Private driver-guide · San Francisco / Pacifica
A private 12-hour day from San Francisco down the coast through Santa Cruz, Monterey and Carmel, then on past Bixby Bridge to McWay Falls. Pick it because it is the one tour here that goes that far south.
Most day tours from San Francisco stop at Bixby Bridge. This one keeps going: the listed route ends on the coast at McWay Falls in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, about 37 miles south of Carmel and about 40 minutes past the bridge. That stretch takes in Point Sur, the Big Sur Valley and the high road past Nepenthe.
The price of that reach is a long day. The listed route starts around 8 am at Pacifica State Beach, runs down the coast via Pigeon Point Light Station, Davenport and Santa Cruz, then Monterey, the 17-Mile Drive (admission included) and Carmel before Big Sur. Then it is three and a half to four hours back to the city. Fuel, water and the 17-Mile fee are included; gratuities are not.
Two cautions. The operator is not named on our sources, so check pickup details on the listing. And the road between Nepenthe and McWay Falls had a one-way signal at Torre Canyon from 13 October 2026, with full daytime closures on some days for slope netting. A closure there would stop you short of the falls, so check QuickMap the day before.
Selected hotel pickup, or meet at Pacifica, then south on Highway 1.
The lighthouse and the bluffs on the empty coast between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz.
About an hour in each, by the listed timings.
Pebble Beach, the Lone Cypress and Bird Rock, then Carmel.
The Big Sur run: the bridge, Point Sur and the valley, ending at the McWay Falls overlook.
The drive home takes three and a half to four hours from the falls.
Read next:
Yes, the listed route ends at McWay Falls in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, about 37 miles south of Carmel, unless a road closure stops it.
No. The beach and cliffs are closed. You see the falls from the overlook trail, about half a mile from the parking lot.
The price covers a private group of up to five people.
Private transport, bottled water, fuel and the 17-Mile Drive admission. Gratuities are extra.
Ready to book
A private day from San Francisco that goes as far as McWay Falls, with the 17-Mile Drive on the way. Up to five people.
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