San Francisco

15 Best Monterey & Carmel Day Trips

The Monterey days: south along the coast to the 17-Mile Drive’s cypress points, Carmel’s cottage streets and Monterey’s wharf. The scenery does the talking for most of the day.

1.Monterey, Carmel and 17-Mile Drive: Full Day Tour from SF

Discover California’s stunning coast with this full-day tour from SF to Monterey, Carmel, and the iconic 17-Mile Drive—perfect for scenic lovers and first-timers.

Most Popular★ 4.0

“Great views of the coast and the ocean. The only thing was that to me Carmel is the best stop on that trip and it should be the longest one, but it isn’t.”

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4.Monterey, Carmel and Pacific Coast Explorer from San Francisco

Discover California’s stunning coast on a full-day tour from San Francisco, visiting Monterey, Carmel, and iconic scenic spots with expert guides and breathtaking views.

★ 4.0

“Our day-long tour is a breeze and very enjoyable with Danilo. He was very engaging as we go along the route and he drives like a pro; safely and smoothly. I would definitely recommend this tour to my friends and hopefully they will have Danilo…”

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5.From LA: SF, Yosemite, Santa Barbara and Carmel 3-Day Tour

Experience iconic California highlights on this 3-day tour from LA, including Yosemite, San Francisco, Carmel, and Santa Barbara, with expert guides and stunning sights.

★ 4.4

“Excellent experience! The quality of transportation and hotels was very good, and breakfast was included. The tour guide, Pasquale, was friendly, gave us lots of information and good tips, and spoke several languages. The activities were very well organized, and I think they take you…”

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6.From San Francisco: Carmel, Monterey & Big Sur Private Tour

Experience California's stunning coast on a private 10-hour tour from San Francisco to Carmel, Monterey, and Big Sur, tailored to your interests.

★ 4.9

“It was a truly amazing trip, all in all! Fred (our driver) offered a top class service when it came to giving us info, stoping for pictures, offering advice regarding stops & so on. we even went to apple hq at cupertino, on our way…”

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7.Monterey, Carmel, 17 Mile Dr, Big Sur & Mcway Falls Pvt Tour

Experience California’s stunning coast on a private, customizable tour covering Monterey, Carmel, 17-Mile Drive, Big Sur, and McWay Falls. Perfect for nature lovers and scenic road trip fans.

★ 5.0

“We just finished our trip with Pablo to Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur. Pablo was awesome from his pacing of the trip with kids, to food recommendations, and the whole organization of the day to explore Hwy 1 and all the beautiful views. He was knowledgeable…”

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9.Monterey Peninsula and Carmel by the Sea Small Group Tour

Discover California’s scenic coast on this small-group tour from San Francisco, featuring iconic stops like Cannery Row, Pebble Beach, and Carmel.

★ 4.5

“Carmel is now mostly a shopping mall. The cute boutiques are at the bottom of the hill but it was a hike getting back up. Monterrey was also a shopping mall. The stops along 17 mile drive were lovely. Unfortunately the guide’s accent was very…”

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10.17-Mile Drive,Carmel & Monterey Day Trip from San Francisco

Explore California’s coast on a guided 17-Mile Drive, Carmel, and Monterey trip from San Francisco. Expect scenic views, informative guides, and flexible options.

★ 3.0

“Very good tour, fantastic scenery, Our tour guide is Antony , he is very funny and helpful, making the trip more enjoyable. Good memories, will recommend to my friends.”

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11.Carmel, Monterey and Big Sur Tour Private Tour from San Francisco

Discover the California coast from San Francisco to Big Sur on a private, customizable tour. Enjoy stunning views, expert guides, and authentic experiences.

★ 5.0

“We recently went on a private family tour to Big Sur, Carmel, and Monterey with Fred — and I can wholeheartedly say it was one of the most memorable experiences of our trip to California. Fred reached out a day in advance to confirm everything,…”

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12.Monterey, Carmel and Big Sur private Day Trip from San Francisco

Experience the stunning California coast with a private guided day trip from San Francisco to Monterey, Carmel, and Big Sur, tailored to your pace.

★ 4.5

“Pep our driver/guide was excellent. We were able to tailor our trip to cover everything we wanted. Monterey, 17 mile drive, a stop off at Carmel and Bixby bridge. Stunning coast line”

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13.Carmel / Monterey Hwy 1 tour

Explore the scenic California coast on a private tour from San Francisco, visiting Carmel, Monterey, and the iconic 17-Mile Drive with expert guides.

★ 5.0

“The whole coast line is a miracle of nature!!..Carmel is out of this world charming! Pacific ocean’s wilderness and beauty are immersive!”

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