In Monterey County, U.S. 101 does not come close to the famous Monterey Bay or the 17-Mile Drive. However, it does pass through some scenic farming country, including land familiar to author John Steinbeck, who wrote the book The Grapes of Wrath, which told the story of the Joad Family as it left Oklahoma during the Great Depression for the riches of the Central Valley of California. This is a must-read for any road enthusiast, especially with its telling description of U.S. 66 throughout the story. Several Steinbeck artifacts may be found in Salinas, the largest city along U.S. 101 between Santa Barbara and San Jose. U.S. 101 leaves Monterey County in a eucalyptus forest near Prunedale.
Northbound U.S. 101 - Monterey County
Northbound U.S. 101 approaching Exit 245, East Garrison in Camp Roberts. Photo taken 08/19/03.
Northbound U.S. 101 approaching Exit 252, Monterey County Route G-18, Jolon Road. This exit connects to Monterey County Route G-19, which leads south to meet County Route G-14 south of San Antonio Reservoir. Photo taken 12/23/01.
Northbound U.S. 101 at Exit 252, Monterey County Route G-18, Jolon Road. Both advance signs along northbound feature a county shield, which is very unusual for Caltrans. Photo taken 12/23/01.
Northbound U.S. 101 mileage sign around Milepost 253. Photo taken 12/23/01.
Northbound U.S. 101 approaching Exit 258, Alvarado Road. Photo taken 12/23/01.
Northbound U.S. 101 scene approaching Exit 271 near Lockwood. Photo taken 12/23/01.
Northbound U.S. 101 at Exit 271, Lockwood. Photo taken 12/23/01.
Northbound U.S. 101 approaching Exit 273, Eastbound California 198 near San Lucas. By this point, U.S. 101 has entered a wide valley formed by the Salinas River. Photo taken 12/23/01.
Northbound U.S. 101 approaching Exit 273, Eastbound California 198, next right. Photo taken 12/23/01.
Northbound U.S. 101 at Exit 273, Eastbound California 198 near San Lucas. California 198 continues east to meet Interstate 5 just east of Coalinga, then meets California 99 near Visalia. California 198 ends in the vicinity of Kings Canyon-Sequoia National Parks. Photo taken 12/23/01.
Northbound U.S. 101 approaching Exit 278, Wild Horse Road. Photo taken 12/23/01.
Northbound U.S. 101 approaching Exit 281, Business U.S. 101 (First Street), Northbound Monterey County Route G-13 (to Bitterwater Road), and Northbound Monterey County Route G-15 (to Metz Road) in King City. Photo taken 12/23/01.
Northbound U.S. 101 approaching Exit 281, Business U.S. 101, the first of three exits that serve King City. Photo taken 12/23/01.
Northbound U.S. 101 approaching Exit 281, Business U.S. 101 in King City. This is the best route to the east entrance of Pinnacles National Monument via Monterey County Route G-13 and California 25. Photo taken 12/23/01.
This mileage sign is located along northbound on the way out of King City just north of Exit 282/283 (Business U.S. 101/Monterey County Route G-14/G-13). It is one of the few signs remaining in the state that show both English and metric distances. Photo taken by Mike Ballard in Summer 1999.
Northbound U.S. 101 approaching Exit 282A, Canal Street. Photo taken 12/23/01.
View of northbound U.S. 101 near Milepost 283 in King City. Photo taken 12/23/01.
Northbound U.S. 101 approaching Central Avenue, a cross street in between King City and Greenfield. Like much of U.S. 101 in Monterey County, the route is expressway in rural areas and freeway along the bypasses around the towns. Photo taken 12/23/01.
Northbound U.S. 101 approaching Exit 293, Business U.S. 101/Monterey County Route G-16 in Greenfield, one mile. Photo taken 12/23/01.
Standalone shield for Monterey County Route G-16 along northbound U.S. 101 approaching Exit 293 in Greenfield. These standalone shields are difficult to read at high speeds because they are so small. Photo taken 12/23/01.
Northbound U.S. 101 at Exit 293, Business U.S. 101 in Greenfield. Photo taken 12/23/01.
Northbound U.S. 101 approaching Exit 302, Business U.S. 101 and Eastbound California 146 in Soledad. California 146 is the best route to the west entrance for Pinnacles National Monument. Note that the California 146 shield is missing on the first sign. Photo taken 12/23/01.
Northbound U.S. 101 at Exit 302, Business U.S. 101 and Eastbound California 146 in Soledad. Photo taken 12/23/01.
Northbound U.S. 101 approaching Exit 310, Business U.S. 101 in Gonzales. Yes, U.S. 101 has lots of business routes along this stretch. Photo taken 12/23/01.
Northbound U.S. 101 at Exit 310, Business U.S. 101 in Gonzales. Photo taken 12/23/01.
Northbound U.S. 101 approaching Salinas, next eight exits. Photo taken 12/23/01.
Northbound U.S. 101 reverts to an expressway as it approaches Salinas. The business route exit, in fact, is a left turn from the highway. According to Chris Sampang, the left exit exists because this street was the mainline as late as the mid-1960s. This planned freeway was described in a 1960s California Highways and Public Works (CHPW) magazine, which documents the planned route adoptions, which also include proposed/unbuilt California 68 and California 183 freeways. This Business U.S. 101 incorporates portions of both state highways in Salinas. After continuing north on Abbott Street, Business U.S. 101 makes a left on John Street (California 68) and continues west into town, where via Salinas Street and Main Street, the route continues north. At Market Street, Business U.S. 101 northbound picks up California 183 southbound; California 183 ends co-signed with Business U.S. 101 at the freeway. Business U.S. 101 continues north to return to U.S. 101 at the Boronda Road interchange. The Salinas business loop is probably one of the longest signed loops for U.S. 101 in the state, on a par with the Gilroy-Morgan Hill-San Jose business loop. Photo taken 12/23/01.
Northbound U.S. 101 at Exit 326A, Airport Boulevard in Salinas. The next exit is Exit 326B, Fairview Avenue. Photo taken 12/23/01.
Northbound U.S. 101 at Exit 310, Fairview Avenue. Exit 327 is the "Monterey Peninsula" exit. Despire the signing of this exit, it is not clear Exit 327 was supposed to have direct access to California 68. However, this exit does connect to Business U.S. 101, and there is an auxiliary sign mentioning California 68 (see next photobox). Photo taken 12/23/01.
Northbound U.S. 101 approaching Exit 327, Business U.S. 101/California 68 in downtown Salinas. This is the only shield for California 68, which is better than the absence of business route signage. Salinas is perhaps most popular for the being the home of famous author John Steinbeck, who wrote The Grapes of Wrath. Photo taken 12/23/01.
Northbound U.S. 101 at Exit 327, Business U.S. 101/California 68 in downtown Salinas. Originally, a California 68 freeway was proposed to follow Davis Road south of U.S. 101 before diagonally reaching the current alignment south of town. One interchange for this freeway was constructed on Davis Road, at Market Street (California 183). Thanks to Chris Sampang for information on a proposed California 68 freeway. Photo taken 12/23/01.
Northbound U.S. 101 approaches Exit 328, East Market Street. East Market Street west goes into downtown Salinas, where it becomes West Market Street and joins California 183 west en route to Santa Cruz. East Market Street eastbound heads toward a golf course and airport. Photo taken 05/23/03 by Pete Sison.
Northbound U.S. 101 at Exit 328, East Market Street to California 183 west/Santa Cruz. The section of Market Street between U.S. 101 and California 183 and Business Loop U.S. 101 is not part of the state highway system. Photo taken 05/23/03 by Pete Sison.
Northbound U.S. 101 at Exit 329, Junction California 183 west and Business U.S. 101 south/Main Street. Photo taken 05/23/03 by Pete Sison.
Northbound U.S. 101 mileage sign around Milepost 330. Photos taken 12/23/01 and 05/23/03 by Pete Sison.
U.S. 101 is an expressway with access partially controlled as it approaches Prunedale south of California 156. Photos taken 05/23/03 by Pete Sison.
Northbound U.S. 101 approaching Exit 336, Junction Westbound California 156. The transmission power line in the background leads east from a Pacific Gas and Electric Co. coastal power generation facility near Moss Landing. Photo taken 12/23/01.
Northbound U.S. 101 approaching Exit 336, Junction Westbound California 156, one mile. This interchange will be reconstructed over the coming years to accommodate increasing traffic flows at an outdated interchange. California 156 is a major connection to the coast, as it is part of the fastest route from southbound U.S. 101 to the Monterey Peninsula. Photo taken 12/23/01.
Northbound U.S. 101 at Exit 336, Junction Westbound California 156 in Prunedale. Eastbound California 156 merges onto Northbound U.S. 101 between Exits 336 and 345. This kind of sharp turn and poor access control is part of the reason why this interchange is being reconstructed. Photo taken 12/23/01 and 05/23/03 by Pete Sison.
Northbound U.S. 101 and Eastbound California 156 approaching Exit 337, Junction Northbound Monterey County Route G-12, San Miguel Canyon Road. This of course is not really an exit, it is actually a left turn on a very busy stretch of expressway. This segment of U.S. 101 is going to be converted into a full freeway. Photo taken 12/23/01.
Northbound U.S. 101 mileage sign around Milepost 338. Photo taken 12/23/01.
Northbound U.S. 101 and Eastbound California 156 approaching Exit 342, Dumbarton Road to Aromas and Watsonville. Photo taken 12/23/01.
Northbound U.S. 101 and Eastbound California 156 at Exit 342, Dumbarton Road to Aromas and Watsonville. Dumbarton Road leads north from U.S. 101, then intersects with California 129 just north of Aromas. Taking this route instead of staying on U.S. 101 until Exit 347 cuts several miles off the journey from Prunedale to Watsonville. Photo taken 12/23/01.
