About Lantern Hill/Introduction

The City of Lantern Hill is an ocean-side community that overlooks the beautiful Monterey Bay on the Central Coast of California, approximately 125 miles south of San Francisco.
Founded in 1887 and incorporated in 1954, this ten square-mile city continues to grow while holding on to the rich values upon which it was established. Young families and retirees are drawn to the community, providing a healthy residential mix of people and solid sense of community.

Lantern Hill’s convenient location gives residents and visitors an opportunity to experience all of the amenities that the Monterey Peninsula has to offer…from wine tasting to whale watching…and everything in between. Explore the breathtaking beauty and abundant sea life of the Monterey Bay by kayaking, sailing, scuba diving and para-sailing. For land lovers, there’s world-class golf at the immaculate Bayonet Course, eclectic restaurants and abundant shopping…or if you prefer, just take a stroll down to the pristine Lantern Hill Beach and wiggle your toes in the sand.

While the foundation of the Lantern Hill business community is made up of small family-owned establishments, national retailers and restaurant groups also call Lantern Hill home.

Monterey Bay University is located in the City of Lantern Hill, providing students of all ages a scenic environment to pursue their educational goals. This institution is part of a world-class educational community on the Monterey Peninsula that includes the Naval Postgraduate School, the Defense Language Institute, and the Monterey Institute of International Studies. The multitude of opportunities for higher learning create a strong economic base for the community, much-needed services for retired military, and attract a contingent of people from throughout the world. The city also rests just outside of Fort Kesler, one of the state’s largest and most active military bases.

With plenty to do outdoors, educational opportunities, convenient shopping, eclectic dining, welcoming accommodations and outstanding views of the Monterey Bay, it’s easy to see why almost 33,000 residents choose to call Lantern Hill home.