As you prepare for your visit to Esalen, some additional planning and preparation will be necessary given current road closures in the Big Sur area.
Currently you cannot drive directly to Esalen from the north or south via Highway 1.
Depending on which alternate route you take, please allow for additional travel time. Please call our Guest Services Office at 888-837-2536 if you have questions regarding the following information.
Shuttle to Esalen
We currently offer shuttle service between the Monterey Regional Airport and Esalen on Fridays and Sundays only, with advance reservation required. Expect up to a three-hour drive from the airport to Esalen via Nacimiento-Fergusson Road. If you are arriving at airports either in San Jose or San Francisco, we recommend making a reservation with the Monterey Airbus for transportation to Monterey. Overnight parking is available at the Monterey Regional Airport for those who would prefer to ride in a shuttle rather than drive themselves to Esalen.
The closest airports to the Big Sur area are:
- Monterey Regional Airport (MRY)
- San Jose International Airport (SJC)
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Learn more about the shuttle service.
Driving to Esalen
If you choose to drive directly to Esalen, currently the only available route is via Nacimiento-Fergusson Road. This rural, mountain road connects Highway 101 to Highway 1 and is an approximate hour-long drive. At some points the roadway narrows to one lane and a half, so please drive with care. Get detailed directions for driving via Nacimiento-Fergusson Road.
Hiking to Esalen
It is not possible to drive from Monterey to Esalen via Highway 1 at this time due to the failure of the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge. The construction of the new bridge is expected to be completed by the end of September. Read more about traveling instructions to Esalen from the north via a temporary pedestrian trail.
Rideshare/Carpool
If you are interested in sharing a ride with someone from your area, we can add you to a ride share list. We will attempt to match you with other people who are scheduled to arrive at Esalen on the same day and from a similar location. To be added to the ride share list or to inquire about possible carpool matches, please contact Guest Services at 888-837-2536 or email info@esalen.org.
Current Road Conditions
For traffic updates and other Caltrans projects in Monterey County, call (800) 427-ROAD (7623) within California and (916) 445-7623 from outside of California, or visit the Caltrans District 5 website.
Our Location
Esalen Institute is located at:
55000 Highway 1
Big Sur, CA, 93920
888-837-2536
