Glen Oaks Big Sur
47080 Hwy 1
Big Sur, CA
One of the last locally owned lodges on the Big Sur coast.
About Glen Oaks Big Sur
Glen Oaks Big Sur began as an adobe motor lodge built in 1957 on Highway 1 along Highway 1 in Big Sur. Basil Sanborn grew up in the family next door, on the land immediately adjacent. He and his wife Tracy purchased Glen Oaks in 2005 and have operated it since as one of the few remaining locally owned lodging establishments on this stretch of coast. The renovation was eco-driven: recycled and renewable stone, Peroba wood, bamboo, and organic cotton, all chosen in direct response to the landscape. Travel and Leisure named it one of the world's most romantic hotels. Glen Oaks is one of the few places on Highway 1 where the person who owns the land is the same person who greets you.
What Glen Oaks Big Sur Is Known For
Basil Sanborn grew up next door to Glen Oaks. When he and Tracy purchased it in 2005, Big Sur was already losing its locally owned hospitality establishments to corporate acquisitions and larger resort groups. Glen Oaks held. The materials that went into the renovation, Peroba wood, recycled stone, Pendleton blankets, Coyuchi organic cotton, are not generic choices. They are specific responses to a specific coast. The result is a property that Travel and Leisure has called one of the world's most romantic hotels and that continues to be run by the family with roots in the land it sits on.
Amenities
- WiFi
- Gas fireplace or stove in every room
- Heated stone floors
- Pendleton Woolen Mills blankets
- Coyuchi organic cotton bedding
- S'mores supplies in every room
- Big Sur River access
- Redwood grove hiking trails
- Suspension bridge to Bridge House
- Private yards (motor lodge rooms)
- Individual fire pits (cabins)
What Guests Love
- Basil Sanborn grew up on the land adjacent to Glen Oaks and has owned and operated the property with Tracy since 2005, making it one of the few remaining locally owned lodging establishments on the Big Sur coast.
- Every room has a gas fireplace or stove, heated stone floors, Pendleton blankets, and Coyuchi organic cotton bedding.
- S'mores supplies are included in every room.
- The property has direct access to Big Sur River hiking trails and the redwood grove, without driving.
- Travel and Leisure named it one of the world's most romantic hotels.
- Big Sur Bakery is a half-mile away and consistently ranked as one of the best pastry stops on the coast.
Worth Knowing
- The Adobe Motor Lodge rooms and Oak Tree Cottages are on the east side of Highway 1. The Redwood Grove Cabins, Bunk House, and Bridge House are on the west side, in the forest across the highway. If the redwood grove is important to your stay, book a Redwood Grove Cabin or the Bridge House specifically.
- Cell service in Big Sur is limited or nonexistent. Download maps and anything else you need before the drive south.
- The Big Sur Roadhouse, the associated restaurant across the highway, closes early and is not open every day. Check the current schedule and make a reservation if you want to eat on-site.
- The property books out on weekends and in peak summer months many weeks in advance. Book early.
- No pets are permitted.
The Room
Glen Oaks offers several accommodation types across the property. The Adobe Motor Lodge rooms are in the original 1957 building, each with a private yard and outdoor seating, a king bed, a gas fireplace, recycled Peroba wood furniture, heated recycled stone floors, a two-person walk-in shower, and leather seating. Oak Tree Cottages are cozy individual structures with gas cast iron fireplaces and kitchenettes. The Redwood Grove Cabins and Bunk House are across Highway 1, in the redwood grove along the Big Sur River, with more seclusion, fire pits, and in some cases outdoor tubs. The Bridge House is the most private accommodation, reached by a suspension bridge over the river. All rooms have Pendleton Woolen Mills blankets, Coyuchi organic cotton bedding, heated floors, s'mores supplies, and gas fireplaces or stoves. The motor lodge rooms and cottages share a communal fire pit; the cabins have their own.
The Grounds
The property spans both sides of Highway 1, which bisects Big Sur along this stretch. The Adobe Motor Lodge rooms and Oak Tree Cottages are on the eastern side, tucked into the hillside with private yards. The Redwood Grove Cabins and Bridge House are on the western side, in the forest along the Big Sur River, with hiking trails that connect to the river and through the redwood grove. Adirondack chairs sit along the river for morning coffee. Deer are occasionally spotted on the grounds. The Big Sur Roadhouse, the property's associated restaurant, is across the highway. Cell service is limited in Big Sur; the property has WiFi.
The Experience
Big Sur does not allow for a casual visit. The drive in from either direction on Highway 1 takes commitment, and the lack of cell service, the scale of the redwoods, and the sound of the river make the point again once you arrive. Glen Oaks is designed to meet that environment rather than buffer it. Mornings start with coffee outside, watching fog move through the canyon. Afternoons go to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, the beach at Pfeiffer, or the Big Sur Bakery. Evenings at the Roadhouse require advance reservations, particularly on weekends, and close early. The s'mores supplies in every room are for the fire pits, which are where most guests end up when the day is over. The property fills on weekends and in summer many weeks in advance.
Details
Big Sur, CA 93920
The Boutel designation is earned, not purchased. Boutels is editorially independent and has no financial relationship with any listed property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Glen Oaks Big Sur have EV charging?
No, Glen Oaks Big Sur does not have EV charging.
Does Glen Oaks Big Sur have WiFi?
Yes, Glen Oaks Big Sur has WiFi.
What is there to do near Glen Oaks Big Sur?
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park: 2 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can bike there. Bixby Bridge: 8 miles, about a 15 minute drive. Big Sur Bakery: 0.5 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk.
How far is Glen Oaks Big Sur from Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park?
2 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can bike there.
How far is Glen Oaks Big Sur from Bixby Bridge?
8 miles, about a 15 minute drive.
How far is Glen Oaks Big Sur from Big Sur Bakery?
0.5 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk.
What types of rooms does Glen Oaks Big Sur have?
The property offers Adobe Motor Lodge rooms in the original 1957 building, Oak Tree Cottages, Redwood Grove Cabins, a Bunk House, and the Bridge House. The motor lodge rooms and cottages are on the east side of Highway 1; the cabins and Bridge House are in the redwood grove on the west side.
Is Glen Oaks Big Sur pet friendly?
No, pets are not allowed.
How far is Glen Oaks Big Sur from Monterey?
About 30 miles south of Monterey on Highway 1, roughly 45 minutes to an hour depending on traffic and road conditions. The drive through Carmel-by-the-Sea and down the coast is the full Big Sur approach, part of the destination in itself.
Does Glen Oaks Big Sur have a restaurant?
The Big Sur Roadhouse is across the highway from the motor lodge and is associated with the property. It does not operate every day; check the current schedule and make a reservation.
What is the best time of year to visit Big Sur?
Spring and fall offer the clearest weather and smallest crowds. Summer brings fog in the mornings that usually lifts by midday. Highway 1 occasionally closes due to landslides; check Caltrans before driving.
Is there cell service at Glen Oaks Big Sur?
Limited to none. WiFi is available on the property. Download offline maps before arriving.
Does Glen Oaks Big Sur have a pool?
Glen Oaks Big Sur does not have a pool. The property has a communal fire pit area.
Is parking available at Glen Oaks Big Sur?
Yes. Free on-site parking is available at Glen Oaks Big Sur.
Does Glen Oaks Big Sur include breakfast?
No. Breakfast is not included at Glen Oaks Big Sur.
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Things to Do Near Big Sur
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
2 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can bike there.
2 miles, about a 5 minute drive. The primary hiking and camping destination in Big Sur, with redwood forest trails, the Big Sur River gorge, and Pfeiffer Beach access just beyond. The Valley View Trail and the Pfeiffer Falls Trail are both short and rewarding.
Bixby Bridge
8 miles, about a 15 minute drive.
8 miles, about a 15 minute drive north on Highway 1. One of the most photographed bridges in California, a 1932 concrete arch span over Bixby Creek Canyon with an open ocean view. Worth stopping for in both directions.
Big Sur Bakery
0.5 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk.
0.5 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk. Consistently recommended by Glen Oaks guests for pastries, coffee, and a genuinely good breakfast on the weekends. Lines form on summer mornings; go early.