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. There were even an incredible amount of domestic and foreign animals that roamed the estate as well. There is also a campground with hookups that can accommodate tents, but also trailers and motorhomes up to 35 feet long. 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. Oh, and prepare for a windy walk! 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. For a more in-depth wine tasting experience, take a break from the ocean and head for the hills. If youre looking to stay a night in Pismo, check out the camping! If you are looking for a faster road, then consider the I-5. You can avoid it by parking on the road and hiking into the reserve. 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. Its actually illegal to be on the beach at McWay Falls. Its a great spot to watch surfers catching the waves. 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. This little spot is a paradise full of amazing outdoor activities perfect for a day trip or a weekend getaway! Youll see gorgeous views from the California Pacific Coast Highway along the way, too. more. Sometimes there are even dolphins splashing in the distance. One of the most iconic spots in SLO is the Guadalupe Nipomo Dunes, this spot is perfect for some camping, off-roading, or photography. This trail is a must-see, because all the views are absolutely epic! This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in Canada. Make your drive unforgettable by adding in some of these amazing stops. Its got a more retro, eclectic vibe than some of the other places on this list. See here: http://tinyurl.com/c3nazz, P.S. There arent many more iconic places along the California Pacific Coast Highway than the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles. This is such a great road trip! Or explore the huge variety of exhibits at the expansive Aquarium of the Pacific. Fly into San Francisco, rent a car and drive to San Diego, where youll fly back out. Visitors today can experience some of the grandeur of the house and see many of these sites described above. Dont miss the famous Hotel del Coronado either while youre here! Combine that with the Danish architecture, and the young and old will love to see the interesting buildings in the town! Youll find great cliff views and fewer crowds on this hike. Begin your San Fransisco to San Diego road trip at one of the most famous and scenic spots in California right here in San Francisco, The Golden Gate Bridge. Many restaurants have outdoors dining in the summertime, which is honestly just perfect. San Diego beaches will have a surfing area. Videos, Travel Insurance These unique ecosystems are filled with snails, slugs, barnacles, mussels, crustaceans, sea stars, anemone, urchins and more just waiting to be discovered. The highlight of the pier is Pacific Park, the amusement park with numerous carnival games and rides. When you hike the trail, make sure to take the little detour that goes down to Mile Rock Beach. Such a cool road trip, right? There are many nice places to stay between LA and SF: Santa Barbara, San Luis Opisbo, Pismo Beach, Cambria, Carmel/Monterey, Santa Cruz. Great stop on your San Francisco to San Diego drive: beach, entertainment, dining, shopping, possible celebrity sightings, overnight stay. My favorite activity on the water is kayaking on the bay. I also work at Hearst Castle, which is a home museum with art from all over the world and beautiful views and a great stop if you're taking Hwy1. Amtrak is the one and only train line which connects San Francisco to San Diego. This incredible adventure along the California Pacific Coast Highway has some of the best sights in the USA! In the commercial stretch, youll find lots of one-of-a-kind stores to visit, as well as art galleries with beautiful pieces of fine art and antique shops. 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. 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. This road trip is an absolute bucket-list item. Pro tip: I always search for discounts on rental cars, and often times save 10-30% using Discover Cars. The city is home to more than 20,000 beautiful acres of protected wilderness, making it ideal for hiking, biking and adventurous exploration. 13. I recommend I-5 out of San Diego, then cross over to State Route (SR) 1 in San Clemente. Save it for later or share it on social media! Hiking is a great way to catch the diversity of land animals and birds that call Point Lobos home hummingbirds, snowy egrets, great blue herons, gray foxes, badgers and many others. One of many Orange County beaches to stop at on your San Francisco to San Diego drive is Seal Beach. 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. You will depart from San Francisco International Airport and will land at San Diego International Airport. Check off everything that Santa Barbara has to offer or just kick your feet up and relax on the gorgeous beaches! If youre dedicating a few days to the Ventura area, you have to check out the Channel Islands National Park off the coast! Speaking of which, the first time I drove the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) in California, I foolishly only allowed 2 days. Add in a gorgeous sunset and youve got an amazing spot to sit and watch the sun dip below the horizon! more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. Another iconic spot to see in Big Sur is the Bixby Bridge! You can also visit Dunes Beach, which has equally gorgeous views of the shoreline and soft sand. Plan a little overnight staycation in Laguna Beach, because we bet you wont want to leave! Its a fascinating place for hiking and one that simply begs to be explored! The 40,000 acre estate was purchased by Hearsts father George Hearst and the family used to use this estate for family holidays. One Stop Auto Service Center. A cute little town nestled along the coast, Santa Cruz is a great spot to stop for food, shopping and adventure. 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. Its one of the most scenic routes in the USA! From the beach, there is an amazing view of mountains, palm trees and the Channel Islands. 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. You can bike as well! Pro tip: if tacos is your thing, be sure to eat at La Super-Rica Taqueria. Halfway between Los Angeles, CA and San Diego, CA Find this post helpful? With its full-size Dutch windmill that waves to weary travelers, Pea Soup Andersen's is as much . Rosenthal, Malibus first winery, even has a tasting room right on the PCH, across the street from the ocean. Entry is free, but rides are priced from $5-12. This Chevron gas station is located in the town of Santa Nella, about halfway between San Diego and . Find places to hike, bike, and paddle board all while soaking in that Central California sun. Im so excited for you to start this adventure! The historic 115-foot tall lighthouse has been in operation since 1872 and is a great quick stop for photos. The purple sand is from manganese garnet that washes down the mountainside after it rains. Parts of the shoreline is rocky and if youre there around sunset, its a gorgeous spot to photograph those rays dipping into the ocean along the coast. The exact coordinates of the midpoint are: 35 29' 7" N 119 30' 57" W. The best place to meet based on recommendations from Trippy members is Bakersfield. Many travel insurance plans also coverCollision Damage Waiver (CDW) coverage up to $35,000. Built in 1937, this absolutely must be a stop on your San Francisco to San Diego road trip! Postcard TRAIN SCENE Between Los Angeles & San Francisco California CA AK8914 . Great stop on your San Francisco to San Diego drive for: photography, beaches, hiking, food, ~ 245 miles from San Francisco & 355 miles from San Diego. The distance on the drive from San Francisco to San Diego is approximately 502 miles (808 kilometres) and would take around 8 hours if taking a direct route along the I-5 highway. I especially loved seeing the otters up close while in the kayaks. Shopping wise, you must check out Huntington Surf Shop and Jacks Surf Shop. Queen Mary, the former luxury ocean liner thats reportedly themost haunted ship in the world. 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! 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. Yay! One of the top things to do in Solvang is to do wine tastings or visit a winery. 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. For a lighter hike try the Torrey Pines Beach Trail Loop. For just a little effort, youll see one of the most beautiful spots along the coast. You will spend the day in Santa Cruz and . Getting from Yosemite Valley back to Merced will be easy. Surfers can rent boards in North Manhattan Beach at Players (above the liquor store) or downtown Manhattan Beach from Spyder Surfboards or Nikau Kai. Spend a day or a few exploring the nearby wineries and beautiful landscapes, Santa Barbara will not disappoint. In addition to these two shops, there are many boutiques, souvenir shops, and more to check out! Get up close to the areas marine life on a harbor cruise. Cambria is a 25 minute drive from herebeachcombing, art galleries, that kind of thing. Simply put, it defies logic as physics and gravity just dont make sense here! Since its close to the Pacific Ocean, there is a marine layer which keeps the environment moist and encourages plant growth. Hey! Its amusement park right along the beach is perfect for classic rides and fair food. It is easy for a tourist to spend several days in the city. You can see the main Amtrak Stations and their bus service to other areas. If you enjoy easy walks, stroll the boardwalk trail along the beach, or the Bluff Trail at Fiscalini Ranch Preserve. There are also plenty of restaurant and cafe options. And its just a bonus that its a perfect stop on a San Francisco to San Diego road trip! The State Park has 3.2 miles of beach, 2,400 acres of wilderness, and an offshore water area. And not only is the work fantastic, but the estate itself is absolutely breathtaking. Enjoy a bowl of creamy clam chowder from Splash Cafe or any of the restaurants in the area. 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. Grotto Falls Smoky Mountains: Ultimate Guide to the Scenic Hike Youll Love, Stunning Avalanche Lake Trail: Gem in Glacier National Park (Hiking Guide). 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. This spot is great for awesome road trip photos! Coming in at 2.3 miles and rated as easy, youll get beautiful beach views. In the summer, this is one of the hottest beach towns in all of California. If so, you could stay in San Luis Obispo, where there are lots of reasonable accommodations, including the very charming Apple Farm Inn (and restaurant). . Most cottages are booked out a year in advance, and since its a state park they are VERY affordable. This fog can happen year-round, but is most prevalent in May and June in most areas of the coast. Heres another opportunity to visit a central coast beach, and if youre driving along PCH on your San Francisco to San Diego road trip, this beach will be a tough one to resist. The trees are as large as 380 feet, but their seeds are as small as a tomato seed! But for most vehicles, youll find the turn for Pfeiffer Beach at mile marker 45.64. There are many galleries and tons of work from local artists. 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! For a challenging trail in the Torrey Pines State Reserve, try Flinkote Torrey Pines Trail, a moderate hike at 3.8 miles. Theres even an arcade where you can try your hand at skeeball. . Depending on how much time youre able to spend, check out the boat tours or even catching some whale watching! Find yourself biking the beautiful beachfront, or checking out all the shops and dining on Orange Ave and Coronados Ferry Landing. One of the most iconic structures the city is the famous Oceanside Pier. Most people spend 1-2 days here. 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. Pinos Way . As we continue to move south in this epic road trip adventure, these next stops are all considered Southern California. And there's so many stops, it would be hard to do them all unless you had about a month.. Once at the beach, during low tide the beach is wide and expansive. Traveling with FlixBus isn't just quick, it's cheap too. Smog Check Star Station San Diego. For the adults, there are tons of food and shopping options along the boardwalk as well! What should I do with kids? It passes along the coast with brief glimpses of the Pacific Ocean, through Camp Pendleton Marine Corps base and north through Orange County. Any suggestions as to where we might spend 2 nights on our way to San Fran? While you might want to rush through to continue on with your California Coast road trip, Solvang will keep pulling you in to stay with its cute town and fun activities! Yeah hiring a (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? These flights take off throughout both the day and evening and last about an hour and a half. From the PCH, turn north on one of LA countys prettiest roads, Kanan-Dume, through the Santa Monica Mountain canyons. If you want to make an adventure out of your San Diego to Grand Canyon road trip, then you've come to the right place. There are plenty of great places to stop between San Diego and San Francisco, so take your time and plan your route based on your interests. This shows the stops we made from San Francisco to San Diego. The walks are easy and family-friendly. Anaheim is the most popular city on the route it's less than an hour from Los Angeles and 2 hours from San Diego. 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