17 Mile Drive in Pebble Beach
17-Mile Drive is one of the most famous scenic drives in the world. It passes through the gated community of Pebble Beach. Access to this exclusive neighborhood is available at five guard gates in Carmel or Pacific Grove where a fee is charged per vehicle ($11.25 cash only as of 2023). The receipt you receive is a voucher to be used like money. Present it to any of the shops or restaurants along the route when you make a purchase of $35 or more and the entry fee on the voucher is credited to your bill. Sorry, but motorcycles are not allowed in.
As you pass through the shaded entry gates of 17-Mile Drive you are also given a brochure with extensive information and a map that makes it a “can’t fail” excursion. Just follow the dashed red line on the roadway and neatly posted signs along the route. Popular with tour groups traveling via bus, you can drive your car along the route and see the same people departing the bus in front of you time and again.
There are approximately 20 stops along the well-marked route, each with a landmark of interest and paved parking for your vehicle. From the trademark Lone Cypress Tree to the Restless Sea, Seal Rock to Spanish Bay and Fanshell Overlook, if the names of these places don’t evoke emotion to the active imagination, the sights, sounds and smells should do the trick. Daylight hours are perfect guarantees to get stunning photos – but don’t miss the opportunity to capture an amazing sunset. A blazing, golden sun falling into the ocean behind the Lone Cypress is one of California’s most romantic scenic views to be experienced.
The 17-mile drive is a two lane road which has seen many years of activity. It was once a trail in which covered wagons carried guests from a hotel to picnic grounds along Pebble Beach over 100 years ago. Though a century has passed, some things are timeless in this enchanted forest. Today, tourists continue to enjoy the crashing waves that hit rugged rocks below vistas where pine trees frame each photo perfectly. Picnics are still “in” at the Seal Rock Creek Beach Picnic Area. And golf continues to be the number one sport here for over 80 years.
The public courses include Poppy Hills, home of the Northern California Golf Association, the Links at Spanish Bay which is accessible when you stay at the Inn, Spyglass Hill which was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., Peter Hay Par-3 Course and famous Pebble Beach Golf Links with The Lodge, shops and dining.
It’s a gorgeous drive with so much to see along the way. Go early in the day to enjoy it all.
See below for a list of the beaches in Pebble Beach along 17 Mile Drive.
17 Mile Drive FAQ
Yes. Admission to 17-Mile Drive is $11.25 per vehicle. This fee is reimbursed with a purchase of $35 or more at all Pebble Beach Resorts restaurants (except Pebble Beach Market).
The 17 Mile Drive includes many notable stops, including the Lone Cypress, Seal Rock, Spanish Bay, Pebble Beach Golf Course, and the Bird Rock Vista Point.
The 17 Mile Drive can take anywhere from one to two hours to complete, depending on traffic and how many stops you make. It could take all day if you stopped at many places including the beaches.
Yes, 17 Mile Drive is wheelchair accessible, with many of the stops and lookout points featuring accessible parking and paths.
Yes, pets are allowed on the 17 Mile Drive, but they must be kept on a leash at all times.
Bicycles are allowed on 17 Mile Drive, but they are subject to the same per-vehicle fee as cars. Motorcycles are not allowed on 17 Mile Drive.
Yes, there are several restrooms and food options available along 17 Mile Drive, including several restaurants and cafes located in Pebble Beach.
Yes, visitors can leave and re-enter 17 Mile Drive on the same day by presenting their receipt at the gate.
Yes, the 17 Mile Drive is open year-round, but certain stops and lookout points may be closed due to seasonal maintenance or inclement weather.
The public is allowed to enter the gates at Pebble Beach from sunrise to sunset.
