Here's a sample itinerary for a drive from Los Angeles to Monterey. If you're planning a road trip to Monterey, you can research locations to stop along the way. Make sure you check road conditions to double check the weather. Traveling with a dog or cat? Find pet-friendly stops. Camping along the way? Search for RV campgrounds. Find the best hotels, restaurants, and attractions based on the most talked about places recommended by Trippy members.
11:00 am start in Los Angeles
drive for about 59 minutes
11:59 am Malibu
eat at Nobu Malibu
stay for about 1 hour
and leave at 12:59 pm
drive for about 2.5 hours
3:40 pm Pismo Beach
stay overnight at Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort
leave the next day around 11:00 am
day 1 driving ≈ 3.5 hours
find more stops
11:00 am leave from Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort
drive for about 2.5 hours
1:30 pm Salinas
stay for about 1 hour
and leave at 2:30 pm
drive for about 27 minutes
2:57 pm arrive in Monterey
stay at Mission Ranch Hotel
day 2 driving ≈ 3 hours
Malibu (67 answers)
Malibu Beach (44 mentions)
Zuma Beach (22 mentions)
Point Dume State Beach (14 mentions)
Malibu Country Mart (12 mentions)
El Matador State Beach (12 mentions)
restaurants around Malibu:
Nobu Malibu
Paradise Cove Cafe
Malibu Seafood
Geoffrey's Malibu
Malibu Farm Cafe
questions about Malibu:
Places to eat in Malibu?
Lunch recommendations near Getty Villa - Views? Kid Friendly?
Wine tasting in Malibu?
Pismo Beach (5 answers)
Laetitia Vineyard & Winery (3 mentions)
San Luis Obispo Mission (3 mentions)
Edna Valley (2 mentions)
F. McLintocks Saloon and Dining House (2 mentions)
restaurants around Pismo Beach:
Splash Cafe
Avila Valley Barn
hotels around Pismo Beach:
Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort
Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa
Seacrest Beach Resort
Salinas (4 answers)
Are you going straight to a hotel, or looking for a vacation rental or Airbnb?
The best resource on neighborhoods, areas, and hotels is the Trippy page on where to stay in Monterey.
If you're looking for a quick answer, you can check out Mission Ranch Hotel, which was mentioned 4 times on Trippy.
Here are some more hotels people talk about:
Want to research more popular hotels in Monterey? Click the blue button below.
Need some recommendations on somewhere to get food?
Trippy members suggest Passionfish, which was mentioned 7 times.
Here are some more restaurants people talk about:
Want to research more popular restaurants in Monterey? Click the blue button below.
This section could be endless, so rather than trying to suggest every local activity or attraction, we'll leave it open-ended.
These are some of the places people talk about on Trippy:
Of course, Trippy is the perfect place to ask questions because there's an entire community of travelers talking to each other and sharing tips and advice. Trippy is where you can get answers personalized for your tastes, budgets, trip dates & more!
For example, here are some questions people have asked about Monterey. Click on any question to see answers from the community!
Anne from Durham, North Carolina asked:
Restaurant recommendations for a large group dinner? (3 answers)
Joe from Sacramento asked:
What to do for a family outing in Monterey? (3 answers)
Avery from Berkeley asked:
Things to do with the kiddos besides the aquarium (2 answers)
Cheryl from asked:
hotels in Monterey, CA (2 answers)
Click the button below to explore more questions and answers related to Monterey.
Yes, even this step is optional, because if you're on vacation who wants the trip to end? It's okay, you can start planning your next trip!
Want to plan the trip back? Get the reverse directions for a Monterey to Los Angeles drive, or go to the main page to plan a new road trip.
You can also compare the travel time if you're flying or driving by calculating the distance from Los Angeles to Monterey. Or get a full Los Angeles to Monterey flight plan.
Don't forget about exploring your own hometown with a staycation. You can also find some cool day trips or get away for a weekend. Maybe try typing in a faraway location like London, Hong Kong, or Sydney, and get inspired for your dream trip around the world.
And if you know Los Angeles well, please help your fellow travelers and answer their questions about Los Angeles!