17 Mile Drive

Only a few miles from Monterey, on the south side of the Monterey peninsula, lies Carmel. The many charms of the countryside make it worthwhile going the long way round, the "Seventeen Mile Drive". This begins at Pacific Grove Gate and then goes along the Pacific coast and for part of the way through the Del Monte Forest, where there is a number of large villas.
17 Mile Drive Map
Important Information:
Useful tips: There is a toll to use this private road.
The forest is impressive with a rich abundance of cypress trees and the Monterey pines. You will also drive past picturesque beaches, isolated cliffs, the "Lone Cypress", the Pebble Beach Golf Course and the "Lodge at Pebble Beach" Hotel, where rooms cost $300. Many kinds of gulls live in the Seal and Bird Rocks. Often you can spot sea lions and seals there too. Cypress Lookout offers a particularly beautiful view north and south along the Pacific coast.
If you have some time to kill you may want to plan on pulling off to take pictures, enjoy some time at the beach or have a picnic. You can make a day of it, stop at some of the lookouts, or simply drive right through.

Related Attractions

Pebble Beach Golf Links

Pebble Beach is a world-famous golf course on 17 Mile Drive; the grand opening took place in 1919. It has been the host of five U.S. Open Championships and offers four courses and three resorts.

Spyglass Hill Golf Course

Spyglass Hill Golf Course at Pebble Beach gets its name from the Robert Louis Stevenson novel Treasure Island. Each of the 18 holes is named after a character in the book.
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