Hi all,
This board has been very helpful in planning my upcoming trip to the wine country in CA. I will be in Napa later this week and would like to take a day trip to the Carmel/Pebble Beach area. Two questions: 1) How long should I anticipate for this trip to take if we start out early on a weekend day? 2) What routes/roads should we take? Thanks in advance for any help!!
Blythe

Bump...

The most direct route is probably 680 south to San Jose, 101 south past Gilroy to 156 west to Hwy 1 south.

This drive will take you awhile. Without traffic, I think it would be about a 2 1/2 hour drive. With traffic, it will be longer. I don't think you should hit too much traffic on 680 going south, but you will definitely hit traffic on 101, 156, and 1.

The alternative would be at San Jose to take 17 south to Santa Cruz and then 1 south to Monterey, but you will still hit traffic.

On a weekend in the summer, you can count on traffic on any road leading to the coast.

A day trip to Carmel from Napa sounds a bit crazy to me. This involves driving through the congested bay area twice in one day. It will take you upwards of three hours to get there and three to get back. What do you want to see that badly? Can you overnight in the Carmel area? If you are determined, J. Correa's first route is the fastest, not the most scenic. If you don't want to spend that much time in the car, consider Point Reyes, Muir Woods, Stinson Beach.

Blythe,

J Correa's second route(680/17/1) would be my first choice, since it is more scenic. Her first route is less scenic and may not necessarily take much less time due to the freeway construction on 101 in Morgan Hill south of the city, although it is an acceptable alternative.

The entire drive will take at least 3 hrs. depending on the traffic. If you leave after 9AM on a weekday, 680 heading into the city should not be a problem.

Thanks to all for the helpful responses. Susan, now you've got me second-guessing myself. I thought the trip would run two hours or so from people I'd spoken with. In answer to your questions: 1) I was wanting to go to Carmel for the 17-mile drive and the gorgeous ocean/beach areas I've read about! 2)We already paid for five nights at a timeshare in Napa, so unfortunately cannot overnight in Carmel.

What other cities along the coast have nice oceanic scenery, pretty drives, etc? Does the Sonoma coast have anything that would fall into this category? I've been searching, but all I can find is info on Bodega and Point Reyes (would these be recommended?). Thanks in advance for your help, I greatly appreciate it!!

Blythe,

By all means DO go to Carmel/Pebble Beach. The Central Coast of California has the most spectacular coastal scenery in the state. 17 Mile Drive, Monterey Bay Aquarium, and Fishermans Wharf are great places to see. If you take the 680/17/1 route, be sure to stop at Phil's Restaurant in Moss Landing. The seafood, especially the clam chowder, is out of this world.

Blythe, it is your choice, knowing the time it will take to get to Carmel, so I will leave the decision to you.

However, the drive along the coastline through Stinson Beach is quite spectacular. The drive through Point Reyes doesn't take you along the coastline, but through some beautiful, bucolic countryside.

From Napa, I'd recommend taking the 116 and backroads to Petaluma, then cut over to the coast. In the town of Inverness you can have a bite, the area is known especially for their oysters. Drive south through Point Reyes, then on south to Stinson Beach. After a walk on the beach and perhaps an early dinner, head back over Mt. Tamapalis to the 101 for an amazing view of SF and the bay, then back up 101 toward Napa.

I've found a great website with traveler's info on the Marin coastline:

http://www.coastaltraveler.com/marin/index.html

Enjoy, whatever you decide!

It is 154 miles from Napa to Monterey.

Blythe: Forget Carmel. It is just too far to have any time to do the area. Save it for an other time.
Susan's recommendation "from Napa" are the best choice. I would add, be sure to walk around the towns of Point Reyes Station, Tomales and Bodega. Funky little towns with shops, cafes, restaurants, antiques, etc. Tomales Bay Foods and Cowgirl Creamery (in Point Reyes Station) is one of our favorite lunch stops. This is very pretty, wooded country. Lots of opportunities to be oceanside and bayside as well. On the way to San Francisco, Muir Woods is a spectacular stop. Beautiful grove of Redwood Trees.
If you like oysters, the oyster beds with drive up stands and barbecue pits are on the Tomales side of the Bay, across the Bay from Inverness. You will go through Inverness if you go out to the Point Reyes Sea Shore and you should. Have a great trip.

Blythe,

I would ignore the naysayers and go visit Carmel. You will not regret it. The vistas are amazing. You cannot compare the North Coast (Tomales Bay, Bodega Bay, Stinson Beach) to Carmel and Monterey. It should take no more than 3 hours to get to Carmel from Napa. Assuming that you get to Carmel by lunchtime, 17 Mile Drive, the Aquarium, etc. are very doable in a day.

I think a wonderful trip can be made for a week to the wine country and then over to the Sonoma Coast near Bodega Bay or even up to Mendocino. Pt. Reyes is a lovely seashore just as lovely as the Carmel/Pebble Beach area. I really think it involves too much driving if you only have a week to see the wine country as well as Carmel/Monterey. You'll just have to come back :~(

I agree with the posters that have suggested that the drive to Carmel is too much for 1 day. When I am on vacation I like to relax and will generally opt to spend more time in a smaller area than spend lots of time on the road trying to see as many different places as possible. Everybody is different though, and there are those who prefer to see as much as possible and don't mind spending hours in the car. Although Monterey is one of my favorite areas, I think that there is plenty of beautiful places to visit north of SF.

Blythe,

Most certainly go to Carmel. The coastal scenery is spectacular, much beeter than the coast north of SF. It definitely can be done in one day.