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Outdoors Big Sur

Pfeiffer Beach

An outdoor spot in Big Sur, budget-friendly ($) and worth about 1.5 hours. Best time to go: Sunset.

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Pfeiffer Beach in Big Sur
Photo: Bradley Weber · CC BY 2.0 · license

Why go

Purple-streaked sand and Keyhole Arch at the end of narrow Sycamore Canyon Road.

It is one of 9 curated places we feature in Big Sur, alongside 2 places to eat, 2 outdoor spots and 2 sights. The closest of our other picks is Big Sur River Inn, 2.3 mi away as the crow flies.

Type
Outdoors · Beaches
Neighborhood
Big Sur
Price
$
Time needed
1.5 hr
Best time
Sunset

Nearby

The 6 closest curated picks in Big Sur, measured as straight-line distance.

  1. 1
    Big Sur River Inn

    Roadside inn where you can sit in chairs set in the river with a drink.

    Drinks · 2.3 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    Nepenthe

    Clifftop restaurant since 1949 with long coastal views from the terrace.

    Food · 3.4 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    Henry Miller Memorial Library

    Bookstore and arts space in the redwoods honoring the writer.

    Sight · 3.7 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    Deetjen's Big Sur Inn Restaurant

    Candlelit dinners and hearty breakfasts in a 1930s redwood inn tucked into Castro Canyon.

    Food · 3.9 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    Point Sur Lightstation

    Guided tours of an 1889 lighthouse atop a volcanic rock.

    Activity · 6.5 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    McWay Falls

    80-foot waterfall dropping onto a cove beach, reached by a short flat path.

    Outdoors · 9.8 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

Pfeiffer Beach is a stop on our Pacific Coast Highway route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

More outdoor spots in Big Sur

Another curated outdoor spot in Big Sur. 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 Pfeiffer Beach itself, we suggest: Sunset.

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 Pfeiffer Beach, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Address
9101 Sycamore Canyon Rd, Big Sur, CA 93920, USA
Coordinates
36.23807, -121.81623
Destination
Big Sur, California

Pfeiffer Beach: quick answers

How much time do you need at Pfeiffer Beach?

Plan on about 1.5 hours at Pfeiffer Beach. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Pfeiffer Beach?

Our pick: Sunset. Insider tip: Unmarked turn; small lot fills fast. Arch glows near winter solstice.

Where is Pfeiffer Beach?

Pfeiffer Beach is at 9101 Sycamore Canyon Rd, Big Sur, CA 93920, USA. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.

Which TripsCircle routes include Pfeiffer Beach?

Pfeiffer Beach appears on Pacific Coast Highway, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add Pfeiffer Beach 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.

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Also in Big Sur

Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.