Tons of opportunities abound for golfing, bicycling, tennis, hiking, horseback riding and scuba diving. Were almost to San Diego! But be sure to check out the Pacific Coast Highway road trip itinerary at the end of this post for a suggested timeline! (Venice is in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? This beautiful beach town is the perfect spot for an action-packed visit. Obviously you can check out the coast for some awesome beaches and some surf opportunities. Newport Beach is an amazing beach spot with an endless supply of amazing things to do which will nicely complement your San Francisco to San Diego road trip. The most popular tourist attraction is the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Recommended by Alanna of Periodic Adventures follow on Instagram. It's almost dead even between L.A. and (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Step away from the coastline a little bit to get one of the most iconic landmarks in California, the Hollywood sign. Honestly, most of the year is great for this amazing road trip. Another one of our favorite places in Southern California to add to your San Francisco to San Diego road trip or San Diego to San Francisco road trip is Crystal Cove State Park. Home to 4 beautiful miles of beaches, Half Moon Bay should absolutely be on your list of things to do on a California coast road trip! Also in the village, there are numerous quality restaurants, as well as wine tasting and cold brews. For a lighter hike try the Torrey Pines Beach Trail Loop. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-46643178', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');CALIFORNIA and then have a few places you want to see. Especially since you should be taking tons of photos to remember the first stop along your San Francisco to San Diego drive! 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. In addition to these nature adventures, SLO has much to offer when it comes to dining and wine tasting. Santa Barbara is one of the most iconic stops on a San Francisco to San Diego road trip. Its somewhere you must stop on your PCH road trip and on everyLos Angeles itinerary! There's ground transportation service from each terminal to take you to your plane. Youll get stunning views of Sand Dollar Beach and the surrounding Big Sur area. The possibilities are endless on the island in and out of the water. Since its close to the Pacific Ocean, there is a marine layer which keeps the environment moist and encourages plant growth. Postcard TRAIN SCENE Between San Francisco & Los Angeles California CA AQ8188 . After lunch, you can wander Hermosa Beach, browsing the local merchandise. The State Park has 3.2 miles of beach, 2,400 acres of wilderness, and an offshore water area. Travel Guides Traveling with FlixBus isn't just quick, it's cheap too. 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. Or any unique places also. 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. Its located in the downtown area where there is easy access to the beach to sunbathe or swim. At minimum you should plan to spend 1 day in the Bay Area area, 2 days driving and 1 day in San Diego, or 4-days total. Pro tip: I know youre driving for this epic road trip. During the spring and summertime, many of the flower fields are also in bloom. Other fun things to do in Lompoc include La Purisima Mission State Historic Park, which is dedicated to the Spanish mission of the area. 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. Many travel insurance plans also coverCollision Damage Waiver (CDW) coverage up to $35,000. Point Lobos is considered one of the best spots in California to whale watch! Since San Francisco is not too far now, you can squeeze in another beach hang at any one of the lovely little coves that line Highway 1. Should I book Alcatraz tickets and Muir Woods parking permits in advance? What an iconic sight in the USA the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge! Make sure while youre there to explore all the different vantage points of viewing the Golden Gate Bridge. My first visit to La Jolla, I did this amazing kayaking tour of the cove. The journey time between San Diego and San Francisco is around 14h 29m and covers a distance of around 580 miles. Otherwise youll be good mid-late summer to early fall. Getting from Yosemite Valley back to Merced will be easy. An artists dream, Laguna beach has quaint shops, art galleries and restaurants. San Francisco To San Diego Road Trip Factfile. San Francisco. 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. Copyright 2022 | Inspired Routes | All Rights Reserved, 33 Cool and Unique Things to Do in Big Sur Youll Love, Lunch, shopping or The Mystery Spot at Santa Cruz, Quick stop at Pebble Beach for the sunrise or a morning stroll, Whale watch or hiking at Point Lobos State Reserve, Drive the winding roads to see Bixby Creek Bridge, Stroll the boardwalk and dinner in Cambria, Take a walk downtown or visit the butterflies in Pismo Beach, Go wine tasting and visit the flower fields in Lompoc, Lunch in Solvang and walk around, admiring the architecture, Beach time in Santa Barbara or grab your Insta-worthy shots at the Funk Zone, Catch a sunrise or watch the surfers at Carpinteria State Beach, Hit the beach or amusement park at the Santa Monica Pier, Grab an early dinner in Long Beach, then choose an outdoor activity to round your day, Breakfast and shopping in Huntington Beach, Catch a festival or hit the beach at Laguna Beach, Walk the famous pier and grab lunch in Oceanside, Watch the sea lions and dinner in La Jolla. Enjoy a San Diego to San Francisco modern flight experience in premium cabins with Wi-Fi. Avila Beach offers everything from shopping, golfing with an oceanfront view, farmers markets, spas, and so much more. Transportation, dining, activities, and accommodations in San Francisco can be pricier than in San Diego, according to travel guide and news site Champion Traveler with the average cost of a week-long trip to the former around $2,200 . 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. Make sure to check out the Seal Beach Pier, it is the second-longest pier in California and offers free fishing! Francis Beach is the main beach with the most amenities, and is actually part of the Half Moon Bay State Beach Campground. Entry is free, but rides are priced from $5-12. Other great places to visit from San Diego include the Salton Sea, Palm Springs, and Temecula! 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. Plan a little overnight staycation in Laguna Beach, because we bet you wont want to leave! A visit to these neighboring beach towns quickly reveals why they are considered a hidden gem. Book your perfect PCH car here. Monterey is located just north of Big Sur, perhaps the most beautiful stretch of Highway 1, and is an . This includes an average layover time of around 1h 29m. A cute little town nestled along the coast, Santa Cruz is a great spot to stop for food, shopping and adventure. Fascinating! Then return to San Francisco and head down to San Diego with few stops inbetween to stay with a friend. Then, the beach has miles of white sand. It's such a gorgeous drive. Visitors can easily lose track of time while spending an afternoon exploring these cute towns or soaking up some rays on the wide soft sandy beaches. Great stop on your San Francisco to San Diego drive for: catching waves, beach, shopping, art galleries, food, overnight stay, Suggested Hotel: Pantai Inn also check out these La Jolla Hotels for more options, ~ 506 miles from San Francisco & ~ 6.5 miles from San Diego. The possibilities are endless in The Crown City of Southern California. Hey! The turn to the beach is on Sycamore Canyon Road. Theres so many things to do in Monterey that you could spend a whole weekend visiting the city! Get on the water during a kayaking tour to see the shore and wildlife like dolphins and seals. Avila also offers plenty of opportunities to get active during your San Francisco to San Diego road trip! This is another spot you wont want to miss on your San Francisco to San Diego road trip. Recommended by Jackie & Justin of Life Of Doing follow on Facebookif(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'inspiredroutes_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_0',183,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-inspiredroutes_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0'); Not many people have heard of Lompoc, California, but it is a seriously underrated stop on a PCH road trip! Southwest Airlines is a popular option, with no baggage or change fees. While youre checking out the waters, make sure you stop at the famous Morro Rock, which is a remarkable volcanic plug at the entrance of the Morro Bay harbor. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-46624666', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Yosemite via public transit: tripadvisor.com/Travel-g61000-c151758. Pinos Way . Once at the beach, during low tide the beach is wide and expansive. Fun fact: Carmel-by-the-Sea doesnt have any chain restaurants. It has the feeling of many of the old royal estates from Europe and beyond. The distance between San Francisco and Los Angeles on the Pacific Coast Highway is roughly 500 miles. Point Lobos is teeming with activity throughout the year in April and May, visitors may catch a glimpse of Harbor Seal pups as these 2 months are affectionately known as pupping season. This is a must-see when driving along Highway 1. Better yet, one of our favorite things to do in San Luis Obispo is stay at the eccentric Madonna Inn which loves the color pink and each hotel room is uniquely themed from bright pink glitter walls to cave rooms built into actual rocky terrain. It has so much to offer all the California road trippers. You will depart from San Francisco International Airport and will land at San Diego International Airport. These next few stops are just begging to be explored! 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! The most prominent feature is this mega rock along the coast called Keyhole Rock. Wine lovers can tour area wineries for tastings with views. Located in the Los Padres National Forest, Sand Dollar Beach requires a parking fee (#worthit). Its amusement park right along the beach is perfect for classic rides and fair food. Stroll the wooden boardwalk above the snow-white beach of Spanish Bay going North or South as you begin your day. Los Angeles is the most popular city on the route it's 2 hours from San Diego and 6 hours from San Francisco. San Francisco to San Simeon itinerary, stop #9. 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 area has attracted all kinds of people but it especially caters to those art lovers, beachgoers, and fine diners. 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. Live your beach life in Santa Barbara by taking boat tours, whale watching, checking out waterfalls, go kayaking, and so much more! ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-46614611', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Denver and then San Fran. See the historic surfboards and imagine yourself up on this much heavier version of todays surfboard! 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. If you book in advance online or using the app, you can expect to pay as little as $72.99 for a ticket between San Diego and San Francisco, , but prices . Pack a picnic lunch to enjoy in this gorgeous green space along the San Gabriel River. , 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. What an action-packed week, right? Make sure to stop in and grab yourself a souvenir. It is illegal to harass, touch or feed the seals, so please be respectful. In the summer, this is one of the hottest beach towns in all of California. If youre looking to stay a night in Pismo, check out the camping! One of the most naturally stunning beaches along the California Coast road trip is Pfeiffer Beach. Halfway Point Between San Diego, CA and San Francisco, CA If you want to meet halfway between San Diego, CA and San Francisco, CA or just make a stop in the middle of your trip, the exact coordinates of the halfway point of this route are 35.561790 and -119.600899, or 35 33' 42.444" N, 119 36' 3.2364" W. San Francisco, CA. I'll share guides to help you plan an epic road trip, check the next adventure off your bucket list and explore amazing places you've gotta see to believe! There are so many Big Sur hiking trails, and these are definitely worth checking out. You can walk around and look for sand dollars. Heres a brief overview of Big Sur well dive into more detail of our favorite spots in a bit! The city's classic Spanish architecture, agreeable climate, and hilly seaside location mimic many . Theres even a private tour (up to 6 people) that costs $1,000 per group. Of course being a beach town, you know theres one of those to visit, too. Outdoor enthusiasts are in for a treat on a visit to Long Beach! If you want to add a bit of adventure, you can easily plan a multi-day camping trip on the islands as well. Recommended by Francesca of Homeroom Travel follow on Instagram. If you want some great beach views, this is a must see on your San Francisco to San Diego road trip. The best viewpoint is from the Overlook Trail to McWay Falls. Alternatively, you may use. Find United Airlines cheap flights from San Diego to San Francisco. Road Trip: California Pacific Coast Highway Road Numbers: CA-1 and US-101. 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. This spot is located in the Santa Ynez Valley of California and is very recognizable due to its windmill and other Danish-style architecture. There are also alternate routes you could take for this trip, but we recommend the beautiful and scenic Pacific Coast Highway or Highway 1 for this road trip of a lifetime! Dana Point, also known as The Whale Watching Capital of the West will provide visitors with an incredible oceanic experience along your San Francisco to San Diego road trip or San Diego to San Francisco road trip.

How Did Caroline Hutchison Die, Value Of Emirates Skywards Miles, Is Smite Better Than Sharpness In Hypixel Skyblock,