Skip to content
Voykit
Set your trip — dates, party, bagsPlanner

Draft data. Times, fares and step counts are desk estimates awaiting field checks. Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify

Major city · United States

Pacific Grove

Base here 2 nights if you want a quiet, walkable coast town; day-trippers should come for the butterfly sanctuary and Point Pinos, then sleep in Monterey.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Apr–May, Sep–Oct
avoid Dec–Feb (rain), Jul–Aug (fog and crowds)
Airports
MRY · SFO · SJC
Nights
2
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.

Pacific Grove is a small coastal town on the Monterey Peninsula, west of Monterey and north of Carmel. It is known for Victorian houses, the Point Pinos Lighthouse and a monarch butterfly overwintering site. Most of it is walkable, and it works best as a quiet base for 2 nights while you explore Monterey, Carmel and the coast.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Pacific Grove, 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$4–7
  • Sit-down mealDinner, mid-range, without alcohol$25–50
  • BeerBeer or glass of wine$8–15
  • Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry (Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History)$9 adult, $6 student/youth (check)
  • Budget bedHostel or motel bed, a night, per personUS$55
  • Mid-range bedMotel or inn double room, a night, per roomUS$220
  • High-end bedMotel or inn double room, a night, per roomUS$400

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$90 · Mid US$150 · High US$260

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.

Monarch Butterfly SanctuaryPoint Pinos LighthouseVictorian housesAsilomar State Beach17-Mile Drive
Airports
MRY Monterey Regional Airport (About a 10-minute taxi ride from Pacific Grove; small airport with limited routes.) · SFO San Francisco International Airport (About 2–2.5 h by car; the main gateway for most international arrivals.) · SJC San Jose Mineta International Airport (About 1.5–2 h by car.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Pacific Grove: 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

15°C

7°C

10 rd

Feb

15°C

7°C

9 rd

Mar

16°C

8°C

9 rd

Apr

17°C

8°C

6 rd

May

18°C

9°C

4 rd

Jun

19°C

10°C

2 rd

Jul

20°C

11°C

1 rd

Aug

21°C

12°C

2 rd

Sep

21°C

11°C

2 rd

Oct

21°C

10°C

4 rd

Nov

18°C

8°C

7 rd

Dec

15°C

6°C

10 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 town is small and mostly walkable or bikeable. Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST) routes 1, 1X and 2 connect Pacific Grove with Monterey and the peninsula, but all connections go via downtown Monterey. A car helps for Carmel, Pebble Beach and 17-Mile Drive.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Montereygo

Door to door: About 20–30 min

MST bus 1, 1X or 2, or a 10-minute drive

Cannery Row, the aquarium and the wharf.

Carmel-by-the-Sea

go

Door to door: About 20–30 min by car

Drive via Ocean View Blvd and CA-1, or MST connections via Monterey

Beach, mission and shops; parking is tight in summer.

Carmel Pointgo

Door to door: About 30 min

Drive south of Carmel beach

Coastal walk and views back toward Point Lobos.

Salinascaution

Door to door: About 30–40 min

Drive via CA-68 and US-101

Useful for the airport and Steinbeck sights, not a scenic stop.

Moss Landing

go

Door to door: About 40–50 min

Drive north on CA-1

Elkhorn Slough and sea otters; go early.

Seaside

skip

Door to door: About 20 min

Drive or MST bus via Monterey

Mostly residential and retail; no reason to detour.

King City

skip

Door to door: About 1 h

Drive south on US-101

A highway stop, not a day out.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

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

Downtown / Lighthouse Avenue

Walkable to restaurants and shops; best for a short stay without a car.

Asilomar / Point Pinos

Quieter, near the beach and lighthouse; more motels and inns with parking.

Ocean View Boulevard

Coastal views and the recreation trail; higher prices.

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
$90–140 excl. bed
Mid
$140–220 excl. bed
High
$220+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel or inn double room1 × 2 nights × US$220US$440
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$150US$600
MST bus day pass2 × US$10 · checkUS$20
17-Mile Drive entry, per car1 × US$12 · checkUS$12
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15US$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$110
Trip total≈ US$303 per person per day, bed includedUS$1,212

2026 estimate in US dollars; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$4–7
Casual lunch$15–25
Dinner, mid-range, without alcohol$25–50
Beer or glass of wine$8–15
Museum entry (Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History)$9 adult, $6 student/youth (check)
Point Pinos Lighthouse entry$2 adult, $1 child (check)
Taxi Monterey Airport → Pacific Grove$25–40 (check)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Very safe for a US coastal town; the real risks are cold water, rip currents, cliff edges and summer fog on the coastal road. Lock your car and keep valuables out of sight at trailheads.
  • Coastal water is cold year-round: swimming is not advised, but diving and tide-pooling are popular.
  • Summer fog can hide the coast until midday; plan indoor sights for the morning.
  • 17-Mile Drive charges an entry fee and does not allow motorcycles.
  • Book lodging early for summer and event weekends; the town is small.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Pacific Grove Police (non-emergency)
831-648-3143

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.

Pacific GrovePacific Grove

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Pacific Grove Police (non-emergency)831-648-3143

Embassy

No embassies in Pacific Grove; consulates are in San Francisco. US travellers: contact your state or local services.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • MST bus Monterey → Pacific Grove: about $2–3 one way (check)
  • Taxi Monterey Airport → Pacific Grove: $25–40 (check)
  • 17-Mile Drive entry, per car: about $12 (check)

Say or show

  • Thank you — Thank you
  • Where is the beach? — Where is the beach?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Is there parking here? — Is there parking here?
  • How much is it? — How much is it?
  • Where is the restroom? — Where is the restroom?

Tipping is expected: 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 Pacific Grove. 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: Apr–May, Sep–Oct · avoid Dec–Feb (rain), Jul–Aug (fog and crowds) · 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. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for MRY and SFO: last MST departures field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Lighthouse Avenue, Lover's Point, Asilomar and Point Pinos.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Monarch Sanctuary, Point Pinos Lighthouse, Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Fog and hostile arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources