Monterey Transportation: Tips to Get To & Around

If Monterey, CA is your destination, you will find several Monterey transportation options to get you to and around this fantastic coastal town south of San Francisco.

That way, you can make the most of your time here, enjoying the shopping, entertainment, and one of the world's best aquariums, the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Many people choose to visit on a day trip from either San Francisco or the surrounding communities. Others spend up to a week here relaxing on the beach or sampling wines from the nearby up-and-coming wine region.

It's easy to get to Monterey from the local airports or other nearby cities if you know where to look. Here are just a few of my recommendations on how to get here and how to get around after you arrive.

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Monterey Transportation: Choosing the Right Airport

For many of you, the first decision is which airport to use. You have the choice of flying into one of the larger international airports including Oakland International, San Jose Mineta International, or San Francisco International. You can also fly into the small Monterey Peninsula Airport.

Flying into one of the three international airports offers you a larger selection of airlines. However, it will take longer to arrive at your destination.

Below is the distance and estimated travel time between Monterey and the three largest international airports in the region.

• San Francisco International Airport (SFO): 107 miles / 120 mins
• Oakland International Airport (OAK): 106 miles / 120 mins
• San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC): 75 miles / 90 mins

Monterey Regional Airport (MRY)

Flying into the small regional Monterey Regional Airport offers fewer hassles since this airport is only about 15 minutes from Monterey, CA. However, flying into this airport might cost you a little more upfront.

The following airlines service Monterey Regional Airport.

• Alaska Airlines: Non-stop service from San Diego and Seattle
• Allegiant: Non-stop from Las Vegas
• American Airlines/American Eagle: Non-stop service from Dallas and Phoenix
• JSX: Seasonal flights to Burbank and Orange County
• Sun Country Airlines: Seasonal flights to Minneapolis-St. Paul
• United Airlines: Non-stop service from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Denver
  

Airport Transit: Shuttle, Car Rentals & Other Options

Before you book your flight, I recommend checking out these details on getting to Monterey from each airport. This will help you understand what your overall cost might be to fly into each one. At times, your flight might be a little less, but the transportation to Monterey might cost a little more.

From SFO:

• Groome Transportation (formerly Monterey Airbus): This bus takes you directly from SFO to the Monterey Airbus Station at 438 Calle Principal (this is near the Marriott and the Portola Hotel & Spa in downtown Monterey). The cost is $62 when you book online in advance. The full rate is $67.
• Car Rental: You can also rent a car at SFO and drive down to Monterey. This takes around 2 hours.

From OAK:

• Car Rentals: The only option from Oakland International Airport is to rent a car. This drive also takes around two hours.

From SJC:

• Groome Transportation (formerly Monterey Airbus): This airbus also runs between SJC and downtown Monterey. The cost from San Jose International Airport to Monterey is $51 when you book online in advance. The full price is $56.
• Car Rental: Driving from SJC to Monterey takes about 1 to 1.5 hours.

From MRY:

• Car Rental: This is your best option when arriving at Monterey Regional Airport. You can either book before or after you arrive. The car rental lot is next to and slightly uphill from the terminal.
• Taxi, Lyft or Uber: A taxi from the airport to downtown or Cannery Row costs about $20 to $25. There is also a $3 airport service charge that the driver adds to the fare when you arrive at your destination.

Monterey-Salinas Transit: If you are traveling light, then taking the local bus into town is a cheap alternative. After you land and pick up your luggage, simply walk out of the terminal to the Olmsted/Monterey Regional Airport bus stop.

• To Downtown Monterey: If you are heading downtown, pick up the 7 bus at the airport. This drops you off at the Monterey Transit Plaza which is on the southern end of downtown Monterey. You can walk to everything from here. 
• To Cannery Row: If you are heading to Cannery Row, take the 7 from the airport to the transit center. You will then head to Gate 4 to pick up the 1 Pacific Grove via Asilomar bus. You'll take it four stops to Lighthouse and Drake. This stop leaves you at the edge of Cannery Row and you can walk to the water to get to this heart of this district.

Monterey Transportation To/From San Francisco

In addition to arriving directly from the airport, many people choose to visit the area on a day trip from San Francisco. You have two options: go on your own or with a group.

Driving: The drive down to Monterey is easy. It will take you anywhere from 1.5 to 2 hours. If you aren't in any hurry, you can also take the slower Hwy 1 route that runs along the Pacific Ocean. It's a beautiful ride and takes about 3 hours. I often take this on the way down and take the faster Hwy 101 route on the way back to SF.

Tours: If you prefer to gaze out the window during the ride or let someone else drive, you can also take an organized tour. The best tours offer a ride down Hwy 1 where you get beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean. They also allow you to visit both Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea. Here is the tour I took recently and recommend for those looking to explore the area with a guide.

Monterey Transportation Around Town

Here are the best ways to get around Monterey once you arrive.

• Free Trolley: One of the best Monterey transportation options is the free trolley. If you visit between Memorial Day weekend (late May) and Labor Day weekend (early September), you can take advantage of this summer trolley service. It has stops in downtown, at Fisherman's Wharf, along Cannery Row and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The free trolley runs every 10 to 15 minutes, from 10 am to 6 pm every day during these months.
• Driving: Traffic is light in much of Monterey. You will find plenty of garage parking in the main areas such as Cannery Row and in the downtown area. During the slow season, you might even be lucky enough to find a great spot on the street.
• Walking: Once you get to Cannery Row or Fisherman's Wharf, walking around is easy. Both are only a few blocks long. If you love walking, you can also walk between these two attractions. Plus, you'll get scenic views along the waterfront.

More Monterey Transportation Options

Here are a few additional Monterey transportation options for popular destinations around the Monterey bay and beyond.

Monterey to/from Carmel-by-the-Sea: The local bus #5 Carmel Rancho via Carmel is your best bet for using Monterey transportation to get to and from Carmel. It runs a regular schedule, so you can easily plan your visit to both locations. The ride takes about 16 minutes from the Monterey Transit Plaza - Gate 3.

Monterey to/from Carmel Valley: If you're looking to do some wine tasting in the local wine region, first make your way to Carmel-by-the-Sea. Then hop on the #24 bus, nicknamed the Grapevine Express, which will take you 13 miles inland right to the door of some fantastic wineries.

Monterey to/from Salinas: You can take the local bus #20 to get to Salinas, which is home to the National Steinbeck Center. This ride takes about 1 hour.

Monterey to/from San Jose or Oakland: If you love train rides and want to take your time, you can take the Amtrak Coast Starlight route from two Bay Area cities to the station in Salinas. It's about 3 hours by train from Oakland or 1 hour and 40 minutes from San Jose. From there, Amtrak provides a Thruway Connection bus, which will get you to the Monterey Transit Plaza in about 40 minutes.

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