For RV travelers planning to drive California’s coast over Labor Day weekend, the southern stretch of Big Sur remained closed. The Plaskett Fire, which began August 26 in the Monterey District of Los Padres National Forest, had burned 29,768 acres and was 23% contained as of the evening of September 4. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) had fully closed Highway 1 in both directions from the Monterey–San Luis Obispo county line at mile marker 0.0 to Kirk Creek Campground at mile marker 19. The northern closure associated with the Timber Fire was completely lifted at 6 a.m. on September 3, but no reopening time had been announced for the southern segment.
Areas Affected
According to the CAL FIRE incident page, the Plaskett Fire began near Forest Road 23S10 east of Los Burros Road and was spreading east toward Fort Hunter Liggett military training area. Steep terrain, dense vegetation, and limited access were forcing crews to focus on protecting structures and reinforcing existing containment lines. Evacuation orders and warnings remained in effect for Monterey County and Fort Hunter Liggett, while evacuation warnings remained in place in San Luis Obispo County.
Road closures had changed several times in recent days. Through September 1, the Timber Fire had also closed Highway 1 from mile marker 56 south of the Little Sur River to mile marker 45 south of Big Sur, but that northern section reopened at 6 a.m. on September 3. That same day, the southern closure began at Pacific Valley, mile marker 16, before being moved north to Kirk Creek Campground, mile marker 19, on September 4. In practical terms, travelers heading south from Carmel could pass Big Sur village and reach only as far as just before Kirk Creek Campground; they could not continue south toward San Simeon or Cambria. Under a forest order dated August 29, Los Padres National Forest placed the entire Monterey District under an emergency closure that will remain in effect until the fire is officially declared out.
What RV Travelers Need to Know
For anyone planning a coastal drive between Los Angeles and San Francisco on Highway 1, the only detour was inland via U.S. 101. Caltrans also advised travelers to use U.S. 101 to avoid the Plaskett Fire area. Campgrounds and state parks in southern Big Sur, including Kirk Creek, Plaskett Creek, and Limekiln, were either inside the closure area or covered by the forest closure order, so visitors should expect to be unable to enter even if they held reservations. Before leaving, travelers should recheck the CAL FIRE Plaskett Fire page and Caltrans QuickMap for closure locations by mile marker.
Big Sur village remained accessible, but smoke often drifted north from the fire on some days, so travelers with passengers who have respiratory sensitivities should check air quality. Fire restrictions were in effect throughout Los Padres National Forest, prohibiting campfires and charcoal fires. Stopping on the shoulder or flying drones near the closure area was also prohibited because it could interfere with firefighting helicopter operations. Although containment was increasing, the eastern slopes were still actively burning, so it was safest not to include a full Big Sur drive in travel plans until official channels announced that the southern segment had reopened.
Photo: Martha Alejandre / Federal Highway Administration, National Archives / Original photo. Public domain. Photo date: 3 August 2004, 15:22. Resized and compressed for display.
