Salinas

Salinas (population 164,000 in 2020) is in California, 20 minutes inland from Monterey Bay in a region known as the Central Coast. Salinas was the home of writer and Nobel Prize laureate John Steinbeck. It claims to be the "Salad Bowl of the World."

By car

 * US 101.svg Veterans Memorial Hwy passes through as a freeway from Gilroy at  to the north and continues  south to King City. It's another  north of Gilroy to reach San Jose and  south of King City to Paso Robles on US Hwy 101.
 * California 68.svg Josh to Main St Hwy 68 provides a direct  (30 min) from Monterey to Salinas. It enters town as Main St and ends at Josh St and US Hwy 101.
 * California 1.svg to California 183.svg W Market St From Watsonville, through Castroville, it's  or 29 min to reach Salinas. CA-Hwy 183 enters town as W Market St and ends at its intersection with Salinas St.
 * Old Stage Rd & Crazy Horse Canyon Rd serve as a 'beltway' around town from Spence Rd ( south}} to its intersection at San Juan Grade Rd north of town. Old Stage Rd becomes Herbert Rd at San Juan Grade Rd. Travelers continue on Crazy Horse Canyon Rd from San Juan Grade Rd to US Hwy 101 in Prunedale, north of Salinas. These roads are not designated as a US or state highway.

By train

 * Route stopping in Salinas:
 * Coast Starlight operates daily between Seattle and Los Angeles. Stops include Tacoma, Lacey, Centralia, Kelso, Vancouver, WA, Portland, Salem, Albany, Eugene, Klamath Falls, Dunsmuir, Redding, Chico, Sacramento, Davis, Martinez, San Francisco (Emeryville), Oakland, San Jose, Salinas, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Simi Valley, Van Nuys, and Burbank.
 * Coast Starlight operates daily between Seattle and Los Angeles. Stops include Tacoma, Lacey, Centralia, Kelso, Vancouver, WA, Portland, Salem, Albany, Eugene, Klamath Falls, Dunsmuir, Redding, Chico, Sacramento, Davis, Martinez, San Francisco (Emeryville), Oakland, San Jose, Salinas, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Simi Valley, Van Nuys, and Burbank.

By bus
 * 21 to Monterey via Marina on CA-1
 * 23 between Northridge Mall (north of town) and King City via Salinas Transit Center, Chualar, Gonzales, Soledad and Greenfield on US Hwy 101. Passengers transfer to the #84 bus in King City to continue to Paso Robles.
 * 25 from CSUMB in Marina
 * 28 or 29 go from the Salinas to Watsonville where passengers can transfer buses to Santa Cruz or around town in Watsonville on Santa Cruz Metro. Route 28 goes towards Watsonville via Castroville (CA-1 & 183) while 29 travels via Prunedale by another route.
 * 55 or 86 MST bus connections between Monterey County and San Jose via Gilroy in Santa Clara County have been suspended. Passengers will have to use Greyhound or American Star Tours to get to San Jose or travel to Santa Cruz via Watsonville to get to the "17-Amtrak Highway Express" bus.
 * 23 between Northridge Mall (north of town) and King City via Salinas Transit Center, Chualar, Gonzales, Soledad and Greenfield on US Hwy 101. Passengers transfer to the #84 bus in King City to continue to Paso Robles.
 * 25 from CSUMB in Marina
 * 28 or 29 go from the Salinas to Watsonville where passengers can transfer buses to Santa Cruz or around town in Watsonville on Santa Cruz Metro. Route 28 goes towards Watsonville via Castroville (CA-1 & 183) while 29 travels via Prunedale by another route.
 * 55 or 86 MST bus connections between Monterey County and San Jose via Gilroy in Santa Clara County have been suspended. Passengers will have to use Greyhound or American Star Tours to get to San Jose or travel to Santa Cruz via Watsonville to get to the "17-Amtrak Highway Express" bus.

Get around
Oldtown Salinas is very walkable. It has many stores, restaurants and galleries. It is also the location of the Transit Plaza, providing access to the Amtrak train and the bus system.

Public buses from Monterey-Salinas Transit are plentiful. They also provide access to the Monterey Peninsula.

Getting around by automobile is easy. Parking is plentiful and often free.

Buy
The Salinas Auto Mall, Northridge, Westridge, Harden Ranch Plaza, Santa Rita Plaza and Sherwood shopping centers cater to shoppers with a variety of needs. Oldtown Salinas draws antique lovers and a specialty gift clientele.

Go next

 * Big Sur is a sparsely settled coastal region known for its breathtaking scenery, and is popular for hiking and camping. It is about 45 minutes southwest of Salinas.
 * Santa Cruz is a college town known for its hippie-crunchy vibe. It is an hour northwest of Salinas by car.
 * Monterey - Located 20 miles southwest of Salinas, Monterey was founded in 1770 and served as the capital of Alta California under both Spain and Mexico, was a bustling fishing port until the 1950s, and is now a major tourist destination. Attractions include a pier filled with seafood restaurants, a world-class aquarium, a harbor that is home to an enormous number of seabirds, sea lions, sea otters, seals, and other marine life, the historic Cannery Row, and opportunities for whale watching, kayaking, or other excursions into Monterey Bay.
 * Soledad - Located 26 miles southeast of Salinas on Highway 101, Soledad is the western gateway to Pinnacles National Park and also home to Mission Soledad, one of 21 historic Spanish missions in California. The town is also home to several wineries, with tasting rooms that offer magnificent views over the Santa Lucia Highlands and the Salinas Valley.