Key Features:
- Train from Los Angeles through Santa Barbara, Vandenberg AFB, and Salinas Valley.
- Overnight in Salinas or Monterey or Carmel
- If staying in Salinas visit farms and fields and Steinbeck Center
- Historic Monterey, Cannery Row, 17 Mile Drive, Pebble Beach, Carmel
- Drive to Big Sur including Coastal Redwoods
- Train to San Francisco or back to L.A.
- Comfortable seating
- Dinning and Lounge car on the train
- Can add extra nights
- Option to add Hearst Castle at additional cost.
- This tour can start from San Francisco in reverse
Monterey Big Sur from Los Angeles
California Coast Tour from Los Angeles to San Jose and San Francisco.This independent trip is made possible by taking train from Anaheim or Los Angeles to Monterey, spending a night there and then next day private car to Big Sur and Monterey and to San Jose or San Francisco.
Day 1 – Anaheim or Los Angeles to Salinas and Monterey. 375 miles:
Metropolis to Riviera to Space Station to quintessential Central Coast
Los Angeles departure at 10:15 a.m. (or Anaheim at 8:07 a.m.). Ride through San Fernando Valley, Simi Valley and Fillmore, orange groves and green houses, reaching the Pacific coast at Oxnard. The train hugs the shoreline of the most magnificent vistas. West through Santa Barbara and then turning north at Goleta we pass through the restricted Vandenberg Space Station on the way to Pismo Beach. Fields of strawberries and miles of new vines are all around us as we ride north to San Luis Obispo. Soon the train chugs up Cuesta Grade through six or seven tunnels and then drops down going to the horse ranches and pastures of Paso Robles.
Through agricultural area of Salinas Valley to Monterey Bay
Entering Monterey County at Camp Roberts the ride is northbound along the Salinas River. Oil fields give way to the Valley, one of the richest agricultural areas in California. Riding through very large vineyards we come upon miles of broccoli, lettuce, flowers and berries. Disembark the train in Salinas where John Steinbeck chronicled the transformation of Monterey county from the days of depression to the wealthier times. Overnight in Salinas or car transfer takes us past Laguna Seca to the ocean at Monterey Bay where golf courses, mansions and scenic drives take over. It should be just after 7:15 in the evening. Check in at Casa Munras Hotel or similar place in historic Monterey.
DINNING ON THE TRAIN:
THE DINNING CAR & CAFE LOUNGE CAR ON COAST STARLIGHT MENU
The Dinning Car offers a truly unique restaurant style dinning experience to both Sleeping Car and Coach passengers. Enjoy regional wines and regionally inspired dishes prepared by our talented chefs, all the while enjoying a level of service you’d expect of a fine restaurant. In addition to the Dinning Car, all passengers are invited to relax, socialize and dine in the Cafe Lounge Car. The Lounge Car offers extended hours and a more casual environment where you can satisfy your appetite with sandwiches, snacks, beer, cocktails, wine, and an assortment of sodas and juices.
Day 2 – Monterey Peninsula, Big Sur and then to San Jose or San Francisco. 194 miles:
If you spend the night in Salinas a local resident guide can take you on very interesting visits to the farms, fields, and packing plants. At Steinbeck Center see the history of Valley of the World. Meet the travelers who stayed in Monterey at about 12:30 p.m. for a tour of Monterey, Cannery Row, Pacific Grove. See the Pacific crashing on to the rocks and swirling around on the 17 Mile Drive, where the Lone Cypress stands guard. Brush with luxury at the golf courses and resorts of Pebble Beach. Time in Carmel by the Sea for shopping & browsing.
If you spend the night in Monterey at about 9:00 go south on Highway One to Big Sur stopping at Bixby Bridge, the Coastal Redwoods and Nepenthe. Return by 12:30 to continue on the Monterey tour.
Continue to San Jose 120 miles:
Around 3:30 the driver takes you via Prunedale and then Highway 101 crossing San Andreas Fault and Morgan Hill and Gilroy. The rural land gives way to the urban sprawl of San Jose, reaching Diridon station around 5:30.
To continue to San Francisco or Oakland area the driver can take you or you can connect to train arriving by 9:30 or so.
Rates 2023 : California Coast Monterey Big Sur 2 days from Los Angeles – Tour Code LA1M
Available Sunday to Thursday except on certain holidays
$686 single person. $796 for two. $100 for each additional person. Maximum 6 persons.
*Plus hotel rooms from $200 to $500 depends on availability and the prevailing rate at the hotel of your choice. This cost is based on coach seating on the train with no access to dinning car. *A private room with complimentary meals on the train is available for an additional about $330 per room (the room can accommodate up to 2 people). This will give you the comfort and luxury experience. Watch this video on Amtrak’s AMAZING Coast Starlight – Los Angeles to San Francisco in a Roomette. Updated April 7th, 2023
Tour includes:
AMTRAK train from Los Angeles, Tour of Monterey Peninsula, Big Sur and Bixby Bridge, and transport to San Jose or San Francisco area. This independent trip is made possible by taking train from Los Angeles, staying the night in Salinas or Monterey, Monterey sightseeing tour and Big Sur by private sedan car and to San Jose and option to San Francisco. For questions and clarification please contact us or fill out request form below. We will get back to you within 24 to 72 hours.
See : 2 days Big Sur Monterey Scenes from San Francisco