The portion along Highway 17 winds through a dense redwood forest. Joining a guided excursion takes the stress out of traveling from San Francisco to Monterey and is the best option for visiting Monterey as a day trip from San Francisco. If youre lucky, you might even catch a mother seal giving birth. Airport Shuttles. Re: Things to do between San Francisco and Monterey. Copyright 2023 Monterey Airbus. The sunsets here are excellent, making it the ideal place to call it a night. Fortunately, it's also easy to get from San Francisco to Monterey, with a variety of options available for travelers. Without traffic, travelers can easily complete the drive point-to-point in just under 2 hours by taking the US-101 S. While this route may get you there the fastest, the route we recommend for this road trip is Highway 1. Click here for more information on SFO Airlines or book a SFO shuttle with Monterey Airbus for your next domestic flight! Old Fisherman's Wharf is 10 minutes' drive away. If youre looking for a short hike here (since youve got a whole day of exploring still ahead of you), Id recommend theSouth Plateau Trail to Bird Island hike. If youd like to get a bit closer to the wildlife, head to the Elkhorn Slough Reserve, a unique ecosystem home to seals, sea otters, sea lions, herons, egrets, and other wildlife. Distance from downtown Santa Rosa: 7 miles. When looking at flights, be sure to compare all of your options not just in terms of price, but also think about: Time between layovers to navigate a large airport, especially if your flight is delayed Copyright 2023 Monterey Airbus. The Monterey, Carmel, and 17-Mile Drive Full-Day Tour from San Francisco allows travelers to easily visit Monterey, while leaving the hassle of driving to someone else. Lastly, get a AAA membership! Santa Cruz is the most popular city on the route it's less than an hour from Monterey and 1 hour from San Francisco. It's west of Salinas and 72 miles from San Jose, 113 miles south of San Francisco, 186 miles from Sacramento and 322 miles north of Los Angeles. Its a local favorite! Author Lisa Alexander is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area and returns regularly. There are different options that you can take to get to Monterey from OAK. Having a car allows for flexibility in trip planning. Yes. Monterey, Carmel & 17-Mile Drive Day Trip from San Francisco 2023 - Viator Given that theres so much to do in Monterey (as well as around Monterey), you can really have yourself ajam-packed weekend adventurehere! Head to Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea. Aside from the normal clothing and toiletries youd pack for any regular trip, here are the things Id recommend you not leave home without: document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Subscribe to the TWE newsletter get first dibs on travel tips, updates, and exclusive deals! For the most scenic route, take Highway One the entire way. Check out our list of flat fees for our Monterey and California Shuttle Bus below. Portable Cooler| Coolers are a must for any road trip. Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) is the closest airport to Monterey, with only a short six to eight-minute drive to downtown. Then, get in line for Barbaras Fishtrap (serving up the freshest fish in the area) or Sams Chowder House (known for their lobster rolls and creamy clam chowder). Then, stop by the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay for drinks and to soak up incredible views from their ocean terrace. Fly from San Francisco (SFO) to Monterey (MRY) SFO - MRY $108 - $390 Shuttle 3h 51m Take a shuttle bus from SFO Airport Internation Arrivals to Reservation / Marina Landing Monterey Airbus from airport $53 - $65 Quickest way to get there Cheapest option Distance between Questions & Answers HOW MANY DAYS FOR A SAN FRANCISCO TO MONTEREY ROAD TRIP? From San Francisco to Monterey: 3 Best Ways to Get There Its located at the mouth ofElkhorn Slough, one of Californias largest wetland areas and home to hundreds of animal species. For a deeper dive on how you should spend your time in Monterey, check out our Monterey travel guide, dedicated to all the fun things you could do in Monterey, CA. Oddly, summer weather tends to be primarily overcast, with a few extremely sunny days here and there. 2 days. Lucky7 Transportation. 12 years ago. Monterey Airbus is proud to announce we now provide wheelchair transportation, following an agreement with the United States DOJ. The parking lot for Pie Ranch comes up quickly, so be sure to slow down and veer into the lot when you get your chance! Monterey to SFO | SFO International | Monterey Airbus Route: Pick up your rental car at the San Francisco International Airport (or Bay Area Airport of your arrival) and start your drive from SF to LA via Pacific Coast Highway. Monterey Airbus offers MORE pickup times at MORE convenient locations than any other provider in our area. Top 10 Best Shuttle From San Jose to San Francisco Airport in - Yelp Congrats, you made it to Santa Cruz, land of the surf and laidback vibes! Rather than kicking out these artists, Sand City decided to support them and legalize their live-work lofts, and now the tiny town is packed with resident artists. Follow it up with a meal at Duartes Tavern. The service departs from San Francisco by bus; connects to a train service in Emeryville, which continues on to Salinas; and finally connects to a bus in Salinas that drops off travelers at Monterey Transit Plaza. One disadvantage of this airport is that there are only twelve nonstop destinations within the US, and there are not a lot of international flights. The sheer number of seals is certainly impressive, but so is their size. If you want to explore further, you can visit Big Sur, which is only an hours drive from here. Call (831)-373-7777 or Book ONLINE. Traveling from the airport to downtown Monterey takes about an hour and 50 minutes. You can also fly into Metropolitan Oakland International Airport which can be found on our Top 10 airports for Private Jets in the USA article. Its got an amazing grip and popping your phone in and out of the mount could not be easier. Find out more about our Monterery limousine options at Main Event Transportation. Just be sure to bring layers and prepare for some unpredictable wind and fog! Aportable hard coolerwill allow you to pack picnic lunches, bring cheese and jams, and more. The Half Moon Bay coastline is made up of multiple state beaches, including Surfers Beach, Dunes Beach, Venice Beach, and Francis Beach. 4 hours 50 minutes. Theres a small parking area about a 5-minute walk away, right before you get to the Ritz property. Once you order your coffee, dont be surprised if you linger a little bit longer to take in all the quaint antiques and memorabilia inside the shop! Swanton Berry Farm really is a strawberry lovers dream come true! Take a few moments to browse through all the local gift shops, clothing boutiques, bookstores, and home decor shops. This beautiful coastal town makes for an easy day trip from the city. Will definitely use this company in the future. The remainder of the drive, from Santa Cruz to Monterey, takes about 50 minutes along Highway One, which follows alongside the coastline and affords stunning views. One of the top waterfront hotels is the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa, which overlooks the crashing waves of Monterey Bay and is steps away from Cannery Row. At best, youll have time to visit 5-7 stops before making it to Monterey in the late afternoon. Spare Tire| In addition to carrying a spare tire with you, dont forget to check your current tire conditions before you set off as well. It you're traveling to Monterey, book a San Francisco International Airport (SFO) airport shuttle today!