racetrack
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
Famous for the Corkscrew - a dramatic downhill left-right chicane
14 km · about 25 min drive
North AmericaUnited StatesCalifornia
Salinas
California, United States · North America
About Salinas
Salinas works well as a base: 20 minutes from Prunedale, 41km from Pacific Coast Highway - Big Sur (CA-1).
Salinas is in California, United States, with about 160,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Prunedale, about 11 km away.
Salinas (; Spanish for "Salt Flats") is a city in and the county seat of Monterey County, California, United States. With a population of 163,542 in the 2020 Census, Salinas is the most populous city in Monterey County. Salinas is an urban area located along the eastern limits of the Monterey Bay Area, lying justRead more
south of the San Francisco Bay Area and 10 miles (16 km) southeast of the mouth of the Salinas River. The city is located at the mouth of the Salinas Valley, about eight miles (13 km) from the Pacific Ocean, and it has a climate more influenced by the ocean than the interior.
Salinas serves as the main business, governmental, and industrial center of the region. The marine climate is ideal for the floral industry, grape vineyards, and vegetable growers. Salinas is known as the "Salad Bowl of the World" for its large, vibrant agriculture industry.
It was the hometown of writer and Nobel laureate John Steinbeck (1902–1968), who set many of his stories in the Salinas Valley and Monterey. Salinas has a high Hispanic proportion, which at 79.6%, is the highest proportion of Hispanic Americans out of any city in California, and 8th largest overall in the nation. The city also has a sizable Asian-American population, with a large and historic Filipino population. The city once also had the second-largest Chinatown in the nation behind only San Francisco.
Where to Stay in Salinas
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Salinas?
Within an hour or so of Salinas: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca (14 km), Monterey Bay Aquarium (23 km), Pebble Beach (Concours d'Elegance Venue) (29 km), 17-Mile Drive (30 km).
Are there any good drives near Salinas?
The nearest famous roads are 17-Mile Drive, Pacific Coast Highway - Big Sur (CA-1) and Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1).
Where is Salinas?
Salinas is in California, United States, about 11 km from Prunedale.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 157,380
- Continent
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Region
- California
- Timezone
- America/Los_Angeles
- Coordinates
- 36.6777, -121.6555
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United States
AAA roadside assistance: 1-800-222-4357. Right turn on red is legal in most states unless signed otherwise.
Full driving guide for United StatesTags
Worth the detour from Salinas
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
Monterey Bay Aquarium
World-class aquarium on Cannery Row showcasing the marine habitats of Monterey Bay with living kelp forests.
23 km · about 25 min drive
landmark
Pebble Beach (Concours d'Elegance Venue)
The hallowed 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links hosts the world's most prestigious classic car competition each August.
29 km · about 35 min drive
coastal drive
17-Mile Drive
Legendary private toll road winding through Pebble Beach and Pacific Grove, passing the Lone Cypress, crashing surf at Bird Rock, and fairways of Pebble Beach Golf Links.
30 km · about 35 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Bixby Bridge Viewpoint (Big Sur)
The iconic concrete arch bridge spanning a deep canyon on the PCH, one of the most photographed bridges on the California coast.
41 km · about 45 min drive
famous road
Pacific Coast Highway - Big Sur (CA-1)
The cliff-edge stretch between Carmel and San Simeon over Bixby Creek Bridge, the definitive American coastal drive.
41 km · about 45 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Big Sur
A rugged stretch of California coastline between Carmel and San Simeon with dramatic cliffs, redwood forests, and the iconic Bixby Creek Bridge.
47 km · about 55 min drive
coastal drive
Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1)
Iconic coastal highway stretching along California's stunning coastline
50 km · about 60 min drive
Driving roads near Salinas
- 30 km17-Mile DriveLegendary private toll road winding through Pebble Beach and Pacific Grove, passing the Lone Cypress, crashing surf at Bird Rock, and fairways of Pebble Beach Golf Links.
- 41 kmBixby Bridge Viewpoint (Big Sur)The iconic concrete arch bridge spanning a deep canyon on the PCH, one of the most photographed bridges on the California coast.
- 41 kmPacific Coast Highway - Big Sur (CA-1)The cliff-edge stretch between Carmel and San Simeon over Bixby Creek Bridge, the definitive American coastal drive.
- 47 kmBig SurA rugged stretch of California coastline between Carmel and San Simeon with dramatic cliffs, redwood forests, and the iconic Bixby Creek Bridge.
- 50 kmPacific Coast Highway (Highway 1)Iconic coastal highway stretching along California's stunning coastline
- 58 kmMcWay Falls Viewpoint (Big Sur)A pull-off overlooking an 80-foot waterfall that cascades directly onto a pristine sandy beach in a sheltered cove.
Nearby Destinations
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