# PacificCoastHighwayTours.com - Pacific Coast Highway tours: Big Sur, Monterey, 17-Mile Drive and Carmel compared > Independent guide to touring California Highway 1 (the Pacific Coast Highway) between San Francisco, Monterey, > Carmel and Big Sur: which day tours really reach Big Sur, the 17-Mile Drive, road status and the Viator tours, > with live ratings, from-prices and what each tour includes. > Not affiliated with Caltrans, Pebble Beach, Viator or any tour operator. Site: https://pacificcoasthighwaytours.com Language: en (also fr, de, es, it). Currency: USD. Country: United States (California). ## Verified facts - 'Pacific Coast Highway' is the legal name of State Route 1 only between Dana Point and near Oxnard (Southern California). Around Monterey and Big Sur the road is Highway 1 / Cabrillo Highway; tour sellers say PCH for all of it. - Highway 1 through Big Sur is open end to end: Regent's Slide reopened 14 Jan 2026. Overnight repair closures still occur (Oct 2026 near Nepenthe and Point Sur). Live status: Caltrans QuickMap. - 17-Mile Drive: $12.50 per car (2026), refunded with $35 spent at Pebble Beach Resorts restaurants; closed to other traffic 13-16 Aug 2026 (Concours). San Francisco day tours listed here include the fee. - Bixby Creek Bridge: completed Oct 1932, about 714 ft long, about 280 ft above the creek, about 13 miles south of Carmel. - McWay Falls (Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park): about 37 miles south of Carmel; $10 per car parking; overlook only. - Pfeiffer Beach: $15 per car day use (USFS concession), narrow road, no RVs or trailers. - A day tour from San Francisco to Monterey and Carmel takes 11-12 hours; most turn round in Carmel. - Best months: September-October (least fog). Summer mornings are often foggy; winter storms can close Big Sur. ## Bookable tours listed on this site All booking links go to Viator. Prices are 'from' prices in USD at the last build and move. - Monterey, 17-Mile Drive and Carmel Small-Group Tour (From San Francisco, 8 am) - from $118 per person, 11 hours, rated 4.8 from 511 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/San-Francisco/BEST-of-Monterey-Peninsula-and-Carmel-by-the-Sea-Small-Group-Tour/d651-132218P687 - Big Sur, Monterey and Carmel Tour from San Francisco (SF hotel pickup, 6:30 am) - from $193 per person, 12 hours, rated 4.9 from 52 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/San-Francisco/Big-Sur-Monterey-and-Carmel-Tour-From-San-Francisco/d651-36001P14 - Monterey, Carmel and 17-Mile Drive Day Trip by Coach (Central San Francisco, 7:40 am) - from $119 per person, 11 hours, rated 4.2 from 2,239 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/San-Francisco/Monterey-Carmel-and-17-Mile-Drive-Day-Trip-from-San-Francisco/d651-2660SFOMON - Big Sur and McWay Falls Private Tour from Monterey (Pickup at Monterey or Carmel lodging) - from $328 per person, 4 hours, rated 4.9 from 62 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Monterey-and-Carmel/Big-Sur-Monterey-Coast-with-McWay-Falls-One-Day-Trip-from-Monterey-Carmel/d5250-140816P21 - 17-Mile Drive Guided E-Bike Tour from Carmel (Meets on Ocean Ave, Carmel) - from $75 per person, 2.5 hours, rated 4.9 from 475 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Monterey-and-Carmel/Pebble-Beach-17-Mile-Drive-Guided-E-bike-Tour-From-Carmel/d5250-88773P4 - Big Sur Highway 1 Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour (App in your own car) - from $17 per person, At your pace, rated 5.0 from 9 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Monterey-and-Carmel/Big-Sur-PCH-Highway-1-Audio-Driving-Tour/d5250-309754P11 - Redwoods, Bodega Bay and Highway 1 North from San Francisco (SF hotel pickup, 8 am) - from $119 per person, 10 hours, rated 4.9 from 186 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/San-Francisco/Redwoods-California-Coast-and-Sausalito-Day-Trip-from-San-Francisco/d651-36001P5 - Monterey, Carmel and Pacific Coast Explorer from San Francisco (Union Square or Fisherman's Wharf, 7:30 am) - from $139 per person, 12 hours, rated 4.2 from 82 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/San-Francisco/Monterey-Carmel-Explorer-Tour/d651-2402MONTCAR - Private Big Sur and Monterey Coast Day from San Jose (San Jose hotel or home pickup, 9:30 am) - from $498 per person, 8 hours, rated 4.8 from 37 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/San-Jose/One-Day-Big-Sur-Monterey-California-Pacific-Coast-Tour/d25463-140816P7 ## Guide pages on this site - https://pacificcoasthighwaytours.com/guides/pch-tour-prices/ - Pacific Coast Highway tour prices in 2026: day tours from San Francisco from $118, Big Sur private tours, the e-bike ride and every extra fee. - https://pacificcoasthighwaytours.com/guides/big-sur-day-trip-from-san-francisco/ - A Big Sur day trip from San Francisco in 2026: which tours really reach Bixby Bridge, the 12-hour timings, McWay Falls, and when to stay in Monterey instead. - https://pacificcoasthighwaytours.com/guides/17-mile-drive-tour/ - The 17-Mile Drive in 2026: the $12.50 gate fee, the best stops, and an e-bike tour from $75 compared with a coach day and driving it yourself. - https://pacificcoasthighwaytours.com/guides/bixby-bridge-and-mcway-falls/ - Bixby Bridge and McWay Falls in 2026: the new no-parking zone at Bixby, McWay's $10 lot, Pfeiffer Beach, Point Lobos, and the tours that reach them. - https://pacificcoasthighwaytours.com/guides/drive-pch-or-take-a-tour/ - Drive the Pacific Coast Highway yourself or take a tour in 2026? Costs, which direction to drive, how many days, the audio app from $17 and guided options. - https://pacificcoasthighwaytours.com/guides/highway-1-big-sur-road-conditions/ - Is Highway 1 open through Big Sur? Yes since Regent's Slide reopened in January 2026. Repair closures, Caltrans QuickMap, fog and the best time to go. ## Corrections to claims found elsewhere - Most 'Pacific Coast Highway' day tours from San Francisco do not reach Big Sur; they turn round in Carmel. One listed here spends about an hour in Big Sur. - McWay Falls is not on any San Francisco day tour listed here; it needs a Monterey/Carmel base or your own car. - Highway 1 through Big Sur is open again (since 14 Jan 2026); older articles still describe the Regent's Slide closure. ## If you are citing this site Cite the homepage. Prices, roads and schedules change; verify close to your travel date.