How to Monterey Car Week
An extensive guide on what to expect from a trip to Monterey in August
by Fury396
Introduction
We can’t claim to be experts, but we have one trip to car week under our belts and have created this guide based on our experiences and advice that we’ve received along the way. Our hope is that this guide will give you some preparation for a very fast-paced and unpredictable week.
Locations
If you spend most of the week in Monterey, chances are that you’ll be able to see a majority of the cars visiting at least once— and you won’t need tickets to events like Quail or Pebble. A lot of people are content to spend their time car spotting on Ocean Avenue and its side streets in Downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea. Others are eager to hunt for as many cars as they can find. If this is you, you’ll want to take note of the locations listed below!
Throughout the week, manufacturers and owners alike will take their cars out for photos along 17 Mile Drive, so make sure to keep an eye on it. There are multiple pull-off spots along the coastline, as shown in the gallery above. The only issue with going into 17 Mile is the tolls every time you want to enter. Other places close to Pebble, such as The Inn at Spanish Bay and the Polo Fields, would require this toll as well. At the Polo Fields, you will almost always find some hidden gems being unloaded from Reliable Carriers and other trucks. It’s a good idea to keep an eye on this area as well – you never know what might come out.
Below is a collection of the essential locations for your convenience.
Car Spotting/Photo Locations
17 Mile Drive - 17 Mile Dr, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
Cannery Row/Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa - 400 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940
Carmel Valley Ranch - 1 Old Ranch Rd, Carmel, CA 93923
Hyatt Regency Monterey - 1 Old Golf Course Rd, Monterey, CA 93940
The Inn at Spanish Bay - 2700 17 Mile Dr, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
L'Auberge Carmel - Monte Verde St, Carmel By The Sea, CA 93921
Laguna Seca - 1021 Monterey Salinas Hwy, Salinas, CA 93908
Ocean Ave (Downtown Carmel) - Ocean Ave, Carmel By The Sea, CA 93923
Pebble Beach Golf Links - 1700 17 Mile Dr, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
Polo Fields - 3350 Portola Rd, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
Quail Lodge - 8205 Valley Greens Dr, Carmel, CA 93923
Food
If you go to car week for car spotting like we do, eating is most likely the last thing on your mind — there’s so much to see! But we all need food at some point.
Looking for good eats but don’t know the area? We’ve got you covered. From the Old Fisherman’s Wharf to Ocean Avenue, we’ve collected a list of favorites from car week regulars to help you find the food solutions you’ll love.
Need an early morning pickup but don’t want to have the same old coffee from Starbucks? Try one of the three Carmel Valley Coffee Roasting Company’s locations spread across Carmel. They have a wide variety of coffee options and pastries to help you start your day!
Pizza My Heart is a crowd favorite. That is our personal go-to when we can’t decide on food. Their selection of pizza is both affordable and delicious. We highly recommend checking them out.
The rest of the locations listed below have come at the recommendation of experienced car week “veterans” and fellow car photographers that share our mindset in tackling car week.
Food Recommendations
A Taste of Monterey - 700 Cannery Row KK, Monterey, CA 93940
Alvarado Street Brewery - 426 Alvarado St, Monterey, CA 93940
Baja Cantina Carmel - 7166 Carmel Valley Rd, Monterey, CA 93923
Barmel - San Carlos between Ocean Ave & 7th Ave In, Carmel Way Courtyard, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93921
Bruno's Deli - 6th & Junipero Ave, Carmel, CA 93921
The Butter House - 1760 Fremont Blvd Suite B-1, Seaside, CA 93955
Carmel Bakery - Ocean Ave, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93921
Carmel Valley Coffee Roasting Co. - (see link for three locations)
Fish Hopper - 700 Cannery Row Suite K, Monterey, CA 93940
Foray - NEC San Carlos Street &, 5th Ave, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93921
Gianni's Pizza - 725 Lighthouse Ave, Monterey, CA 93940
Nepenthe - 48510 CA-1, Big Sur, CA 93920
Old Fisherman's Grotto - 39 Fishermans Wharf, Monterey, CA 93940
Peppers Mexicali Cafe - 170 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA 93950
Pizza My Heart - 660 Del Monte Center, Monterey, CA 93940
River Ranch Cafe - 1 Old Ranch Rd, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93923
Rosine's Restaurant - 434 Alvarado St, Monterey, CA 93940
Toribashi - 487 Alvarado St, Monterey, CA 93940
Turn 12 Bar & Grill - 400 Tyler St, Monterey, CA 93940
The Valley Kitchen - 1 Old Ranch Rd, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93923
Vivolo's Chowder House - 127 Central Ave, Pacific Grove, CA 93950
Events Hub
In addition to the recurring event of spotting multi-million dollar cars on the road throughout the day, there are many events spread all over Monterey. We have compiled a list of the major event venues for your convenience.
Event Venues
Monterey Conference Center - 1 Portola Plaza, Monterey, CA 93940
RM Sotheby's Monterey
Pebble Beach Golf Links - 1700 17 Mile Dr, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance start/finish, Gooding & Co
Quail Lodge - 8000 Valley Greens Dr, Carmel, CA 93923
Quail: A Motorsports Gathering, Bonham's Quail Lodge Auction
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca - 1021 Monterey Salinas Highway, Salinas, CA 93908
Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
Below are assembled lists of the events going on each day of the week to help you plan your itinerary.
Saturday, Aug. 10th
Monterey Pre-Reunion & Hillclimb
All Day Event
1021 Monterey Salinas Hwy, Salinas, CA 93908
Toyo Tires: Shutter Space (SoCal)
6-9pm
81350 Palmetto St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Sunday, Aug. 11th
Monterey Pre-Reunion & Hillclimb
All Day Event
1021 Monterey Salinas Hwy, Salinas, CA 93908
Prebble by Ancillary Studios and Hypersociety (SoCal)
9am-12pm
Oakley HQ, 1 Icon, Foothill Ranch, CA 92610
Monday, Aug. 12th
Automobilia Collectors Expo
10am to 5pm
1441 Canyon Del Rey Blvd, Seaside, CA 93955
The Porsche Monterey Classic
4pm to 8pm
1781 Del Monte Boulevard, Seaside, CA 93955
Tuesday, Aug. 13th
Acura in the Park
9am to 4pm
6th Mission St, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93923
Automobilia Collectors Expo
10am to 5pm
1441 Canyon Del Rey Blvd, Seaside, CA 93955
Classic Motorsport Magazine Monterey Kickoff
1pm to 5pm
Pacific Grove, CA
Wednesday, Aug. 14th
Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
8:30am to 6pm
1021 Monterey Salinas Hwy, Salinas, CA 93908
Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction
9am to 6pm
27050 Rancho San Carlos Rd, Carmel, California 93923
Automobilia Collectors Expo
10am to 3pm
1441 Canyon Del Rey Blvd, Seaside, CA 93955
Monterey Jet Center Auction
10am to 5:30pm
300 Sky Park Dr, Monterey, CA
RM Sotheby’s Monterey
10am to 10pm
1 Portola Plaza, Monterey, CA 93940
Astons On The Avenue
11am to 4pm
Between Lincoln & Monte Verde, Carmel-by the Sea, CA 93921
Little Car Show
12pm to 5pm
Lighthouse Avenue and Fountain Avenue, Pacific Grove, California 93950
Pebble Beach Motoring Classic
4pm ETA
1518 Cypress Dr, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
Motorlux
5pm to 10pm
300 Sky Park Dr, Monterey, CA
Thursday, Aug. 15th
Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance
7am line up, 9am depart, 12pm return to Pebble Beach
Pebble Beach to Big Sur
Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
8:30am to 6pm
1021 Monterey Salinas Hwy, Salinas, CA 93908
Legends of the Autobahn
9am to 3pm
77 Asilomar Blvd, Pacific Grove, CA 93950
Ferrari Owners Club Concours Carmel
9am to 3:30pm
Dolores St. Between Ocean and 7th Avenue, Carmel-by the Sea, CA 93921
Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction
9am to 6pm
27050 Rancho San Carlos Road Carmel, California 93923
Pebble Beach RetroAuto
9:30am to 5:30pm
Corner of Stevenson and Forest Lake Rd, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
Monterey Jet Center Auction
10am to 5:30pm
300 Sky Park Dr, Monterey, CA
Pebble Beach Classic Car Forum
10am to 5:30pm
Corner of Stevenson and, Forest Lake Rd, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
RM Sotheby’s Monterey
10am to 10pm
1 Portola Plaza, Monterey, CA 93940
Prancing Ponies Women’s Car Show
11am to 4pm
Ocean Avenue, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93923
Avants Monterey Car Week Social
6pm to 9:30pm
Pelio Estate, 25 Pilot Rd, Carmel Valley, CA 93924
Friday, Aug. 16th
Werks Reunion
7am to 3pm
1250 Garden Road, Monterey, CA, 93940
Mecum Monterey Auction
8am to 6pm
1 Old Golf Course Road, Monterey, CA 93940
Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
8:30am to 6pm
1021 Monterey Salinas Hwy, Salinas, CA 93908
The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering
9am to 4pm
8205 Valley Greens Dr, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93923
Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction
9am to 6pm
27050 Rancho San Carlos Rd, At Valley Greens Drive, Carmel, 93923
Gooding & Company’s Pebble Beach Auction
9am to 9pm
Stevenson Dr and, Portola Rd, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
Pebble Beach RetroAuto
9:30am to 5:30pm
Corner of Stevenson and, Forest Lake Rd, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
Pebble Beach Classic Car Forum
10am to 5:30pm
Corner of Stevenson and, Forest Lake Rd, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
RM Sotheby’s Monterey
10am to 10pm
1 Portola Plaza, Monterey, CA 93940
Pacific Grove Rotary Concours Auto Rally
12pm to 5pm
Downtown Pacific Grove Lighthouse and Forest Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA 93950
Saturday, Aug. 17th
Concours d’LeMons
8am to 1pm
440 Harcourt Ave, Seaside, CA 93955
Mecum Monterey Auction
8am to 6pm
1 Old Golf Course Road, Monterey, CA 93940
Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
8:30am to 6:00pm
1021 Monterey Salinas Hwy, Salinas, CA 93908
Gooding & Company’s Pebble Beach Auction
9am to 5pm
Stevenson Dr and, Portola Rd, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
Concorso Italiano
10am to 3pm
1 McClure Way, Seaside, CA 93955
Pebble Beach Classic Car Forum
10am to 5:30pm
Corner of Stevenson and, Forest Lake Rd, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
Pebble Beach RetroAuto
10am to 5:30pm
Corner of Stevenson and, Forest Lake Rd, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
RM Sotheby’s Monterey
10am to 10pm
1 Portola Plaza, Monterey, CA 93940
Exotics on Broadway
1pm to 6pm
Broadway Ave, Seaside, CA 93955
Monterey Motorsports Festival
2pm to 10pm
2004 Fairground Road, Monterey, CA 93940
Annual Ferrari Owners Club Gathering
4pm to 7pm
3663 The Barnyard, Carmel, CA 93923
Sunday, Aug. 18th
Pebble Beach RetroAuto
9am to 6pm
1700 17 Mile Dr, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance
10:30am to 5pm
1700 17 Mile Dr, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
More Helpful Tips
- On Instagram, follow car photographers and others that are going to car week (most of them are); be sure to check their stories often throughout the day
- Dress to impress! Bring a few special outfits, especially for events like Quail and Pebble
- The Rolex Reunion is happening all week at Laguna Seca, but races begin Friday. Check the schedules online to plan your visit and which cars you want to see running
- If you want to attend Exotics on Broadway and want to avoid the crowds—be there before it’s supposed to start
- Be prepared to pay every time you enter 17-Mile Drive, unless you have a pass from Pebble Beach or are staying somewhere inside 17 Mile; there are tolls at every entrance
A Message from Fury
This article has been a labor of love for the last few months, and I hope it can live as a tool for all Car Week attendees. This content and information is an amalgamation of my personal experiences last year along with advice imparted to me from Car Week veterans, and I would like to give my sincerest thanks to them. My hope for next year is to improve upon this article to make it as useful as possible for the years to come. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to contact me on Instagram @fury396 or email Jumoke Media.
Make sure to follow Jumoke Media on Instagram and subscribe to our newsletter for all of our upcoming Car Week coverage!
Making art and showing our perspective to the world is far more than a job, but a deep passion. We are just as grateful for the car owners at the weekend cars & coffee events, as any inquiries you send. The media allows us to constantly reminisce of peaceful, petrol-filled mornings. We hope that you can join us and see where the road leads.