Updated on California, Central Coast, Destinations, USA

The Best 17 Mile Drive Stops to Add to Your Itinerary

The Central Coast of California is known for its natural beauty, and the 17 Mile Drive truly shows off all of its glory. This scenic Pebble Beach drive hugs the beautiful coast, and also takes visitors through peaceful pine and Monterey cypress tree forests. If you’re visiting Monterey Bay, Carmel-by-the-Sea, or the surrounding area, this can’t be missed. 

There are more than fifteen 17 Mile Drive stops, and you truly can’t go wrong spending time at any spot along this scenic road. To help you best plan your visit, I’ve selected six of the stops that every visitor should check out as they enjoy this drive. 

Road of the 17 Mile Drive lined by cypress and pine trees
A hand holding up a polaroid photo of the lone cypress tree on the rocky cliff. An out of focus view of the same image is behind the polaroid.
Smooth boulders on top of a coastal cliff, with the view of the water in the background

Entering the 17 Mile Scenic Drive: What to Know

This drive is located within the gated Pebble Beach community. This community is home to five golf courses (including the famous Pebble Beach Golf Links), as well as three resorts: The Lodge at Pebble Beach, The Inn at Spanish Bay, and Casa Palmero. It’s a popular place to explore for travelers vacationing in Carmel-by-the-Sea (which is just to the south) and Monterey (which is just to the north). 

There are five 17 Mile Drive entrance gates:

The most popular route is to enter at the Pacific Grove Gate, and then exit at the Carmel Gate (or vice versa!). That said, there’s no right or wrong gate to enter or exit through – all entrances lead to the drive, so go with whatever makes sense with your itinerary.

Once you’re at the gate, you’ll pay the entrance fee, which is $12 per vehicle. They’ll provide you with a map, which has each stop numbered. I’ve included the stop numbers in my list below to help you navigate the area. 

Before you visit, be sure to check out the official 17 Mile Drive website! They keep this page updated with any road closures and recent updates that travelers should be aware of before they visit. 

The 17 Mile Drive Stops You Won’t Want to Miss 

Here are six of the best stops on the 17 Mile Drive in Pebble Beach that you’ll want to make sure you include in your itinerary. 

I’ve organized this list starting from the southern end of the scenic drive and moving up the coast. If you’ll be starting the drive from either the Carmel or Highway 1 Gates, you can follow this list in order. If you’ll be entering from one of the other three gates, reverse the order. 

1. Ghost Trees at Pescadero Point (Stop 17)

The “ghost” trees at this spot are Monterey cypress trees that have been bleached by the wind and sun. Beyond these gorgeous trees, this area is known for offering stunning views of the rocky coast from above. I recommend walking along the sandy path to fully take in the view!

Trunk of a bleached cypress tree at the Ghost Trees point
View of cypress trees on the rocky coastline

2. Lone Cypress Lookout (Stop 16)

Perhaps the most iconic stop on the 17 Mile Drive, Lone Cypress can’t be missed. As the name suggests, this spot features a single cypress tree perched on top of a rocky coastal cliff. 

There are parking spots at this lookout, and you can see the tree from the road. However, if you are able to, make sure you walk towards the southern edge of the lot and go down the stairs to the observation deck. Here, you’ll get an even closer look at the cypress tree. 

Close view of the lone cypress tree on the rocky cliff from the observation deck
Distant view of the Lone Cypress tree from the road, with the tops of trees in the foreground

3. Crocker Grove (Stop 15)

Get away from the coast for a moment to enjoy the beauty of Crocker Grove (pictured below left and center). In the forested preserve, you’ll see different species of native pine and cypress trees. It’s also home to the largest and oldest Monterey cypress trees in existence. 

4. Cypress Point Lookout (Stop 14)

Make a quick detour off the 17 Mile Drive road to check out Cypress Point Lookout (pictured below on the right), which is located just across the street from Crocker Grove. From here, you get gorgeous views of the rocky coastline and a white sandy beach, looking south towards Carmel. 

This overlook is marked as Sunset Point Overlook on Google Maps, although it is referred to as the Cypress Point Lookout on the official map (which you’ll get at the entrance gate when you buy your ticket). They are one in the same!

Note: this lookout (along with the Fanshell Beach Overlook, which is less than a mile up the road) is closed from April 1 to June 1 every year for harbor seal pupping season. 

Sun shining down on a grassy field surrounded by cypress trees
A wooden sign reading "The Crocker Grove" in front of tall cypress trees
View of the coast from Cypress Point. There is a white sandy beach on the left, a clear blue calm waves washing up to the shore.

5. Bird Rock Vista Point (Stop 10)

As you might’ve guessed by the name, Bird Rock is home to many shorebirds. You may even spot harbor seals and sea lions as you look out over the rocky coast. 

Compared to the previous stops, this stop is much closer to the water – and you can even go down to the sand, if you’d like! If you walk to the south, you can take the stairs down to Seal Rock Creek Beach. On the opposite side of the stop, you can walk down to Granite Beach.  

View of the short rocky coastal cliff, with the ocean in the background
Yellow, light pink, and white flowers in the foreground, with the ocean in the background
View of Granite Beach from a coastal cliff. There is a white sandy beach on the right.

6. Restless Sea and Point Joe Vista Point (Stops 6 and 7)

These stops are right next to each other, so you can park at one and walk over to the other. Restless Sea is known for its turbulent water activity. Here, you’ll see strong waves (caused by rocks underneath the water) crash into the rocky coastline. 

Point Joe is named after a man who, in the early 20th century, lived in a hut and sold goods to visiting tourists. It’s also located right next to a hole of one of the five golf courses in the community, and offers beautiful views of the coast. During my last visit, I saw a ton of sea otters swimming around the area!

Rocks in the foreground, and the ocean in the background. There are a variety of rocks and boulders of various sizes in the water.
Small sandy path leading towards a golf course near Point Joe
Rocks leading up to a large boulder in the ocean water on the left

Enjoy exploring this beautiful area! Here are some additional travel guides to help you plan your trip to the region: 

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Posted In: California, Central Coast, Destinations, USA

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Kyra is the founder of Sea to Sequoia, a site she launched in 2020. As a type A traveler who loves to extensively research destinations to create the perfect vacation itinerary, she’s here to help readers so that their travel planning process is as easy as possible. In addition to running this site, she is a professional content writer in the wellness and skincare spaces, and also works as an actress.

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