Thanksgiving road trip
San Jose to San Simeon for Thanksgiving
- Distance
- 170 mi
- Driving
- 4 hrs + traffic
- Halfway
- Big Sur
The next Thanksgiving lands on Thursday, November 26, 2026. On CA-17 and CA-1, the heaviest traffic usually hits the Tuesday and Wednesday before and the Sunday after. Drive Thanksgiving morning itself; roads are often the quietest of the week.
Plan this drive in XCRSNBook the halfway night early
Big Sur sits about 97 miles from San Jose and 73 miles from San Simeon. Holiday weekends sell out the rooms near the highway first.
Total trip cost
Gas uses today's regional averages along this route. Add the nightly rate you find to see the full total.
- Gas, about 170 miles
- Checking prices
- Lodging, 1 night
- Add a rate
- Estimated total
- -
Along the way
- Sea otters at Elkhorn Slough
- Piedras Blancas elephant seal rookery
- Whale watching from Monterey
Full drive guide for this route
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