Draft fly drive itinerary

Question

Hi my wife and I are planning a fly drive in October, starting in San Francisco ending in San Diego. Draft itinerary at the moment is below and I was hoping some of you might be able to offer up some advice or guidance on whether that looks ok or needs tweaking. At the moment nothing is set in stone.

Fly into San Francisco

3 nights San Francisco

2 nights Yosemite

2 nights Monterey

1 night Santa Barbara

4 nights Santa Monica

3 nights San Diego

Fly home from Los Angeles

Thanks in advance

Answer

Your draft fly-drive itinerary from San Francisco to San Diego looks well-structured and allows a good mix of city exploration, natural parks, and coastal scenery. Here’s a detailed review with suggestions for optimizing travel and activities.

San Francisco – 3 nights: This is a solid amount of time to explore the city. Three nights allows you to visit major sites like Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown, Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and neighborhoods like Mission or Haight-Ashbury. You may also have time for a half-day trip to Muir Woods or Sausalito.

Yosemite – 2 nights: Two nights in Yosemite is doable but will be somewhat rushed, especially if you want to see Yosemite Valley and perhaps take a short hike. Consider:

Focus on highlights in Yosemite Valley such as El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, and Bridalveil Fall.
Take one moderate hike like Vernal Fall Footbridge or Lower Yosemite Falls Trail.
Check road conditions for October; some higher elevation trails may start closing.

Monterey – 2 nights: Two nights on the Monterey Peninsula works well for exploring the coast. You could split your time between:

Monterey Bay Aquarium and Cannery Row.
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve for hiking and scenic views.
Optional: Whale watching or kayaking in Moss Landing or Monterey Bay.

Santa Barbara – 1 night: One night is enough for a brief stopover and an evening stroll along the waterfront or State Street. Keep in mind the drive from Monterey to Santa Barbara is around 4–5 hours via US-101, so plan for a long travel day.

Santa Monica / Los Angeles area – 4 nights: Four nights gives flexibility to explore LA and nearby beach towns. Highlights could include:

Santa Monica Pier and Venice Beach.
Day trips to Malibu or Getty Center.
Optional Disneyland or Universal Studios if desired.
Consider traffic when planning day trips; LA can be congested even off-peak.

San Diego – 3 nights: Three nights is perfect to see major attractions and relax. Suggested activities include:

Balboa Park and its museums.
San Diego Zoo or Safari Park.
La Jolla Cove for coastal walks and kayaking.
Old Town San Diego or Gaslamp Quarter for dining and history.

Additional considerations:

Driving times: SF to Yosemite (~4–5 hours), Yosemite to Monterey (~3–4 hours), Monterey to Santa Barbara (~4–5 hours), Santa Barbara to Santa Monica (~1.5–2 hours), Santa Monica to San Diego (~2–3 hours). Keep in mind possible delays along coastal routes.
Accommodation: Booking early, especially in Yosemite and Monterey, is important in October, which is still a popular season.
Flexibility: Consider leaving buffer time for scenic detours along Big Sur or wine tasting in Santa Barbara or Paso Robles.

Overall, your itinerary is balanced between city, nature, and coast. The main challenge is the Monterey to Santa Barbara drive, which can be long if you make stops along Big Sur. If you prefer a more relaxed pace, consider adding an extra night in Santa Barbara or Monterey to break up that drive.

Draft fly drive itinerary

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