Big Sur Highway 1 Self-Driving Audio Tour: Carmel to McWay Falls

Name: Big Sur Highway 1 Self-Driving Audio Tour: Carmel to McWay Falls
Brand: Cool Shore Excursions
SKU: 289954
Price: 12.74 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.63 (19 reviews)

19 Reviews |

Badge of Excellence | Monterey & Carmel, USA

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135 to 270 minutes (approx.)

Mobile ticket

Offered in: English

Instant confirmation

Overview

Drive Big Sur's legendary stretch of Highway 1 often called “the greatest meeting of land and water in the world", with a storyteller riding along.
GPS-triggered stories play automatically as you pass Point Lobos, Bixby Bridge, Point Sur Lighthouse, Nepenthe and the Henry Miller Library, ending at McWay Falls. Hear how convicts helped carve the road from the cliffs, why Orson Welles bought land here, and where to pull over for views most drivers miss.

Highlights:
• Drive Big Sur's most famous 37 miles, from Carmel to McWay Falls
• One price covers your whole car, up to 15 people
• Hands-free GPS audio, so your eyes stay on the road
• Works fully offline, with no cell signal needed in Big Sur
• Insider tips on parking, short hikes and places to eat
• Go any day, at your own pace, in 2 to 4.5 hours
• ROAD CONDITIONS: Check Caltrans QuickMap or call us before you set out.

Download on Wi-Fi before you go. Pause for a hike or lunch and the stories pick up where you left off.

What's Included

VoiceMap App for Android and iOS
Lifetime access to this tour in English
Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata

Food and drink
Smartphone and headphones
Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour
Transportation

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Meeting Location

Meeting point

3650 Rio Road
Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93923, USA

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Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

McWay Waterfall Trail
Big Sur, CA 93920, USA

The tour ends at McWay Falls, about 37 miles south of Carmel. From here you can drive back north to Carmel and Monterey in about 75 minutes. Highway 1 south of Big Sur has had long closures, so check Caltrans road conditions before planning to continue south toward San Simeon.

What To Expect

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Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

Often called the crown jewel of California's state parks, Point Lobos is where Big Sur begins to show off. Its name comes from the sea lions early Spanish sailors called "sea wolves," and you can still hear them barking offshore. Walk the Cypress Grove Trail through one of only two native Monterey cypress groves on Earth, look for sea otters in Whalers Cove, and learn about the Chinese fishing village and whaling station that once worked these shores. Arrive early: parking inside fills fast on weekends.

1 hour Admission Ticket Free

Carmel Highlands (pass by)

Just south of Point Lobos, houses cling to granite cliffs above the surf. This small community drew some of America's greatest photographers. Edward Weston made many of his famous images from his cabin on Wildcat Hill, and Ansel Adams lived and worked here for the last two decades of his life. As you drive, the story explains what drew artists to this coast and how the light here shaped modern landscape photography. Look out for the historic Highlands Inn on the hill to your left.

Yankee Point Drive (pass by)

This quiet residential loop above Yankee Point is a glimpse of what life on the Big Sur coast looks like for the few who live here. Homes are tucked into the cypress and pines, built to stand up to winter storms and salt wind. The story covers how this land was divided, who settled it, and the fights over development that ended with some of the strictest building rules on the California coast. Those rules are the reason the view ahead still looks almost untouched.

Malpaso Creek Bridge (pass by)

Malpaso means "bad step" in Spanish, a name left by travelers who struggled to cross this steep creek before the highway existed. Today the creek is widely considered the northern gateway to Big Sur, the start of roughly 90 miles of coastline with no towns of any size. As you cross the bridge, the story explains how a region with almost no roads, no electricity and few residents until the 1930s became one of the most famous drives in the world.

Garrapata State Park (pass by)

Garrapata is one of Big Sur's best-kept secrets, with no entrance booth and no fee. Pull into one of the roadside turnouts to walk the Soberanes Point trail, a short loop with sweeping ocean views and one of the best spots on this coast to see migrating gray whales from December to April. In late winter and spring, the Calla Lily Valley near Garrapata Beach fills with wild white lilies. The story points out the best turnout for each, so you won't drive past them. OPTION STOP: 20 to 40 mins

Garrapata Creek Bridge (pass by)

Built in 1931, this graceful concrete arch was one of the first bridges completed on the new coast road. Engineers had to design structures that could span deep canyons, survive earthquakes and still look good against the landscape. The story describes how the bridges were built from concrete poured on site, with materials hauled in over rough dirt tracks, and why Caltrans still protects them as historic landmarks today. Watch for the view of the arch as you round the bend.

Notley's Landing viewpoint (pass by)

In the late 1800s, this small headland at the mouth of Palo Colorado Canyon was a busy shipping point. Workers stripped bark from tanoak trees in the canyons, used for tanning leather, and lowered it by cable to schooners waiting offshore. Hardly a trace remains, but the viewpoint is one of the best places to see the coastline ahead. The story brings the landing back to life and explains how the tanbark boom shaped Big Sur's early settlers. Optional stop: 5 to 10 minutes (free)

Rocky Creek Bridge (pass by)

Rocky Creek Bridge, finished in 1932, is the quieter neighbor of Bixby Bridge, just a minute's drive further south. Many travelers don't notice it, but its open-spandrel arch is just as elegant and the canyon below is just as dramatic. The story uses it to set up what comes next: how the coast road was finally completed, the hundreds of workers who built it, and the San Quentin prisoners who were paid to help blast the route out of solid cliffs.

Bixby Bridge

This is the shot you came for. Completed in 1932, Bixby Bridge was one of the tallest single-span concrete bridges in the world, rising about 260 feet above the creek. It appears in countless car ads and in the opening credits of Big Little Lies. Park at the pullout on the north side for the classic view, but take care crossing the road. The story tells how the bridge was built, why it saved travelers an 11-mile detour inland, and what lies up the Old Coast Road.

15 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Hurricane Point Vista Point (pass by)

As you climb south from Bixby, the road reaches Hurricane Point, one of the highest and windiest spots on this stretch. Hold on to your hat. On a clear day the view stretches back north over Bixby Bridge and ahead to the Point Sur headland, and on foggy days you may find yourself driving above the clouds. The story explains the coastal fog that rolls in most summer mornings, why it's so important to the redwoods, and how to read the weather here.

Point Sur (pass by)

That huge volcanic rock rising from the sand flats is Point Sur, crowned by a lighthouse that has guided ships since 1889. Before it was built, this coast was a graveyard for ships lost in fog. The keepers and their families lived out here in near-total isolation. The story covers the shipwrecks, the lighthouse keepers' lives, and the Navy airship Macon that crashed offshore in 1935. Docent-led tours of the lightstation run on select days; check the schedule before your trip.

Andrew Molera State Park (pass by)

Andrew Molera is Big Sur at its wildest, with trails that wander through meadows to a wide beach where the Big Sur River meets the ocean. Near the parking lot stands the Cooper Cabin, built in 1861 and the oldest surviving building on the Big Sur coast. The story explains how this land passed from Spanish land grants to ranching families, and how the Molera family gave it to the state. It's a great stop if you want a longer, quieter walk. OPTIONAL STOP: 1 hour (park free)

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park (pass by)

Here the road turns inland into the shelter of the Big Sur River valley, and the ocean gives way to towering coast redwoods. This is the heart of Big Sur's small community, with a lodge, restaurants, a campground and a general store. The story introduces the Pfeiffer family, who homesteaded here in 1869, and recommends short walks among the redwoods. Many visitors stop here for lunch or coffee before continuing south.

Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge (pass by)

This bridge looks ordinary, but it has a dramatic story. In 2017, winter storms caused a landslide that cracked the old bridge so badly it had to be demolished, cutting Big Sur in two. Residents hiked a steep trail across the canyon to get to work and school, and some businesses survived by bringing in supplies by helicopter. The story describes how the community coped, and how the new steel bridge was built and opened in record time.

Nepenthe (pass by)

Perched about 800 feet above the ocean, Nepenthe is Big Sur's most famous restaurant and a favorite stop for lunch with a view. Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth bought the land in the 1940s, and in 1949 the Fassett family opened Nepenthe. It became a gathering place for artists, writers and Hollywood stars. The story tells how it got its name and its legends. Try the terrace for the view, or the more casual Café Kevah on the level below. Optional Stop: Food and drinks at own cost

Henry Miller Memorial Library (pass by)

Novelist Henry Miller lived in Big Sur from 1944 to 1962 and wrote about it in Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch. His friend Emil White turned his home into this quirky library and arts center, with books, art and a shaded garden that hosts concerts and readings. The story explains why Miller came, the writers and free spirits he attracted, and how Big Sur became a symbol of the bohemian life. It's a relaxed place to stretch your legs.

Grimes Canyon (pass by)

South of the Henry Miller Library, the highway runs high above the sea, cutting across steep canyons like Grimes Canyon. This is some of the most rugged terrain on the drive, and it shows why building the road was so hard. Landslides are a constant threat, and crews work year-round to keep the highway open. Nearby is the Esalen Institute, the retreat founded in the 1960s that helped launch the human potential movement. The story explains both.

Partington Cove (pass by)

Look for the unmarked pullout at the hairpin bend. A steep trail leads down through the canyon, across a footbridge and through a tunnel blasted through the rock in the 1880s, ending at a tiny, hidden cove. John Partington used it to load tanbark onto ships, and local legend says rum runners landed liquor here during Prohibition. The story points out the pullout and explains the cove's history. Wear good shoes, as the climb back up is steep.

McWay Waterfall Trailhead

The tour ends at one of the most photographed views in California: McWay Falls, an 80-foot waterfall that pours from a granite cliff onto the beach of a turquoise cove. It sits in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, named after a pioneer woman remembered for her love of this land. The story explains the cove's history, from the Waterfall House that once stood above it to how a landslide created its beach.CHECK ACCESS - Access to the McWay Falls Overlook Trail has been limited by repair work; if it's closed, you can still see the falls from the roadside viewpoint on Highway 1.

15 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Pacific Coast Highway (pass by)

CHECK ROAD CONDITIONS Highway 1 through Big Sur is prone to landslides and temporary closures, especially in winter. Check Caltrans QuickMap or call 1-800-427-7623 before you set out. Access to the McWay Falls Overlook Trail has been limited by repair work; if it's closed, you can still see the falls from the roadside viewpoint on Highway 1. Fill up on fuel in Carmel, as stations in Big Sur are few and expensive.

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Additional Info

Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
Public transportation options are available nearby

Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap

Frequently Asked Questions (7)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Big Sur Highway 1 Self-Driving Audio Tour: Carmel to McWay Falls?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (PST). Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

Still have questions?

We're here to help.
Activity code: C-110804P413

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.63

19 reviews

Average 4.63 out of 5 stars based on 19 traveler reviews collected by Cool Shore Excursions and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

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The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from Cool Shore Excursions customers.

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Big Sur Highway 1 Self-Driving Audio Tour: Carmel to McWay Falls?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (PST).

Apr 2025

Q: What's included in the price?

The following is included:

VoiceMap App for Android and iOS.
Lifetime access to this tour in English.
Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata.

The following is NOT included:

Food and drink.
Smartphone and headphones.
Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Transportation.

Apr 2025

Q: What is the minimum age for this tour?

There is no minimum age for this tour, so bring your wee one along for an adventure..

Apr 2025

Q: My date is not available in the calendar, I am just checking to see if it is available?

If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.

If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.

Apr 2025

Q: Is this an accessible tour?

Accessibility information for the Big Sur Highway 1 Self-Driving Audio Tour: Carmel to McWay Falls is as follows:

Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Apr 2025

Q: Where is the meeting point for this activity?

Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for Big Sur Highway 1 Self-Driving Audio Tour: Carmel to McWay Falls will be included in your confirmation email from Cool Shore Excursions. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!

Mar 2024

Q: How long does a refund take to reach my card, and can I get it faster?

Once your refund is processed, it usually shows on your card statement within 5–10 business days. The exact timing depends on your bank or card issuer.

Want it sooner? When you cancel, choose Receive a refund to my wallet instead. The credit is in your Wallet straight away and is applied automatically at checkout on your next booking when you’re signed in with the same email. You can see your balance any time in My Wallet.

If you paid part of your booking with Wallet credit, that part always goes back to your Wallet. Trip protection isn’t refundable.

Oct 2026

Big Sur Highway 1 Self-Driving Audio Tour: Carmel to McWay Falls

from $12.74 per group (up to 15)

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What's Included

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What To Expect

Additional Info

Frequently Asked Questions (7)

Cancellation Policy

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