San Simeon

Travel Guide

Photo provided by WineCoastCountry.com
Ragged Point featuring rugged coastline, landscape views and a bay or harbour
San Simeon Pier as well as children
San Simeon showing marine life
Photo provided by WineCoastCountry.com

As the half-way stop between LA and San Francisco, this Big Sur beach destination is the perfect place to take a break and recharge.

San Simeon, along California’s rugged Big Sur coastal stretch, is a beach destination with a difference. While you can certainly swim or surf in its sheltered cove or fish from its pier, most people drop by to see its preserved “castle” and meet its fascinating elephant seals.

San Simeon, in San Luis Obispo County, sits between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Both cities are about 230 miles (370 kilometers) away along Highway One.

Once part of a hugeranchorun by Mexican owners, the land was bought by the rich miner George Hearst in 1865. He soon expanded his ranch and built a wharf with a warehouse on the coast.

Visit the family’s impressive estate, Hearst Castle, on former “Camp Hill.” When his home was finished, Hearst renamed it “the Enchanted Hill” and with its mansions and views it isn’t hard to see why. Take a tour of the century-old complex and admire the Roman and Neptune pools in the gardens. Don’t miss the impressive Gothic Study in the Casa Grande, the main mansion.

Afterwards, throw a line in from the 850-foot (260-meter) San Simeon Pier or take a dip in the Pacific Ocean. The waters of Simeon Cove lend themselves to kayaking and surfing. Body boards can be rented locally, too. The day-use area of the William Randolph Hearst Memorial State Beach has picnic tables and barbecues, so bring your own supplies for a seaside lunch. Afterwards, stretch your legs by roaming the beach or by following the nearby trail up to the pine trees for lofty ocean views.

Just to the north of the park is the also free-to-access Piedras Blancas Rookery where there are northern elephant seals. Watch these odd-looking creatures doze, scratch, play and swim. While in the area, also tour the 19th-century Piedras Blancas Light Station.

Hotels line the highway on either side in San Simeon. In Cambria, just to the south, you can find many more accommodations as well as restaurants, shops and family attractions. This area may not have five-star hotels and services, but it’s a charming, laid-back region to visit, with some of the best beaches of the Big Sur.

Cavalier Oceanfront Resort

Cavalier Oceanfront Resort

3.5 out of 5
9415 Hearst Drive, San Simeon, CA
The price is €156 per night from 1 Sept to 2 Sept
€156
1 Sept - 2 Sept
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this beach hotel in San Simeon. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and 2 outdoor pools. Our guests praise the restaurant and the helpful staff in ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,654 reviews)
"We love this place for its rustic charm and location. Nothing fancy about it but it’s comfortable with extra touches such as fireplaces and beautiful grounds. Rooms a bit dated and could use a bit of an overhaul…but it works for us. Stayed here several times and the staff are great!!"

Reviewed on 30 Jul 2025

Cavalier Oceanfront Resort
The Morgan Hotel San Simeon

The Morgan Hotel San Simeon

3.5 out of 5
9135 Hearst Drive, San Simeon, CA
The price is €117 per night from 1 Sept to 2 Sept
€117
1 Sept - 2 Sept
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3.5-star hotel in San Simeon. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,211 reviews)
"Cute place but the rooms could use some upgrades. Didn't use the pool. There should be a key reader for those that park in the back of the building to be able to walk through the pool to get inside the hotel."

Reviewed on 1 Aug 2025

The Morgan Hotel San Simeon
Silver Surf Motel

Silver Surf Motel

2 out of 5
9390 Castillo Dr, San Simeon, CA
The price is €60 per night from 1 Sept to 2 Sept
€60
1 Sept - 2 Sept
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly motel in San Simeon. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a rooftop terrace. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,144 reviews)
"Great on Highway 1."

Reviewed on 31 Jul 2025

Silver Surf Motel
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Oceanfront Unicorn Cottage - No Comparable Property Around

Oceanfront Unicorn Cottage - No Comparable Property Around

San Simeon
Stay at this cottage in San Simeon. Popular attractions Moonstone Beach Park and Hearst Castle are located nearby.
10/10 Exceptional! (6 reviews)
Cozy and quiet at the beach
"Cottage exactly as pictured and described. The check-in process was seamless - never needed to contact the host. The cottage is small and very cute with 2 bedrooms. The kitchen, though small, had everything we needed for our purposes.We really liked that the dining/living room looked directly to ..."

Reviewed on 10 Jul 2025

Oceanfront Unicorn Cottage - No Comparable Property Around
One of a kind property- An Acre on the Ocean & Classic Beach Cottage

One of a kind property- An Acre on the Ocean & Classic Beach Cottage

San Simeon
Stay at this cottage in San Simeon. Enjoy free WiFi, a garden, and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Moonstone Beach Park and Hearst Castle are located ...
10/10 Exceptional! (9 reviews)
"Small but clean and comfortable all that we needed for our stay. Love the access to the beach"

Reviewed on 28 Jul 2025

One of a kind property- An Acre on the Ocean & Classic Beach Cottage
Amazing Views! SOUTH COAST Big Sur; located SOUTH of HWY 1 Closure

Amazing Views! SOUTH COAST Big Sur; located SOUTH of HWY 1 Closure

Big Sur
Book a stay at this family-friendly vacation home in Big Sur. Enjoy free WiFi, a garden, and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Jade Cove and Sand Dollar ...
10/10 Exceptional! (233 reviews)
"Absolutely perfect, as always! We’ll be back!"

Reviewed on 20 Jul 2025

Amazing Views! SOUTH COAST Big Sur; located SOUTH of HWY 1 Closure
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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