California road trip

Question

Hi there, looking for advice - travelling to LAX in March for 2 weeks and looking at doing a road trip. Hoping to do Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and go as far as Carmel/Monterey. Was thinking of tacking on Palm Springs/San Diego at beginning or end so it becomes a 'loop'. Is this doable? also, wondering if so, if best to start in San Diego. I imagine LAX will be difficult to get accom due to recent wildfires and so many people being displaced. Any recommendations welcome. TIA

Answer

Hi — yes, your plan is very doable! A 2-week road trip from LAX (or starting / ending via San Diego) that includes Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Carmel/Monterey, and optionally Palm Springs or San Diego is a great loop. There are a few things to watch for, especially given the recent wildfire situation, plus some smart routing and timing tips. Here’s a breakdown of how you might put it together, plus pros / cons and recommendations.

Is the Loop Doable?

Yes, for two weeks — you will have enough time to explore the coast (Santa Barbara, SLO, Carmel / Monterey) at a relaxed pace, without feeling rushed.
Adding Palm Springs or San Diego at the beginning or end is entirely reasonable, depending on the direction of your loop. For example: fly into LAX → head to Palm Springs → then up the coast → through SLO / Carmel → back down to LAX or on to San Diego → fly out.
You’ll want to plan for driving + rest days — some of your coastal drives (especially on Highway 1) are very scenic but slower due to curves, views, and possible traffic / stop-offs. According to road-trip guides, a pace of 3–4 hours of driving some days is more fun than packing “all the miles” in.

Wildfire & Accommodation Considerations

There’s been recent wildfire activity in the Los Angeles area, so it's wise to monitor air quality (especially for southern California) as you plan, and stay flexible in your lodging just in case conditions change.
Some hotels in and around L.A. may have been impacted by the fires or by displaced residents seeking shelter. However, according to recent tourism-recovery news, "all 250-plus member hotels" in L.A. are open and operating, and cancellations have normalized somewhat.
When booking, consider securing refundable or semi-flexible accommodations in L.A., or spreading nights across smaller towns (Santa Barbara, SLO, Carmel) where you’ll be less likely to compete for last-minute rooms.

Recommended Itinerary (2 Weeks)

Here’s a sample loop itinerary, plus a few variants based on whether you want to include Palm Springs / San Diego:

Days 1–2: Arrive at LAX / San Diego / Palm Springs
- If you fly into LAX: Optionally drive to Palm Springs first (it's scenic, especially on SR 74 “Palms to Pines”).
- Alternatively, drive directly up to Santa Barbara or spend a night in L.A. and then head out.
Days 3–4: Santa Barbara — Explore downtown, the Mission, wine country, coastal viewpoints; drive through San Marcos Pass (if you want a more scenic / mountain route).
Days 5–6: San Luis Obispo & Surrounding — Visit SLO, maybe stop at Pismo Beach, do a wine-country detour if you like, then prepare to head north.
Days 7–9: Carmel / Monterey / Big Sur Region — Spend time in Carmel-by-the-Sea, do 17-Mile Drive, enjoy Monterey, and (if road conditions allow) drive some of the Big Sur coastline. (Note: check for closures or safe conditions on Highway 1; some drivers on Reddit warn of landslides or seasonal closures.)
Days 10–11: Return / Loop Down — You could head inland via US-101 or circle back down the coast, depending on your pace and how much of the coast you want to revisit.
Days 12–14: San Diego / Palm Springs / L.A. — Depending on where you started:
- If you didn’t do Palm Springs first, you could finish there, relax, then head to LAX for your flight.
- If you want to end in San Diego, build in 2–3 nights there to enjoy beaches, old town, Balboa Park, maybe La Jolla.
- If ending in L.A., use the last nights in a neighborhood that’s easy to fly out from (or avoid redeposit fees if returning your rental car).

Pros / Trade-offs of Different Starting Points

Starting in San Diego:
- Pro: Less L.A. traffic on your first drive north if you leave early.
- Pro: Gets San Diego “out of the way” before your coastal drive.
- Con: You may need to fly into LAX (which you already are), then drive down, which adds time.
Starting / ending at LAX:
- Pro: More flexibility on which night to spend in L.A. (or avoid it completely if you choose).
- Pro: Rental car logistics may be simpler (pick up and drop off at the same airport).
- Con: Potentially heavier traffic leaving / re-entering L.A.
Including Palm Springs:
- Pro: Adds a very different “desert” feel to the trip, breaking up the coastal driving.
- Pro: Great for relaxing, possibly doing Joshua Tree or local desert activities.
- Con: Adds some mileage / driving time, especially if you detour significantly inland.

Tips & Warnings

Check road conditions on Highway 1: Parts of the scenic PCH / coastal highway can have closures, landslides, or narrower driving, especially after winter. (Multiple travelers online note this for certain sections.)
Be flexible with lodging: Because of wildfire displacement or increased demand, some hotels may be less available or more expensive. Booking in advance with flexible cancellation is smart.
Monitor air quality: Given the recent wildfires, check AQI forecasts for each region you’re visiting (especially L.A. and the coast), and be ready to adjust outdoor plans if smoke is bad.
Drive times: Don’t assume Google Maps’ “fastest route” accounts for scenic stops. Build in extra time for photo stops, vista points, wine-tasting, and meals. According to road-trip guides, realistic daily mileage is lower than the maximum possible.
Pace your trip to enjoy: Two weeks gives good flexibility — don’t try to cram *everything*. Pick a few anchor towns (e.g., Santa Barbara, Carmel, Palm Springs) and savor them rather than racing along.

Bottom Line: Yes, your loop — LAX → Santa Barbara → San Luis Obispo → Carmel/Monterey → (optional Palm Springs / San Diego) → back — is very realistic for 2 weeks. With a bit of flexibility around lodging (because of fire-related demand) and driving (scenic coastal roads), you can have a fantastic mix of beach towns, wine country, mountain / desert contrast, and relaxed road-trip pace.

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