PYRTPlan Your Road Trips
Create TripMy TripsCommunityMerchandise
PYRTPlan Your Road Trips
Create TripMy TripsCommunityMerchandise
S
Destinations
Home›Destinations›Salinas
North AmericaUnited StatesCalifornia

Salinas

California, United States · North America

About Salinas

Salinas works well as a base: 20 minutes from Prunedale, 30km from 17-Mile Drive.

Salinas is a city located in California, United States. With a population of 157,380, it is an important destination in North America.

On a road trip, Salinas sits in United States, where you drive on the right. It's in the America/Los Angeles time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Salinas to your route.

About Salinas

Salinas (; Spanish for "Salt Flats") is a city in and the county seat of Monterey County, California, United States. With a population of 163,542 in the 2020 Census, Salinas is the most populous city in Monterey County. Salinas is an urban area located along the eastern limits of the Monterey Bay Area, lying just

Read more south of the San Francisco Bay Area and 10 miles (16 km) southeast of the mouth of the Salinas River. The city is located at the mouth of the Salinas Valley, about eight miles (13 km) from the Pacific Ocean, and it has a climate more influenced by the ocean than the interior. Salinas serves as the main business, governmental, and industrial center of the region. The marine climate is ideal for the floral industry, grape vineyards, and vegetable growers. Salinas is known as the "Salad Bowl of the World" for its large, vibrant agriculture industry. It was the hometown of writer and Nobel laureate John Steinbeck (1902–68), who set many of his stories in the Salinas Valley and Monterey. Salinas has a high Hispanic proportion, which at 79.6%, is the highest proportion of Hispanic Americans out of any city in California, and 8th largest overall in the nation. The city also has a sizable Asian-American population, with a large and historic Filipino population. The city once also had the 2nd biggest Chinatown in the nation behind only San Francisco.

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in Salinas

Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.

Filter presets

Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.

Booking.comExpediaTripAdvisorHotels.comAgodaAirbnb

Compare before you book!

Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Salinas.

Explore the Area

Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Salinas.

Loading map...
Open in Google Maps

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Salinas?

Salinas offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.

How do I plan a road trip to Salinas?

Plan your road trip to Salinas with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Salinas as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Where is Salinas located?

Salinas is located in California, United States, North America. The coordinates are 36.6777 latitude, -121.6555 longitude.

What is the population of Salinas?

Salinas has a population of approximately 157,380 people, making it a city in United States.

Plan a Road Trip

Add to your itinerary

Start planning your road trip with Salinas as a destination. Create a custom route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Start Road Trip

What's Nearby?

Discover destinations like Tinder

Swipe through stunning destinations near Salinas. Save your favourites and add them to your trip.

Explore now

Quick Information

Population
157,380
Continent
North America
Country
United States
Region
California
Timezone
America/Los_Angeles
Coordinates
36.6777, -121.6555

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in United States

Police
911
Ambulance
911
Fire
911
Driving side
right

AAA roadside assistance: 1-800-222-4357. Right turn on red is legal in most states unless signed otherwise.

Full driving guide for United States

Tags

North AmericaUnited StatesCaliforniaCity

Worth the detour from Salinas

8 notable places within an hour's drive.

racetrack

WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

Famous for the Corkscrew - a dramatic downhill left-right chicane

14 km · about 25 min drive

landmark

Monterey Bay Aquarium

World-class aquarium on Cannery Row showcasing the marine habitats of Monterey Bay with living kelp forests.

23 km · about 25 min drive

landmark

Pebble Beach (Concours d'Elegance Venue)

The hallowed 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links hosts the world's most prestigious classic car competition each August.

29 km · about 35 min drive

coastal drive

17-Mile Drive

Legendary private toll road winding through Pebble Beach and Pacific Grove, passing the Lone Cypress, crashing surf at Bird Rock, and fairways of Pebble Beach Golf Links.

30 km · about 35 min drive

scenic viewpoint

Bixby Bridge Viewpoint (Big Sur)

The iconic concrete arch bridge spanning a deep canyon on the PCH, one of the most photographed bridges on the California coast.

41 km · about 45 min drive

scenic viewpoint

Big Sur

A rugged stretch of California coastline between Carmel and San Simeon with dramatic cliffs, redwood forests, and the iconic Bixby Creek Bridge.

47 km · about 55 min drive

cafe

Nepenthe Restaurant

A clifftop restaurant perched 800 feet above the Pacific on Big Sur's Highway 1, offering breathtaking ocean views and famous ambrosia burgers since 1949.

50 km · about 60 min drive

coastal drive

Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1)

Iconic coastal highway stretching along California's stunning coastline

50 km · about 60 min drive

Driving roads near Salinas

  • 30 km17-Mile DriveLegendary private toll road winding through Pebble Beach and Pacific Grove, passing the Lone Cypress, crashing surf at Bird Rock, and fairways of Pebble Beach Golf Links.
  • 41 kmBixby Bridge Viewpoint (Big Sur)The iconic concrete arch bridge spanning a deep canyon on the PCH, one of the most photographed bridges on the California coast.
  • 47 kmBig SurA rugged stretch of California coastline between Carmel and San Simeon with dramatic cliffs, redwood forests, and the iconic Bixby Creek Bridge.
  • 50 kmPacific Coast Highway (Highway 1)Iconic coastal highway stretching along California's stunning coastline
  • 58 kmMcWay Falls Viewpoint (Big Sur)A pull-off overlooking an 80-foot waterfall that cascades directly onto a pristine sandy beach in a sheltered cove.

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near Salinas.

Boronda

🇺🇸 United States

3 km awayPop. 1,710

Prunedale

🇺🇸 United States

11 km awayPop. 17,560

Marina

🇺🇸 United States

13 km awayPop. 21,229

Castroville

🇺🇸 United States

13 km awayPop. 6,481

Chualar

🇺🇸 United States

17 km awayPop. 1,190

Elkhorn

🇺🇸 United States

18 km awayPop. 1,565

Del Rey Oaks

🇺🇸 United States

19 km awayPop. 1,688

Seaside

🇺🇸 United States

19 km awayPop. 33,025

Plan a trip around Salinas

North America road trip planner

Plan a Road Trip from Salinas

Create your perfect itinerary with our calendar-based planner. Add stops, discover attractions along the way, and share your trip with friends.

Start Planning
PYRT

The ultimate road trip planning platform. Discover 150,000+ destinations worldwide, plan scenic routes, and create unforgettable adventures.

Inspiration

  • Discover Trips
  • Travel Guides
  • Community

The Product

  • Calendar Planner
  • Integrations
  • How It Works
  • Collaboration Mode
  • Get the App
  • Merchandise: PYRT Supply Co.
  • Become a Creator
  • Trip Marketplace

Plan Your Trip

  • Road Trip Planner
  • Famous Routes
  • Planners by Country
  • Best Road Trip Planner App
  • Discover Road Trips
  • Events
  • Travel Guides
  • How It Works
  • My Trips
  • Community Groups

Company

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Support
  • Contact Us
  • Sign In
  • Create Account

© 2026 Plan Your Road Trips. All rights reserved.

•[email protected]
Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence