Transportation in Monterey

Monterey runs on wheels. Arrive expecting a dense metro grid and you will blink twice. The regional bus, Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST), links the peninsula to Carmel and Salinas. But buses appear far less often than in big cities. Check the timetable first. Walking downtown to Cannery Row to the Aquarium is faster and cheaper than hunting a parking space in summer. Rideshare splits the difference. Uber and Lyft cover the gaps MST leaves and spare you the daily rental fee. Reserve a car only if Point Lobos, Big Sur, or Carmel Valley are on your list. Skip the waterfront trolley. It crawls the same fifteen-minute stroll you can do on foot. Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) sits close and small. A rideshare into town costs little and saves hassle. Rent at the terminal only if Big Sur is day-one priority. Flying into San Francisco or San Jose adds miles. Check those airports' current shuttle links before you land. Direct coaches to Monterey change with the seasons.