Traveling through California usually means dealing with massive airports and endless crowds. But there is a hidden gem waiting for you at the southern end of Monterey Bay. Monterey Regional Airport offers a much more relaxed vibe with some really amazing perks that completely change the way you travel.
Skipping The Big Crowds At Monterey
Many people just default to flying out of the massive transit hubs like San Francisco but Monterey Regional is so much easier to handle. You get to skip those huge lines and just stroll right in from the parking lot without even waiting for a shuttle bus.
Easy Parking And Fast Security Lines
The long term parking is eighteen dollars a day which is not the cheapest but it definitely beats paying those wild big city prices. The TSA lines are usually super fast so you do not have to show up hours early just to sit at your gate doing nothing.
A Quick Drive To The Ocean
This airport is perfectly placed if you want to go see the famous aquarium or take a scenic road trip down the coast. You can literally be on the beautiful Highway 1 looking at the ocean in less than thirty minutes after you grab your bags.
Eating At The Famous Woodys Restaurant
Chef Tim Wood runs this spot right before security and his local American style food is so good that even locals come in daily just to eat. Some travelers might prefer a super fancy and expensive luxury airport lounge aesthetic but I honestly think the relaxed everyday dining style here is totally perfect and welcoming.
Enjoying The Great Food And Drinks
They serve breakfast lunch and dinner every day with famous items like sand dabs and a really massive breakfast burrito that will keep you full all day long. You can also grab a fun drink before your flight and they even validate your parking for two hours if you just spend fifteen bucks on your meal.
Watching Planes From The Observation Deck
Right next to the restaurant there is a very cool open air deck where you can watch all the commercial flights and private jets take off and taxi around. It is totally free for anyone to visit and it gets especially busy with fancy private planes during the big Monterey Car Week events in August.
Checking Out The Seasonal Art Exhibits
If you have some extra time before boarding you can head up to the second floor to see some really interesting local art and history exhibits. They have displayed everything from old Hollywood filming locations to neat science illustrations so there is always something fun to learn while you wait for your plane.
What To Expect For The Future
The airport is actually building a brand new passenger terminal right now that should be fully ready to use in the year 2027. It is definitely a great transit hub to fly through right now even though some nearby residents do complain about the airplane noise from time to time.
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