For more than a year, California’s Highway One was partially closed due to a bridge outage and mudslides that swept away part of the iconic road.
On July 18—two months ahead of schedule—the road reopened, allowing residents and visitors to once again drive along the stunning coastline of San Luis Obispo and Monterey counties. To celebrate the grand reopening, Visit California and partners (including Caltrans, Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Visit SLO CAL, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, AAA, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Avis, and Hertz) organized a convoy of more than 80 cars from eight decades filled with tourism leaders and media for a “Dream Drive” event on August 9. Everything from 1930s vintage cars to current hydrogen models paraded down the coast, catching attention from onlookers along the way.
The Dream Drive started with a lap around the track at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey before heading south to luxury resort Ventana Big Sur for brunch with an ocean view. Further down the coast, the caravan pulled over for wine tasting (for passengers) at Hearst Ranch Winery in San Simeon.
After passing the charming beach towns of Ragged Point, Cambria, Cayucos, and more, the collection of cars made its way to the finish at Morro Rock in Morro Bay for a beach barbecue celebration.
“Highway One is like everything you would expect California to be,” said first-time visitor Tiana Atroid from Here Magazine. “You look to one side and it’s the mountains, then you look over and there’s the beach, then you’re driving through forest and tunnels—it just lights my heart up, it’s so beautiful.”
Inspired by the Dream Drive? Create your own: Check out the 10 Most Instagrammable Stops, consider Five Great Ways to Take a Highway One Road Trip, and learn more about what to do in Big Sur—then book your dream car with Monterey Touring Vehicles.