Level is a picturesque seashore with photogenic rocky outcrops. It’s a preferred spot for locals to hang around and have picnics, play seashore volleyball, or catch a wave.
Earlier than coming into 17 Mile Drive, we stopped at a few scenic viewpoints alongside Ocean Boulevard to admire the views of the Monterey Peninsula. We began simply outdoors Monterey close to the Monterey Bay Aquarium and to the Gate to Pebble Seashore. Lover’s Level was a ravishing cease to marvel at the great thing about the coast. There appeared to be one pull-off after one other for vehicles to park and for folks to get out and benefit from the views.
2. Pacific Grove Marine Gardens Conservation Space
On the Pacific Grove Marine Gardens Conservation Space, a gaggle of sea otters caught our eye. Not less than a dozen of them have been enjoying within the surf of the Monterey Peninsula.
We realized that by the Nineteen Twenties sea otters have been believed to be extinct as a result of overhunting. However 50 or so survived alongside the coast. Some folks say they lived within the well-known Bixby Bridge space.
Right now, sea otters are thriving within the space due to the efforts of the Monterey Bay Aquariums Sea Otter program. We watched a minimum of a dozen of them swim in play within the surf and it was heartening to listen to that they’ve returned.
However they nonetheless face a severe risk from oil spills and meals availability. After a number of minutes of watching the lovable little guys, we hopped on our e-bikes, put our gears on excessive, and zipped to the subsequent cease.
Be sure that to take a look at these different lovely spots for images alongside Huge Sur. These are highlights you don’t need to miss!
3. John Denver Memorial
It’s fascinating to listen to of the film stars and celebrities that frequented this space.
Clint Eastwood was the mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea within the Eighties and practically everybody we talked to had some form of celeb story to inform of their institution or neighborhood.
We e realized that singer John Denver lived in the neighborhood for a 12 months earlier than his dying. His aircraft crashed within the waters simply off the coast. In 2007 a memorial was devoted to the shores to have fun his life.
4. Level Pinos Lighthouse
As we meandered previous million-dollar homes our information Joaquin identified the Level Pinos Lighthouse, the oldest still-operating lighthouse on the West Coast. It’s nonetheless in use right now to assist navigate ships they usually provide each day excursions. You may additionally like: The place to Camp in Huge Sur
5. Pacific Grove Gate
We entered the Gates of Pebble Seashore at Pacific Grove Gate with out incident. We whizzed previous vehicles lined as much as pay their entrance charge. Being on a bicycle, we had the liberty to discover the paid portion of 17 Mile Drive on our personal.
Having our bikes, we have been driving sooner than most vehicles caught in site visitors which allowed us to see all the highest websites with ease. You may choose up a map of 17 Mile Drive on the Customer’s Heart, to observe the 21 factors of curiosity.
Certain you may spend the day checking all the pieces out, however if you’re brief on time, there are just a few should see stops. These have been our favorites.
6. Hyperlinks at Spanish Bay
The Hyperlinks Golf course at Spanish Bay is probably one of the lovely settings for golf within the US. It was designed to guard and restore the native dunes alongside the coast to permit the plant to regrow at Spanish Bay.
Due to the nursery constructed on-site, greater than 100,000 native species are replanted every year creating a ravishing wild coast alongside Spanish Bay.
The Hyperlinks at Spanish Bay was the primary Scottish Model golf course in America opened in 1987 and was designed by five-time British Open champion Tom Watson. He famous that “Spanish Bay seemed a lot like Scotland, you might nearly hear the bagpipe piping.” Ever since The Hyperlinks at Spanish Bay has had pipers play at sundown whereas the final golfers end up on the course.
7. Spanish Bay
Spanish Bay Seashore is one more scenic cease alongside a protracted stretch of seashore. Within the late 1700s, the Spanish camped right here whereas looking for Monterey Bay. Confusion and illness set in and 6 months later they returned having by no means discovered Monterey Bay. Little did they know, how shut they have been.
It wasn’t till a 12 months later with one other discovery get together that they really found Monterey Bay which was hidden in plain sight. Spanish Bay was named for the Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portolà who camped right here in 1769 by no means discovering what he was searching for.
You can even keep right here on the Inn at Spanish Bay. It overlooks The Hyperlinks at Spanish Bay and is near the Chook Rock Vista overlook.
8. China Rock
China Rock is one other lovely viewpoint alongside the 17 Mile Drive. This was a Chinese language neighborhood within the 1800s the place they constructed small lean-to properties towards the rocks.
9. Chook Rock
Our subsequent cease was one other lovely lookout at Chook Rock. Joaquin advised us that it was once a number of inches larger however they cleared away all of the hen poop.
As soon as they cleared the layer of dung away, the ocean lions took over for a bit however now that the layer of white hen droppings has taken over once more, it’s gone again to the birds providing nice sightings for hen watchers.
10. Seal Rock
Seal Rock is an effective picnic space and is a good spot to get out, stretch your legs and go for a stroll. It was named for the harbor seals and sea lions that frequent the world.
11. Crocker Grove
17 Mile Drive could also be well-known for its dying Monterey cypress timber alongside the shore, however simply earlier than you attain the Lone Cypress Level Lookout, make a cease in Crocker Grove. The Cypress Timber of Crocker Grove are wholesome and robust. You’ll additionally discover a few of the oldest and largest cypress timber on this planet right here.
The founding father of Pebble Seashore Samuel F.B. Morse, made certain to protect the world, and its Monterey cypress Timber. The drive goes by means of 5300 acres together with the Del Monte Forest.
12. The Lone Cypress
We have been most trying ahead to Cypress Level Lookout to see the Lone Cypress because it’s the photograph that we’ve seen everywhere in the Web of 17 Mile Drive. It’s a well-known Monterey Cypress tree sitting alone on a rocky outcrop Nevertheless it ended up being a bit disappointing to us. It appears that evidently most photographers have accomplished their intelligent framing and positioning to make it appear extra thrilling than it’s.
Though we have been disillusioned, the Lone Cypress continues to be a must-stop alongside the 17 Mile Drive. It’s the image of Pebble Seashore, California, and the 250-year-old tree now has metal cables holding it up. For those who handle to do the 17 Mile Drive within the close to future, it’s essential to cease right here for a glance since you by no means understand how for much longer the Lone Cypress will final.
13. Ghost Tree
Just a bit farther alongside the highway was the Ghost Tree and that was a extra spectacular view for us. The sundown occurs immediately behind the Ghost Tree (in March anyway) and it makes for a ravishing scene.
It’s a stark distinction to the Lone Cypress that’s nonetheless residing. This lifeless cypress tree with bare branches offers an ominous view of the ocean. Legend has it the Girl in Lace might be seen on the Ghost Tree on foggy nights.
14. Mansions
There are 21 factors of curiosity alongside the 17 Mile Drive route map, however none of them point out the $20-$40 million greenback mansions that line the shore. Dave and I couldn’t imagine the variety of multimillion-dollar properties and puzzled, “who lives right here?” How accomplish that many individuals have such big wealth?
The 17 mile drive homes are actually constructed for the wealthy and well-known and it’s enjoyable to think about who’s hiding behind the high-manicured hedges. We might have stopped for a peek at every property however that might have taken your entire day!
15. Pescadero Level
Earlier than biking alongside 17 Mile Drive, we spent a day browsing with the Carmel Surf Firm off its beautiful lengthy sandy seashore. Whereas there, our teacher identified Pebble Seashore and we didn’t notice simply how shut 17 Mile Drive was to the place we began.
Stopping at Pescadero Level gave us beautiful views of Carmel Bay and Stillwater cove. It was our final scenic view earlier than reducing again into the Pebble Seashore neighborhood.
16. Pebble Seashore Customer Heart
The Pebble Seashore Customer Heart traces the historical past of 17 Mile Drive from its beginnings as a carriage route in 1881. There are 20 displays with interactive maps, an out of doors patio, and meals and drinks. Hours: 8 am to 7 pm.
17. Pebble Seashore Golf Hyperlinks
There are a number of world-class golf programs at Pebble Seashore and The Pebble Seashore Golf Hyperlinks at Spanish Bay was voted one of many Greatest Public Golf Programs within the nation by Golf Digest. The 2019 US Open was held on the Pebble Seashore Golf Hyperlinks.
- Different Golf Programs are:
- Pebble Seashore Golf Hyperlinks
- Spyglass Hill Golf Course
- Del Monte Golf Course
- Pebble Seashore Golf Academy
Peter Hay Par-3 Golf Course – For those who don’t need to golf a full 18 holes whereas visiting Pebble Seashore, hit up the one Par 3 course within the space and you should definitely see the one hundredth U.S. Open Monument that was put up in the course of the 2000 U.S. to honor the win in 2000 (by Tiger Woods) and the opposite 99 winners of the twentieth century.
18. The Lodge at Pebble Seashore
Lodge at Pebble Seashore – The Lodge at Pebble Seashore dates again to 1919 and is a good place to cease in your journey across the drive. In case you have the price range, it’s additionally an incredible place to remain in Pebble Seashore. It’s inside strolling distance of another 17 mile drive points of interest together with Level Joe and Fanshell Overlook.
This renovated to 5-star luxurious, the lodge is known for overlooking the 18th gap of the impeccable golf course situated on the ocean.
19. Mission Ranch
We even made the detour to go to Clint Eastwood’s well-known ranch. The Mission Ranch dates again to the 1800s and was rescued by Eastwood whereas he was mayor of Carmel. It was set to be a condominium improvement.
Right now it’s a resort and restaurant set on 22 acres with sheep grazing within the meadow.
It’s price a visit simply to say you’ve been there as a result of plainly everybody you meet within the space asks when you went to Clint Eastwood’s ranch.
Pebble Seashore Equestrian Heart
We didn’t trip horses throughout our journey by means of 17 Mile Drive, however we noticed loads of horses throughout our keep within the space. The Pebble Seashore Equestrian Heart presents guided excursions by means of its 27 miles of trails throughout the Del Monte Forest. From the Equestrian Heart you undergo the Del Monte Forest to a Coastal Path the place you’ll take pleasure in a coastal picnic. We have to add that to our listing the subsequent time we go to!
20. Pebble Seashore Meals and Wine Occasion
For those who occur to be within the space in April, the annual Pebble Seashore Meals & Wine Occasion has been a practice since 2008. Greater than 100 celeb cooks accomplice with 250 wineries organising tasting rooms for wine tastings and meals pairings.
21. Huckleberry Hill
We didn’t make it to Huckleberry Hill, however when you’ve got extra time, you may make your method as much as this viewpoint that’s 800 ft above sea stage to miss the Del Monte Forest. It’s situated on the Freeway-1 Gate previous Shephard’s Knoll. Apparently this was John Steinbeck’s favourite cease on 17 Mile Drive.
22. Carmel by the Sea
After a trip by means of the Lodge at Pebble Seashore and the Pebble Seashore Golf Hyperlinks, we wove our method by means of the quiet again streets towards our lodging.
Our journey ended within the beautiful city of Carmel. We propose spending the evening in Carmel as there are many issues to see and do. From purchasing in its boutiques to high-quality eating, it is a beautiful romantic escape. We’ve a whole breakdown of issues to do in Carmel at The Greatest Issues to do in Carmel by the Sea
The place to Keep On 17 Mile Drive
We spent two days in Carmel earlier than starting our highway journey down the Pacific Coast Freeway 1. There are many locations to remain in Carmel and you may as well keep in Monterey which may be very near Pebble Seashore.
The Hideaway
We cherished our keep on the Hideaway Lodge in Carmel however there are different locations to remain as effectively which we’ve got talked about on your reference.
The Hideaway is situated simply half a mile from the seashore however can be centrally situated downtown.
Inn at Spanish Bay – The Inn at Spanish Bay is situated on the Hyperlinks Golf Course. All rooms have a comfortable hearth and there are numerous eating choices out there at this 5-star resort overlooking Spanish Bay
Casa Palermo – Situated on the Pebble Seashore Golf and Hyperlinks, this Mediterranean Model Lodging has 24 elegant rooms with an award-winning spa, golf, and five-star facilities.
The place To Eat Alongside 17 Mile Drive
La Balena Cucina Toscana
With its central location in Carmel, we have been only a brief stroll from our dinner reservations at La Balena Cucina Toscana Carmel. Juniper Road appears to be the taking place road for eating places and cafes in Carmel and each The Hideaway and Labalena are located on it.
La Balena was our favorite meal of our complete journey. The ambiance was excellent as we dined on their out of doors patio with warmth lamps conserving us toasty heat. Run by Chef Emanuel Bartolini and his spouse, the restaurant captures Tuscan delicacies fantastically.
As you understand we’ve spent plenty of time in Tuscany and felt utterly at house consuming contemporary burrata with olive oil, gnocchi with truffles, and savory spaghetti Neri with clams, muscle tissue, prawns in a tomato chili brodo.
Pebble Seashore Meals
We didn’t eat in Pebble Seashore, however there are many choices to eat at 17-mile drive eating places and you’ll get your gate charge reimbursed when you eat at one of many pebble seashore firm eating places. Most individuals picnic at one of many many seashores and picnic areas.
The preferred picnic spots are seal rock and level joe. Pack a lunch and make a day of it. Or higher but, go to the pebble seashore marketplace for some picnic meals.
17 Mile Drive – Incessantly Requested Questions
How a lot does it value to drive 17 Mile Drive?
If strolling or biking 17 Mile drive is free. The entry charge for vehicles is $11.25 on the gate, however when you spend $35 or extra at pebble seashore resorts eating places excluding pebble seashore market, you may get your gate charge again. Bikes usually are not allowed on 17 Mile Drive.
The place do you begin 17 Mile Drive?
17 Mile Drive begins at Pacific Grove Gate at Pebble Seashore, California.
If you’re driving south from San Francisco alongside Freeway 1 take the exit to CA 68 West in direction of Pebble Seashore, you’ll then see indicators for the Pacific Grove Pebble Seashore Gate entrance.
We began from Huge Sur Adventures in Monterey and cycled round Ocean View Boulevard to sundown drive earlier than making our technique to the Pebble Seashore Gate the place 17 mile drive formally begins.
You can even entry 17 Mile Drive from the Nation Membership Gate, Carmel gate, S.F.B. Morse Gate, or Freeway 1 Gate.
How lengthy is 17 Mile drive to see?
You may zip by means of the 17 miles rapidly, however we propose three to 4 hours to see all of the sights. Have lunch in Pebble Seashore and make a day of it. There are seashores, scenic views and loads of locations to catch sundown.
Is there lodging on 17 mile drive.
There are three luxurious Pebble Seashore resorts within the 17 mile drive. The Inn at Spanish Bay, Casa Palmero, and the Lodge at Pebble Seashore.
17 Mile Drive Hours of Operation
17 Mile drive is open from dawn to sundown to guests, however if you’re staying in one of many Pebble Seashore resorts, you’ve got entry to it 24/7. The gates to Pebble Seashore are patrolled 24 hours a day.
- For extra info on 17 Mile Drive, Carmel, and Monterey, go to the See Monterey Web site.
- Ebiking excursions of 17 Mile Drive begin at $59 per individual.
- For lodging try The Hideaway for reservations and costs.
Learn Extra About California
Our journey to California was in partnership with Go to California. For extra info on California journey and itineraries, go to their web site. As typical, all opinions are our personal.
