It is said that, “when you are young make sure you travel, so that you don’t miss out on the beauty of nature”.
Travelling or moving from one destination to another means, the mode of travel that one selects, adds icing on the
cake. To this we must say, ROAD TRIPS are the best to travel. There are people who are not in a hurry and love to
explore the other cities, who opt for Road trips. Road trips, especially the long ones, give you the chance to explore more, make friends, enjoy mid-spot stops, and take pictures of beauties you weren’t aware of.
There are loads of things one can do when travelling by road that is hiking, photography, trying variety of cuisine of each
location, checking the beauty of nature, shopping, etc. Read on my complete step by step guide on San Francisco to San Diego road trip.

 

Location

 

Both the cities, San Francisco and San Diego, are located on the western coastal line of California state, in the United States.

 

How far is San Diego from San Francisco by car

The distance between San Francisco and San Diego is approximately 500 miles. To be precise, distance depends on your start location in San Francisco and your end location in Diego. There are three different highways that you can take to travel: Highway 1, Highway 5 & Highway 101. Highway 1 is the longest route, highway 5 is the shortest, and Highway 101 is the ideal travel route.

  

How much Time is required to travel from San Francisco to San Diego?

 

How long is San Francisco to San Diego Route? Well, it’s approximately 500 miles or 805 kilometers. You would require 10 hours to complete the one-way road trip from San Francisco to San Diego. But if you wish to travel nonstop, you can reach your destination in around 7-7.5 hours.

How is the route?

What Scenic Beauty will I encounter During the route? As stated above, both cities are located on the coastal line, so one would have a great time traveling by road from one city to another. San francisco to san diego road trip covers beautiful beaches, oceans, hills, and many famous cities.

What Things to carry while Travelling?

It is better to carry various items along while traveling through the road. And if you are family or travelling with kids, it is a must. A few items are recommended for you to keep handy in your vehicle, which would help you while traveling.

• Food (Snacks or Main lunch or dinner menu)
• Drink (Water, Beverages)
• Extra Pair of Clothes
• Medical Kits
• Sunglasses/Hats/Caps
• Books to read while on the way

Locations on the way from San Francisco to San Diego

 

Half Moon Bay

It is the first location you would come across once you start from San Francisco. It is about 47 km from San Francisco. Half Moon Bay has a beautiful beach at its shore. This beach is very famous for the giant or big waves it has. You would find many surfers trying to catch these huge waves.

  

Davenport

Moving head from Half Moon Bay after around 1 hour’s drive, approximately 60 km, you can reach Davenport. It is a small town. There, you would find a giant piece of cliff in the ocean, its main attraction. It looks like a fin of Shark and hence is known as Shark Fin’s Cove. There is little to see around this town being small, you can move ahead in your trip.

   

Santa Cruz

To the South of Daven Port, the following location would be Santa Cruz, which is around 17-18 km. Due to its beaches and redwood trees, it is popular amongst tourists. You can have a walk at Wilder Ranch State Park. To have fun, visit Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. You can also visit Natural Bridges Monarch Trail to see the beautiful Monarch Butterflies. You can get good options for having lunch as well as dinner.

  

Capitola

Once you travel around 9-10 km from Santa Cruz, reach Capitola. Capitola is a lovely town located at the seaside. Its main attraction is the colorful cottages built at the seashore itself. You can go shopping as well while being here.

Monterey

One of the famous tourist destinations on the way to San Diego is Monetary. It is 1 hour’s journey from Capitola. A must-visit is the world-renowned aquarium and Cannery Row. You can enjoy an authentic seafood lunch here.

Pacific Grove

Next to Monterey town is the city of Pacific Grove a travel time of about 15-25 minutes. There needs to be more to see here. But I surely recommend it if you wish to relax around. Many retired people come down and settle here or come on vacations.

       

Carmel by the Sea

If you are looking for the best scenic beauty, then your search is over. An hour an hour’s drive (30 minutes) from Pacific Grove, and you reach there. Seeing the beautiful fairytale-like cottages is a beauty in itself. There is only a little to explore here besides the cottage and beach.

Big Sur

Moving ahead, we come to Big Sur, about 45 minutes’ journey. If you are a photographer or love capturing nature, this destination is just for you. The beautiful cliffs and landscapes are every photographer’s dream to capture. Also photographic is McWay Falls. You can go hiking as well.

  

San Simeon

San Simeon is the next place that comes while driving to San Diego. Its main attraction is the historic Hearst Castle, which takes you on a tour through its houses and gardens. Also, you can visit the Elephants Seal.

  

Cambria

Cambria is a small town. You may skip this as there isn’t much to see here. It is about 15 km from San Simeon. But if you are looking for a road trip break and want to relax, you can stay here.

  

San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo is a town that comes in between while going to San Diego. It is approximately 54-55 km from Cambria. You can find many shops and restaurants in this town.

   

Pismo Beach

A long, thin stretch of land along the cost with a small town is Pismo Beach. It Is about 21 km drive from San Luis Obispo. You can stay back in this town for a break from traveling.

    

Solvang

87 km drive from Pismo Beach will take you to another world. It is the Danish Capital. You can find many windmills around this tiny town and delicious food.

  

Santa Barbara

Of all the locations you come across while traveling from San Francisco to San Diego, Santa Barbara is a must-stop and visit destination. It has an excellent Mediterranean climate to feel. It attracts tourists mainly for its beautiful beaches. It is approximately 74-75 km from Solvang, which would take you around 1-1.5 hrs to travel.

  

Los Angeles

One of the most famous cities in the world from the United States, Los Angeles, would be on your way on the road trip from San Francisco to San Diego. No one can miss to stop by here. As you know, Hol, plywood is in this city. This city being big gives you experience of the typical modern city elsewhere. You name it, and you get it here.

      

Anaheim

your next destination while driving must also be noticed. That is Anaheim. You will find the world-famous Disneyland in the town of Anaheim. Your kids and family would love to experience all Disney land offers.

  

Encinitas

Before you reach your final destination, the last but not the most miniature beach you would encounter would be Encinitas Beach. The travel time you would need is around 2 hours from Anaheim. You can visit the Botanical Garden here along with the beaches.

 

San Diego

Finally, moving into your destination, you can cover the city as well as the beach in the town of San Diego. It would take you approximately 45 mins to travel to San Diego from Encinitas.

Conclusion

During Your san francisco to san diego road trip, If you wish to explore all of the above locations, you need to spare around a week’s time, say 6-7 days. But if you want to travel along going from start to end you can reach in 8-10 hours in 1 day. Leaving early in the morning is recommended to get in early by the evening and avoid late night reaching San Diego. I hope you have got a complete guide and the read was fruitful.