Before getting back on your California Coast drive, complete your time in Long Beach with dinner at one of the waterfronts restaurants. If you want to ride a bunch, invest in a wristband for $45. 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. You'll get the lowest rates if you reserve on their website at least a couple of weeks ahead of time. The waves crashing around the rock are really cool to watch. Plan a little overnight staycation in Laguna Beach, because we bet you wont want to leave! Also known as Highway 1, this San Francisco to San Diego road trip will take you by some of the most iconic towns and jaw-dropping scenery in California. 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. 334. Explore its charming downtown with a food walking tour. 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. If youd rather stay out of the waves, theres plenty of shopping and dining to do in Huntington 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. 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. Garrapata State Park is next, where you can enjoy hiking trails along both sandy beaches and redwoods. There are also many places to stop and grab a quick bite, cup of coffee, or stretch those legs. Great stop on your San Francisco to San Diego drive: beautiful beach, shopping, dining, great views, entertainment, overnight stay. Free shipping . If you're a fan of the outdoors, then you might want to make a stop at Joshua Tree National Park. For a more in-depth wine tasting experience, take a break from the ocean and head for the hills. It has the cutest town center inspired by Scandinavian heritage. If you want shopping and a college town atmosphere, then San Luis Obispo is a good place to be. The city is permanently prone to earthquakes due to its location on the San Andreas Fault so that you won't see many skyscrapers. 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. 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. Monterey is located just north of Big Sur, perhaps the most beautiful stretch of Highway 1, and is an . 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 all, its how the beach got its name. Pismo Beach is a small coastal city located south of San Luis Obispo. The earliest flight departs at 05:30, the last flight departs at 22:49. Terminal 1 handles most of the passenger traffic, even though Terminal 2 is larger, and boasts modern infrastructure. Cheers man for the info was planning on stopping there and (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? The sunsets are pretty great along Ocean Beach, too! Laguna Beach is known for being one of the most beautiful California coastal towns with much to do and so much to see. 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. 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. 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. Many travel insurance plans also coverCollision Damage Waiver (CDW) coverage up to $35,000. When you stop in La Jolla on a San Francisco to San Diego road trip, theres a variety of things to do. Alternatively, you may use. Spend a day or a few exploring the nearby wineries and beautiful landscapes, Santa Barbara will not disappoint. And you should absolutely not do it. Happy road tripping! The Best Stops on the Pacific Coast Highway Between San Francisco and Big Sur 1. Venice Beach is unique, edgy, artistic and I highly recommend it - but it may not be your thing. 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. This road trip is an absolute bucket-list item. Enjoy these few things then gas up and hit the road! Santa Barbara is packed with museums, restaurants, wineries, and great shopping on the famous State Street where all the action is happening. Its a location in the woods where weird things happen. If youre exploring San Francisco and you want to get away from the city, but not too far away, the Lands End trail is the perfect place to go. Zig-zag through Los Angeles and pick up SR 1 again in Santa Monica. Dont miss the famous Crystal Cove Shake Shack either for one of their amazing milkshakes, their date shake is the most famous! Enjoyed this post on the best stops along the San Francisco to San Diego road trip or San Diego to San Francisco road trip? Coronado Island is a little more bougie than the other parts of San Diego, and is home to one of the most beautiful beaches on the California Coast. You very likely could see gray, fin and humpback whales, dolphins and sea lions. From beautiful wildflowers to classic Southern California beaches, the views just dont stop. Recommended by Alanna of Periodic Adventures follow on Instagram. Yeah I will look into it more mainly LA portion of the trip I have been here before so don't mind skipping through as such. Okay, exactly how excited are you for this trip? If you are lucky enough to visit on a Thursday, you can enjoy the Oceanside Farmers Market in the morning and the Night Market in the evening. This iconic island is full of old Hollywood history, historic landmarks, and you cant help but love the gorgeous colorful island cottages as well as all the vintage signs, buildings, and memorabilia around town that make you feel like youve gone back in a time machine. 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. When you hike the trail, make sure to take the little detour that goes down to Mile Rock Beach. . Recommended by Dhara of Roadtripping California follow on Facebook. 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. 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. It was restored in 1995 and offers tours! This is a great opportunity to experience the outdoors with your family! Before venturing out for a visit to Californias Big Sur, be prepared. Obviously the greatest attraction in the park are the giant redwoods, that can grow taller than 50 feet and some are also 1,000-1,800 years old. Its a great spot to watch surfers catching the waves. Santa Barbara is one of the most iconic stops on a San Francisco to San Diego road trip. Recommended by Lesley of Bucket List Publications follow on Instagram. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. (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 . Have a fun trip! If youre a surfer, you should grab a board and head out to catch a few waves in Manhattan Beach. There are three different trails that range from easy to difficult! Partington cove Pacific coast Highway 1 stop #10. It is an operating church with services, so be sure to check their schedule for visitations here. But first lets highlight some activities in San Francisco before you start off on your big adventure. One of the most popular things to do in Lompoc is to go wine tasting. Youll find one-of-a-kind local spots that are simply delicious! I'm so glad you included it. 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. Since the first stop is just south of San Francisco, you won't want to fly into San Jose International Airport (SJC). Carmel Beach is a beautiful stretch of sand that draws tourists in. up the gorgeous rte 1 coastal road is Cambria our fave! more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. [Disclaimer] You could easily make an entire vacation out of this small beach town, but its also perfect for a day trip! Enjoy a bowl of creamy clam chowder from Splash Cafe or any of the restaurants in the area. I was thinking Santa Barbara, Hermosa Beach, Santa MonicaLa Jolla. This road trip is so incredibly memorable I know Ill have pics of my times up and down the PCH for years to come! In that case, youll have quite the walk! 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! Long Beach is famously the home of theR.M.S. There are quite a few different tours guests can take including evening and holiday themed tours. You say you have been to CA or CALIFORNIA and then have a few places you want to see. Its completely off limits due to the fragile nature of the cliffs. When planning a California Coast road trip, Big Sur is an absolute must-see area. So if youre hungry by the time you get to Carmel, California, this is the place to stop! 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. From beaches to tacos, iconic Spanish-style architecture and water activities, Santa Barbara is a must-see. Having already spent time in LA, I'm looking for something a bit different. Its a fascinating place for hiking and one that simply begs to be explored! Are you a couple or with kids? My favorite views are at Dukes. Thank you so much for this guide - your photos are incredibly beautiful as well :), Ah yes, Bea! 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. From the rugged, northern coast of California to the classic So Cal beaches near San Diego, theres so much to see and do along the way. After you are full, head to Manhattan Beach E-Bike Rentals to rent a bike for the day. If youre traveling with children, theres a fun playground called the Tomol Interpretive Play Area near the campground. Its actually the longest pier on the west coast, coming in at over 1/3 mile long. For more activities, plan to take the coast route. The best road trip of your life is almost complete! Lompoc is a great stop to spend the night as well because hotels are pretty affordable and way cheaper than Santa Barbara. Watching the sunset over the ocean is a favorite local activity and the views are incredible! Grotto Falls Smoky Mountains: Ultimate Guide to the Scenic Hike Youll Love, Stunning Avalanche Lake Trail: Gem in Glacier National Park (Hiking Guide). 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. Drive 3.6 miles west of I-5 to find this quaint Mexican restaurant. Youll notice their neighboring winery, Rocky Oaks, perched high on the next hill (appointment required). With over 125 years of history, hosting the rich and famous, its an iconic hotel right on the beach. Hey thanks for your tips I have done Venice beach before as been to Cali but defo with again love the quirkiness of the walk. Otherwise, there will be challenges with finding parking on the weekends and holidays. Try the fresh seafood and clams. Amtrak Pacific Surfliner offers twelve daily round-trip journeys between San Diego and Los Angeles. 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. Hi I am traveling alone just leaving Chicago and getting the Amtrak to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Eeek! The city's classic Spanish architecture, agreeable climate, and hilly seaside location mimic many . 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. I'm Nikki. Do you have any SFO layover or dining recommendations? San Luis Obispo or SLO is full of a variety of amazing things to do for all you road trippers, so you wont want to miss this one on your San Francisco to San Diego drive. These beach shoes are literally perfect for Torrey Pines State Reserve! Of course, while in Santa Barbara, you must have the wine! Yay! Dont miss the seals at the Childrens Pool or the awesome Sunny Jims Cave! Youll be dying to hit this stop on your San Francisco to San Diego road trip, especially if youre traveling as a family. There are a wide variety ofthings to do in the South Bay. 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. Once at the beach, during low tide the beach is wide and expansive. 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. Fascinating place for hiking and one that simply begs to be first highlight. 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