Highway 1 Reopens Through Big Sur, Restoring Full Coastal Drive After Two-Year Closure
Caltrans announced the reopening of Highway 1 along Big Sur's southern coast at noon on January 14, nearly two years after it was closed due to the Regent's Slide. This reopening, occurring almost three months earlier than anticipated, enables motorists to traverse the entire Big Sur coastline from Carmel to San Simeon without any detours, making 2026 an excellent year for a drive along the West Coast. The Pacific coast features 1,600 miles of picturesque highway stretching from the Mexican border to Canada. Highway 1 and U.S. 101 are among the most iconic routes in the United States. Travelers are advised to consult Caltrans' QuickMap and TripCheck for current road conditions and to consider spring or fall for optimal visibility and fewer tourists. Eight suggested road trip routes are provided.
Key facts
- Caltrans reopened Highway 1 along Big Sur's south coast at noon on Jan. 14, 2026, after it was buried by Regent's Slide for nearly two years.
- The reopening came almost three months ahead of schedule and restored full-length driving between Carmel and San Simeon for the first time since January 2023.
- The Pacific coast offers roughly 1,600 miles of highway between the Mexican border and Canada, passing cliffs, beaches, redwood forests, lighthouses, rain forests and small coastal towns.
- California's Highway 1 and U.S. 101 together form much of the Pacific Coast Highway, among the most famous roads in America.
- The list covers eight West Coast road trip routes from San Diego County to Washington's Olympic Peninsula, each drivable in a day or less.
- Travelers are advised to check Caltrans' QuickMap in California and TripCheck in Oregon before setting out due to landslides, wildfires and winter storms.
- Driving north to south in California puts travelers on the ocean side of Highway 1, making it easier to pull over at viewpoints.
- Summer brings crowds and fog, while spring and fall often offer clearer skies and fewer people.
Entities
Artists
- Kirk Thornton
- Georg Eiermann
- George Cox
- Carl Newton
- Paddy Kumar
- Taisia Karaseva
- Katie Musial
- Zoshua Colah
- Stephen
- William Randolph Hearst
- Alfred Hitchcock
- Frank Herbert
- Lady Bird Johnson
- Samuel H. Boardman
Institutions
- Caltrans
- TripCheck
- Unsplash
- Self-Realization Fellowship
- Pebble Beach
- Hearst Castle
- Cowgirl Creamery
- Hog Island Oyster Co.
- Marshall Store
- Oregon Coast Aquarium
- Sea Lion Caves
- Olympic National Park
- Redwood National and State Parks
- UNESCO World Heritage Site
Locations
- Big Sur
- Carmel
- San Simeon
- California
- United States
- Mexico
- Canada
- San Diego County
- Washington
- Olympic Peninsula
- La Jolla
- Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
- Del Mar
- Solana Beach
- Cardiff-by-the-Sea
- Encinitas
- Carlsbad
- Oceanside
- Santa Lucia Mountains
- Pacific Ocean
- Carmel-by-the-Sea
- 17-Mile Drive
- Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
- Bixby Creek Bridge
- Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
- Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
- McWay Falls
- Nepenthe
- Piedras Blancas
- San Francisco
- Santa Cruz
- Pacifica
- Tom Lantos Tunnels
- Devil's Slide
- Half Moon Bay
- Mavericks
- Pescadero
- Pigeon Point Lighthouse
- Año Nuevo State Park
- Point Reyes National Seashore
- Jenner
- Golden Gate Bridge
- Muir Beach
- Stinson Beach
- Bolinas Lagoon
- Tomales Point
- Point Reyes Station
- Tomales Bay
- Bodega Bay
- Russian River
- Fort Ross
- Sea Ranch
- Redwood Highway
- Avenue of the Giants
- Humboldt County
- Del Norte County
- Humboldt Redwoods State Park
- Founders Grove
- Rockefeller Forest
- Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway
- Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
- Fern Canyon
- Gold Bluffs Beach
- Lady Bird Johnson Grove
- Eureka
- Arcata
- Crescent City
- Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor
- Brookings
- Arch Rock
- Natural Bridges
- Secret Beach
- Thunder Rock Cove
- Oregon Coast Trail
- Gold Beach
- Rogue River
- Newport
- Florence
- Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area
- Yachats
- Cape Perpetua Scenic Area
- Thor's Well
- Devil's Churn
- Heceta Head Lighthouse
- Siuslaw River
- Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
- Port Angeles
- Strait of Juan de Fuca
- Hurricane Ridge
- Olympic Mountains
- Lake Crescent
- Marymere Falls
- Hoh Rain Forest
- Hall of Mosses
- Ruby Beach
- Rialto Beach
- Second Beach
- La Push
- Kalaloch
- Tree of Life
- Forks
Sources
- Quartz —