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

“Beautiful way to see the California coast. Many different points of interest. Find it easier to have a tour group, cuz you just sit back and enjoy the scene s.”

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2.From San Francisco: Monterey and Carmel Day Tour

Discover scenic California’s coast on this full-day tour from San Francisco, visiting Monterey, Carmel, 17-Mile Drive, and Pebble Beach.

★ 4.4

“Danilo was an awesome guide and so happy and cheerful from 7.40 am when he picked us up until 8 pm when he dropped us off - I don’t know how he does it, but I need to know his secret lol. Weather was perfect…”

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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

“Good trip to see the scenery and cities along the coast south of SF. Driver/guide not willing to answer questions and did not have control of the number of people on the tour. Driver left one man at Monterey, but turned around to pick him…”

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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

“Our guide, Fred picked us up on time and accommodated our requests plus many other beautiful breathtaking stops not included on our wish list He was informative and kept us entertained during the long drive. It was the highlight of our trip to San Fransisco.…”

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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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8.Best of Monterey Peninsula & Carmel-the-Sea Small Group Tour

Experience California's stunning coast on this full-day small-group tour from San Francisco, exploring Carmel, Big Sur scenery, and iconic landmarks.

★ 4.5

“Mitchell was a great guide and a fun guy to have around on this trip. He took the time to wait and be considerate for everyone’s pace and covered all the spots with patience and not rushing anyone. Mesmerising coastal trails at Pigeon Point to…”

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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

“There were 5 guests so we got a Honda minivan which made it difficult for older guests to get in and out. Our guide basically only spoke when spoken to. He introduced the sites when we arrived but not much else. We drove for hours…”

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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

“Spectacular sceneries. Hao was an excellent tour guide. The time spent in each site was just right. The instructions for pick up were excellent.”

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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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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