Itinerary suggestions/advice for driving from SF to LA in 3d/2n
#1
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Itinerary suggestions/advice for driving from SF to LA in 3d/2n
Finally getting close to our trip to the states and have firmed up our itinerary for the driving portion from SF to LA in December - we arestaying in both SF and LA before and after the road trip portion. Just wanted to have some opinion regarding our itinerary we have planned whether it's too ambitious or we are missing anything major. We're planning to complete the drive from SF to LA in 3 days and 2 night.
Day 1. SF -> Half Moon Bay -> Pacific Grove to see butterflies -> 17 mile drive -> Pt Lobos -> Overnight in Carmel
Day 2. Carmel -> Pffeifer Big Sur National Park -> Brunch/Lunch at Nepenthe -> Julia Pfeiffer Burns Park & McWay Falls -> Piedras Blancas to see elephant seals -> Hearst Castle -> Overnight at San Luis Obispo
Day 3. San Luis Obispo -> Malibu -> Arrive in LA
This is what we are planning to do - I know day 2 seems super packed but some of those stops are just for some photo ops. Any suggestions for changes to the itinerary - what to leave out or add in.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions
Day 1. SF -> Half Moon Bay -> Pacific Grove to see butterflies -> 17 mile drive -> Pt Lobos -> Overnight in Carmel
Day 2. Carmel -> Pffeifer Big Sur National Park -> Brunch/Lunch at Nepenthe -> Julia Pfeiffer Burns Park & McWay Falls -> Piedras Blancas to see elephant seals -> Hearst Castle -> Overnight at San Luis Obispo
Day 3. San Luis Obispo -> Malibu -> Arrive in LA
This is what we are planning to do - I know day 2 seems super packed but some of those stops are just for some photo ops. Any suggestions for changes to the itinerary - what to leave out or add in.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions
#3
Join Date: Mar 2003
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Day 2 is overcrowded. To see Hearst Castle, and I think that reservations are necessary, will take a good chunk of your time (park, buy tickets, wait for the next bus to drive 5 miles to the castle, take a 45 minute tour, go back to the visitor center). Just the drive from Carmel to Hearst Castle will take 2hrs20min. according to Google. You need to drop something from the list for day 2.
#4
Day 2 is tough if you tour San Simeon . . .
I also don't think you can fit in Pt Lobos on day 1. If not, you'd be doing that on day 2. Just the straight drive down Hwy 1 from SF will take more than 3 hours, 17 mile drive at least an hour, + lunch, + Pacific Grove -- plus intermediate stops/photo ops enroute. If it was me - I'd ditch 17 mile drive and do Point Lobos instead.
(BTW -- its Pfeiffer Big Sur National State Park)
I also don't think you can fit in Pt Lobos on day 1. If not, you'd be doing that on day 2. Just the straight drive down Hwy 1 from SF will take more than 3 hours, 17 mile drive at least an hour, + lunch, + Pacific Grove -- plus intermediate stops/photo ops enroute. If it was me - I'd ditch 17 mile drive and do Point Lobos instead.
(BTW -- its Pfeiffer Big Sur
#6
Your itinerary is fine. Tour start times are given from the bottom of the hill, and include the bus trip to the top. I would try to book that ahead, see what times are available for your dates.
The typical drive time through Big Sur from Carmel to San Simeon is 3 hours, so leaving Carmel at 9 am, you have 3 hours to play around with stops along the way, and get to Hearst by 3pm. Just depends on how much time you want for hikes and lunch, but it isn't that unreasonable.
The typical drive time through Big Sur from Carmel to San Simeon is 3 hours, so leaving Carmel at 9 am, you have 3 hours to play around with stops along the way, and get to Hearst by 3pm. Just depends on how much time you want for hikes and lunch, but it isn't that unreasonable.
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Another possibility if you think Day 2 with Hearst Castle is too tight, would be to stay in Cambria/San Simeon overnight on Day 2, tour Hearst Castle in the morning of Day 3, and then continue on the Malibu and LA.
#10
If you are not traveling over the holiday week or a weekend (between Dec and NY) you might be able to leave that night in SLO unbooked (or book something you can cancel) and wait to see how the weather will pan out.
I think the food and drink is much better in SLO if that matters to you!
I think the food and drink is much better in SLO if that matters to you!
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