San Francisco to San Diego is the most popular section to drive along the famous California Highway One road trip route, which is also known as the Pacific Coast Highway. We drove it in 2019 and we were shocked by how many excellent places there were to stop along the 600-mile coastal road. Our favorites included Carmel, Big Sur, Solvang, Santa Barbara and the various golden sandy beaches throughout. It’s an amazing road trip, so you’re in for a real treat.
In this guide we show you the 23 awesome places to stop on your San Francisco to San Diego road trip, and as a bonus we’ll throw in our itinerary ideas for 7 days, 10 days and 14 days at the end.
Our Experience
We spent 12 days driving the California coastline from San Francisco to San Diego back in the fall of 2019 as part of a three month American southwest road trip. Since then we’ve driven more of the most popular US road trips and we can honestly say that driving from SF to San Diego is one of our favorites.
It was our first time in California, so we allocated 3 days each for exploring San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego. That left us 3 days for the coastline drive. In hindsight we would have given ourselves an extra day or two for the drive because there’s so much to see and do.
We stayed a night in each of Monterey, Morro Bay and Santa Barbara between San Francisco and Los Angeles. And we personally visited every place listed in this guide, which you’ll see with our photos.
Best San Francisco To San Diego Road Trip Stops
Before you can plan your San Francisco to San Diego road trip itinerary, first you need to know where you’re going to stop in between so you can decide on how many days you need.
So what are the best places to see on a road trip from San Francisco to San Diego?
Let’s take a look at 23 stops you can add to your California Pacific Coast Highway road trip itinerary. Later in the guide we’ll show you how to visit these places with 7-14 days on the coastline.
Already know where you want to stop and just want to see itinerary ideas? Skip through the stops to our itineraries.
1. San Francisco
- Time required: 3 days
- Top tip: Don’t miss Twin Peaks and Coit Tower for city views
- Where to stay: CitizenM Union Square
San Francisco is one of the top US vacation spots thanks to a world famous suspension bridge, a notorious former prison out in its bay and a fabled cable car system. We’ve visited a few times and highly recommend you allow for at least 2 days on your itinerary.
SF is filled with unique things to do and see, great food and a chilled vibe. Spend your time at museums or exploring walkable neighborhoods like Embarcadero, Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown, Fillmore and Mission.
Our San Francisco guides:
- How to spend 3 days in San Francisco
- The best things to do in San Francisco
- Best places to stay in San Francisco
2. Golden Gate Bridge
- Time required: 2-3 hours
- Top tip: Start in Marin headland and walk back to SF
- Where to stay: Fairmont Heritage Ghirardelli Square
San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge is the most photographed bridge on the planet. You can’t miss the famous international orange color, which is instantly recognizable. If you’re lucky you will see the Golden Gate Bridge piercing out of lingering fog in San Francisco Bay.
You can see the bridge from a number of areas around SF, but Battery Spencer and Marshall’s Beach are 2 of the most iconic photo locations. Even if you plan to skip the big cities on your road trip, you should at least see the Golden Gate Bridge at the beginning or end.
Further Reading: Best views of the Golden Gate Bridge
3. Alcatraz
- Time required: 3-4 hours including ferry shuttles
- Top tip: The Alcatraz night tour has bonus areas
- Where to stay: Hotel Zephyr San Francisco
There are times when tours can do a disservice to historic monuments or landmarks. Thankfully, Alcatraz is not one of those times! Both the day and night tours of Alcatraz prison are filled with excellent information, special talks about escape attempts and locking systems, and so much more.
You’ll board an Alcatraz ferry at Pier 33 but be sure to book in advance to avoid disappointment on the day. Audio headsets play commentary in multiple languages. If you plan to spend a few days in SF, we can’t recommend Alcatraz highly enough.
Further Reading: What you can expect on the Alcatraz tours
4. Half Moon Bay State Beach
- Distance from last stop: 30 miles from San Francisco
- Time required: 1 hour
- Top tip: Limited parking on the roads nearby
- Where to stay: Beach House Half Moon Bay
Half Moon Bay beach is the first major stop after leaving San Francisco. This 4 mile long beach belongs to the State of California and that means you have to pay $10 to park your car. Get used to this because it happens a lot on the Pacific Coast Highway road trip from San Francisco to San Diego!
If you left SF in late afternoon or early evening, enjoy spending sunset on the beach. But if this is just the start of your day, don’t spend too long here because there’s plenty more sand to come.
5. Pigeon Point Lighthouse
- Distance from last stop: 21 miles from Half Moon Bay
- Time required: 30 minutes to 1 hour
- Top tip: Sunset is the best time to see the lighthouse
- Where to stay: Pigeon Point Lighthouse
The next stop on your road trip is Pigeon Point Lighthouse, which is the tallest lighthouse on America’s west coast. Built in 1871, the towering 115 ft high white lighthouse is incredibly picturesque as it sits perched atop the rocky California coastline.
The lighthouse looks exactly like a New England lighthouse and still actively aids navigation. There’s worse places to watch the sunset if you left SF later in the day, especially if you’re into photography. You can even sleep inside the lighthouse because it’s now also a hostel.
6. Shark Fin Cove
- Distance from last stop: 18 miles from Pigeon Point Lighthouse
- Time required: 1-2 hours
- Top tip: There’s a hidden sea cave on the beach below
- Where to stay: Inn at Depot Hill
Shark Fin Cove is one of many outstanding rock formations you will drive past on the road trip from San Francisco to San Diego. Sunset is by far the best time of day to photograph Shark Fin Cove, but you can still enjoy the beach if you arrive during the day.
The huge and intriguing shark fin shaped rock is a great place to visit when traveling with the kids. After joking that the biggest shark in the world lives here, take them down to the beach to see the shark’s fin framed through a small hidden cave-like arch.
7. Natural Bridges State Beach
- Distance from last stop: 9 miles from Shark Fin Cove
- Time required: 1 hour (longer for sunset)
- Top tip: Watch the sunset here on day one
- Where to stay: Inn at Depot Hill
Natural Bridges state beach is another place you have to pay to park but it’s well worth it if you’re arriving just before sunset. At low tide, you can explore rock pools to discover sea stars and crabs. Just off shore you might see otters and seals playing. And maybe even migrating whales if you’re lucky.
The beach is small but clean and neat. It’s focal point is a stand alone rock formation with an arch just a few meters out into the Pacific Ocean. We watched as dozens of shore birds waded along the beach as the ocean flowed and ebbed gently with a stunning orange sky at dusk.
8. Monterey
- Distance from last stop: 45 miles from Natural Bridges state beach
- Time required: 2-3 hours
- Top tip: Good place to spend a spare night north of Big Sur
- Where to stay: Monterey Plaza
The charming town of Monterey is perfect for a morning stroll. Don’t miss Cannery Row which was once the center of Sardine packing factories, before being converted into restaurants, galleries and shops. We spent our first night in Monterey.
The major highlight of Monterey Bay is its aquarium, which is widely regarded as one of the best in the United States. It was the first to care for and display a great white shark and house a kelp forest. Further around the headland you will also find Lovers Point Park and Point Pinos Lighthouse.
Further Reading: The best hotels in Monterey
9. 17 Mile Drive
- Distance from last stop: 2 miles from Monterey Bay
- Time required: 2-4 hours
- Top tip: Look out for some of the biggest houses you’ll ever see
- Where to stay: Carriage House Inn
17 mile drive is a scenic coastal road filled with beaches, rocky headlands and super-sized mansions. Pebble beach is a gated community and 17 mile drive is part of the community so you do have to pay $10.50 to drive the road but it’s well worth it.
You’ll find a dozen or so highlights to stop off along the road to admire scenery, marine life and golf courses. The most famous attraction is called Lone Cypress Tree, which stands guard alone on the edge of a cliff overlooking the Pacific.
10. Pebble Beach Golf Club
- Distance from last stop: At the end of 17 mile drive
- Time required: 1 hour
- Top tip: You can walk out to an 18th hole viewing area
- Where to stay: Candle Light Inn
This is a stop for the golfers! Pebble Beach has hosted the US Open on 6 occasions, the last being in 2019 when Gary Woodland won his first major. With a stunning backdrop over the Pacific Ocean, it’s easy to see why this golf course is so popular.
Pebble beach is widely regarded as one of the best golf courses in the world and it can be played by members of the public. However, you’ll need to stump up a cool $525 for green fees plus $92.50 for a caddie. The museum and club grounds are well worth a visit even if you don’t play the course.
11. Carmel By The Sea
- Distance from last stop: 2.5 miles from Pebble Beach golf club
- Time required: 2 hours
- Top tip: Carmel Beach is easily walkable from town
- Where to stay: Carriage House Inn
Carmel-by-the-Sea is one of the most attractive places you will visit on your San Francisco to San Diego road trip. But it’s very expensive. If you’ve saved up for a couple of hotel splurges in your itinerary, Carmel is one of the places to cash in.
Walk around the lovely shops, boutiques, art galleries and restaurants before walking down Ocean Avenue to Carmel Beach. Grab a coffee or an ice cream and soak up the scenery of this idyllic town.
Road Trip Tip: There are very few hotel options along Big Sur between Carmel and San Simeon. Plan to leave Carmel no later than 1:00pm if you’re traveling north to south, otherwise you’ll end up driving 30-40 miles of the best stretch of the PCH in the dark.
12. Bixby Creek Bridge
- Distance from last stop: 15 miles from Carmel-by-the-Sea
- Time required: 1 hour
- Top tip: Park at Castle Rock Viewpoint
- Where to stay: Ventana
Bixby Bridge is one of the most popular stops along the California Pacific Coast Highway and it’s the first major attraction along the famous Big Sur stretch of coast. The bridge is exceptionally photogenic, so as you might imagine it’s selfie central and you should prepare for crowds!
Parking is a real challenge at Bixby Bridge. There’s only one small dirt packed lot on the north side of the bridge and it’s usually full. The view of Bixby Bridge with its Pacific Ocean backdrop is amazing but we personally wouldn’t stick around if it’s crazy busy.
Further Reading: Where to stay in Big Sur
13. Point Sur
- Distance from last stop: 6.6 miles from Bixby bridge creek
- Time required: 30 minutes to 1 hour (unless taking guided tour)
- Top tip: Best visited earlier in the day
- Where to stay: Big Sur River Inn
Point Sur is a California State Park and Naval Facility located in the heart of Big Sur’s stretch of coastline. Over time, erosion has formed a beach between the mainland and Point Sur, which can be walked on with a guided tour on Wednesdays and weekends throughout the year for $15 per person.
The huge volcanic rock standing alone at the end of Point Sur is home to Point Sur Lighthouse, which was completed in 1889 after multiple shipwrecks in the area. The lighthouse plays a key role today in preventing more sea floor wreckages off the Big Sur coast.
Road Trip Tip: A little further south from Point Sur you’ll find Pfeiffer Beach which is one of the most famous beaches on the California coast. It’s worth a stop if you have time but we would prioritize other spots in Big Sur first.
14. Partington Cove
- Distance from last stop: 18 miles from Point Sur
- Time required: 2 hours
- Top tip: Wear shoes with good grips for the hike
- Where to stay: San Simeon
Partington Cove is one of the most popular hikes on the drive from San Francisco to San Diego along California Highway 1. Park on a curved part of the road, find a metal gated entrance and follow the short but fairly steep trail down into the canyon.
Turn right at the first junction and shortly after turn left before crossing a wooden bridge. Pass through a 60 foot wooden tunnel and Partington Cove will open up at the end. This is a wonderful place to sit and watch the waves crashing gently into the coastline.
Road Trip Tip: From here you’ll need to continue to at least San Simeon for accommodation options if driving north to south. Cambria and Morro Bay offer more hotel options after San Simeon.
15. McWay Falls
- Distance from last stop: 2 miles from Partington Cove
- Time required: 1 hour
- Top tip: Take your ND filter and tripod for long exposures
- Where to stay: Cambria
McWay Falls was our favorite natural feature of the entire drive from San Francisco to San Diego. It’s not every day you get to see a perfectly streamlined waterfall plunge off a rock and land on a beach just steps from the ocean.
The walk to McWay Falls viewing point does not begin on the main road. You need to walk inside the parking lot and take a path passing underneath Highway 1. We visited McWay Falls at around 5:00pm in November just before sunset and it was packed.
16. Morro Bay
- Distance from last stop: 81 miles from McWay Falls
- Time required: 2 hours
- Top tip: Don’t miss the beef sandwiches at Hofbrau der Albatross
- Where to stay: Masterpiece Hotel
Morro Bay is asmall waterfront city named after a 580 ft tall volcanic rock called Morro Rock. A quaint harbor area is protected by the huge rock, making for calm waters and paddling opportunities.
Sea otters are regular visitors to the marinas and often play in the shallow water. Morro rock is a prettyawesome sight, particularly when it draws in swirling and colorful clouds at dawn or dusk. This is where we spent the second night on our California Pacific Coast Highway road trip.
Further Reading: Where to stay in Morro Bay
17. San Luis Obispo
- Distance from last stop: 14 miles from Morro Bay
- Time required: 2 hours
- Top tip: Scout Coffee near Bubblegum Alley has excellent coffee
- Where to stay: Garden Street Inn
San Luis Obispo – or SLO Cal for short – is one of California’s oldest European founded cities.Oddly, the quirky main attraction in San Luis Obispo is an alleyway that has been completely covered in bubble gum. Yep, you read that right!
We were intrigued, so we parked up on the Main Street right next to the alley and true to its word, there’s not a single bit of concrete showing. SLO Cal is the home of California Polytechnic University, a popular farmers market and Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa.
18. Pismo Beach
- Distance from last stop: 12 miles from San Luis Obispo
- Time required: 1 hour
- Top tip: Oyster Loft is a cracking seafood restaurant
- Where to stay: Inn at the Pier
Pismo Beach is a laid back beach town with one of those classic wooden piers stretching out over 1,000 ft into the Pacific Ocean. As with most stops along the California Pacific Coast Highway road trip, Pismo Beach pier is best seen at sunset.
Nearby you can visit Dinosaur Caves Park, which provides elevated views over the pier and beach. You can also visit a eucalyptus tree grove created for Monarch Butterflies between November and February.
19. Solvang
- Distance from last stop: 64 miles from Pismo Beach
- Time required: 2 hours
- Top tip: Turn up a side street for free parking
- Where to stay: Hotel Corque
Solvang is a picturesque town offering a taste of Denmark in sunny California. This is one of the best and most unique stops on a road trip between San Francisco and San Diego. We strongly recommend you spare a few hours to see Solvang, or better yet spend a night if you have time.
Traditional Danish architecture, a windmill and rows of boutique stores will keep you busy. Don’t miss Mortensen’s bakery, Copenhagen sausage garden, and the countless coffee shops and chocolatiers. The entire town is stunning so be sure to explore each and every street.
Further Reading: Where to stay in Solvang
20. Santa Barbara
- Distance from last stop: 46 miles from Solvang
- Time required: 1 day
- Top tip: Drive CA-154 into Santa Barbara for amazing views
- Where to stay: La Playa Inn
Santa Barbara has been dubbed the American Riviera thanks to an upscale food and drinks scene, extensive Spanish Colonial influence and Mediterranean climate. The classy city is a perfect place to stop and unwind for a day or two if you have time in your itinerary and money in the bank.
You can sample world famous wines and eat at fantastic restaurants along State Street. Consider a day trip to Channel Islands National Park, or maybe Santa Barbara Zoo if you’re road tripping with the kids. We spent our third night between SF and LA here in Santa Barbara and we really enjoyed it.
Further Reading: Where to stay in Santa Barbara
21. Los Angeles
- Distance from last stop: 100 miles from Santa Barbara
- Time required: 2 to 4 days
- Top tip: Use the metro to avoid sitting in traffic
- Where to stay: Hollywood Celebrity
Los Angeles needs no introduction! The city of angels is world famous for Hollywood and movies but there’s so much more going on in LA, so you’ll need a minimum of 2 full days to explore. After a lot of driving it’ll be nice to park the car and leave it as you explore the glitz and glamour of Tinseltown.
Hollywood, Santa Monica, Downtown LA, movie studio tours, watching a live screening of a game show or talk show, the Hollywood sign and Griffith Observatory are just some of things you can’t miss in Los Angeles.
Our LA guides:
- Best things to do on a first visit to Los Angeles
- The best places to stay in Los Angeles
22. Hollywood Movie Studio Tour
- Time required: 3 hours
- Top tip: Book in advance to avoid disappointment
- Where to stay: The Charlie West Hollywood
Hollywood movie studio tours are the quintessential tourist attraction for first time visitors to LA. We can vouch for the high quality Warner Bros studio tour but you can also choose between Sony, Paramount and Universal studio tours.
You’ll see old movie sets, studio lots set up for currently running tv shows, iconic costumes, sound stages, exhibits and props. The top exhibits at Warner Bros include DC, Batman, Friends, Big Bang Theory and Harry Potter.
Further Reading: Our review of the Warner Bros studio tour
23. San Diego
- Distance from last stop: 120 miles from Los Angeles
- Time required: 2-3 days
- Top tip: Don’t miss the various beaches
- Where to stay: Staypineapple
There’s no better place to end the epic California Pacific Coast Highway road trip than America’s finest city, San Diego. It’s one of our personal favorite US cities and we suggest you allow at least 2 full days to see the best of San Diego.
You’ll find a laid back vibe, a perfect climate and a fantastic foodie scene. Balboa Park, Gaslamp, Coronado, La Jolla, Old Town and every beach from Torrey Pines back into town should’t be missed as you finish your San Francisco to San Diego road trip.
Our San Diego guides:
- How to spend 3 days in San Diego
- Best places to stay in San Diego
7 Days San Francisco To San Diego Road Trip Itinerary
Our advice for such a short trip is to consider only spending one day in each of the big cities or skipping one entirely. For instance, you could drive from Santa Barbara straight through to San Diego. Or you could end the trip in LA.
Let’s take a look at an action packed example of how you could squeeze some of these stops into just one week:
- Day 1 – Alcatraz, Fisherman’s Wharf, Golden Gate Bridge (sleep SF)
- Day 2 – Half Moon Bay, Pigeon Point, Shark Fin Cove, Natural Bridges, Monterey (sleep Monterey)
- Day 3 – 17 Mile Drive, Pebble Beach, Carmel, Bixby Bridge, Point Sur, Partington Cove, McWay Falls (sleep Cambria)
- Day 4 – Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo, Pismo Beach, Solvang, Santa Barbara (sleep Santa Barbara)
- Day 5 – Malibu, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Hollywood (sleep LA)
- Day 6 – Movie studio tour, game show, Griffith Observatory, Hollywood sign (sleep LA)
- Day 7 – La Jolla, Ocean Beach, Balboa Park, Gaslamp Quarter (sleep San Diego)
10 Days San Francisco To San Diego Road Trip Itinerary
This slightly longer timeframe allows you to spend more time either in each of the big cities or along the coastline in between. If it’s your first time in California, you’ll naturally want to see SF, LA and San Diego because they’re all iconic US cities.
The itinerary below is exactly how we drove the route, except we had a third day in both San Francisco and San Diego to make a total of 12 days.
Let’s take a look at an example of how you can spend 10 days driving from San Francisco to San Diego.
- Day 1 – SF Tram, Fisherman’s Wharf, Golden Gate Bridge, Lombard Street (sleep SF)
- Day 2– Embarcadero, Alcatraz, Chinatown, Union Square, Coit Tower (sleep SF)
- Day 3 – Twin Peaks, Half Moon Bay, Pigeon Point, Shark Fin Cove, Natural Bridges (sleep Monterey)
- Day 4 – Monterey Bay, 17 mile drive, Pebble Beach, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Bixby Bridge, Point Sur, Partington Cove, McWay Falls (sleep Morro Bay)
- Day 5 – Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo, Pismo Beach, Solvang, Santa Barbara (sleep Santa Barbara)
- Day 6 – Malibu, Beverly Hills, Hollywood (sleep LA)
- Day 7 – Downtown, Santa Monica, Venice (sleep LA)
- Day 8 – Movie studio tour, game show, Griffith Observatory, Hollywood sign (sleep LA)
- Day 9 – Beaches, La Jolla, Old Town (sleep SD)
- Day 10 – Coronado, Embarcadero, Balboa Park, Gaslamp (sleep SD)
14 Days San Francisco To San Diego Road Trip Itinerary
You’re in for a real treat if you have a full 14 days for your California Pacific Coast Highway road trip. Two weeks is plenty of time to see SF, LA and San Diego with loads of time left to really enjoy the stops in between.
Let’s take a look at an example of how you can spend 14 days driving from San Francisco to San Diego.
- Day 1 – SF Tram, Fisherman’s Wharf, Golden Gate Bridge, Lombard Street (sleep SF)
- Day 2– Embarcadero, Alcatraz, Chinatown, Union Square, Coit Tower (sleep SF)
- Day 3 – Twin Peaks, Half Moon Bay, Pigeon Point, Shark Fin Cove, Natural Bridges (sleep Santa Cruz)
- Day 4 – Monterey, 17 mile drive, Pebble Beach, Carmel-by-the-Sea (sleep Carmel)
- Day 5 – Bixby Bridge, Point Sur, Pfeiffer Beach, Big Sur (sleep Big Sur)
- Day 6 – Partington Cove, McWay Falls (sleep Cambria)
- Day 7 – Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo, Pismo Beach, Solvang, Santa Barbara (sleep Santa Barbara)
- Day 8 – Santa Barbara State Street, Pier, Beach, Malibu – (sleep LA)
- Day 9 – Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Mulholland Drive (sleep LA)
- Day 10 – Downtown LA, Santa Monica, Venice (sleep LA)
- Day 11 – Movie studio tour, game show, Griffith Observatory, Hollywood sign (sleep LA)
- Day 12 – Newport Beach, Torrey Pines, SD Beaches, La Jolla (sleep SD)
- Day 13 – Balboa Park, Old Town, Embarcadero (sleep SD)
- Day 14 – Coronado, Gaslamp, Little Italy (sleep SD)
Do you need to hire a car? Compare prices between Rental Cars and Discover Cars to get the best deals available.
Best Time To Drive From San Francisco To San Diego
The shoulder season months of April, May, September and October are the best times of year to drive the California Pacific Coast Highway from San Francisco to San Diego. You’ll benefit from fewer crowds, more parking spaces, higher hotel room availability at lower prices and comfortable temperatures.
Summer brings warmer temperatures but it’s much busier on the road and at hotels. The winter months are best if you want to road trip the California coast on a budget, but it will be cooler.
In Conclusion
California’s Pacific Coast Highway from San Francisco to San Diego is one of the world’s greatest road trips. There are many fantastic places to stop, including beaches, quaint towns and bucket list cities. Having 10-14 days for your itinerary will allow you to see the best of what’s on offer.
After extensively exploring the US, we can confidently say our road trip between San Francisco and San Diego has been one of our favorite experiences to date. The only thing we would do differently next time is spend more time on the Big Sur coastline.
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We hope this guide helps with planning your road trip from San Francisco to San Diego!
Please let us know if you have any questions or need help planning your itinerary in the comments below.
Happy road tripping!
Mark and Kristen
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Mark and Kristen Morgan
Mark and Kristen Morgan are travel, hiking and photography experts. Over the last 6 years traveling full time, they have explored more than 40 countries and 30 US states.
Where Are Those Morgans has been featured in USA Today, Gestalten, Get Your Guide, CityPASS and Condé Nast Traveler along with various other publications. Read more about us.
