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Where to Watch Monterey Car Week 2026

You do not need a paddock pass to stand next to incredible cars. These are the free streets, lawns, and drive-bys locals actually use.

MONTEREY CAR WEEK · AUGUST 7–16, 2026 · BY NICK ENGVALL
Cost
$0
Best Street
Lighthouse Ave
Best Drive-By
Tour d'Elegance
Peak Days
Aug 12–15
01

The Free Spotting Streets

The heart of free Car Week is on the street. Post up on these and the cars come to you.

A black Ferrari and a red Ferrari roll down Alvarado Street lined with crowds at the Monterey Car Week kickoff
The kickoff cruise down Alvarado Street, Friday night. Downtown Monterey.
Lighthouse Ave, Pacific GroveWed & Fri
The Little Car Show fills it Wednesday noon to 5, and the PG Rotary Concours Auto Rally runs it Friday. Easy street walking, food nearby, real community feel.
Ocean Avenue, Carmel-by-the-SeaWed & Thu
Astons on the Avenue lands Wednesday and the Ferrari Owners Club Concours takes the street Thursday, both free to walk. The Tour d'Elegance traditionally rolls through here too.
Alvarado Street, MontereyFri, opening night
The Kickoff Cruise brings classic cars through downtown 5 to 7pm Friday, Aug 7. Grab dinner and watch them arrive.
Broadway Ave, SeasideSaturday
Exotics on Broadway lines the street with modern hypercars, 11am to 4pm Saturday, free to walk.
02

The Free Lawns and Shows

These gatherings are open to the public with no ticket at the gate. A couple charge only for parking.

The Little Car ShowWed Aug 12 · noon–5
Microcars, minis, and quirky builds on Lighthouse Ave, Pacific Grove. Free.
Legends of the AutobahnThu Aug 13 · 9–3
German marques out on the grass at Pacific Grove Golf Links. Free to spectate, parking fee applies.
Werks ReunionFri Aug 14 · 7–3
Hundreds of Porsches at Monterey Pines Golf Course. Free to spectate after roughly a $40 parking fee.
Concours d'LemonsSat Aug 15 · 8–1:30
The worst cars on earth, celebrated, at Seaside City Hall. Free, and the most fun you'll have all week.
03

The Tour d'Elegance Drive-By

This is your one free look at Pebble Beach-level machinery, and it is the best free hour of the whole week.

On Thursday, Aug 13, from 7am to noon, the cars entered in the Pebble Beach Concours drive out under their own power on the Tour d'Elegance, tracing 17-Mile Drive and Highway 1. They traditionally roll through Carmel around midday, so line up along Ocean Avenue before then to catch them. No ticket, no fence, just the cars going by.

Get There Early

Spots along the route and through Carmel fill fast. Arrive well before the cars are due, bring a coffee, and stake out a clear view. This is the free version of standing on the Pebble lawn.

04

Free on the Pebble Grounds

Even without a Concours ticket, parts of the Pebble Beach experience are free.

Concours Village, RetroAuto, and the Pebble Beach Classic Car Forum are free to walk Thursday through Sunday on the Pebble Beach grounds. You get the setting, the shopping, and the talks without the Sunday lawn ticket. For the full run of what's free and what's worth paying for, read the complete Car Week guide.

Get the free printable guide

Save it to your phone. The full guide has every route mapped, the complete day-by-day schedule, the free spotting windows, and the local eat map. Download it before you drive out so it is with you even when your service isn't.
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05

Where to Watch FAQ

Where is the best place to watch Monterey Car Week for free?

Lighthouse Avenue in Pacific Grove, Ocean Avenue in Carmel-by-the-Sea, downtown Monterey's Alvarado Street, and Broadway in Seaside are the best free spotting streets. Each hosts a free show or cruise during the week.

Can you see Pebble Beach cars without a ticket?

Yes. Watch the Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance on Thursday, Aug 13, when the Concours cars drive the public roads under their own power, and note that Concours Village and RetroAuto are free to walk on the Pebble grounds.

What day is the Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance?

Thursday, Aug 13, 2026, roughly 7am to noon. The cars trace 17-Mile Drive and Highway 1 and traditionally pass through Carmel around midday.

Is the Little Car Show free?

Yes. The Little Car Show is free and runs Wednesday, Aug 12, from noon to 5pm on Lighthouse Avenue in Pacific Grove.

What is the best free car show at Monterey Car Week?

For pure fun, Concours d'Lemons on Saturday. For variety, the Little Car Show on Wednesday and Legends of the Autobahn on Thursday. All three are free to attend.

Plan the Rest of Your Week

The Full Free Local's Guide

Free events, the day-by-day schedule, the backroads, and where to eat. All in one place.

Read the Car Week Guide
© 2026 PURSUIT. · A Nick Engvall project · Monterey, CA · connect@pursuitmonterey.com · @pursuitmonterey