Monterey Regional Airport

Short link to this post: http://bit.ly/MontereyAirport

It’s an easy bike ride between the Monterey Regional Airport and the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail—the bike/multi-use path.  See route tips below.

This post has not been updated. It was first published 10 February 2011 and was partially updated 12 August 2017 and 19 January 2020. On 17 December 2024, only one update was made: A new photo was added of the former bicycle storage locker location.

Bike lockers

Photo directly below was shot on 17 December 2024. For updates about any possible bicycle storage options at the airport currently, please contact the airport. —Or phone us to volunteer to write an up-to-date post about the Monterey Regional Airport’s current bike friendliness (or lack thereof). Thank you.

Located in the upper short-term parking lot, the Monterey Regional Airport’s bicycle lockers are just to the left of the sliding glass entrance doors. Locker use is provided at no charge (on a space-available basis), and as of February 2013, there were two.  Reserve by calling the airport police dispatch number, 831-648-7006.  Dispatch will radio airport police, who lock/unlock the bike lockers.

Bike lockers at Monterey Regional Airport

Photo below courtesy of Amelia Poma and Jennifer Hickerson

Fly Away Cafe and Bar:  Thursday discounts at airport restaurant

While you’re at the airport, stop in at Fly Away Cafe and Bar, one of Monterey County’s HER Helmet Thursdays spots. People who bike or bike-and-ride there get discounts on Thurdays year-round. Click here for FAQs.

Bicycle route to the airport from the coastal bike/multi-use trail

Here are some directions tips to reach Monterey Regional Airport from the City of Monterey section of the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail.  There are no one-way streets on this route (as of 5/29/18), so simply reverse these directions if you’re departing from the airport and heading to the coastal trail/bike path.

These are two different route options, popular with many locals. For additional directions help, refer to Bicycle maps / Mapas de bicicletas – en español and English for Monterey County.

Bike-there direx from the coastal trail at Casa Verde

1. Leave the bike/multi-use trail at the Casa Verde intersection, where Casa Verde intersects the trail and the street that parallels the trail there, Del Monte Avenue. (Not familiar with that intersection?  A landmark on the southwest corner of Casa Verde and Del Monte is Bay View Academy.)
   
2. Cross Del Monte Avenue and bike south on Casa Verde. There are no bike lanes on most of Casa Verde, until just before the Monterey County Fair & Event Center, so use extra caution as you share the traffic lane with cars.
3. Continue up Casa Verde all the way to the T-intersection at Fairground Road. (When you’re nearly there, Casa Verde crosses Fremont Avenue. At the Casa Verde and Fremont intersection, on your right is a gas station and, across Fremont, a Beverly’s fabrics/crafts store.)
4. After crossing Fremont, you’ll see a “green lane” leading to Fairground Road. 
5. Turn right at the corner of Casa Verde and Fairground Road. Continue west on Fairground Road to the traffic signal at the corner of Fairground Road and Garden Road.
6. At the traffic signal, turn left onto Garden Road, then continue on Garden Road all the way to the next T-intersection, which is at Olmsted Road. Turn left there, and you’re at the airport.

Bike-there direx from coastal trail at Camino Aguajito

1. Leave the bike/multi-use trail at Camino Aguajito, which has a traffic signal. You’ll be crossing the street that parallels the trail there, Del Monte Avenue. (Not familiar with that intersection? There’s a gas station on the southeast corner of Camino Aguajito and Del Monte.) 
2. Continue south on Camino Aguajito to Third Street. Turn left on Third Street (landmark—but not the direction you’re going: on the right, that street is named Pearl Street and bridges over Lake El Estero).
3. Continue east on Third Street to the T-intersection at Sloat, which runs alongside the Naval Postgraduate School.
4. Turn right onto Sloat. Continue south on Sloat until you reach the traffic light at Mark Thomas Drive.
5. Turn left onto Mark Thomas Drive.
6. Continue east on Mark Thomas to the traffic signal at Garden Road. (Just fyi, at Garden Road, Mark Thomas becomes Fairground Road.)
7. Turn right at the traffic signal onto Garden Road.
8. Continue on Garden Road all the way to the next T-intersection, which is at Olmsted Road. Turn left there, and you’re at the airport. 

A dad and daughter biking Garden Road.

Monterey Jet Center: Taking pilots from the skyways to the bikeways

Monterey Jet Center clearly loves Monterey County.  Located at 300 Sky Park Drive in the Monterey Regional Airport (formerly Monterey Peninsula Airport), the Jet Center staff have a bird’s-eye view of our beautiful Monterey Bay, and they like to help keep it sparkling!

When pilots using their corporate aviation services are out of the sky, the Jet Center supports them in experiencing this area in a more up-close and personal way, via bicycle.  This allows the aviators to lighten their carbon footprint, helping to keep the magnificent Monterey Bay region beautiful, including reducing oil runoff into the Monterey Bay.

Monterey Jet Center knows there are many ways to travel, and they’re not about to overlook the joys of two wheels!  They recognize that, as with flying the skyways, “flying” the bikeways provides another big dose of joy.

View from just above Monterey Jet Center’s offices, looking across the Monterey Bay to the Santa Cruz Mountains.

To facilitate bicycling–giving their clients a major leg up on getting better acquainted with the wonderful places and people that make Monterey so popular–the Monterey Jet Center offers special amenities to all their clients:  bicycles, bike helmets, and vehicle bike racks.  Check out their list of services, where you’ll see “bicycles” featured, right along with limos and rental cars.

Visit their website, or contact the Monterey Jet Center with any questions.  Phone toll-free, 800/MRY-2992, or call the local number, 831/373-0100.

Welcome to bike-friendly Monterey County

Exiting the Monterey Regional Airport  via Olmsted Road? This green lane was added in August 2017 as a bright reminder: you are in an increasingly bike-friendly county, where sustainability—including sustainable transportation—is valued. And in September, Monterey Regional Airport celebrated more sustainability: completion of its solar project, as reported by James Herrerra in the 9/19/17 Monterey Herald. 

Airlines and sports equipment

Among airlines serving Monterey Regional Airport is Alaska Airlines, which posted this announcement on their website on July 19, 2017: “Sports equipment now flies for $25 on Alaska Airlines,” and bicycles are among the sports equipment allowed. Refer to the Alaska Airlines post for details. Flying another airline? Ask them what their policy is.

More help

Whether you’re a visitor or a resident, make use of this site’s guide Tips for Bicycling Monterey County. The 20-section guide includes California Bike Laws and Personal Safety–with Tips for Kids, Bike Valet Parking, and much more.

Blast from the Past

The Monterey Regional Airport—formerly known as the Monterey Peninsula Airport—celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2016.

This post was first published February 10, 2011 and has been partially updated.