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.

Where to Eat in Big Sur

If you’re looking for affordable options, Sierra Mar - Post Ranch Inn (47900 State Highway 1) and The Sur House (48123 California One) are great picks.

When to visit Big Sur

Big Sur in February
Estimated hotel price
$1951
1 night at 3-star hotel
Big Sur in February
Estimated hotel price
$1951
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Big Sur in August, when the average temperature is 18 °C, and the highest can go up to 25 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 6 °C, with an average temperature of 11 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in January, when precipitation is around 216 mm. In contrast, July is usually the driest month of the year in Big Sur, with an average rainfall of 0 mm.

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. The shortest flight to Big Sur from New Zealand departs from Auckland and takes around 12h.

Train

Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Big Sur. The train journey from Big Sur to Sacramento takes 1h 41m and costs around $35 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Fresno, expect to pay about $28 for a 3h 58m trip.

Car

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

Bus

You can travel by bus to Big Sur using FlixBus or Greyhound. From Burbank, the bus ride to Big Sur takes 420 miles and will cost you around $77. From Los Angeles, the ticket costs about $151 for a journey of 425 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. The shortest flight to Big Sur from New Zealand departs from Auckland and takes around 12h.

Train

Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Big Sur. The train journey from Big Sur to Sacramento takes 1h 41m and costs around $35 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Fresno, expect to pay about $28 for a 3h 58m trip.

Car

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

Bus

You can travel by bus to Big Sur using FlixBus or Greyhound. From Burbank, the bus ride to Big Sur takes 420 miles and will cost you around $77. From Los Angeles, the ticket costs about $151 for a journey of 425 miles.

Airports near Big Sur

Airlines serving Big Sur

Lufthansa
Good (4,665 reviews)
KLM
Good (852 reviews)
SWISS
Good (942 reviews)
British Airways
Good (4,539 reviews)
Delta
Good (4,614 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (2,306 reviews)
Air France
Good (984 reviews)
Iberia
Good (1,585 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (484 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,958 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (2,120 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,469 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (5,860 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (229 reviews)
Finnair
Good (872 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,177 reviews)
LOT
Good (685 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (923 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (827 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (833 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in popular areas of Big Sur

Hiring a car in Big Sur

Expect to pay $1.71 per litre in Big Sur (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $20.52 and $27.36.

Expect to pay $1.71 per litre in Big Sur (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $20.52 and $27.36.