Take SR 1 again all the way to Monterey and SF. But be sure to check out the Pacific Coast Highway road trip itinerary at the end of this post for a suggested timeline! Whether you have one day left or a week, heres more on this epic California Coast road trip itinerary! And you should absolutely not do it. Auto Repair, Smog Check Stations, Transmission Repair. Great stop on your San Francisco to San Diego drive for: photography, beaches, hiking, food, ~ 245 miles from San Francisco & 355 miles from San Diego. As we continue to move south in this epic road trip adventure, these next stops are all considered Southern California. Feel free to snag a coffee or OG aa bowl from Better Buzz, one of the best and cutest coffee shops in California. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in Canada. For a more in-depth wine tasting experience, take a break from the ocean and head for the hills. If youre looking for great shopping, stop by the Fashion Island mall or head to downtown Newport Beach or Balboa Island. Yay! $5.99 . Whether you want to get your hiking workout on or stroll around leisurely, Muir Woods offers different trails for you. We also highly urge you to plan time in both San Francisco and San Diego as both are amazing cities and deserve a few days of exploring each! Huntington Beach also offers one of the beach farmers markets there is. Therefore, the best time for a San Francisco to San Diego road trip is November through April. The El Dorado Park and Nature Center features almost 100 acres of activities, including walking and bike trails, golf and fishing. If you can, spend 2-3 days in the San Luis Obispo area. One Stop Auto Service Center. Depending on the season and ferry schedule there are a few different options of which islands you can visit, if youre looking for an easy half-day trip we recommend visiting Santa Cruz Island. Walk the pier and enjoy scenic views of the mountains and palm trees in the distance. Walk along the boardwalk, visit the outlets, and check out the wine scene! Oh cool Erin! ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-15936892', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Carmel/Monterey? There are three different trails that range from easy to difficult! Hikers will love Laguna Coast Wilderness Park with mountain and ocean views. Of course youll have required stops along the way for gas or a charge, and plenty places youll want to see after reading this guide! There are also different animal species such as birds, fish, bats, squirrel and chipmunks. It houses over 100 animals and species and costs $10 for adults and kids, and $8 for students, seniors and military. Pismo Beach, which is close by, is a good alternative. The last stop between San Diego and San Francisco. Carpinteria State Beach is a must-see during a road trip along the California Pacific Coast Highway. The top cities between Los Angeles and San Diego are Anaheim, La Jolla, Carlsbad, Temecula, Laguna Beach, Long Beach, Pasadena, Escondido, Riverside, and Dana Point. Youll descend down to the Lands End Labyrinth, which is a really gorgeous spot on top of a cliff with views of the ocean and the Golden Gate Bridge. This town is located in the heart of one of the top wine producing region in Central California and is famous for its vineyards along the green rolling hills. Anaheim is the most popular city on the route it's less than an hour from Los Angeles and 2 hours from San Diego. Pfeiffer Beach isnt a good beach for swimming. You may have to deal with road closures in the peak of wildfire season in California, which is July through October. Find yourself kicking back in an adorable coffee shop, dressed up for a night out on the town, or lathered in sunscreen for a day out in the waves. Heres a preview of the route and all the amazing stops along the way! Theres a long walking trail right along the beach, great for exercising or renting bikes for a scenic ride. San Carlos Beach marks the end of Cannery Row, so head out to the water after you check out the aquarium and getting some amazing food! This is hands down one of thebest things to do in Big Sur. What are good day trips? For a lighter hike try the Torrey Pines Beach Trail Loop. Pfeiffer Beach is also known for its purple sand! Also, make sure you have a good Pacific Coast Highway map, whether it is on your phone, or on good ol' fashioned paper! If youre doing your San Francisco to San Diego road trip or San Diego to San Francisco road trip in the winter, Solvang is especially charming in the winter when its decked out for the holidays! For just a little effort, youll see one of the most beautiful spots along the coast. Make sure to check out some of the 200+ wineries during your visit! Something to keep in mind is June Gloom. Youll notice their neighboring winery, Rocky Oaks, perched high on the next hill (appointment required). It's such a gorgeous drive. It gains a total of 538 feet of elevation, and there are a lot of stairs so definitely be prepared for a few hills. So after the official end of Highway 101, youll be taking the coastal roads of Camino Del Mar, Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla Blvd, Mission Blvd and so on into San Diego. While youre visiting, you can check out the awesome downtown area. If youre traveling with children, theres a fun playground called the Tomol Interpretive Play Area near the campground. The possibilities are endless in The Crown City of Southern California. If it were me, I would most definitely stop over for a little walk to Lands End Trail and take a relaxing break from all that driving at Half Moon Bay. The most popular peak among hikers is Bishop Peak, a 3.5-mile round-trip hike thats considered moderate. You will want to start in Carmel-by-the-Sea, a small one-square mile town that features many quaint and unique eateries and gift shops. (I will be getting the train and bus) Amtrak e.t.c. The quickest way from San Diego is flying to San Francisco International Airport (SFO), which takes about 1.5 hours at a cost of $93 and up. Great stop on your San Francisco to San Diego drive for: wine tasting, dining, shopping, sightseeing, desserts, ~ 325 miles from San Francisco & ~ 215 miles from San Diego. Visit the gorgeous city of Laguna Beach located in Orange County, California along your San Francisco to San Diego drive. Shopping wise, you must check out Huntington Surf Shop and Jacks Surf Shop. If youre hungry, opt to grab some food at Capulin Eats and Provisions, La Botte Italian Restaurant or Toro Loco. Also plenty of nice hotels with weekday special rates, and good restaurants for all price ranges. The beach is located 57 miles north of Malibu and only 12 miles south of Santa Barbara. Although there are eight Channel Islands, Santa Cruz, San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Barbara, and Anacapa make up the five islands included in the National Park. Solvang is actually known as the Danish Capitol of the US, and enjoying some delightful Danish food is one of the best ways to celebrate that. On the adventurous side of things, there are trails for hiking and biking and go to the beach for surfing, sailing, and sunbathing! And its just a bonus that its a perfect stop on a San Francisco to San Diego road trip! Theres interactive displays of hundreds of marine life. This beautiful beach town is the perfect spot for an action-packed visit. Youll be dying to hit this stop on your San Francisco to San Diego road trip, especially if youre traveling as a family. Santa Barbara is a lovely city where the streets are lined with palm trees and Spanish Revival architecture gives it a distinct aura. Posted on Published: May 16, 2022- Last updated: October 26, 2022. The most popular tourist attraction is the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. To reach the midway point from San Francisco to San Diego, you would drive for about 4 hours, 3 minutes or roughly 251 miles from San Diego to the halfway stop. Of course, while in Santa Barbara, you must have the wine! Its a location in the woods where weird things happen. Continue to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, where a short half mile hike will take you to the unique McWay Falls flowing onto the beach. Be sure to stop in at Linns, a Cambria institution, for a slice of their famous olallieberry pie, and pick up some goodies to take home! The distance between San Francisco and Los Angeles on the Pacific Coast Highway is roughly 500 miles. Youll feel the sensational gravitational pull on your body while you visit. Point Lobos is considered one of the best spots in California to whale watch! Dont miss the famous Crystal Cove Shake Shack either for one of their amazing milkshakes, their date shake is the most famous! Capitola. If youre looking to spend some time soaking up the sun, Laguna has some of the best beaches in Southern California. For other sea life, a must-see is the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Wandering the village is among the bestthings to do in Cambria. Of course, surrounded by the beautiful hills of the Santa Inez Valley, youre in wine country! It passes along the coast with brief glimpses of the Pacific Ocean, through Camp Pendleton Marine Corps base and north through Orange County. It costs $7-18 depending on the season, but the prime location is worth the price. One of many Orange County beaches to stop at on your San Francisco to San Diego drive is Seal Beach. One of the best spots in Monterey is easily Cannery Row. Lets keep the sights and adventure going! From the PCH, turn north on one of LA countys prettiest roads, Kanan-Dume, through the Santa Monica Mountain canyons. Oh how awesome, Gloria! Great stop on your San Francisco to San Diego drive for: beaches, shopping, wine and dining, entertainment, overnight, Suggested Hotel: Intercontinental The Clement Monterey, ~ 122 miles from San Francisco & ~ 443 miles from San Diego. From beach activities to the boardwalk, Santa Cruz has it covered. Road Trip from San Diego to San Francisco via Highway 1. It has the cutest town center inspired by Scandinavian heritage. Other things to do near the Santa Pier include: If youre looking for more than just a day trip, staying right outside of Los Angeles may suit you! Since its completion in 1932, travelers have been stopping to see the iconic bridge. Following his inheritance and wealth from publishing, William Hearst began construction in 1919. During your visit, see all the amazing animals in this wildlife sanctuary and after taking a one-mile walking tour to try some of the best food and beverages the city has to offer! Youve made it to San Diego, just like in San Francisco we recommend spending some time to see what makes this amazing Southern California city one of the best! Traveling from San Diego to San Francisco. . Many visitors start their Pismo Beach day trip at the pier. Yes, Southwest flies nonstop from San Francisco (SFO) to San Diego 3 times per day on Saturdays and 4 times per day on Sundays. Technically located about 20 minutes north of San Francisco, its such a great stop along the coast it simply couldnt be skipped. Choose whichever one suits you best and will be the most enjoyable hiking experience for you and your group! Located just a short distance from Los Angeles, this beach town is known as Surf City USA and offers a laid-back lifestyle with plenty of fun things to do, see and experience. You will spend the day in Santa Cruz and . One of the top things to do in Solvang is to do wine tastings or visit a winery. If you are looking for a faster road, then consider the I-5. , A very thorough guide, so glad I stumbled upon it, Im headed to San Diego in the summer and would love to check out some of these places. . We love renting kayaks or stand up paddle boards in the harbor! Outdoor enthusiasts are in for a treat on a visit to Long Beach! It is an operating church with services, so be sure to check their schedule for visitations here. Customize this itinerary based on what youd love to do most and how much time you have. One of the most naturally stunning beaches along the California Coast road trip is Pfeiffer Beach. Yes in the Us now in Chicago getting the Amtrak tomorrow to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Super cool! Getting from Merced over to the coast will be much more challenging. The route takes you through Santa Cruz, Monterey, Big Sur, San Simeone, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbra, Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach and finally to San Diego. La Sierra Mexican Restaurant, Frazier Park. Then return to San Francisco and head down to San Diego with few stops inbetween to stay with a friend. San Francisco is the most popular city on the route it's 12 hours from Seattle and 8 hours from San Diego. The historic 115-foot tall lighthouse has been in operation since 1872 and is a great quick stop for photos. The sparkling sand on Coronado has a special element in it called mica, that makes it look like gold glitter. One of the area's top attractions is the Stearns Wharf. Coast route it is! This is an ideal spot for someone who loves beachy adventures. I haven't really even considered a driving route yet. You will depart from San Francisco International Airport and will land at San Diego International Airport. Similarly, if you are driving south, the Portland to San Francisco road trip itinerary takes about 20 hours, considering you begin the trip in Cannon Beach and then follow Highway 101 south to California. Recommended by Jolayne of Simply Jolayne follow on Instagram. Well a fun area in San Diego is Ocean Beach. Find United Airlines cheap flights from San Diego to San Francisco. If youre looking for a great view or photos of the bridge, keep in mind there are various vantage points! ~ 73 miles from San Francisco & ~ 461 miles from San Diego. Its always a spectacular sight to behold! Plus, traffic is awful around San Jose - you'll want to avoid it at all costs if you can. Oh, and youve gotta try the hula pie! You say you have been to CA or (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Without traffic, it takes about two hours to get to Downtown Los Angeles. Smog Pass Or Dont Pay San Diego. One of the must-see attractions in the town is the windmills. Find yourself getting spa treatments, having a cocktail or glass of wine at a swanky bar or beach lounge, California-chic shopping, and much more. Unless you have a wetsuit, this far up on the coast isnt super comfortable for swimming. I recommend I-5 out of San Diego, then cross over to State Route (SR) 1 in San Clemente. . Whew! Coming in at 2.3 miles and rated as easy, youll get beautiful beach views. Thank you for supporting us in this small way to help us continue bringing helpful travel guides to our readers. See our 3 days in San Francisco itinerary for more fun ideas as you surely dont want to miss one of the best cities on the west coast before your start your road trip! more. Are you planning on driving Hiway 1 through Big Sur? Eeek! And I can't think of a better way to stretch your legs than to hike! There is so much to do at Fisherman's Wharf. The highlight of the pier is Pacific Park, the amusement park with numerous carnival games and rides. Road trip from Vancouver, B.C. Lunch in Ventura, Central California. Youll find great cliff views and fewer crowds on this hike. Recommended by Daria of The Discovery Nut follow on Instagram. The last thing you want to do is get lost or miss one of the great stops! San Francisco to San Diego Flights. Surfers can hit the waves on any of the more than 30 beaches in Laguna Beach. For a calmer, more relaxed ocean experience at Laguna Beach, there are protected tide pools. Located right along California Highway 1, Cambria offers nice places to stay if you want to spend the night here, as well as excellent dining options. Day 1 morning: San Diego and the Southern California Coast. . (I will be getting the train and bus) Amtrak e.t.c I was thinking Santa Barbara, Hermosa Beach, Santa Monica.La Jolla. One of the areas top attractions is the Stearns Wharf. The possibilities are endless on the island in and out of the water. The stunning scenic coastal views along the 17-Mile Drive at Pebble Beach feature beautiful beaches, dramatic cliffs, rare groves of trees and ocean wildlife. Were almost to San Diego! While it is possible to cover that distance in about 10 hours, it is much more likely that your San Francisco to Los Angeles drive time will be much longer - due to both traffic and sightseeing. Pro tip: Stay for sunset. The city is home to more than 20,000 beautiful acres of protected wilderness, making it ideal for hiking, biking and adventurous exploration. Recommended by Rebecca of Veggies Abroad follow onInstagram. Theyre all great, what can we say. Recommended by Denise of Chef Denise follow on Pinterest. You can see the main Amtrak Stations and their bus service to other areas. The entire region is great for wineries, but the Urban Wine Trail is a great way to experience the best and most unique wineries in the area. Of course you can adjust it depending on how much time you have., Woah! If youre looking for a stop along Big Sur that offers gorgeous scenery, a variety of wildlife and hiking, dont miss Point Lobos State Reserve! This central coast is a magnificent escape for those travelers looking for a paradise. Parts of the shoreline is rocky and if youre there around sunset, its a gorgeous spot to photograph those rays dipping into the ocean along the coast. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-46636308', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Denver for few days then to San Francisco. Are you going to go to Hearst Castle? Once you have had a chance to browse the stores, keep heading south to Hermosa Beach Pier, where you can find additional shops and restaurants. In person, its absolutely massive! Before getting back on your California Coast drive, complete your time in Long Beach with dinner at one of the waterfronts restaurants. Entry is free, but rides are priced from $5-12. If youre exploring San Francisco and you want to get away from the city, but not too far away, the Lands End trail is the perfect place to go. Theres more than enough to keep you occupied in this sunny Southern California spot. For the second night I would go to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Great stop on your San Francisco to San Diego drive for: food, shopping, sightseeing, photography, entertainment, overnight stay, Suggested Hotel: $$$ The Ritz Carlton | $$ Hyatt Centric Fishermans Wharf, ~ 70 miles from San Francisco & ~ 487 miles from San Diego. The most scenic part is the one that goes along the coast, so most people skip the loop and just walk by the ocean, where you get the best views. The windmill outside Pea Soup Andersen's, a classic stop between Los Angeles and San Francisco.
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