5 Closest Airport to Big Sur, CA [+ How to Get there]

Are you looking for the closest airport to Big Sur, CA? Then you’ve come to the right place.

If you want to visit this beautiful California destination but don’t know which airport to fly to, then this post is for you.

Depending on your travel conditions, the closest airport to Big Sur might not be the cheapest or most convenient option.

So, to save you time and prevent any confusion, we’ve created this in-depth guide on the closest airports to Big Sur to help you choose the best option for you.

5 Closest Airports to Big Sur

The closest airport to Big Sur is Monterey Regional Airport (MRY), which is only a 40-minute drive away. However, it’s not the most budget-friendly option.

There are five airports that are close to Big Sur that you can fly into, and the most convenient option depends on where you’re flying from, your travel time, and your budget.

Depending on where you’re flying from, San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC) is the best airport for Big Sur as the flights are not too expensive, and it’s the second closest to Big Sur. 

If you’re flying internationally, San Francisco International Airport (SFO) might be the better option.

Oakland International Airport (OAK) is just as close as SFO, but make sure to avoid the rush hour traffic. 

San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP) is another option if you want the most scenic drive to Big Sur.

Airports near Big Sur, California

Airport	Distance to Big Sur	Drive Time to Big Sur
Monterey Regional Airport (MRY)	31 miles	40 minutes
San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC)	102 miles	2 hours
San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP)	110 miles	2:30 hours
Oakland International Airport (OAK)	133 miles	2:30 hours
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)	134 miles	2:30 hours

✈️ For the best flight deals, use Skyscanner to browse various airlines and prices. And if your travel plans are flexible, use the “whole month” view to get even better deals.

1. Monterey Regional Airport (MRY)

• Distance to Big Sur: 31 miles
• Drive Time to Big Sur: 40 minutes
• Ground Transportation: Taxi, Uber/Lyft, Monterey Salinas Transit

Located just 31 miles away from Big Sur, the Monterey Regional Airport is the nearest airport to Big Sur, with only a 40-minute drive time. 

Because it’s a small regional airport, there are limited direct flights, and flights are more expensive than other airports in the Bay Area.

Even though this is the closest airport, it’s not the most budget-friendly, but it’s the best choice for those who are strapped for time. 

The second closest airport is about two hours away from Big Sur, so make sure to consider that if you’re in a rush.

The drive to Big Sur from Monterey is a very scenic one. There are a lot of turnouts with amazing views and access to the beaches along the way. 

Getting to Big Sur from Monterey Airport

Driving to Big Sur is the best way from Monterey Airport as there are no public transportation available.

It gives you the most flexibility with your time and travel plans.

Rental car companies are located on the first floor of the terminal building next to the baggage claim.

Find out how old you need to be to rent a car in California.

🚘 Rental Cars: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, and National. 👉 For the best rates, check Rentalcars.com

Direct Flights to Monterey Regional Airport (MRY)

Airlines	Destinations
Alaska Airlines	San Diego, Seattle
Allegiant Air	Las Vegas
American Airlines	Dallas, Phoenix
United Airlines	Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco
JSX	Burbank, Orange County

2. San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC)

• Distance to Big Sur: 102 miles
• Drive Time to Big Sur: 2 hours
• Airlines: Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways, Delta, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, Volaris, Zipair  

San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC) is the closest international airport to Big Sur and the best one to fly into. 

The flights here are less expensive than flying into Monterey Airport, and it’s also only a two-hour drive away. 

Depending on where you’re flying from, Southwest Airlines have some good deals here, so this airport is a good option for those who have a limited budget. 

Even though this is a smaller airport compared to SFO, there are over 42 nonstop destinations, 34 of those are domestic, serviced by 11 airlines.

Keep the rush hour traffic in mind, as it can get quite hectic. Rush hour is usually around 7:00 to 9:00 in the morning and 4:00 to 6:00 in the evening, so try to avoid flying into SJC during those hours.

Getting to Big Sur from San Jose Airport

The best way to get from San Jose airport to Big Sur is by renting a car.

The rental car center is located directly across from Terminal B. Passengers at Terminal A can take any airport blue shuttle bus to the Rental Car Center.

🚘 Rental Cars: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Fox, Hertz, National, Payless, Sixt, and Thrifty. 👉 For the best rates, check Rentalcars.com

3. San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

• Distance to Big Sur: 134 miles
• Drive Time to Big Sur: 2:30 hours

If you’re flying internationally, San Francisco International Airport is probably the most convenient major airport close to Big Sur on this list. 

There are 45+ airlines flying through here to more than 120 destinations worldwide and over 75 nonstop destinations within the US, so this is the best option for international travelers.

The fares here are also cheaper compared to the other airports on this list so you’ll be saving a lot if this is where you’ll fly into. 

However, make sure to avoid driving from here during rush hour as this is the biggest and busiest airport in the Bay Area.

SFO is also prone to weather delays compared to other nearby airports because of how close it is to the bay.

Getting to Big Sur from SFO Airport 

The best way to travel from San Francisco Airport to Big Sur is by renting a car.

Compared to SJC, rental cars at SFO airport are slightly cheaper than the rental car companies in San Jose Airport, but the drive time to Big Sur from SFO is about a half hour longer. You can check the rates here.

Take the AirTrain Blue Line from the airport terminals, which will take you directly to the rental car center.

A free shuttle service from the rental car center is available upon customer request for the off-airport rental car agencies.

🚘 Rental Cars: On-Airport: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Sixt, Hertz, National, Thrifty; Off-Airport: Airport Van Rental, NU, Payless, Fox. 👉 For the best rates, check Rentalcars.com.

4. Oakland International Airport (OAK)

• Distance to Big Sur: 133 miles
• Drive Time to Big Sur: 2:30 hours
• Airlines: Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, Azores Airlines, Contour Airlines, Delta, Frontier, Hawaiian Airlines, JSX, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Volaris

Oakland International Airport (OAK) is another major airport close to Big Sur, CA and the distance and driving time are similar to SFO. 

It’s smaller than SFO, and there are limited international flights, so it’s better to stick to SFO if you’re flying internationally. 

Currently, eleven airlines fly through Oakland International Airport, with 41 nonstop destinations within the US. 

Just like at SFO, depending on where they’re flying from, Southwest Airlines also has some good deals here from time to time. 

Do keep in mind that rush hour traffic here may be worse than in SFO, so it might not be ideal to fly here to get to Big Sur if you’re short on time. 

Getting to Big Sur from Oakland Airport

Renting a car is the best way to get to Big Sur from Oakland airport, and it has the cheapest rental car options compared to SJC and SFO.

You can take the rental car shuttle buses that operate between terminals and the rental car center every ten minutes or less, 24 hours a day.

🚘 Rental Cars: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Fox, Hertz, National, Payless, and Thrifty. 👉 For the best rates, check Rentalcars.com.

5. San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP)

• Distance to Big Sur: 110 miles
• Drive Time to Big Sur: 2:30 hours

The San Luis Obispo County Regional (SBP) is a small airport near Big Sur, CA.

Only three airlines fly through SBP with eight direct flights, so prices are not the most budget-friendly.

A quick check on United and Alaska Airlines ranges anywhere from $130 to $230 for a one-way flight. 

However, one of the advantages of flying to this airport is that is it rarely crowded, so you’ll be able to get in and out in no time.

You will also avoid the Bay Area traffic if you choose this airport for Big Sur, CA. 

The best thing about SBP is that the drive to Big Sur on Highway 1 is incredibly scenic, and you’ll be passing by multiple towns worth stopping at which we’ll mention below. 

If you’re not on a budget and want a scenic drive to Big Sur, this is a great airport to fly into.

Getting to Big Sur from San Luis Obispo Airport

Like most airports close to Big Sur, CA, renting a car is your best option.

Even with only a handful of rental car companies, you can still get reasonable rates that are comparable to other airports on this list.

It is important to mention that the 2.5-hour drive from this airport to Big Sur can get pretty windy.

So if you get bad motion sickness, either take Dramamine or fly to a different airport.

🚘 Rental Cars: Avis, Budget, Enterprise, and Hertz. 👉 For the best rates, check Rentalcars.com.

Direct Flights to SLO County Regional Airport

Airlines	Destinations
Alaska Airlines	Seattle, San Diego, Portland
American Airlines	Phoenix, Dallas / Fort Worth
United Airlines	Denver, San Francisco, Los Angeles

Driving to Big Sur from the Airport

Driving from San Jose Airport, San Francisco, Oakland Airport

The drive time from San Jose Airport, San Francisco Airport, and Oakland Airport would all take less than three hours, with San Jose in the South Bay being the fastest. 

You can drive along the coast and explore several beaches along the way for a fun road trip.

Some notable stops along the way that you can choose from include the Monterey Peninsula, such as Carmel-by-the-Sea, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, Garrapata State Beach, Rocky Point, or Notley’s Landing Vista Point. 

• Monterey

Located on the Central Coast of California, Monterey is a must-stop on your way to Big Sur. There are a lot of great restaurants, boutique coffee shops, local craft breweries, and boutique shops that you can check out as well as the Monterey Bay Aquarium if you have the time.

• Carmel-by-the-sea

After visiting Monterey, make sure to take the 17-Mile Drive, for jaw-dropping ocean views with rocky coastlines. Carmel Valley is also home to some amazing wineries and cute coffee shops that are worth checking out. Don’t miss this charming coastal town on your road trip to Big Sur.

• Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

If you love exploring national parks, you can drop by Point Lobos State Natural Reserve for a couple of hours before going to Big Sur. Because of its amazing and stunning views and scenery, it’s a beautiful park to visit all year long.

• Garrapata State Beach

This beach has a two-mile beachfront and a 50-foot climb to a stunning view of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Besides the well-known popular Soberanes Canyon Trail, this state beach also has coastal hiking trails running from the beaches into amazing redwood groves.

• Rocky Point or Notley’s Landing Vista Point

If you want to see spectacular wide-angle views of Big Sur’s mid-coast, you can stop by either Rocky Point or Notley’s Landing Vista Point. If you can only visit one, we recommend Rocky Point, as it has a parking lot and a restaurant with an outdoor patio.

Driving from SLO County Regional Airport

SLO County Regional Airport is 110 miles away from Big Sur, and the drive would take 2.5 hours. 

You’ll be driving down Highway 1, also known as the Pacific Coast Highway, and it’s one of the most scenic drives on the California Coast. 

You can choose between four stops, Morro Bay, Cayucos, Cambria, and San Simeon, on your way there.

• Morro Bay
  There are a lot of places that you can explore in this charming fishing community. Morro Rock is the most popular stop, which is just off the freeway. The Morro Bay T Pier offers great views of the bay, and if you’re lucky, you can even go see some baby otters! There are also several restaurants with great views of the bay if you want to stop for a meal.

• Cayucos
  With its historic pier and several antique stores, history buffs would love the Old Western charm that Cayucos exudes. The Cayucos State Beach is a great surfing and picnic stop, and the Toro Creek Dog Beach is the perfect place to let your dogs run free.

• Cambria
  This small coastal town is another great stop on your way to Big Sur. You can check out Moonstone Beach and stroll on the boardwalk or even go tidepooling if it’s low tide. There are also plenty of boutique shops and cute cafes to check out along Main street to keep you entertained.

• San Simeon
  San Simeon is another quick stop along Hwy 1 on your way to Big Sur. You can check out the Piedras Blancas Light Station for great coastal views, or even better, stop by the Elephant Seal Viewing Point and see thousands of elephant seals for free, all year round.

When is the best time of the year to visit Big Sur?

Traveling along the California coast will subject you to some weird weather patterns. 

Summers tend to be overcast and socked in with fog, making most of the coastline difficult to drive as the road may become impossible to see. 

Late Summer to early Fall, on the other hand, has much more consistently warm and sunny weather, as well as clear skies and uninterrupted coastal views.

FAQs

How do you fly to Big Sur?

San Jose International Airport is the best airport to fly to Big Sur.

Compared to Monterey Regional Airport, it has cheaper and more direct flights within the US. 

It’s only a two-hour drive away compared to SFO, OAK, and SBP. But if you’re flying internationally, we recommend flying into SFO instead.

Does Big Sur have an airport?

Big Sur does not have an airport, but there are five airports close to it that you can choose from. 

The quickest but not necessarily the most budget-friendly is Monterey Regional Airport. 

There are also two major airports near Big Sur, SFO and OAK, close by.

The most convenient airport would be San Jose International, while San Luis Obispo Airport (SBP) has the most scenic drive to Big Sur. 

What is the closest city to Big Sur?

On the north side, Carmel is the closest city to Big Sur, and it’s only 25.6 miles away. The drive from Carmel to Big Sur would take around 40 minutes, depending on the traffic. 

Monterey Airport is a close second and it’s around 29 miles away. On the south side, the closest city is San Simeon, which is 65 miles away. 

What is the closest major airport to Big Sur?

The closest major airport to Big Sur is Oakland International (OAK) but San Francisco International (SFO) is a very close second. 

If you’re flying internationally, the best one to fly into is SFO as OAK has limited international flights. 

Both airports have cheap and competitive airfare and deals, but the drive from San Jose is a half-hour shorter. 

How do you get to Big Sur without a car?

Unfortunately, there are no buses that go to Big Sur, so you would definitely need a car. There used to be a bus service through the Monterey-Salinas Transit (Bus 22), but that has been suspended.

✈️ For the best flight deals, use Skyscanner to browse various airlines and prices. And if your travel plans are flexible, use the “whole month” view to get even better deals.

Wrap-Up: Nearest Airport to Big Sur 

Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) is the closest airport to Big Sur, California.

Now that you know the closest airports to Big Sur, it’s time to start planning your dream vacation. 

From budget-friendly airports to time-saving ones, there’s definitely an option here that’s perfect for you.

Make sure to keep this guide close so you can have a fun and stress-free travel to Big Sur’s beautiful and majestic coastline.

Related:

• Best airports for Yosemite National Park
• Best airports for Lake Tahoe
• Best airports for Napa Valley