Pacific Grove, CA

Travel Guide

Pacific Grove
Pacific Grove which includes rocky coastline
Pacific Grove which includes a coastal town and rugged coastline
Pacific Grove which includes shopping
Pacific Grove showing rugged coastline

Soak up the old-style charm of this small seaside city, which is famed for the monarch butterflies that stop here on their great migrations.

Visiting Pacific Grove is like taking a delightful step back in time. Once a summer retreat for church groups, today it still emanates a sense of tranquility. Victorian houses dot the 2.5-square-mile (6.5-square-kilometer) city, deer wander through the streets and, in fall, the skies fill with thousands of monarch butterflies. Amble along the pretty streets, walk along the seafront boulevard and search for wildlife in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Pacific Grove is best enjoyed on foot, so put on your most comfortable footwear and stroll in the sunshine. Walk along the 3-mile-long (5-kilometer) Ocean View Boulevard, a cliff-top promenade where you can spot plants and dozens of species of birds. Sit on one of the benches and enjoy the views of Monterey Bay. Spend some time in the pretty little Marine Gardens Park.

Walk to the end of the boulevard, marked by the Point Pinos LighthouseOpens in a new window. Famed as one of the oldest continually operating lighthouses in the country, it has guided ships to safety with its 50,000-candlepower beacon since the mid-1800s. Visit the interesting little museum inside the lighthouse.

Pacific Grove is perched on the edge of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, a haven for wildlife and nature. Venture to Lovers PointOpens in a new window to glimpse sea otters diving for abalone. Go rock-pooling to spot crabs, starfish and limpets.

In autumn, the skies above Pacific Grove fill with tens of thousands of orange-and-black monarch butterflies as they pass through on one of the world’s most astounding migrations. See them hanging in great bunches from eucalyptus trees in Monarch Grove Sanctuary and George Washington Park. To learn more about the region’s nature, visit the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History.

Pacific Grove is 42 miles (67 kilometers) south of Santa CruzOpens in a new window and 113 miles (181 kilometers) south of San FranciscoOpens in a new window. Navigate this tiny city easily on foot or by bicycle.

Lovers Point Inn

Lovers Point Inn

2 out of 5
625 Ocean View Blvd, Pacific Grove, CA
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
$176 nightly
The price is $200 total per night from Jul 29 to Jul 30
$200 total
Jul 29 - Jul 30
Total includes taxes and fees
Stay at this motel in Pacific Grove. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in our ...
7.6/10 Good! (1,062 reviews)
Great location
"Basic room at a great location. No frills."

Reviewed on Jul 11, 2025

Lovers Point Inn
Monarch Resort

Monarch Resort

2.5 out of 5
1111 Lighthouse Ave, Pacific Grove, CA
$123 nightly
The price is $141 total per night from Jul 23 to Jul 24
$141 total
Jul 23 - Jul 24
Total includes taxes and fees
Stay at this hotel in Pacific Grove. Enjoy free parking, a sauna, and cable TV channels. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (859 reviews)
"We enjoyed the location very much and the room was clean."

Reviewed on Jul 10, 2025

Monarch Resort
Sea Breeze Inn And Cottages

Sea Breeze Inn And Cottages

2.5 out of 5
1100 Lighthouse Ave, Pacific Grove, CA
$145 nightly
The price is $165 total per night from Jul 20 to Jul 21
$165 total
Jul 20 - Jul 21
Total includes taxes and fees
Book a stay at this golf motel in Pacific Grove. Enjoy free parking, a garden, and cable TV channels. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (1,018 reviews)
"It was close to our interests"

Reviewed on Jul 14, 2025

Sea Breeze Inn And Cottages
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
PARTIAL OCEAN VIEW - WALK TO OCEAN - KING BEDROOM

PARTIAL OCEAN VIEW - WALK TO OCEAN - KING BEDROOM

PACIFIC GROVE
Stay at this vacation home in Pacific Grove. Enjoy laundry facilities and an in-room coffeemaker. Popular attractions Monterey Bay Aquarium and 17-Mile Drive ...
9/10 Wonderful! (11 reviews)
Valentine’s Retreat
"Beautiful Oceanside inn with ease of access to Lovers Point and great eateries"

Reviewed on Feb 16, 2025

PARTIAL OCEAN VIEW - WALK TO OCEAN - KING BEDROOM
Oceanfront: Step to the Beach from Your Porch!
STR#0091

Oceanfront: Step to the Beach from Your Porch! STR#0091

Pacific Grove
Book a stay at this beach vacation home in Pacific Grove. Enjoy a beach locale, laundry facilities, and patios. Popular attractions Monterey Bay Aquarium and ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (170 reviews)
Surfs Up
"Great rental. Kitchen well stocked. Beds were very comfortable. Could not ask for a better location, literally right across the street from the beach. House was clean."

Reviewed on Jun 18, 2025

Oceanfront: Step to the Beach from Your Porch! STR#0091
Walk to Beach, Downtown! Spa & Private Deck Updated Historic Home @ Lovers Pt

Walk to Beach, Downtown! Spa & Private Deck Updated Historic Home @ Lovers Pt

Pacific Grove
Stay at this vacation home in Pacific Grove. Enjoy free WiFi, a garden, and laundry facilities. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular attractions ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (265 reviews)
"My daughter was attending a soccer camp at Stevenson School, and in the meantime we stayed at this wonderful, cute house. It is a perfect place to stay. It is walking distance to Lovers' Point, Mondays Farmers Market, the Monterey Aquarium, Fisherman Wharf, a lot of restaurants, and all the beautiful ..."

Reviewed on Jul 12, 2025

Walk to Beach, Downtown! Spa & Private Deck Updated Historic Home @ Lovers Pt
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Reviews of Pacific Grove

4.7
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
585
5 - Excellent 73%
4 - Good
185
4 - Good 23%
3 - Okay
21
3 - Okay 3%
2 - Disappointing
6
2 - Disappointing 1%
1 - Terrible
2
1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

We love Pacific Grove. Beautiful beach town that we love coming to often.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler

The area itself and the things to do were awesome just Beware of the locals and realize that they don't like you and just be careful of them are nice some are really mean

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Would be coming back again for future trips

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Nice little town we have visited often over the years

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

My favorite location on peninsula.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler

Pacific Grove has some very nice spots, but in a limited visit more time was spent in Monterey and Carmel.

Cities near Pacific Grove