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Major city · United States

SeasideSeaside, California

Use Seaside as a cheaper Monterey Bay base: 2 nights, car needed, $150–250/day for two. Skip it as a sightseeing stop on its own.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
avoid Dec–Feb (rain), Jul–Aug (fog and peak prices)
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.

Seaside sits on Monterey Bay just north of Monterey, on the former Fort Ord army land. Rooms cost less than Monterey or Carmel and Route 1 puts the whole peninsula within 15–20 minutes by car. The town itself is a residential strip with a beach, two golf courses and a small gallery district in Sand City next door; the reason to sleep here is price and parking, not the town.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Seaside, 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
  • Sit-down mealSit-down dinner, mainTip 18–22% on the pre-tax total.$18–35
  • Street or quick mealDiner breakfast$12–20
  • BeerDraught beer at a taproom$7–9
  • Budget bedFamily room or suite (up to 4), a night, per roomUS$180
  • Mid-range bedChain-hotel or motel double room, a night, per roomUS$180
  • High-end bedChain-hotel or motel double room, a night, per roomUS$320

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$110 · Mid US$190 · High US$330

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.

Monterey Bay location next to Monterey and CarmelBayonet and Black Horse golf courses on former Fort Ord landSand City galleries and the August Westend CelebrationFort Ord National Monument trails
Airports
MRY Monterey Regional Airport (About 10–15 min by car; small, few nonstops, mostly via Los Angeles, Denver or Dallas.) · SFO San Francisco International (About 2–2.5 h by car via Route 101 and Route 156; the usual arrival for cheaper flights.) · SJC San Jose Mineta International (About 1.5–2 h by car; often the best mix of price and drive time.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Seaside: 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

6°C

10 rd

Feb

16°C

7°C

9 rd

Mar

16°C

7°C

9 rd

Apr

17°C

8°C

5 rd

May

18°C

9°C

3 rd

Jun

19°C

10°C

2 rd

Jul

20°C

11°C

1 rd

Aug

21°C

12°C

1 rd

Sep

22°C

12°C

2 rd

Oct

21°C

10°C

4 rd

Nov

18°C

8°C

7 rd

Dec

15°C

6°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

A car is the practical choice: Route 1 links Seaside to Monterey in about 10 min and to Carmel in about 20. Monterey-Salinas Transit buses run to Monterey, Pacific Grove and the Edgewater Transit Exchange in Sand City, but service is thin in the evening. Parking is easy and mostly free, unlike Monterey. Bikes can be rented near the Monterey waterfront.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Montereygo

Door to door: 10–20 min

Route 1 south by car, or MST bus from the Edgewater Transit Exchange

Cannery Row, the aquarium and the wharf; go early, parking fills by 10:00.

Carmel

go

Door to door: 20–25 min

Route 1 south then Ocean Ave, about 15 km

Beach, mission and shops; combine with Carmel Point on the same drive.

Pacific Grove

go

Door to door: 15–20 min

Route 68 or Route 1 to Lighthouse Ave

Lighthouse, tide pools and the start of 17-Mile Drive.

Moss Landing

go

Door to door: 25–30 min

Route 1 north, about 25 km

Sea otters and birding at the harbour; good lunch stop.

Salinascaution

Door to door: 30–35 min

Route 68 east to Route 101 south

Steinbeck sites and the rail station; not a beach day.

Big Sur

go

Door to door: 45 min–1 h

Route 1 south past Carmel, about 45 min to the first stops

Check for Route 1 closures after storms; go on a clear morning.

King City

skip

Door to door: 1–1.25 h

Route 101 south, about 90 km

A highway stop, not a day out from the coast.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

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

Fremont Blvd / Del Monte Blvd strip

The main motel and chain-hotel row; walkable to nothing much, but 5–10 min by car to Monterey and the beach.

Seaside Beach and Sand City side

Closest to the sand and the Sand City galleries; quieter at night, still needs a car for food.

Monterey or Pacific Grove (alternative)

Pay more to walk to Cannery Row, the aquarium and restaurants; Seaside saves roughly $50–100 a night.

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
$150–250 excl. bed
High
$300+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Chain-hotel or motel double room1 × 2 nights × US$180US$360
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$190US$760
Compact rental car, one day1 × US$75 · Book ahead for summer weekends.US$75
Fuel, about 60 km of local driving1 × US$8US$8
Monterey Bay Aquarium adult ticket2 × US$60 · Dated tickets, book online.US$120
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$20US$40
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$136
Trip total≈ US$375 per person per day, bed includedUS$1,499

2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax added at the till. Flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$4–6
Diner breakfast$12–20
Casual lunch or burrito$12–20
Sit-down dinner, mainTip 18–22% on the pre-tax total.$18–35
Draught beer at a taproom$7–9
Golf, Bayonet or Black HorseRates vary by tee time and season.$40–135
Rideshare, Seaside to Monterey$12–20

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Seaside is a normal working town, not a resort: daytime is fine, but avoid walking the Fremont Blvd strip late at night and keep car doors locked and nothing visible inside. The bigger risks are summer fog, cold ocean water and rip currents on the beach.
  • Summer fog can sit over the bay all day: pack a layer even in July.
  • Coastal Route 1 south of Carmel (Big Sur) closes in winter storms: check Caltrans QuickMap before driving.
  • Motels on Fremont Blvd vary a lot block by block: read recent reviews, not the photos.
  • Sales tax is added at the till and is not in posted prices.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Seaside Police (non-emergency)
831-394-6811
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.

SeasideSeaside, California

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Seaside Police (non-emergency)831-394-6811
  • Poison Control1-800-222-1222

Embassy

No embassies here; consulates are in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Check your country's list before you travel.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Rideshare Seaside → Monterey: $12–20, about 10–15 min
  • MST bus, single ride: about $2–3, exact change
  • Monterey Bay Aquarium adult ticket: about $60, dated entry

Say or show

  • Where is the beach access? — Where is the beach access?
  • Is parking free here? — Is parking free here?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • The check, please — The check, please

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 Seaside. 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–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Dec–Feb (rain), Jul–Aug (fog and peak prices) · 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, SFO and SJC: drive times, last MST buses, rideshare fallback.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Seaside Beach, Sand City galleries, Fremont Blvd food strip, Fort Ord trailheads.
  3. Place pages with verified hours (Bayonet and Black Horse, Frog Pond Wetland Preserve, Fort Ord National Monument) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Fog and storm fixtures so Route 1 and beach verdicts can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources