First timer - family need advise for spacing the trip

Question

Hello to this beautiful community! Finally, the time has come that our family will on a road trip to California (first timers). We are a family of 4 (2 adults and 2 kids (7) and (11). Road trip starts at Victoria, BC with the main place to hit Legoland for 2 days and if possible San Deigo for a day. We have 2-3 weeks starting Aug.1, didn’t book any hotels so worried for scarce availability. Would appreciate your input on spacing out trip nicely with suggested overnight spots as well as activities in our spots of interest, more importantly, am I missing any iconic places from my list below?….

Plan to take the fastest route down I-5 to San Francisco, perhaps with 1st overnight stop near Silver Falls or further, we are young and fit and can drive long periods. I would rather do major driving in a day or two, and then relax for 2-3 days. Will stop in San Fransico to explore the city for a day and 2nd overnight.

My goal is to hit the iconic coastal spots from San Francisco to San Diego.

Driving coastal road and stopping at Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz, Monterey, Carmel, and Big Sur until the road is closed off. Going inland.

Back track a bit to San Simeon—if it’s worth it?

Then coastal route continues through:

Morro Bay, Santa Barbara, Malibu, Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Laguna Beach, San Clemente, Long Beach (might skip LA if time crunch), Huntington Beach

Legoland (2 -3 days)

San Diego (1 day to explore) and drive back all the way to the border where makes sense will stop overnight, if I have extra time, will stop to explore at additional places. but, first would like to see if I space out nicely how much time it will take me. Of course, it’s personal preference if you spend entire day on a beach or a couple of hours. Maybe tell me which ones of those beaches are swimmable or the “most iconic” so it will give me an idea where to spend more time as opposed to where it will be 2-3 hours walking around.

In any case, please suggest good spacing so I can start booking accommodations and would love to hear your thoughts, especially about the backtracking part and which towns are truly worth a longer stop. Thanks in advance!

Answer

Your California road trip sounds amazing and very ambitious! With 2–3 weeks, careful planning will help balance long driving days with relaxing stops to enjoy iconic coastal sights and family-friendly activities.

General Tips

Book accommodations as early as possible, especially along the coast (Big Sur, Monterey/Carmel, Santa Barbara), as availability in August can be limited.
Expect coastal drives to be slower than Google Maps estimates due to winding roads, traffic, and photo stops.
Consider alternating long driving days with 1–2 relaxed days to explore and unwind, especially with kids.

Suggested Itinerary & Spacing

Day 1–2: Drive from Victoria, BC down I-5 toward Northern California. Possible overnight near Redding or Shasta area (Silver Falls is further north). This splits your first long driving day.
Day 3–4: Continue down I-5 to San Francisco area. Spend a full day exploring SF (Golden Gate Bridge, Pier 39, Fisherman’s Wharf). Overnight in SF or nearby.
Day 5–6: Start coastal route south: Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz, Monterey, Carmel. Consider 2 nights in Monterey/Carmel to explore Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row, and 17-Mile Drive.
Day 7: Big Sur: spend a full day exploring coastal viewpoints (Bixby Bridge, McWay Falls, Pfeiffer Beach). Overnight in Big Sur area if possible, otherwise Monterey or Carmel again.
Day 8: San Simeon: Hearst Castle is the main attraction. One day stop is sufficient; no extensive backtracking needed if coming from Big Sur south.
Day 9–10: Continue south along Highway 1: Morro Bay, Pismo Beach, Santa Barbara. Consider one night in Santa Barbara for more relaxed pacing and beach exploration.
Day 11–12: Malibu, Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Laguna Beach. If you want to minimize driving stress, skip Los Angeles proper and focus on coastal stops.
Day 13–14: Huntington Beach, San Clemente, Long Beach. End with 2–3 days in Carlsbad/Legoland area, staying near Legoland for full 2–3 day visit.
Day 15: San Diego exploration day: Balboa Park, Old Town, or beaches if time allows. Overnight near airport for evening flight.

Beach & Activity Notes

Half Moon Bay: Good for short stops and beach walks; generally swimmable in summer but waters can be cold.
Santa Cruz: Family-friendly beaches, boardwalk, and swimmable spots.
Monterey/Carmel: Pebble beaches are scenic; some swimmable but mainly for walking, wildlife viewing.
Big Sur: Pfeiffer Beach (iconic purple sand) and McWay Falls viewpoint—mainly sightseeing, not swimmable.
San Simeon: Primarily Hearst Castle and elephant seal viewing; not beach-focused.
Santa Barbara: Swimmable beaches, good for lunch and short walks.
Malibu, Santa Monica, Venice Beach: Swimmable beaches, iconic piers, good for family fun and photo stops.
Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach, San Clemente: Swimmable, family-friendly, ideal for full-day stops.

Additional Recommendations

Focus longer stays in Monterey/Carmel, Big Sur, and Santa Barbara for a balance of sightseeing and relaxation.
San Simeon can be a half-day stop; not necessary to backtrack extensively unless visiting Hearst Castle.
Legoland and San Diego can be treated as the southern anchor of your trip; consider 2–3 days here to accommodate kids fully.
Plan flexible timing on coastal drives, allowing for photo stops and wildlife viewing along the Pacific Coast Highway.

This spacing allows you to combine scenic coastal drives with manageable daily distances, family-friendly beaches, and key attractions without overwhelming the kids.

First timer - family need advise for spacing the trip

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