17-Mile Drive Road Trip

18 Fotospots

When visiting the Monterey Peninsula the must-do attraction is the 17-Mile Drive. Seventeen different stops along the 17 Mile Road snake around and through Pebble Beach, CA. Scenic viewpoints, spectacular beaches, and the world famous Lone Cypress are just a few of the photo spots you'll see on this day trip. Please note the cost to enter is $11.50 per car but can be reimbursed if you purchase $35 or more at all the Pebble Beach restaurants or shops.

01: Shepherd's Knoll

Scenic Dr, Monterey, CA

Saves: 3

Check-ins: 9

17 Mile Drive's first stop is a grassy, woodland area named after Abraham Shepard with a typo that was never corrected. Some days might bring heavy fog which might obscure the view, but mist only makes for a more enchanting experience. It can get windy, so bring a jacket for warmth if you decide to stroll.

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02: Huckleberry Hill

4011 Los Altos Dr, Pebble Beach, CA

Saves: 3

Check-ins: 9

The second stop on the 17-Mile Drive tour is full of huckleberry trees. You can get out for a bit and take a stroll through the trees. This is the highest point of the drive, but your view might be blocked by a thick mist.

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03: Spanish Bay

17 Mile Dr, Pebble Beach, CA

Saves: 10

Check-ins: 9

The third viewpoint on 17-Mile Drive was named after Spanish explorers who camped out here in 1769. It offers an incredible vantage point of this rounded inlet. For ease of access there's a half-mile boardwalk leading down to the white sands of the beach. If you make it during early spring, you'll be welcomed with a colorful splash of wildflowers. There's a small turn-off, allowing you to stop for a peri...

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04: The Restless Sea

17 Mile Dr, Pebble Beach, CA

Saves: 12

Check-ins: 12

While the name of the Pacific Ocean suggests placidity, the fourth stop on 17-Mile Drive is anything but. Large, submerged rocks in the ocean provide countless breaking points for the waves. It's a wonderful spot to capture video of the breathtaking, turbulent waters especially with the strangely calming sound of the crashing surf.

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05: Point Joe Vista

17 17 Mile Dr, Pebble Beach, CA

Saves: 37

Check-ins: 23

According to the interpretive sign, "In the early 1900s, a man named Joe lived in a driftwood hut here, selling trinkets to tourists and tending goats." What is unknown is if the man or the point had the name "Joe" first. A sad part of its history is that it was almost indistinguishable from Monterey Bay to early sailors, thus was infamous for many shipwrecks against its rocky shores. There is easy parki...

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06: China Rock

17 Mile Dr, Pebble Beach, CA

Saves: 3

Check-ins: 10

China Rock is more of a historical landmark rather than a viewpoint. It's the site of an old fishing settlement inhabited by Chinese immigrants who probably made their way from Angel Island. They would build lean-to shelters - little more than a slanted side propped up against a big boulder. While this stop is beautiful in a stark way, imagining the hardships and challenges people faced in this secluded ...

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07: Bird Rock

17 Mile Dr, Pebble Beach, CA

Saves: 16

Check-ins: 11

Another landmark on 17-Mile Drive has an interesting history. At one point Bird Rock was covered in almost 5 feet of avian guano - specifically pelican and cormorant. In 1930 people living in the area came up with the good idea to harvest this guano to use as fertilizer. Now as the rock is cleaned off it allows other marine life such as sea lions to bask on its surface. This is a great spot for nature wa...

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08: Seal Rock

17 Mile Dr, Pebble Beach, CA

Saves: 12

Check-ins: 12

Tide pools, a boardwalk, and the nearby Gingerbread House make Seal Rock one of the favorite spots along 17-Mile Drive. Ample parking and restrooms also make it an attractive place to rest! Pack a lunch or get take-away from one of the restaurants and bring it here to eat while watching the glorious ocean. Just as its name suggests, you'll be rewarded with marine mammal visitors!

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09: Fanshell Beach

17 Mile Dr, Pebble Beach, CA

Saves: 16

Check-ins: 11

A popular place to find seashells is also a primary pupping habitat for seals. The beach itself is rocky - not a great place for swimming, but a perfect picnicking spot. Because the seals give birth in the spring, the beach is closed to the public in April and May. Year round you can stop and take pictures at the overlook or from the road.

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10: Cypress Point Lookout

Sunset Point, Pebble Beach, CA

Saves: 58

Check-ins: 19

Take the beautiful 17-Mile Drive to Sunset Point where you can see a spectacular view of the ocean. It's a fantastic spot for a romantic date, a friendly picnic, or solitary contemplation. For the $10.50 entry fee per vehicle required at the entry point it's also a pretty cheap way to spend the day. Weekends can get busy with a lot of traffic so it's best to section off some time for yourself on one of t...

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11: Crocker Cypress Grove

3158 17 Mile Dr, Pebble Beach, CA

Saves: 10

Check-ins: 12

Stop #11 on 17-Mile Drive is one of the most impressive on this route - full of the oldest and largest Monterey cypress trees in the world. Some are around 300 years old. The forest, beautiful in a stark way, is a great photo opp that requires no filter.

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12: The Lone Cypress

17 Mile Dr, Pebble Beach, CA

Saves: 70

Check-ins: 45

This singular cypress on a granite hillside is said to be the most photographed tree in North America. While it's not the only tree on this part of the coast, it is the only tree on its own cliff. Its age is probably more than 250 years old, a historic and iconic part of California. You have to pay a fee ($11.50 per vehicle) to enter 17-Mile Drive but by all accounts it is worth it. Beautiful houses, sce...

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13: Ghost Trees at Pescadero Point

3290 17 Mile Dr, Pebble Beach, CA

Saves: 11

Check-ins: 15

This is a beach where you'll want to spend a few hours. So grab your beach gear, plenty of drinks, snacks, music, and a good friend or two, and get ready to have an amazing day. The trail down to the beach can be rough, so make sure you're wearing good walking shoes.

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14: Pebble Beach Visitor Center

3297 17 Mile Dr, Pebble Beach, CA

Saves: 6

Check-ins: 8

As the 14th stop on 17-Mile Drive, the Visitor Center is a welcome respite after driving and exploring this community hugging the coastline. Use the clean bathrooms, grab some provisions, buy gifts for your friends, and learn about the history behind this beautiful mini road trip.

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15: Pebble Beach Golf Links

1700 17 Mile Dr, Pebble Beach, CA

Saves: 9

Check-ins: 8

Amateur golfers Jack Neville and Douglas Grant established the beginnings of this golf course in 1919, but little did they know that it would be ranked as the best in the nation. Pebble Beach Golf Links has hosted six U.S. Opens. In 2023 it will host the U.S. Women's Open and in 2027 its seventh U.S. Open. Avid golfers will love this stop on the 17-Mile Drive. Even if you're not into golfing, you'll love...

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16: Pebble Beach Equestrian Center

Portola Rd, Pebble Beach, CA

Saves: 4

Check-ins: 6

Everyone in the car will find something of interest on 17-Mile Drive. Not into golf, seals, beaches, or birds? Try #16 - the Equestrian Center. Who doesn't like horses? This is the most unique way to tour this little seaside community and you don't have to be a resident. Visit the website to book your guided tour on horseback.

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17: Ford Meadow

3788 17 Mile Dr, Pebble Beach, CA

Saves: 4

Check-ins: 10

The final stop on 17-Mile Drive is relatively new, named after a generous donor to the Del Monte Conservancy. A memorial stone was placed and dedicated in 1981. After you've finished your tour of 17-Mile Drive make your way down to Carmel Sunset Beach, one of the most beautiful along the California coast.

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17-Mile Drive Road Trip

01: Shepherd's Knoll

02: Huckleberry Hill

03: Spanish Bay

04: The Restless Sea

05: Point Joe Vista

06: China Rock

07: Bird Rock

08: Seal Rock

09: Fanshell Beach

10: Cypress Point Lookout

11: Crocker Cypress Grove

12: The Lone Cypress

13: Ghost Trees at Pescadero Point

14: Pebble Beach Visitor Center

15: Pebble Beach Golf Links

16: Pebble Beach Equestrian Center

17: Ford Meadow

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