How long from la to san diego

The most famous attraction in Laguna is, not surprisingly, the beach. There are also numerous art galleries and trendy boutiques to browse while in Laguna, making it a great stop to occupy yourself while driving from LA to San Diego. If you want to avoid the tourist crowds and treat yourself to some stunning seaside scenery, you need to head to Table Rock Beach. Though small, Table Rock is my favourite beach in Orange County but it can be difficult to find and you need to be in decent physical shape in order to reach it.

Find street parking either on a side street or directly on the PCH and then you have to walk down a number of stairs in order to reach this beach, however, it is well worth it. Because it is kind of difficult to reach and not well advertised, only a few locals really know about it.

It is blessed with some beautiful rock formations, wonderful surf to gaze at, and some solitude that one craves when visiting the beach. As one of the main cities in South Orange County, Dana Point is a lovely place to wander around and the Harbor has a lot to offer visitors.

Not only are there numerous boutique shops, restaurants, and cafes in the Harbor area, it is also a taking-off point for ferries to Catalina Island or whale watching tours. Dana Point Harbor is also a great place to try your hand at a stand-up paddleboard, or to hire a kayak.

Because of the perennial good weather, you can enjoy activities like this pretty much year-round. This is the first stop that is located inland of the Pacific Coast Highway, but I assure you that it is worth making a slight detour from the coast.

Located just inland from Dana Point drive up Del Obispo street which intersects with the PCH , this old Spanish mission is located in the historic town of San Juan Capistrano and is well worth the visit. Established by Spanish saint Junipero Serra, who is known for setting up 21 missions in what was then Spanish territory in California and Mexico, this mission was the 7th of 9 missions to be established in Alta California, which is now present-day California in the USA.

This is one of the largest and most important missions set up by the Spanish and there is a long and important history to learn here. What is said the be the oldest continuously inhabited street in California, the Los Rios District offers a tranquil escape from your LA to San Diego drive. Home to a number of restaurants, gardens, and interesting shops, this is just simply a nice area to stroll through and enjoy the laid-back atmosphere.

Stop for a drink at the wonderful Hidden House Coffee and maybe stroll down to view the llamas at the petting zoo right nearby. San Clemente is the southernmost town in Orange County and is a quintessential surf town, equipped with a lovely beach, an iconic pier, and a lovely boardwalk vibe.

There are countless cool cafes and shops throughout San Clemente along with some great restaurants and taco stands. The most popular beach and the one with the most amenities would be the San Clemente State Beach, which is located just adjacent to the main town.

If you want to watch the surfers strut their stuff and maybe enjoy fewer crowds on a hot day, then head to the quieter Trestles Beach to the south, close to San Onofre. After visiting San Juan Capistrano, it is time to head further south and leave Orange County altogether.

Highway 1 also ends in Dana Point, so after San Juan, you are going to need to get on to the Interstate 5 in order to make it to downtown San Diego.

In fact, about a minute drive without traffic south of San Juan Capistrano, you will reach the charming seaside city of Carlsbad in North San Diego County. Carlsbad is your typical laidback California beach town and is home to a beautiful stretch of sand, eclectic surf shops and cafes, and a number of great restaurants. It is a perfect stop if you want to continue to explore the coast en route to downtown San Diego. The cute streets are packed with hip restaurants, funky cafes, and quirky shops.

The beach is also expansive and soft and perfect for spending a few hours lounging on or watching the surfers — or trying your hand at surfing yourself! And one of the best stops to include on this drive or a part of a San Diego itinerary is the beautiful neighbourhood of La Jolla pronounced Luh HOY-uh. As one of the most expensive postal codes in the entirety of the United Staes, La Jolla is dotted with multi-million dollar homes overlooking some of the most stunning cliffside and beach scenery in San Diego.

Not only is the town dotted with fantastic restaurants, craft beer pubs, wine bars, and high-end shops, but heading to La Jolla Coves promises views of frolicking sea lions and other marine life.

This is also an incredibly popular place to rent a kayak or go on a guided kayaking tour to explore the cliffsides and natural arches up close.

As one of the most popular beach areas in San Diego, Mission Beach is a fantastic place to explore. Along with a wide expanse of beautiful white-sand beach — perfect for surfing and sunbathing alike — Mission Bay is also famous for Belmont Park, and an iconic boardwalk amusement park complete with a classic wooden roller coaster, a carousel, an arcade, and much more.

There are also numerous taco shops, boutiques, and ice cream stands that make this one of the best places to spend a beachy few hours to complete your eventful drive from Los Angeles. Staying somewhere halfway between the two cities is a great way to be able to enjoy the most of what this scenic drive has to offer!

Seaside Laguna Inn — A small and cosy hotel located in the heart of Laguna Beach only minutes from the numerous beaches in the area, this is a fantastic place to stay. Well, that is an absolutely excellent decision, because this route is filled with dozens of beautiful beaches, charming coastal towns, and lots of incredible things to do! Southern California is truly one of the most enchanting places in the U. This LA to San Diego drive has every place stop you should make for the ultimate California experience!

Make sure you take a walk through the Santa Monica pier, take a ride on the roller coaster at Pacific Park, relax on the soft sandy beach, get some exercise by renting a bike and riding along its miles of bike paths, and take a stroll along Ocean avenue.

This clean and bright Santa Monica bungalow has an incredible overall guest score from hundreds of happy guests. You could easily rent a bike in Santa Monica, and ride down along the well-paved path down here!

Take some photos of the muscle men at the iconic muscle beach, watch the talented skateboarders in the skate park, and enjoy a meal at one of the foodie hotspots in the area! Enjoy its laidback atmosphere, colorful sunsets, and partake in one of the popular watersport activities.

Photographers will love the long-exposure shots you can get under the Manhattan beach pier, families will love exploring the Sand Dunes or a stroll through Live Oak Park, and art fans will be ecstatic about the various galleries in the area!

Steps to Beach! This pretty Manhattan Beach studio abode is fresh, unique and comfortable. Enjoy warm California days with beach towels and chairs provided! But I, somehow, some way. Here you can experience it all from a deep-sea adventure at the Aquarium of the Pacific right on the bay and a voyage in time aboard the historic Queen Mary to lively guided tours through downtown and the colorful East Village.

Certain attractions may be temporarily closed or require advance reservations. Some restaurants are currently offering pickup only. Experiencing the Tournament of Roses Parade in neighboring Pasadena is a spectacle to behold. Los Angeles LA has so much to offer: adventure, excitement, celebrities, culture, arts, music, and tasty cuisine — just about anything one would want can be found in LA.

Los Angeles could be considered the hub of southern California with so many things to experience spiraling out into neighboring cities and communities. Other airports in the area also include Santa Ana, Burbank, and several municipal airports. For the purposes of this writing the focus will be on LAX. The trip is about 1 hour each way. All the major airline carriers service both airports.

The best thing to do is to try to book your flight early and avoid any price hikes that happen the closer one gets to the departure date. LAX has terminal parking lots and outer lots. There is a free shuttle that runs from the outer lots to the terminal. The shuttles run frequently, getting a ride back to the terminal should not be a problem; plus is saves a few bucks. Also, it is a great opportunity to pick up that last minute hostess gift or souvenir.

Another fabulous perk is LAX offers complimentary Wi-Fi so one can stay connected to family, friends and business associates. Fun day trip ideas close to me, things to do this weekend, small towns, best weekend getaways: Getaways in California , East Coast beaches , NC quick trip , Romantic weekend getaways 2.

With 11 trains departing regularly through the day there are plenty of options for the train traveler. The longer drive would be in the late afternoon or night since it would be time to return to Los Angeles. Make sure you keep an eye on the watch if you do not want to leave too late. There are many options for breakfast this morning. Those places are excellent choices for brunch hey, it is the weekend.

La Jolla is one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in San Diego. After a couple of minutes in town, you are going to understand why. It is just a paradise full of coastal walks, sea caves, wildlife, and rock formations. The views from there are some of the best. For those in search of adventure, kayaking around the sea caves is one of the top-rated activities in the state. For lunch, you can check the places I recommended for dinner on Day 2 or breakfast on Day 3.

Since you probably have to go back to Los Angeles in the late afternoon, I would keep the final hours of the trip simple. Spending the rest of the day in La Jolla is a good idea.

If you want to see a bit more, you can make the short drive to Pacific Beach. This neighborhood has a pier boardwalk extending all the way to Mission Beach , and access to Mission Bay. In my opinion, this place serves some of the best tacos on this side of the border.

Another option is to check Ocean Beach. There is not a lot to do in terms of attraction but people go to enjoy the unique atmosphere. Both places are great spots to watch the sunset. Cabrillo National Monument in San Diego. The line to get in is more than an hour long. If you do want your food to go, skip the line and go directly to the counter.

A lot of people get confused and make the line even though they do not intend to sit down at the restaurant. This alternate Los Angeles to San Diego road trip itinerary gives you different stops for days 1 and 2.

As I mentioned, this will help you customize your trip according to your likes, plan multiple trips or extend a trip.

There are 10 miles from Newport Beach to Laguna Beach. Like Huntington Beach, Newport is a destination with a huge number of attractions. For this itinerary, I would invite you to check out the Balboa Peninsula. You can take a look at the pier, the Balboa Fun Zone , the gorgeous houses towards the end of the peninsula, and the West Jetty View Park.

Or, take the ferry ride last a couple of minutes to Balboa Island , a small piece of land full of mansions, boats, and canals. If you go, you have to try a Balboa bar. In winter, you can take a whale-watching excursion from the area. You can find discounts for this activity on websites such as Groupon and Travel Zoo.

On my first itinerary, I included Laguna Beach and am including the city here too. Because I believe this is the most beautiful city in Orange County and a must-see for visitors. Therefore, you can follow my recommendations on the itinerary specified above. Or, you can visit San Clemente , another town with a pier, a great main street, many beaches including San Clemente State Beach , and a relaxed vibe.

Things to Do in San Clemente. To end the day, have a bite in Laguna Beach or San Clemente. For Laguna, follow the recommendations outlined in the first itinerary. Oceanside to Carlsbad is 3 miles and Carlsbad to Solana Beach is 14 miles. Remember to drive from one town to another using Hwy You do not want to take the freeway boring! In Oceanside , you can check the harbor, pier and town , and Buccaneer Beach Park. Carlsbad has a beautiful village, miles of beaches, three lagoons, the Museum of Making Music, the flower fields spring , and the Premium Outlets.

In the city, you can get alkaline water from the natural springs in the Village area. However, the place to go is Campfire, a new concept where you feel like you are getting food cooked over a fire. This is a small place. I bet a lot of Southern California residents do not know it even exists.

The latter is full of galleries, stores, cafes, and even a wine tasting room. You are not going to find the things you see at the Cedros Design District anywhere else. This place completely surpassed my expectations and I felt like staying there the entire day. Go and see for yourself!

Solana Beach has a great selection of restaurants.