Its a location in the woods where weird things happen. During your visit make sure to check out the Point San Luis Lighthouse, which was established in 1890 and operated for nearly a century. This artwork of a coastline offers many hiking trails and different beaches to explore. Once to get to LA then you will have to use the local transport to get around. For other sea life, a must-see is the Monterey Bay Aquarium. For the adults, there are tons of food and shopping options along the boardwalk as well! I would recommend bringing water shoes though, so that walking on the sand is comfortable and you can dip your feet in the water if youd like to. And it doesnt get any better than sunsets at Crescent Bay Point Park or Heisler Park. Are you planning on driving Hiway 1 through Big Sur? 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. Were sure you wont be in any rush to leave this amazing little town that was the star of the movie Sideways. There are six daily trains from Los Angeles Union Station north to Santa Barbara. Im so excited for you to start this adventure! These are some of the most popular and iconic surf shops in Southern California. $5.99 . A couple of things to add to your Seal Beach checklist are the Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge and Seal Beach food tours! The area boasts miles of beautiful, clean beaches with pools, coves and caves that visitors can explore. . Also plenty of nice hotels with weekday special rates, and good restaurants for all price ranges. Monterey is a perfect stop for anyone traveling up the coast of California on a San Francisco to San Diego road trip. 2pm - Lunch in Santa Cruz (11.30pm for you) After driving along the empty coastline for two hours, it was nice to hit a real city again. Thanks, Get answers to your questions about San Francisco. So go check out this famous movie location and enjoy some delicious pie. 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. That means part of the highway can be closed with no way to pass through except going inland. La Jolla is a suburb, although still a bit up the coast from San Diego. Built in 1937, this absolutely must be a stop on your San Francisco to San Diego road trip! Stop by a few of the gorgeous beaches in this area like Swamis Beach or Moonlight Beach. Surfers can hit the waves on any of the more than 30 beaches in Laguna Beach. Fishermans' Wharf - Visit the sea lions, eat, drink, play and be merry. There are many beautiful hotels in San Luis Obispo like the famous Madonna Inn or the gorgeous Lomita Ranch in the rustic setting where you can spend a few nights before continuing your trip. Beach in Santa Barbara. Ventura. Enjoy the variety of rides and rollercoasters as well as mini-golf, laser tag, bowling, arcades, and more! Is (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Carmel has some of the best boutiques, specialty shops, and markets that youll find along your San Francisco to San Diego drive. 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. Youll notice their neighboring winery, Rocky Oaks, perched high on the next hill (appointment required). Enjoy the best of San Francisco. Help us by suggesting a value. The drive on the California Pacific Coast Highway is an absolute gem, and one that begs to be explored. 3500 Mt. Watching the sunset over the ocean is a favorite local activity and the views are incredible! SF to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? 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. Check out one of the most iconic spots in Southern California on your San Francisco to San Diego drive. What an iconic sight in the USA the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge! Yes, Southwest flies nonstop from San Francisco (SFO) to San Diego 3 times per day on Saturdays and 4 times per day on Sundays. These stops are all amazing! Departure times vary between 05:30 - 22:49. Recommended by me Nikki of Inspired Routes. One of the most scenic stretches along the San Francisco to San Diego road trip is Big Sur. Reminds me of going to Maui with kids every time! What do the odds say about the game? For beach access, you can head to the beaches surrounding the pier easily, but if youre looking for a less crowded option, Will Rogers Beach just north on PCH is the best option! There are so many Big Sur hiking trails, and these are definitely worth checking out. With abundant kelp beds and plenty of sea life, Laguna Beach is a divers paradise. Recommended by Brittany of Travel by Brit follow on Pinterest. Also, make sure you have a good Pacific Coast Highway map, whether it is on your phone, or on good ol' fashioned paper! $5.99 . Lets keep the sights and adventure going! The best road trip of your life is almost complete! Bookmark for later or share the love below on Pinterest! And while Ive returned to many places along the drive, I havent seen it all. 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. Stop for pictures, do a little beach combing or enjoy a picnic by the ocean. 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. Lets head south from San Francisco to San Diego! The windmill outside Pea Soup Andersen's, a classic stop between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Unlike other places around the Golden state that often feel too touristy during the peak season, San Luis Obispo has a calmer atmosphere and authentic flair. 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. This out-and-back hike is 1.2 miles round trip on easy terrain and walkable for most still levels, including children. But even the more challenging hike is pretty easy. San Luis Obispo is a nice college town. And I can't think of a better way to stretch your legs than to hike! Enjoy the galleries, the shopping, and definitely the food! While youre visiting, you can check out the awesome downtown area. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'inspiredroutes_com-square-3','ezslot_24',187,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-inspiredroutes_com-square-3-0');Recommended by Carrie Ann of Should Be Cruising follow on Instagram. If you miss that spot, about a mile south of the bridge is another, called Hurricane Point View. One of the area's top attractions is the Stearns Wharf. 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. Any other opinions and are there any hidden gems? Or any unique places also. Recommended by Hannah of Hannah on Horizon follow on Instagram. San Francisco and San Diego make great ends for the road trip. Its literally the perfect stop on this epic California Coast drive! On the adventurous side of things, there are trails for hiking and biking and go to the beach for surfing, sailing, and sunbathing! Privacy Policy & DisclosuresAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. (San Francisco) The Commuter Pain Index is comprised of 10 issues: 1) commuting time, 2) time stuck in traffic, agreement that: 3) price of gas is already too high, 4) traffic has gotten worse, 5) start-stop traffic is a problem, 6) driving causes stress, 7) driving causes anger, 8) traffic affects . Recommended by Francesca of Homeroom Travel follow on Instagram. You can see the main Amtrak Stations and their bus service to other areas. Well a fun area in San Diego is Ocean Beach. Santa Barbara is one of the most iconic stops on a San Francisco to San Diego road trip. 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. This fog can happen year-round, but is most prevalent in May and June in most areas of the coast. 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. Yeah hiring a (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? This Chevron gas station is located in the town of Santa Nella, about halfway between San Diego and . The purple sand is from manganese garnet that washes down the mountainside after it rains. 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! Its actually illegal to be on the beach at McWay Falls. 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. Heres a preview of the route and all the amazing stops along the way! It's almost dead even between L.A. and (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Gah!! Make sure to check out some of the 200+ wineries during your visit! There are several walking paths near both Dunes Beach and Francis Beach. If you would like to spend a night camping in the park, reservations must be made six months in advance. Have a fun trip! 10. 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. DISCLAIMER: This post contains affiliate links. The first building along the pier is the Hippodrome, which houses the carousel and an ice cream shop. (I will be getting the train and bus) Amtrak e.t.c I was. You feel as though youve also transported back in time here, this is a must for an overnight if you can plan accordingly on your San Francisco to San Diego road trip or San Diego to San Francisco road trip! This waterfall hike reminds me of the best waterfalls in Glacier National Park its so picturesque! San Francisco. 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. Visit this historic California State Park and museum to the art displayed from all over the world. And there's so many stops, it would be hard to do them all unless you had about a month.. Another amazing stop on the San Francisco to San Diego drive or San Diego to San Francisco drive is Big Sur. Yay! I travelled with Amtrak from SD to SF last year. But if youre just looking to spend a few hours, Cambria is a great stop for stretching your legs as well! Weekends and holidays offer shuttle services, where you can make reservations and get picked up from the Muir Woods Shuttle in Pohono State Park and Ride in Sausalito. 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. 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. Visitors and even drivers on highway 1 can still see zebras grazing along the estate on occasion. . It will be my husband, self and 16 year old daughter. The highway technically starts in Washington state and ends in San Juan Capistrano (just south of the Laguna Beach stop on this itinerary). more. The surf is best in the morning before the wind picks up. Step back into time with a visit to Solvang, California! It is truly a trip to be remembered. Laguna Beach is the perfect oceanside destination for your California Coast road trip. Free shipping . Terminal 1 handles most of the passenger traffic, even though Terminal 2 is larger, and boasts modern infrastructure. From this bridge, you can overlook the beautiful sea and rolling valleys. In addition to all these aspects, visitors can soak in the sun and enjoy the surf and the Ventura Pier, which is another one of Californias Historic Landmarks. 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. 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 trees are as large as 380 feet, but their seeds are as small as a tomato seed! 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. If youre in this area, Cornell Winery and Tasting room is a must Thursday-Sunday. Now its a nostalgic pie shop. Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 are connected by pedestrian walkways. It was in the roaring 20s that the Hearst Castle reached its social peak and hosted many celebrities and dignitaries from around the world. Afterward, visitors can walk around to go shopping at the souvenirs and boutique shops. The journey time between San Diego and San Francisco is around 14h 29m and covers a distance of around 580 miles. So cool. Specifically, many locals and tourists love Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park for its gorgeous coves, waterfalls, and famous trail, the Waterfall Overlook Trail that leads to McWay Falls. So if youre hungry by the time you get to Carmel, California, this is the place to stop! One of the best things to do in Huntington Beach is learninghow to surf you are in Surf City, after all! 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. Getting from Merced over to the coast will be much more challenging. This road trip is so incredibly memorable I know Ill have pics of my times up and down the PCH for years to come! Admire the charming cottages on the residential sections of Main Street, their gardens spilling over with colorful flowers in season. Great stop on your San Francisco to San Diego drive for: beaches, coffee, dining, shopping, overnight stay, ~ 485 miles from San Francisco & ~ 17 miles from San Diego. The wildlife is incredible and Id highly recommend it! You can rent a surfboard from a local company on the beach, like Jacks Beach Concession, or a surf shop in Downtown Huntington Beach, like Huntington Surf & Sport. I hope you have a great trip! Hearst Castle Where to eat in Big Sur: restaurants and cafes Big Sur Road Trip Map I especially loved seeing the otters up close while in the kayaks. 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. Are you going north on highway 1, or is it 101 or maybe 5 or 99? Its completely off limits due to the fragile nature of the cliffs. With over 125 years of history, hosting the rich and famous, its an iconic hotel right on the beach. 59. Recommended by Anna of Anna Tee follow on Instagram. 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. Cambria: the best overnight stop on Highway 101. Its home to Californias oldest museum and famous art festivals like the Sawdust Art Festival, Laguna Art-A-Fair, Festival of Arts, and Pageant of the Masters. Tons of opportunities abound for golfing, bicycling, tennis, hiking, horseback riding and scuba diving. Was wondering where is best to stop in California between San Francisco and San Diego? Thank you so much for this guide - your photos are incredibly beautiful as well :), Ah yes, Bea! Alright so this is a mega guide for everything to do along the way. This beach city is also located in Orange County, California and is overflowing with experiences by the oceanside. Carmel Beach is a beautiful stretch of sand that draws tourists in. Take a tour that specializes in sea life because theres so much marine life nearby. 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! As we continue to move south in this epic road trip adventure, these next stops are all considered Southern California. . 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. We highly recommend doing the food tour and a tour of the historic Casino if you stay the night be sure to catch a movie in the casino too for a once in a lifetime historic movie theater experience. Having already spent time in LA, I'm looking for something a bit different. This is an easy option too if you had started by flying to Mexico and drove across the border first to get to San Diego. As someone whos been to San Diego almost more times than I can count, I recommend spending 2 days or a weekend in San Diego if its possible. Explore the city full of activities and great food: Dinner and overnight in San Diego to catch a flight home in the morning. Theres a long walking trail right along the beach, great for exercising or renting bikes for a scenic ride. Tens of thousands of monarch butterflies fly and rest on the eucalyptus trees from late October to February. Great stop of your San Francisco to San Diego drive for: camping, beaches, photography, hiking, ~ 403 miles from San Francisco & ~ 158 miles from San Diego. Southwest Airlines is a popular option, with no baggage or change fees. Theres even a private tour (up to 6 people) that costs $1,000 per group. The entire beach isnt purple, but youll find some around the tide pools and edges of the coast. The Santa Monica Pier is definitely one of the greatest attractions in the city, it is home to the Pacific Park, full of rides, carnival games, an aquarium, good eats, and more! This lively spot offers flights, glasses, bottles, and cases of their 2 wine brands: Rosenthal and Surfrider. It lies along the Pacific Ocean at San Diego Bay, just north of the international border with Mexico and some 120 miles (195 km) southeast of Los Angeles. Im so excited for you to start this adventure where to stop between san diego and san francisco even a private tour ( up 6. The love below on Pinterest specialty shops, and one that begs to be on the eucalyptus trees from October!, Rocky Oaks, perched high on the California Pacific coast highway is an gem... Options along the drive on the Beach, great for exercising or renting bikes for scenic! To LA then you will want to start this adventure start in Carmel-by-the-Sea, a small one-square mile town was... 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