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California, United States

Monterey & Carmel

Give it a full day: aquarium and Cannery Row in the morning, Point Lobos and Carmel in the afternoon. Below: 3 sights, 1 activity and 2 outdoor spots, plus how Monterey & Carmel fits into a longer trip.

Plan Monterey & Carmel with friendsBrowse 9 places
Monterey & Carmel, California, United States
Places
9

3 See · 1 Do · 2 Outdoors · 2 Eat · 1 Drink

Curated routes
1

Pacific Coast Highway

Best season
Apr – Oct

from our route notes

Warmest month
September

21°C / 69°F avg high

Coolest month
January

15°C / 58°F avg high

Wettest month
December

about 106 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.

Things to do in Monterey & Carmel

9 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

The landmarks we would not skip in Monterey & Carmel across Cannery Row and Carmel.

  • Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey & CarmelPhoto: Rhinopias · CC BY-SA 4.0
    See

    Monterey Bay Aquarium

    Kelp forest tank, sea otters and open-ocean exhibits on the edge of the bay.

    Tip Buy timed tickets online; otter feedings are posted daily.

    • Cannery Row
    • $$$
    • 3 hr
    • Weekday morning
  • Cannery Row in Monterey & CarmelPhoto: Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK · CC BY 2.0
    See

    Cannery Row

    Former sardine-cannery street from Steinbeck's novel, now waterfront shops and restaurants.

    • Cannery Row
    • Free
    • 45 min
    • Morning
  • Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo in Monterey & CarmelPhoto: Dsdugan · CC0
    See

    Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo

    Restored 1771 mission with a stone basilica, gardens and museum rooms.

    • Carmel
    • $
    • 60 min
    • Morning

Do

Hands-on ways to spend time in Monterey & Carmel in Pebble Beach.

  • 17-Mile Drive in Monterey & CarmelPhoto: Humanoid one · CC BY-SA 3.0
    Do

    17-Mile Drive

    Toll road through Pebble Beach past the Lone Cypress, Bird Rock and golf links.

    Tip Per-car toll; enter at Pacific Grove gate and exit at Carmel gate.

    • Pebble Beach
    • $
    • 1.5 hr
    • Afternoon

Outdoors

Trails, views and open space in and around Monterey & Carmel.

  • Point Lobos State Natural Reserve in Monterey & CarmelPhoto: Tim · Google
    Outdoors

    Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

    Granite coves, cypress groves and sea otters along easy coastal trails.

    Tip Parking inside fills by 10am; Cypress Grove Trail is the highlight.

    • Carmel Highlands
    • $
    • 2 hr
    • Early morning
  • Carmel Beach in Monterey & CarmelPhoto: Greghenderson2006 · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Outdoors

    Carmel Beach

    White-sand beach at the foot of Ocean Avenue with cypress-framed sunsets.

    Tip Dogs allowed off-leash; bonfires only in marked pits south of 10th Ave.

    • Carmel-by-the-Sea
    • Free
    • 60 min
    • Sunset

Eat

2 places to eat across Old Fisherman's Wharf and Carmel-by-the-Sea, picked for groups who care about the food.

  • Old Fisherman's Grotto in Monterey & CarmelPhoto: Old Fisherman’s Grotto · Google
    Eat

    Old Fisherman's Grotto

    Family-run Fisherman's Wharf seafood house known for its clam chowder.

    Tip Order the chowder in a bread bowl; ask for a window table.

    • Old Fisherman's Wharf
    • $$
    • 60 min
    • Lunch
  • La Bicyclette in Monterey & CarmelPhoto: Ivan Nekrasov · Google
    Eat

    La Bicyclette

    French-Italian bistro in Carmel village with wood-fired dishes.

    Tip Reserve for dinner; lunch is easier to walk in.

    • Carmel-by-the-Sea
    • $$$
    • 75 min
    • Dinner

Drink

1 bar or café in Carmel-by-the-Sea for coffee, a round or a nightcap.

  • Hog's Breath Inn in Monterey & CarmelPhoto: Hog's Breath Inn · Google
    Drink

    Hog's Breath Inn

    Courtyard pub once owned by Clint Eastwood, with fire pits and murals.

    • Carmel-by-the-Sea
    • $$
    • 60 min
    • Evening

How to fit Monterey & Carmel into a trip

Monterey & Carmel is stop 2 of 6 on our Pacific Coast Highway route. Follow it as-is or lift Monterey & Carmel into your own plan.

Getting here and onward

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

Monterey & Carmel month by month

Average daily highs run from 15°C / 58°F in January to 21°C / 69°F in September. December is the wettest month, with about 106 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Monterey & Carmel weather and the best time to visit →

Near Monterey & Carmel

8 other destinations from our guides within about 250 km (155 mi), measured in a straight line.

Monterey & Carmel questions, answered

How many days do you need in Monterey & Carmel?

Our route notes suggest a full day in Monterey & Carmel. On our Pacific Coast Highway route it is stop 2 of 6 in a 6-day trip. The listed visit times for our 9 places add up to roughly 13 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Monterey & Carmel best known for?

Give it a full day: aquarium and Cannery Row in the morning, Point Lobos and Carmel in the afternoon. Standouts on our list: Monterey Bay Aquarium (Kelp forest tank, sea otters and open-ocean exhibits on the edge of the bay); Cannery Row (Former sardine-cannery street from Steinbeck's novel, now waterfront shops and restaurants); Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo (Restored 1771 mission with a stone basilica, gardens and museum rooms).

When is the best time to visit Monterey & Carmel?

Our Pacific Coast Highway route is best Apr – Oct. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in September (21°C / 69°F), the coolest in January (15°C / 58°F) and the most rain in December (about 106 mm).

What are the best things to do in Monterey & Carmel?

Start with Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row, 17-Mile Drive, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve and Carmel Beach. Our guide lists 9 places in all, from 3 sights, 1 activity, 2 outdoor spots, 2 places to eat and 1 bar or café.

Where should a group eat in Monterey & Carmel?

Our picks: Old Fisherman's Grotto (Old Fisherman's Wharf); La Bicyclette (Carmel-by-the-Sea). Order the chowder in a bread bowl; ask for a window table (Old Fisherman's Grotto).

What is near Monterey & Carmel?

The closest destinations in our guides are Big Sur (about 37 km / 23 mi), San Simeon (about 121 km / 75 mi) and San Francisco (about 139 km / 86 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Monterey & Carmel with your crew

Open the Pacific Coast Highway route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 9 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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