Visit SLO (San Luis Obispo) Cal and See Monterey announced the early reopening of Highway 1 at Regent’s Slide on Jan. 14, restoring full coastal access between San Luis Obispo County and Monterey County. The reopening comes ahead of Caltrans’ initial March 2026 estimate.

The closure began with Paul’s Slide on Jan. 15, 2023, followed by Regent’s Slide on Feb. 9, 2024, marking the longest closure to date along the Big Sur coast. The prolonged shutdown resulted in an estimated $438 million in lost visitor spending across San Luis Obispo and Monterey Counties and the state of California. Highway 1 serves as one of California’s most significant tourism drivers, and the reopening is expected to restore economic activity for coastal businesses that rely on visitors traveling the Big Sur coast.

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“Caltrans worked with exceptional focus and resilience to restore this legendary stretch of highway,” said Cathy Cartier, president & CEO of Visit SLO Cal. “Highway 1 is an emotional experience for so many people, and its early reopening reconnects the full wonder of Ragged Point, San Simeon and Cambria with our neighbors to the north in Monterey. We are thrilled to welcome visitors to experience the magic of this coastal roadway from end-to-end.”

The reopening allows uninterrupted travel between San Luis Obispo County’s North Coast communities of Ragged Point, San Simeon and Cambria and destinations including Big Sur, Carmel-by-the-Sea and Monterey. Travelers can now experience the full coastal drive with stops throughout the southern and northern Big Sur area and surrounding communities. Caltrans recommends checking current road conditions before traveling.

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“Reopening Highway 1 reconnects travelers with an extraordinary coastal journey,” said Rob O’Keefe, president & CEO of See Monterey. “Now more than ever, it’s part of our collective role to protect and preserve this coastline by traveling safely and responsibly, with care for the land, the road and the communities that make it so special.”

Editor’s Note: This article was generated by AI, based on a press release distributed by Visit SLO Cal. It has been fact-checked and reviewed by a TravelAge West editor.