Monterey Airport Transfer Guide (2026) - All Options & Tips
Get reliable advice for your Monterey Airport transfer, including how to check current services from Monterey Regional, San Jose, or San Francisco arrivals.
Monterey Regional Airport sits just east of downtown, so the transfer is short. Many visitors instead fly into San Jose or San Francisco and drive down the coast.
We have not yet verified how travellers currently reach Monterey from the airport serving it, so we are not publishing routes, operators or fares we cannot stand behind. For what is running on the day you travel, the arrivals information published by your arrival airport is the reliable source, and your accommodation will usually know what works best for the hour you land.
Airport transfers
Trains, buses, and shuttles from the airport, compared in one place.
Helpful Tips
Monterey-Salinas Transit buses link Cannery Row, downtown, Pacific Grove, and Carmel. Grab a day pass if you are skipping a rental car. It saves money.
MST runs a free seasonal WAVE shuttle along the waterfront between downtown and Cannery Row. Check the MST website for current stops and hours before you lock in your day.
The Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail is a car-free paved path hugging the water. Rent a bike to zip between Cannery Row, Fisherman's Wharf, and Pacific Grove faster than driving. Pedal and go.
Parking near Cannery Row and Fisherman's Wharf vanishes fast, on weekends. Walk one or two blocks inland to municipal garages. They usually have space and lower rates.
Common Scams to Avoid
At Monterey Regional Airport, travelers may be approached in baggage claim or curbside by drivers claiming to be official taxis or car services. They often pitch flat rates higher than metered or app rides. This happens at small airports with limited competition. Confirm your ride at the official dispatch desk or through a pre-booked app before accepting any offer.
Because MRY is small, only an a handful of rental companies operate here. Counter agents sometimes push premium insurance, prepaid fuel, and GPS packages as essential for the coastal highway. These extras can spike the base rate. Review your own auto and travel insurance before you reach the desk. Decline each add-on one by one instead of accepting a bundle.
The short hop from MRY to Cannery Row, Carmel-by-the-Sea, or Pebble Beach runs through a high-income resort corridor. Some private car services quote steep flat fares, betting visitors will not compare prices. This is a common tourist-area tactic, not unique to Monterey. Open a rideshare app first. Check the fare estimate before you agree to any curbside flat-rate pitch.