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Day Tour to Monterey & Carmel: My Experience on this Guided Tour
By: Jill Loeffler • Updated: October 15, 2025
Monterey and Carmel are two cute, waterfront towns south of San Francisco. Both offer shopping, attractions, and a variety of other activities.
Both are about a 1.5- to 2-hour drive from San Francisco.
If you are like me and enjoy watching the scenery, then I recommend looking into a guided tour.
I recently had the chance to go on the most popular day tour from San Francisco to Monterey and Carmel.
Monterey & Carmel Day Tour Snapshot
🚍 Tour Name: Monterey & Carmel Day Tour
📍 Pickup Locations: In Fisherman's Wharf or Union Square (find exact location in confirmation)
🕐 Tour Length: ~11.5–12 hours (8:00 am–7:30/8:00 pm)
📸 Main Stops: Monterey, 17-Mile Drive, Pebble Beach, Carmel-by-the-Sea
🚻 Restrooms: Onboard restroom on most buses
🗓️ Recommended Booking: At least 1 week in advance during peak season
👟 Fitness Level: Light walking; optional hilly walk to Carmel Beach
What You Can Expect from this Tour
Lunch is not included in the tour price, but there are many great places to eat along Cannery Row. This is my salad from the Fish Hopper.Timing at a Glance
Each tour is slightly different, but this is roughly what you can expect.
- 8 am: Pickup in San Francisco at one of two locations
- 10 am: Short rest stop (usually around 20 minutes)
- 12 pm: Arrive in Monterey with around 2 hours of free time
- 2:30 pm: Explore the scenic 17-Mile Drive and Other Pebble Beach Stops
- 4 pm: Arrive in Carmel with 1 hour of free time
- 5 pm: Begin your drive back to San Francisco
- 7:30 pm or 8 pm: Arrive back in SF
Now that you have a quick look at what to expect, let's dig into the details of this tour.
Your day starts with an 8 am pickup near Pier 39. I recommend grabbing a seat at a window on the right side of the bus (as you face forward, opposite side as the driver).
This side offers gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean as you drive down Hwy 1 to your destination.
The first 20 minutes of the trip take you through San Francisco and down Hwy 101. This part of the trip isn't very exciting, but your guide offers some interesting facts about the area.
From here, you will reach Hwy 1. This highway offers a slower, yet scenic route down to Monterey and Carmel.
Your first stop is around 10 am. At this point, you will take a 20-minute stop at a small store on Hwy 1. There isn't much to see here, but it's a great place to stretch your legs and grab something quick to eat or drink.
Jill's Tips for the Ride
Here are a few tips to help you prepare for this long day on the bus.
- Grab a window seat on the right for the best coastal views
- Bring snacks and water, as food options vary at each stop.
- It's cooler in Carmel, especially in the late afternoon, so don't forget your jacket!
- Wear comfortable walking shoes as you will be doing quite a bit of walking.
- Charge your phone/camera so you can capture the beauty at every stop!
After your rest stop, you will continue to make your way south on Hwy 1. You will drive through the small town of Santa Cruz and make a quick photo stop shortly after.
You will reach Monterey around noon. The bus stops a block away from the famed Cannery Row district.
You will have two hours on your own to grab lunch, go shopping, or visit some of Monterey's attractions.
Here are a few of my recommendations for lunch and wine:
- Fish Hopper: This is a great place for lunch with nice big windows to soak in the views over the water.
- Sea Harvest Restaurant & Fish Market: If you want to step off Cannery Row for an amazing meal that's casual, head over to this little place. They offer outdoor seating and it's amazing on a sunny day. It's at 598 Foam Street.
- A Taste of Monterey: Another fun stop, if you like wine, is A Taste of Monterey. They offer views of the Monterey Bay from their second story windows and it's a fun way to learn more about the wines from this area. They have some light eats or you can just enjoy some wine.
- The Salty Seal: This is a fun, casual brewpub. They have some great local draft beers and English bar food.
If you really, really want to see the Monterey Bay Aquarium, this is your opportunity. It will be the only thing you can do in Monterey and you will have to go faster than normal through it, since you have two hours from the time you leave the bus.
But...this world-renowned aquarium is amazing. If you don't care about shopping or don't want to grab lunch, this is a good option for your stop in Monterey.
If you know you want to visit this aquarium, I recommend purchasing your tickets online before you arrive. The ticket line here can get long and you may have to wait more than an hour to get your ticket. So, purchase it ahead of time if you know you want to check it out during this stop.
17-Mile Drive
After the stop in Monterey, you will then continue south along the famous 17-Mile Drive. This gorgeous ride takes you along the waterfront through Pacific Grove.
You will then enter Pebble Beach. This stunning gated community houses one of the most famous golf courses in the world. During your ride, you will see glimpses of the greens of this luscious golf course as well as the multi-million-dollar mansions that surround it.
Pebble Beach is also where you will find the Lone Cypress. This single tree sits on a rock island that is not sheltered from the rain and winds along the coast. It's estimated to be more than 250 years old.
The Lone Cypress is one of the most crowded and popular stops along the 17-Mile Drive in Pebble Beach.You will stop here to take photos and admire this lone tree for about 20 minutes.
After another 15 to 20 minutes on the bus, you will make another stop at the Pebble Beach Visitor Center. Here you will have about 25 minutes to look around. You can also grab a drink or do a little shopping for new golfing gear.
I love this map in the Visitor Center that shows all the stops along 17-Mile Drive and the Pebble Beach Golf Courses.After your self-guided tour, you will hop back on the bus and continue south along the 17-Mile Drive to Carmel-By-The-Sea.
Carmel-by-the-Sea
There are so many cute places to shop here. I thought this sign was cute! What a great way to greet your customers and make sure they don't get lost!This small seaside town also offers shopping, restaurants, and a few attractions. Since it's smaller than Monterey, you will have an hour of free time here.
At this point in the day, many of us were done shopping, so we walked a mile downhill to the beach. The walk down wasn't bad, but it took about 20 minutes to hike back up the hill. I recommend this to those looking to stretch their legs during this last stop or those wanting to spend a little more time along the water.
After you are done shopping and enjoying the quaint village of Carmel-by-the-Sea, you will return to the bus for the journey back to San Francisco.
The return trip takes only about two hours, since you will head back up via the freeway. There are no stops along the way, so make sure you grab something to eat or drink in Carmel for the ride home.
You will get to SF around 7:30 or 8 pm.
As you approach the city, the bus driver will confirm your drop-off location. You can also get off the bus at a pre-determined stop in Union Square or Fisherman's Wharf.
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How to Book this Tour
🎟️ Reserve Your Seat Now
This is one of the most popular day tours from San Francisco. It often sells out during spring, summer, and fall weekends and on holidays.
👉 Monterey & Carmel Day Tour from San Francisco
Hi, I’m Jill!
I’ve been sharing San Francisco travel advice since 2009 and have helped millions of people explore the city like a local. Whether you’re dreaming of sea lions, cable cars, or a great sourdough bread bowl, I’m here to help you plan an unforgettable trip with real tips from someone who actually lives here.
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Comments? Questions? Suggestions?
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