1. Find your ideal car. You want something fuel efficient, but you also want the flexibility to carry your bike if you’re going to bike in. You want it to be comfortable, but you don’t want it to be cramped. You want a big cornering radius, but don’t want to feel like you’re driving a truck. You want a smooth ride, but you don’t want it to be too cushy. You want to be able to put your feet up at night, but you don’t want a cramped cabin. You want it to be reliable and secure, but you don’t want it to be too expensive. You want to be able to fill it with 4 people, but you don’t want to hurt your back
After I had a few months to think about it, I decided to do something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, and that’s to go on a road trip. My family and I recently took a long weekend trip to San Diego, California, and then up to Big Sur. We drove from San Diego to Big Sur in five hours, and it was a pretty easy drive, so I think anyone can do it.
I have always wanted to go on a road trip. I would love to go to Zion National Park in Utah. I also want to go to a cabin in Montana, and swim in the pool by the ocean. I have a lot of things I would love to do when I go on a trip. I am excited to start this trip!
Driving along the West Coast is the best way to appreciate how gorgeous South California is, and a road trip from San Diego to Big Sur is the ideal way to view the Pacific coast.
It takes 8 hours to travel the 420 miles from San Diego to Big Sur. The route passes through the towns of Santa Monica, Los Angeles, and Malibu, as well as beautiful views such Los Padres National Forest and Montaa de Oro State Park.
If you want to take this trip properly, you’ll need to do a lot of preparation, so keep reading to find out all you need to know.
List of What You Read
What is the distance between Big Sur and San Diego, and how long would the journey take?
If you don’t take any diversions, the road journey from San Diego to Big Sur will take you along the coast for the most of the way, giving you an 8-hour drive and 420 miles to complete.
From Orange County onwards, the journey will take you through some of California’s most beautiful beaches, with so many choices that you could travel for weeks and yet find a new one to visit every day.
The ocean is unquestionably the highlight of the vacation, but taking an interior detour to see sites like Los Padres National Forest and the center of Los Angeles is strongly recommended.
When it comes to the road journey from San Diego to Big Sur, the golden beaches of Huntington Beach are only the beginning.
Shutterstock.com/Ken Wolter
In any case, bear in mind that this is one of the most popular routes in these areas of the country, so anticipate lots of traffic, particularly around Los Angeles, Malibu, and Big Sur when the weather is good.
Although the best route to take is generally obvious, there’s always the possibility you’ll get caught in traffic you didn’t expect. One option to save time off your journey is to bypass Los Angeles entirely or simply drive via the less congested suburbs.
The best way to go from San Diego to Big Sur is via car.
The finest road trip route from San Diego to Big Sur is definitely along the Pacific Coast; you’ll visit virtually every significant beach, city, and monument in South California, and you’ll be able to enjoy the beauty of the ocean for almost the whole journey.
Route from San Diego to Big Sur by car
Take Interstate 5 south out of San Diego, through Torrey Pines State Park and San Onofre State Beach, and into San Clemente. You can continue on the highway all the way to Los Angeles, but if you’re feeling adventurous, take a diversion to Newport, Huntington, or Long Beaches.
Take I-10 via Santa Monica, then Highway 1 through Malibu, just south of its beautiful state parks, from Los Angeles. Take Highway 101 from Oxnard via Ventura and Santa Barbara, then State Route 154 through the Los Padres National Forest.
Return to Highway 101 in Los Olivos, pass through Santa Maria, and then onto Highway 1 in San Luis Obispo, just east of Monta de Oro State Park.
Before going north on the route through Morro Bay and Hearst San Simeon State Park, make sure to stop at Hearst Castle. Big Creek Bridge, which leads into Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and Big Sur, is not far after crossing Limekiln State Park.
Between San Diego and Big Sur, the best locations to stop are
The road journey from San Diego to Big Sur is an annual pilgrimage for die-hard explorers, so you can expect to discover a plethora of excellent hotels along the route. These are the finest resorts you can anticipate to discover throughout your vacation, combining luxury and handy locations:
In Los Angeles, you may look at the stars in luxury.
Los Angeles is one of those places that you just must see in person, as beautiful as it seems on pictures. With that considered, nothing compares to the magnificent city vista from The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles, amid a sea of beautiful LA properties.
The accommodations at this five-star resort are world-class in terms of luxury and presentation, and the remainder of the resort is as stunning, especially the WP24 Restaurant and Lounge’s panoramic views of the city.
Every season of the year, Los Angeles looks beautiful both day and night.
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Nothing screams high-class like a swimming pool and hot tub on the top of a high-rise building with a view of the City of Angels.
The Ritz-location Carlton’s could not be more handy if you’re visiting Los Angeles for the festivities. The region includes Dodger Stadium, Disney Concert Hall, and all of the city’s main districts, making it ideal for groups of friends, couples, and families.
To state the obvious, a stay at this hotel will undoubtedly be costly, even if you come during the off-season, but if any LA resort deserves to be costly, it is this one.
Allow yourself to be enchanted by Big Sur’s natural splendor.
The wonderful thing about Big Sur is that you don’t have to search very hard to discover a magnificent scene to admire – whether it’s the ocean or the incredible woods that surround you in every direction, Big Sur is all about serenity.
Ventana Big Sur is the hotel to stay at if you want the finest views and the most comfortable accommodations on the West Coast.
The accommodations at Ventana are bright and welcoming, and the views will help you start your day off properly – some even have hot tubs! Grab a pair of binoculars and watch the beauty from the balcony while you’re not out exploring.
When you see a Big Sur sunset, you can’t help but stop and appreciate it.
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You may wash down a delicious dinner at the Sur House with a drink while gazing out at the ocean from the Sur House Terrace and Bar. The vista is likely to entice you to take a swim, and the good news is that Pfeiffer Beach is just a short distance away.
The Ventana Spa is another worth mentioning; the Japanese-style baths will wash away all your troubles in no time. If you’d rather let off steam, you may visit the top-of-the-line fitness facility and work out your muscles.
This is one of the most costly resorts in this area of the country, and for good reason. Consider coming during the off-season to save money and have the whole area to yourself!
On a road journey from San Diego to Big Sur, there are many sights to view.
The road journey from San Diego to Big Sur is jam-packed with amazing views and stops along the way; you could easily spend two weeks exploring all there is to see and do. You won’t want to miss out on the following places:
- Torrey Pines State Reserve is a network of beautiful hiking paths along the coast that provide some of the best ocean vistas in the United States.
- Whether you’re a swimmer, surfer, or kayaker, you’ll have a great day at San Onofre State Beach.
- Explore the beautiful sandstone cliffs and magnificent surf beaches of San Clemente.
- Long Beach – board the moored Queen Mary cruise ship and peruse the shops and restaurants of the busy Shoreline Village.
- Anaheim — Spend a day at the original Disneyland for a fun-filled day.
- Los Angeles – visit Hollywood’s Walk of Fame to see your favorite stars or shop to your heart’s delight in downtown LA.
- Santa Monica – enjoy the pier’s carnival attractions or relax on the beach in the California heat.
- Malibu – try your hand at surfing or just relax on the beautiful sands and clear blue waters.
- Ventura is a lovely seaside city where you may try windsurfing.
- Visit Mission Santa Barbara or sample some of the city’s delectable seafood specialties.
- Santa Maria – Spend the day at the Santa Maria Raceway or go wine tasting at some of the finest vineyards in the area.
- Hundreds of miles of California’s best beaches and hiking trails may be found in the Los Padres National Forest.
- San Luis Obispo – stroll around the historic city or go hiking on one of the many lovely paths.
- Carmel-by-the-Sea & Monterey – two of California’s most iconic beach cities, distinguished by their unique architecture and stunning coastlines
One of the most iconic coastal towns along this road is Santa Barbara.
S.Borisov/Shutterstock.com
Needless to say, if you’re willing to take some excursions inland or even farther north, there’s much more to see. The whole California coastline is one spectacular site after another, so if you have the opportunity, travel all the way out to San Francisco.
When is the best time to go from San Diego to Big Sur?
Because of SoCal’s mild temperature, the trip between San Diego and Big Sur may be completed at any time of year. The Sunshine State isn’t named that for nothing, and the Pacific Coast Highway certainly lives up to its moniker.
However, since this region is such a famous tourist attraction, bigger crowds may congest this road throughout the summer. If you travel between June and August, be careful to stop often to check on traffic ahead.
The beauty of Big Sur makes it difficult not to continue traveling north after your vacation is over.
Shutterstock.com/Doug Meek
The coastal fog, which tends to come very early in the morning on hotter days, is another item to bear in mind along this path. Although it typically passes by midday, be cautious in the last miles of your journey, since here is when the coastline twists and turns are most common.
If you want to take advantage of the lovely beaches along this route, going in the spring or autumn is a smart way to avoid crowds. Although the temperatures are nice at this time of year, be aware that spring showers are not unusual.
You may also make the journey in the winter for a different experience; although you’ll miss out on the beaches and locations like Los Padres National Forest, you’ll get to appreciate the rough grandeur of Big Sur without the people.
I was raised in San Diego, but have always been a long distance runner, and since I knew I would be moving, I decided to pack my race-ready running gear so I could do a California roadtrip. I started the adventure on August 14th, and ended the trip on August 24th. It was a pretty packed schedule, but along the way I made a lot of friends and even picked up some cool and interesting things to keep. I went from San Diego, to Los Angeles to Las Vegas. Then I stopped at Point Reyes National Seashore and visited Big Sur, and then I drove back home. It was a great journey and I’m glad I did it!. Read more about big sur to santa barbara and let us know what you think.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you need in Big Sur?
It takes about 2 days to drive from San Francisco to Big Sur.
Is Big Sur worth the drive?
I am not sure if Big Sur is worth the drive, but it is definitely worth visiting.
Where do you stop on the way to Big Sur?
You stop at the Big Sur Station.
Related Tags
This article broadly covered the following related topics:
- san diego to big sur
- san diego to big sur by train
- san diego to big sur via highway 1
- san diego to big sur driving
- san diego to big sur drive
