Big Sur California PCH 1 Road Trip Vacation Drive Photo Mile 30 Sand Dollar Beach & Picnic Grounds

Click to enlarge picture Sand Dollar Beach, Big Sur's bigest white sand beach, next picnic ground

Information: The beautiful Sand Dollar Beach & Day Use Picnic Area: Sand Dollar Beach is the longest strand of white sandy beach along the Big Sur coast. The on top of the bluff the picnic area has restrooms, standing barbecue grills, green grass and picnic tables; there are a steep staircase that leads down to the beach. Surfing, fishing, beaching combing, and a great picnic area all within short walking distance of Plaskett Creek Campground , located directly across the Pacific Coast Highway 1.
Near Points of Interest: This area is the heart of the Big Sur Coast and offers a virtual treasure trove of outdoor recreational sports opportunities. A good place to get maps, and information is the nearby Pacific Valley Station (U.S. Forest Service telephone: 805-927-4211), they also have restrooms and public telephones and are located 1 mile north on the east side of Pacific Coast Highway 1. Many outdoor sports enthusiasts of all kinds make Limekiln State Park, Plaskett Creek or Kirk Creek Campgrounds their base camps for their excursions and activities. The steep picturesque mountain country is popular with hang gliders and paragliders; the coastal bluffs above Jade Cove are a designated landing area. Nearby back country roads and trails lead back to the wilderness for 4x4, mountain bike and horseback riding backpacking and hiking fans. Pacific ocean fishermen, surfers and scuba divers all come here for the outdoor recreation opportunities as do kayakers and other small watercraft owners.
Beach Access and Day Use Picnic Areas: It's impossible to beat Sand Dollar Beach but 5 miles north Mill Creek Picnic Ground has a quite nice small picnic and easier access to the beach area another a close option 6 miles north is Kirk Creek Campground, it has a nice short trail that leads down to the beach which is a popular spot for surfing, rock fishing and beachcombing. Another mile north is Limekiln State Park. One of the best beaches on the Big Sur coast is Pfeiffer State Beach it is 32.5 miles, the turnoff is at Sycamore Canyon; another great long white sandy Big Sur Beach which is popular is Sand Dollar Beach which provides easy access to a large picnic area with restrooms and barbecue grills on the top of the bluff, there is a nice long big sandy beach at the bottom of some steep stairs, Sand Dollar Day Use Pincnic Area and Beach is a little over a mile south.
Near places to Eat: My favorite Big Sur Ocean View restaurant Nepenthe is 30 miles north on the scenic PCH; Lucia is 10 miles north and has a very nice ocean view restaurant (try the fish & chips) and the closest restaurant to the south is the Whale Watcher Cafe at Gorda which is 7 miles or Treebones which is about 6 miles.
Near Hotel Lodgings & Resorts: Lucia Lodge 10 miles ahead to the north and the Gorda Springs Cottages are 7 miles south.
Near Campgrounds: One of my very favorite Big Sur Campgrounds, Plaskett Creek Campground, is just on the other side of the highway within easy walking distance from Sand Dollar Beach Picnic Grounds. Only a couple of miles to the south and offering very unique camping is Treebones Big Sur Yurt Resort. The closest other campground is to the north 6 miles Kirk Creek Campground; the next closest one to the north would be Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park which is 24 miles north.
Other Facilities, Services or Activities: On the coast in this area the traveler services and tourist facilities are sparse and spread out and this won't change for the next 30 miles.

• There is a per vehicle entrance fee for Sand Dollar Beach Day Use Picnic Area: Website: www.campone.com/...
• The best white sand beach and picnic spot for the southern Big Sur California coast.
• Distance from San Simeon CA: 30 miles; Mileage to Carmel: 59 miles
• Scenic Big Sur Pacific Coast Highway 1 Mile Marker: MON 13.8
• Latitude & Longitude: Lat N 35° 55.254 Lon W 121° 28.0

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