12 Scenic Stops For Your End-of-Summer California Road Trip

I know this article is all about where to visit when bypassing Big Sur, but it's worth mentioning that parts of Big Sur are still accessible via Nacimiento-Fergusson Road and can make a great destination. Bonus: the detours and closures mean fewer crowds. If time is on your side, it's worth driving in to spend some time hiking, camping, or even biking the empty stretch of Highway 1, just saying.

Even if you don't decide to take the detour into the area, the good news is that you can still see the iconic Bixby Canyon Bridge (and about 18 miles of Big Sur coastline) if you drive in from the north.