Free & Cheap Things to Do in Monterey, CA

  • The list below includes 144 free or cheap things to do in or near Monterey, California, including 77 different types of inexpensive activities like Walking Trails, Piers & Boardwalks, Art Museum and History Museums.
  • From Waterfront to Monterey Bay, there are a variety of budget-friendly attractions in Monterey and in nearby cities within 25 miles like Carmel, Pacific Grove, Salinas and Seaside.
  • The list below includes 144 free or cheap things to do in or near Monterey, California, including 77 different types of inexpensive activities like Walking Trails, Piers & Boardwalks, Art Museum and History Museums.
  • From Waterfront to Monterey Bay, there are a variety of budget-friendly attractions in Monterey and in nearby cities within 25 miles like Carmel, Pacific Grove, Salinas and Seaside.
Showing 141-150 of 314
24.1 Miles
86% 7 votes
Dog Park 795 Vista Montana Drive, Watsonville, CA 95076 MoreLess Info
Featuring gravel fields, Franich Dog Park is a fenced canine recreation area with separate large and small dog sections. The park has drinking water, benches, dog waste bags and a double-gated entrance.
24.2 Miles
89% 9 votes
Parks 1 Seascape Resort Drive, Aptos, CA 95003 MoreLess Info
Seascape Park is a 6-acre neighborhood park that features a picnic area, a wheelchair accessible playground, restrooms, and views of Monterey Bay. The park has benches created by artist Mary Fuller.
24.7 Miles
86% 57 votes
Beaches San Andreas Road, Aptos, CA MoreLess Info
At Manresa State Beach, visitors will be able to enjoy recreational activities, surf fishing, and surfing. This site, which features a large amount of sea and sand, features changing weather conditions. Layered clothing is encouraged.
24.8 Miles
77% 53 votes
Hot Springs & Geysers Big Sur Station, Big Sur, CA 93920 MoreLess Info
Sykes Hot Springs is a camping and hiking area that offers scenic and challenging hikes along a network of trails. The trails offer wilderness and ocean views, and hikers can camp at various points along them.
25.1 Miles
88% 694 votes
National & State Parks 47225 Highway 1, Big Sur, CA 93920 MoreLess Info
With 3 mile-long trails and elevation of 200 feet, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is a heavily wooded area and also rich in wildlife. Along the river there are campsites and lodgings.
25.2 Miles
83% 66 votes
National & State Parks Big Sur Station, Ste 1, Big Sur, CA 93920 MoreLess Info
Located on nearly 4,800 acres, Andrew Molera State Park can be used for hiking, fishing, swimming, camping, boating and horseback riding. The park provides picnic areas, beach access, camping sites, restrooms and wildlife viewing opportunities.
25.4 Miles
86% 307 votes
Specialty Museums West Cliff Drive at Lighthouse Point, Santa Cruz, CA MoreLess Info
The water is warm at the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum. Surfers and beach babies enjoy the many exhibits dedicated to board design, safety practices and the physics behind successful surfing.
25.4 Miles
74% 35 votes
Lighthouses Lighthouse Point, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 MoreLess Info
In 1986, the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum opened inside the Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse. It is one of the oldest museums in the world dedicated to surfing, and visitors can see how surfboards progressed from huge paddleboards to modern surfboards, along with surf club patches, surf movie posters, and wetsuits,
25.4 Miles
93% 1060 votes
Beaches Sycamore Canyon Road, Right off Highway 1, Big Sur, CA 93920 MoreLess Info
A popular day-use park in the Big Sur area is Pfeiffer Beach which has pockets of purple sand. Unique rock formations are situated in the water just off the beach, including a prominent arch.
25.4 Miles
91% 75 votes
Beaches 701 W Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 MoreLess Info
All kinds of wildlife are found at Lighthouse Field State Beach including the black swift, monarch butterflies and sea lions. The beach is popular with dog owners and surfers and is even home to a surfing museum.
Showing 141-150 of 314
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