kygirlintx

Will be flying into LAX Thursday morning and driving to San Diego. We are in no hurry and will have about five hours or so driving. So, what route would be better? 405 all the way or take the scenic route 1? Also, anything worth seeing along the way to get photos of and such?

Thanks!

dwooddon

The Coast Hwy no longer runs the entire length so you will be forced on to the 405/5 for parts of the way. The first available portions of Coast Hwy are nothing to brag about so I'd head south on the 405 until you get to the Seal Beach exit.

You can then take the Coast Hwy south through Seal Beach, Huntington and Newport Beachs, Laguna Beach, Dana Point, Capistrano Beach, and San Clemente. You'll then be forced back onto I-5 for the trip through Camp Pendelton. At Ocenaside, you can get onto Coast Hwy again.

That will take you through Oceanside, Carlsbad, Leucadia, Encinitas, Cardiff-By-The-Sea, Del Mar, Torrey Pines, and La Jolla.

There are a variety of city, county, and state parks along that route with paved or sand walks along the beach. There are piers at Huntington Beach, Newport, and San Clemente which are often good for photographs across the water and of the coast line. Just inland of the Newport Beach pier a few hundred feet, the Balboa Island fun zone is a kitschey place to visit for a few minutes.

Just inland from Dana Point about 5 miles, Mission San Juan Capistrano and old San Juan are worthwhile and photogenic visits.

Have a good trip!

kygirlintx

Thank you...great info!

bigtyke

i would take freeways to Carlsbad, then get off and take the coast hwy.

nanabee

I would too bigtyke.
The 405 merges into the 5 South. Take that to Carlsbad and exit. Actually the "highway" isn't really a highway it is more like surface streets that have stop lights.