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Carmel-by-the-Sea California Map

Explore Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, with this interactive street and satellite map.

This page also offers TOPO MAPS — the official USGS topographic sheets — plus USGS aerial imagery, a labelled USNG grid overlay, a distance and bearing tool, and a GPS grid-reference readout. See How to Use This Map below.

Interactive Map of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

How to Use This Carmel-by-the-Sea, California Map

This interactive map shows the street layout and satellite imagery for Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. Use the Map and Satellite buttons above to switch between street map and aerial imagery views. Use the + and − buttons to zoom in or out, or scroll your mouse wheel while holding the Control key to zoom. On a touchscreen, use a two-finger pinch gesture. Drag the map to pan to any area of California or beyond.

Click ⛶ Fullscreen to expand the map to fill your screen. To return to the normal page view, press the Escape key, click the ✕ Exit Fullscreen button that appears above the map, or on a mobile device tap the back button (Android) or the close icon (iOS).

TOPO MAPS — NEW. Click the green 🔍 Search Maps button below the map to open a second map with a Base map row offering three choices. OSM is the standard OpenStreetMap street map. Topo shows the official USGS topographic maps from The National Map — contours, hydrography, land cover and shaded relief, the same mapping used for hiking, hunting and back-country navigation in the Adirondacks, the Catskills and the Finger Lakes. Imagery shows USGS aerial photography, mostly 1-metre NAIP. The search box finds any US town, county or landmark by name, so you are not limited to Carmel-by-the-Sea.

Reading the map like a paper quad. Click Grid to overlay the U.S. National Grid (USNG), labelled along the edges exactly as a printed topographic sheet is — at normal zoom the squares are one kilometre across, so you can read a six-figure grid reference by eye and judge distance directly off the map. Click Measure, then tap two points, to get the distance between them together with the grid bearing in degrees and mils, the true bearing, and the magnetic bearing to set on a compass.

Click 📍 My position to take a single GPS reading from your device. It marks where you are and reports your position as a USNG grid reference as well as plain latitude and longitude — USNG being the format FEMA and US search and rescue teams work from — with a Copy position button so you can paste it straight into a text message. It takes one reading and stops, rather than tracking continuously, to conserve your battery. Note that map tiles need cell coverage, but a GPS reading does not — your coordinates stay correct even where the map itself cannot load.

City	Carmel-by-the-Sea
State	California (CA)
County	Monterey County
Country	United States of America
Timezone	Pacific Time (America/Los_Angeles)

Latitude	36.555239
Longitude	-121.923288
Population	3,220
Density	1171.8 /km²
Incorporated	Yes
ZIP Codes	93921, 93923
Area Code	760
County Seat	Salinas
School District	Carmel Unified School District

🌦 Goto Carmel-by-the-Sea Weather Page: Carmel-by-the-Sea, California — Weather Warnings, Forecast, Radar, Satellite & Current Conditions

About Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

Carmel-by-the-Sea is a locality in Monterey County, California, United States. It has a population of approximately 3,220. The population density is 1171.8 people per km². Carmel-by-the-Sea is located at 36.5552°N, 121.9233°W. It observes the Pacific Time (America/Los_Angeles) timezone. Carmel-by-the-Sea is an incorporated locality. ZIP codes: 93921, 93923.

Carmel-by-the-Sea occupies a singular position where the terrestrial edge meets the vast, salt-heavy expanse of the Pacific Ocean. It lies 3.5 miles south-southwest of Monterey, CA (from Monterey, CA: bearing 207°T), and is situated 5.8 miles southwest of Seaside. The topography is defined by the deep, rugged depression of Pescadero Canyon, which carves a distinct signature into the land as it approaches the shoreline. Visitors walking the perimeter often find themselves observing the way the light catches the spray near Pescadero Rocks, a cluster of formations standing firm against the relentless pulse of the tide. While the distant Coast Ranges remain a hazy silhouette on the eastern horizon, the immediate terrain is shaped by the nearby flow of the Carmel River, which provides a vital riparian corridor. The local environment is further protected and celebrated within the boundaries of Picadilly Park, a space that preserves the wilder, unmanicured character of the coast.

Early observers of Carmel-by-the-Sea recognized a rare alchemy in the air, a quality that drew poets, painters, and thinkers to establish a sanctuary for the creative spirit. The settlement grew from a desire to escape the frantic pace of industrial expansion, favoring instead a quiet, deliberate development that prioritized the preservation of the landscape. Early residents, many of them intellectuals and bohemians, cultivated a tradition of artistic independence that continues to influence the physical layout and the strict, unconventional building codes that define the streets. This historical commitment to aesthetic stewardship has ensured that the architecture of Carmel-by-the-Sea remains subservient to the surrounding woodland and the persistent, salt-laden wind.

Economic life in Carmel-by-the-Sea functions with a quiet intensity, driven largely by a specialized service sector that caters to those who value the preservation of natural beauty. While the infrastructure is intentionally modest, lacking the sprawling commercial developments found elsewhere, the local economy thrives on a combination of boutique hospitality and high-end retail. There are no major universities or heavy industries within the immediate vicinity, shifting the focus toward a more localized, craft-oriented trade. Residents and visitors often look toward the inland regions for larger industrial centers, as the immediate vicinity remains focused on the maintenance of its unique, pedestrian-friendly atmosphere. Water management remains a primary concern for the area, with the nearby Carmel River and the more distant Forest Lake serving as essential touchstones in the regional ecological narrative.

Cultural expression in Carmel-by-the-Sea often manifests in the quiet appreciation of the natural environment, where the rhythm of the day is dictated by the fog drifting in from the Pacific Ocean rather than the chime of a clock. The community hosts a variety of festivals throughout the year that highlight local craftsmanship and the enduring legacy of the writers and artists who found inspiration in the shadow of the Coast Ranges. While there are no professional sports teams based within the municipality, the local culture favors active engagement with the outdoors, frequently utilizing the Moss Cove Trail for exercise and reflection. The town is famously associated with the actor and director Clint Eastwood, who once served as its mayor, reflecting a long-standing tradition of residents who find in the quietude of the coast a respite from the global stage. Evenings are often spent walking the shoreline, where the air feels sharper and the horizon suggests a vast, unmapped freedom that has defined the character of Carmel-by-the-Sea for generations.

Nearby Outdoor Places

Richard Macdonald (Gallery) — 0.0 mi, 348° N
Weston (Gallery) — 0.0 mi, 025° NE
Creason (Gallery) — 0.0 mi, 035° NE
Center for Photographic Art (Museum) — 0.3 mi, 159° S
Pescadero Canyon (Conservation Area) — 0.4 mi, 338° N
Del Monte Forest Foundation Private Conservation Land (Conservation Area) — 0.4 mi, 344° N
Forest Theater (Theatre) — 0.4 mi, 109° E
Carmel Bay State Marine Conservation Area (Marine Protected Area) — 0.4 mi, 249° W
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (Marine Protected Area) — 0.4 mi, 259° W
Mission Trail Nature Preserve (Local Conservation Area) — 0.5 mi, 140° SE
California Coastal National Monument (National Monument) — 0.7 mi, 299° NW · 8,946 acres
Hatton Canyon Open Space (Local Recreation) — 1.0 mi, 067° NE
Carmel River State Beach (State Park) — 1.0 mi, 186° S
Carmel River Bird Sanctuary (Nature Reserve) — 1.3 mi, 187° S
Yadon Plaque (Monument) — 1.4 mi, 343° N
Palo Corona Regional Park (Local Park) — 1.6 mi, 165° S
Images of Pebble Beach (Public Artwork) — 1.8 mi, 303° NW
18 Pescadero Point (Viewpoint) — 1.8 mi, 285° W
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve (State Conservation Area) — 2.1 mi, 202° S
Lone Cypress (Attraction) — 2.5 mi, 292° W
Seal Rock (Attraction) — 3.3 mi, 314° NW
Golden State Theatre (Theatre) — 3.5 mi, 028° NE
Osio Cinemas (Cinema) — 3.5 mi, 027° NE
Alvarado Gallery (Museum) — 3.6 mi, 026° NE
Monterey Customhouse (Monument) — 3.7 mi, 027° NE
Custom House (Monument) — 3.7 mi, 026° NE
Chris' Fishing Trips and Whale Watching (Attraction) — 3.8 mi, 027° NE
The New Warf Theatre (Cinema) — 3.8 mi, 026° NE
Garrapata State Park (State Park) — 3.9 mi, 176° S
Fort Ord National Monument (National Monument) — 6.3 mi, 064° NE · 15k acres

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