United States›From San Francisco›Monterey, Carmel & Big Sur
San Francisco to Monterey, Carmel & Big Sur by train or road
About 190 km. The private car is fastest at 2.5 h; the train is cheapest, from ₹2,850 per person.
Fastest
Private car
Rental car via US-101 and Highway 1, per vehicle
2.5 h door to door
Cheapest
Train
Amtrak Coast Starlight to Salinas + Monterey-Salinas Transit bus
from ₹2,850 per person
Best value
Private car
Rental car via US-101 and Highway 1, per vehicle
cheapest at mid fares among options within 1.5× the fastest time (or 1 h more on a short ride)
Every option, compared
Door-to-door times (flights include the time at the airports). Fares are typical ranges from the cheapest seat to the premium one.
| Mode | Service | Time | Fare | Runs | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private car | Rental car via US-101 and Highway 1, per vehicle | 2.5 h | ₹7,990–₹10,180per car (up to 4) | Daily | Rome2Rio ↗ |
| Train | Amtrak Coast Starlight to Salinas + Monterey-Salinas Transit bus | 4.5 h | ₹2,850–₹6,660per person | Daily | Rome2Rio ↗ |
- Train, Amtrak Coast Starlight to Salinas + Monterey-Salinas Transit bus: One Coast Starlight a day each way, often late; a Thruway bus or Caltrain connects San Francisco.
Booking links open the route on the country's transport booking site for trains, buses, boats and transfers, and a flight search for flights, dated about two weeks out; change the date there.
What it costs your group, one way
Fares × people; a private car is priced per car, one car per four people.
| Option | 2 people | 4 people |
|---|---|---|
| Private car · Rental car via US-101 and Highway 1, per vehicle | ₹7,990–₹10,180 | ₹7,990–₹10,180 |
| Train · Amtrak Coast Starlight to Salinas + Monterey-Salinas Transit bus | ₹5,700–₹13,320 | ₹11,400–₹26,640 |
Once you’re in Monterey, Carmel & Big Sur
- Best time: April – October
- Typical stay: 2 days
- November: Better avoided: November is outside the recommended season (April – October). Against it: Wildfire Season.
Related
Plan San Francisco and Monterey, Carmel & Big Sur
A day-by-day plan with this journey, the stays and the rest priced in.