Monterey: 17-Mile Drive Electric Bike Tour & Lone Cypress

Ride the 17-Mile Drive without pedaling uphill: electric bikes make the whole coast accessible

You ride 16 miles along Monterey's most scenic coastal road on an electric bike, stopping at the Lone Cypress, Point Pinos Lighthouse, Asilomar Beach, and several wildlife lookouts where you'll spot sea otters and seals. The motor handles the hills, your guide handles the stories, and you handle the camera. Three hours, all fitness levels, includes the bike, helmet, water, and a guide who knows the place.

Step-by-step itinerary

Electric bike tour of 17-Mile Drive

• Start at Big Sur Adventures shop
• Watch surfers and take photos
• Ride oceanfront from Pacific Grove gate to Bird Rock
• Ride 8-mile scenic 17-Mile Drive section
• Stop at Lone Cypress for photos
• Ride past golf course and hear history
• Visit white sand beach and learn history
• Snap photo and look for sea otters
• Stop and enjoy coastal views
• See old Chinese fishing village site
• Restroom break and watch sea lions
• Look for sea otters at lookout
• View Cypress Point Country Club
• Ride under Monterey Cypress tree canopy
• Stop at Pebble Beach Lodge shops
• Relax with coffee and snacks at Carmel Bay
• Visit Point Lobos and Carmel Bay viewpoint
• Walk out to Ghost Trees point

The experience

You're going to spend three hours on the most photographed stretch of California coastline, and you won't arrive exhausted. The 17-Mile Drive between Monterey and Carmel is the kind of place that looks better from a bike than from a car. You move slow enough to notice the sea otters, the deer on the fairways, the way the light hits the rocks. An electric bike means you can coast through the ocean-front sections, stop whenever something catches your eye, and still cover 16 miles without your legs deciding they're done halfway through.

The tour starts at Asilomar State Beach, just up from the shop, and follows protected bike lanes or low-speed roads for most of the route. Your guide, and they really do know this place. One holds a master's degree in biology. Stops at the Lone Cypress (the 250-year-old tree that's probably been photographed more than any other tree on earth), Point Pinos Lighthouse on the Pacific Grove side, Cypress Point Lookout if conditions allow, and a handful of smaller overlooks where you'll actually see what you came for: harbor seals, sea lions hauled out on rocks, maybe a sea otter in the kelp. There's a restroom break at Bird Rock, and if the group moves at a decent pace, you'll end up at a café in Carmel with a view of the bay and time to sit down.

The bikes come in over 50 models, which means they fit people from 4'10" to well over six feet, and the motor does the work on the climbs. Kids as young as 12 can ride solo. Younger ones ride tandem on a cargo e-bike with a parent. You get a helmet, gloves, water, and a guide who actually knows the history, not just the wildlife, but the old Chinese fishing village that used to be here, the golf courses, the Spanish explorers. The whole thing is weather-dependent. If it rains, you reschedule or get your money back.

What’s included

• Your day includes an electric bike fitted to your size, helmet, gloves, and bottled water.
• A top-rated guide leads the group through the scenic sections of the 17-Mile Drive, stopping at the Lone Cypress, Point Pinos Lighthouse, Asilomar Beach, Cypress Point Lookout, and several wildlife viewing areas.
• The tour covers approximately 16 miles in 3 hours on protected bike lanes and low-speed roads, with a restroom break included.
• Groups are kept to a maximum of 25 people.

Options for this experience

7 options

Full moon ride at 8:00pmGuide in English · Available from 28 Oct 2027With headlights: Watching the full moon rise over the ocean shows the coast in a magical light! Starting point: Big Sur Adventures, 17 Mile Drive, 2106 Sunset Dr, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA

2:30pm, IntermediateGuide in English · 14:30Intermediate route: This route includes sections on a narrow, winding road shared with cars (25 mph speed limit) and passes the Lone Cypress. Starting point: Big Sur Adventures, 17 Mile Drive, 2106 Sunset Dr, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA

10:00am, IntermediateGuide in English · 10:00Intermediate route: This route includes sections on a narrow, winding road shared with cars (25 mph speed limit) and passes the Lone Cypress. Starting point: Big Sur Adventures, 17 Mile Drive, 2106 Sunset Dr, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA

See 4 more options

2:00pm, IntermediateGuide in English · 14:00Intermediate route: This route includes sections on a narrow, winding road shared with cars (25 mph speed limit) and passes the Lone Cypress. Starting point: Big Sur Adventures, 17 Mile Drive, 2106 Sunset Dr, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA

10:00am, Family-FriendlyGuide in English · 10:00Beginner's route: This route avoids stretches of 17-Mile Drive that have no bike lanes and spends extra time on other coastal areas instead (it skips the Lone Cypress). Starting point: Big Sur Adventures, Ocean View Blvd near Aquarium, 125 Ocean View Blvd #122, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA

2:00pm, Family-FriendlyGuide in English · 14:00Beginner's route: This route avoids stretches of 17-Mile Drive that have no bike lanes and spends extra time on other coastal areas instead (it skips the Lone Cypress). Starting point: Big Sur Adventures, Ocean View Blvd near Aquarium, 125 Ocean View Blvd #122, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA

2:30pm, Family-FriendlyGuide in English · 14:30Beginner's route: This route avoids stretches of 17-Mile Drive that have no bike lanes and spends extra time on other coastal areas instead (it skips the Lone Cypress). Starting point: Big Sur Adventures, Ocean View Blvd near Aquarium, 125 Ocean View Blvd #122, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00, 14:00 and 14:30

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (18 to 90 years) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (2 to 11 years)

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcome

Operated by Big Sur Adventures

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see the entire 17-Mile Drive without driving it, and without the strain of a regular bike on the hills: the electric motor and a knowledgeable guide turn three hours into a real tour instead of a workout.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (2 to 11 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Do I have to be fit to ride this tour?

No. The electric motor does the climbing, and the pace is set by the slowest rider. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels.

How long is the tour?

Approximately 3 hours, covering 16 miles round-trip on the 17-Mile Drive.

What's included?

E-bike, helmet, gloves, bottled water, and a guide. You'll need to bring photo ID and sign a waiver.

Is this tour suitable for beginners?

Yes. There are beginner-friendly routes available, and the electric motor assists on all climbs. Guides adjust the pace to the group.

Will I see wildlife?

Yes. The route passes sea lion colonies, harbor seal haul-outs, and lookouts where sea otters are often spotted. Your guide will help you identify what you see.

What should I wear?

Dress in layers. It can be chilly along the ocean, and conditions change quickly. Comfortable shoes and sunscreen are recommended.