The 17-Mile Drive is located in the very pretty (and very expensive) area of California called Pebble Beach. It stretches between the towns of Pacific Grove and Carmel, and is close to the larger town of Monterey. And, of course, has lots of beautiful coastal views!
Most people drive it (hence the name “17-Mile Drive), but what is it like to bike? Here’s what you need to know about biking the 17-Mile Drive!
PARKING & COST
The fee is $10.50 per vehicle, but if you want to bike in, it’s free!
Note they do NOT take cash, only card is accepted.
However, finding parking outside of the 17-Mile Drive can be difficult as most places nearby require a permit to park. My dad tried to tell me where he’d parked before, but we somehow ended up in a hospital parking lot where we weren’t sure if we were allowed to be.
However, you can also try to park for free on the dirt shoulder part of the road before you hit the entrance, or along Sunset.
We just took the easy way out and just paid to park inside, at the Spanish Bay parking lot, and began our journey there.
If you do manage to find parking outside the fee area, note that you have to bike up/down a decent-sized hill to get in. I’m not gonna lie, I was pretty happy we didn’t have to walk back up it after the ride as we were pretty tired!

We ate at The Bench in Pebble Beach and I’m sure we spent over $35 but didn’t know we could get our parking fee refunded! D’OH.
I’d definitely still recommend The Bench, though, as you can sit outside and stare at the beautiful coastal views. And no, I’m not getting paid to say this lol (but shoot, I wish I was) but their food was BOMB, too. We got the butter lettuce salad, margherita flatbread, and a cocktail and shared it all (because we ballin’ on a budget bb!)

IT’S NOT OPEN 24/7…

That said, I’d highly recommend staying until sunset if you can because SUNSETS ARE LIFE!
TRY NOT TO VISIT DURING PEAK TIMES

Just as an FYI, traffic tends to build up right before The Lone Cypress Tree because everyone and their mom and their mom’s mom wants a photo of it for Instagram. And this, unfortunately, is where the bike lane all but disappeared so we had to stop pedaling and walk in the grass.
I’d recommend visiting in the morning, later in the evening (I feel like the most traffic is between 10AM and 5PM), and on a weekday in fall/spring/winter.
But, if you go before 9AM in the morning or after 5PM in the evening on a weekend, even in summer, I think you’ll be fine! However, in the morning, you’re the most likely to get fog, so if you want to avoid that go in the afternoon/evening.
We went smack in the middle of the day on a weekend, so it wasn’t the BEST time…
WHERE SHOULD YOU START?
There are a few different gates to choose from, but I’d recommend starting at the main gate off Highway 1. This will make it easier to go along the route with the map!
WHERE THEM BIKE LANES AT THO??

But once you turn the corner, leave the coast, and head into the forest towards the Lone Cypress Tree, the bike lanes pretty much disappear. So, just keep that in mind!
There were times when my friend and I had to get off our bikes and walk in the grass beside the road (looking at you, Lone Cypress) because the traffic had built up and there was no space for us to get by the cars.
IF YOU EAT TOO MUCH YOU CAN TAKE A SHORTCUT

However, I don’t think we missed much since we had finished the coastal section, and it looked like it was mostly forest and houses in the inland section from what we could gather. So, pretty much the same scenery that we saw along Forest Lake Road.
BE WARY OF THE WEATHER

So, make sure you check the weather, and even if it seems like it’ll be warm bring layers! It can get very cold very quickly in the evening.
Even if you decide to go in summer, again – check the weather!! The coast is fickle and you can get beautiful sunny days in winter and rainy days in summer.
THE WILDLIFE ABOUNDS

We saw otters playing in the surf near the Lone Cypress Tree, Pelicans, Cormorants, and SO. Many. Gulls. And an adorable ground squirrel family, too.
I also enjoyed the different habitats you see on the 17-Mile Drive – the coast and the forests of pines and cypress trees. And all the nice ass houses. We rode past a school at one point, and I was just like, what in the world must it be like to go to school and get your learn on in such a pretty, perfect place??
NOTABLE STOPS/VIEWPOINTS

- The Lone Cypress, duh
- Seal Rock
- Bird Rock
- Spanish Bay
YOU CAN RENT BIKES TOO

The going rate seems to be $25 for a half-day, and $35 for a full-day.
DIFFICULTY
My friend and I didn’t find biking the 17-Mile Drive THAT difficult, but the wind really can make it a lot tougher that it should be.
There are also some hills, but we don’t bike very often and we were fine. Expect about a 900 ft change in elevation overall, though.
And if you do get tired, there are lots of beautiful places to stop and rest!
DO I RECOMMEND IT?
It really is a damn beautiful bike ride, and if you don’t end up paying to park it’s free, so – you can’t really complain!
However, the crowds really can be ANNOYING. Like, you may be riding alongside huge tourist buses if you go during peak season between 10AM-5PM. So just something to keep in mind.
OTHER BIKE RIDING TRAILS
The Monterey Bay Coastal Bike Trail might be another good option if you don’t want to deal with the crowds you may encounter on the 17-Mile Drive. It’s 29 miles, and you get a good glimpse of the change of scenery between Castroville (lots of ag fields) and the coastal views of Monterey.
This article breaks down some good sections of The Monterey Bay Coastal Bike Trail bike trail, and gives you a few other ideas, too. Just a disclaimer that I have done absolutely none of these rides but I hope they’re awesome if you do try them. Can’t go wrong with biking along the coast, though, I think.
But this experience just reminded me that I NEED TO DO MORE BIKE RIDES. I LOVE BIKE RIDING SO SO SO MUCH.
One day I’d love to do a longer distance bike ride in which I camp in between or stay in cheap accommodation/with friends for a week or something (I feel like that’s called something specific but I’m blanking off the top of my head. A bike tour, maybe?).
There’s something about knowing you’re doing it yourself (I mean the bike is helping, but you know what I mean), and not relying on a car, and there’s the wind rushing by, and the sunshine on your face, and the struggle, and the feeling of absolute and whole-hearted accomplishment at the end of each day.
The 17-Mile Drive just wasn’t enough (although for us, it was more like 13 miles LOL).

Something just appeals to me about long distance (but not too long lol, we’re talking like a couple of months max) hiking and biking. It all just seems so glamorous (even though I know it’s really not lol) and romantic – the notion of doing it yourself, of getting from point A to B by your own volition. And struggling but growing and just feeling more WHOLE, if that makes sense.
Every time I spend time outdoors, I feel like I get to know myself better, I become more grounded, I’m reminded of what’s really important, and I feel so free.

And let me know if you end up biking the 17-Mile Drive, and what your thoughts were!
And while you’re at it, why not head to SLO to see the Madonna Inn or some of my other favorite California destinations? Might as well 😉
I have cycled 17 mile drive on our tandem with my love, it was fantabulous
Glad you enjoyed it! It really is such a beautiful ride – and tandem sounds fun!
I cycled the 17 mile Drive with my boyfriend on a tandem and it was spectacular! The views were breathtaking! I highly recommend cycling this scenic ride.
Ok, I should really get to biking it on a tandem bike! Seems to be quite a popular thing! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Nice! Cycling in sounds like the perfect way to see the area slowly as you arrive. It looks like SUCH a pretty region. At not too hilly for a cycle!
p.s. What were the squirrels doing on the beach? I don’t think I have ever seen babies on the ground like that, rather than up a tree!
Yes, I think cycling is definitely an awesome way to see the area 🙂 It’s nice to feel the fresh air all around instead of being cooped in a car! Although, sometimes it was not as nice when it got super windy haha.
There are two different types of squirrels in California (and probably other places but idk haha): ground squirrels and tree squirrels. Ground squirrels live in burrows in the ground, while tree squirrels live in trees. 🙂 So, those were ground squirrels!
Awesome post! I’ve driven the 17-mile stretch but riding a bike through would be extra fun! Will definitely choose this option next time. Great tips on eating at the Bench and bringing a change of clothes! 😁
Yes it was so fun!! And haha, yeah I really wish I’d brought fancier ones with me!
This looks like a bit of work, but worth it for the views. Love your pictures. A friend of mine at work also loves cycling and biked through Europe last year for 6 weeks. That’s something I’d love to do for sure, but maybe I should start with a trip like this and work up!
Wow, your friend’s trip sounds amazing – I’d love to do a bike trip like that! Idk if I could do it for all 6 weeks, but would love to for like a week or something. And yes, you can def start small and see how you like it!
Beautiful post!! I love the pictures and the helpful map. This place is on my bucket list!
Thanks, Melissa! Glad you enjoyed 🙂
This has made me want to go to California! Great photos! xx
Thank you! 🙂 Yes, it’s a beautiful place!
This seems really fun! I’m a bike commuter, so I ride every day but always in the city. I’ve always wanted to use my bike more for recreation but I’m so intimidated by going out on my own in a new place! This seems relatively easy though so it would be a good first bike trip.
Ohhh I miss that – I used to bike everywhere in college! Tt wasn’t really a big city though. I’d be terrified to bike somewhere like San Francisco!
And yeah, I feel you – it’s hard to know what the bike lanes will be like etc. before you go! I can get a little intimidated about that, too.
I lived in the SF Bay Area for almost 30 years and always loved visiting this spot a few times a year. Not sure I would be brave enough to bike it, that is pretty impressive – not the distance, but the weather which unpredictable and the cars – tourists looking at homes and places to park don’t always watch out for bikers. But I will attest it is a great way to see the drive!
It’s such a beautiful place! I totally took it for granted growing up in San Jose. And yeah, the weather can definitely be a pain sometimes, that’s for sure. And the tourists can be, too, that’s why if I were to do it again I’d go on a weekday or early in the morning!
Great info. Lucky me I recently found your blog by accident (stumbleupon). I’ve book marked it for later!|
Happy to hear it! 🙂
Hi Kelsey. Found your blog by looking up biking 17 mile drive. I am going to ride the end of February. Are you still posting blogs about adventures?
Hey Will! Thanks for commenting, stoked to hear that you’re going to bike the drive! It’s beautiful. And yes, I’m still adventuring, just not posting as frequently as I used to. 🙂
I would recommend biking the 17-mile drive! It’s a beautiful drive and the views are amazing.
It really is – definitely one of my favorites!