Hearst famously used this home as a popular getaway for him and all his celebrity friends in the 1920s as an escape complete with a private airstrip, zoo and animal collection, as well as impressive entertainment options that would make you want to be a part of his entourage in the roaring 20s. 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. See here: http://tinyurl.com/c3nazz, P.S. It's also a popular destination where Hollywood celebrities and socialites hang out. The average train journey between these two cities takes 13 hours and 56 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 13 hours and 20 minutes. 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. 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. San Diego to San Francisco by tram, bus and subway. If youre traveling in an RV or have camping equipment, look into planning a night of beach camping in Newport Beach! 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). Nothing beats the San Diego beaches, La Jolla combines classy yet casual into the perfect beach city to visit on your San Francisco to San Diego road trip. Pro tip: I always search for discounts on rental cars, and often times save 10-30% using Discover Cars. Drive by Brushy Peak Regional Preserve, Anthony Chabot Regional Park, and Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park, then drive through Oakland and cross the San Francisco - Oakland Bay Bridge to get to San Francisco. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-46642389', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Santa Barbara was one of the strategically easier options for a lay over, it cost an extra $50US to do but it was worth it, Santa B is really pretty. The best time for a road trip for cruising along the coast is easily May through October and August through September if youre looking to swim in the ocean. Recommended by Maria of San Diego Explorer follow on Instagram. 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. Now that were through with all 32 stops on this route, heres a week-long suggested itinerary for this epic adventure! This post may contain affiliate links. While youre in the area, check out the luxurious Pebble Beach. Smog Check Star Station San Diego. 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! 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 . Is San Diego north or south of LA? In addition to these nature adventures, SLO has much to offer when it comes to dining and wine tasting. Especially since you should be taking tons of photos to remember the first stop along your San Francisco to San Diego drive! Encinitas has a variety of calm and quiet beaches along with cute coffee spots, restaurants, and tons of surf/antique shops. Whether youre road tripping solo, with your partner or as a family, this stop is a must-do along your drive. For more info, see mydisclosures. I'm here to help you enjoy the outdoors! Spend a day or a few exploring the nearby wineries and beautiful landscapes, Santa Barbara will not disappoint. I like the other posters recommend SLO or Morro Bay or maybe Cayucos if you want a quiet base from which to explore. Get up close to the areas marine life on a harbor cruise. This area is also known for family fun activities like surfing, kayaking, sailing, paddle boarding, and golfing on their top rated golf course, Coronados Public Golf Course. (I will be getting the train and bus) Amtrak e.t.c. Lets keep the sights and adventure going! ~ 73 miles from San Francisco & ~ 461 miles from San Diego. Theres usually a line out the door, so you know its delicious! Just south of Cambria is California Highway 46, lined with lots of wineries: without venturing too far inland, you can still find several options for tastings. One of the must-see attractions in the town is the windmills. From December May, watch carefully for water spouts in the ocean, marking the migration of gray whales on their way to feed in the Alaskan waters. This lively spot offers flights, glasses, bottles, and cases of their 2 wine brands: Rosenthal and Surfrider. Technically located about 20 minutes north of San Francisco, its such a great stop along the coast it simply couldnt be skipped. Partington cove Pacific coast Highway 1 stop #10. Its somewhere you must stop on your PCH road trip and on everyLos Angeles itinerary! This shows the stops we made from San Francisco to San Diego. While visiting the city of San Diego don't miss two must-see spots; Balboa Park and La Jolla Beach. Its honestly surreal and doesnt feel like youre in California, let alone the US. You very likely could see gray, fin and humpback whales, dolphins and sea lions. You say you have been to CA or CALIFORNIA and then have a few places you want to see. Try the fresh seafood and clams. You will need to make reservations to park your car on the way. There are tons of great restaurants to check out with amazing oceanfront views. There are many excellent restaurants in the city, such as Wrench & Rodent Seabasstropub, which is renown for their Omikase all over San Diego county. Planning on sightseeing in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Seal Beach ~ 409 miles from San Francisco & ~ 102 miles from San Diego. The highlight of the pier is Pacific Park, the amusement park with numerous carnival games and rides. 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. Regardless of your fitness level, youll find a trail or 2 that are perfect for a stroll along the coast. If youre up for a walk, the Monterey Bay Coastal Recreational Trail is the perfect adventure! Its a short stop on the road trip, but one you absolutely cannot miss. Avila also offers plenty of opportunities to get active during your San Francisco to San Diego road trip! Add in a gorgeous sunset and youve got an amazing spot to sit and watch the sun dip below the horizon! Great stop on your San Francisco to San Diego drive for: hiking, exercise, photography, and the best viewpoints in Los Angeles, ~ 381 miles from San Francisco & ~ 135 miles from San Diego. You can avoid it by parking on the road and hiking into the reserve. Great stop on your San Francisco to San Diego drive for: beach, wine and dine, entertainment, shopping, overnight stay, ~ 297 miles from San Francisco & ~ 248 miles from San Diego. If you need surfing lessons, there are plenty of options for that as well. Recommended by Dhara of Roadtripping California follow on Facebook. 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. While youre visiting Torrey Pines, keep in mind that is only open during the day time, there is nowhere to purchase food or drink, no pets are allowed, and there are guided tours available! ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-15936892', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Carmel/Monterey? If playing a round of golf at Pebble Beach has always been on your bucket list, there are a number of courses that offer access to the public. We love hiking, biking, sightseeing, etc. If youre looking for great shopping, stop by the Fashion Island mall or head to downtown Newport Beach or Balboa Island. Big Sur is a 90 mile stretch of highway that runs parallel to the Pacific Ocean, with many beaches and parks to stop at for stunning views and relaxing walks along the beach. 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. The last stop between San Diego and San Francisco. 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. This lesser-known wine region, called the Santa Rita Hills contains over 60 wineries. 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! Pismo Beach was known as a clam capital, and in the past, people could harvest clams on the beach. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Spending some time on these islands are a great escape from reality. But in Southern California, theres a phenomenon called June Gloom where theres daily cloudy and overcast skies as well as cooler than normal temperatures. Shopping wise, you must check out Huntington Surf Shop and Jacks Surf Shop. Amtrak Pacific Surfliner offers twelve daily round-trip journeys between San Diego and Los Angeles. Make sure to indulge in the foodie scene in Ventura. The drive on the California Pacific Coast Highway is an absolute gem, and one that begs to be explored. For a fun way to experience Solvang, take a pedicab tour to see the sights! There you can take a leisurely walk along the winding pathways, feed the koi, and relax at the Zen Garden. However, I would not recommend the trip without at least one additional overnight. The purple sand is from manganese garnet that washes down the mountainside after it rains. Pismo Beach, which is close by, is a good alternative. The Cielo Chardonnay blend, Honey Pie, is their most popular wine, and the reds are some of the best in the area. Start your day with breakfast in North Manhattan Beach at North End Caffe, Fishbar, or Local Yolk. From the beach, there is an amazing view of mountains, palm trees and the Channel Islands. Otherwise youll be good mid-late summer to early fall. Its one of the nicest beaches on the coast since it has a lot to offer to adventure travelers. 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! The possibilities are endless on the island in and out of the water. The carousel costs $3 per person. Recommended by Lesley of Bucket List Publications follow on Instagram. This waterfall hike reminds me of the best waterfalls in Glacier National Park its so picturesque! Plan a Catalina Island day trip, or better yet an overnight trip to visit the beautiful island on your San Francisco to San Diego road trip. The best way to do this trip is from north to south so you can be closer to the coast as you drive. Traveling with FlixBus isn't just quick, it's cheap too. This is one of the best stops on your San Francisco to San Diego drive or San Diego to San Francisco drive if you have a love for nature and history! In the spring and summertime youll see beautiful wildflowers, too! Traveling from San Diego to San Francisco. . Also plenty of nice hotels with weekday special rates, and good restaurants for all price ranges. Visit this historic California State Park and museum to the art displayed from all over the world. The walks are easy and family-friendly. Both viewpoints are worth visiting if you have the time! Of course being a beach town, you know theres one of those to visit, too. My first visit to La Jolla, I did this amazing kayaking tour of the cove. For a calmer, more relaxed ocean experience at Laguna Beach, there are protected tide pools. What are good day trips? I was thinking Santa Barbara, Hermosa Beach, Santa MonicaLa Jolla. Dont miss the famous Hotel del Coronado either while youre here! 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. The most popular peak among hikers is Bishop Peak, a 3.5-mile round-trip hike thats considered moderate. Bobo & Chichi are participants in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites., 2022 All Work is Owned by Bobo & ChiChi. Its a fantastic stopover on a San Francisco to San Diego road trip, known for the endless beaches, outdoor activities, delicious seafood and warm weather. Gah!! Pismo Beach has much to offer, like many of the other central beach towns weve covered. Tons of opportunities abound for golfing, bicycling, tennis, hiking, horseback riding and scuba diving. A few great beaches and stops along the way include San Gregorio Beach, the Pillar Point Harbor (and Sam's Chowder House for some classic seafood), Mavericks Beach, and the Point Montara Lighthouse. Youll feel the sensational gravitational pull on your body while you visit. Also, check out The Getty while youre in the neighborhood! You will see grapevines on the hills, and at the intersection of Mulholland Highway, Cielo Winery will be on your right. See here: http://tinyurl.com/bd4hqd, If you need to save time, stick to the freeway through LA, and after Monterey take SR 156 east to US 101 north to SR 85 north to I-280 north. Is (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? 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! It might be a good idea to plan ahead before driving into Los Angeles. Best places to stop between San Fran and San Diego? Surfers can hit the waves on any of the more than 30 beaches in Laguna Beach. 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 . ~ 0 miles from San Francisco & ~ 520 miles from San Diego. Huntington Beach is a must-see on your San Francisco to San Diego road trip, also Scotts hometown! If you're a fan of the outdoors, then you might want to make a stop at Joshua Tree National Park. Huntington Beach also offers one of the beach farmers markets there is. Recommended by Emilie of Love Life Abroad follow on Instagram. One of the most iconic structures the city is the famous Oceanside Pier. Live your beach life in Santa Barbara by taking boat tours, whale watching, checking out waterfalls, go kayaking, and so much more! Plus lessons for stand-up paddle boarding or even skimboarding. We personally love heading to Pacific City for some of the great dining options there where you can sit outside and enjoy the view or from inside a restaurant with an epic beach view. Its got a more retro, eclectic vibe than some of the other places on this list. If youre taking a California Pacific Coast Highway road trip to San Diego, a stop to do someMalibu wine tastingshould be on your list. This area is loved by hikers, swimmers, surfers, scuba divers, mountain bikers, and lovers of nature! And there's so many stops, it would be hard to do them all unless you had about a month.. Pier 39 is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. There''re some fantastic stretches along the coast esp between Monterey and Cambria on hw1. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-15945938', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Monterey, for example, you'd be able to see the most scenic stretches of the coast at a more leisurely pace. These are some of the most popular and iconic surf shops in Southern California. There are so many cool places I need to check out based on your list if I ever do the drive again! The good thing with the Carpinteria State Beach is that they have en route sites for last minutes campers. Some would say you truly havent seen San Diego until youve seen it from the Torrey Pines trails. Congratulations, youve pretty much made it to San Diego! Do you have any SFO layover or dining recommendations? The former being all estate wines, ie: grown on the Rosenthal property in Malibu. Located in the Los Padres National Forest, Sand Dollar Beach requires a parking fee (#worthit). Oh, and if youre looking for the best shots for the Gram or TikTok, be sure to hit the Chromatic Gate. Please look at the LA forum for help. 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. And I can't think of a better way to stretch your legs than to hike! 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. Watching the sunset over the ocean is a favorite local activity and the views are incredible! There are quite a few different tours guests can take including evening and holiday themed tours. This is a must-see when driving along Highway 1. Lots of nice motels/hotels and restaurants. Its always a spectacular sight to behold! Or, simply admire its sparkling lights across the harbor in the evening. Built in 1937, this absolutely must be a stop on your San Francisco to San Diego road trip! This is the most scenic part of the hike, so you cant miss it! Laguna Beach is the perfect oceanside destination for your California Coast road trip. You may want to get to San Diego and then take the local transit to La Jolla if that is where you want to go. Plus, traffic is awful around San Jose - you'll want to avoid it at all costs if you can. Newport Beach surely has an incredible array of food options, but next door you also have Costa Mesa which has an impeccable food scene and other amazing things to do. 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. To sit and watch the sun dip below the horizon California follow Instagram... 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