Gilroy, CA Road Trips

Gilroy is well known for garlic production and markets itself as the "Garlic Capital of the World." In fact, Gilroy was instrumental in marketing garlic to the Anglo population of the United States in the mid-20th century, when garlic was considered something of an ethnic vegetable, mostly associated with Italian cuisine. Garlic, produced in and marketed from Gilroy, made it onto the plates of numerous recent migrants to the rapidly populating postwar California, normalizing the flavorful bulbs. California Welcome Center Gilroy, 8155-6 Arroyo Circle (Gilroy Premium Outlets Building A), ☏ +1 408-842-6436. M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM, see website for holiday hours. (updated Nov 2025)

1 Gilroy Gardens, 3050 Hecker Pass Hwy, ☏ +1 408 840-7100. Open from mid-spring to mid-fall. A theme park whose theme is plants, agriculture, and local history. Best for people interested in gardens, and for families with younger children. Like Legoland, the rides here do not cater to teenagers or older. Parking is $20 in advance ($25 at the gate). Get an annual membership if you will go more than once, and consider a premium pass for yourself if you'll be buying food for multiple guests. $45 in advance, $65 at the gate. (updated Apr 2022) 2 Chitactac-Adams Heritage County Park, 10001 Watsonville Rd (near Burchell Rd). 8AM–sunset daily. An interesting little park where the Ohlone people lived for several thousand years. Follow the trail to learn more about the history. It's not a destination by itself, but it's worth a stop when you're in the area. Restrooms, drinking water, a few picnic tables. Free. (updated Apr 2022) 3 Gilroy Historical Museum, 195 Fifth St, ☏ +1 408-846-0446. (updated Dec 2021)

1 Coyote Lake Harvey Bear Ranch County Park, 10840 Coyote Reservoir Rd. RV and tent camping. Flat, paved two-mile loop trail at Bear Ranch Trailhead in San Martin is good for people with mobility issues, families with little kids, and anyone looking for a pleasant walk. More strenuous hiking opportunities are also available. Fishing and summertime boating, at least in non-drought years. Good for bird watchers. Drinking water, restrooms, hot showers. $6 per car; $35–50 for campsite. (updated Apr 2022) 2 Christmas Hill Park, 7050 Miller Av. 6AM–11PM. Large, long city park connecting to the Debell Uvas Creek Preserve in the north, which is a good place to see wildflowers on spring mornings. The creek runs along the east side of the park. Miller Avenue cuts through the park. Playground (on the southeast side of Miller Avenue), picnic tables, jogging trail, soccer field, baseball and softball diamonds. Lots of trees, but there is room for flying a kite when there's a breeze. Bicycles on trails. Dogs welcome, but if you want a dog park, then the Glen Loma Ranch Dog Park is less than a mile south on Miller Avenue. Restrooms. Free. (updated Apr 2022)

Black Bear Diner, 393 Leavesley Rd (West of 101 Exit, next to Forest Park Inn), ☏ +1 408-842-9901. American comfort food, bear-shaped paraphernalia Mama Mia's, 1360 1st St # B, ☏ +1 408-847-8808. Tuscan style. The Longhouse, 8195 Monterey Highway, ☏ +1 408-842-7664. American food. Friendly waitstaff. Pho Thanh An, 890 Renz Lane #152 (Next to the Best Buy). Vietnamese. Typical for old school Vietnamese places in Northern California, there's an ATM on site but they don't take debit or credit cards. (updated Feb 2026) Victoria's Mexican Restaurant, 757 1st St, ☏ +1 408-848-1052. What it says on the tin. O.D.'s Kitchen, 28 Martin St, ☏ +1 408 847-3818. Breakfasts. Plentiful food, low prices, popular hole-in-the-wall breakfast joint. Their "Kitchen Sink" entree is huge, you may want to share it. cheap.

The Gilroy area is home to several wineries.

1 Motel 6, 6110 Monterey Highway, ☏ +1 408 842-6061, fax: +1 408 842-6020. Check-out: 11AM. Budget chain hotel near the highway. $100+. (updated Apr 2022) 2 Hilton Garden Inn, 6070 Monterey Rd, ☏ +1 408 840-7000, fax: +1 408 840-7022. Mid-range chain hotel near the highway. $50–75 cleaning fee for dogs and cats. $150+. (updated Apr 2022) 3 Best Western Forest Park Inn, 375 Leavesley Rd (West of Leavesley Rd, exit on 101, behind Black Bear Diner), ☏ +1 408-848-5144. Check-out: 11AM. Mid-range chain hotel. Breakfast included. Staff speak English, Spanish, Hindi, and Gujarati – but call to verify who's going to be on duty, if that's important to you. Cleaning fee of $20/night for pets. $125+. (updated Apr 2022)

Gilroy is located about 36 mi (58 km) south of San Jose International Airport (SJC IATA) via US Hwy 101. is the primary route through Gilroy and the region, linking it with San Jose in the north and Salinas to the south. Driving from San Jose it is 32 mi (51 km) or 35 min and 79 mi (127 km) (1hr 20 min) from San Francisco through the Silicon Valley. Driving from Salinas it is 31 mi (50 km) or 28 min while it's 46 mi (74 km) or 41 min from Monterey through Castroville and Prunedale via CA Hwy-1 to US Hwy 101 without going through Salinas. & : Hollister is 15 mi (24 km) (22 min) southeast of Gilroy on US Hwy 101 and CA-Hwy 25. from : Hwy 152 connects Watsonville (18.5 mi (29.8 km), 35 min west) with Exit 403A of Interstate 5 west of Los Banos (41 mi (66 km), 46 min east) through Gilroy. Hwy 152 goes through town as Leavesley Rd and 1st St, west of US Hwy 101 and Pacheco Pass Hwy east of US Hwy 101. It runs concurrent on US Hwy 101 between Leavesley Rd & Pacheco Pass Hwy. The 1 Gilroy Station at 7150 Monterey Rd in downtown Gilroy serves as a central station for CalTrain, Amtrak Thruway bus, Greyhound, San Benito County Express and the Gilroy Transit Center (south of the building) for VTA buses. CalTrain, ☏ +1 510-817-1717. operates a regional rail service from Gilroy via San Jose to its San Francisco terminal at Fourth and King in SoMa. The service between San Jose and Gilroy operates only during rush hour while the service between San Jose and San Francisco include midday, evenings and weekends.

Driving a car is the primary form of transportation, but Gilroy is the southernmost stop on Caltrain, which reaches north to San Francisco. Five local or regional VTA bus lines connect at the train station, plus the Greyhound bus to other cities.