Routes
Highway 1 - Big Sur
San Simeon, CA
90-mile coastal route with 71 miles of technical curves over canyon spans.
California State Route 1 through Big Sur runs 90 miles from San Simeon to Carmel-by-the-Sea. The route features the iconic Bixby Bridge, a 260-foot single-span arch rising above a canyon. Riders traverse five major canyon crossings with the Pacific Ocean on one side and steep mountains on the other.
Technical curve sections total 71 miles of documented twisting pavement. Elevation changes and road width variations challenge concentration. The sweeping turns transition between ocean views and mountain-side drops.
Fuel stops require planning at Carmel-by-the-Sea or San Simeon; mid-route options are limited. Weather changes rapidly along the coast, and winter storms occasionally close sections. The ride takes minimum three hours of focused riding.
The Route
Open in Google Maps →- San Simeon, CAStart
- Carmel-by-the-Sea
- San Simeon
- Bixby Bridge area
The Ride
71 miles of technical curves; five major canyon spans; Bixby Bridge feature
Rider Stops Near This Route
Dealers, bars and campgrounds from our atlas near this route's home base — real distances, not ads.
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