There are 9 ways to get from Monterey to Santa Monica by plane, tram, bus, train (Amtrak), car, shuttle, subway, or bus (Amtrak, Flixbus)
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly Monterey Regional Airport to Los Angeles International Airport, tram
best- Fly from Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)plane MRY - LAX
- Take the tram from LAX / Metro Transit Center to Expo / Crenshaw K-Line Stationtram
- Take the tram from Expo / Crenshaw E-Line Station to Downtown Santa Monica Stationtram
4h$277–709Bus
cheapest- Take the bus from Salinas Transit Center / Gate 3 to Monterey / Gilroy Train Stationbus 59
- Take the bus from Gilroy to Los Angeles - Pacoimabus San Jose
11h 53m$46–70Train (Amtrak)
- Take the train from Salinas to Van Nuystrain Coast Starlight
12h 13m$114–236Drive 316.5 mi
- Drive from Monterey to Santa Monicacar 316.5 mi
5h 33m$58–84Fly Monterey Regional Airport to Burbank Bob Hope Airport, tram
- Fly from Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) to Burbank Bob Hope Airport (BUR)plane MRY - BUR
- Take the tram from 7th Street / Metro Center Station - Metro A & E Lines to Downtown Santa Monica Stationtram
4h 27m$467–807Shuttle to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport, fly to Los Angeles International Airport
- Take a shuttle bus from Monterey Shuttle Station to SJC Airport Terminal A
- Fly from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)plane SJC - LAX
5h 28m$164–663Shuttle to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport, fly to Burbank Bob Hope Airport
- Take a shuttle bus from Monterey Shuttle Station to SJC Airport Terminal A
- Fly from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) to Burbank Bob Hope Airport (BUR)plane SJC - BUR
5h 57m$544–811Shuttle, BART to Oakland International Airport, fly to Burbank Bob Hope Airport
- Take a shuttle bus from Monterey Shuttle Station to SJC Airport Terminal B
- Take the subway from Milpitas to Coliseumsubway
- Fly from Oakland International Airport (OAK) to Burbank Bob Hope Airport (BUR)plane OAK - BUR
7h 36m$364–724Bus via Santa Barbara
- Take the bus from Salinas to Santa Barbarabus Amtrak Thruway Connecting Service
- Take the bus from Santa Barbara Bus Stop to Los Angeles Union Stationbus FlixBus 2005
13h 24m$98–150
Monterey to Santa Monica by bus and foot
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Monterey to Santa Monica is to bus which costs $45 - $75 and takes 11h 53m.
The fastest way to get from Monterey to Santa Monica is to fly and tram which takes 4h and costs $270 - $750.
No, there is no direct bus from Monterey to Santa Monica. However, there are services departing from Tyler / Franklin and arriving at Santa Monica Wb & 11Th Fs via Salinas Transit Center / Gate 3, Gilroy, Van Nuys / Laurel Canyon and Westwood Sb & Weyburn Ns. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 11h 53m.
No, there is no direct train from Monterey to Santa Monica. However, there are services departing from Salinas and arriving at Van Nuys via . The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 12h 13m.
The distance between Monterey and Santa Monica is 291 miles. The road distance is 318.4 miles.
The best way to get from Monterey to Santa Monica without a car is to bus which takes 11h 53m and costs $45 - $75.
It takes approximately 4h to get from Monterey to Santa Monica, including transfers.
Monterey to Santa Monica bus services, operated by Monterey-Salinas Transit, depart from Salinas Transit Center / Gate 3 station.
Monterey to Santa Monica train services, operated by Amtrak, depart from Salinas station.
The best way to get from Monterey to Santa Monica is to bus which takes 11h 53m and costs $45 - $75. Alternatively, you can train, which costs $110 - $240 and takes 12h 13m.
What companies run services between Monterey, CA, USA and Santa Monica, CA, USA?
You can take a bus from Tyler / Franklin to Santa Monica Wb & 11Th Fs via Salinas Transit Center / Gate 7, Salinas Transit Center / Gate 3, Monterey / Gilroy Train Station, Gilroy, Van Nuys / Laurel Canyon, and Westwood Sb & Weyburn Ns in around 11h 53m. Alternatively, Amtrak operates a train from Salinas to Van Nuys once daily. Tickets cost $110–230 and the journey takes 8h 30m.
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $30–210
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Burbank Bob Hope Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 9m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $50–340
Flights from Oakland International Airport to Burbank Bob Hope Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 11m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $60–370
- Website
- jsx.com
Flights from Monterey Regional Airport to Burbank Bob Hope Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $50–340
Flights from Oakland International Airport to Burbank Bob Hope Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $60–370
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 24m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $30–210
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Monterey Regional Airport to Los Angeles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 34m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $30–210
Flights from Monterey Regional Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via San Francisco
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $40–230
- Website
- flyfrontier.com
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $110–350
- Phone
- +1-323-466-3876
- [email protected]
- Website
- metro.net
Tram from LAX / Metro Transit Center to Expo / Crenshaw K-Line Station
- Ave. Duration
- 21 min
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- $1–2
- Website
- https://www.metro.net
Tram from Expo / Crenshaw E-Line Station to Downtown Santa Monica Station
- Ave. Duration
- 26 min
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- $2
- Website
- https://www.metro.net
Tram from 7th Street / Metro Center Station - Metro A & E Lines to Downtown Santa Monica Station
- Ave. Duration
- 47 min
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- $1–2
- Website
- https://www.metro.net
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Salinas to Van Nuys
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $110–230
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1-510-464-6000
- Website
- bart.gov
Subway from Milpitas to Coliseum
- Ave. Duration
- 39 min
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- $6–8
- Website
- https://www.bart.gov
- Phone
- 1-888-678-2871
- [email protected]
- Website
- mst.org
Bus from Salinas Transit Center / Gate 3 to Monterey / Gilroy Train Station
- Ave. Duration
- 43 min
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $2–4
- Website
- https://mst.org/
- Phone
- +1 833 766 3553
- Website
- tufesainternacional.com
Bus from Gilroy to Los Angeles - Pacoima
- Ave. Duration
- 6h
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $65–95
- Schedules at
- tufesainternacional.com
- Adult One way
- $65–95
- Phone
- +52 644 410 2444
- [email protected]
- Website
- tufesa.com.mx
Bus from Gilroy to Los Angeles - Pacoima
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 20m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $40–60
- Schedules at
- tufesa.com.mx
- Book at
- tufesa.com.mx
- Plus
- $40–60
- Titanium
- $45–55
- Phone
- +1 831-373-7777
- Website
- groometransportation.com
Shuttle from Monterey Shuttle Station to SJC Airport Terminal A
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 50m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $45–60
- Schedules at
- groometransportation.com
- Standard Rate
- $45–60
Shuttle from Monterey Shuttle Station to SJC Airport Terminal A
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 50m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $45–60
- Schedules at
- groometransportation.com
- Standard Rate
- $45–60
Shuttle from Monterey Shuttle Station to SJC Airport Terminal B
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $45–60
- Schedules at
- groometransportation.com
- Standard Rate
- $45–60
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Bus from Salinas to Santa Barbara
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 5m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $80–120
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.com
Bus from Santa Barbara Bus Stop to Los Angeles Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 25m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $15–25
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
Want to know more about travelling around United States
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
Related travel guides
Travelling to the US: What do I need to know?
Read the travel guide
Why you should take the train in the US
Read the travel guide
More Questions & Answers
Monterey to Santa Monica bus services, operated by Monterey-Salinas Transit, arrive at Monterey / Gilroy Train Station.
Monterey to Santa Monica train services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at Van Nuys station.
Yes, the driving distance between Monterey to Santa Monica is 318 miles. It takes approximately 5h 33m to drive from Monterey to Santa Monica.
There are 2552+ hotels available in Santa Monica.























