Hi!
Myself and a friend are hoping to visit California in early September this year. The outline of an almost plan is to start in San Francisco, down to the Santa Barbara area (Big Sur), next, LA, then San Diego (Coast Starlight) with a possible detour into Palm Springs, as I'm really eager to see Salvation Mountain. My main question is how many days would it take to fit everything in? Any good itinerary or anymore places that are worth seeing would also be appreciated!

Thanks.

I'd allow at least two weeks for what you've outlined.

The Coast Starlight doesn't go to San Diego. I've taken the train but wouldn't necessarily include it on a first trip. It can be a nice ride as long as your train doesn't hit a car and turn it into a fiasco

Early September is generally a great time weather wise on the coast. It will still be hot inland. Two weeks sounds about right.

And definitely read the other posts that are already here...

You can sort them using the 'California' tag (see View by State box). There's loads of itineraries for coast road trips already posted... both people asking question and people posting trip reports about trips they have taken.

Welcome to Fodor's!

>> . . . down to the Santa Barbara area (Big Sur)> San Diego (Coast Starlight) >possible detour into Palm Springs, as I'm really eager to see Salvation Mountain.

The Coast Starlight takes you as far as Los Angeles and then you connect to Pacific Surfliner to get to San Diego.

Are you planning on traveling only on the train or will you rent a car here and there?

http://www.fodors.com/search/results...fornia+Coastal

I guess the big question is: what are your rental car plans? I'm assuming you are not from San Francisco and that you are renting a car for at least part of your trip. If so, where do you want to return the car? Where do you want to fly home from?

Years ago, (10 at least) we went to Disneyland and then took a train to San Diego and rented a car when we go there. We rode the Surfliner, and that may be what you are thinking of- NOT the Starlight. You would certainly need to rent a car for the Big Sur portion, though.

Good questions by mm. Once you reach Santa Barbara you can turn in the rental and ride a Pacific Surfliner through Los Angeles all the way to San Diego.
The Coast Starlight stops at Santa Barbara about 6PM and gets into LA Union station about 9PM (sometimes late).
You want to leave Santa Barbara in the afternoon to get a great view of the ocean - not as late as the Coast Starlight.

If they turn in the rental car -- how do you propose they get to Salvation Mountain and/or Palm Springs? The'y only have to rent another car.

If they don't need the rental car the entire time they're in SD, then the train would make sense, and they could just rent a car for the one day they want to go to Salvation Mt. But I don't think we've got enough info to determine details like that, anyway.

Amy- it would really be helpful if you could post a budget and minimum/maximum number of days you think you'd allow for this trip. Having planned a similar trip a few months back, I can tell you that lodging budget may determine what towns you stay in and how long you stay for!

Also, what are you and your friend's interests? I build more time into my itineraries for just hiking and biking, for example, but if you aren't outdoorsy sorts, then that wouldn't apply to you. I also allow for "downtime" because I can only "go go go" for so long. Again, that may not apply to you. So more detail would be excellent, if you want helpful advice

I'd want a car to get around San Diego. The only place I'd go carless is in San Francisco.

Yes, I think 2 weeks is a good amount of time - 3 if you've got it. I'd also keep the car for the SD portion. The train is cool, but SD is really better with a car anyway, so it makes sense to keep the car and skip the train.

I strongly suggest getting a good guidebook for some basic research.