- Reservations: Not required
- Cost: The 17-Mile Drive is a toll road. The per-car fee gets you in and you'll get a driving guide to take along with you. Bicycles can get in for free if they enter through the Pacific Grove gate.
- Location: Runs between Carmel and Pacific Grove. See directions below.
- How Long: Allow 2 hours, longer if you stop to eat
- Best Time to Visit: Morning fog can linger until after noon. For the best chance of clear skies, go in mid to late afternoon. During the U.S. Open (held here next in June, 2010) and the Pebble Beach Pro Am held every February, it's impossible to get in. The Concours d'Elegance classic auto show also draws big crowds.
Perhaps one of the best-known things to do along the Monterey Peninsula is the 17-Mile Drive. A winding road that leads through an exclusive neighborhood and past scenic coastal views to the famed Pebble Beach, the 17-Mile Drive forms many visitors' favorite memories.
Visiting 17-Mile Drive
The 17-Mile Drive is fundamentally a road that passes through an exclusive neighborhood. You'll pay a fee (per car) to drive on it and motorcycles are not allowed. Despite what you may read elsewhere, the drive from the Highway 1 Gate to the Carmel Gate is approximately 17 miles. If you enter and/or leave through different gates, the distance may be different.
Once you get inside, you'll find signs and red-painted dashed lines on the pavement to help you follow the 17-Mile Drive route. The road winds through a forested area and along the oceanfront, passing three golf courses, two luxury hotels and the famed Lone Cypress tree. The guide map you get at the gate will give a brief description of each point of interest.
If you want to picnic along the 17-Mile Drive, stop at the Safeway store at the intersection of Highway 1 and Rio Road to pick up supplies or try the 5th Avenue Deli (between San Carlos & Dolores) in downtown Carmel. You can also buy picnic goodies along the drive at the Pebble Beach Market next to The Lodge at Pebble Beach. Best picnic spots are between Point Joe and Seal Rock and you'll find picnic tables at many stops. Local seagulls roost on the tables when no one is around, so you may want to bring something to spread over the table before you eat.
Even though it's written on the bottom of the 17-Mile Drive entry fee receipt, it's a little-known fact that you can get a refund. If you spend more than $25 at any of the Pebble Beach Company restaurants along the 17-Mile Drive, they'll deduct the fee from your bill. We recommend Roy's restaurant at the Inn at Spanish Bay for their great views and service. Their prices are also much more reasonable than the Lodge at Pebble Beach, and after the fee was subtracted, our lunch bill was only a few dollars more than a mediocre breakfast we had in Carmel the previous day.
17-Mile Drive Review
We rate the 17-Mile Drive 3.5 stars out of 5. The alternative we mention below offers equally nice views and you don't have to pay a penny for it. However, if you really want to see the Lone Cypress or visit Pebble Beach, the 17-Mile Drive is the only way you get there.Others may disagree. You can see what other people just like you think about it, then bookmark this page and after you've been there, come back and tell us what you think.
What do you think of the 17-Mile Drive as a tourist destination?
- Yuck Just say no to this flea-bitten hole of a tourist trap
- OK Some people find it interesting, but I didn't
- Good Go if you have time, but it's not a big deal if you miss it
- Awesome! It's a must-see sight that I recommend to everyone
Alternatives to the 17-Mile Drive
The 17-Mile Drive is nice, but the Pebble Beach Company doesn't have a monopoly on Monterey Peninsula scenery. If you want to see the Lone Cypress or Pebble Beach, pay up and enjoy yourself, but if you're just looking for great scenery, follow Ocean View Boulevard and Sunset Drive along the water's edge from the Monterey Bay Aquarium past Asilomar State Beach to Highway 68 (which will take you to Highway One).
For a less expensive golf course with views that rival Pebble Beach, try the Pacific Grove Municipal Golf Course where non-residents can play a round for less than $50.
Getting to the 17-Mile Drive
17-Mile Drive
17-Mile Drive website
You can enter the 17-Mile Drive through any of five gates, where you will stop to pay the entry fee and pick up a map. These are the most common entry points:
- Highway 1 at Highway 68: This is the most convenient 17-Mile Drive entrance if you're coming from Monterey or are already on Highway 1
- Pacific Grove Gate: Get there from Sunset Drive
- Carmel: The toll booth is on San Antonio Ave
If you are in San Francisco and want to visit the 17-Mile Drive, you can take a tour with my friend Jesse of A Friend in Town or book a group tour of Monterey, Carmel and The 17-Mile Drive through Viator.
