Day Trippin' › California › From Monterey
From Monterey, Point Lobos is about 15 minutes away, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk under an hour, and Winchester Mystery House under an hour and a half. The best day trips from Monterey, by drive time.
149 places within a 3-hour drive, by real roads.
Theme park · 45 min north
Classic seaside amusement park with a wooden coaster, arcade and a wide beach next door.
Waterfall · 53 min south
Short walk to an overlook of an ocean waterfall dropping onto a beach.
Viewpoint · 25 min south
Photo stop for the tall arched bridge on Highway 1 in Big Sur.
Historic site · 34 min northeast
Historic mission town with a plaza, old buildings and a wide valley view.
State park · 37 min south
Quiet beach, river walk and chance to see condors on the Big Sur coast.
State park · 42 min south
Redwood-lined Big Sur River, easy trails and a short hike to Pfeiffer Falls.
Family fun · 46 min north
A quirky roadside attraction where the ground seems to bend gravity and height.
Small town · 39 min north
Colorful seaside village with a beach, a wharf and cafes along the creek.
Landmark · 1 hr 13 min north
A huge odd mansion in San Jose with stairs to nowhere and doors that open to walls.
National park · 1 hr 21 min east
Spires and talus caves from an ancient volcano, plus condors and good hiking trails.
Observatory · 1 hr 37 min north
Historic hilltop telescopes above San Jose with a long winding road and big views.
Museum · 2 hr northwest
An aquarium, planetarium, rainforest dome and living roof all under one roof in Golden Gate Park.
Museum · 1 hr 57 min north
Hands-on science exhibits on the San Francisco waterfront. Great for kids and curious adults.
State park · 1 hr 10 min northwest
Elephant seal viewing on a wild peninsula north of Santa Cruz.
Theme park · 1 hr 18 min north
Classic Santa Clara coasters and family rides. The park marked its 50th season in 2026.
Hike · 1 hr 24 min north
Popular loop trails and farm views in the South Bay foothills.
Theme park · 2 hr 12 min north
Roller coasters, a water park and live animal shows in one park in Vallejo.
Hike · 2 hr 20 min northwest
Easy paths through old coast redwoods in a quiet canyon just north of the city.
State park · 2 hr 23 min southeast
Grand hilltop mansion with tours of the pools and gardens along the coast.
Island · 2 hr 44 min north
Ferry to the old island prison with an audio tour and big city views.
Historic site · 2 hr 57 min north
A riverfront district of Gold Rush and railroad-era buildings with wooden sidewalks, under Tower Bridge.
Landmark · 2 hr 6 min north
The famous orange bridge. Walk or bike across for big views of the city, the bay and the Marin Headlands.
State park · 2 hr 25 min north
A tall peak in the East Bay with a summit road, wide views and many trails.
Landmark · 2 hr 25 min southeast
Sea-level volcanic plug beside a harbor with sea otters and kayak rentals.
Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP 93940 (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.