Hi, My husband and I are planning our first trip to California (from NY). We are flying in on Sunday, March 29th at noon and flying out April 4th. We need to be in Fresno Thursday and Friday (meeting family) and fly home Saturday night. I thought we would fly into San Diego and rent a car. My original plan was to go to the zoo or the safari (I know its a drive) but questioning is it worth it and which to do without spending hundreds on extras. We would love to drive along the coast to see some beaches and sea lions, maybe tide pools? boardwalk and I'd love to see redwoods. What should we not miss? My husbands not into art or museum type stuff, we love the coast and nature/gardens. Also, am I picking the right airports? San Diego and San Francisco? We are looking to keep the cost down as much as possible while still enjoying our trip. Do I need to have reservations for hotels every night or can we just stop where we get to that day? We need to be in Fresno by noon on Thursday but may have some free time if there's anything interesting to do in that area. If we do fly out of San Fransisco we could drive there late Friday. Would that give us any time to see anything there if we have a late flight out Saturday night such as The bridge or Alcatraz or is that too much hassle and should we drive our rental into the cities or park and use public transportation? Also could use advice on good restaurants (not health food) that are not really expensive or fancy and good hotels too. Any advice is appreciated, Thanks!

"Also, am I picking the right airports? San Diego and San Francisco? "

I sure don't think so. I personally would 100% forget about anything south of Fresno/Monterey/Big Sur. You simply have very little time with only 3.5 days free before Fresno. I'd fly in to Sacramento or SFO or San Jose or Oakland and fly home from one of the same. A loop including SF, Henry Cowell redwood state park, the Monterey Peninsula/Point Lobos, Fresno and flying home would be doable but still awfully rushed.

Before giving any recommendations re where to stay or restaurants -- what is your budget per night for accommodations, and budget for dinners.

I agree with the plan Janis suggested. Too much ground to cover for things you want to see. Save SD for a trip all it’s own.

+1 Either fly into San Jose - rent a car and spend a few days on the Monterey peninsula - plenty to see and do for the 3-1/2 days you'll have, including coastline. A few hours drive to Fresno from Monterey. -OR - fly into San francisco, spend your 3-1/2 days there, then drive to Fresno (again, a few hours drive)

I agree with the others. Fly to Sacramento, San Jose or even Fresno (FAT) and rent a car. Don't go any farther south on the coast than Big Sur. It's not too hard to get from Sacramento or San Jose to Fresno by using the Amtrak San Joaquin route.
You can see big Coast Redwoods at Henry Cowell or Big Basin north of Monterey. My favorite ocean side lodging (cheap) between Monterey and San Francisco is the Pigeon Point HI hostel on the grounds of the Pigeon Point lighthouse.
The only coastal town I remember with a boardwalk pier and a zoo is Santa Barbara. Is that where you were thinking? Confusing title-Fresno has no beaches.

Or, fly into San Diego, where the weather will almost certainly be better, see the Zoo or the Safari Park (it's not that long a drive and is worth it). See tidepools in La Jolla or drive to the Cabrillo National Monument on Point Loma were there are fabulous tidepools and amazing views. Beaches? We have beaches. Walk on them, sit on them, take pictures, eat dinner beside one.

Your husband may not be a big museum fan, but he may like the Midway Museum. https://www.midway.org/ It's conveniently located on San Diego Bay right next to the Fish Market, a great seafood restaurant.

It takes about six hours to drive to Fresno from San Diego. You could either go early on Thursday morning or Wednesday.

Agree with above, skip SD this time -- way too much driving in such short a time -- you have NO IDEA of CA traffic! Hey, we're headed out next week again, our son and family have been there almost 20 years. San Diego-LA is enough of a day trip, over three weeks we would not consider driving up to SanFran. You would need at least two weeks for a SanFran-SanDiego trip IMHO.

You don't have time for SD if you have to be with family in Fresno on the dates stated unless you fly. I would save SD for another trip.

There is time for San Diego if you skip San Francisco and northern California. There isn't time for both, so you'll have to decide which you want to do. There is no reason why it should be one rather than the other, simply your preference.

I am going to throw something else out. If you haven’t been to Yosemite, include it. Fresno is pretty handy to Yosemite.

Sure there is time for SD -- but why? Fresno is the only 'must' - in such a short trip, why try to fit in San Diego which is nearly 400 miles and 7 hours away partly though some of the most gawd awful traffic on earth, when Monterey/Carmel (150 miles) or Yosemite (95 miles) are each 2.5 hours from Fresno.

Because the thread title is:

San Diego to Fresno Beaches Boardwalk Zoo

Oh, Barbara, I'm sorry I wasn't able to meet you when were in San Diego a week or so ago. The stores we could tell about the hospitality HERE

If San Diego and Fresno are your two "must" cities - then fly to San Diego (one way). See all you want to see in San Diego then take an Amtrak Pacific Surfliner to Los Angeles Union station. If you have time, see some of Los Angeles before taking the Amtrak bus to Bakersfield to get on the San Joaquin to Fresno. Fresno does have rental cars at the airport if needed. You could fly to San Francisco or San Jose from FAT.
Save San Francisco, Yosemite, Monterey/Big Sur and maybe Fresno for another trip, perhaps not landing at SFO. For ease of getting in and out I like Sacramento (SMF)

Dukey, if I had been here, I would have PM'd you, but I was on my Great American Road Trip to Missouri! I hope you enjoyed yourselves in San Diego and that you experienced great hospitality!

OP should only take tomfuller's suggestion if they want to spend long, boring hours staring out the bus windows at fields of crops mile after mile after mile.