Trying to plan a California trip and could use some help. After buying our plane tickets flying into San Francisco and out of LA I decided I would really like to see San Diego also. How does this sound to you?

Arrive San Fran spend 4 nights ( 3 days really)
Drive to Carmel and spend 2 nights
Drive to Cambria spend one night and visit Hearst Castle.
Drive from Cambria to SanDiego and spend two nights and then on to LA for our last two nights.
I am a little concerned about the drive from Cambria to San Diego....is it reasonable? I hear a lot about the traffic. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

NancyJacky -

I live in LA. And my wife and I drove along the California coast for our honeymoon.

The drive from Cambria to San Diego would take you about 4 - 5 hours, without traffic. And that's a big without.

Also, I noticed that you didn't plan on spending time in Big Sur. Big Mistake!!

Here's what I would suggest.

3 nights in San Fran...unless one of the days there you plan to drive to Napa...and even that is disappointing if you don't go during the right time of year.

I would add another night to LA. Or...add a night in Santa Barbara. Either way, use this night to break up the drive from Cambria to LA.

The better plan, don't do the LA nights at the end. Do them in the middle of your trip, from Cambria to LA. Then on a day you might decide to go to Disney Land or such from LA, continue on to San Diego.

Or...maybe with your extra night from San Fran...add it to a night in Laguna. That's very pretty.

I have to confess, I'm not a big fan of San Diego. Nor of LA, for that matter! Not as pretty as Northern California like Carmel and Cambria.

You got Cambria right. Carmel is great and you'll be wanting to go to Monterey as well as...The Steinbeck Museum. Pretty drive, and don't miss it!!

And certainly you could go to Big Sur from Carmel. I just wouldn't rush it. Trust me, it is one of the prettiest places on this earth. And certainly of your trip.

Mylesaway

Depending on what day of the week you intend to drive from Cambria to San Diego, you could have major problems. Traffic coming from the LA area to OC and San Diego is just about stopped sometimes. Best time to drive from LA to San Diego is either really, really early in the AM or really, really late at night to avoid traffic. Barring that, we have traffic all the time, so don't count on traveling "freeway" speed for the most part of your trip that day.

I, like the other poster, and no great fan of San Diego (or LA). If the purpose of seeing San Diego is the warmer climate and the beach, you can see almost the same thing at some Orange County beaches (Corona Del Mar or Crystal Cove State Beach come to mind). The water is warmer than up north and both are pretty. Newport Beach is nice also, but no cliffs or bluffs, but more shops and a peir to walk on. Balboa Island is cute too and you can take a car ferry from Newport to Balboa, then drive a ways to Corona Del Mar or Crystal Cove. San Diego is another 2 hours further from LA than Newport Beach (minimum).

I understand your desire to visit San Diego, but the idea of driving from Cambria to San Diego and then back to LA doesn't strike me as a good plan considerng your many other great options.

There is a great deal of interest on the coast between Cambria and LA--San Luis Obispo, Santa Barabra, Solvang, Malibu, the San Monica Hills, and Santa Monica--to name a few.

I believe you could use your time and energy better by exploring places near San Francisco (Napa Valley, Muir Woods), Big Sur, and LA (Venice Beach, Laguna Beach, etc.).

Hi nancyjacky,
Being a native SD and love SF, not a big fan of LA but I like your 4 day plan in SF and 2 nights in Carmel is gorgeous and I would do Hwy 101 all the way down and do stop in Big Sur!
Cambria to SD is doable in about 5 hours and the car pool lanes really help when there is traffic up in LA, seems like everyone drives alone, so that should help your commute (early morning & mid afternoon till 7pm) I would stop in Santa Barbara or make that your stay instead of LA..it really is gorgeous there..
San Diego, I would make that my last stop and just drive to LAX from there..
La Jolla is a must in SD and you didn't say when you are going but if it is after Labor Day, rates will be down everywhere and availabilty too..
4 nights in SF
2 nights in Carmel/Big Sur
1 night in Cambria
2 nights in Santa Barbara
2 nights in SD/La Jolla/Coronado
No stay in LA and just drive on up to LAX and use the car pool lanes..
If you need any help with Hotels in LJ, I would recommend these Hotels;
thegrandecolonial.com
ljbtc.com
hotellajolla.com
hoteldel.com
Restaurants in LJ;
georgesatthecove.com Terrace dining
ljbtc.com Marine Room
Have a wonderful time and keep us posted!