Guide to the 17-Mile Drive From Monterey to Carmel
The 17-Mile Drive is a gorgeous winding road along the coast from Monterey to Carmel-by-the-sea with stunning lookout spots. It’s one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in California!
The whole drive is only 17 miles, but with all the stops, it can take a few hours. Give yourself plenty of time to enjoy each stop, take photos, have a picnic, and take a walk. When the weather is overcast, it’s easier to run through the stops quickly. Sunny days will make you want to linger at each stop to take in the sparkling turquoise waters.
The drive has multiple starting points, but I recommend starting at the Pacific Grove gate and driving south to Carmel-by-the-Sea. It’s the perfect itinerary if you’re spending a weekend in Pacific Grove and want to take a day trip to Carmel-by-the-Sea while you’re there.
This is a self-guided tour and requires you to drive your own car, but you can book a private tour if you’d prefer to just be a passenger with a professional guide.
Planning Your 17-Mile Drive Visit
How to Enter
There are multiple separate entry gates to the 17-Mile Drive. As mentioned above, I recommend starting at the Pacific Grove Gate and following the route to Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Pacific Grove Gate: Located in Pacific Grove, just south of Monterey and north of Carmel. Your first stop from this entrance is Stop #3.
Country Club Gate: This is shown on the printed map they provide, but I cannot find any mention of it online or on Google Maps.
SFB Morse Gate: Located on Morse Dr. off of Highway 68. This takes you through the neighborhoods before arriving at Stop #3 on the coast.
Highway 1 Gate: Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, this entrance lets you start at Stop #1 or head to Stop #17 and work your way backwards to Pacific Grove.
Carmel Gate: Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea near Carmel Beach. You can also choose whether to start at Stop #1 in the hills or start coastal at Stop #17.
Entrance Fee
Non-commercial vehicles: $12.25 each (as of December 2025). A debit/credit card is preferred.
Bikes (both regular and e-bikes) get in free.
Motorcycles are not allowed.
If you visit any Pebble Beach Resorts restaurants and spend over $35, you get the 17-Mile Drive entrance fee reimbursed on your bill.
Staying at The Lodge at Pebble Beach, The Inn at Spanish Bay, or Casa Palmero? You get into the 17-Mile Drive for free!
What to Bring
Water bottle – I love my Owala. It comes in a few sizes!
Snacks – The snacks you bring are up to you! You could grab takeout from a restaurant in Pacific Grove (or Carmel, depending on where you’re coming from) and have a picnic at one of the stops.
Full tank of gas — There aren’t any gas stations along the drive, so be sure you have enough for the full 17 miles.
Binoculars — There is so much wildlife, you’ll wish you had binoculars if you don’t bring a pair! I like Nocs since they’re small and easy to carry.
Sunscreen — You need sunscreen even on foggy days! I like COOLA. Just be sure to wear sunscreen, especially in summer when the UV is stronger.
Guided Tours
Driving the 17-Mile Drive yourself is perfect if you want to go at your own pace, enjoy driving, and have a reliable car. If those things don’t resonate with you, then a guided tour might be best!
Choose from a 2.5-hour e-bike tour, a small group tour that includes Monterey and Carmel, a 3.5-hour private tour from Monterey to Big Sur, or a 3-hour e-bike tour. All the tours include the 17-Mile Drive in the itinerary.
Stops Along the 17-Mile Drive
There are 17 official, named stops on the 17-Mile Drive. The best thing about the drive is it’s self-guided, so you can stop at as many or as few as you want!
If you prefer a guided tour, book one of the awesome e-bike tours that bike the full 17-Mile Drive with a tour guide.
1. Shepherd’s Knoll
It’s easy to miss this stop if you don’t enter through the Highway 1 Gate. It’s the first stop after you pass through that gate, or if you enter through the Carmel Gate and stay right at the first fork.
Here you’ll get a peek at Monterey Bay through the trees and plants in the foreground. It’s not the most impressive view, but worth a stop if you’re passing it anyway.
You can pass by slowly and take in the views from your car, or park in one of the 15 or so spots to get out and look.
If you’re entering through the Pacific Grove gate, you can skip this stop and end your drive in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
2. Huckleberry Hill
Once you pass Shepherd’s Knoll, continue north along the 17-mile drive to an even higher viewpoint. From here, you can enjoy views of the gorgeous coast all the way north to Santa Cruz on a clear day.
This stop’s name comes from the many huckleberries that grow on the hill here. Like the first stop, the views aren’t amazing since it’s just a peek through the trees.
Stop for the views, but stay for the hiking trails lined with huckleberry bushes!
3. Spanish Bay Beach
This stop was named after the Spanish Explorers who stayed here in 1769 in search of Monterey Bay. It took them a year to find the actual Monterey Bay they were looking for, but the bay they originally camped at was later named Spanish Bay.
At this stop, you’ll find a sprawling white-sand beach and plenty of parking spots. The beach has picnic tables if you want to eat lunch (bring your own food) or just sit and enjoy the waves.
Bring towels to sit out and enjoy the beach on a sunny day!
4. The Restless Sea
This stop is aptly named for the choppy waters in this area. The waves are wild, crashing over the rocks just below the surface. Definitely not a spot to swim (none of them are — this is some of the most choppy/dangerous coastline in the state).
The Restless Sea is one of my favorite stops along the 17-Mile Drive. On a sunny day, the vivid blue water with the bright white foam is gorgeous!
When you’re standing at this stop, look right to see Spanish Bay and look left to see Point Joe. Keep an eye out for cute squirrels hanging out on the rocks nearby.
5. Point Joe
Many shipwrecks occurred at this spot when early sailors mistakenly thought this to be the entrance to Monterey Bay, running ashore on the rocky coastline.
Some remains (mostly metal fragments) of several shipwrecks can still be seen on the ocean floor by divers today.
The name allegedly comes from a man named Joe who once lived in a hut at this point, though some say Joe was named for the point instead of the other way around.
Either way, it’s another gorgeous stop along the 17-Mile Drive with a large rock formation and rough seas. You could easily park at The Restless Sea and walk one minute to this spot or vice versa, as they’re connected by a short walking path.
6. China Rock
There was a small Chinese fishing village at this site in the late 1800s, which is where it got its name. Legend says that you can still see cooking smoke on the rocks.
While it’s likely just low-hanging fog or steam from the sun-heated rocks on a cool day, cooking smoke is a much more interesting reason for the phenomenon. I haven’t seen the “cooking smoke” myself, but keep an eye out for it when you visit!
This spot is beautiful, but it isn’t a must-stop if you’re short on time. You can just take a look as you drive past it.
7. Bird Rock
If you need to use the restroom, use the one here. This is one of two stops with a restroom; the next restroom isn’t until stop 14. I recommend stopping to use the restroom here, even if you don’t need to, since you won’t get another chance for a while.
The parking lot is large and has a 180º view of the ocean. You’ll see sea lions (and hear them!), seals, and birds hanging out at this spot.
The official 17-Mile Drive brochure they provide at the entrance says the rock here was covered in 4–5 feet of bird poop until it was harvested as fertilizer in 1930. After that, the sea lions happily took over the freshly cleaned rock.
There are still hundreds, if not thousands, of birds that perch on this rock daily. The sea lions still perch here as well, but can also be seen splashing in the waves just below.
8. Seal Rock
We stopped here briefly on a day with dense fog and couldn’t see a thing, but we could hear the seals barking! On a sunny day, take the stairs down to the beach for a closer look at the ocean or to do some tidepooling.
Near this stop is a quirky home nicknamed the Gingerbread House for its Storybook-style architecture.
To reach the Gingerbread House, also known as Casita de Lemos, walk across the street (away from the coast) and follow the boardwalk path or drive up The Dunes Road.
9. Fanshell Beach Overlook
Drive past the actual Fanshell Beach to reach the parking lot for stop #9: Fanshell Beach Overlook. From here, you can see Fanshell Beach on one side while standing next to a smaller beach adjacent to the parking lot.
The harbor seals and their pups can typically be seen on Fanshell Beach between April and June during pupping season. It serves as one of the main habitats for the seals and their pups on the Central Coast.
After taking in the views of Fanshell Beach, walk across the parking lot to the lovely, smaller beach. The nearby rocks offer even better views of the ocean if you walk up them.
10. Cypress Point Lookout
The first time we visited this spot, it was completely grayed out with some of the densest fog I’ve ever seen. I assumed it was beautiful, but couldn’t see a thing.
On subsequent visits, we’ve had gorgeous sunny days and finally got to experience the beauty of this stop. It has white sand, incredible sunsets, and even more harbor seals who use the beach to raise their pups. This stop is closed from April 1 to June 1 for pupping season.
There’s a chain-link fence between the parking lot and the views, so you’ll need to get creative with taking photos. The fence isn’t terribly tall — I was able to hold my camera above it for unobstructed views, but you can also take photos through the fence.
11. Crocker Grove
For something other than ocean views, stop at Crocker Grove. Here you’ll find a grove of beautiful, old trees with tons of history. They’re the largest and oldest Monterey Cypress trees in the world.
Only two forests of native Monterey Cypress trees exist, with this one in Crocker Grove and the other in nearby Point Lobos State Park. These trees do not grow natively anywhere else.
If you visit on a foggy day, Crocker Grove will likely be a nice break from the coastal fog. You can’t walk through the grove, but you can drive around it as you make your way from Stop 10 to Stop 12.
12. The Lone Cypress
The Lone Cypress might be the most famous stop because of the iconic single cypress tree. This cypress has been the logo for Pebble Beach Resorts since 1919.
It was shrouded in dense fog on my first visit, but the silhouette of the tree stood right out against it. On later visits, I had better weather conditions and could take in the full view of this majestic cypress.
The Lone Cypress has survived for over 250 years atop its rock, gracing visitors with its grandeur.
13. Ghost Trees At Pescadero Point
The Ghost Trees are at their best on an overcast day — paired with the dense, eerie fog, they are perfectly ghostly. The name comes from the sun-bleached appearance of the Cypress trees in this area, but they feel most ghost-like in the fog.
Sunny, fogless days make the trees look less interesting, but they are still worth a stop. If the trees aren’t keeping your attention, look to the ocean for some Big Wave surfers when the conditions are just right in winter.
14. Pebble Beach Visitor Center
If you’re at all interested in golfing, don’t skip the stop at the visitor center. They have a front room with photos, videos, and displays about the golf tournaments held at the Pebble Beach Golf Course.
Even if golf isn’t your thing (I’m right there with ya!), stop here to grab a drink or snack, shop around, learn about the history of Pebble Beach, and use the restroom.
The Visitor Center is also where you’ll find The Lodge at Pebble Beach if you want to stay at a 5-star, highly-rated hotel in the area.
15. Pebble Beach Golf Links
The Pebble Beach Golf Links is rated the number one public golf course in America and tops the charts for best golf course overall (even compared to private ones). It’s been host to multiple U.S. Opens, including the upcoming 2027 U.S. Open.
16. The Hay
This small, nine-hole course was redesigned by Tiger Woods in 2021. Seasoned golfers and beginners alike can enjoy the short course while taking in the beautiful ocean views.
17. Ford Meadow
Don’t pass this area by too quickly; it’s easy to miss the small pullout area. Look for the stop 17 signage to know you’re in the right place. The meadow was named in dedication to Robert F. Ford, a generous donor to the Del Monte Forest Conservancy.
FAQs About the 17-Mile Drive
Where is the 17-Mile Drive?
The 17-Mile Drive runs from Pacific Grove to Carmel-by-the-Sea, through Pebble Beach on the Central Coast of California.
Where does the 17-Mile Drive start and end?
There are multiple entrances to the 17-Mile Drive. The Pacific Grove gate is the most popular starting point and the one I recommend. You could also start at the Carmel Gate or Highway 1 Gate and drive from south to north.
How long is the 17-Mile Drive?
The drive is exactly 17 miles! The route has been changed over the years, but it has always remained exactly 17 miles long.
How many stops are on the 17-Mile Drive?
There are 17 official stops along the 17-Mile Drive.
How much does the 17-Mile Drive cost?
It costs $12.25 per non-commercial vehicle to enter the 17-Mile Drive. Entrance is free for bikes; motorcycles are not allowed.
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