A friend and I are flying to San Diego, then renting a car to Palm Springs, Joshua Tree, then on up to Ventura. I am thinking of taking back roads to Palm Springs, then up to Ventura OR driving up the coast from San Diego to Ventura OR up I-15. And also contemplating Amtrak from S. Diego to Ventura, then driving back south through Palm Springs. Any tips on these routes and the train are appreciated!

so are you dropping the car off at a different city then where you are picking it up. that will be a cost. from san diego, i like the drive to palm springs, going through julian and idyllwild.

Do you have to return to San Diego?

How many days do you have altogether?

Huge train fan here, so my first choice would be Pacific Surfliner. ~$50/pp and it's one of the most scenic Amtrak routes in California. Moreless the entire line hugs the coast.

Not exactly. All of the L.A. County part is inland.

Yes, that's the less part.

How much time do you have total? You have to end up back in San Diego?

The drive from SD to Ventura would be full of great places to stop, do you have time for an overnight or two? Either way, this drive requires careful planning to make it through the major traffic snarls of the day. The train is a good way not to deal with traffic, but the 2nd half of the train ride is not scenic and rather boring. It's five hours on the train ($40 booked in advance) and driving you could make it in 3 hrs early on a Sunday morning, more likely 4 hrs at other times.

Renting a car San Diego then back to San Diego would probably be half the price of renting in Ventura and returning to San Diego but rates fluctuate wildly so check it both ways.

fdecarlo, check the Amtrak map. Between Ventura and San Diego, the only part of the Surfliner route along the coast is between Dana Point and Solana (maybe Del Mar), and the train runs east of the 5 through Camp Pendleton. IMO, the "scenic" bits of the Surfliner are between Ventura and San Luis Obispo.

http://www.amtrak.com/pacific-surfliner-train

This is a bit confusing.

1. Where are you flying home from? San Diego or ___ ?

2. How many days do you have?

If you are flying in and out of SD and drive it would make the most sense to rent a car in SD and return the car to SD.

And as long as you're going to Ventura you might as well make the extra drive up to Santa Barbara.

Are you flying into San Diego to spend time visiting? How many days will you be in San Diego. Personally I would drive to Palm Springs then over to Ventura. What is the purpose of the trip to Ventura? I personally love Santa Barbara and would go there if time permits.

The train is expensive and time consuming. Unfortunately it is not the most scenic or best way to travel. We have very poor public transport.

thanks for all the good info. we will probably drive up the coast from SD to Ventura, then drive over to P. Springs/ Joshua Tree and back to SD. 8 days total, thinking 3 in SD, 1-2 days up the coast, 1 in Ventura visiting, then the rest of the time P.Spgs and J. Tree