Getting AroundBig Sur
Is Highway 1 Through Big Sur Open in 2026?
Yes, Highway 1 is open through Big Sur as of 21 Oct 2026, with one-way traffic at Rocky Creek Bridge and Mud Creek. Caltrans and CAL FIRE notices, parking.
Big Sur
About 90 miles of Highway 1 coast between Carmel and San Simeon, California.
Highway 1 has been open end to end through Big Sur since 13 September 2026, when the last Plaskett Fire closure was lifted. Caltrans still runs one-way traffic control at Rocky Creek Bridge, 15.7 miles south of Monterey, 24 hours a day through 30 November 2026. Near Point Sur the road runs on a one-way signal while crews repair the embankment.
The road reopened at Regent's Slide on 14 January 2026. It had been closed there since the slide of 9 February 2024. Storm debris closed 6.8 miles in February 2026, and wildfires closed about forty miles in August. Check Caltrans QuickMap or call 1-800-427-7623 before you leave. The federal byways listing says to allow 1.5 hours to drive the road or five hours to see it.
Bixby Bridge has a no-parking zone on Highway 1, from about 900 feet north to 700 feet south of the bridge, for 12 months. Day use is $10 a car at Pfeiffer Big Sur, Julia Pfeiffer Burns and Point Lobos. Julia Pfeiffer Burns has no beach access at McWay Falls. The elephant seals at Piedras Blancas are free to watch, and the count peaks in late January.
Getting Around