Carmel-by-the-Sea · Historic hotel
La Playa Hotel
A 1905 mansion turned hotel with gardens, two blocks from the beach.
Official details for La Playa HotelCalifornia · Couples · Two nights
Monterey & Carmel
Cannery Row, cypress and storybook Carmel.
Monterey grew up around sardine canneries made famous by John Steinbeck, and Cannery Row now holds the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Next door, Carmel-by-the-Sea is a village of fairy-tale cottages, galleries and a white-sand beach, and 17-Mile Drive winds past Pebble Beach and the Lone Cypress. Land at Monterey Regional, stay in Carmel, walk Point Lobos and drive south toward Big Sur.
Coastal townsAquariumGolf
YOUR ROUTEKMYR to KMRY
STRAIGHT-LINE DISTANCE~2097 NM
ILLUSTRATIVE FLIGHT TIME~14 hr 14 min
WEEKEND STYLETwo nights · Rental car, taxi or rideshare
Time illustration: direct distance at 150 KTAS plus 15 minutes for departure and arrival, matching the discovery page. Use ForeFlight for your actual flight plan.
01 / Aviation & getting around
Land at Monterey Regional.
KMRY, Monterey Regional, is a towered field at 257 feet with a 7,175-foot main runway between Monterey and Carmel, about 10 minutes from either town.
The FBO
Monterey Jet Center
831-373-0190Monterey Regional Airport, Monterey, CA
Del Monte Aviation (831-648-7000) is the other FBO. Summer fog often means an instrument approach; terrain rises east of the field. No live fuel price is shown.
Central California coast: marine layer and fog much of the summer, often burning off by late morning and returning in the evening; clear, calm fall days; winter storms and gusty winds over the coastal ranges. About 2100 nm from Myrtle Beach: two long days each way with several fuel stops. Plan a week, or overnight on the way out and back.
02 / Where to stay
Carmel inns and hotels.
Rates and availability need travel dates. Car Week in August books a year ahead.
Carmel-by-the-Sea · Luxury boutique
L’Auberge Carmel
An intimate Relais & Châteaux inn with the Aubergine restaurant.
Official details for L’Auberge CarmelLocal guide
More places to stay
Inns and cottages in Carmel.
Carmel-by-the-Sea for More places to stay03 / Where to eat
Seafood and Carmel dining.
Reserve weekend dinners.
Friday dinner · Cannery Row classic
The Sardine Factory
A Cannery Row institution since 1968.
Official details for The Sardine FactorySaturday dinner · Sustainable seafood
Passionfish
A Pacific Grove favorite with a fairly priced wine list.
Official details for Passionfish04 / Things to do
Kelp forests, cypress and golf.
Mornings may be gray; afternoons usually clear.
05 / What’s happening
Sometimes the season is the reason to fly.
This prototype links to the local visitor site. It does not yet match events to your travel dates.
Mid-August
Monterey Car Week
The Pebble Beach Concours and classic-car events.
Pebble Beach for Monterey Car WeekSeptember–October
Best weather
Clear, warm days after the summer fog.
Carmel-by-the-Sea for Best weatherLate September
Monterey Jazz Festival
A long-running jazz festival.
Carmel-by-the-Sea for Monterey Jazz FestivalConcerts, festivals & local happenings
Check the local calendar when choosing a weekend, and confirm dates and tickets with the organizer.
06 / Suggested itinerary
Friday in. Sunday home.
A sample long weekend. This is a two-day flight each way; plan a week. No bookings or availability confirmed.
Day trip version
Just for the day
- Arrive
Land at KMRY late morning, after the fog lifts.
- Midday
The Monterey Bay Aquarium.
- Afternoon
Carmel village, then back to the airport.
DAY 1
Arrive
- Arrival
Land at KMRY, subject to weather and your actual flight plan.
- Afternoon
Carmel village and the beach at sunset.
- Evening
Dinner at Aubergine or in the village.
DAY 2
Explore
- Morning
The Monterey Bay Aquarium.
- Afternoon
17-Mile Drive.
- Evening
Dinner at Passionfish.
DAY 3
Morning & home
- Morning
Point Lobos.
- Before leaving
Return the car and allow time at the FBO.
- Fly home
Coastal fog can return in the evening; plan your departure around it.
Longer stay · Add a day
With an extra day
- Morning
Point Lobos.
- Afternoon
17-Mile Drive.
- Evening
Dinner at Passionfish.
07 / Good to know
Keep the weekend easy to change.
These details make the difference between an appealing list and a usable getaway.
Book in this order
Hotel first, then aquarium tickets.
Very long flight
About 2,100 nm from Myrtle Beach: two long days each way.
Fog
Summer fog is common; plan for an approach.
Best seasons
September to November and spring.
Reviewed · Destination 195
Reviewed November 5, 2026.
Picks and links reviewed by WingAway Weekends. Hours, prices, menus and availability change often, so confirm directly with each place before booking. Spotted something out of date, or have a favorite we missed? Email us at [email protected].
WingAway Weekends helps you discover the destination. Use ForeFlight and current official aviation information for route, performance, weather, NOTAMs and preflight decisions. Flight planning and PIC responsibility stay with the pilot.