San Francisco Tours
Monterey, Carmel and 17-Mile Drive: Full Day Tour from SF
4.5

Monterey, Carmel and 17-Mile Drive: Full Day Tour from SF

By Gray Line San Francisco
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About
Running along the Pacific coastline in California, Highway 1’s route involves plenty of twists and turns. Rather than dealing with the stress of driving it on your own, take this Monterey and Carmel tour that allows you to keep your eyes on the spectacular views. It includes round-trip transportation from San Francisco, and you can even add an optional admission ticket to the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 0-99, max of 45 per group
Duration: 11h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More

Highlights
  • Enjoy a road trip down Highway 1: One of California's most famous routes
  • Choose to stroll Cannery Row or to explore the Monterey Bay Aquarium
  • Round-trip transportation makes exploring seamless
  • Plenty of stops with photo opportunities along 17 Mile Drive

  • Day-trip to Monterey and Carmel
  • Entrance fee for the 17-Mile Drive Included
  • Transport by air-conditioned luxury motor-coach with a professional guide
  • 2 hours stop at Monterey Bay
  • 1 hour stop at Carmel by the Sea
  • Stops at Pigeon Point Lighthouse, Pebble Beach, Bird Rock and the Lone Cypress
  • Entry/Admission - 17-Mile Drive
  • Entry/Admission - Bird Rock Vista Point
  • Entry/Admission - Lone Cypress
  • Entry/Admission - Pebble Beach Golf Links
What's not included
  • Gratuities
  • Food and drinks
  • Hotel Pick-up & drop-off
  • Monterey Bay Aquarium

Start your guided tour to Monterey with a pickup in central San Francisco. Once you board your vehicle for the day, relax on the drive. Your guide takes you down the California coast for views of the Pacific Ocean and beachside mansions. Your first stop is in Monterey where you have some free time to stroll Cannery Row or visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Next, take a trip down 17-Mile Drive, and stop to admire the Pebble Beach Golf Course, all while soaking up the coastal scenery. Afterward, it’s on to Carmel-by-the-Sea for some more free time before the drive back to San Francisco.

Start:Multiple meeting point options.
  • Option 1
    478 Post St, San Francisco, CA 94102, USA
    Union Square Departure Location 478 Post St. Arrive by 7:25 AM to check-in Bus Departs at 7:40 AM Although there is no physical location, you'll find Encore Café situated right next door. For boarding the bus, simply head across the street to meet our representative and board the bus.
  • Option 2
    2805 Leavenworth St, San Francisco, CA 94133, USA
    Gray Line Fisherman’s Wharf Departure Location 2805 Leavenworth St. Arrive by 7:45 AM to check-in Bus Departs at 8:00 AM Although there is no physical location, you'll easily spot Pomegranate Café directly across the street. Simply wait there, and our representative will meet you.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Stroller accessible
    • Service animals allowed
    • Infants must sit on laps
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 2660SFOMON

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Most travelers can participate
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 45 travelers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    The tour operator has provided the following answers to customers’ questions.
    Is there a restroom onboard the Monterey, Carmel and 17-Mile Drive tour?
    Yes restrooms are on the bus. We also make stops to use the restroom during the tour.
    Answered Aug 2023

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 2660SFOMON

    From
    $127.00
    per adult
    Select date and travelers

    Similar experiences

    Itinerary
    • Pass by
      Pacific Coast Highway
    • 1
    • 2
      Pass by
      Monterey Bay
      Cannery Row
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5
    • 6
      Pass by
      Carmel by the sea
    • 7
    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Gray Line San Francisco
      4,881
      San Francisco, California
      Joined in February 2011
    • U3244HVjuned
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Enjoyed it thoroughly
      This was our first time doing a bus tour to vineyard. Our family loved the experience. Roche Winery, Artesa Vineyard were fabulous. I hope Madonna Estate is removed from the tour itinerary as it is a letdown compared to others. We went to Napa Valley for lunch. It was nice as well. The itinerary may not be followed strictly (one of the vineyard and the lunch place mentioned in the itinerary was skipped for another ones). Our driver, Danny, was good. Everything was on schedule. Overall I definitely recommend this company Grayline for booking the tour.
      Written October 13, 2024
    • Suzanne P
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great tour
      We had a great time. The driver was very informative. Everything went smoothly. We took the ferry back from Sausalito. Highly recommend.
      Written October 13, 2024
    • nicoleduff
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Phenomenal Tour!
      Great experience! Our tour guide was Joseph and driver was Yontem they both were awesome and knowledgeable about the wineries and the San Francisco area.
      Written October 12, 2024
    • lmittag
      0 contributions
      3.0 of 5 bubbles
      Stuck on the bus from hell
      Muir Woods was amazing. We wish we had been there longer. Our bus driver Dennis was rude and obnoxious. He talked the whole time. Mainly about himself.
      Written October 12, 2024
    • BromsgroveTurner
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Comprehensive city tour.
      Very comprehensive tour of SFC, all the key sights & some we did not expect. Coach was good quality, maybe driver could have slowed when a key landmark was mentioned by guide. Well worth the time to get a good overview of the city.
      Written October 11, 2024
    • michelleq340
      0 contributions
      1.0 of 5 bubbles
      Tour was cancelled last minute.
      We were confirmed and then cancelled the day before. We were offered another tour but not for Chinatown, not comparable. Frustrating but we were told it was due to illness. Hopi g our refund comes through. Until then, hesitant to book with this company again.
      Written October 11, 2024
    • Boze_67
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Nice tour of three different wineries in Sonoma and Napa valleys.
      On vacation, just me and the wife in San Francisco. Nice tour of 3 different wineries, each one producing very different wines, so we were able to try some different wines we probably would not have on our own. Our bus driver, Danny did a great job of keeping us entertained and informed with tidbits about San Francisco, as our tour guide did not show up.
      Written October 8, 2024
    • sheilamarieg2019
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Day Excursion
      A full day which allowed us to experience many of the things we wanted to see and do without having to deal with driving, parking or getting admission tickets. Small bus was comfortable with great driver and interesting companions. Highly recommend
      Written October 8, 2024
    • jimwB7623EM
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Tranquility
      Awesome tour. George was a great guide/bus driver. Provided info and answered all questions without the question being asked. Beautiful at Muir Woods. Tranquil. Sausalito was very quaint. I do wish George had given more info. about which direction to go to get to the tourist area. We found it after asking Google. 😳😂 👍 The ferry ride back was cool too.
      Written October 7, 2024
    • The_Concierge_8
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      There's so many tours out there, it's tough to choose just one. Totally happy with this tour after hours of research!
      I spent days researching tours and trying to work out best day and what to do in San Francisco over 3 days. There are so many different types of tours and some see the same places and some are so vastly different. I loved this tour as it gave a taste of so much! Most tours just stay inside the main city limits and don't go out to Lands End and Twin Peaks. Some also don't give you much time at Palace of Fine Arts Theatre. This tour did all of that and so much more. It's a great tour if you're short on time and want to get a great overview of many parts of San Francisco. We had Judith as our driver and Michelle as our tour guide. Michelle was a little direct and sarcastic sometimes, but I understand the need to keep everyone in check and on time. Judith was great at answering questions and taking photos for the single travellers in our group. They made a good pair for our tour and kept things lively while giving us an education and making sure we had fun and bathroom breaks. We saw lots of iconic buildings, spent some time at the Golden Gate Bridge and drove through the Presidio and Golden Gate National parks and through Mission District and downtown SF. Great overview and learned so much! I only wished I could have seen Lombard street up close but most tour companies are no longer able to take you to the foot of the hill. There are tours however where you can drive down it in an old-fashioned camper love van or a GoCar.
      Written October 7, 2024
    • PoppingNY
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Seamless trip from start to finish.
      Beautiful old growth Coastal Redwood forest. Driver (Jerry) was great. Professional, friendly, and very knowledgeable. Had a little narrated tour of San Fransisco on the way.
      Written October 7, 2024
    • marydC9712HN
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Driver made it fun!
      Our driver was the best! He made the trip very entertaining. We spent two weeks in the SanFrancisco area and this was one of the most memorable things we did.
      Written October 7, 2024
    • ametriad2018
      0 contributions
      3.0 of 5 bubbles
      Birthday Celebration
      Our Trip was a Birthday Celebration for my hubby. We really couldn't hear the guide sharing info in the back of the bus. It also felt very rushed and almost like he didn't feel like doing the tour. The Muir Woods was the best part and we wished we had more time there overall.
      Written October 6, 2024
    • Zzzzzkk
      0 contributions
      1.0 of 5 bubbles
      Terrible experience !
      The bus driver was very rude and unfriendly . Besides that his incompetence could have caused a terrible tragedy . He was trying to fix a mechanical problem which he had no business doing . I was a little leary when we first got on the bus and saw an older man hobbling with a cane to open the door . Found out later he’s had triple bypass surgery . I do t think a 75 yr old man with health issues should be driving a tour bus with others lives at stake !
      Written October 5, 2024
    • 12iguasu13
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Refer to previous answers.
      Very good driver, sadly spoke far too much about himself whilst driving. Was rather boring listening to him non-stop continuously during the entire bus ride.
      Written October 5, 2024
    See all 4,881 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

    Popular mentions

    4.5
    4.5 of 5 bubbles407 reviews
    Excellent
    305
    Very good
    51
    Average
    24
    Poor
    12
    Terrible
    15

    Ajay
    3 contributions
    1.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jul 2021
    I am writing this review within 5 days of the trip, and the memory is really fresh. As soon as we got on the bus, the driver who was also our tour guide started emphasizing how back in the day how people know how to behave and had etiquettes. We thought that is a fair point considering everyone on the trip needs to enjoy. But, as the tour went on, Thomas basically started shushing people when they were talking among themselves. He was doing it over the mic, when people who were sitting rows behind them could not hear them talking. We had a toddler, and we didn't want to disturb other people, so we sat all the way in the back. We too were told over the mic to keep the kid quiet, and how he has two kids and does the same thing. When buying tickets they specifically ask you how many kids and how many under 2. So, they are giving us the option they need to accommodate kids. I cannot enjoy the tour as a quiet spectator without even talking to my spouse for the fear of public embarrassment. The selling point of the trip is that you don't have to drive. But, if you have the option of driving that'll be a better option. All in all, very unpleasant experience.
    Written August 5, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hello Ajays, First of all, thanks for sharing your experience with us. We want every customer to feel comfortable sharing good or bad news with us. Second, we are sorry to hear that you experienced the incident with our guide. We've taken notes of your concerns with Thomas, and I will immediately follow up on this. Please contact our office at 415-353-5310, and ask for Xavier, as I would like to make up for your inconvenience. Thanks Xavier General Manager Gray Line San Francisco
    Written August 7, 2021
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Dan K
    10 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jul 2021
    BEYOND excellent! Antonio is a gem, personality plus, excellent driver. His knowledge of both San Francisco and the entire State is more than impressive and shows a deep love and respect for history which he joyfully shares with all. The tour itself was fantastic, but it was Antonio who made it personal and extra special. As you can tell, this retired couple (who know SF pretty well themselves) cannot say enough good things about this impressive young gentleman. The trip is beautiful and well-worth the money, an all-day delight with a wonderful driver/guide/and knowledgeable California native and EXPERT to lead the way. Thank You, Antonio! Well done, young SIR!
    Written July 18, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Dear G775UEdank, Thank you for taking the time to write your review on our Napa and Sonoma Winery tour. I am beyond glad you got to witness the beautiful scenery that our Monterey, Carmel & 17-Mile Drive has to offer with such an amazing driver/guide as Antonio! I will pass him your lovely comments and I am sure he will be thrilled to know hear about you. We are really looking forward to welcoming you again soon! Sincerely Manager at Gray Line of San Francisco
    Written July 18, 2021
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Brian Berg
    Brush Prairie1 contribution
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Apr 2022 • Couples
    It was an interesting trip. It started with the driver, Danilo, late upon arrival, window shields dirty and he was looking unfamiliar with the control console. Initial anxiety was abated once I judged his driving skills: competent and professional.

    It quickly evolved into almost a Seinfeld episode with his interactions with certain problematic guests who were tardy and asking audacious requests after they had held everyone up with their wanton disregard of time.

    Danilo provided some one liners that we will be telling for years.😂”We are leaving at 5:30 and I am not even counting”.

    The tour itself was sublime. I had never heard of the seventeen mile drive or the lone Cypress or the wonders of Carmel.
    Written April 7, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hi Brian, First of all, thank you so much for sharing your feedback with us. I'm glad to hear that our guide Danilo was great and helped you have a good trip. The 17 mile drive and Carmel are gorgeous We hope to welcome you back again soon! Ignacio Gray Line San Francisco
    Written April 11, 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Daniel I
    34 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Danny, was a second-to-none Tour Guide! He kept us all entertained the entire day we were on the Bus and was also very informative!

    For anyone visiting San Fran, if you are looking to escape the City for a day, I'd highly recommend this Tour to anyone who loves majestic scenery! I hope you get Danny as your Tour Guide.

    Monterey Bay, Carmel by the Sea plus the drive along the 17 Mile is absolutely incredible and scenic! We also got to stop and peruse Pebble Beach Golf Club, for anyone who likes to Golf. We also learned a new acronym for the Game; "Gentlemen out Ladies first" 😎
    Written February 25, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Dear W2614BQ, We appreciate that you wrote this detailed review and it made our day! Thank you for sharing your feedback and thank you also for the kind words about our tour guide, Danny. Our team works hard to give you the best experience. We hope to welcome you back again soon!
    Written February 27, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    puga618
    Pittsburgh, PA4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2020
    My husband and I really enjoyed our trip. Our driver Antonio was such a great guy. He was very knowledgeable and kept the long drive interesting and fun. We had a great group of people traveling with us and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. The bus itself was very comfortable. Loved both areas but my favorite stop was at the local produce market where I purchased the best tasting fruit I ever had. We had plenty of time in Monterey to explore the shops and explore the aquarium. The only disappointing part of the trip is the 17 miles drive was detoured due to a golfing event in the area. Antonio though made up for it by showing us parts of the pacific that were still breathtaking. Gray lines let us know ahead of time and gave us the option of opting out and getting our money back which I thought was a great move on their part. Goes to show what a stand up company they are. All in all we had a great day. Antonio also made sure that we were dropped off close to our hotel which we appreciated very much
    Written February 11, 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Dear puga618, Firstly, I would like to thank you for your wonderful review on our Monterey, Camel and 17 Mile Drive. It is delightful to learn you had such a great time on our tour and felt comfortable with all the participants as well as with our amazing driver/guide Antonio and were pleased with our company performance. We are really looking forward to welcoming you again soon! Sincerely, Manager at Gray Line of San Francisco
    Written February 12, 2020
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Sasha
    Chicago, IL321 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2022
    I enjoyed this tour and our guide was very patient with us especially people who were late getting on the bus. I don’t remember our guide’s name, but I took this tour on 2/12/22…I really enjoyed this tour and our guide who narrated different facts and stories about the places we were visiting. This was a long tour and I enjoyed every minute. Carmel was so beautiful it looks like a town in Europe and Monterey was gorgeous especially the 17 mile drive. The only thing I would recommend is that RIU Plaza Fisherman’s Wharf be a pick up stop because it’s along the way. I really like tours that pick me up directly from my hotel, but it was too many people who were on this tour for that to be possible, but a closer location than the 2 pick up locations would have been greatly appreciated.
    Written February 16, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Dear 642sasha, Thank you for your lovely comments on our guide , your comments on his knowledge and great professionalism are much appreciated. I hope you had a brilliant time on our tour and had the chance to take home with your beautiful pictures and memories. I will share your comments recommending the RIU Plaza Fisherman’s Wharf be a pick up stop We hope to welcoming you back soon Best regards Manager at Gray Line of San Francisco
    Written February 18, 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Mark L
    Puerto Rico5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Our guide Thomas was incredibly knowledgeable. He provided a conveyance of information, from SF bay, all the way down to Carmel. We learned about the history, topography, agriculture, weather and interesting facts all along the way. He set very clear expectations for the numerous stops, what we should take a vantage of, and did a very good job ensuring everybody was taken care of.

    We brought our two teenagers on this trip, and they enjoyed themselves too.

    This is a really relaxing, 12-hour, comfortable way to see the Highway 1 coastline and enjoy what NorCal has to offer.
    Written June 13, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hello, G9967PUmarkl! We are delighted to hear that you had a great experience on our Monterey, Carmel & 17-Mile Drive Tour. Glad to know that our guide Thomas was instrumental in making the tour even more interesting. Your review made our day! Hope to see you all soon! Isabela V., Gray Line of San Francisco
    Written June 15, 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Naynon
    Kingston upon Thames, UK31 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    It was a 12 hour day trip. The trip was good, the driver was great. The guide was a lovely man but he didn’t stop talking. A break from the constant narration would have been welcome.
    On the long drive back to the city he played terrible guitar music over the speakers. It was very niche & drove us to distraction. But he enjoyed it!
    It was a long day but it was fun to see Monterey Cannery Row & Carmel.
    Written November 11, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hello Naynon, It is fabulous to hear that you enjoyed the Gray Line San Francisco Monterey & Carmel Tour. We really appreciate your detailed review and the fact that you liked the visit to Cannery Row. Thank you also for your feedback highlighting where we can do better. We appreciate hearing about your experience and your thoughts about our tour guide. Your comments are really helpful in highlighting opportunities to improve our service even further and your recommendations are being addressed internally. We hope to welcome you back again soon! Andrea Customer Relations Manager Gray Line San Francisco
    Written November 11, 2021
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Lander fan
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2022
    We came all the way from New Zealand to enjoy this great tour . We initially booked our US trip early 2020 but due to COVID we rescheduled but couldn't wait any longer .Wonderful tour with great stops along the way. Antonio our driver was very personable and provided great commentary along the way. He was funny and very knowledgeable about the areas we were visiting and those we were passing through along the way. We had enough time in Monterey to have a wonderful lunch (Fish Hopper my favourate my sister who is not a huge fan of sea food broke her tabu here and had seafood plater with me just devine), photo ops, shopping and people watching! The 17 mile drive and being able to stop at Pebble beach were great. While our visit to Carmel was shorter, we had more than enough time to walk around and do some shopping. While it was definitely a long day (12 hours), we all thought it was a great trip, well worth the time and money. Thanks Antonio for a great trip.

    Highly recommend we have lots of beautiful memories about this tour to take back home and we are excited to share this with our Kiwi friends and Family.

    Once again A huge thank you!
    Written January 10, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Your review made our day, lonelytravel! Your review means a lot to us and lets us know we’re on the right track! Having Antonio as the tour guide is a 100% guarantee that the experience is going to be unforgettable! Keep Gray Line San Francisco in mind if you ever come back to San Francisco! There are many other experiences we would love to offer you. Safe travels! Xavier General Manager Gray Line San Francisco
    Written January 13, 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Huttjm
    Halifax, Canada12 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mar 2023 • Family
    This was my second tour of Monterey and Carmel. There were heavy rains prior with trees down and power outages causing delays and closure of restaurants in the areas. However the trip was very scenic with views of the ocean and towns along the coast. The narrating was very good with a knowledgeable driver who made on the spot decisions to deal with the disruptions. No complaints a great trip.
    Written April 22, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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    Monterey, Carmel and 17-Mile Drive: Full Day Tour from SF provided by Gray Line San Francisco

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