Prunedale is a unincorporated community in Monterey County, California, United States.

It is located 8 miles (13 km) north of Salinas[6] at an elevation of 92 feet (28 m).

For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Prunedale as a census-designated place (CDP).

[7][8] One of the area's earliest settlers was Charles Langley, a Watsonville banker, who also operated the Prunedale post office,[9] which opened in 1894, closed in 1908, and re-opened in 1953.

[6] Langley helped establish the Watsonville post office mail service in Prunedale.

[9] A major development in the area's history occurred when U.S. Route 101 was rerouted through Prunedale between 1931 and 1932.

[9] U.S. Highway 101 had previously run directly from Salinas to San Juan Bautista.

The Prunedale Senior Citizens' Center was built in 1989 with grant funds secured by then Monterey County Supervisor Marc Del Piero.

Meals for seniors and public assistance programs, including a bi-weekly food bank giveaway, continue to be operated from that facility.

Most of Prunedale's residents live in single family detached homes with individual or shared wells and leach fields.

Prunedale is served by Monterey–Salinas Transit, with connections to Amtrak at San Jose Diridon station.

[13] In the hills above Prunedale is one of the few known colonies of Yadon's piperia, an endangered species of wild orchid.

Much of Prunedale's land is oak reserve to protect the California's native trees.