Big Sur travel guide

Big Sur Tourism | Big Sur Guide

You're Going to Love Big Sur

With a population of 1,000, Big Sur is a must-see destination in California, United States. Consider staying at least one whole day in Big Sur to see all of its attractions.

When to visit Big Sur

Big Sur in February
Estimated hotel price
$1187
1 night at 3-star hotel
Big Sur in February
Estimated hotel price
$1187
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Big Sur in August, when the average temperature is 64.4 °F, and the highest can go up to 77 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 42.8 °F, with an average temperature of 51.8 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in January, when precipitation is around 8.5″. In contrast, July is usually the driest month of the year in Big Sur, with an average rainfall of 0″.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Big Sur

Plane

Although Big Sur doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Mineta San Jose Airport (SJC), which is located 76 miles from Big Sur. San Luis Obispo County is the most popular, with regular flights from American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Qatar Airways and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to Big Sur departs from Ontario and takes around 1h 20m.

Train

Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Big Sur. The train journey from Big Sur to Sacramento takes 1h 37m and costs around $29 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Fresno, expect to pay about $28 for a 4h 00m trip.

Car

Another option to get to Big Sur is to pick up a car rental from San Francisco, which is about 110 miles from Big Sur. You’ll find branches of Kyte and Sixt, among others, in San Francisco.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Big Sur using Greyhound or FlixBus. From Oakland, the bus ride to Big Sur takes 25 miles and will cost you around $9. From Reno, the ticket costs about $25 for a journey of 395 miles.

Plane

Although Big Sur doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Mineta San Jose Airport (SJC), which is located 76 miles from Big Sur. San Luis Obispo County is the most popular, with regular flights from American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Qatar Airways and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to Big Sur departs from Ontario and takes around 1h 20m.

Train

Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Big Sur. The train journey from Big Sur to Sacramento takes 1h 37m and costs around $29 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Fresno, expect to pay about $28 for a 4h 00m trip.

Car

Another option to get to Big Sur is to pick up a car rental from San Francisco, which is about 110 miles from Big Sur. You’ll find branches of Kyte and Sixt, among others, in San Francisco.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Big Sur using Greyhound or FlixBus. From Oakland, the bus ride to Big Sur takes 25 miles and will cost you around $9. From Reno, the ticket costs about $25 for a journey of 395 miles.

Airports near Big Sur

Airlines serving Big Sur

Lufthansa
Good (4,678 reviews)
KLM
Good (845 reviews)
SWISS
Good (950 reviews)
British Airways
Good (4,622 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (2,257 reviews)
Delta
Good (4,582 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (488 reviews)
Iberia
Good (1,601 reviews)
Air France
Good (979 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (2,109 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,434 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,983 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (5,996 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (228 reviews)
Finnair
Good (856 reviews)
LOT
Good (677 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (812 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (934 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,169 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (837 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in popular areas of Big Sur

Most booked hotels in Big Sur

Ventana Big Sur, an Alila Resort - Adults Only
4 stars
Excellent (9.4, 40 reviews)
$2,540+
Big Sur River Inn
3 stars
Excellent (8, 297 reviews)
$392+
Fernwood Resort
2 stars
Good (7.8, 533 reviews)
$270+
Big Sur Lodge
0 stars
Good (7.7, 600 reviews)
$313+
Post Ranch Inn
4 stars
Poor (0, 0 reviews)
$2,047+

Renting a car in Big Sur

Expect to pay $3.90 per gallon in Big Sur (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $46.79 and $62.38.

Expect to pay $3.90 per gallon in Big Sur (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $46.79 and $62.38.