By car is by far the most practical way to reach Monterey. From San Francisco, take Highway 101 south to Salinas and then Highway 68 west — about two hours. Alternatively, the slightly longer but more scenic route is down Highway 1 through Santa Cruz along the coast, around three hours.
By plane: Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) has direct flights from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, and a handful of other western cities, but the airport is small and fares are often higher than flying into San Jose or San Francisco and driving. San Jose International (SJC), roughly 70 miles north, has the widest selection of direct flights and is a reasonable alternative with a rental car.
By bus: Greyhound serves Salinas (about 20 miles east), and local MST buses connect Salinas to Monterey. The journey from San Francisco by bus, including the transfer, takes around four hours and requires patience. Greyhound does not serve Monterey directly.
By train: Amtrak's Coast Starlight stops at Salinas, which is about 20 miles from Monterey. Connecting bus service runs from Salinas Amtrak to downtown Monterey. Amtrak also has bus connections from San Jose's Caltrain station to Monterey.