Road trip April with kids

Question

We are trying to finalise our itinerary for our road trip starting on 4th April from San Francisco and leaving San Diego on 18th April. 2 kids aged 7 and 10.

So far plan is 3 (or 4 nights in SF) husband and I have been twice before but kids first trip.

Pick up car drive via Santa Cruz to see Redwoods (railway trip and the national park in morning) on route to Monterey.

2 or 3 nights Monterey for aquarium, whale watching, drive the big sur, caramel.

1 night Pismo Beach or Paso Robles (like the idea of wine tasting but combo or kids and car may make this unmanageable)

Then we get stuck. We have done LA before and dont want to do it again this trip.

We are debating a day in Universal and 2 in Disney.

Or skipping one or the other and spending more time on the drive down and then another night in San Diego.

4 - 6 nights in. San Deigo.

Some pool/beach time, the zoo for kids and the city.

Any advice welcome. We are big foodies and like nature so excited by rhe animals we may see on route. Kids will love the theme parks but are not hugh thrill ride lovers. They would like any combo but trying to work out if 3 days in a row is too much and not worth the massive price tag.

Hubby and I did the trip without the theme parks 15 years ago and loved it.

Answer

Planning a road trip along California with kids in April can be an amazing combination of nature, wildlife, and city experiences. Based on your itinerary, here’s a detailed approach and some recommendations to balance sightseeing, kid-friendly activities, and travel pace.

San Francisco (3–4 nights)

Since this is the kids’ first visit, focus on experiences they’ll remember: the Exploratorium, California Academy of Sciences, and a ferry ride to Alcatraz (if they enjoy history). You could also include a Golden Gate Park picnic or a short bike ride across the Golden Gate Bridge. Three nights is enough for a relaxed pace with kids.

San Francisco to Monterey via Santa Cruz and Redwoods

Santa Cruz: Spend the morning at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk or ride the steam train if they enjoy trains.
Redwoods: Stop at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park or Big Basin Redwoods. A short family-friendly hike allows kids to experience the towering trees without being too strenuous.
Drive to Monterey in the afternoon/evening to settle in.

Monterey / Carmel / Big Sur (2–3 nights)

Monterey Bay Aquarium – allow a full morning, it’s interactive and kid-friendly.
Whale watching – half-day cruises are suitable for children and not too exhausting.
Big Sur – drive the scenic 17-Mile Drive and take a couple of short stops for photos and views.
Carmel-by-the-Sea – consider a casual stroll and dinner. Keep it short and relaxed for kids.

Pismo Beach / Paso Robles (1 night)

Pismo Beach is more kid-friendly than Paso Robles wineries. Enjoy a beach walk, sand dunes, and maybe a casual seafood lunch.
Paso Robles could be a short stop if you want a quick wine tasting for adults, but keep it brief and skip anything too structured.

Option for Theme Parks vs. Extended Coastal Drive

Since you’ve done LA before and the kids are not thrill-seekers, you have two main options:

Universal + Disney (3 days): Good for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but three consecutive days in parks can be exhausting. Consider spreading them out or doing one day at Universal and two at Disneyland/California Adventure.
Skip one park and explore the coast / nature: You could add a stop in Santa Barbara, Ventura, or Malibu, which gives a slower pace, more beach time, and nature exploration. This can be less stressful and more in line with your foodie interests, especially local coastal cuisine.

San Diego (4–6 nights)

Include pool/beach time to let kids relax after the road trip.
San Diego Zoo and Safari Park are must-dos; consider visiting one park per day to avoid fatigue.
Other kid-friendly options: Balboa Park museums, La Jolla tide pools, and Seaport Village.
Allow at least one day for downtime, perhaps a beach day or hotel pool day.

Additional Advice

Break up longer drives with short stops – kids get restless on long stretches of highway.
Pack snacks, water, and small travel games for car rides.
Book accommodations in advance, especially around Monterey, Big Sur, and San Diego in April.
For meals, mix casual kid-friendly spots with one or two more foodie-oriented restaurants per day to balance both interests.
Consider the pace: three theme park days in a row may be tiring, so intersperse with relaxed sightseeing or a beach day.

Overall, your plan is doable, but adding flexibility for downtime and adjusting the number of theme park days will make the trip enjoyable for both kids and adults. Prioritizing nature and coastal stops with 1–2 theme park days seems like the ideal balance.

Road trip April with kids

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