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Bixby Bridge, Big Sur, CA

Photo: Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingIconicFreeOutdoor Adventure

Bixby Bridge

Highway 1, about 13 miles south of Carmel · Big Sur, CA

Why you should go…

Bixby Bridge carries Highway 1 across Bixby Creek about 13 miles south of Carmel. Opened in 1932, the reinforced concrete open-spandrel arch is 714 feet long and stands 280 feet above the canyon floor. In 2026 Monterey County approved a 12-month no-parking pilot on both sides of the highway from about 900 feet north to 700 feet south of the bridge, so plan to see it as you drive across. The bridge has appeared in films such as Top Gun: Maverick.

  • #bridge
  • #big sur
  • #highway 1
  • #scenic viewpoint
  • #photo spot

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Bixby Bridge, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Iconic

    Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

    Under $25

    Look down on McWay Falls, an 80-foot waterfall that drops onto a Big Sur beach, from a trail above the cove.

    20 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Salinas City Center

    Free

    Downtown Salinas improvement association promoting Old Town's restaurants, shops and events.

    25 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Old Fisherman's Wharf

    Free

    Historic waterfront pier in Monterey lined with seafood restaurants, shops and whale-watching operators.

    30 mi awayMore like this

  • Tours
    Family Favorite

    Princess Monterey Whale Watching

    $50+

    Narrated whale watching and wildlife cruises on Monterey Bay aboard two large heated vessels departing from Old Fisherman's Wharf.

    30 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Tours
    Outdoor Adventure

    Discovery Whale Watch

    $50+

    Narrated whale watching cruises departing daily from Monterey's Fisherman's Wharf.

    30 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Tours
    Family Favorite

    Little Mermaid Glass Bottom Boat Tours

    Under $25

    Cruise Monterey Harbor on a glass bottom boat to spot sea otters, seals, and kelp forest life.

    30 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours