California's Big Sur coast is the place most people think of when they say "California coast highway," a landscape of mountains diving into the sea, with a ribbon of highway clinging to the cliffs. In Big Sur, the stars are brighter and there's plenty of undeveloped landscape and some fantastic beaches.
Ready to Go? Use our Big Sur Weekend Getaway Planner and you'll be ready in no time.
Big Sur is Popular For: Romantic getaways, outdoor recreation, driving tours and hiking.
How Far? Check the map at the beginning of this gallery to see which getaways are closest to your starting point. Most weekend-trippers limit their adventures to about three hours' travel time and most drive there. If you're going by car, Big Sur is Within 200 Miles of Bakersfield, Fresno, Sacramento, San Francisco or San Jose.
If you don't mind flying, you can expand your range. The nearest airport to Big Sur is in Monterey, or San Jose.