11 Stops to Make on the Drive from Los Angeles to San Diego

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Are you planning a drive from Los Angeles to San Diego? You’ve found the right article!

When visiting California, one must-do item to check off your bucket list is to drive along the Pacific Coast Highway, also referred to as the PCH. A great way to do this is by taking a scenic route from Los Angeles to San Diego.

With only a few stoplights along the way, this scenic car ride from Los Angeles to San Diego goes along the ocean, so there is never a boring view in sight.

Every time I visit SoCal, I make sure to drive part of the PCH between LA and San Diego. It’s incredibly scenic! Keep reading to learn all about the drive from Los Angeles to San Diego.

How Long to Drive from Los Angeles to San Diego

Without traffic, the drive from Los Angeles to San Diego by car should take slightly under 2 hours. However, traffic and the number of stops that you make along the way will greatly influence the length of time it takes.

The drive in total is 124 miles. If you plan on making lots of stops along the way, plan on putting aside at least a day so that you don’t feel rushed when visiting these great cities and towns.

Best Time to Drive from LA to San Diego

I recommend you take this scenic drive from Los Angeles to San Diego in the autumn, winter, or fall, as Summer is very busy on the beaches, and the PCH is filled with more cars than usual.

As far as what time of day to go, try to go anytime between 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, just missing the world-renowned horrible Los Angeles traffic.

🚗 Don’t forget to book your California rental car! Click here to check rates.

Drive from Los Angeles to San Diego Route & Best Stops

As you can imagine, the scenic drive from San Diego to Los Angeles has many great stops. Here are some of the best!

Huntington Beach

Huntington Beach is best known for its’ surf scene with beaches dedicated to surfing and, well, the California surfer vibe all around! It is even the home to the International Surfing Museum.

The main beach also has a long pier to walk out to the ocean, and you can sometimes see ocean wildlife from the end of the pier.

You can take a quick stroll to Huntington Central Park to view lakes and gardens, and yes, they even have an equestrian center.

Finally, the last place to check out in Huntington Beach is the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, which is a wetlands and dunes all in one, where you can birdwatch.

If you check the Huntington Beach calendar, they often have pretty cool events going on, too, such as surf competitions! Definitely worth the stop.

Santa Monica

Santa Monica is one of the most well-known spots in California, and for a good reason, too. The Santa Monica Pier is host to many fresh seafood restaurants and a giant Ferris wheel that lights up at night.

Nearby, there are plenty of hotels and spots to dine alfresco with beautiful views of the water. If you want to check out the beach, go to an area called Ocean Park, which is away from the Pier and much less crowded but just as beautiful.

You can even take a quick drive over to Main Street for some boutique shops. When making the drive from Los Angeles to San Diego, definitely consider stopping in Santa Monica!

Newport Beach

If you are into art and huge waves, this is the spot for you! The Orange County Museum of Art has contemporary art to ponder over while you wait to watch the sunset over the boat-filled harbor.

You can even catch the seals hanging out on the boats, catching the last glimpses of the sun. That is the Balboa Peninsula, which consists of two piers.

First is the Newport Beach Pier, home to an old arcade and rides, and the Balboa Pier, which is enjoyable to walk along.

Newport Beach is known for its massive waves at The Wedge and calmer waters at Corona del Mar State Beach. Whichever beach you choose to go to on your trip from Los Angeles to San Diego, this is a great stop.

Torrey Pines

Torrey Pines is very close to San Diego! Make sure to stop here for some good food before you reach the final destination of San Diego.

Its small population and community-like neighborhood make it easy to stop along the PCH for photographs, and there is a lot to photograph. Waves crashing on the mountainous shores make a great photo-op!

Venice Beach

Venice Beach is another very famous beach that many people have heard of from its’ popular boardwalk.

The Venice Boardwalk has Muscle Beach, which is where all of the muscular people go to work out (pretty self-explanatory), plenty of shops and street art for sale, an extremely large skateboarding ramp where about fifty skaters can fit at once (it is amazing what the skaters can do), and plenty of good food!

So bring your camera and empty your stomach for that classic boardwalk food because you’re in for a great time in Venice.

If you want to go off the beaten path away from the beach, you can always hop in the car for ten minutes over to Abbot Kinney for some serious shopping and great, locally-made ice cream at Salt & Straw!

La Jolla

La Jolla is a very posh stop with shops downtown and restaurants that deliver at a five-star quality. The rugged coastline that the PCH follows is immaculate, with trails going all around for walking and hiking.

You can even hike down the cliffs to the ocean if you dare…La Jolla is also known for two world-renowned golf courses that sit on top of the seaside cliffs. So take a swing at it!

Long Beach

If you are a fan of the band Sublime, you have probably heard of Long Beach. If not, you are now educated that the band Sublime was from Long Beach!

There are a ton of sights to see in Long Beach, such as visiting the shark-filled aquarium, being adventurous at the legendary Knotts Berry Farm (the Six Flags of Southern California), visiting the Queen Mary that is now a museum and retired, interestingly enough in Long Beach, or exploring your artistic side at The Museum of Latin American Art!

Of course, Long Beach also has beaches that stretch for miles and miles of pristine sand.

Laguna Beach

When people think of Laguna Beach, large houses come to mind. But it’s not all about the rich neighborhoods; it’s actually about the rich beaches and views!

There are underwater caves that you can swim in, which are rare to find in Southern California, as well as tide pools. Aliso Beach is a dedicated surf spot in the small town, amongst other small beaches for local sunbathers.

Laguna Beach also has many art galleries and hiking trails to explore the wildlife in the area. When doing the drive from Los Angeles to San Diego, consider stopping at Laguna Beach!

Carlsbad

Located close to San Diego lies Carlsbad, mostly known as the home of Legoland. So, if this road trip from Los Angeles to San Diego is with the kids, Carlsbad is a must.

It is also well known for its SEA LIFE Aquarium, a very famous Aquarium in the San Diego area! It would not be Southern California without a surf spot, so if you are a surfer, head on down to Tamarack Surf Beach to catch some good waves.

Finally, out of the most odd things, there is Leo Carrillo Ranch Park, a canyon with free admission that contains numerous wild peacocks!

Cardiff-by-the-Sea

Known by locals as Cardiff, Cardiff-by-the-Sea is a beach town right outside of San Diego. Wide open stretches of sandy beaches go for miles and are absolutely stunning.

Grab your bathing suit and sunscreen to jump in the ocean for a quick dip in the cold ocean! Yes, California is warm year-round, but the ocean is still cold year-round.

This large community is also known for its Mexican food. Build up that appetite and head down to Las Olas for some classic Mexican cuisine; you will not be upset that you did.

Dana Point

If you want to see dolphins and whale watching, this is the place for you! There are many cruises that head off into the ocean for whale watching, and the dolphins can often be seen from the beach.

Doheny State Park is a must while in Dana Point to view the crashing waves as the sun sets or to take a quick hike through the many trails that it has to offer.

🚗 Don’t forget to book your California rental car! Click here to check rates.

Final Thoughts: Road Trip from Los Angeles to San Diego

Driving from Los Angeles to San Diego by car is a bucket list item while in California, or even if you live in California for a weekend getaway!

There are so many interesting and different places to stop at along the scenic drive that it is impossible not to be impressed.

So pack your bags for the weekend and take the two-hour trek down from Los Angeles to San Diego. Enjoy your trip, wear tons of sunscreen, and take some pictures for the memories that will last a lifetime!

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