Caltrans: Ragged Point traffic up 900%

Caltrans and California tourism officials said Friday that visitor traffic along the Big Sur coast has surged since Highway 1 fully reopened in January after a nearly three-year disruption at Regent’s Slide. State officials said northbound traffic at Ragged Point is up more than 900% year over year, while restaurants, retail businesses and hotels along the corridor are reporting stronger demand heading into Memorial Day. The reopening restored through access between Carmel and Cambria on January 14, nearly 90 days earlier than the state’s projected March 30 target, according to Governor Gavin Newsom’s office. Local business owners, tourism groups and elected officials gathered at Ragged Point Inn on May 15 to mark what organizers described as the start of the summer travel season. State officials tied the rebound directly to restored access on Highway 1, one of California’s main tourism routes. Local operators said the recovery is showing up in guest counts, hotel occupancy and weekend traffic from both the north and south. ### When did Highway 1 reopen, and what had been closed? Highway 1 at Regent’s Slide reopened at noon on January 14, 2026, according to Newsom’s office. The reopening restored uninterrupted travel between Carmel and Cambria for the first time in almost three years after landslide damage cut through traffic on the Big Sur coast. Ragged Point Inn says on its travel-updates page that Highway 1 is now open in both directions, following a brief storm-related closure from February 17 to February 20. The inn says travelers can once again drive continuously through Monterey, Big Sur, Ragged Point, Cambria and San Luis Obispo. ### Where is the 900% traffic figure coming from? Visit California provided the traffic figure cited by state officials and local news outlets. The organization said northbound traffic at Ragged Point has grown more than 900% year over year since the highway reopened in mid-January. That number points to Ragged Point’s role as a gateway on the southern end of the Big Sur corridor. (gov.ca.gov) Ragged Point sits on Highway 1 in northern San Luis Obispo County, making it one of the clearest checkpoints for measuring returning vehicle flow into Big Sur from the south. This is an inference based on its location and the way state and local officials are using the site as a marker for northbound travel. (ktla.com) ### What are businesses saying they are seeing on the ground? Local businesses said the rebound is translating into higher guest counts and fuller rooms. State officials said year-to-date restaurant and retail guest counts are up about 40%, with peak weekends nearly doubling 2025 levels. They also said hotel occupancy reached 80% in February and 96% in March, up from 70% and 85% a year earlier. (ksby.com) Kirk Gafill, owner of Nepenthe in Big Sur, said his restaurant has seen a 45% increase in guest volume since the January reopening. Jim Ramey, general manager of Ragged Point Inn, told KSBY that Highway 1 is “a lifeline to Ragged Point” and that reopening the road was “like opening up the tap.” (actionnewsnow.com) Visit SLO CAL cited separate lodging gains on the southern side of the corridor. The tourism group said San Simeon posted a 37% increase in occupancy in February, while mid-March weekly data showed occupancy up 25% in Cambria, 43% in San Simeon and 9% countywide. ### What did state officials say at the Ragged Point event? Governor Gavin Newsom said Big Sur families, small businesses and nearby communities are “finding their footing again” after the January reopening. (actionnewsnow.com) California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin said the highway had reopened earlier than projected after repairs on a slope that had been closed for around three years. (ksby.com) Dawn Addis, a Democratic state assemblymember whose district includes part of the Central Coast, said at the Friday event that tourism is a major part of the regional economy. Cathy Cartier, president and chief executive of Visit SLO CAL, said continued access along Highway 1 is vital for local employers and visitor businesses. ### What should travelers watch next? (ktla.com) Memorial Day is the next major traffic test for the corridor. State officials said they expect the economic upturn to continue as visitors head to the coast for holiday recreation. The Transportation Agency for Monterey County’s current Cone Zone report lists several Highway 1 lane controls and short delays in Monterey County through May 16, and Ragged Point Inn tells travelers to check Caltrans road conditions before setting out. (ksby.com) (tamcmonterey.org) (ktla.com)