17-Mile Drive
Pebble Beach, CA

17-Mile Drive is a famous private toll road through Pebble Beach, passing Spanish Bay, Point Joe, Bird Rock, and the Lone Cypress, one of the most photographed trees in California, clinging to a granite outcrop above the surf. Pedestrians and bicyclists enter free, a real workaround for anyone who'd rather skip the vehicle toll.
The concentration of famous landmarks along one scenic drive is genuinely unmatched anywhere else in California, though the vehicle toll and crowds at the most famous stops are worth planning around.
How we score beachesEnter on foot or by bike if the toll fee is a concern, both are free and let you stop wherever you want along the route rather than being tied to designated car pullouts.
A day use fee applies for vehicles; pedestrians and bicyclists enter free.
A path and blufftop trails run along the drive, with pullouts at each named landmark.
Leashed dogs are allowed along 17-Mile Drive, including at its scenic pullouts.
Fog is common most mornings year round, typical of the Monterey Peninsula.
More Pacific Coast beaches

Zuma Beach
Malibu, CA · Pacific Coast
A wide stretch of sand backed by the Santa Monica Mountains, with reliable swells that draw surfers year-round and plenty of room to spread out even on busy weekends.

Huntington City Beach
Huntington Beach, CA · Pacific Coast
Known as Surf City USA, with a mile-long municipal pier, consistent breaks for surfers of every level, and a laid-back boardwalk scene along Pacific Coast Highway.

Main Beach
Laguna Beach, CA · Pacific Coast
Tucked between rocky headlands, with tidepools to explore at low tide, calmer coves for swimming, and an arts-town backdrop of galleries and cafes just steps from the sand.
