A day trip to Carmel from San Francisco takes you on two of California’s most scenic roads. First, you’ll cruise down the coast on the Pacific Coast Highway, and then take 17 Mile Drive that leads to Carmel-by-the-Sea. Take a look at our favorite Carmel tours for a stress-free day trip!
Driving down the Pacific Coast Highway is one of our favorite past times. We’re so passionate about day trips on the PCH that we’ve already written about how to get to Monterey from San Francisco on this travel blog. But we wanted to make sure to emphasize there is another town, as equally breathtaking as Monterey. Just head a little farther south to find a small enclave called Carmel by the Sea.
The Beautiful 17 Mile Drive
Between Carmel and Monterey is the 17 Mile Drive. This scenic road hugs California’s coastline as it cuts through the quaint coastal town of Pebble Beach, which is most famous for hosting the Pebble Beach Pro-Am Golf Tournament. Interestingly enough, the 17 Mile Drive is part of a privately owned road. Non-residents of Pebble Beach must pay a fee to ride along the 17 Mile Drive. This romantic drive of California’s coast is one of the best routes to get to Carmel from San Francisco via Highway 1. Once in Carmel by the Sea, you can explore the European inspired Carmel Village in the downtown area! Here is where you can walk amongst cottage-style businesses filled with quaint bistros, art galleries, and boutique shops.
Not far off from Carmel by the Sea, discover the incredible wineries and beautiful rolling vineyards of Sonoma and Napa Valley. You’ll sample wines from carefully selected boutique wineries and discover the best of both wine regions in one enjoyable tour!
So, you’re probably wondering, what is the distance to Carmel from San Francisco? You’re looking at a drive that’s a little over two hours, each way, to get to Carmel by the Sea from San Francisco. This sleepy coastal town is about 130 miles south from San Francisco.
And how far away is Carmel from Monterey? Most travelers find themselves heading to Carmel by the Sea after visiting Monterey because of just how close these two waterfront towns are to each other. The distance from Monterey to Carmel is less than 10 miles (about 20 minutes away). This makes visiting Carmel well worth a visit if you find yourself on a day trip to Monterey!
The Best Tours from San Francisco to Carmel
Monterey & Carmel Explorer with optional Aquarium
Extranomical Tours
Enjoy the scenic drive of Carmel with Extranomical Tours. The beautiful drive to Carmel by the Sea begins after a long lunch break in Monterey. Your drive will take the most scenic entrance to the 17 Mile Drive, through Pacific Grove. Along the drive, you’ll have two photo stops along this memorable stretch of highway.
First up will be a photo stop at Lone Cyprus. Sometimes, this famous tree is incorrectly referred to as the Lone Oak. The Monterey Cyprus only grows in this region of Monterey County, so the trees are uncommon outside of Northern California. Lone Cyprus is particularly special because this 250-year-old tree sits on a lonely outcrop of rocks that overlook the Pacific Ocean. On this cliff, Lone Cyprus is whipped by the brutal Westerly WInds and massive waves during storms.
Next up on the 17 Mile Drive is a visit to the Pebble Beach Golf Links Pro Shop. Golf fans will instantly recognize this golf course as the namesake for the Pebble Peach Pro-Am PGA Tours. The Pro Shop actually has an amazing view of the 18th hole green! On the other side of the 17 Mile Drive will be the picturesque town, Carmel by the Sea. You’ll have an hour and a half to explore art galleries filled with local artists, shop at boutique stores, and enjoy a meal at a gourmet restaurant.
Monterey, Carmel and 17-Mile Drive Day Trip from San Francisco
Tower Tours
Tower Tours is a small local tour company with big bus tours from San Francisco to Carmel. Bigger buses mean more availability, especially if you’re looking for last-minute tickets to Carmel. An expert driver will take you down the PCH on the way to Monterey, where you’ll stop for an extended break to explore historic Cannery Row and enjoy lunch from the comfort of a waterfront restaurant.
After lunch, you’ll deviate from California’s Highway 1 and onto the privately owned 17 Mile Drive. Along this drive you’ll stop for photos of the Lone Cyprus before continuing on to Carmel by the Sea. The distance from Carmel to San Francisco on the return trip will be about 2.5 hours. Tower Tours will bring you back to San Francisco via Silicon Valley. The bus is fully equipped with WiFi, so you’ll be able to start sharing pictures from your day trip on the ride back!
Day Trip to Monterey and Carmel via California Coast
Gray Line of San Francisco
Cruise The beauty of the San Francisco to Carmel drive will not be lost on this budget tour. Especially if you get a 17 Mile Drive tour included! Gray Line Tours offers three different photo stops along this amazing road lined with expansive views of the Pacific Ocean and a sea of mansions. Your first stop will be looking out onto the Pacific Ocean from Bird Rock Beach. This beach is named after (you guessed it) the insane amount of marine birds nesting on the outcrop of rocks in the Pacific.
Next, you’ll stop to take photos of one of the most famous trees in the world — The Lone Cyprus. This 250 year old tree has withstood the test of time. After centuries of being wind-whipped by strong gusts and battered by the brutal waves of Pacific the Lone Cyprus still stands. A testament to the perseverance of California’s natural beauty.
Your last stop along the 17 Mile Drive before arriving to Carmel from San Francisco, will be at the world-renowned Pebble Beach Golf Course Club House. Pebble Beach is home to the annual Pro-Am competition, but you don’t have to be a fan of golf to appreciate the beauty of the greens. You’ll have a couple of hours to explore the quaint Carmel Village, a town where Clint Eastwood was a one-time mayor, before heading back to San Francisco. Traveling from Carmel by the Sea to San Francisco on the way back will be a breeze after such a long day exploring.
Find More Fun Things To Do In San Francisco:
Ready to explore the best of the Northern California after your trip down to Carmel-by-the-Sea? Spend a day outside the bustle of the city exploring California’s wine country on a tour of the Napa and Sonoma Valleys. Enjoy wine tastings at boutique wineries while learning about the region!
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