Youll see gorgeous views of the ocean, the rugged coastline, and youll get a chance to explore a secluded beach all without leaving the city! The average train journey between these two cities takes 13 hours and 56 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 13 hours and 20 minutes. Okay, exactly how excited are you for this trip? San Francisco To San Diego Road Trip Factfile. 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. to San Francisco, CA, Scenic drive from San Francisco to Las Vegas, Staypineapple, An Elegant Hotel, Union Square, Inn On Grove - San Francisco Civic Center, Holiday Inn San Francisco-Golden Gateway, an IHG Hotel. Was going to book Yosemite National Park with the hostel as they organise it. ~ 73 miles from San Francisco & ~ 461 miles from San Diego. Its a short 10-15 minute ride south to Manhattan Beach Pier, where you can walk around and check out the cute shops. Thanks for your information much appreciated. Great stop on your San Francisco to San Diego drive for: beach bumming, dining, drinks, shopping, entertainment, overnight stay, ~ 429 miles from San Francisco & ~ 86 miles from San Diego. Halfway Point Between San Diego, CA and San Francisco, CA If you want to meet halfway between San Diego, CA and San Francisco, CA or just make a stop in the middle of your trip, the exact coordinates of the halfway point of this route are 35.561790 and -119.600899, or 35 33' 42.444" N, 119 36' 3.2364" W. For the second night I would go to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? El Matador has irresistible cliffs overlooking the gorgeous beach and caves to explore, which makes it a lovely place to sit and watch the waves crash but the area is too rocky to swim. Great stop on your San Francisco to San Diego drive for: beach, hiking, overnight. . 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. Similarly, if you are driving south, the Portland to San Francisco road trip itinerary takes about 20 hours, considering you begin the trip in Cannon Beach and then follow Highway 101 south to California. One of many Orange County beaches to stop at on your San Francisco to San Diego drive is Seal 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. Cambria: the best overnight stop on Highway 101. Following his inheritance and wealth from publishing, William Hearst began construction in 1919. Afterward, visitors can walk around to go shopping at the souvenirs and boutique shops. There you can take a leisurely walk along the winding pathways, feed the koi, and relax at the Zen Garden. You could spend an hour here or an afternoon, depending on how much time you have to make the PCH drive. Unlike other American metropolises, the tallest buildings barely . 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. Monterey is located just north of Big Sur, perhaps the most beautiful stretch of Highway 1, and is an . And dont forget the awesome boardwalk corndogs! Any suggestions as to where we might spend 2 nights on our way to San Fran? To reach the midway point from San Francisco to San Diego, you would drive for about 4 hours, 3 minutes or roughly 251 miles from San Diego to the halfway stop. Check out these stops at the very least. Check the hours before you go as its not open 24/7. Its a great spot to watch surfers catching the waves. Pack a picnic lunch to enjoy in this gorgeous green space along the San Gabriel River. A couple of things to add to your Seal Beach checklist are the Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge and Seal Beach food tours! This spot is great for awesome road trip photos! 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. Smog Pass Or Dont Pay San Diego. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-15949022', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');San Francisco by 250 miles in either direction. Traveling from San Diego to San Francisco. Well a fun area in San Diego is Ocean Beach. See here: http://tinyurl.com/c3nazz, P.S. The top cities between Los Angeles and San Diego are Anaheim, La Jolla, Carlsbad, Temecula, Laguna Beach, Long Beach, Pasadena, Escondido, Riverside, and Dana Point. 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. Yeah hiring a (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Enjoy non-stop flights from San Francisco to San Diego with Alaska, Southwest, or United Airlines. If youre doing your San Francisco to San Diego road trip or San Diego to San Francisco road trip in the winter, Solvang is especially charming in the winter when its decked out for the holidays! These are some of the most popular and iconic surf shops in Southern California. Visit the art galleries, golfing, shopping, relaxing spas and more! This central coast is a magnificent escape for those travelers looking for a paradise. Youll find a wooden boardwalk overlooking the beach where you can walk or bike. Check out our guide to how to pick the best travel insurance for a few different options depending on what your needs are and type of coverage youre looking for. Ticket prices start at $30 for adults and $15 for children. Great stop on your San Francisco to San Diego drive for: beach, wine and dine, shopping, art galleries, overnight stay, ~ 146 miles from San Francisco & ~ 415 miles from San Diego. The top cities between Los Angeles and San Diego are Anaheim, La Jolla, Carlsbad, Temecula, Laguna Beach, Long Beach, Pasadena, Escondido, Riverside, and Dana Point. 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. The distance between San Diego and San Francisco is approximately 458 miles, or 738 kilometers. You will have the final verdict once you complete all the stops on your San Francisco to San Diego road trip. Find this post helpful? There is so much to do at Fisherman's Wharf. Stroll the wooden boardwalk above the snow-white beach of Spanish Bay going North or South as you begin your day. The El Dorado Park and Nature Center features almost 100 acres of activities, including walking and bike trails, golf and fishing. Youre in for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure! The purple sand is from manganese garnet that washes down the mountainside after it rains. The surf is best in the morning before the wind picks up. The last stop on this San Francisco to San Diego road trip takes you all the way to the tip of Southern California. Youll feel the sensational gravitational pull on your body while you visit. Bixby bridge and Carmel by the sea. Customize this itinerary based on what youd love to do most and how much time you have. Laguna Beach is known for being one of the most beautiful California coastal towns with much to do and so much to see. Theres a long walking trail right along the beach, great for exercising or renting bikes for a scenic ride. 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). It's such a gorgeous drive. What do the odds say about the game? 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. Recommended by Francesca of Homeroom Travel follow on Instagram. For a more artsy vibe, be sure to check out the Funk Zone for murals, art galleries, boutique shops and restaurants. Admire the charming cottages on the residential sections of Main Street, their gardens spilling over with colorful flowers in season. These stops are all amazing! 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! There is an entrance fee of $11.25 charged per vehicle if you wish to enter the private community of Pebble Beach and discover 17-Mile Drive. Located along the Central California Coast, San Luis Obispo is nicknamed The Happiest City in America. The town offers year-round outdoor opportunities and rich culture, but it is overshadowed by the glamorous Santa Barbara located south of it and the famous Big Sur to the north. Avila also offers plenty of opportunities to get active during your San Francisco to San Diego road trip! Then, the beach has miles of white sand. Another amazing stop on the San Francisco to San Diego drive or San Diego to San Francisco drive is Big Sur. Better yet, one of our favorite things to do in San Luis Obispo is stay at the eccentric Madonna Inn which loves the color pink and each hotel room is uniquely themed from bright pink glitter walls to cave rooms built into actual rocky terrain. Happy road tripping! 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. Outdoor enthusiasts are in for a treat on a visit to Long Beach! Recommended by Dhara of Roadtripping California follow on Facebook. 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. 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. However, if you want to see all the highlights along the Pacific Coast Highway, you should aim to spend at least 10 days driving between the two cities. With abundant kelp beds and plenty of sea life, Laguna Beach is a divers paradise. 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. And not only is the work fantastic, but the estate itself is absolutely breathtaking. Travel Tips It is truly a trip to be remembered. Be sure to check out the Pacific Coast Highway itinerary 7 days if youve got a week in the area. Planning on sightseeing in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? It has the feeling of many of the old royal estates from Europe and beyond. Are you going to go to Hearst Castle? Each island offers something special to their visitors, a cant miss experience during your San Francisco to San Diego road trip. It's slow this time of year, so not as critical to buy tickets in advance. 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. This fog can happen year-round, but is most prevalent in May and June in most areas of the coast. However, if you're looking for a more coastal experience, I suggest a night in either Pismo Beach or Cambria. Youll notice their neighboring winery, Rocky Oaks, perched high on the next hill (appointment required). If youre hungry, opt to grab some food at Capulin Eats and Provisions, La Botte Italian Restaurant or Toro Loco. Reservations are recommended for this top rated Pacific Ocean experience. After you are full, head to Manhattan Beach E-Bike Rentals to rent a bike for the day. There are also many places to stop and grab a quick bite, cup of coffee, or stretch those legs.