Monterey Carmel 17-Mile Drive Full Day Tour from SF

Drive the California coast in one day without planning the route or the stops

A full-day tour from San Francisco to Monterey, Carmel-by-the-Sea and the 17-Mile Drive on Highway 1, with an English-speaking guide and air-conditioned coach. You get two hours to explore Cannery Row and the Monterey Bay Aquarium area, one hour in Carmel's downtown, and photo stops at Pigeon Point Lighthouse, Bird Rock, the Lone Cypress and Pebble Beach Golf Links. The 17-Mile Drive entrance fee is included; aquarium tickets are separate. Infants can ride in a stroller, and the pace suits all fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Coastal sightseeing from San Francisco

• Stop at Pigeon Point Lighthouse
• Visit Davenport Cafe for coffee and snack
• Drive along Monterey Bay
• Explore Cannery Row and Monterey Bay Aquarium
• Drive 17-Mile Drive with photo stops
• See Bird Rock wildlife
• Visit Lone Cypress viewpoint
• Stop at Pebble Beach Golf Links
• Free time at Carmel Plaza

The Experience

How do you see the whole Monterey Peninsula in a single day without renting a car or navigating Highway 1 yourself? The tour leaves San Francisco in the morning and follows the Pacific Coast Highway south, stopping first at Pigeon Point Lighthouse — the tallest on the West Coast, built in 1871 and still an active Coast Guard navigation aid. You get time to photograph it or walk down to the beach, then the coach stops at Davenport Cafe for coffee and a restroom break before heading toward Monterey Bay.

Monterey is where the day opens up. Cannery Row, the waterfront district that once housed sardine factories, is now lined with restaurants and shops, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium sits right there by the water. You have two hours of free time to choose: spend it at the aquarium (tickets are booked separately on their website), eat lunch along the row, or wander the shops. This is the longest stop, and it's the one that lets you actually sit down instead of just passing through.

After Monterey, the coach takes the 17-Mile Drive, a private loop through the Pebble Beach community with designated photo stops. Bird Rock teems with sea lions and seabirds; the Lone Cypress, a 250-year-old Monterey Cypress anchored with cables, stands between two world-famous golf courses and is one of the most photographed trees in North America. You'll stop at Pebble Beach Golf Links itself, where you can visit the clubhouse or browse the shop. The 17-Mile Drive entrance fee is built in. The day ends in Carmel-by-the-Sea, a small beach town on the peninsula, where you have an hour to explore Carmel Plaza — a downtown cluster of galleries, boutiques, wine tasting rooms and restaurants — before the coach returns to San Francisco.

What’s included

• Transport by air-conditioned luxury coach with a professional English-speaking guide.
• entrance fee for the 17-Mile Drive.
• stops at Pigeon Point Lighthouse, Bird Rock, the Lone Cypress and Pebble Beach Golf Links.
• two hours of free time in Monterey at Cannery Row and the Monterey Bay Aquarium area.
• one hour in downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Gray Line San Francisco

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're staying in San Francisco without a rental car — the coach picks up from your hotel area and handles the full route, timing and navigation of Highway 1, so a full Monterey Peninsula day becomes possible without driving or planning stops yourself.

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Top questions

What is Pigeon Point Lighthouse and why is it on this tour?

Pigeon Point Lighthouse, built in 1871, is the tallest lighthouse on the West Coast and still serves as an active Coast Guard navigation aid. The tour stops there so you can photograph it and walk down to the nearby beach.

How much time do I get in Monterey, and what can I actually do there?

You have two hours in Monterey. The stop centers on Cannery Row and the Monterey Bay Aquarium area, so you can visit the aquarium (if you've booked tickets separately), eat lunch at one of the waterfront restaurants, or browse the shops along the historic row.

What is the Lone Cypress and why do people photograph it?

The Lone Cypress is a 250-year-old Monterey Cypress tree standing on a granite hillside between two world-famous golf courses. It's one of the most photographed trees in North America and has been anchored with cables for the past six decades to keep it stable.

Is the Monterey Bay Aquarium included in this tour?

The Monterey Bay Aquarium is not included. Aquarium tickets must be purchased separately and reserved in advance on the official Monterey Bay Aquarium website before your tour date. The tour gives you two hours at Cannery Row to visit it if you choose.

What happens at Pebble Beach Golf Links during the tour?

Pebble Beach Golf Links is one of the world's most renowned golf courses, perched on the rugged coastline. During the 17-Mile Drive, the coach stops so you can disembark and spend time in the clubhouse or explore the souvenir shop.

How long is the entire tour and what time does it end?

The tour runs for 11 hours total, departing from San Francisco in the morning and returning after the Carmel-by-the-Sea stop. You'll have photo stops and free time at Monterey (2 hours), the 17-Mile Drive and its scenic points, and Carmel (1 hour).