Highway 1 Closed in Big Sur
Highway 1 in Big Sur is currently closed due to storm debris, forcing drivers to turn around as crews work to clear the road. The closure affects one of California's most scenic coastal drives during what is typically prime road trip planning season for spring.
- The powerful storm system that prompted the closure dumped significant amounts of rain on the region, with the Big Sur highlands receiving up to 5.5 inches on Sunday, February 16, alone. - This latest shutdown comes only about a month after this section of Highway 1 fully reopened on January 14, 2026, ending what is believed to be the longest closure in the highway's 90-year history. - The previous multi-year closure was caused by a series of major landslides, primarily the Regent's Slide in February 2024 and the earlier Paul's Slide in January 2023. - A recent economic study projected that the full economic toll of the 2023-2026 closure would surpass $520 million in lost tourism revenue for the region. - During that extended closure, the region lost an estimated $13 to $14 million in visitor spending each month. - The hardest-hit communities from the last shutdown were San Simeon and Big Sur, which saw visitor spending fall by 42% and 20% respectively from expected levels. - According to Caltrans, the current closure impacts a 6.8-mile segment of
