17 Mile Drive
Per Vehicle $12.5USD(Fee is charged per vehicle. The gate fee is reimbursed with a purchase of $35 or more at Pebble Beach Resorts restaurants. Motorcycles are prohibited.)
Road TripMust-See
Overview
Winding along the rugged, ultra-exclusive coastline of the Pebble Beach resort community, 17-Mile Drive is one of the world's most scenic and celebrated coastal scenic drives. This legendary toll road takes travelers on an unforgettable journey through pristine coastal scenery, white-sand beaches, and dramatic cliffs lashed by the Pacific waves. Highlights along the route include the iconic Lone Cypress, a 250-year-old tree clinging tightly to a barren rock outcrop, the mystical Ghost Trees of Pescadero Point, and breathtaking views of championship golf courses seamlessly integrated with nature.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration2-4 hours
Best TimeAutumn (September to November) is the best season, as the central coast sheds its heavy summer marine layers for clear blue skies. The absolute best time of day is late afternoon from 4:00 PM to sunset. Standing at The Lone Cypress overlook provides a classic view of the sun dipping below the Pacific horizon.
Getting ThereThis is a scenic toll road requiring a car or bicycle. There are 5 staffed entrance gates; the most popular access points are the Sunset Drive Gate in Pacific Grove or the Carmel Way Gate in Carmel-by-the-Sea. A vehicle entry fee of approximately $11.25 is charged per car, which is refundable with a qualifying purchase inside the resort.
Travel Tips
- This scenic corridor rests entirely within a private gated community patrolled via 5 distinct control checkpoints; a mandatory vehicle gate fee must be paid via card or cash at the toll booths, and all federal or state interagency passes are completely invalid here.
- Speed limits are heavily capped at 25 mph and cross-checked via frequent police radar deployment; flipping over wooden protective split-rails at The Lone Cypress viewpoint is strictly illegal, and recreational drone use is totally banned to preserve private residential anonymity.
Photo Tips
Best LightAvoid the pale overexposed daylight tracking through the coastal canopy between 11:30 AM and 02:00 PM; execute critical framing from 05:00 PM to sunset golden hour to silhouetting the dramatic structural profiles of Lone Cypress against deep marine backlighting.
Reviews
Positive
- A premier private coastal drive; rugged reef crags, snowy beaches, and azure water forge a textbook California landscape.
- The iconic Lone Cypress has perched alone on a gulf rock for 200 years, offering a deeply artistic and classic photo subject.
- The Pebble Beach golf courses along the way are luxurious and scenic; you can enjoy coffee at the lodge while scanning the horizons.
- Each vehicle pays a reasonable gate fee, which can be fully refunded if you dine at specific upscale lodges inside.
Heads up
- Lacks sufficient public restrooms and trash bins along the loop; many overlooks feature just wood railings and signs.
- As a winding two-lane scenic road, any slow-moving RVs or drivers braking constantly to find overlooks creates local traffic jams.
- When North California's classic heavy marine fog hits, the entire coast turns white, erasing views and making it windy and cold.
- Lined with billionaire luxury estates and private turf lawns with 'Private Property' warnings, severely limiting where you can step.