Monterey, Carmel and 17-Mile Drive: Full Day Tour from SF
Overview
Available languages
11 hours
Mobile ticket
Cruise along California's spectacular coastline on a relaxing day trip from San Francisco. Follow Highway 1 and enjoy stops at Pigeon Point Lighthouse and in Davenport for a quick coffee and snack.
Back on the road traveling by Monterey Bay and Peninsula, to the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium and Steinbeck's Cannery Row. Explore Monterey's charming shops or choose to go to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Two hours is ample time for pictures and Instagram posts of everything you are experiencing.
See the stunning estates of 17-Mile Drive, as well as Bird Rock, Lone Cypress, and world famous, Pebble Beach Golf Course.
Arriving in Carmel-by-the-Sea, known for the museums and library of the historic Carmel Mission, and the fairytale cottages, and galleries of its village like center.
11 hours of breathtaking sightseeing, unique shopping, historical landmarks, mouth-watering culinary innovation.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
What To Expect
Pacific Coast Highway
The lighthouse, constructed in 1871, serves as a guiding beacon for ships navigating the Pacific coast of California. It proudly stands as the tallest lighthouse along the West Coast of the United States and continues to play an active role in assisting the Coast Guard in navigation. During the journey, travelers will have the chance to disembark from the bus to capture memorable photos with the lighthouse as their backdrop or enjoy a brief stroll down to the nearby beach.
Pigeon Point Light Station
Tallest lighthouse on the west Coast of the United States. it is still an active Coast Guard aid to navigation. Explore the lighthouse or a quick walk down to the beach.
Options
Monterey and Carmel
What‘s Included
Transport by air-conditioned luxury motor-coach with a professional guide
Day-trip to Monterey and Carmel
2 hours stop at Monterey Bay
1 hour stop at Carmel by the Sea
Entrance fee for the 17-Mile Drive Included
Stops at Pigeon Point Lighthouse, Pebble Beach, Bird Rock and the Lone Cypress
not included
Food and drinks
Hotel Pick-up & drop-off
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
2,209 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
This is a must!
lauramL97NX,Jun 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Cristin is a wonderful tour guide. Very knowledgeable and friendly. Transportation is nice with outlets on every seat to charge cell phones. Saw so many wonderful places, definitely worth it.
Don was an excellent tour...
Alison D,Jun 13, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Don was an excellent tour guide! So knowledgeable. Amazing tour- would have liked more time in Carmel but otherwise excellent! Thank you.
Beautiful, must do, scenic tour!
Linda M,Jun 13, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Beautiful scenic views, comfortable ride, plenty of rest stops, Kristen was an excellent tour guide.
Treat people better
Brinda K,Jun 8, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00It was a long drive back and i had a plane to catch. The timing says 11 hrs but its actually 12 hrs. Incorrect timing listed in the tour. They made a stop at Pacifica at the request of another passanger. I suddendly decided to get down because it is closer to the airport. Union square is further away. Since i decided that in a hurry i forgot to tip the tour guide. Itsca older pady with short hair and a foreign accent. The tour agent then blocked my way and tapped at the paper and said we are service people and we need to be tipped. I completely agree with that. I am part of the tipping culture. I was running late for my flight and had a long day and i think it slipped my mind. But i immediately tipped her cash. The point is she could have reminded me in a nice way. Her face almost became demonic. “People will forget what u said but they will not forget how you made them feel”. She continued to be hostile towards me even after i tipped her cash. Not sure why this hatred?
Very nice tour
Bell Y,Jun 3, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Very nice trip, a full day and lots of hours in the car. Yet, beautiful places and scenery, with lots of stops. Monetary and the 17-mile drive are stunning.
Better than Expected!
Valerie L,Jun 2, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This was an amazing experience and the tour guide was really good at narrating noteworthy occurrences throughout
A tour of beautiful places along the Central Coast! Just wish the guide could have shared more information!
Joy S,May 31, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00The tour itinerary was perfect, seeing some incredible sights! The guide didn’t share much information about the things we saw. The parking situation at the meeting spot was very expensive for a full day!
A Smooth, Relaxing, and Memorable Coastal Tour
Ruby T,May 21, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00I had a great experience on the Monterey, 17-Mile Drive, and Carmel-by-the-Sea tour with Gray Line. Our driver and tour guide, Don, was fantastic — incredibly knowledgeable, organized, and engaging throughout the entire trip. He shared so many interesting stories and historical insights that made the experience even more enjoyable and meaningful. The vehicle was spacious, comfortable, and had great AC, which made the long drive very relaxing. Don also managed the schedule really well, giving us enough time at each stop while still keeping everything efficient and getting us back on time. Overall, it was a very smooth and enjoyable experience, and I would definitely recommend this tour to my friends and family!
Pacific Coastal Charm in a Day
Diedre C,May 20, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00A great, safe way to enjoy these California gems in just a day with a knowledgeable and friendly guide. Don had tons of information to share with us and by incorporating some of his own personal connections to these special places made it a very engaging and interesting day. He always kept our safety and time in mind, and was very tactful when any passengers needed a gentle reminder about being courteous while on the bus. The brief stops along the coastline allowed us enough time for taking photos and the two hour stay in Monterey was just enough time to do a little shopping and have a relaxing lunch by the sea. While in Carmel-by-the-Sea, we were given an hour, which provided ample time to walk to the beach and visit some of the quaint shops along the way.
Driver Don was excellent. Bus was awful and very uncomfortable to ride in for 11 hours
LoveTravel439314,May 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00Driver Don was great and very informative. However the bus we travelled in was small, cramped and very uncomfortable to ride in, especially as this was an 11 hour tour. Felt we were riding in a school bus . When we booked the itinerary had listed a bus with toilet . Very disappointed with the standard of the transportation.
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Operated by Gray Line San Francisco