Trip Itinerary from San Francisco to San Diego via Highway 1

♦ Routes (free): Detailed travel itineraries in USA

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This itinerary combines a visit to the three largest and most famous cities in California, tours of unique towns, and a drive along a spectacular scenic route, considered one of the most beautiful in the USA.

Route Map: California Coastal Highway (1)

♦  Link to Google Map with the route

Destinations along the route

Destination		Days of Stay
San Francisco		2-3
Monterey + Carmel		1
Highway 1		1
Solvang + Santa Barbara		1
Los Angeles		3-4
San Diego		3-4

Total trip duration: 11-14 days.

 

Route length: 910 km. Total driving time without stops: approx. 11 hours. 

 

Recommended destinations, accommodations, and articles for each stop on the route:

Each destination includes a link to my detailed article about it with photos, attractions, and important tourist information.

San Francisco

San Francisco is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It is very different in appearance and character from other major cities in the USA. It is the third largest city in California. It is a very diverse and colorful city. In its center are modern skyscrapers and alongside them a completely Chinese city where the construction style is low. Its houses are painted in a variety of colors and its neighborhoods are very distinct from each other. The city has a large number of ethnic groups: Chinese, Japanese, Hispanic, Italian, Russian, etc. Thanks to this diversity, San Francisco is a very cosmopolitan city, known as "The Paris of the West". 

 ♥ Recommended hotels in San Francisco

Articles: ◄  Attractions and destinations for travelers in San Francisco  ◄Guided tours in San Francisco◄Trip on Highway 1 from San Francisco to Los Angeles

 

 

Highway 1

Highway 1 in California is one of the most popular scenic roads for travel in the USA and combines, in addition to impressive sea views, hiking trails, animal watching, charming towns, and many options for active recreation. Destinations along the route: Monterey, Carmel, San Simeon, Morro Bay, Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo, Solvang, Santa Barbara

♥ Recommended hotels in destinations along Highway 1

 Article: ◄ Trip on Highway 1 from San Francisco to Los Angeles

 

Los Angeles

Tourism is the largest source of income in Los Angeles. Every traveling family has much to do and see there. Aside from Orlando, it is the city with the largest number of amusement and entertainment sites in the USA. Additionally, there are interesting museums, beautiful beaches, and nearby snow-capped mountains (in winter). Los Angeles also serves as an excellent starting point for trips to many national parks in California.

♥  Recommended hotels in central locations in Los Angeles

♥  Hotels in the Universal area or Anaheim (near Disney)

Articles: ◄ The comprehensive travel guide to Los Angeles  ◄Amusement parks in the Los Angeles area 

◄Tour of famous Los Angeles neighborhoods: Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Downtown  ◄Famous beaches and the port in Los Angeles
◄Parks, gardens, and museums in Los Angeles  ◄Sports in Los Angeles  ◄Travel destinations near Los Angeles
◄Big Bear Mountains ◄Catalina Island ◄Palm Springs             

 

 

San Diego

San Diego is a lovely city whose residents claim it is the best place to live in the Americas. It is the second largest city in California and has a recommended blend of a large, modern city and a popular year-round resort. It is excellent for an enjoyable family trip, featuring: a zoo, safari, SeaWorld, sprawling parks, many museums, pleasant shopping centers, and lovely beaches.

 ♥  Recommended hotels in San Diego

Articles: ◄ Trip to San Diego  ◄ Day trips from San Diego

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For your trip, I recommend renting a car from this site:

♦ Car rental from the reliable and convenient Booking site: Booking.com

 

♦ Guided trips, tours, and activities I recommend booking from: Viator

 

Or: from GetYourGuide.com :

 

 

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