A car is the only practical means to visit the park. Pinnacles National Monument has entrances of the east and west side of the park that are NOT connected to each other by road; to repeat, it is NOT possible to drive from one side of the park to the other. The west entrance can be reached via Highway 101 near the town of Soledad, then east along Highway 146 to the Chaparral area. The east entrance is reached via Highway 25, south of the city of Hollister and north of the town of King City, then west on Highway 146.

If unsure which side of the monument to visit, be aware that extensive trails connect both sides of the park. For those wanting to visit a cave, the west side trailheads are closest to the Balconies Cave Loop. For views of the High Peaks without leaving your car, the rock formations are also visible from the west parking area. However, the road to the west side of the monument is winding and narrow, and may not be the best option for those traveling in an RV.