Driving San Francisco - Anaheim on coastal highway - Only 1 night to stop
 

We are planning to drive SF to Anaheim early October and really can only manage 1 night to stop along the way but particularly wanted to do the coast drive. Family of four ( incl 2 teenage boys) we would like to optimise the scenery options and have stops along the way but reading reviews it seems we are going to be pressed for time. Boys keen on visiting Monterey Aquarium There is a very small chance we could squeeze another night in but trying to make it work with just the one night. . Would love to hear options for places to visit, stay over for the night and possibly travel times between certain stops. We are mindful that traffic apparently gets crazy thru LA in the afternoon We are travelling straight thru to Anaheim. What time does the highways get jammed up? First trip to the States and hubby a tad nervous about the driving aspect. Staying at Fisherman's Wharf in SF and looking to collect a rental car on last day. Any recommendations re the simplest method of leaving the city?

Will you be leaving San Francisco on a work day and/or arriving in LA on a work day???

You won't have time for the Monterey aquarium. Visit the Academy of Science aquarium in Golden Gate Park instead.

Stu Dudley

Monterey Aquarium takes a long time to visit. this would really cut into your schedule. You might think about Pismo Beach for the overnight on Higway 1. I have NEVER been to LA area without hitting traffic. It does make a difference if it is a week day or Sunday when people are coming home from being away. SF Traffic also depends on day of the week. Friday anytime after noon is getting very busy and then again on Sunday. My advice would be to leave SF early morning, stop along the coast Pismo Beach, Morro Bay for overnight and then start out early for Anaheim.

Cottage Inn by the Sea is a very nice Inn and is beach front in Pismo Beach. Another thought is to leave SF early and stop at Hearst Castle for tour (need advance tickets), spend the night in Cambria or Morro Bay and again head out early in the AM for Anaheim or mid afternoon

I agree w/ stu - w/ just one night you really don't have time for the aquarium and the whole coastal drive.

The coast is not a freeway/motorway. Parts have 30mph sections and nowhere can one drive freeway speeds. The traffic in the LA basin can be bad at any time but is worst mornings before about 9:30 and afternoons after about 3:30. And unfortunately you will be crossing the entire LA basin getting to Anaheim.

IMO you either need to bite the bullet and plan on 2 nights . . . or forget about the coast south of Monterey. You could head to Monterey, visit the aquarium, explore maybe Point Lobos and stay that night in/near Monterey, The next morning head inland to hwy 101/I-5 and drive straight through to Anaheim. That drive will take 5.5 to 7-ish hours without stops, depending on traffic in the LA area.

On this drive we like to spend the night in Pismo Beach because that town has an abundance of rooms with great ocean views. We like dinner at Thai Talay (601 Prince Street)--a family-friendly place which serves excellent Thai food in a casual setting.

HTtY

Pismo is great. However SF to Pismo is too far for one night IF one want to tour the Aquarium, stop at Point Lobos (an absolute must IMO) and stop places in Big Sur.

Fisherman's Wharf to Pismo Beach via hwy 1 is a six hour drive without any stops at all.

If arriving on a work day afternoon, plan to not drive on the LA freeways until after 6 pm, or else you will just be sitting in a 'parking lot' and creeping along.

No matter what day or what time, the LA traffic ranges between largely annoying, really bad, horrible and 'oh my gawd, kill me now'.

As long as you are prepared for this, you will be okay. Just don't be constrained to arrive at a specific time, because chances are good you will not make it.

>>No matter what day or what time, the LA traffic ranges between largely annoying, really bad, horrible and 'oh my gawd, kill me now'.<<

Jeeze - you're reminding me why we moved from the LA area to San Francisco in 1975. 1 1/2 hrs to drive to/from a Laker's game, 30 mins to drive to get an ice cream cone, 1 1/4 hr drive to work.......

"livin on an LA Freeway, ain't my kind of havin fun"....John Denver.

Stu Dudley

Cambria is the logical place to stay on this route. We have stayed there many times, but have come to prefer to drive a little farther to Pismo Beach for a room that has a balcony with a sweeping view of the ocean.

HTtY

Stu...just tryin to keep it real...:-d

Kiwi might be one of our "post & run" people - but if not, I'll be the contrarian here.

The spectacular part of the the coast between San Francisco and Anaheim is the famous section between Carmel and San Simeon (where Hearst Castle is located) - the Big Sur coast. The worst part of your trip will be once you hit the LA basin. I would try to get through the LA basin as fast as possible and I would try to linger along the Big Sur coast as long as possible. Also, Carmel is the most charming village along the way, IMO.

A "perfect trip" would be a wander around Carmel, an hour at Pt Lobos State Park just south of Carmel, and a night in the redwoods in Big Sur with a dinner at Nepenthe (my wife loves the hamburgers & fries there). Therefore I would stop for the night at the Big Sur Lodge (I think they have doubles). This would allow a later departure from Fisherman's Wharf so that you can get the teens moving in the AM & also have time to secure the car. Leave SF after 9:30am (miss the commute traffic). Take Hwy 280 - very scenic. If this is on a work day, and you should get to Carmel by 12:30 - earlier if not a work day. Wander in Carmel until 3:00 and then get to Pt Lobos at 3:15 & spend 1 hr there (they have walking maps). Leave Pt Lobos at 4:15 & get to the Big Sur Lodge at 5:00. Stop for photos of Bixby Bridge & the beautiful coast along the way. Have dinner at Nepenthe (after browsing the shop below) and have a restful evening admiring the views from Nepenthe down the coast. Sleep with redwoods all around you.

Next morning have a hearty breakfast at River Inn (1 mile north of Big Sur Lodge) and then a leisurely drive south along the spectacular Big Sur coast. Perhaps stop at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park & admire the waterfall. Then continue south. Once you get near San Luis Obispo, put the pedal to the metal and get through the LA stuff as fast as possible. I would try to leave San Luis Obispo LATER than 3:30-4:00PM so you might arrive in LA/Orange Co a bit past the commute hours - perhaps arriving at 8PM.

Stu Dudley

>> If this is on a work day, and you should get to Carmel by 12:30 <<

Should be "If this is on a work day you should"

Stu Dudley

The sand dunes at Pismo would be soooo fun for your boys. We did a HumVee Ride of the dunes and loved it. Here is a you tube and a link to the Oceano Dunes.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1wlHEY9...%3D1wlHEY9j5_M


http://www.slostateparks.com/oceano_dunes/

And because of all the above . . . you really need two nights between SF and LA. Otherwise you miss way too much and have to rush (can be dangerous on that road)

How long is the entire trip (how much time in SF and in Anaheim), and what is the reason for visiting Anaheim? Is there any way you can shave a night from Anaheim for another night on the coast?

So much good info here thanks. Looks like we really need to be travelling with two nights stopover. Hubby unsure about the driving so may not be so keen to navigate interchanges etc if arriving in the dark. We leave SF on Tues 1st Oct - (appreciate StuDudley's comment re getting the teens moving) We have four nights in Anaheim - to do the Disney thing & SeaWorld maybe- then it's been recommended that we have a 2-3 nights in Santa Monica before flying home Wed 9th. Yes we are backtracking a little but that's how it's worked out. If we keep the kids waiting until the very last few days before they get their Disney/Universal fix then we might be all climbing the walls be the end of it. Rather not go straight from roller-coaster to 12 hour flight =)

I think your balance is wrong. One night/two days for the whole (magnificent) coast and seven nights for Disney/Santa Monica.

I'd try hard to rearrange things - unless you have prepaid non refundable bookings in Southern California I'd plan 3 nights on the coast (Two in/near Monterey and one farther south) , 3 nights in Anaheim, and one or two nights in Santa Monica.

Most places have pretty generous cancellations policies so you can probably modify your stays.

The summer/beach stuff may be dying a bit by Oct 7-8 in Santa Monica. I grew up in the LA area, and I was never a fan of the Santa Monica/Manhattan/Venice beach area. I much preferred Newport/Laguna Beach - which is much closer to Disneyland. I worked as a parking lot attendant at the Disneyland Hotel one summer while living in Newport Beach before my senior year in college.

Consider staying in Newport Beach for 5-6 days and do Disney, Newport, Disney, Laguna, Disney. Rent bikes in Newport Beach and ride along the boardwalk next to the beach & spend some time exploring the piers, Balboa Island, Back Bay, the Wedge, Collins island, Corona, etc.

Stu Dudley

If the kids need an amusement park fix, you might consider time in Santa Cruz. While the Boardwalk doesn't have the animation and big thrill rides that Disney has, it's fun, it's on the beach, and the weather is usually decent in Santa Cruz in October.