Alright, so today I finally tackled the 17-Mile Drive after weeks of wanting to go. I got so annoyed when folks wouldn’t just say when the dang thing actually opens for tourists. Seriously, every blog post and travel site made it sound like rocket science.
Digging Up the Actual Hours
First thing yesterday morning, I brewed some coffee and started poking around online forums instead of those polished travel sites. Found locals arguing about gate times in comment sections. Screenshotted a bunch of conflicting info. Then it hit me – just call the dang Pebble Beach entrance directly. Dialed the number, got put on hold for like ten minutes listening to cheesy golf course music. Finally, some guy named Mark picked up and spilled the beans:
- Sunrise is the magic bullet. Gates flip open right as the sun comes up, no matter the season.
- Last car in at sunset. They literally watch the horizon and close the gate when colors fade.
- No early birds or night owls. Exactly sunrise to sunset, zero exceptions.
Making It Actually Happen
Tossed my camera gear and snacks into the trunk last night. Set my alarm for stupid-o’clock based on that sunrise calculator thing. Woke up feeling like a zombie, chugged cold brew coffee in the driveway, and started driving toward Pebble Beach in total darkness.
Pulled up to the gate at 6:15am just as sky started glowing pink. Paid the entrance fee cash – guy in booth yawned and waved me through before sunrise even finished. Drove slow with windows down, smelling that ocean air. Spotted seals flopping on rocks near Bird Rock around 7am when light got golden. Parked illegally near Lone Cypress just to get the shot with no tour buses ruining it.
The whole drive took three hours with all my stops for photos and staring at waves. By 10am, it was getting packed with minivans. Left right as fog started rolling in – perfect timing. Biggest takeaways: you absolutely need that sunrise start to beat crowds, and never trust secondhand opening time guesses. Just call. Or be crazy like me and show up when stars are still out.
