4. 17-Mile Drive

17-Mile Drive

This scenic drive is not to be missed! Marvel over the spectacular landscapes and dazzling coastal vistas at every turn of the curving oceanfront route. Along the way are wildlife viewing points, secluded beaches, and picnic areas.

Stretching from Arrowhead Point in Carmel-by-the-Sea to Spanish Bay in Pebble Beach, this coastal drive wraps around the outer edge of a small outcropping that separates Monterey Bay and Carmel Bay.

The 17-Mile Drive is famous for The Lone Cypress, a Monterey Cypress tree that stands majestically atop a granite hill. The tree, which is over 200 years old, is one of the most photographed sites in North America.

A short drive from The Lone Cypress viewing point is the country's premier public golf course, Pebble Beach Golf Links. This prestigious course has hosted six U.S. Open Championships and has been selected to host the 2023 U.S. Women's Open, as well as the 2027 U.S. Open. Right next to the Pebble Beach Golf Links course is The Lodge at Pebble Beach, offering five-star accommodations with sweeping views of the ocean and the famous 18th fairway.

Besides Pebble Beach Golf Links, there are five other championship golf courses within the 17-Mile Drive area: Cypress Point Club, Spyglass Hill Golf Course, Poppy Hills Golf Course, and the Dunes and the Shore courses at Monterey Peninsula Country Club. The Links at Spanish Bay is another course found on the 17-Mile Drive, although it is too small to host championships.

A highlight of the 17-Mile Drive is the beautiful Spanish Bay Beach, named after the Spanish explorers who discovered it in 1769. This pristine stretch of sandy shoreline features picnic tables that look out onto the azure waves. In this breathtaking setting, The Inn at Spanish Bay provides five-star lodging nestled between the Pacific Ocean and groves of Monterey pine trees.

Bird-watchers and wildlife lovers appreciate the Bird Rock and Seal Rock stops. The Bird Rock viewing point affords an outlook onto a large rock in the ocean where flocks of birds cluster. Bird Rock is also home to barking sea lions (audible from a distance) and less noisy harbor seals. The Seal Rock stop includes a sheltered beach, tide pools, and a picnic area.

The 17-Mile Drive is privately owned and operated. Visitors must pay an $11.25 fee per vehicle, to enter either through the Carmel Gate at the southern entrance in Carmel-by-the-Sea or through the Pacific Grove Gate at the northern entrance in Pebble Beach.

Registry