Check out the best driving route from San Francisco to San Diego, one of the most incredible ways to see all of California.
Tour from San Francisco to San Diego
One of the best ways to get to know California is by visiting some of its main cities. Many tourists have embraced the idea and created a great travel itinerary from San Diego to San Francisco, getting to know everything around:
However, we have a suggestion that makes the trip even better. The tip is to take the opposite route: from San Francisco to San Diego. This way, you’ll drive along the coast, with a privileged view of California’s beaches, while driving along Highway 1, one of the safest highways in the entire state.
Along the way, just spend a few days on each beach and you’ll experience one of the best trips of your life.
Check out our itinerary tip below:
Days 1 and 2 in San Francisco
At the start of our itinerary, it’s worth enjoying the best that San Francisco has to offer. Therefore, our tip is to set aside up to 2 days to visit the city’s main tourist attractions, such as the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco’s official postcard, which can be visited either on foot, by bike or even by car. Many say that the sensation of driving over the bridge is incredible.
Another interesting place in the city is Lombard Street, a popular street with tourists, which is shaped like a curve and a zig-zag, amusing everyone who drives along it. You can also rent the famous yellow trolleys to ride along the street with your friends or family. During the tour, you’ll be enchanted by the beautiful gardens in the area, which make for great photo opportunities.
It’s worth noting that both tours are free in the city, which is a great way to enjoy San Francisco and save money for future visits. However, if money is not an issue for you, take advantage of your stay in the city to take a tour of Alcatraz Island, the site of the most secure prison in the United States.
The site attracts a lot of interest from tourists looking to find out more about how the most famous prison on the planet, which housed crooks like Al Capone, worked.
Day 3 in Half Moon Bay
With your rental car, you’ll start your journey to San Diego. Your first stop will be Half Moon Bay, a small, quiet California beach.
Some people aren’t attracted to it because of its icy sea, but it’s an excellent place for those who like to surf, as there are plenty of instructors in the area to teach you how to surf from scratch. But even if surfing isn’t your thing, take a break to cool off and enjoy the day there.
Day 4 in Pescadero
Just 30 minutes from Half Moon Bay is another excellent California town: Pescadero. Due to its small size, comprising a little more than one street, there are no major excursions to do in the town, apart from two excellent Pescadero highlights.
Firstly, visit its beautiful beach, Pescadero State Beach, which attracts many visitors to spend the afternoon enjoying a cool breeze and a paradisiacal landscape that makes for incredible photos. The second highlight is its lighthouse, Pigeon Point Lighthouse, located on the Pescadero coastline. From the top, the lighthouse offers a great view of the American west coast.
These are two cool and free tours that can be done in just one morning or a whole day, depending on how much time you have available.
- Important tip: San Francisco is a city with many tourist attractions, such as museums and tours. That’s why our tip is to always buy your tickets in advance. We buy everything on this website that has the best price.
Day 5 in Santa Cruz
Your next destination is Santa Cruz, about 45 km from Pescadero. There, too, you’ll have a divine beach to relax on its white sand and swim a lot in its blue sea. However, what really sets Santa Cruz apart is its emphasis on sport, where you’ll see lots of people surfing, skateboarding and doing many other physical activities.
Whether you’re with family or friends, you’re guaranteed to have fun there. There are several volleyball courts on the waterfront for everyone to play lots of team sports. And after a good workout, there’s nothing better than cooling off on Santa Cruz beach.
Take the opportunity to have lunch in one of the city’s excellent restaurants. And on your way out, be sure to stop by the Surf Museum, the first in the world dedicated to the history of this sport.
Day 6 in Monterey
Monterey is another city in California that offers its visitors some very nice excursions. The Monterey Bay Aquarium, for example, is a great aquarium that houses many species of marine animals. It’s one of the kids’ favorite places to visit in California.
Another special place in Monterey is Old Fisherman’s Wharf, a pier on the city’s coastline where you can come into contact with the sea lions that swim by, while gazing at the horizon. Finally, for those who like to buy lots of souvenirs, don’t miss Cannery Row, which has restaurants, cafés and lots of little shops that tempt every tourist.
Day 7 in Carmel-by-the-sea
At the halfway point of your trip, you’ll spend the day in Carmel-by-the-sea, the ideal city for enjoying California’s gastronomy. As well as having some of the most excellent restaurants in the region, there is no shortage of cultural entertainment in the city’s many art galleries. You can learn a lot about California culture through the exhibitions.
In short, your seventh day will take you out of the beach routine and into a more cultural excursion. This will enrich your trip even more.
Day 8 in Big Sur
Big Sur is another of California’s paradises, with the most beautiful stretch of road on your entire trip. The landscape of the region is totally splendid, surrounded by natural beauty: the mountain range on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other.
To make the most of a day in the city, the tip is to prioritize the region’s main tourist attractions: Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and the Bixby Brigde and Rocky Creek Bridges.
One of the city’s postcards, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is a tourist favorite, with a wonderful waterfall and beautiful scenery, making for an unforgettable trip to the city.
Big Sur’s bridges are perfect for those who want to take a relaxing walk while appreciating the city’s beauty from every angle.
Day 9 in Santa Barbara
One city in California that is a real charmer is Santa Barbara. And the best thing is that as well as being charming, the region has plenty of attractions for visitors to enjoy the best of the city. There are several museums scattered around the streets of Santa Barbara that deserve your attention. Another highlight is the Courthouse, a building that offers an incredible view of the city from the top of its tower.
Day 10 in Malibu
You’ve certainly heard of Malibu, one of the most famous beach regions in the world. Its beaches illustrate the city’s postcards, with breathtaking landscapes. A curiosity is that the architecture of the houses in the area always attracts the attention of visitors, due to their primitive, large and luxurious structures.
Be sure to spend a relaxing afternoon in the city to reinvigorate your mood for your next destination.
- Important tip: to make the most of your trip to San Francisco, staying in the best areas is essential. So, if you want, check out our article explaining the main areas, the hotels and how you can save a lot on accommodation.
Days 11 and 12 in Los Angeles
After several days of travel, you’ll finally arrive in Los Angeles, the capital of cinema. There is no shortage of good sightseeing options to suit all tastes. For those who like to shop a lot, the obligatory stop is Rodeo Drive, a street with the best designer stores in Beverly Hills, alongside architecture similar to Venice.
And movie and entertainment lovers can enjoy Universal Studios in Hollywood. There are many incredible attractions, extreme simulators and some excellent tours of the film studios of the movie classics that everyone loves. And the fun doesn’t end until night falls. In Los Angeles, you’ll find plenty of restaurants, bars, pubs and clubs perfect for partying hard.
Days 13, 14 and 15 in San Diego
Finally, you’ll arrive at your last destination: San Diego. After two intense weeks, you’ll finally enjoy the last city on your itinerary while longing for everything you’ve experienced.
However, you should know that your trip will end on a high note, as San Diego is one of the best places in California. Like other destinations, San Diego is home to beautiful beaches such as Pacific Beach and La Jolla. They have spaces for practicing physical activities such as surfing, skateboarding, cycling, hiking and others.
San Diego’s main attractions include SeaWorld, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Coronado Island, Balboa Park and the USS Midway Museum. There’s no shortage of entertainment options.
How can you rent a car at an unbeatable price?
We’re going to give you some important tips to save a lot on renting a car in San Francisco, even if you get a full-size car from the biggest car rental companies in California and the United States.
The first is to rent the car as far in advance as possible. The earlier you book your car, the cheaper you’ll pay. If you leave it too late, there will be few cars available, prices will be higher and you run the risk of not getting the model you want.
Another tip is to search on the Internet, as this will make it much easier to find good prices and analyze the car models available. If you want to do the search, click here on Car Rental Comparator. In just a few seconds, you’ll have all the options for renting a car in San Francisco from the best companies on your screen, and you can choose the cheapest one. You really will save a lot.
Save money on your trip to San Francisco:
Tickets: find out where to buy your San Francisco tickets in the cheapest and safest way. You can save up to 40%!
Car: if you are thinking about renting one this is the best website. It compares the price at all rental companies and finds unbeatable prices. You can save up to 30%!
Mobile chip: we always use this chip. It’s electronic (eSIM), you install it instantly and you can use your cell phone’s Internet anywhere in the world.
Hotels: our article on where to stay in San Francisco. You will find out the best areas and how to save a lot on the hotel.
Travel insurance: medical care in another country is very expensive and it is extremely important to take out travel insurance for any trip abroad. This is the website we always take out our insurance on. Reliable and at a good price.
Transfer: do you need one from the airport to the hotel? Find out here how to book and for the lowest price!
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