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Major city · United States

Moss Landing

One night, or a half-day stop on Highway 1: go for a whale-watching or slough boat trip, skip it if you only want town sights.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Mar–Dec for humpbacks; Dec–mid-May for grey whales; Jul–Aug for blue whales
avoid Nothing closes seasonally, but winter mornings are cold and foggy on the water
Airports
MRY · SJC · SFO
Nights
1
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Moss Landing is a one-street harbour village on Monterey Bay, roughly halfway between Monterey and Santa Cruz. There is almost nothing to see in the town itself; the reason to come is the water — whale-watching boats and quiet electric cruises on Elkhorn Slough, one of California's largest tidal wetlands. Most visitors pass through in two to four hours, or sleep one night to catch a morning boat.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Moss Landing, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$4–6
  • Budget bedHostel or motel bed nearby, a night, per personUS$45
  • Mid-range bedB&B or motel double room, a night, per roomUS$220
  • High-end bedB&B or motel double room, a night, per roomUS$400

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$80 · Mid US$150 · High US$300

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Whale-watching boatsElkhorn Slough wildlifeSea otters and harbour sealsSeafood on the waterfront
Airports
MRY Monterey Regional (Closest airport, about 30 min south by car) · SJC San Jose Mineta (About 1 h 15 min north by car; more flights) · SFO San Francisco International (About 2 h north by car)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Moss Landing: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

16°C

5°C

9 rd

Feb

16°C

6°C

9 rd

Mar

17°C

7°C

8 rd

Apr

18°C

7°C

5 rd

May

19°C

9°C

3 rd

Jun

20°C

10°C

1 rd

Jul

21°C

11°C

1 rd

Aug

22°C

12°C

1 rd

Sep

22°C

11°C

2 rd

Oct

22°C

9°C

3 rd

Nov

18°C

6°C

6 rd

Dec

16°C

5°C

9 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The village is walkable in 10 minutes end to end. A car is needed for Elkhorn Slough's visitor centre and reserve trails, which sit north of town off Elkhorn Road. Highway 1 runs straight through; there is no useful local bus for visitors.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Montereygo

Door to door: About 30 min

Drive south on Highway 1

Aquarium, Cannery Row and the old town; a full day on its own.

Carmel-by-the-Sea

go

Door to door: About 40 min

Drive south on Highway 1 past Monterey

Village centre and beach; pair with Carmel Point.

Santa Cruzgo

Door to door: About 40 min

Drive north on Highway 1

Boardwalk and pier; busy on summer weekends.

Salinascaution

Door to door: About 30 min

Drive inland on Highway 68 or 183

Steinbeck sites and a real town; only worth it if the history interests you.

Pacific Grove

go

Door to door: About 40 min

Drive south on Highway 1, then west

Monarch butterflies in late autumn and winter; coastal path.

Seaside

skip

Door to door: About 25 min

Drive south on Highway 1

Mostly a service town; useful only for cheaper motels and fuel.

King City

skip

Door to door: About 1 h

Drive south on Highway 101

A highway stop, not a destination.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Sandholdt Road / harbour

Walking distance to the whale-watching docks and the fish market; the only place to sleep in the village.

Moss Landing Road

The Highway 1 strip: cafés, a B&B and the road out to Elkhorn Slough.

Marina or Castroville

10–15 min south or inland; cheaper chain motels if the village is full.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$60–110 excl. bed
Mid
$110–200 excl. bed
High
$200+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
B&B or motel double room1 × 1 night × US$220US$220
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$150US$300
Whale-watching trip2 × US$50 · checkUS$100
Elkhorn Slough electric cruise2 × US$40 · checkUS$80
Fuel, Monterey–Santa Cruz return1 × US$15US$15
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15US$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$75
Trip total≈ US$410 per person per day, bed includedUS$820

2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax added at checkout. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$4–6
Bowl of chowder or a fish plate$18–32
Whale-watching tripcheck$30–60
Elkhorn Slough cruisecheck$32–43
Kayak rental on the sloughcheck$40–70
Motel room, Marina or Castroville$120–220

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

The village is small and calm; the real risks are cold, rough water on boat trips and fast traffic on Highway 1. Lock the car and leave nothing visible at the harbour lots.
  • Boat trips run in exposed bay water: take seasickness medication before boarding, and dress for air about 5–6 °C cooler than shore.
  • Stay at least 100 feet (about 30 m) from all wildlife on the slough, by boat or paddleboard.
  • Some slough areas are closed to protect wildlife: follow posted signs.
  • Weekend queues at the fish market and restaurants can run 30–60 min.
  • Parking at the harbour fills on summer weekends; arrive early for a morning boat.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Monterey County non-emergency
831-755-3700
Poison control
1-800-222-1222

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Moss LandingMoss Landing

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Monterey County non-emergency831-755-3700

Embassy

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Highway 1, Moss Landing → Monterey: about 30 min by car
  • Highway 1, Moss Landing → Santa Cruz: about 40 min by car
  • Whale-watching trip: $30–60, 2–3.5 h (check)

Say or show

  • Where is the boat dock? — Where is the boat dock?
  • How long is the trip? — How long is the trip?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Is there parking? — Is there parking?

Tipping is expected in the US: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% taxis.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Moss Landing. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Mar–Dec for humpbacks; Dec–mid-May for grey whales; Jul–Aug for blue whales · avoid Nothing closes seasonally, but winter mornings are cold and foggy on the water · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 7 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
  2. Walking clusters with bag rules
  3. Day plans checked against opening hours
  4. Field-verified times and fares

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources