How to Get to Monterey County
Whether you prefer planes, trains or automobiles, it's easy to get to Monterey County.
Flying to Monterey County
Convenient Monterey Peninsula Airport, which has short and hassle-free security lines, is located just 10 minutes door-to-door from downtown Monterey, 15 minutes from Carmel-by-the-Sea, 25 minutes from downtown Salinas and 45 minutes from Big Sur. Visitors can fly direct to Monterey Peninsula Airport (MRY) via international and domestic connecting routes on Allegiant, American Eagle, United Express and US Airways. Fly direct from airports including Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Phoenix (PHX), Denver (DEN) and Las Vegas (LAS). Charter and private flights are also available.
Other Nearby Airports
Other large airports near Monterey County include Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC), located 60 minutes from downtown Monterey and 50 from downtown Salinas; and San Francisco International Airport, located 2 hours from downtown Monterey and 90 minutes from downtown Salinas. Monterey Airbus and Main Event Transportation offer convenient door-to-door service to and from SFO and SJC.
Monterey County by Bus or Train
Amtrak's Coast Starlight train cruises through Salinas each day on its route between Seattle, Washington and Los Angeles, California, providing a leisurely and scenic way to travel. There are packages to fit every budget. It's a great way to see the grandeur of the Central Coast at eye level. Free bus service is provided from Salinas to downtown Monterey, a 30-minute ride. There is also a Greyhound station in Salinas with connecting service to Monterey.
Monterey County by Car
There are two routes to Monterey by car, both very scenic. Highway One, which runs from San Francisco to Los Angeles, offers breathtaking views of the Pacific coastline and has been called the top road trip in America by many sources. Highway 101 runs down the valley corridor and affords the motorist an opportunity to see the rich land that has made the Salinas Valley "the Salad Bowl of the World." Many routes can be found in the menu at the left.
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