Population: 29,674

Time Zone: Pacific Time Zone. When it is 12:00 noon in New York City, it is 9:00AM in Monterey. Daylight Saving Time is observed from the end of April- the end of October.

Elevation: 60 feet

Land area: 29,674 sq. feet

Location: The Monterey Bay Peninsula is considered part of central California and is located 74 miles south of San Francisco on U.S. Highway 1. The bay itself is about 19 miles across at its entrance. The Pacific Grove and Monterey coastline is protected as a marine garden fish refuge. Point Lobos and Carmel Bay are ecological reserves, with strict regulations on fishing or the taking of any marine life. Farmland, vineyards and ranches dominate the eastern part of the peninsula, with the Santa Lucia mountains serving as a backdrop.

Average Temperatures:

Month

High

Low

January

55F

36F

February

61F

39F

March

67F

42F

April

75F

47F

May

83F

52F

June

90F

57F

July

99F

63F

August

97F

60F

September

91F

56F

October

80F

48F

November

67F

39F

December

56F

37F

Weather-related tips: When touring or hiking, dress in “layers”, as the temperature can be warm one minute, and then drop rapidly as clouds or fog move in from the ocean.

Holidays Observed:

New Year's Day Jan. 1

Martin Luther King, Jr., Day 3rd Mon. in Jan.

Lincoln’s Birthday February 12

Washington’s Birthday 3rd Monday in February

Memorial Day last Mon. in May

Independence Day July 4

Labor Day 1st Mon. in September

Admission Day September 9

Columbus Day 2nd Monday in October

Veteran’s Day November 11

Thanksgiving Day 4th Thurs. in Nov.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Dec. 24 and 25

New Year's Eve Dec. 31

Major Area Airports

Los Angeles International Airport - Airport Code: LAX

Los Angeles, CA

Ontario International Airport - Airport Code: ONT

Ontario, CA

Local Airport

Monterey Peninsula Airport

This airport serves the central California coast. Regular flights are available to Los Angeles, San Francisco and Phoenix.

Airport Transportation

Monterey-Salinas Transit provides bus service to the greater Monterey and Salinas areas, King City, Big Sur and on to Watsonville and Gilroy. Service originates from the Monterey Transit Plaza, in central Monterey, and the Salinas Transit Center, in downtown Salinas. Bus stops are marked with an MST sign.

By Car

The best way to tour the Monterey Peninsula is to rent a car. Car rentals are available at the Monterey International Airport located close to the bay. However, almost all of the area's beach towns can be explored by foot.