California’s Highway 1 reopened at Regent’s Slide, south of Big Sur, at noon on January 14, 2026, restoring a continuous drive along the coast. The reopening reconnects a 90-mile stretch that had been closed after landslides and roadway damage; Visit California describes the fully connected coastal route as 656 miles. “America’s favorite” is headline language, not a measured national ranking—and the road can still close intermittently when weather makes travel unsafe.
What reopened—and where
The reopening was on California State Route 1 at Regent’s Slide, just south of Big Sur. The highway is often called the Pacific Coast Highway in travel coverage, though that name can refer broadly to coastal routes. Here, the news is specifically about restoring the through connection along the Big Sur coast.
The figures reported for the reopening describe different scopes: the Associated Press called the reopened section 90 miles, while Visit California said the result was a fully connected 656-mile coastal route. The 90 miles refers to the local section that reopened; 656 miles describes the larger connected coastal drive.
The route reopened at noon on January 14, 2026. Visit California said it opened months ahead of the timeline shared the previous September; the Associated Press described it as three months early. (Visit California’s reopening announcement; Associated Press report)
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Why Highway 1 was closed
Landslides following powerful atmospheric rivers in January 2023 damaged the roadway, and the affected stretch remained closed while crews repaired it. The closure broke the coastal through-drive near Big Sur. Its end is a significant restoration of access, not evidence that landslides or future closures are no longer a risk. (Associated Press)
What the reopening means for a coastal drive
Drivers can once again use the reopened section to continue along the Big Sur coast rather than treating the closure as a break in the through route. It also restores a direct connection between destinations along California’s central coast. In a May 15, 2026 update, Caltrans reported visitors returning to destinations from Carmel to Cambria and described tourism and business activity recovering after the reopening. That dated agency account does not establish that every business, attraction, or facility is open now. (Caltrans District 5 update)
Check road conditions before you leave
Reopening does not guarantee that Highway 1 will stay open on every travel day. Visit California’s January announcement specifically warned that winter weather could prompt intermittent closures in the months ahead. Check current Caltrans road conditions before departure, then check again if weather changes or your plans depend on passing through Big Sur. Historical reopening coverage cannot confirm the route’s status for a future trip.
That caution matters especially for an itinerary built around driving the full coast: a closure can affect whether the through connection is available, even though the broader route has reopened. Verify the status of the specific segment you intend to use rather than assuming the January 2026 milestone guarantees uninterrupted access.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsIs it really “America’s favorite” road trip?
There is no established national ranking in the cited sources that proves Highway 1 is America’s favorite road trip. The phrase works as a headline description of its reputation, not as a measured survey result. Hertz reported in May 2026 that 64% of Americans planned to take a road trip that summer, based on the company’s survey; that figure does not say how many planned to drive Highway 1. (Hertz survey announcement)
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