Drinks Big Sur Valley
Big Sur River Inn
A place for a drink in Big Sur Valley, moderately priced ($$) and worth about an hour. Best time to go: Summer afternoon.
Why go
Roadside inn where you can sit in chairs set in the river with a drink.
It is one of 9 curated places we feature in Big Sur, alongside 3 outdoor spots, 2 places to eat and 2 sights. The closest of our other picks is Pfeiffer Beach, 2.3 mi away as the crow flies.
- Type
- Drinks · Food
- Neighborhood
- Big Sur Valley
- Price
- $$
- Time needed
- 1 hr
- Best time
- Summer afternoon
Nearby
The 6 closest curated picks in Big Sur, measured as straight-line distance.
- 1Pfeiffer Beach
Purple-streaked sand and Keyhole Arch at the end of narrow Sycamore Canyon Road.
Outdoors · 2.3 mi straight-line - 2Nepenthe
Clifftop restaurant since 1949 with long coastal views from the terrace.
Food · 4.4 mi straight-line - 3Henry Miller Memorial Library
Bookstore and arts space in the redwoods honoring the writer.
Sight · 4.6 mi straight-line - 4Deetjen's Big Sur Inn Restaurant
Candlelit dinners and hearty breakfasts in a 1930s redwood inn tucked into Castro Canyon.
Food · 4.9 mi straight-line - 5Point Sur Lightstation
Guided tours of an 1889 lighthouse atop a volcanic rock.
Activity · 5.4 mi straight-line - 6Bixby Creek Bridge
1932 concrete arch bridge, the most photographed spot on Highway 1.
Sight · 8.7 mi straight-line
On these curated routes
Big Sur River Inn is a stop on our Pacific Coast Highway route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.
More to do in Big Sur
Big Sur River Inn is our only drinks pick in Big Sur; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Big Sur guide.
When to go
Average daily highs in Big Sur run from 58°F in January to 69°F in September; December is usually the wettest month. For Big Sur River Inn itself, we suggest: Summer afternoon.
Modelled monthly averages for Big Sur from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Big Sur weather by month.
Getting there
Map links open a live search for Big Sur River Inn, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.
- Address
- 46800 CA-1, Big Sur, CA 93920, USA
- Coordinates
- 36.27145, -121.80846
- Destination
- Big Sur, California
- Website
- bigsurriverinn.com
Big Sur River Inn: quick answers
How much time do you need at Big Sur River Inn?
Plan on about an hour at Big Sur River Inn. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.
When is the best time to visit Big Sur River Inn?
Our pick: Summer afternoon. Insider tip: Summer is best for the river chairs.
Where is Big Sur River Inn?
Big Sur River Inn is at 46800 CA-1, Big Sur, CA 93920, USA, in Big Sur Valley. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.
Which TripsCircle routes include Big Sur River Inn?
Big Sur River Inn appears on Pacific Coast Highway, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.
Add Big Sur River Inn to your crew's plan
Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Big Sur.
Plan Big Sur
- Big Sur travel guide 9 places
- Best time to visit Big Sur weather by month
- Monterey & Carmel to Big Sur 23 mi straight-line
- Big Sur to San Simeon 54 mi straight-line
Lists & regions
Also in Big Sur
- McWay Falls Outdoors
Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.