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

“Worth it! A must-do!! Beautiful views and plenty of opportunities to take it all the sights along the way.”

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3.San Francisco: Monterey and Carmel Day Tour

Discover California's stunning coast with this 11-hour Monterey and Carmel day trip, featuring iconic scenic drives, marine life, and charming towns.

★ 4.3

“Really enjoyed going out of San Francisco and see more of California. The 17 mile Drive was amazing, Monterey was very pretty where you can have a nice lunch by the sea. Carmel was really cute, but a bit more "stuck up" than Monterey, another…”

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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

“The coastline is beautiful and the small towns of Carmel and Monterey are exquisite. The tour guide was knowledgeable and funny.”

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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

“Our driver Henry was very accommodating to have my stroller out whenever we stopped. Roberto was AMAZING, Feng & the other female tour guide were AMAZING!!! They stopped plenty of times for bathroom breaks ( clean bathrooms ) and nice hotels!! Best tour I have…”

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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 wonderful to have a private car to take such a long drive. Some of the roads were very curvy which made my son a bit sick but that wasn’t the driver’s fault. He took us everywhere we wanted to go and showed us…”

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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

“Pablo did an excellent job tailoring the tour to our needs while ensuring we got the most out of the itinerary. We greatly appreciated his flexibility and service oriented attitude. He is also an excellent driver and guide.”

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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

“We had a wonderful day driven by Anthony, seeing lots of birds and amazing sea views, mansions on the 17 mile drive and leading up to it. We loved Carmel by the sea! The vehicle was extremely comfortable for along journey. Our only gripe was…”

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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

“I was waiting over 15 minutes for the bus to collect, when a black car with a chinese driver drove up and told me he is the tour as there are not enough people for a bus. I was very confused but the company confirmed…”

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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

“The guide picked us up at our hotel in a comfortable/clean and well-kept Toyota Sienna. We casually made our way, after making it out of town to the coast, through the scenic views from Santa Cruz, Pacific Grove, Monterey, Carmel and Big Sur. Breathtaking coastal…”

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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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More Monterey & Carmel Day Trips