San Simeon - town in California, United States

San Simeon is a small town (population 445 at the 2020 U.S. census) in San Luis Obispo County in the Central Coast region of California. It is half way between Los Angeles and San Francisco, about 250 miles and a 4.5 to 5 hours drive from each. The southernmost point of the scenic Big Sur stretch of California coast terminates just north of town. San Simeon is most famous for the palatial Hearst Castle, which overlooks the town and surrounding ocean on a neighboring hill.

Understand

Climate

Get in

Take Highway 1 (Pacific Coast Highway) south from Big Sur or north from Cambria. The closest airport and Amtrak station are in San Luis Obispo.

San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority bus route 15 serves San Simeon from Morro Bay, with connections farther south. The bus stops at the Hearst Castle Visitor Center.

Get around

See

• Hearst Castle, 750 Hearst Castle Rd (3 miles north of town), 35.6852°, -121.167°. This palatial estate built by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst is one of the most visited attractions in California. See the amazing European architecture including the Spanish cathedral-like facade, the Neptune Pool, and the Roman Baths. Think of it as a museum where many of the centuries-old pieces are built into the structure of the building. It is located at the top of a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean. A 40-minute movie about the history of the castle shows every 45 minutes from 8:15AM to 6:45PM in the five-story theater in the Visitor Center off Highway 1. There are three different daytime guided tours, each lasting 45 minutes and each costing $25 for adults. There is an additional 30 minutes of travel time from the Visitor Center and back by bus – it is no longer necessary to make the bus trip for every tour, if doing multiple tours. Reservations recommended – book online where you can see how many of the up to 52 seats are still available for each time, and be wary of seats filling quickly close to the time. $25 adults, $12 children, more for longer tours 2015-10-14
• Piedras Blancas State Marine Reserve, Highway One (north of San Simeon), 35.6633°, -121.2578°. In 1990 approximately two dozen elephant seals showed up at the beach at Piedras Blancas; in 2014 that number was over 20,000 and nearly 5,000 pups were born. Large males measure 14-16 feet long and weigh 3,000-5,000 pounds. Adult females measure 9-12 feet long and weigh 900-1,800 pounds. Pups are 3-4 feet long and weigh 60-80 pounds when born. Big males arrive to stake out territory in late-November, females arrive in mid-December, and most pups are born between mid-December and early February. By March the adult seals will return to the ocean, leaving the pups to teach themselves to swim. From April through August molting seals can be seen on the shore, while in September and October only a handful of resting seals visit the beach. A viewpoint along the highway provides parking, an overlook, and information about the seals. Docents may be on hand to provide additional information. 2015-10-14
• Coastal Discovery Center. Near Hearst Castle, San Simeon Bay. F-Su 11AM-5PM (summer), 11AM-4PM (winter). Free.
• Piedras Blancas Lightstation. Tours Tu, Th, Sa, excluding federal holidays, 10AM. Tours begin at the former Piedras Blancas Motel, 1.5 miles north of the lightstation, on the west side of Highway 1. Visitors will be met by an escort at 9:45AM. $10.

Do

Buy

• Friends of the Elephant Seal Shop, 250 San Simeon Ave, Suite 3B (Plaza del Cavalier), 35.6124°, -121.1453°, +1 805-924-1628. This shop sells books, t-shirts, mugs, posters and other items related to elephant seals and marine mammals. Proceeds support the group's educational efforts. 2016-04-09

Eat

• San Simeon Beach Bar & Grill, 9520 Castillo Dr, 35.6148°, -121.1477°, +1 805-927-4604. Panoramic ocean view. Pool table, TV's, live entertainment. Wi-Fi internet Access. 2015-10-18

Drink

Sleep

There are numerous motels here and more lodging options further south in Cambria and San Luis Obispo.

• Best Western Cavalier Oceanfront Resort, 9415 Hearst Dr, +1 805 927-4688.
• Motel 6 San Simeon - Hearst Castle Area, 9070 Castillo Dr, 35.611260°, -121.141012°, +1 805 927-8691.

Go next

• Cambria - Located ten miles to South along Highway One, Cambria offers visitors Moonstone Beach, home to tide pools and the semi-precious stones that give the beach its name. The town also offers an abundance of inns and hotels for those seeking a quiet weekend away.
• San Luis Obispo - About 40 miles southeast of San Simeon, San Luis Obispo is a college town and regional center that offers countless opportunities for both indoor and outdoor activities. Downtown features a historic 18th century Spanish mission surrounded by charming boutiques, art galleries, and restaurants while the immediate vicinity provides paths for hiking and mountain biking and highly rated wineries.
• Big Sur - The Big Sur region can be loosely defined as the stretch of coastline between Carmel and San Simeon, and the steep cliffs, rocky coast, churning waves, abundant wildlife, redwoods, and remoteness make it one of the most beautiful drives in the world. Big Sur Village lies at its heart, 81 miles north of San Simeon, and offers amenities for travelers.