There are 8 ways to get from San Diego to Monterey by plane, train (Amtrak), bus (Greyhound, Amtrak), car, shuttle, subway, or bus
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly to Monterey Regional Airport
best- Fly from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Monterey Regional Airport (MRY)plane SAN - MRY
2h 54m$146–322Drive 438.7 mi
cheapest- Drive from San Diego to Montereycar 438.7 mi
7h 38m$81–116Train (Amtrak)
- Take the train from San Diego to Los Angelestrain Pacific Surfliner
- Take the train from Los Angeles to Salinastrain Coast Starlight
13h 36m$262–422Bus via San Jose
- Take the bus from San Diego Greyhound Bus Stop to San Jose Diridon Stationbus Greyhound US0831
- Take the bus from San Jose to Salinasbus Amtrak Thruway Connecting Service
14h 13mFly to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport, shuttle
- Fly from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC)plane SAN - SJC
- Take a shuttle bus from SJC Airport Terminal A to Monterey Shuttle Station
3h 43m$119–534Fly to San Francisco International Airport, shuttle
- Fly from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)plane SAN - SFO
- Take a shuttle bus from SFO Airport Terminal 3-Lower Level to Monterey Shuttle Station
4h 53m$116–292Fly to Oakland International Airport, BART, shuttle
- Fly from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Oakland International Airport (OAK)plane SAN - OAK
- Take the subway from Coliseum to Milpitassubway
- Take a shuttle bus from SJC Airport Terminal A to Monterey Shuttle Station
5h 28m$117–349Bus
- Take the bus from San Ysidro to Gilroybus San Ysidro
- Take the bus from Monterey / Gilroy Train Station to Salinas Transit Center / Gate 3bus 59
14h 15m$92–143
San Diego to Monterey by train and bus (Amtrak)
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from San Diego to Monterey is to drive which costs $80 - $120 and takes 7h 38m.
The fastest way to get from San Diego to Monterey is to fly which takes 2h 54m and costs $140 - $330.
No, there is no direct bus from San Diego to Monterey. However, there are services departing from San Diego Greyhound Bus Stop and arriving at Tyler / Franklin via San Jose and Salinas Transit Center / Gate 7. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 14h 13m.
No, there is no direct train from San Diego to Monterey. However, there are services departing from San Diego and arriving at Salinas via Los Angeles. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 13h 36m.
The distance between San Diego and Monterey is 382 miles. The road distance is 441.3 miles.
The best way to get from San Diego to Monterey without a car is to train which takes 13h 36m and costs $260 - $430.
It takes approximately 2h 54m to get from San Diego to Monterey, including transfers.
San Diego to Monterey bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, depart from San Diego Greyhound Bus Stop station.
San Diego to Monterey train services, operated by Amtrak, depart from San Diego station.
The best way to get from San Diego to Monterey is to fly which takes 2h 54m and costs $140 - $330. Alternatively, you can train, which costs $260 - $430 and takes 13h 36m, you could also bus via San Jose, which costs and takes 14h 13m.
What companies run services between San Diego, CA, USA and Monterey, CA, USA?
Alaska Airlines, Inc. and United Airlines fly from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) 3 times a day. Alternatively, you can take a train from San Diego to Tyler / Franklin via Los Angeles, Salinas, and Salinas Transit Center / Gate 7 in around 13h 36m.
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 27m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $40–260
Flights from San Diego International Airport to San Francisco International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 36m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $30–180
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Oakland International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 37m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $40–260
- Website
- alaskaair.com
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Monterey Regional Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 37m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–320
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 36m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $70–480
Flights from San Diego International Airport to San Francisco International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 44m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $60–250
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Oakland International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $60–280
- Website
- united.com
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Monterey Regional Airport via San Francisco International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 48m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $40–260
Flights from San Diego International Airport to San Francisco International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $30–180
Flights from San Diego International Airport to San Francisco International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 28m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $30–180
- Website
- flyfrontier.com
Flights from San Diego International Airport to San Francisco International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 49m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $60–190
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from San Diego to Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 56m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $70–110
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Los Angeles to Salinas
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 19m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $190–310
- Website
- Amtrak
- Phone
- +1-510-464-6000
- Website
- BART
Subway from Coliseum to Milpitas
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- $6–8
- Website
- BART
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- ifsr@greyhound.com
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from San Diego Greyhound Bus Stop to San Jose Diridon Station
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 50m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $75–120
- Website
- Greyhound
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Bus from San Jose to Salinas
- Ave. Duration
- 55 min
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Website
- Amtrak
- Phone
- +1 831-373-7777
- Website
- Groome Transportation
Shuttle from SJC Airport Terminal A to Monterey Shuttle Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $45–60
- Schedules at
- Groome Transportation
- Standard Rate
- $45–60
Shuttle from SFO Airport Terminal 3-Lower Level to Monterey Shuttle Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 35m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $55–70
- Schedules at
- Groome Transportation
- Standard Rate
- $55–70
Shuttle from SJC Airport Terminal A to Monterey Shuttle Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $45–60
- Schedules at
- Groome Transportation
- Standard Rate
- $45–60
- Phone
- +1 833 766 3553
- Website
- Tufesa
Bus from San Ysidro to Gilroy
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 25m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $85–120
- Schedules at
- Tufesa
- Adult One way
- $85–120
- Phone
- 1-888-678-2871
- customerservice@mst.org
- Website
- Monterey-Salinas Transit
Bus from Monterey / Gilroy Train Station to Salinas Transit Center / Gate 3
- Ave. Duration
- 38 min
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $2–4
- Website
- Monterey-Salinas Transit
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San Diego to Monterey bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, arrive at San Jose Diridon Station.
San Diego to Monterey train services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at Los Angeles station.
Yes, the driving distance between San Diego to Monterey is 441 miles. It takes approximately 7h 38m to drive from San Diego to Monterey.
There are 330+ hotels available in Monterey.