Winding from the beautiful pacific coast through the arid California desert and finally to the pine forests of Northern Arizona, the drive from San Diego to the Grand Canyon has a lot that is going for it. Anaheim is the most popular city on the route it's less than an hour from Los Angeles and 2 hours from San Diego. The Pacific Ocean is much cooler than the Atlantic and even in spring youll need a wet suit if you dare to go into the water. One of the areas top attractions is the Stearns Wharf. Oh, and prepare for a windy walk! Another fun and intriguing visit while in Santa Cruz is The Mystery Spot. Start your list of places to visit on highway 1 with " The City by the Bay." San Francisco is the best starting point for your Pacific Coast Highway road trip. However, there are 4 trains per day to choose from. Recommended by Rebecca of Veggies Abroad follow onInstagram. The surf is best in the morning before the wind picks up. 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! You can see the main Amtrak Stations and their bus service to other areas. Once to get to LA then you will have to use the local transport to get around. Carpinteria State Beach has many amenities for travelers to enjoy. Many visitors start their Pismo Beach day trip at the pier. Yes in the Us now in Chicago getting the Amtrak tomorrow to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Recommended by me Nikki of Inspired Routes. You can spend the rest of the day relaxing on the beach and admiring the gorgeous views or head back to North Manhattan Beach to return your bike. Its a short 10-15 minute ride south to Manhattan Beach Pier, where you can walk around and check out the cute shops. It's slow this time of year, so not as critical to buy tickets in advance. If you want to ride a bunch, invest in a wristband for $45. Before venturing out for a visit to Californias Big Sur, be prepared. Simply put, it defies logic as physics and gravity just dont make sense here! Book your perfect PCH car here. 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. This is a gorgeous beach with unique rock formations on and off the coast and is also a State Park. What day has the lowest fares from San Francisco (SFO) to San Diego? Often hosting music events, street performers and festivals, Ocean Beach a fun place to go for an afternoon at the beach. You can walk around and look for sand dollars. From the beach, there is an amazing view of mountains, palm trees and the Channel Islands. Getting from Yosemite Valley back to Merced will be easy. It was restored in 1995 and offers tours! Youll see gorgeous views of the ocean, the rugged coastline, and youll get a chance to explore a secluded beach all without leaving the city! Theres usually a line out the door, so you know its delicious! San Francisco. One of our favorite places EVER is off the coast of Southern California. Other popular stops include LEGOLAND California, SeaWorld San Diego, and California Science Center. This is the hidden gem along Big Sur you were looking for! With over 125 years of history, hosting the rich and famous, its an iconic hotel right on the beach. 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. The city is permanently prone to earthquakes due to its location on the San Andreas Fault so that you won't see many skyscrapers. Then return to San Francisco and head down to San Diego with few stops inbetween to stay with a friend. Long Beach is famously the home of theR.M.S. Theres a bunch of photos and newspaper articles displaying the history of the sport, too. It is truly a trip to be remembered. Theres more than enough to keep you occupied in this sunny Southern California spot. I'm so glad you included it. Any other opinions and are there any hidden gems? There you can take a leisurely walk along the winding pathways, feed the koi, and relax at the Zen Garden. The highlight of the pier is Pacific Park, the amusement park with numerous carnival games and rides. One of the best things about San Francisco to San Diego road trip is that the variety is endless. The purple sand Pfeiffer Beach is next, and you wont want to miss checking out the keyhole rock. Ticket prices start at $30 for adults and $15 for children. A cute little town nestled along the coast, Santa Cruz is a great spot to stop for food, shopping and adventure. Its a fascinating place for hiking and one that simply begs to be explored! Theres even a private tour (up to 6 people) that costs $1,000 per group. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-46622497', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');car as I am traveling on my own not feasible but will get train and bus so can look into your advice. Lompoc is a great stop to spend the night as well because hotels are pretty affordable and way cheaper than Santa Barbara. Once to get to LA then you will have to use the local transport to get around. Make sure to check out some of the 200+ wineries during your visit! See the historic surfboards and imagine yourself up on this much heavier version of todays surfboard! What are good day trips? The town is great for strolling. Note: there is a $10 per car fee to enter the park. This beach town is one of the little gems of Southern California along your San Francisco to San Diego drive. When you stop in La Jolla on a San Francisco to San Diego road trip, theres a variety of things to do. I'm here to help you enjoy the outdoors! Yes Shannon! Great stop on your San Francisco to San Diego drive for: beach break, shopping, entertainment, wine and dine, overnight stay, ~ 242 miles from San Francisco & ~ 298 miles from San Diego. Youre in for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure! Stop by the harbor for Fish and Chips in Oceanside (where I live), visit LEGOLAND, go to SeaWorld, stop by the zoo, experience the tide pools . 3500 Mt. Its a surfers paradise and the vibe of laid back SoCal beach town can be felt around the city. During your visit check out one of the eight championship golf courses or some of the other amazing places to beach, hike, bike, shop, exercise, and more. Do you have any SFO layover or dining recommendations? If you were to travel the full 350-mile route, the trip would take a little over eight hours. You could spend an hour here or an afternoon, depending on how much time you have to make the PCH drive. Its literally the perfect stop on this epic California Coast drive! There are three different trails that range from easy to difficult! Lands End Trail is a 3.4 mile loop, but there are several options for parking, and you can make it a shorter out and back trail if you want. These spots are perfect for surfing and even shell finding! Travel Guides It will be my husband, self and 16 year old daughter. Of course, surrounded by the beautiful hills of the Santa Inez Valley, youre in wine country! Find United Airlines cheap flights from San Diego to San Francisco. Im so excited for you to start this adventure! Capitola. Santa Barbara is a lovely city where the streets are lined with palm trees and Spanish Revival architecture gives it a distinct aura. Lands End trail is close to the city and not too difficult for most people. Amtrak is the one and only train line which connects San Francisco to San Diego. This is another spot you wont want to miss on your San Francisco to San Diego road trip. 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! Visitors and even drivers on highway 1 can still see zebras grazing along the estate on occasion. California has some of the best weather in North America, with Southern California having some of the most ideal and temperate temperatures year-round averaging 70 degrees Fahrenheit. 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. Parking can be a bit of a challenge, but park your car and walk the coastal path for not only gorgeous views, but also entertainment from the local sea lions who have claimed the area as their own! 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! If youre a surfer, you should grab a board and head out to catch a few waves in Manhattan Beach. What's halfway between LA and San Diego? But the question on many people& Postcard TRAIN SCENE Between Los Angeles & San Francisco California CA AK8914 . You will need to make reservations to park your car on the way. This central coast is a magnificent escape for those travelers looking for a paradise. Where should my family (of 5) stay? One of the must-see attractions in the town is the windmills. Lompoc is located about an hour northwest of Santa Barbara. One Stop Auto Service Center. This one square mile town is easy to get around by foot and by car! Its amusement park right along the beach is perfect for classic rides and fair food. Fun fact: a ferry got people across this waterway before the bridge was built. 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. For a more in-depth wine tasting experience, take a break from the ocean and head for the hills. In addition to the famous redwoods, the park offers gorgeous waterfalls, views of the Pacific Ocean, over 80 miles of trails, a variety of animals roaming the park, and much more. With a total length of 1942 feet, this wooden pier is the longest over-water pier on the West Coast. I recommend that for Day 1 on the road you aim to get from San Francisco to Monterey where you will stay over night. As you enter San Francisco you drive along the esteemed Golden Gate Bridge. Your next stop will be Point Lobos Natural Reserve, where you can enjoy hiking, a rocky coastline perfect for exploring, and youll have a good chance of spotting some seals or sea lions hanging out on the coast. Having a backup paper map and directions is also essential as wi-fi and cell service is scarce along Big Sur. Combine that with the Danish architecture, and the young and old will love to see the interesting buildings in the town! Coming in at 2.3 miles and rated as easy, youll get beautiful beach views. Garrapata State Park is next, where you can enjoy hiking trails along both sandy beaches and redwoods. The top cities between Seattle and San Diego are San Francisco, Los Angeles, Anaheim, Portland, Monterey, Greater Palm Springs, Yosemite National Park, Santa Barbara, Santa Monica, and Carlsbad. And you should absolutely not do it. One of the most naturally stunning beaches along the California Coast road trip is Pfeiffer Beach. Year-round you can take a whale watching tour and witness the magic of these giant creatures! This beach city is also located in Orange County, California and is overflowing with experiences by the oceanside. Seal Beach ~ 409 miles from San Francisco & ~ 102 miles from San Diego. Avila Beach offers everything from shopping, golfing with an oceanfront view, farmers markets, spas, and so much more. And it doesnt get any better than sunsets at Crescent Bay Point Park or Heisler Park. Los Angeles: brace yourself for traffic. Suggested Hotel: Cottages for overnight use you need to book well in advance or call to see if they have any cancellations during your visit. up the gorgeous rte 1 coastal road is Cambria our fave! 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. Many restaurants have outdoors dining in the summertime, which is honestly just perfect. Theres so many things to do in Monterey that you could spend a whole weekend visiting the city! (I will be getting the train and bus) Amtrak e.t.c I was. In person, its absolutely massive! The third meeting of the season between the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks is headed for a tense second half, with the latter leading 17-14 at halftime. Lets recap the list one more time, in a more succinct manner, Related content you might like: 33 Cool and Unique Things to Do in Big Sur Youll Love. Stop at the long-standing Pezzini Farms outpost in Castroville to pick up some fresh artichokes, or even a whole artichoke plant! . Free shipping . Its the perfect spot to go for a walk, watch the surfers and pier fishermen and simply sit back and listen to the crashing of the waves. Feel free to spend your entire day or overnight exploring Dana Point! One stop not to be missed is definitely Coronado. Recommended by Anwar of Beyond My Door follow on Instagramif(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'inspiredroutes_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_1',182,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-inspiredroutes_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0'); The little seaside village of Cambria makes for a delightful stop on a California Coast drive. San Francisco to San Simeon itinerary, stop #9. There are many excellent restaurants in the city, such as Wrench & Rodent Seabasstropub, which is renown for their Omikase all over San Diego county. Feel free to take a drive across the 2-mile long bridge or rent a bike from one of the bike rentals in the area. We love hiking, biking, sightseeing, etc. http://www.amtrak.com is a great resource to help you and decide where you want to stop and see. Road trip from Vancouver, B.C. For parking, the easiest lot to get to is 1-North, which is at the base of the pier and accessible along PCH. Great stop on your San Francisco to San Diego drive for: beach, entertainment, food, boutique shopping, ~ 417 miles from San Francisco & ~ 96 miles from San Diego. With abundant kelp beds and plenty of sea life, Laguna Beach is a divers paradise. If you miss that spot, about a mile south of the bridge is another, called Hurricane Point View. Other aspects that make this little beach town so great are the delicious food spots and wine tasting points, the nearly 100 art galleries, The Carmel Mission, and more. Smog Check Star Station San Diego. Are you planning on driving Hiway 1 through Big Sur? Its completely off limits due to the fragile nature of the cliffs. Nearby, you can find Montana de Pro State Park, one of Californias largest state parks that is a postcard perfect destination with gorgeous beaches and blooming flowers during spring. Sunset is a great time to do these walks. Since its completion in 1932, travelers have been stopping to see the iconic bridge. If youre up for a hike, the Pacific Valley Bluff Trail is one worth taking. However, if you want to see all the highlights along the Pacific Coast Highway, you should aim to spend at least 10 days driving between the two cities. Stop by a few of the gorgeous beaches in this area like Swamis Beach or Moonlight Beach. Lunch in Ventura, Central California. Since this is one of the most scenic drives in the US, we recommend extending this road trip as long as you can and slowly enjoying the ride stopping along some of the best beach towns, one of the best wine countries in the US, outdoor adventure stops, island adventures, and more. Stop for pictures, do a little beach combing or enjoy a picnic by the ocean. Lots of nice motels/hotels and restaurants. Are you going north on highway 1, or is it 101 or maybe 5 or 99? Most people spend 1-2 days here. If youre planning a road trip along the gorgeous California Pacific Coast Highway you really need to plan to make Pebble Beach one of your road trips stops. Encinitas offers one of the most beautiful drives down PCH, the transition from Carlsbad, California to this adorable little beach town is one of the most soothing drives in the country. Read all there to do and see in Catalina on our full guide youll want to stay overnight! By now youve seen so much! Sometimes there are even dolphins splashing in the distance. 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. Youll feel the sensational gravitational pull on your body while you visit. Many travel insurance plans also coverCollision Damage Waiver (CDW) coverage up to $35,000. The park offers guided hikes as well as tidepool walks and some geology lessons! Before you visit, dogs are not allowed, and there is an entrance fee of $10 per car. Dont miss the famous Crystal Cove Shake Shack either for one of their amazing milkshakes, their date shake is the most famous! The last thing you want to do is get lost or miss one of the great stops! Located just south of Los Angeles, Long Beach feels like its worlds away with walkable streets, a pretty waterfront full of shops and eateries and a laid-back seaside vibe. I live in the coastal town of Morro Bay (15 miles north of SLO) where you can get smoked oysters fresh cooked at the Embarcadero, rent kayaks to paddle around in the protected inner harbor, go out whale watching, hike Montana de Oro state park or watch the surfers and walk on the beach. This post may contain affiliate links. Surfers can hit the waves on any of the more than 30 beaches in Laguna Beach. It houses over 100 animals and species and costs $10 for adults and kids, and $8 for students, seniors and military. Carmel Beach offers a great surfing spot as well as some scenic routes to run or hike along the beach. Work With Us, Destinations Pebble Beach is located between Monterey and Carmel and offers out-of-this-world views of the ocean, legendary golf courses and 17 miles of amazing coastline. You can also visit Dunes Beach, which has equally gorgeous views of the shoreline and soft sand. San Francisco to San Diego Road Trip Tips, Renting a Car for Your San Francisco to San Diego Road Trip, Scenic Stops on Your San Francisco to San Diego Drive, Waypoint Ventura Vintage Trailer Hotel & Campground, Kimpton Shorebreak Huntington Beach Resort, There are picnic tables for a meal looking over the Pacific Ocean, Its a very popular spot in the summertime, Shopping at Third Street Promenade and Santa Monica Place, Nightlife at rooftops, night clubs, and dive bars. See all the best things to do in Laguna Beach in our full guide! Between wine tastings, art galleries, sunsets along the beach its a dreamy destination without the huge crowds! These unique ecosystems are filled with snails, slugs, barnacles, mussels, crustaceans, sea stars, anemone, urchins and more just waiting to be discovered. Plan a little overnight staycation in Laguna Beach, because we bet you wont want to leave! It's such a gorgeous drive. How far is it from San Diego to San Francisco It is a little over 500 miles or 800 km from San Diego to San Francisco on the fastest route which is Interstate 5. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in Canada. Newport each definitely exemplifies the luxurious beach lifestyle. Although its currently closed pending potential restoration, visitors can still get up close to the ship at the cruise port. San Diego, port and city, seat (1850) of San Diego county, southern California, U.S. San Francisco and San Diego make great ends for the road trip. Carmel has some of the best boutiques, specialty shops, and markets that youll find along your San Francisco to San Diego drive. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Were sure you wont be in any rush to leave this amazing little town that was the star of the movie Sideways. Visitors today can experience some of the grandeur of the house and see many of these sites described above. In addition to these two shops, there are many boutiques, souvenir shops, and more to check out! If youre on Main Street theres a couple of places you wont want to miss! Its honestly surreal and doesnt feel like youre in California, let alone the US. Once at the beach, during low tide the beach is wide and expansive. One thing we love besides the beaches is that Laguna has always been an artsy town. While youre here, check out all of the delicious Danish pastries, the adorable shops and boutiques, the Solvang trolley, and some of the best wine in the area! READ MORE: What to Know, Expect and Do Before Your . Also, make sure you have a good Pacific Coast Highway map, whether it is on your phone, or on good ol' fashioned paper! From San Diego, the most direct way to get to Los Angeles is to drive north on I-5. This small beach town is perfect for parking it on the sand and sunbathing, surfing, and swimming. Do the San Francisco to LA road trip right and you'll end up on Ventura Beach, right in front of the pier. 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. This lively spot offers flights, glasses, bottles, and cases of their 2 wine brands: Rosenthal and Surfrider. Bundle up for a bonfire on the sand with your crew. For other sea life, a must-see is the Monterey Bay Aquarium. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-15946836', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');California beach town, while Cambria is a hamlet nestled in pine trees next to the sea. a very cute town on the coast. The 550-mile road trip from San Francisco to San Diego takes around 9 hours 30 minutes to drive, depending on which route you take. The city's classic Spanish architecture, agreeable climate, and hilly seaside location mimic many . Fly into San Francisco, rent a car and drive to San Diego, where youll fly back out. From this bridge, you can overlook the beautiful sea and rolling valleys. The area boasts miles of beautiful, clean beaches with pools, coves and caves that visitors can explore.
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