There are 6 ways to get from Santa Rosa to Monterey by train, bus, bus (Flixbus, Amtrak), car, shuttle, or train (Amtrak)
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Train, Caltrain, bus
best- Take the train from SMART Santa Rosa Downtown to SMART San Rafaeltrain
- Take the train from San Francisco Caltrain Southbound to San Jose Diridon Caltrain Southboundtrain
- Take the bus from San Jose to Salinasbus
7h 13m$40–62Drive 168.2 mi
cheapest- Drive from Santa Rosa to Montereycar 168.2 mi
3h$31–45Bus
- Take the bus from Santa Rosa Transit Mall to 4th St & Folsom Stbus 172
- Take the bus from San Francisco to San Jose Diridon Stationbus
- Take the bus from San Jose to Salinasbus
7h 13m$40–60Bus, shuttle
- Take the bus from Santa Rosa to San Francisco Airportbus San Francisco Airport
- Take a shuttle bus from SFO Airport Domestic to Monterey Shuttle StationMonterey Airbus from airport
5h 33m$80–133Train
- Take the train from SMART Santa Rosa Downtown to SMART San Rafaeltrain Smart
- Take the train from Oakland to Salinastrain Coast Starlight
7h 59m$41–93Train via Berkeley
- Take the train from SMART Santa Rosa Downtown to SMART San Rafaeltrain Smart
- Take the train from Oakland to Salinastrain Coast Starlight
8h 32m$45–97
Santa Rosa to Monterey by train, bus, and tram
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Santa Rosa to Monterey is to drive which costs $30 - $45 and takes 3h.
The fastest way to get from Santa Rosa to Monterey is to drive which takes 3h and costs $30 - $45.
No, there is no direct bus from Santa Rosa to Monterey. However, there are services departing from Santa Rosa Transit Mall and arriving at Tyler / Franklin via 4th St & Folsom St, San Francisco, San Jose and Salinas Transit Center / Gate 7. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 7h 13m.
No, there is no direct train from Santa Rosa to Monterey. However, there are services departing from SMART Santa Rosa Downtown and arriving at Salinas via Montgomery Street and Oakland. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 7h 59m.
The distance between Santa Rosa and Monterey is 185 miles. The road distance is 169.2 miles.
The best way to get from Santa Rosa to Monterey without a car is to train and Caltrain and bus which takes 7h 13m and costs $40 - $65.
It takes approximately 7h 13m to get from Santa Rosa to Monterey, including transfers.
Santa Rosa to Monterey bus services, operated by Golden Gate Transit, depart from Santa Rosa Transit Mall station.
Santa Rosa to Monterey train services, operated by SMART, depart from SMART Santa Rosa Downtown station.
The best way to get from Santa Rosa to Monterey is to bus which takes 7h 13m and costs $40 - $60. Alternatively, you can train, which costs $40 - $95 and takes 7h 59m.
What companies run services between Santa Rosa, CA, USA and Monterey, CA, USA?
You can take a bus from Santa Rosa Transit Mall to Tyler / Franklin via 4th St & Folsom St, 5th St & Brannan St, San Francisco, San Jose Diridon Station, San Jose, Salinas, and Salinas Transit Center / Gate 7 in around 7h 13m. Alternatively, you can take a train from SMART Santa Rosa Downtown to Tyler / Franklin via SMART San Rafael, San Rafael Transit Center-Platform A, Mission St & 2nd St, Montgomery Street, Lake Merritt, Oakland, Salinas, and Salinas Transit Center / Gate 7 in around 7h 59m.
- Phone
- +1 707-794-3330
- Website
- sonomamarintrain.org
Train from SMART Santa Rosa Downtown to SMART San Rafael
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 2m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $1–7
- Website
- https://sonomamarintrain.org/
- Website
- https://sonomamarintrain.org/
Train from SMART Santa Rosa Downtown to SMART San Rafael
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 2m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $1–7
- Website
- https://sonomamarintrain.org/
- Website
- https://sonomamarintrain.org/
Train from SMART Santa Rosa Downtown to SMART San Rafael
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 2m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $1–7
- Website
- https://sonomamarintrain.org/
- Website
- https://sonomamarintrain.org/
- Phone
- +1 800-660-4287
- Website
- caltrain.com
Train from San Francisco Caltrain Southbound to San Jose Diridon Caltrain Southbound
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 17m
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $9–12
- Website
- https://www.caltrain.com
- Schedules at
- https://www.caltrain.com/?active_tab=route_explorer_tab
- One-way Adult
- $9–12
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Oakland to Salinas
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 57m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $30–70
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Oakland to Salinas
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 57m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $30–70
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Bus from San Jose to Salinas
- Ave. Duration
- 55 min
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $20–29
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Bus from San Jose to Salinas
- Ave. Duration
- 55 min
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $20–29
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1 415-921-5858
- bridgecomments@goldengate.org
- Website
- goldengate.org
Bus from Santa Rosa Transit Mall to 4th St & Folsom St
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 49m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $10–15
- Website
- https://www.goldengate.org/
- Adult
- $10–15
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.com
Bus from San Francisco to San Jose Diridon Station
- Ave. Duration
- 55 min
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $6–11
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
- Phone
- +1 707-837-8700
- Website
- groometransportation.com
Bus from Santa Rosa to San Francisco Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $25–65
- Website
- https://groometransportation.com/sonoma-county/
- First Passenger
- $25–65
Shuttle from SFO Airport Domestic to Monterey Shuttle Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 40m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $55–70
- Schedules at
- groometransportation.com
- Standard Rate
- $55–70
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
Santa Rosa to Monterey bus services, operated by Golden Gate Transit, arrive at 4th St & Folsom St station.
Santa Rosa to Monterey train services, operated by SMART, arrive at SMART San Rafael station.
Yes, the driving distance between Santa Rosa to Monterey is 169 miles. It takes approximately 3h to drive from Santa Rosa to Monterey.
There are 236+ hotels available in Monterey.











