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Monterey to San Francisco

A Highway 1 and 101 drive from Morro Bay up the coast to Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Francisco and Marin. The Morro Bay to Monterey leg is about 3 hours.

Route: Morro Bay → Monterey → Santa Cruz → San Francisco → Mill Valley · 15 record stores across 5 stops

Stop by stop

Stop 1: Morro Bay

Morro Bay, CA

  • Vinyl Isle

    Morro Bay Boulevard · General, Rock · $$

    Small Morro Bay shop with vintage LPs, band patches, stickers and tees.

    Tip: Open daily, 11 AM to 5 PM.

    740 Morro Bay Blvd, Morro Bay, CA 93442, USA

    Hours
    Monday11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Tuesday11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Wednesday11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Thursday11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Friday11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Saturday11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Sunday11:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Stop 2: Monterey Peninsula Run

Monterey, CA

  • Siren Records

    Fremont Street · General, Pop · $$

    Monterey shop selling LPs, CDs, cassettes and music merch, with occasional listening parties.

    Tip: Open daily; closes at 5 PM.

    522 Fremont St, Monterey, CA 93940, USA

    Hours
    Monday11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Tuesday11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Wednesday11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Thursday11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Friday10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Saturday11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Sunday11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Recycled Records

    Lighthouse Avenue · General, Rock · $$

    Long-standing Monterey shop on Lighthouse Avenue, now under newer owners, with older and modern vinyl.

    Tip: Open daily, 11 AM to 6 PM.

    604 Lighthouse Ave, Monterey, CA 93940, USA

    Hours
    Monday11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
    Tuesday11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
    Wednesday11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
    Thursday11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
    Friday11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
    Saturday11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
    Sunday11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
  • Vinyl Revolution

    Forest Avenue · General, Rock · $$

    Pacific Grove record shop on Forest Avenue with a general mix of vinyl and CDs.

    Tip: Open daily; Sunday noon to 5 PM.

    309 B, 309 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA

    Hours
    Monday10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
    Tuesday10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
    Wednesday10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
    Thursday10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
    Friday10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
    Saturday10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
    Sunday12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
  • Pop & Hiss

    Forest Avenue · General, Rock, Soul/Funk · $$

    Record shop and cocktail lounge in one: vintage albums up front, a small stage, a photo booth, a bar and a patio at the back.

    Tip: Weekday doors open at 5 PM, so treat it as an evening stop.

    215 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA

    Hours
    MondayClosed
    Tuesday5:00 PM - 11:30 PM
    Wednesday5:00 PM - 11:30 PM
    Thursday5:00 PM - 11:30 PM
    Friday5:00 PM - 11:30 PM
    Saturday1:00 PM - 11:30 PM
    Sunday1:00 PM - 7:00 PM

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Stop 3: Santa Cruz Downtown Dig

Santa Cruz, CA

  • Offshore Sounds

    Locust Street, Downtown · General, Jazz, World · $$

    Downtown Santa Cruz shop with a curated stock including Japanese original pressings and jazz represses, plus a listening station.

    Tip: Open noon to 6 PM daily.

    109 Locust St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA

    Hours
    Monday12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
    Tuesday12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
    Wednesday12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
    Thursday12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
    Friday12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
    Saturday12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
    Sunday12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
  • Streetlight Records

    Downtown Santa Cruz · Rock, Metal, Latin · $$

    Longtime Santa Cruz shop with new and used vinyl, CDs, DVDs, bargain bins, and occasional live in-store performances.

    Tip: Check the bargain bins and the in-store performance schedule. Used vinyl is priced at fair market value.

    939 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA

    Hours
    Monday11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
    Tuesday11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
    Wednesday11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
    Thursday11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
    Friday11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
    Saturday11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
    Sunday11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
  • Redwood Records

    Cedar Street, Downtown · General · $$

    Compact downtown Santa Cruz shop with new and used vinyl, plus turntables and other audio equipment.

    Tip: A few blocks from Streetlight Records, so easy to combine.

    320 Cedar St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA

    Hours
    Monday11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
    Tuesday11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
    Wednesday11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
    Thursday11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
    Friday11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
    Saturday11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
    Sunday12:00 PM - 6:00 PM

See this crawl in detail ›

Stop 4: Bay Area Classic

San Francisco, CA

  • Amoeba Music

    Haight-Ashbury · Jazz, Rock, Hip-Hop, Soul/Funk, Electronic/Techno · $$

    One of the largest independent record stores in the world — every genre covered.

    Tip: Set a time limit before you go in, or you will lose the afternoon.

    1855 Haight St, San Francisco, CA 94117, USA

    Hours
    Monday11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
    Tuesday11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
    Wednesday11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
    Thursday11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
    Friday11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
    Saturday11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
    Sunday11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
  • Groove Merchant Records

    Lower Haight · Jazz, Soul/Funk · $$$

    DJ-run shop with deep jazz, soul, and funk plus music ephemera and rare photos.

    Tip: Browsing here is an education — ask the owner about anything that catches your eye.

    687 Haight St, San Francisco, CA 94117, USA

    Hours
    Monday12:00 - 6:00 PM
    Tuesday12:00 - 6:00 PM
    Wednesday12:00 - 6:00 PM
    Thursday12:00 - 6:00 PM
    Friday12:00 - 6:00 PM
    Saturday12:00 - 6:00 PM
    Sunday12:00 - 6:00 PM
  • Vinyl Dreams

    Haight-Ashbury · Electronic/Techno, Hip-Hop · $$

    SF's go-to for house, techno, and hip-hop 12-inches.

    Tip: New stock rotates constantly, say regulars — one visit is never enough.

    593 Haight St, San Francisco, CA 94117, USA

    Hours
    Monday1:00 - 6:00 PM
    Tuesday12:00 - 5:00 PM
    WednesdayClosed
    Thursday1:00 - 6:00 PM
    Friday1:00 - 6:00 PM
    Saturday1:00 - 6:00 PM
    Sunday1:00 - 6:00 PM
  • Originals Vinyl

    Lower Pacific Heights · Rock, Jazz · $$

    Small, well-curated shop that also professionally cleans and restores records.

    Tip: Ask about their cleaning service if you pick up a scuffed used copy.

    701 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94117, USA

    Hours
    MondayClosed
    TuesdayClosed
    Wednesday12:00 - 5:00 PM
    Thursday12:00 - 5:00 PM
    Friday12:00 - 5:00 PM
    Saturday12:00 - 5:00 PM
    Sunday12:00 - 5:00 PM

See this crawl in detail ›

Stop 5: Marin County Record Run

Mill Valley, CA

  • Mill Valley Music

    Miller Avenue · General, Rock · $$

    Crowded Mill Valley shop with new and used vinyl, a large Record Store Day presence and crates packed to the brim.

    Tip: Give yourself time; stock is tightly packed and street parking nearby is free.

    320 Miller Ave, Mill Valley, CA 94941, USA

    Hours
    Monday11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
    Tuesday11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
    Wednesday11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
    Thursday11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
    Friday11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
    Saturday11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
    Sunday12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
  • Red Devil Records

    4th Street, Downtown · Rock, Soul/Funk, Punk/Indie · $$

    Long-time downtown San Rafael record store with a big used selection and a veteran owner; takes part in Record Store Day.

    Tip: Open every day, 11 AM to 6 PM.

    894 4th St, San Rafael, CA 94901, USA

    Hours
    Monday11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
    Tuesday11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
    Wednesday11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
    Thursday11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
    Friday11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
    Saturday11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
    Sunday11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
  • Watts Music

    Grant Avenue, Old Town · General · $$

    Old Town Novato shop with new and used vinyl, CDs and cassettes, plus posters, and a strong tape selection.

    Tip: Open daily; Sundays are shorter (noon to 5 PM).

    1211 Grant Ave, Novato, CA 94945, USA

    Hours
    Monday11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
    Tuesday11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
    Wednesday11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
    Thursday11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
    Friday11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
    Saturday10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
    Sunday12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

See this crawl in detail ›

Hours and details come from public listings and may have changed. Small shops often keep short or irregular hours, so check or call before a long trip. See something wrong? Use Still open? in the app and we will look into it.

Record stores in California