If you’re a fan of scenic drives, there’s a good chance that you’ve heard of California’s famous 17-Mile Drive in Pebble Beach. This peaceful loop takes visitors past stunning golf courses, along the Pacific Coast, under Monterey Cypress trees, and up into the hills for some epic views!
While you can stay in Pebble Beach to enjoy the high-class golf, hotels, and shopping for a few days, most people pop by to do the scenic drive as a day trip over 3 to 4 hours. Admission only costs $10.75 per vehicle, so it’s the perfect way to spend a few hours without breaking the bank! It also makes a great detour if you’re headed up or down the coast and want to catch some additional gorgeous views along the way.
There are 17 key points of interest around this 17-mile loop. Most of them are along the coast, but some are tucked back on the surrounding hillsides. You can easily drive the whole loop and enjoy the views from your car, but you’ll be missing out! So many of these stops having unique aspects that you can only experience on foot. Of course, that means you’ll need a significantly larger chunk of time to do the loop.
If you’re trying to cram this in and only have an hour or two to visit, you’ll need to know where to concentrate your explorations. So based on our trip, I wanted to give you my recommendations for the places you should definitely stop at for a better look if you’re short on time!
See Stunning Footage from 17-Mile Drive on My YouTube Video!
The Best Things to See on 17-Mile Drive
Spanish Bay Beach
This beautiful beach was our first stop, and it remained one of my favorites throughout the journey. Spanish Bay Beach is a stunning stretch of white sand bordered by plant-covered dunes. This area offers stunning views of the pacific ocean and the mountains off in the distance and convenient boardwalk trails for further exploration. Although the waters can be too rough for swimming, it’s also a popular spot for sunbathing and picnics from the safety of the shoreline.
One of my favorite parts was the dozens of cairns built up along the beach with flat stones. It gave the whole area a “zen” feeling that perfectly tied into the peaceful atmosphere.
The Restless Sea
Just down the road is the Restless Sea. These turbulent waters are some of the most violent along the coastline, and it’s fascinating to watch the waves crashing down onto the rocks.
Point Joe
Right next to the Restless Sea is Point Joe. Apparently, this spot caused many shipwrecks when sailors first began to visit Monterey Bay. We didn’t see any shipwrecks beneath the waves, but the rocks and the flower-covered hillsides are certainly beautiful with the churning sea in the background. You’ll also get a great view of the Monterey Peninsula Country Club’s golf course, which has a pretty epic green on this cliff.
Picnic Rocks (Between China Rock and Bird Rock)
This isn’t an official stop on the list, but I have no idea why. China Rock was cool and had some history, but these stunning rock formations jutting out into the waves were incredible! You’ll find them at one of the dirt pull-offs right after China Rock.
One of my most memorable moments from the trip was climbing to the top of one of these rocky hills and just taking in the view. It gave me prime seating to watch the waves crashing into the inlets and pulling giant, bulbous strands of seaweed in with them. It also brought this peaceful feeling of separation from the rest of the world, where I could just enjoy the breeze, the sun, and the sound of the pacific ocean.
Bird Rock
This large island-like rock formation offshore is home to a large wildlife population, including birds, sea lions, and even harbor seals! While you may not be lucky enough to spot the latter creatures, you’ll definitely see the birds in residence. Hundreds of seabirds speckle the top of the rock, looking like black dots against the white surface of the guano-covered boulders.
No thanks to these elements, this area is a bit…stinky. So just be prepared for some hearty fish smell if you walk around. It’s also very noisy here, due to the bird calls and barking seals, but it’s so fun to hear them in the wild!
Crocker Grove
One of the area’s most unique features is its Monterey Cypress trees. This part of California is the only area in the world where these trees grow naturally, and at Crocker Grove, you can see the world’s oldest and largest ones! They’re unique trees with spikey, ash-colored bark. Personally, they looked like the perfect setting for a horror movie, especially as some of them had gaping holes in their trunks and few leaves. They make quite a unique and impressive setting, so be sure to stop by!
The Lone Cypress
Probably the most famous stop on the entire 17-Mile Drive is the Lone Cypress. This single cypress tree sits high on a rocky cliff over the Pacific. It’s over 250 years old and is one of the most iconic spots on this part of the Pacific Coast. You can see where its base has been reinforced with some bricks to help it weather the storms, but it still looks majestic as it rises above the ocean after all these years.
I found it interesting that it’s literally in someone’s backyard! Guests can view the tree from the safety of a platform, but this little peninsula juts out right next to a house on the cliff!
Ghost Trees at Pescadero Point
For another spooky-ish experience (especially on a cloudy day), you’ll definitely want to check out the Ghost Trees. This hillside is covered in bare, bleached cypress trees, many of which are merely twisted, shattered trunks. It may sound dull, but there’s so much character and detail in these dead trees and their companions clinging boldly to the cliffs. It’s lovely in a unique way, especially because the hills descending to the ocean are covered in bright orange, green, and pink plants.
I loved these vibrant hillsides all over the coastline
If you have the time to spare, get out at every pull-off point and walk around. You never know when you’ll see sea otters, sea lions, or harbor seals, not to mention herons and even deer! And of course, the scenery is just breathtaking at every turn.
This deer was just chilling by the golf course! 
This heron was just a few feet away, too.
On the backside of 17-Mile Drive, you can also enjoy shopping, Pebble Beach Golf Links, and even horseback tours from the Equestrian Center!
Another thing to keep in mind is that some stops on 17-Mile Drive are closed during pupping season in the spring. So from April to June, you won’t be able to access areas like Fanshell Beach or Cypress Point Lookout, which are also beautiful spots. Always be respectful of the wildlife and the boundaries in place to protect these creatures! If you would like to catch some up-close views of the baby creatures and their mamas, you should try Point Lobos State Reserve.
If you’re planning a full trip to this area (and you definitely should), be sure to check out my mini-series on the area! I have recommendations on where to stay, as well as fun activities to do in the area!
Plan Your Trip with These Blog Posts:
- The Hofsas House: A Charming Hotel in a Fairytale Town
- Carmel-by-the-Sea: A Luxury Vacation Destination
- How to Spend the Perfect Day at Point Lobos State Reserve
- 5 Breathtaking Hwy 1 Stops Between Monterey & Big Sur
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Happy travels!
