Its one of the most scenic routes in the USA! Both hikes offer spectacular ocean views, and the opportunity to spot wildlife and birds. Do the San Francisco to LA road trip right and you'll end up on Ventura Beach, right in front of the pier. 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! So if youd like to visit it by getting out of your car, park elsewhere and take public transportation or a ride share to the bridge. If youre looking for a more luxurious beach experience during your drive, make sure you stop in Dana Point. What should I do with kids? Santa Barbara is one of the most iconic stops on a San Francisco to San Diego road trip. I haven't really even considered a driving route yet. If youre looking to stay a night in Pismo, check out the camping! Enjoy non-stop flights from San Francisco to San Diego with Alaska, Southwest, or United Airlines. The windmill outside Pea Soup Andersen's, a classic stop between Los Angeles and San Francisco. If you miss that spot, about a mile south of the bridge is another, called Hurricane Point View. What day has the lowest fares from San Francisco (SFO) to San Diego? With over 125 years of history, hosting the rich and famous, its an iconic hotel right on the beach. From the PCH, turn north on one of LA countys prettiest roads, Kanan-Dume, through the Santa Monica Mountain canyons. Better yet, youre in the Santa Ynez Valley which is also famous for its wine, so if youre a wine lover like us youll want to plan some wine tasting as well. Planning on sightseeing in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Its definitely a good idea to park your car and set up camp overlooking the gorgeous water and keep your cameras handy because this is easily one of the most photogenic beach cities youll come across. Driving straight through, its about 17 hours. Bookmark for later or share the love below on Pinterest! Recommended by Maria of San Diego Explorer follow on Instagram. Lots of nice motels/hotels and restaurants. San Francisco raced to a 10-0 . Youll also find small surfing waves for surf amateurs and amazing sea creatures to look for in the tide pools like sea urchins, starfish, sea anemones and so on. Recommended by Brittany of Travel by Brit follow on Pinterest. This artwork of a coastline offers many hiking trails and different beaches to explore. You are going to love it. 10. From beaches to hiking, shopping to wineries, this scenic drive will have you begging to come back for more! ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-46643717', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');San Diego then may goto La Jolla for the day or something. Suggested Hotel: Shore Hotel. Great stop on your San Francisco to San Diego drive for: beach, wine and dine, shopping, art galleries, overnight stay, ~ 146 miles from San Francisco & ~ 415 miles from San Diego. Our Go-To Gear Whew! You may be surprised to find out you cant actually reach the sign itself, films have portrayed this to be some hot and mysterious hang out spot sometimes. (I will be getting the train and bus) Amtrak e.t.c. 17. Youll find one-of-a-kind local spots that are simply delicious! Great stop on your San Francisco to San Diego drive for: beach bumming, dining, drinks, shopping, entertainment, overnight stay, ~ 429 miles from San Francisco & ~ 86 miles from San Diego. Whether youre road tripping solo, with your partner or as a family, this stop is a must-do along your drive. Youll find a wooden boardwalk overlooking the beach where you can walk or bike. Tons of opportunities abound for golfing, bicycling, tennis, hiking, horseback riding and scuba diving. San Francisco to San Diego Flights. I am not pushed for time as have a couple of months before I fly out of Chicago. Other great places to visit from San Diego include the Salton Sea, Palm Springs, and Temecula! Recommended by Francesca of Homeroom Travel follow on Instagram. For other sea life, a must-see is the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The OCairns Inn and Suites is a very affordable option that comes with a delicious breakfast and happy hour. Fishing is allowed from the pier and a handful of people set up their fishing poles to see what their catch of the day is. But be sure to check out the Pacific Coast Highway road trip itinerary at the end of this post for a suggested timeline! There are many nice places to stay between LA and SF: Santa Barbara, San Luis Opisbo, Pismo Beach, Cambria, Carmel/Monterey, Santa Cruz. Los Angeles is the most popular city on the route it's 2 hours from San Diego and 6 hours from San Francisco. Make sure to indulge in the foodie scene in Ventura. This lesser-known wine region, called the Santa Rita Hills contains over 60 wineries. . 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. 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! There is a wide variety of hotels to choose from in Laguna Beach as well. From 26 boutique hotels to luxury resorts like The Ranch Laguna Beach and Montage Laguna Beach, its easy to find the perfect fit regardless of your needs. http://www.cambriachamber.org/. Are you planning on driving Hiway 1 through Big Sur? This is such a great road trip! For the adults, there are tons of food and shopping options along the boardwalk as well! The purple sand Pfeiffer Beach is next, and you wont want to miss checking out the keyhole rock. The charming, laid-back coastal towns of Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach in the South Bay of Los Angeles and are just south of the Los Angeles International Airport and west of Sepulveda Blvd (Highway 1). If youre a movie buff, one of the small victorian houses right across from the pier might look familiar. Both viewpoints are worth visiting if you have the time! Theyre all great, what can we say. Posted on Published: May 16, 2022- Last updated: October 26, 2022. Gah!! Traveling from San Diego to San Francisco. Okay, exactly how excited are you for this trip? There are so many cool places I need to check out based on your list if I ever do the drive again! Help us by suggesting a value. The turn to the beach is on Sycamore Canyon Road. However, if youre lucky enough to see it during high tide, youll watch the water flow directly into the ocean. You can bike as well! 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. While youre visiting, you can check out the awesome downtown area. Flights from SFO to SAN are operated 34 times a week, with an average of 5 flights per day. Whether you have 2 days or 2 weeks to make the trip, youll love this California Coast road trip! You can even sign up for a guided surfing lesson if youre looking for some basic skills to get started. Privacy Policy & DisclosuresAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The Route. Eeek! Unfortunately, this area has seen dramatic droughts the last few years, resulting record-breaking wildfires. Sing along to the live weekend music while sipping a tasting flight, enjoying a glass of wine on the patio, or perusing all of the local wines available by the bottle. For a more in-depth wine tasting experience, take a break from the ocean and head for the hills. This little spot is a paradise full of amazing outdoor activities perfect for a day trip or a weekend getaway! This shows the stops we made from San Francisco to San Diego. Answer 1 of 10: Hi I am traveling alone just leaving Chicago and getting the Amtrak to Denver and then San Fran. One of the most iconic spots in SLO is the Guadalupe Nipomo Dunes, this spot is perfect for some camping, off-roading, or photography. Smog Check Star Certified San Diego. Add this amazing central coast beach to your San Francisco to San Diego road trip itinerary. Some would say you truly havent seen San Diego until youve seen it from the Torrey Pines trails. Its easy to get caught up in this romantic coastal town (I know I could have stayed for at least a week!) Heres another opportunity to visit a central coast beach, and if youre driving along PCH on your San Francisco to San Diego road trip, this beach will be a tough one to resist. For more activities, plan to take the coast route. The city is home to more than 20,000 beautiful acres of protected wilderness, making it ideal for hiking, biking and adventurous exploration. Santa Barbara is one of the places you'll want to spend time in when driving from San Diego to San Francisco. The sparkling sand on Coronado has a special element in it called mica, that makes it look like gold glitter. I travelled with Amtrak from SD to SF last year. Should I book Alcatraz tickets and Muir Woods parking permits in advance? Its 18 miles long, although you can hop on and off at various points very easily. Although the most iconic beach is Main Beach, there are many others that are a must see on your San Francisco to San Diego drive. Theres even a private tour (up to 6 people) that costs $1,000 per group. Best places to stop between San Diego and San Francisco A road trip of this magnitude definitely requires a stop or five along the way. The top stops along the way from Los Angeles to San Diego (with short detours) are Disneyland Park, La Jolla Cove, and Disney California Adventure Park. The highway technically starts in Washington state and ends in San Juan Capistrano (just south of the Laguna Beach stop on this itinerary). Or explore the huge variety of exhibits at the expansive Aquarium of the Pacific. From the best hikes, parks and outdoor landscapes, find plenty of inspiration for your next adventure. Carpinteria State Beach has many amenities for travelers to enjoy. In the spring and summertime youll see beautiful wildflowers, too! The San Francisco to San Diego drive is approximately 615 miles. One thing we love besides the beaches is that Laguna has always been an artsy town. These flights take off throughout both the day and evening and last about an hour and a half. Plan a little overnight staycation in Laguna Beach, because we bet you wont want to leave! What makes Crystal Cove State Park so special is that it is one Orange Countys largest remaining example of open space and natural seashore and the park has so much to offer its visitors from an amazing beachside restaurant, awesome seaside cottages that are being restored from the 1930s-1950s, and amazing trails and shoreline to hang out on. up the gorgeous rte 1 coastal road is Cambria our fave! If you want to make an adventure out of your San Diego to Grand Canyon road trip, then you've come to the right place. One of the most scenic places to visit in California is along the central coast. My favorites are comfortable enough for hiking yet perfect for the beach. The city of Oceansidehas gone through a extreme makeover in the past 2 decades from seedy military town to beach town gem. Theres also several cultural landmarks like Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, Bubblegum Alley and Fremont Theater. These stops are all amazing! My first visit to La Jolla, I did this amazing kayaking tour of the cove. 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. After you park, theres a short trail and steps down to the beach 101 to be exact! Dont skimp out on Muir Woods National Monument! Great stop on your San Francisco to San Diego drive for: beach, dining, drinks, shopping, overnight stay, Suggested Hotel: Kimpton Shorebreak Huntington Beach Resort, ~ 433 miles from San Francisco & ~ 65 miles from San Diego. You will spend the day in Santa Cruz and . If you want to ride a bunch, invest in a wristband for $45. The park offers guided hikes as well as tidepool walks and some geology lessons! This spot is where visitors can check out the fishing industry in Monterey and snag a cup of their delicious clam chowder. Santa Barbara is packed with museums, restaurants, wineries, and great shopping on the famous State Street where all the action is happening. Also, check out The Getty while youre in the neighborhood! Fun fact: a ferry got people across this waterway before the bridge was built. Tasting at the outdoor tables in front of their Tuscan-style barn provides sweeping views of the vineyards. Bixby Bridge is one of the tallest single-span concrete bridges in the world and is one of the most photographed bridges on the Pacific Coast, right after that other . These are some of the most popular and iconic surf shops in Southern California. Carmel-by-the-Sea is one impressive little village along the coast. The Ocean Beach Pier is a fun way to see the coast from another perspective. (I will be getting the train and bus) Amtrak e.t.c I was. Also plenty of nice hotels with weekday special rates, and good restaurants for all price ranges. Try the fresh seafood and clams. Getting from Yosemite Valley back to Merced will be easy. Pack a picnic lunch to enjoy in this gorgeous green space along the San Gabriel River. This is hands down one of thebest things to do in Big Sur. If youd rather stay out of the waves, theres plenty of shopping and dining to do in Huntington Beach! These spots are perfect for surfing and even shell finding! Oh, and prepare for a windy walk! Its a great spot to watch surfers catching the waves. Surfers can practice their skills catching the waves. Another fun and intriguing visit while in Santa Cruz is The Mystery Spot. The last thing you want to do is get lost or miss one of the great stops! Smog Pass Or Dont Pay San Diego. Youll find lots of restaurants and shops as you walk toward the end. You very likely could see gray, fin and humpback whales, dolphins and sea lions. The trail is dog friendly, so you can explore with your pup, as long as they are on leash! Some of the best things to do in Dana Point can be done while soaking up the sun, like laying on the sand, surfing, boating/fishing, or taking a whale watching tour! Congratulations, youve pretty much made it to San Diego! San Francisco to San Simeon itinerary, stop #9. And within Big Sur, the Bixby Creek Bridge is the spot for coastal views and scenic photographs. Oh cool Erin! Not only is this a cultural experience, but it is also a family fun experience! The town is great for strolling. Great stop on your San Francisco to San Diego drive for: beaches, food & drink, shopping, entertainment, overnight stay, Suggested Hotel: Waypoint Ventura Vintage Trailer Hotel & Campground, Day trip to the Channel Islands National Park, ~ 363 miles from San Francisco & ~ 187 miles from San Diego. You wont want to miss out on this beautiful Castle and all the history that lies within it including juicy old celebrity gossip and rumors! Known as the home of the U.S. Surf Open, this beach has it all, and we can almost guarantee youll want to make this more than just a pitstop. Be sure to check out the Pacific Coast Highway itinerary 7 days if youve got a week in the area. The best time of year for a San Francisco to San Diego road trip or San Diego to San Francisco road trip is pretty much year-round. If you were to travel the full 350-mile route, the trip would take a little over eight hours. 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