Hollister (California)

Hollister is a city in San Benito County at the north end of the Central Coast region of California.

By car
Hollister is located near the intersection of State Routes 25 and 156. From central San Jose, Hollister is a 33-mile drive southeastward on US 101 followed by 14 miles on Route 25. From Salinas, drive 17 miles along northbound US 101, then 10 miles east on Route 156, followed by a clearly-identified cut-off leading 3 miles into Hollister. From Sacramento and Los Angeles, Hollister can be reached from Interstate 5 using State Route 152 (Pacheco Pass) westbound 29 miles, then Route 156 southward 5 miles, and San Felipe Road southward 3 miles.

Alternatively, from Southern California, drivers may follow a slow but scenic course into Hollister: from I-5, take Jayne Avenue (I-5 Exit 325) 11 miles westward to Coalinga, State Route 198 34 miles west to State Route 25, then Route 25 northward 63 miles to Hollister. 33 miles after turning from Route 198 onto Route 25 is a turn-off, State Route 146, leading into Pinnacles National Park, a highly notable and recommended destination in itself. Users of US 101 from the south can also reach this stretch of Route 25 toward Hollister either by following Route 198 from US 101 Exit 273 14 miles to 198's intersection with Route 25 or by leaving US 101 at Exit 281 to follow County Route G15 a mile into King City followed by County Route G13 14 miles to its intersection with Route 25 at Bitterwater.

By rail and bus
Caltrain, during evening rush hour only, offers a train from San Francisco and San Jose to Gilroy, where riders can transfer to the Hollister-bound San Benito County Express.

By plane
Those with access to private, general-aviation aircraft may land at the Hollister Municipal Airport.

Do

 * Skydive Hollister, 831-318-1747. Book online or call to reserve. Located at 234B Skylane Dr in Hollister Municipal Airport.

Go next

 * Pinnacles National Park - Located 35 miles south of Hollister, this park rises out of the chaparral-covered Gabilan Mountains, east of central California's Salinas Valley, are the spectacular remains of an ancient volcano. Massive monoliths, spires, sheer-walled canyons and talus passages define millions of years of erosion, faulting and tectonic plate movement. Hiking through the impressive rock formations is the primary recreational opportunity, although bird watchers will enjoy the possibility of seeing the highly endangered California condor.