Alright, so you’re wondering about the 17-Mile Drive and how long it chews up. Everyone asks that. Lemme tell ya, it ain’t just a simple A-to-B kinda thing. When I decided to do it, I’d heard all sorts of numbers thrown around, from a quick spin to a half-day affair. So, I figured I’d just go do it myself and see what the real story was.
First off, you gotta get in. I drove up to the entrance – I think I used the Pacific Grove gate, seemed pretty straightforward. Right away, they ask for an entry fee. Wasn’t a total shocker, I’d read about it, but yeah, you gotta pay to play. It wasn’t super steep, but it’s good to know upfront. They handed over a map, a nice glossy one with all the points of interest marked, and gave a quick rundown. Then, through the gate I went, feeling a bit like I was entering some exclusive club.
Now, here’s where it gets personal, ’cause how long it takes really depends on you. Some folks, I saw them, they just wanted to zoom through, maybe snap a photo from their car window and say they’d been there. Not my style, not for this anyway. I thought, if I’m here, I’m gonna actually look at things. That map they give you? It’s got a ton of numbered stops. Honestly, I didn’t hit every single one. Some just sounded more appealing, or the little description caught my eye.
- The Lone Cypress – yeah, you gotta see that. It’s pretty much the poster child for the drive. It was a bit crowded, sure, everyone wants that classic shot, but it’s worth pulling over for. Stood there for a bit, just looking.
- Then there was Bird Rock. Man, that place was noisy! In a good way, though. Full of birds, obviously, and a bunch of sea lions barking their heads off. I hung around there for a decent while, watching them.
- We drove past the famous Pebble Beach Golf Links. Saw some immaculate greens and very fancy clubhouses. Not really my thing to linger at a golf course, but it’s part of the whole scene, so I took it in as I drove by.
- Spanish Bay was another nice stop. Good place to get out, feel the breeze, and stretch the legs. The coastline along the whole drive is pretty spectacular, to be fair.
I definitely took my time at the spots that grabbed me. I’d pull over properly, get out of the car, walk around, take a few photos, maybe just stare at the ocean for a bit. Other spots, the ones that didn’t seem as “wow,” I’d just slow the car down, take a good look, and keep on rolling. The actual driving part, if you just drove without stopping, probably isn’t that long at all. It’s all the stopping and starting that adds up the minutes, and then the hours.
So, what slowed things down or added to the time?
Well, traffic wasn’t a nightmare when I went – it was a weekday, kind of mid-morning. But it wasn’t an empty road either. You’ve got cars constantly pulling in and out of the scenic overlooks, and people driving pretty slowly, which is fine, that’s the whole point, right? You’re there to see the sights, not race. Finding a parking spot at the really popular places, like the Lone Cypress, sometimes meant waiting a minute or two for someone to leave. No big deal, but it all adds up.
The weather was pretty decent for my trip, mostly sunny with a bit of that coastal haze. If it had been super foggy or raining cats and dogs, I probably would have made it a much quicker journey. Good weather makes you want to linger.
So, for me, getting down to brass tacks: from the moment I paid the fee and entered that gate, to the moment I drove out the other side, I reckon it was a solid three and a half hours. Yep, about 3.5 hours. And that felt like a pretty good pace for me. I wasn’t rushing, but I wasn’t dawdling at every single rock and tree either. I’d eaten before I went in, so I wasn’t stopping for a long lunch at one of the fancy restaurants in Pebble Beach, though you could definitely do that if you wanted to make a bigger chunk of your day out of it and your wallet was feeling heavy.
My advice, for what it’s worth?
If you just want to say you’ve “done” the 17-Mile Drive, sure, you could probably blast through it in under two hours, maybe even an hour and a half if you barely stop and hit zero traffic. But seriously, what’s the point of that? You’re paying for the experience and the views.
I’d tell anyone heading there to budget at least three hours. That gives you enough time to properly enjoy the main viewpoints, take some photos, and not feel like you’re on a tight schedule. If you’re someone who really loves photography, or you want to wander along a beach for a bit, or maybe grab a coffee and soak in the atmosphere at The Lodge, then you could easily stretch it to four hours, maybe even a bit more. It really just comes down to your personal travel style.
For me, it wasn’t just about “how long does it take?” It was about actually seeing and experiencing what the drive has to offer. It’s a scenic drive, after all. So yeah, give yourself the time. Don’t just try to tick it off a list. Enjoy the views, that’s what you’re there for.