Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 are connected by pedestrian walkways. 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. 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. I like the other posters recommend SLO or Morro Bay or maybe Cayucos if you want a quiet base from which to explore. Congratulations, youve pretty much made it to San Diego! Another cool spot to visit is the Monarch Butterfly Grove. Answer 1 of 10: Hi I am traveling alone just leaving Chicago and getting the Amtrak to Denver and then San Fran. 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! 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 . As you plan for this amazing journey, lets talk about must-haves for this trip. In addition to their beautiful white sand beaches, visitors can take advantage of riding ATVs in the sand dunes, surfing, fishing, golfing, and much more! Happy road tripping! Or head to Pacific City for some popular retailers, local shops and tons of great restaurants, like Old Crow Smokehouse and Philz Coffee. Laguna Beach is known for being one of the most beautiful California coastal towns with much to do and so much to see. Not only is this a cultural experience, but it is also a family fun experience! Theres so many sights to see and things to do along the way. You could easily make an entire vacation out of this small beach town, but its also perfect for a day trip! 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. Partington cove Pacific coast Highway 1 stop #10. Some of my favorite wineries include Spear Vineyards and Winery, Sweetzer Cellars and Montemar Winery. Privacy Policy & DisclosuresAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. During your visit check out one of the eight championship golf courses or some of the other amazing places to beach, hike, bike, shop, exercise, and more. This post may contain affiliate links. 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. Be sure to check out the Pacific Coast Highway itinerary 7 days if youve got a week in the area. Its still a little too northern to swim comfortably, but its a great spot for a walk along the beach or to watch the surfers. . If youre looking for a more luxurious beach experience during your drive, make sure you stop in Dana Point. Explore its charming downtown with a food walking tour. [Privacy] Now tell me a great place to stay approximately halfway between SD and SF. Although its currently closed pending potential restoration, visitors can still get up close to the ship at the cruise port. 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. My first visit to La Jolla, I did this amazing kayaking tour of the cove. Any suggestions as to where we might spend 2 nights on our way to San Fran? To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. 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. Theyre all great, what can we say. Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and McWay Falls San Francisco to San Simeon drive, stop #11. Start: San Francisco, CA End: San Diego, CA Distance: 600 miles Drive Time: 17 hours Things to do: Photography, hiking, beaches, small towns, major cities If you want to ride a bunch, invest in a wristband for $45. The Ocean Beach Pier is a fun way to see the coast from another perspective. If you can, spend 2-3 days in the San Luis Obispo area. Solvang is the perfect spot to stretch your legs after being in the car on a San Francisco to San Diego road trip. Great stop on your San Francisco to San Diego drive for: beach break, food & drink, shopping, entertainment, nearby wine tasting, overnight stay, ~ 352 miles from San Francisco & ~ 188 miles from San Diego. The last stop between San Diego and San Francisco. Youll find great cliff views and fewer crowds on this hike. It took nearly 3 decades to bring the Heart Castle to completion and you can learn all about that on your visit. It provides entertainment to travelers and tourists with amusement rides like the carousel, which was built in 1916, the first solar powered ferris wheel, and the roller coaster, both built in 1996. It's southeast of that stop, and will just add unnecessary driving time to your trip. Home to one of the most popular aquariums in the country, Monterey is an old cannery (a facility where . Laguna Beach is the perfect oceanside destination for your California Coast road trip. Okay, exactly how excited are you for this 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. If you already dont have a car for your starting point we recommend renting a car in advance on Expedia. Whether youre going solo, with your partner/spouse, family or a girls trip, youre going to have a fabulous time at all these Pacific Coast Highway stops! Enjoy these few things then gas up and hit the road! ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-46636308', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Denver for few days then to San Francisco. While there are no campgrounds in Muir Woods, those who want to camp will want to head over to Mount Tamalpais, which is only a 23-minute drive. The waves crashing around the rock are really cool to watch. Thanks for hanging out on the blog today! Youll find a wooden boardwalk overlooking the beach where you can walk or bike. Any other opinions and are there any hidden gems? The drive will take you at least 7 hours and 15 minutes if you drive directly, not counting stops. I especially loved seeing the otters up close while in the kayaks. Queen Mary, the former luxury ocean liner thats reportedly themost haunted ship in the world. Since the first stop is just south of San Francisco, you won't want to fly into San Jose International Airport (SJC). Carmel-by-the-Sea is one impressive little village along the coast. You will see grapevines on the hills, and at the intersection of Mulholland Highway, Cielo Winery will be on your right. Obviously you can check out the coast for some awesome beaches and some surf opportunities. http://www.cambriachamber.org/. One of the most iconic spots in SLO is the Guadalupe Nipomo Dunes, this spot is perfect for some camping, off-roading, or photography. If you do this, youll want to spend a bit more than an afternoon in Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara is one of the places you'll want to spend time in when driving from San Diego to San Francisco. 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. What's halfway between LA and San Diego? 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. Do you have any SFO layover or dining recommendations? There are tons of great restaurants to check out with amazing oceanfront views. Enjoy non-stop flights from San Francisco to San Diego with Alaska, Southwest, or United Airlines. . Whew! Fascinating! I hope you have a great trip! Hikers will love Laguna Coast Wilderness Park with mountain and ocean views. Alright so this is a mega guide for everything to do along the way. The 40,000 acre estate was purchased by Hearsts father George Hearst and the family used to use this estate for family holidays. You can try authentic tacos, burritos, and margaritas at Freds Mexican Caf and Cantina, which overlooks the ocean. There are many galleries and tons of work from local artists. One of the most naturally stunning beaches along the California Coast road trip is Pfeiffer Beach. 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. If you would like to spend a night camping in the park, reservations must be made six months in advance. You will spend the day in Santa Cruz and . 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. I was thinking Santa Barbara, Hermosa Beach, Santa MonicaLa Jolla. Tasting at the outdoor tables in front of their Tuscan-style barn provides sweeping views of the vineyards. One of the most iconic structures the city is the famous Oceanside Pier. In season, youll see lots of wildflowers. So go check out this famous movie location and enjoy some delicious pie. If you enjoy easy walks, stroll the boardwalk trail along the beach, or the Bluff Trail at Fiscalini Ranch Preserve. Its the perfect spot to go for a walk, watch the surfers and pier fishermen and simply sit back and listen to the crashing of the waves. You will not want to miss this incredible Danish town on your San Francisco to San Diego road trip. Built by the publishing tycoon William Randolph Hearst, La Casa Grande as it is also called, certainly lives up to its name. Notable stops include Malibu, Monterey, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and Los Angeles, as well as Big Sur, Torrey Pines State Reserve, and Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park. You can bike as well! Visitors could stay in well-appointed rooms, swim in the indoor and outdoor pools, ride horses, play tennis, watch movies in the indoor theater or golf. Of course you can adjust it depending on how much time you have., Woah! It passes along the coast with brief glimpses of the Pacific Ocean, through Camp Pendleton Marine Corps base and north through Orange County. One of the areas top attractions is the Stearns Wharf. This shows the stops we made from San Francisco to San Diego. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-46643036', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Santa Monica, Hermosa Beach have done Cali before when I went around World on gap year! You can even sign up for a guided surfing lesson if youre looking for some basic skills to get started. Great stop on your San Francisco to San Diego drive: beach, entertainment, dining, shopping, possible celebrity sightings, overnight stay. It's almost dead even between L.A. and (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? 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. If youre on Main Street theres a couple of places you wont want to miss! Its a surfers paradise and the vibe of laid back SoCal beach town can be felt around the city. After lunch, you can wander Hermosa Beach, browsing the local merchandise. 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. With abundant kelp beds and plenty of sea life, Laguna Beach is a divers paradise. For more activities, plan to take the coast route. Visitors and even drivers on highway 1 can still see zebras grazing along the estate on occasion. Its always a spectacular sight to behold! 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. The El Dorado Park and Nature Center features almost 100 acres of activities, including walking and bike trails, golf and fishing. What do the odds say about the game? Recommended by Hannah of Hannah on Horizon follow on Instagram. One thing we love besides the beaches is that Laguna has always been an artsy town. Santa Barbara is a lovely city where the streets are lined with palm trees and Spanish Revival architecture gives it a distinct aura. See our full guide to best things to do in Costa Mesa and things to do in Newport Beach for more options! Was wondering where is best to stop in California between San Francisco and San Diego? Best places to stop between San Fran and San Diego? One of the most scenic places to visit in California is along the central coast. This lesser-known wine region, called the Santa Rita Hills contains over 60 wineries. Tons of opportunities abound for golfing, bicycling, tennis, hiking, horseback riding and scuba diving. The highway technically starts in Washington state and ends in San Juan Capistrano (just south of the Laguna Beach stop on this itinerary). For a more in-depth wine tasting experience, take a break from the ocean and head for the hills. La Jolla is a suburb, although still a bit up the coast from San Diego. But perhaps the most famous landmark is the Hotel Del Coronado. 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. Well a fun area in San Diego is Ocean Beach. Monterey is located just north of Big Sur, perhaps the most beautiful stretch of Highway 1, and is an . Sunset is a great time to do these walks. Recommended by Denise of Chef Denise follow on Pinterest. This spot is located in the Santa Ynez Valley of California and is very recognizable due to its windmill and other Danish-style architecture. You are going to love it. Its even one of the best swimming beaches in the state of California. The city of Oceansidehas gone through a extreme makeover in the past 2 decades from seedy military town to beach town gem. So if youd like to visit it by getting out of your car, park elsewhere and take public transportation or a ride share to the bridge. However, if you're looking for a more coastal experience, I suggest a night in either Pismo Beach or Cambria. Its a short stop on the road trip, but one you absolutely cannot miss. This is also a great beach town for surfing. 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. Whalers Cove, China Cove, Bluefish Cove and Moss Cove are the best places to quietly watch moms and their brand-new pups. Having already spent time in LA, I'm looking for something a bit different. Whatever you do, don't stay on US 101 all the way to SF! With its full-size Dutch windmill that waves to weary travelers, Pea Soup Andersen's is as much . San Jose. From beach activities to the boardwalk, Santa Cruz has it covered. Another fun and intriguing visit while in Santa Cruz is The Mystery Spot. As with many other California campgrounds, its important to reserve in advance to have a chance to secure a site. Ventura. Choose whichever one suits you best and will be the most enjoyable hiking experience for you and your group! Conclude your visit to Big Sur with a stop at Sand Dollar Beach, where you will find some of the most stunning sunset views. Point Lobos State Reserve is one of the top things to do on this incredible California Coast drive! Without traffic, it takes about two hours to get to Downtown Los Angeles. One of my favorite places in California is Monterey. Yeah hiring a (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Try the fresh seafood and clams. This is another perfect spot for oceanfront restaurants and plenty of wine tasting! Among the beaches are many places to shop, dine, grab a drink, and even go hiking. Yes in the Us now in Chicago getting the Amtrak tomorrow to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? For parking, the easiest lot to get to is 1-North, which is at the base of the pier and accessible along PCH. With overnights in Pismo Beach and (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Make sure to check out the Seal Beach Pier, it is the second-longest pier in California and offers free fishing! San Francisco is full of shops, restaurants, nightclubs, art galleries and coffeehouses. Hi I am traveling alone just leaving Chicago and getting the Amtrak to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? This coastal town is great because of the incredible views, the local food, and the unique things you can do here. Its definitely a good idea to park your car and set up camp overlooking the gorgeous water and keep your cameras handy because this is easily one of the most photogenic beach cities youll come across. One of many Orange County beaches to stop at on your San Francisco to San Diego drive is Seal Beach. But be sure to check out the Pacific Coast Highway road trip itinerary at the end of this post for a suggested timeline! These spots are perfect for surfing and even shell finding! This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. 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. Had no idea this coastal route could be this mesmerising! Seal Beach ~ 409 miles from San Francisco & ~ 102 miles from San Diego. Oh how awesome, Gloria! ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-46620870', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');renting a car between SF and SD out of the question? Check the hours before you go as its not open 24/7. Most people spend 1-2 days here. Start your day with breakfast in North Manhattan Beach at North End Caffe, Fishbar, or Local Yolk. 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. Soak in all the views at whatever pace you want in one of the most gorgeous places California has to offer. 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