Axel's take on Munras Avenue: #5 of 6 in Monterey, California, 6.0/10
Munras works for practical stays, but check the walk back uphill. Munras delivers the strongest value and practical access, but modest hotel quality, few nearby attractions and a road-oriented setting limit its overall rank.
Munras Avenue is Monterey's traditional motel corridor, climbing away from downtown toward Del Monte Shopping Center and Highway 1. Its northern end connects reasonably well with Alvarado Street, groceries and downtown dining; farther uphill, the experience becomes more about driving between stops. Think useful road-trip infrastructure rather than a waterfront neighborhood.
Stay here if straightforward access to both Monterey and Carmel matters more than stepping straight onto the coastal trail. Local recommendations favor Munras for practical stays, but the exact address matters: a downtown-edge walk is not representative of the whole avenue. Skip the upper stretch if every dinner, sightseeing outing and return uphill must work comfortably on foot.
- Best for: travelers on a budget, business trips and conventions, shopping
- Skip it if: You expect waterfront atmosphere; You need an easy walk everywhere
- Getting around: MST 5 follows Munras/Abrego; downtown is walkable from the northern end, less convenient uphill. MRY: taxi. SJC: Groome to downtown, then bus or taxi.
- After dark: Expect a quieter lodging corridor rather than a bar district; head toward Alvarado Street for evening activity.
- Rates: Typical Axel rate $146 a night
Where to stay in Monterey, California: every neighborhood ranked
Where to look in Munras Avenue
- Munras Avenue near Don Dahvee Park. Start on the downtown side of the shopping corridor if you want some outings on foot rather than driving everywhere. Hotels here: Best Western Park Crest Inn, Arbor Inn Monterey, Stargazer Hotel.
- Cass Street near Munras Avenue. Look just off the main avenue for a practical road-trip base, with downtown and highway routes nearby. Hotels here: Pelican Inn Monterey.
- Munras Avenue near Del Monte Center. Choose the shopping-center end for driving around the peninsula, not for stepping straight into waterfront sightseeing. Hotels here: Days Inn by Wyndham Monterey-Fisherman's Wharf Aquarium, The Inn at 1252, Monterey Surf Inn, Mariposa Inn & Suites, Red Lion Hotel Monterey.
How to choose
- Choose Best Western Park Crest Inn if included breakfast and parking plus a seasonal pool and hot tub justify paying more.
- Choose Stargazer Hotel if your family wants an indoor heated pool and laundry, despite uneven housekeeping and tight parking.
- Choose Pelican Inn Monterey if you want one of the cheapest driving bases and can accept thin walls and uneven service.
What paying more buys
Pelican Inn Monterey is cheaper than most here, with parking included but thin walls and uneven service. Best Western Park Crest Inn costs more for included breakfast, a seasonal pool and hot tub, although soundproofing is still imperfect. Travelers who leave early and return late may gain little from those extras. Typical rates with Axel here run from $120 a night at Pelican Inn Monterey to $199 at Best Western Park Crest Inn (last 30 days).
The best hotels in Munras Avenue, ranked by Axel's take
Each hotel scored for what it is by Axel's own review; the rate is one stay Axel priced this week, beside the public rate for the same dates.
- Best Western Park Crest Inn 8.1/10, simple, motel-style 2-star near downtown Monterey. A dependable Monterey base with useful extras, but soundproofing is the weak spot. Why it's here: a dependable family base with breakfast, parking, seasonal pool and hot tub. Accept: weak soundproofing and stairs to upper-floor rooms.
- Days Inn by Wyndham Monterey-Fisherman's Wharf Aquarium 8.0/10, no-frills 2-star motel on Munras Avenue. A solid budget base for drivers, not a waterfront stay. Why it's here: a straightforward driving base opposite shopping, with free parking and easy Highway 1 access. Accept: light refreshments only, no elevator and an extra service fee.
- Arbor Inn Monterey 7.9/10, simple 2-star motel on Monterey’s Munras Avenue. A practical Monterey budget base, with comfortable basics but uneven upkeep. Why it's here: comfortable road-trip basics near downtown, with free parking and useful room appliances. Accept: dated rooms, uneven upkeep and an extra nightly service fee.
- Stargazer Hotel 7.9/10, budget motel on Monterey’s Munras Avenue. Good-value Monterey basics with an indoor pool, but some uneven edges. Why it's here: an indoor heated pool, hot tub and laundry make this useful for traveling families. Accept: uneven housekeeping and complaint resolution; tight parking.
- The Inn at 1252 7.8/10, simple, motel-style budget hotel on Munras Avenue. A practical Monterey base with clean rooms, a heated pool, and a few budget trade-offs. Why it's here: a practical mid-priced corridor stay with clean rooms and a year-round heated outdoor pool. Accept: sound transfer, tight parking and conflicting breakfast information.
- Monterey Surf Inn 7.8/10, refreshed, no-frills 2-star motel on Munras Avenue. A good budget base for Monterey, with clean rooms but limited extras. Why it's here: clean, refreshed room basics with free parking for short driving stays. Accept: small rooms, limited storage and unconfirmed pool availability.
- Pelican Inn Monterey 7.3/10, no-frills budget motel near downtown Monterey. A practical Monterey base, with clean-room praise but uneven service and soundproofing. Why it's here: one of the cheaper road-trip stops, with free parking, microwaves and refrigerators. Accept: thin walls, uneven management interactions and limited check-in hours.
- Mariposa Inn & Suites 7.3/10, practical 3-star, motel-style inn on Monterey’s Munras Avenue. A useful Monterey base for drivers, but confirm the pool reopening before booking. Why it's here: larger suite options and covered parking for families driving between Monterey and Carmel. Accept: pool and hot tub closure; basic breakfast and outlying location.
- Red Lion Hotel Monterey 5.5/10, dated, motel-style 3-star near Del Monte Shopping Center. Convenient parking and friendly staff cannot make up for inconsistent cleaning and upkeep. Why it's here: a shopping-area stopover for motorists who prioritize free parking and helpful staff. Accept: inconsistent cleaning, poor upkeep and traffic and neighboring-room noise.