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As someone who grew up in Northern California my family and I visited Monterey Bay frequently, especially in the spring and summer. As an adult, I still love to go, and it's a place I always bring friends and family when they visit. Monterey is a must sea (hehe), even if just for a day trip! If you are planning a trip to Monterey, or considering a visit, this is the right post for you! In this Monterey Travel Guide I will break down; how to get there, where to stay, what to do, and where to eat!
Getting To The Bay of Monterey California:
Plane:
The Bay of Monterey California has a small airport, Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) which has a few flights daily. Major US airlines like United, American Airlines, and Alaskan Airlines fly there from select airports (SFO, LAX, LAS, SEA, DEN, and PHX). Depending on your starting location these flights can be pricey! Although it may be costly it saves driving time and may eliminate your need to rent a car, depending on what you plan on doing throughout your trip! The airport is about an 8-minute drive to Cannery Row (one of the city's busiest streets and home to the Monterey Bay Aquarium).
You can also fly into major Bay Area airports like San Francisco International Airport (SFO) or San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC). You can then take one of the following transportation options!
Shuttles from SFO and SJC:
If you opt out of flying into Monterey directly and decide to leave for the beach from San Francisco or San Jose’s airports there is a shuttle company that can get you there! Groome Transportation is one we see frequently on the freeway and waiting at the airport! They charge $62 per person from SFO and about $51 per person from SJC to get to Monterey. Each person receives two free bags!
Rental Car:
Another option to get to Monterey if you plan on flying into SFO or SJC is to rent a car and drive. A beautiful scenic route (Highway One) runs the length of the state near the coast. It has plenty of beaches, viewpoints, farm stands, and towns you can stop at as you drive from San Francisco/San Jose! It is about a 2-and-a-half-hour drive if you take Highway One, but there are a few other alternative freeway/highway routes that can get you there quicker! The drive is relatively easy. It is a straight shot once you get onto Highway One. If you plan on doing the 17-mile drive or visiting Big Sur during your trip to Monterey, having a car may be something to consider, both destinations can be driving-intensive!
Train:
The more complicated and time-consuming option to get to Monterey but a possibility for those who prefer, or want to try it!
Train from San Jose: You can also get close to Monterey from San Jose via Amtrak trains and buses. A route on the Coast Starlight train can get you from San José to Salinas (about 30 minutes from Monterey), and an Amtrak-affiliated bus will take you from there.
You can book train tickets here on the Amtrak website! The average price for a one-way coach ticket from San José to Monterey is about $26 per person. The San Jose station closest to the airport is San Jose Diridon Station about 3.5 miles from the airport. The SJC airport has public transit directions on how to get to the Diridon station as follows: Connect to Amtrak by taking VTA Route 60 (Airport Flyer to Milpitas BART) to the Metro/Airport Station and transferring to the VTA Green Line (fare applies) southbound to Diridon Station.
Train from San Francisco: If you are flying into SFO and want to take a train to Monterey you will first have to get to the city (about 30 minutes away). You can get downtown from the airport via BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit). It is $5.35 one way per person to take BART from SFO to one of the four downtown stops (Embarcadero, Civic Center, Powell St, and Montgomery St). Here are some BART resources to help navigate from SFO to downtown.
Just like if you were taking the train from San José, Amtrak is the transit company that takes you to Monterey. Once you get downtown look for the Bus Pickup for Amtrak Emeryville (SFC). Getting off at the Embarcadero station will put you close to the SFC Amtrak bus stop, and it is only a few blocks walk! This is an outdoor stop and not a big transit station. Once you are on the bus get ready to start your 6-hour-long transit journey! (This would be our last choice to get to Monterey! It's too long, too much of a hassle, and does not save enough money for us to put ourselves through five-plus transfers, especially after coming off of a flight).
Where To Stay In Monterey:
There are plenty of places to stay in the Monterey area, and they can range drastically in price. We have found rooms for as low as about $190 a night and have seen rooms go upwards of $1,000 per night at luxury hotels. We have stayed at a few different places in Monterey, at diverse price points, and have a few recommendations below!
Hampton Inn Monterey:
An economical chain hotel with free breakfast, and free parking. It is close to the beach, hiking trails, and shopping centers. During spring break season, we paid $221.25 for our one-night stay. Find a full hotel review here!
Monterey Plaza Hotel:
A luxury oceanfront hotel with onsite dining and rooftop ocean-view hot tubs. This hotel is close to Cannery Row and within walking distance to beaches, food, shopping, and activities. The location makes it a perfect base for exploring the area. We paid $607.72 for one night in a king ocean-view balcony room. Find a full hotel review here!
Hyatt Carmel Highlands:
A woodside retreat nestled into the trees overlooking the Pacific Ocean with onsite dining, pools, hot tubs, and expansive views. We stayed in 2021 and they were doing construction on the property, and as of April 2024, they are still actively doing construction. Prices fluctuate slightly depending on the season. During the summer an ocean view room ranges from $400-$500, and during the slower seasons, prices range from $300-$400 per night.
The Sanctuary Beach Resort:
A Luxury beach retreat with beach bonfires, bocce ball, volleyball, a pool, and an onsite restaurant. We have stayed here on multiple occasions and the pricing varies drastically by season! The price fluctuates like crazy depending on the day of the week and what time of year you visit, it ranges from about $400-$1,800 a night. We like to go when it is cheap, and try to avoid weekends since rooms almost double in price!
What to do:
The Monterey area has a lot to offer and there is something for everyone! Beautiful coastlines, sandy beaches, great seafood, hiking, bike trails, whale watching, and a famous Aquarium. Here are some of our favorite things to do in the area!
Monterey Bay Aquarium:
An oceanfront aquarium with a huge variety of sea creatures, including sea otters! Adult tickets are $59.95, youth tickets (13-17) are $49.95, and child tickets (5-12) are $44.95. Children 4 and under are free! You can buy tickets online here!
Cannery Row:
A shopping strip surrounding the aquarium with food, souvenirs, bathrooms, and viewpoints. The strip gets its name from the old sardine canning factories that used to operate there.
17-mile drive:
A 17-mile scenic drive along the coast, passing by Pebble Beach Golf Course and surrounding the Del Monte Forest. Take in views of waves crashing along the coast, sea lions sunbathing, and deer prancing through the trees. There is a fee for the entrance of $12 per vehicle, and the views are worth the price! There are multiple ways to see the 17-mile drive; you can drive yourself, go with a tour group, or rent an e-bike.
A few restaurants and shops inside the scenic route will reimburse the entrance fee if you spend a certain amount of money at their establishment. Sticks is one of the restaurants that will reimburse the entrance fee, and has live bagpipe music in the evenings! All Pebble Beach Resort restaurants will also reimburse the entrance fee with a purchase of at least $35.
Whale Watching:
There are a few companies that host whale-watching tours from the Old Fisherman’s Wharf; Chris’ Fishing and Whale Watching, Discovery Whale Watch, Monterey Bay Whale Watch, and Princess Monterey Whale Watching. Tickets range from $75-$100 per person. Find our experience review with Monterey Bay Whale Watch here!
Kayak in Monterey Bay:
Going Kayaking in Monterey is a great way to see wildlife up close in their natural habitat. Sea otters frequent the water just off the shore of Monterey for the large kelp forests. Kayaking is a great way to spot them! There are dozens of kayak rental shops in the city, making it an easy spontaneous adventure!
Big Sur/McWay Falls:
A scenic drive along the coastline with vista points and pullouts for you to take in expansive views of the Pacific Ocean! There are hikes along the drive for those interested, and one of our favorites is McWay Falls. It is a small walk from the parking lot to a viewpoint overlooking a waterfall flowing onto a beach below!
Hike Point Lobos:
A coastal trail with panoramic views of the ocean and wildlife. The parking lot fills up quickly and so does street parking! It is a great spot for photographers and nature lovers!
Old Fisherman’s Wharf:
Pier with wildlife, shopping, food, and water activities like whale watching cruises and kayaking. The Wharf gets busy during the summer, and parking fills up fast! We like to park at Fisherman's Wharf Waterfront Lot WF#1 (101-106 Washington St, Monterey, CA 93940) and our backup is Downtown Garage West (340 Tyler St, Monterey, CA 93940).
Carmel By The Sea:
A small beach town with white sand beaches and whimsical houses. We love to picnic at Carmel River State Beach on sunny days!
Go Sailing:
Going on a sailing excursion is a great way to get out on the water and see some wildlife without having to get into a kayak! We have gone out with Sail Monterey, and had a great experience! We saw an abundance of wildlife and the crew was friendly and knowledgeable about the area. A daytime catamaran sail costs $55 per person, and a sunset sail is $85 per person.
Have a Beach Day:
Relax, grab some chairs, an umbrella, and maybe a boogie board, to enjoy all the beach has to offer! We like; Carmel River State Beach, Lovers Point Beach, Marina State Beach, and Del Monte Beach.
Where to Eat:
We have tried a lot of food in the Monterey area, and sometimes we have left places disappointed, or feeling like we had been tourist trapped! Below are some places we have tried on multiple occasions which have never failed us. Our favorite of all is Heirloom Pizza!! If you try one thing from the list it should be their deep-dish pizza, our family from out of state brings it up every time we see them!! Honestly, I think about it once a week!! It is seriously so good!!
Heirloom Pizza Co:
Deep dish and thin crust pizza near downtown Monterey. (We like to order a build-your-own deep-dish pizza with garlic and pepperoni!) Find it on Google Maps here!
Schooners Monterey:
Oceanfront eating with seafood, light bites, and drinks. (We like to go for drinks and light bites on the patio! The views are amazing!) Find it on Google Maps here!
First Awakenings:
American breakfast and lunch, close to Cannery Row. Find it on Google Maps here!
Chart House:
An upscale steak and seafood restaurant, with amazing ocean views from the tables! We were able to watch a mom and baby sea otter play while we ate on our last visit! Find it on Google Maps here!
Sardine Factory:
Steak and Seafood restaurant with themed dining rooms. (We like the chocolate ice cream bonbons!) Find it on Google Maps here!
Whaling Station Steakhouse:
Traditional steakhouse restaurant close to Cannery Row. (We like the beef wellington!) Find it on Google Maps here!
Monterey Travel Guide Summary:
Monterrey is a Northern California must, and is only two hours outside of San Francisco! We recommend at least four days for Monterey to see all the area has to offer! It is accessible via car, shuttle, plane, and public transportation (train and bus). We suggest renting a car or taking a shuttle for convenience and time since the transit route can be a few hours longer! If you do decide to drive, taking scenic Highway One along the coast is breathtaking, and there are many vista points and beaches you can stop at along the way. There are plenty of hotels in the area; we like Hampton Inn in Monterey when we're on a budget, and the Monterey Plaza Hotel for a luxury weekend getaway. If you visit Monterey make sure to try Heirloom Pizza Co.’s deep-dish pizza, it is our favorite place to eat in the city!
Let us know below if this post helped with planning a trip that is worth your wallet, or if you have any questions about the Monterey area!
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