Trip with kids to California - July/Aug help

Question

I am travelling from the UK with my wife and 8 & 10 year children, flying into San Diego for 17 days. We are looking to do bit of a road trip without spending too long in the car and was looking for some recommendations as its the first time in CA with our children. Current itinerary is something like this..

Day 1-3: Central San Diego (No car hire so taking in sights in central SD such as USS Midway, Balboa Park, Old Town)

Day 4 - 6: LA - Not chosen area as yet but was thinking of Redondo Beach area (Whale watching, Santa Monica, Hollywood, Universal Studios)

Day 7: Travel 1/2 way to San Francisco on coastal road, possibly stopping at San Luis Obispo the night and heading down to Pismo Beach.

Day 8 - 10 : Travel via Big Sur into San Francisco (Not sure if 3 days is enough/just enough or best place to stay) looking to visit Alcatraz, Golden Gate Bridge, Fishermans Wharf etc.

Not sure from here whether to make a similar journey back stopping half way to LA or heading to Yosemite for a couple of nights? Is it too far of a detour for the time we have or worthwhile visiting?

Was thinking of maybe a couple more days in LA followed by the last 3-4 days in San Diego area. Anyone have any recommendations of where would be good places / areas to stay in or visit during our trip over?

Was looking to budget around $280 per night on average for the hotel, ideally free parking and/or breakfast where possible to allow us to do more there and make it a memorable holiday for the children.

Any help is appreciated.

Answer

Your planned 17-day California trip with kids sounds exciting and manageable if you balance travel time with activity days. Here’s a detailed suggestion based on your itinerary, keeping driving times reasonable and kid-friendly activities in mind.

Days 1–3: San Diego

Staying central without a car works well. Focus on walking and public transport to hit key sights:

USS Midway Museum: Great for kids who like ships and history.
Balboa Park: Explore a few museums (air & space, natural history) and the gardens. Consider renting bikes or using the mini-train for fun mobility.
Old Town: Offers history, shops, and casual Mexican dining.
Optional: San Diego Zoo or Safari Park if your children love animals.

Hotels: Look for family-friendly hotels in downtown or near the Gaslamp Quarter with breakfast included and parking. Options around $250–$300/night include Homewood Suites by Hilton San Diego Downtown/Bayside or Embassy Suites by Hilton San Diego Bay Downtown.

Days 4–6: Los Angeles

Redondo Beach is a good base for beach access and whale-watching tours. However, consider staying closer to Santa Monica or West LA to reduce driving times to Hollywood and Universal Studios.

Santa Monica / Venice: Walk the pier, rent bikes along the boardwalk, casual dining.
Universal Studios Hollywood: Pre-book tickets; plan for a full day.
Hollywood: Walk the Walk of Fame, see TCL Chinese Theatre, optional short hikes like Runyon Canyon if the kids can manage.
Optional: Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach if you want a quieter day.

Hotels: Look for family suites with free parking; Embassy Suites by Hilton LAX or Residence Inn by Marriott Santa Monica are solid options.

Days 7–10: Central Coast to San Francisco

Driving the Pacific Coast Highway is scenic but can be slow, especially with children. Breaking the drive is smart:

San Luis Obispo / Pismo Beach: Overnight here; enjoy beach walks, pier, and family-friendly restaurants.
Big Sur: Drive carefully and stop at easy viewpoints (Bixby Bridge, McWay Falls). Avoid long hikes with small children.
San Francisco: 3 days is reasonable to see main attractions:

Golden Gate Bridge and Park
Alcatraz Island (book early)
Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39, and Ghirardelli Square
Exploratorium or California Academy of Sciences for hands-on fun

Hotels: Consider family-friendly hotels in Fisherman’s Wharf or Union Square with parking, e.g., Argonaut Hotel or Holiday Inn Express Fisherman’s Wharf.

Yosemite Detour:

For a first-time visit with children, Yosemite is worthwhile but adds significant driving (approx. 4–5 hours from San Francisco). If you choose Yosemite, consider 2 nights in Oakhurst or Yosemite Valley area for easy access to kid-friendly hikes like Lower Yosemite Fall Trail, Mirror Lake, or Cook’s Meadow Loop. This may replace the second day in SF or shorten the Central Coast stay.

Back to LA / San Diego

Instead of returning up the coast, a more relaxing option is to fly from SF to LA or drive down the faster I-5 route if you want a day in LA, then finish the last 3–4 days in San Diego.
Final days in San Diego: Consider Legoland (Carlsbad) if children enjoy theme parks, or Coronado Island for a more relaxed beach day.

Budget Tips:

Family suites with breakfast included save both time and money.
Free parking is limited in SF and LA; check hotel policies carefully.
Book major attractions early to avoid long lines and guarantee entry.

Overall, your plan is good. Prioritize minimizing long drives with young children, and use the Central Coast and Yosemite detours selectively depending on how much driving you and the kids can handle.

Trip with kids to California - July/Aug help

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