YOUR INSIDER GUIDE TO MONTEREY CAR WEEK 2025
Where polished chrome reflects the curve of the coast and heritage meets horsepower, Monterey Car Week arrives not only as a celebration of automotive excellence but as a sensorial experience steeped in style, motion, and memory. And there is no finer home base for it all than The Sanctuary Beach Resort, where the Pacific hums just beyond your private deck and the pulse of Car Week blends effortlessly with the rhythm of the tides.
Nestled within 19 acres of undisturbed dunes, The Sanctuary is more than a retreat; it's a moment to reset between high-octane events. With bonfires on the beach, private cottage-style rooms, and morning yoga overlooking the ocean, each day begins and ends in quiet luxury, even as the world's rarest cars gather just beyond.
DRIVE, DWELL, DISCOVER: KEY EVENTS DURING CAR WEEK
AUGUST 8 - KICKOFF ON ALVARADO STREET
In the heart of historic Monterey, opening night transforms Alvarado Street into a living gallery of exotic supercars and vintage legends. Stroll among them with a glass of wine in hand as live music floats through the warm coastal air. It's more than a show, it's a prelude, inviting you into the world of Car Week with community, color, and curb appeal.
AUGUST 9-10 - MONTEREY PRE-REUNION AT LAGUNA SECA
Just a short drive inland, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca roars to life with the Monterey Pre-Reunion. Here, the art of racing is alive and unfiltered. Watch 300+ historic race cars take on the legendary Corkscrew, one of the most dramatic turns in motorsports, offering a rare glimpse into the past of competitive racing, unbridled and up close.
AUGUST 11-13 - COLLECTOR'S MIDWEEK: WHERE RARITY REIGNS
Midweek invites a more curated pace. Automobilia Collectors Expo, tucked into the Embassy Suites, becomes a haven for collectors: original posters, hand-signed racing memorabilia, sculptural mascots, and rare automobilia await the discerning eye. Meanwhile, The Quail Rally departs on its journey: an invitation-only motoring experience that winds through Carmel, Big Sur, and back, pairing exquisite roads with equally exquisite vehicles. These quieter days are for insiders; for those who savor the subtleties behind the spectacle.
AUGUST 14 - PEBBLE BEACH TOUR D'ELEGANCE
As the fog lifts over Highway 1, over 150 Concours entries take to the road for the Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance, a grand procession of vintage luxury winding through Big Sur cliffs and coastal forests. Catch them as they pause in Carmel-by-the-Sea, where the static elegance of car displays meets the warm hospitality of the town's cobbled charm. This is Car Week at its most cinematic.
AUGUST 17 - PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE
The crescendo comes at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, held atop the 18th fairway with the ocean whispering just beyond. Here, craftsmanship, provenance, and design unite under the sun. Whether you're marveling at a pre-war Talbot-Lago or observing the judged elegance of a Ferrari 250 GTO, it's a celebration not just of machines, but of the hands and histories behind them.
THE SANCTUARY BETWEEN THE SCENES
Between each grand event, The Sanctuary Beach Resort offers a pause that feels as rare as the week's automobiles. Begin your morning with wellness classes at the Renewal Studio & Spa, followed by a locally-sourced breakfast basket from Salt Wood Kitchen & Oysterette. Or retreat to your private patio, where the horizon stretches wide and unhurried.
Evenings unfold with intention. Sink your feet into soft sand around a glowing bonfire, cocktail in hand, while your dog sleeps at your side. Or head out for a walk and explore the quiet trails of the Marina Dunes Preserve. For those craving reconnection, our guided nature walks reveal the coastal ecosystem's subtleties from seabirds in migration to the windswept shape of native flora to the hush between waves.
In a week defined by revving engines and applause, The Sanctuary offers something rare: a chance to hear yourself again.
RESERVE YOUR ESCAPE DURING MONTEREY CAR WEEK
With just 60 cottage-style guest rooms tucked into a private stretch of coastline, availability during Monterey Car Week is limited. Whether you're attending concours events, touring the coast in your classic convertible, or simply seeking the calm between each show, The Sanctuary Beach Resort is your perfect complement to the energy of the week.