Monterey County expects more than 100,000 visitors for Monterey Car Week

Monterey County is preparing for one of its busiest tourism stretches of the year as Monterey Car Week opens on Friday, with officials expecting more than 100,000 visitors over the 10-day event. County officials said the Aug. 7-16 schedule is projected to generate more than $130 million in visitor spending as car shows, auctions, races and luxury-brand events spread across the Monterey Peninsula. The county has also rolled out a free online traffic tracker and event map to help residents and visitors navigate congestion during the week. ### Where is the 100,000-visitor estimate coming from? KSBW reported on August 5 that Monterey County expects Car Week to bring in more than 100,000 visitors and more than $130 million in spending. The station said county officials provided the figures as businesses across the area prepared for the annual event. The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance’s organizers, in a separate announcement about the Aug. 7-16 schedule, also described Monterey Car Week as a 10-day celebration that draws more than 100,000 visitors countywide each year and generates more than $130 million in visitor spending. (ksbw.com) ### What does Car Week actually include across those 10 days? Monterey Car Week runs from August 7 through August 16, with events staged across Monterey, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, Sand City and Seaside. KSBW’s event guide described the program as 10 days of races, concours events, auctions, rare-car unveilings and community shows across the peninsula. (prnewswire.com) The scale is broader than a single marquee show. Coverage cited in search results says the week includes roughly 35 automotive events, while Pebble Beach’s 75th Concours d’Elegance on August 16 remains the best-known closing event. ### Why is Monterey County emphasizing traffic tools this year? Monterey County has made traffic management a central part of its public messaging ahead of the event. (ksbw.com) The county’s Car Week event map page says its special-events application was revamped to be “better, faster, and more powerful,” while the county homepage says the daily tracker provides driving directions, traffic alerts and links to live traffic cameras. KSBW reported earlier this week that the MCCarWeek.com site offers real-time traffic information, road closures, construction alerts and a day-by-day guide to official events from Aug. 7-16. A separate travel item said the tool is paired with free shuttle information to help visitors avoid traffic bottlenecks during the busiest days. (countyofmonterey.gov) ### How big is the event for local businesses? More than $130 million in projected visitor spending is the clearest measure county officials have put on this year’s event. KSBW said businesses were already staffing and stocking up ahead of the influx, and organizers tied the spending estimate to hotels, hospitality businesses and related local activity. (ksbw.com) The county’s own road and construction notices also show how much planning goes into the week. A county public works notice said some roadwork schedules were suspended from August 5 through August 17 for the Monterey Car Week period. ### What should visitors and residents watch next? August 7 is the first day of the official Car Week run, and the county’s online tracker is already live for traffic, closures and event routing. (ksbw.com) KSBW’s guide says the schedule continues through August 16, when Pebble Beach hosts the 75th Concours d’Elegance. Residents and visitors looking for day-by-day logistics will likely be watching MCCarWeek.com and county traffic advisories as crowds build through the weekend and into the final Pebble Beach events. (countyofmonterey.gov 1) (countyofmonterey.gov 2) (countyofmonterey.gov 3)