California Road Trip Itinerary
 

I know there a lot of posts on this but wanted to know what people thought about this itinerary down the PCH (suggestions welcome!). We do want to spend some time in SF and I'm ok with skipping LA. There is so much to see in so little time!!! Thanks in advance.

Day 1 - Fly in late to SF- Stay SF
Day 2 - San Francisco
Day 3 - San Francisco
Day 4 - San Francisco
Day 5 - Drive to Monteray/Carmel - Stay Monteray/Carmel (Do people have a preference or what is the difference?)
Day 6 - Explore Monteray Carmel - Stay Monteray/ Carmel
Day 7 - Drive to Pismo - Stay Pismo (Would people stay somewhere else?)
Day 8- Drive to Santa Barbara, Santa Monica or Malibu and stay there (Which is best?)
Day 9 - Drive to San Diego - Stay San Diego
Day 10 - San Diego
Day 11 - San Diego (Fly home late)

Most will tell you to stay in Carmel or Pacific Grove, but Monterey is fine. It all depends on your budget. Monterey is a Buick and Carmel is a Cadillac.

Down the coast you could also consider Cambria. Pismo Beach or San Luis Obispo have more going on and would be great also.

Day 8, I don't know what to tell you. It depends how far you want to drive. The closer to San Diego the better?

Personally I would drive from Pismo to Santa Barbara (not far), and spend the day and night there. Santa Barbara (from an ex-local) has lots to see and do. If you don't care how long it takes you to get to SD on Day 9, then take 101 to Hwy 1 (Pacific Coast Highway) in Oxnard, then travel down PCH through Malibu to Santa Monica, stopping as you'd like along the way. From Santa Monica take the 10 to the 405; then straight on down to San Diego. This will take all day, but it will be an interesting day.

Not going to stop along the way at Big Sur, Hearst Castle and that area?

I would HIGHLY recommend staying on Moonstone beach in Cambrkia, that way you can go to Ahearts castle the following morning and have dinner at the Seachest. One of my favourite stops along this route .
We stayed at the Sand Pebbles Inn and again would highly recommend.

I'd stay in Santa Barbara over Santa Monica (too busy for me) or Malibu (limited lodging). Beautiful town, nice mission, good restaurants, wineries nearby in Santa Ynez Valley.

Sand Pebbles in Cambria was really nice, we also enjoyed our stay at the Best Western Cavaliar in San Simeon, nice ocean room with fireplace.

Have a great trip.

I would take a day off SF , add a stop in Santa Barbara after Cambria and then stop in Malibu/Santa Monica before heading off to San Diego.
Loved the Canary hotel in SB and LOVED the US Grant hotel in SD.

Thanks for all of the suggestions...We will definitely make stops along the way this was just an outline...

Any suggestions for hotels in Carmel???

Or Monteray...Looks like Monteray is cheaper to stay?

Oh but Carmel sooo lovely and such a pleasant place to stay. What is your budget?

Trying to stay around 300 or less...

Have you looked at the Cypress Inn in Carmel, great location and is owned by Doris Day!

I like Pacific Grove and Carmel over Monterey (no "a").

If you like B&Bs and small inns there are many in Carmel or PG

Sea View, Pine Inn, Tally Ho in Carmel.

I like Asilomar in PG if you can get the right room, although service isn't the greatest, the setting makes up for it.

If you do end up staying on Moonstone beach in Cambria and at the Sand pebbles in, see if you can get one of the upstairs ocean view rooms, absolutely gorgeous corner windows with a view of the ocean.....

yes LOTS of B&Bs in Carmel. The Lamplighter looked particularly lovely.