Yes Shannon! Reservations are recommended for this top rated Pacific Ocean experience. Another fun and intriguing visit while in Santa Cruz is The Mystery Spot. Once at the beach, during low tide the beach is wide and expansive. Its the famous Top Gun House, where Maverick fell for his flight instructor Kelly McGillis. The windmill outside Pea Soup Andersen's, a classic stop between Los Angeles and San Francisco. 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. I'd love to hear more suggestions. If you're a fan of the outdoors, then you might want to make a stop at Joshua Tree National Park. Take a day trip from San Luis Obispo for a nice getaway to Paso Robles located about 30 miles away. Theres more than enough to keep you occupied in this sunny Southern California spot. This is also a great beach town for surfing. It's also a popular destination where Hollywood celebrities and socialites hang out. This guide covers some of the best things to do in each of these destinations as well as recommendations for overnight stays in case you plan on making a longer stop here. Great stop on your San Francisco to San Diego drive for: beach, photography, sunset, ~ 377 miles from San Francisco & ~ 127 miles from San Diego. San Francisco. If youre looking for a great view or photos of the bridge, keep in mind there are various vantage points! Carpinteria State Beach has many amenities for travelers to enjoy. If youre hungry, opt to grab some food at Capulin Eats and Provisions, La Botte Italian Restaurant or Toro Loco. Theres so many sights to see and things to do along the way. What feels like a testament to Americas Gilded Age, Hearst Castle certainly shines in that periods glittering overindulgence. Technically located about 20 minutes north of San Francisco, its such a great stop along the coast it simply couldnt be skipped. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-46615651', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Santa Monica and while I don't know how exactly you would get there from Union Station, I'm sure it's possible). Youll find great cliff views and fewer crowds on this hike. And within Big Sur, the Bixby Creek Bridge is the spot for coastal views and scenic photographs. It was in the roaring 20s that the Hearst Castle reached its social peak and hosted many celebrities and dignitaries from around the world. Surfers can practice their skills catching the waves. 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. Pro tip: if tacos is your thing, be sure to eat at La Super-Rica Taqueria. This spot is perfect for day trip or a weekend getaway, read more about all the best things to do in Ventura and nearby in our guide. So cool. Suggested Hotel: Cottages for overnight use you need to book well in advance or call to see if they have any cancellations during your visit. 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 . Many visitors start their Pismo Beach day trip at the pier. About Bobo and Chichi It has so much to offer all the California road trippers. Take SR 1 again all the way to Monterey and SF. If youre looking for a more luxurious beach experience during your drive, make sure you stop in Dana Point. Cambria is a 25 minute drive from herebeachcombing, art galleries, that kind of thing. The California coast also gets a dense layer of marine fog, which makes for moody views and doesnt allow you to see as much. Getting from Merced over to the coast will be much more challenging. No matter which direction you go along Californias coast and a good chunk of the US west coast there are tons of incredible and scenic stops along the way. These are some of the most popular and iconic surf shops in Southern California. 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! In person, its absolutely massive! Alternatively, you may use. 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. The historic 115-foot tall lighthouse has been in operation since 1872 and is a great quick stop for photos. For more activities, plan to take the coast route. Its actually the longest pier on the west coast, coming in at over 1/3 mile long. This post may contain affiliate links. Since its close to the Pacific Ocean, there is a marine layer which keeps the environment moist and encourages plant growth. 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. Planning an amazing adventure by doing the San Francisco to San Diego drive or San Diego to San Francisco road trip? Hanging out at Carmel Beach can be an all-day event! . My favorites are comfortable enough for hiking yet perfect for the beach. Heres a brief overview of Big Sur well dive into more detail of our favorite spots in a bit! 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. This coastal town is great because of the incredible views, the local food, and the unique things you can do here. But for most vehicles, youll find the turn for Pfeiffer Beach at mile marker 45.64. This artwork of a coastline offers many hiking trails and different beaches to explore. 1,. Its a great spot to watch surfers catching the waves. Free shipping . $5.99 . See our Privacy Policy https://www.boboandchichi.com/privacy-policy/. 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. The State Park has 3.2 miles of beach, 2,400 acres of wilderness, and an offshore water area. Santa Barbara is one of the places you'll want to spend time in when driving from San Diego to San Francisco. In the spring and summertime youll see beautiful wildflowers, too! Great stop on your San Francisco to San Diego drive: beach, entertainment, dining, shopping, possible celebrity sightings, overnight stay. You may have to deal with road closures in the peak of wildfire season in California, which is July through October. You say you have been to CA or (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Postcard TRAIN SCENE Between Los Angeles & San Francisco California CA AK8914 . Youll find a wooden boardwalk overlooking the beach where you can walk or bike. If youre a movie buff, one of the small victorian houses right across from the pier might look familiar. Theres also several cultural landmarks like Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, Bubblegum Alley and Fremont Theater. To find the lowest fares by day and time to fly San Francisco (SFO) to San Diego with Southwest, check out our Low Fare Calendar. What better way to experience the sights and adventure is there than a road trip on the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), aka Highway 1? ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-46614611', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Denver and then San Fran. The sunsets are pretty great along Ocean Beach, too! With over 125 years of history, hosting the rich and famous, its an iconic hotel right on the beach. . Surfers can rent boards in North Manhattan Beach at Players (above the liquor store) or downtown Manhattan Beach from Spyder Surfboards or Nikau Kai. Recommended by Michelle of The Trav Nav follow on Instagram. This waterfall hike reminds me of the best waterfalls in Glacier National Park its so picturesque! 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. Fishermans' Wharf - Visit the sea lions, eat, drink, play and be merry. However, if youre lucky enough to see it during high tide, youll watch the water flow directly into the ocean. Its one of the most scenic routes in the USA! Travel Gifts, As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. There is a wide variety of hotels to choose from in Laguna Beach as well. You can try authentic tacos, burritos, and margaritas at Freds Mexican Caf and Cantina, which overlooks the ocean. For more info, see mydisclosures. Add this amazing central coast beach to your San Francisco to San Diego road trip itinerary. It was restored in 1995 and offers tours! 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. One of the areas top attractions is the Stearns Wharf. If it were me, I would most definitely stop over for a little walk to Lands End Trail and take a relaxing break from all that driving at Half Moon Bay. While it is possible to cover that distance in about 10 hours, it is much more likely that your San Francisco to Los Angeles drive time will be much longer - due to both traffic and sightseeing. 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 completely off limits due to the fragile nature of the cliffs. 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. San Luis Obispo is a nice college town. It is truly a trip to be remembered. Recommended by Anna of Anna Tee follow on Instagram. Recommended by Emilie of Love Life Abroad follow on Instagram. This is a must-see when driving along Highway 1. Ventura. If youre looking for great shopping, stop by the Fashion Island mall or head to downtown Newport Beach or Balboa Island. One of the most iconic spots in SLO is the Guadalupe Nipomo Dunes, this spot is perfect for some camping, off-roading, or photography. 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. Its literally the perfect stop on this epic California Coast drive! Wine lovers can tour area wineries for tastings with views. Congratulations, youve pretty much made it to San Diego! 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. Was wondering where is best to stop in Californiabetween San Franciscoand San Diego? The local forums can help you but you have to be more specific in what you are looking for. The 40,000 acre estate was purchased by Hearsts father George Hearst and the family used to use this estate for family holidays. It has the cutest town center inspired by Scandinavian heritage. The latter comes from a variety of wine aviations. Theres also plenty of beautiful spots to pull over and snap some photos and videos. The Big Basin Redwoods is Californias oldest state park, which was established in 1902. The surf is best in the morning before the wind picks up. You very likely could see gray, fin and humpback whales, dolphins and sea lions. As with many other California campgrounds, its important to reserve in advance to have a chance to secure a site. Otherwise youll be good mid-late summer to early fall. Be sure to check out the Pacific Coast Highway itinerary 7 days if youve got a week in the area. Depending on how much time youre able to spend, check out the boat tours or even catching some whale watching! You could easily make an entire vacation out of this small beach town, but its also perfect for a day trip! The El Dorado Park and Nature Center features almost 100 acres of activities, including walking and bike trails, golf and fishing. Definitely worth a stop on your PCH road trip! One Stop Auto Service Center. I'm 26 and love looking at street art and the vendors selling things at the tables in an open-air, linear flea market - that's on the beach, and the main neighborhood stretch (from what I know) is on Abbot Kinney, which is an awesome place as well, coffee shops and more street art. As you enter San Francisco you drive along the esteemed Golden Gate Bridge. 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. What an action-packed road trip. Enjoyed this post on the best stops along the San Francisco to San Diego road trip or San Diego to San Francisco road trip? ~ 73 miles from San Francisco & ~ 461 miles from San Diego. 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. The park offers guided hikes as well as tidepool walks and some geology lessons! 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. Also in the village, there are numerous quality restaurants, as well as wine tasting and cold brews. Without traffic, it takes about two hours to get to Downtown Los Angeles. Flights from SFO to SAN are operated 34 times a week, with an average of 5 flights per day. You can avoid it by parking on the road and hiking into the reserve. The last thing you want to do is get lost or miss one of the great stops! 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. While the fog is essential and provides much-needed moisture to the local ecosystem, its not ideal for catching the best sights of the coast. Rosenthal, Malibus first winery, even has a tasting room right on the PCH, across the street from the ocean. Find United Airlines cheap flights from San Diego to San Francisco. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-15946836', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');California beach town, while Cambria is a hamlet nestled in pine trees next to the sea. a very cute town on the coast. Recommended by Dhara of Roadtripping California follow on Facebook. . Thanks for hanging out on the blog today! Reminds me of going to Maui with kids every time! There are many galleries and tons of work from local artists. 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. Whatever you choose to do in Cambria during your PCH road trip, youll love this charming little coastal village! Anaheim is the most popular city on the route it's less than an hour from Los Angeles and 2 hours from San Diego. See the historic surfboards and imagine yourself up on this much heavier version of todays surfboard! Also, check out The Getty while youre in the neighborhood! Any other opinions and are there any hidden gems? Plus, traffic is awful around San Jose - you'll want to avoid it at all costs if you can. Lands End trail is close to the city and not too difficult for most people. 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! Big Sur has been claimed to be one of the most, if not the most beautiful state parks in all of California. If youre dedicating a few days to the Ventura area, you have to check out the Channel Islands National Park off the coast! From beaches to tacos, iconic Spanish-style architecture and water activities, Santa Barbara is a must-see. To avoid crowds, November and December are great as well as the late winter/early spring. 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