Day Trippin' › California › From Salinas
From Salinas, Monterey Bay Aquarium is about 25 minutes away, Bixby Creek Bridge under an hour, and Winchester Mystery House about an hour. The best day trips from Salinas, by drive time.
170 places within a 3-hour drive, by real roads.
Theme park · 41 min northwest
Classic seaside amusement park with a wooden coaster, arcade and a wide beach next door.
State park · 30 min southwest
Rocky coves, sea otters, harbor seals and cypress groves, often called the crown jewel of state parks.
Viewpoint · 41 min southwest
Photo stop for the tall arched bridge on Highway 1 in Big Sur.
Small town · 25 min southwest
Storybook village with art galleries, a white sand beach and tiny alley courtyards.
Historic site · 26 min southwest
Beautifully restored Spanish mission and garden in the village of Carmel.
Beach · 28 min west
Wild, rocky beach with boardwalks through dunes, tide pools and a historic conference grounds.
Hike · 32 min southwest
Wildflower bluffs and a short trail to a quiet beach, just south of Carmel on Highway 1.
Family fun · 41 min northwest
A quirky roadside attraction where the ground seems to bend gravity and height.
Landmark · 1 hr 4 min north
A huge odd mansion in San Jose with stairs to nowhere and doors that open to walls.
Waterfall · 1 hr 9 min south
Short walk to an overlook of an ocean waterfall dropping onto a beach.
National park · 1 hr 10 min southeast
Spires and talus caves from an ancient volcano, plus condors and good hiking trails.
Observatory · 1 hr 26 min north
Historic hilltop telescopes above San Jose with a long winding road and big views.
Museum · 1 hr 49 min northwest
An aquarium, planetarium, rainforest dome and living roof all under one roof in Golden Gate Park.
Museum · 1 hr 46 min northwest
Hands-on science exhibits on the San Francisco waterfront. Great for kids and curious adults.
Landmark · 1 hr 55 min northwest
The famous orange bridge. Walk or bike across for big views of the city, the bay and the Marin Headlands.
State park · 1 hr 6 min northwest
Elephant seal viewing on a wild peninsula north of Santa Cruz.
Theme park · 2 hr 1 min north
Roller coasters, a water park and live animal shows in one park in Vallejo.
Hike · 2 hr 9 min northwest
Easy paths through old coast redwoods in a quiet canyon just north of the city.
Island · 2 hr 32 min northwest
Ferry to the old island prison with an audio tour and big city views.
State park · 2 hr 38 min south
Grand hilltop mansion with tours of the pools and gardens along the coast.
Historic site · 2 hr 46 min north
A riverfront district of Gold Rush and railroad-era buildings with wooden sidewalks, under Tower Bridge.
Historic site · 2 hr 58 min northeast
A whole Gold Rush town kept as it was, with stagecoach rides, gold panning, old saloons and costumed shopkeepers.
Landmark · 2 hr 9 min southeast
Sea-level volcanic plug beside a harbor with sea otters and kayak rentals.
State park · 2 hr 14 min north
A tall peak in the East Bay with a summit road, wide views and many trails.
Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP 93901 (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.