San Simeon Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Photo provided by WineCoastCountry.com
Ragged Point which includes landscape views, rugged coastline and a bay or harbour
San Simeon Pier as well as children
San Simeon featuring 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 NZ$300 per night from 10 Aug to 11 Aug
NZ$300
10 Aug - 11 Aug
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! (1,617 reviews)
"I love this property and have been here many times. Staff is great and best location. But the facility is starting to get old and they haven't spent a lot to update it. Staffing is also very limited outside of checkin and grounds maintenance. No housekeeping and they didn't even take away trash left ..."

Reviewed on 11 Jul. 2025

Cavalier Oceanfront Resort
Silver Surf Motel
Silver Surf Motel
2 out of 5
9390 Castillo Dr, San Simeon, CA
The price is NZ$116 per night from 27 July to 28 July
NZ$116
27 July - 28 July
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! (1,106 reviews)
Super cool place.
"Motel was clean and the front desk girl was awesome! She was very helpful and informative. Our room had a balcony over looking the court yard. Quiet. Rooms were recently updated. I found a hidden gem about 10 minutes away. The Elephant Seal Vista Point. Absolutely amazing i went about 7 a.m. I was ..."

Reviewed on 12 Jul. 2025

Silver Surf Motel
Ragged Point Inn and Resort
Ragged Point Inn and Resort
3 out of 5
19019 Highway 1, Ragged Point, San Simeon, CA
The price is NZ$373 per night from 14 July to 15 July
NZ$373
14 July - 15 July
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star beach hotel in San Simeon. Enjoy free parking, a beach locale, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,005 reviews)
Love this place
"The best view we ever had. Such a beautiful stay."

Reviewed on 12 Jul. 2025

Ragged Point Inn and Resort
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 and Moonstone Beach Park 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 and Moonstone Beach Park are located ...
Shangrila
"My daughter and I and our family stayed at this beautiful beach cottage for five days over New Year’s, and it was simply magnificent. The cottage is so quaint and precious, simple, clean and charming right out of a Dickens novel.We brought our doggies there’s a beautiful lawn in front of the cottage ..."

Reviewed on 4 Jan. 2025

One of a kind property- An Acre on the Ocean & Classic Beach Cottage
The Lofts at The Market
The Lofts at The Market
4 out of 5
1803 Spring St, Paso Robles, CA
Stay at this 4-star aparthotel in Paso Robles. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a garden. Popular attractions Sensorio and Paso Robles Pioneer Museum are located ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (55 reviews)
"We had a great stay at this property. One of the only downfalls were early morning sound of Deilvery trucks for the food venues. We also checked in later in the day and wished there was local wine in the minibar! But beautifully decorated rooms and very comfortable bed! We’ll definitely come ..."

Reviewed on 12 Jun. 2025

The Lofts at The Market
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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