Memorial Day Weekend  ·  May 23–25, 2026
3 day trips  ·  one home base
Memorial Day · May 23 – 25, 2026
🌴

California Long Weekend

Big Sur → Redwoods → San Francisco. Three day trips from Santa Clara, one home base every night.

No packing and unpacking — sleep in your own bed, wake up early, chase coastal California for three days straight.

🌊 Big Sur 🌲 Redwoods & Seals 🌉 SF & Sausalito
3
Day Trips
4
People
1
Car
~$900
Est. Total
At a Glance
Day 1 · Sat May 23 · Big Sur
Monterey, 17-Mile Drive, Carmel, Point Lobos, Garrapata, Bixby, McWay Falls.
Leave 8am · Return ~7:30pm · ~280 mi round trip
Day 2 · Sun May 24 · Redwoods
Henry Cowell ancient redwoods, Año Nuevo elephant seals, Santa Cruz lunch.
Leave 7:30am · Return ~5pm · ~180 mi round trip
Day 3 · Mon May 25 (Memorial Day) · San Francisco
Tartine, Dolores Park, Painted Ladies, Sutro Baths, Golden Gate, Sausalito, Ferry Building, Ghirardelli.
Leave 7am · Return by 6pm · ~120 mi round trip
Memorial Day Traffic Guide

It's one of the busiest weekends of the year — timing each day matters.

Day 1 · Saturday
101 South at 8am — clear. Heading south early is your biggest advantage. Biggest risk: northbound 101 after 5pm. Leave McWay Falls by 5:30pm or you'll sit in holiday return traffic.
Day 2 · Sunday · Worst day for Hwy 17
Hwy 17 to Santa Cruz backs up by 9am on summer Sundays. Leave Santa Clara by 7:30am to get ahead. Head home by 4pm to avoid the Sunday evening crawl.
Day 3 · Monday (Memorial Day)
Morning into SF is surprisingly okay. Golden Gate Bridge parking is nearly impossible — use Presidio lots. Critical: leave SF by 3:30pm — every minute after 4pm adds 20 min to your drive home.
Key Reminders
📌Book Mission Ranch Carmel for Day 1 lunch — fills fast on holiday weekends
📌Point Lobos parking fills by noon on Saturdays — arrive before 1pm
📌Yosemite-style timed entry NOT required for Big Sur or Point Lobos in May 2026
📌Day 3 (Memorial Day): leave SF by 3:30pm sharp to beat return traffic
📌Bring layers — coastal temps run 15°F cooler than Santa Clara
📌Download Google Maps offline for Big Sur — cell service is spotty on Hwy 1
Sat May 23
Day 1
Big Sur
Sun May 24
Day 2
Redwoods
Mon May 25
Day 3
San Francisco

Big Sur Coast

Santa Clara → Monterey → 17-Mile Drive → Carmel → Point Lobos → Garrapata → Bixby Bridge → McWay Falls → home
🕒 Leave 8am 🏠 Return ~7:30pm ~280 mi
8:00 AM
Depart
Leave Santa Clara
Hwy 101 S
Breakfast at home, hit the road by 8am sharp. Take Hwy 101 South to Salinas, then Hwy 68 W to Monterey. ~1 hr 45 min with no stops.
9:45 AM
Stop
Cannery Row — Monterey Waterfront Walk
Cannery Row, Monterey
Stretch your legs with a 30-min walk along the waterfront. Scenic, historic, and much more local than SF's wharf. Watch the sea otters floating in the kelp just offshore — no aquarium needed.
FreeWildlife
🅿️ Park along Cannery Row (metered street) or Cannery Row Garage at 75 Prescott Ave.
10:30 AM
Iconic
17-Mile Drive — Pebble Beach
Pacific Grove Gate → Carmel Gate
Enter at the Pacific Grove Gate and drive south. 20+ named stops — Lone Cypress (most photographed tree in North America), Bird Rock covered in pelicans and seals, Pebble Beach Golf Course, dramatic rocky coves. Exit at the Carmel Gate to drop straight into the village. Allow 1.5 hrs.
12:00 PM
Lunch
Mission Ranch — Carmel-by-the-Sea
26270 Dolores St, Carmel
Historic meadow-view property owned by Clint Eastwood. Stunning setting with views to the ocean. Book in advance! Alternatively walk Ocean Ave for casual spots. Free parking on site.
Book ahead
1:30 PM
Nature
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
2 miles south of Carmel on Hwy 1
Sea otters in kelp forests, harbor seals on the rocks, turquoise coves. One of the most biodiverse marine areas on the planet. Walk Sea Lion Point or Cypress Grove Trail — both under 1 mile, both jaw-dropping.
⚠️ ParkingLot fills by noon on holiday Saturdays. If full, roadside parking is allowed on the Hwy 1 shoulder just outside.
3:00 PM
Hidden gem
Garrapata Trail, Beach & Calla Lily Valley
Hwy 1, ~7 mi south of Point Lobos (Gates 18 & 19)
Free and spectacular. Late May means wildflowers on the coastal bluffs and Calla Lilies blooming in the hidden canyon. One of the most dramatic cliff-edge trails on the entire California coast. The beach below is wild and pristine.
Free entryWildflowers
📍 No signage — look for shoulder pull-outs. GPS: 36.4585° N, 121.9275° W.
4:15 PM
Photo stop
Bixby Creek Bridge
Hwy 1, ~8 mi south of Garrapata
The most photographed bridge in California. Quick 5–10 min stop — you'll take 50 photos. Pull-out on the right (north side) just before crossing the bridge heading south. Don't stop ON the bridge.
Free
4:45 PM
Crown jewel
McWay Falls — Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
Hwy 1, ~12 mi south of Bixby Bridge
An 80-ft waterfall dropping directly onto a turquoise beach cove you can't reach — making it somehow more magical. The overlook trail is only 0.7 miles round trip. Utterly surreal.
⚠️ Leave by 5:30pmAllow 45 min here then head back north. Drive: Hwy 1 N → Hwy 68 E → Hwy 101 N to Santa Clara. ~2 hrs home.

Redwoods & Elephant Seals

Santa Clara → Henry Cowell Redwoods → Año Nuevo → Santa Cruz → home
🕒 Leave 7:30am 🏠 Return ~5pm ~180 mi
7:30 AM
Depart
Leave Santa Clara — Beat Hwy 17
Hwy 17 S over the mountains
Hwy 17 to Santa Cruz starts backing up by 9am on summer Sundays — getting ahead saves 45+ min. Hwy 17 S → Hwy 9 N to Felton. ~50 min total.
8:45 AM
Nature
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
101 N. Big Trees Park Rd, Felton
Ancient coastal redwoods — some over 1,500 years old and 285 feet tall. The Redwood Grove Loop is only 0.8 miles but feels like walking into a cathedral. Completely flat, all ages, deeply peaceful. One of the best things you'll do all weekend.
Ancient trees
⚠️ Arrive before 9amLot fills by 10am on holiday weekends. Allow 1–1.5 hrs here.
10:30 AM
Wildlife
Año Nuevo State Park — Elephant Seals
Hwy 1, ~27 mi north of Santa Cruz
Massive elephant seals — bulls weigh up to 2 tons — lolling on the beach. Late May means juveniles and young adults are on shore. A 3-mile round trip walk to the colony along the bluffs. One of the most unusual wildlife experiences in California.
✅ In May, self-guided walks are fine — no guided tour reservation needed (required Jan–Mar only).
1:00 PM
Lunch
Santa Cruz — Pacific Ave
Downtown Santa Cruz
Head back south to Santa Cruz for lunch. Pacific Ave has great casual spots — fish tacos, burgers, beach food. Walk down to the wharf if you like, or just soak up the beach-town energy before heading home.
4:00 PM
Head home
Back to Santa Clara
Hwy 17 N
Leave Santa Cruz by 4pm. Hwy 17 North fills up fast on Sunday evenings — every 30 min you wait after 4pm adds 20 min to your drive. ~50 min if you leave by 4pm; could be 1.5 hrs if you leave at 5:30pm.

San Francisco Memorial Day

Santa Clara → Mission → Alamo Sq → Sutro Baths → Golden Gate → Sausalito → Ferry Building → Ghirardelli → (Chinatown opt) → home
🕒 Leave 7am 🏠 Return by 6pm ~120 mi
8:00 AM
Breakfast
Tartine Bakery — The Mission
600 Guerrero St, San Francisco
One of the most famous bakeries in America. The morning bun — orange zest, cinnamon, flaky pastry — is legendary. First neighborhood you enter coming from the south on I-280, so zero detour. Arrive right at 8am to beat the line.
🅿️ Street parking on Guerrero is free before 9am on most blocks.
8:45 AM
Walk
Mission Dolores Park
2-min walk south on Guerrero
Eat your pastries on the hilltop with the downtown skyline spread in front of you. On a clear May morning this is one of the best views in the city. Enter at the 20th St entrance for the best hilltop view.
Free
9:20 AM
Photo stop
The Painted Ladies — Alamo Square
Steiner St & Hayes St
The iconic Victorian row houses from the Full House opening credits, with the downtown skyline behind them. Take the photo from the top of Alamo Square Park hill — NOT from the street in front. Way better angle. 15-min stop.
Free
10:00 AM
Dramatic views
Sutro Baths & Lands End
Lands End Lookout lot, Richmond District
Victorian-era ruins of a massive public swimming complex — now meeting the open Pacific. Walk down into the ruins, explore the sea caves, watch the waves crash through the rock arches. One of SF's most dramatic and underrated spots.
Free · 24hrs
11:15 AM
Unmissable
Golden Gate Bridge
Presidio side — Lincoln Blvd lots
Walk across (1.7 miles each way) or walk to the south tower overlook. Drive the approach through the Presidio from Sutro Baths for the best coastal angle. Every view is photo-worthy.
Free on foot
⚠️ Memorial Day parkingThe SE lot has only 26 spaces and will be full. Use Presidio lots on Lincoln Blvd (free) and walk ~10 min, or drop passengers at the bridge and have the driver park and walk back.
12:30 PM
Lunch
Barrel House Tavern — Sausalito
660 Bridgeway, Sausalito
Cross the Golden Gate into Marin County. Lunch on the Sausalito waterfront with sweeping bay views — sea lions, sailboats, SF skyline across the water. Shrimp risotto and steak sandwich are standouts. Sit outside on the deck.
2:15 PM
Browse
Ferry Building Marketplace
1 Ferry Building, Embarcadero
Cross back over the bridge and swing east to the waterfront. Artisan cheese, local oysters, Dandelion Chocolate, Blue Bottle Coffee. Browse the stalls and grab snacks for the drive home. Beautiful promenade along the bay.
Free to browse
🅿️ Embarcadero Center garage (paid, ~$4/hr)
3:00 PM
Treat
Ghirardelli — Hot Fudge Sundae
900 North Point St, Ghirardelli Square
A 15-min walk north along the waterfront from Ferry Building. End the entire weekend with a legendary hot fudge sundae looking out at the bay. You've fully earned it.
⚠️ Leave by 3:30pm — critical on Memorial DayEvery minute after 4pm on Memorial Day afternoon adds significant time to your drive home on 101. The sundae is worth it — just don't linger.
Optional
+1 hr
Cable Car to Chinatown
Board at Hyde & Beach next to Ghirardelli
If energy allows — board at Hyde & Beach St next to Ghirardelli. Hang off the outside on the hills. Drops you in Chinatown for a final wander, dim sum, and souvenir shopping. Adds ~1 hr — only if you can leave by 3:30pm total.
Skip if tight on time
Total weekend estimate
$620 – $1,020
4 people · 3 days · gas + park fees + meals
By Day
Day 1 · Big Sur
$260 – $440
Gas (~280 mi round trip) — ~$42
17-Mile Drive toll — $12 / car
Point Lobos — $15 / car
McWay Falls / Julia Pfeiffer Burns — $10 / car
Lunch Mission Ranch — $25–40pp
Snacks / extras — ~$20
Day 2 · Redwoods
$140 – $220
Gas (~180 mi round trip) — ~$27
Henry Cowell — $10 / car
Año Nuevo — $10 / car
Lunch Santa Cruz — $15–25pp
Snacks / extras — ~$15
Day 3 · San Francisco
$220 – $360
Gas (~120 mi round trip) — ~$18
Parking SF (Embarcadero garage) — ~$20
Tartine breakfast — $10–15pp
Lunch Sausalito — $25–40pp
Ghirardelli sundaes — $12–15pp
Cable car (optional) — $8pp
Before You Go

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📞
Book Mission Ranch, Carmel for Day 1 lunch
Fills fast on holiday weekends. Call (831) 624-6436.
📱
Download Google Maps offline for Big Sur
Cell service is spotty on Hwy 1 south of Carmel.
🧥
Pack layers for everyone
Coastal temps run 15°F cooler than Santa Clara, and windy.
👟
Comfortable walking shoes all 3 days
Lots of trail walking, especially Day 1.
🔋
Bring a portable power bank
Long days away from outlets.
💵
Bring cash for park gates
Some don't take cards (Point Lobos, Año Nuevo).
🍫
Pre-buy Ghirardelli sundaes (optional)
Skip the line on Memorial Day.
🌊
Check Hwy 1 / Big Sur road conditions
dot.ca.gov — landslides can close it.
⛽
Fill up gas in Santa Clara before each day
Big Sur has almost no gas stations.
🧴
Sunscreen even on cloudy days
Coastal UV is high even when it feels cool.
🅿️
Day 3: drop passengers, driver parks
Saves huge amounts of time at SF stops.
📸
Bixby Creek north overlook
Slow down on Hwy 1 heading south — easy to drive past.

🅿️ Parking Tips

  • Big Sur: shoulder parking is legal outside park lots when full
  • Garrapata: park on Hwy 1 shoulder — no official lot
  • SF Golden Gate: Presidio lots on Lincoln Blvd (free)
  • SF Ferry Building: Embarcadero Center garage ~$4/hr
  • Sausalito: Caledonia St garage or Bridgeway metered

📞 Key Numbers & Links

  • Hwy 1 conditions — dot.ca.gov
  • Point Lobos — (831) 624-4909
  • Mission Ranch Carmel — (831) 624-6436
  • Barrel House Tavern — (415) 729-9593
  • Año Nuevo — (650) 879-2025
  • Henry Cowell — (831) 335-4598

🌤️ Weather to Expect

Late May on the California coast:

Santa Clara: 75–85°F, sunny
Big Sur coast: 55–65°F, often foggy mornings clearing by noon
Santa Cruz: 60–70°F
San Francisco: 55–65°F, typically foggy morning, clear afternoon

Pack a fleece or light jacket for everyone. Wind is the surprise factor on the coast.

🍽️ Food Plan

  • Day 1: Lunch at Mission Ranch, Carmel (book ahead)
  • Day 2: Casual lunch on Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz
  • Day 3: Tartine breakfast + Barrel House lunch + Ghirardelli sundaes
  • All other meals at home in Santa Clara
  • Bring snacks and water for Day 1 — Big Sur has very limited food