Hi everyone,

Looking for some help planning my drive. We are visiting friends in Carlsbad this aug. Seemed like something fun and new to fly into San Fran instead and drive down. Here lies the trick- we land in SF at 9am and plan to be in Carlsbad by Sat night.

Everything I read changed my mind on what to do and where to stay. I will have my kids with me who may or may not see the beauty in a coastal drive and would rather more pit spots.

One of my ideas is staying in San Fran all day Thursday then heading to Santa Cruz after supper. Letting them hit the boardwalk Before bed. The goal Friday would be getting to pismo beach. Then pismo to Carlsbad sat.

I really know nothing and need all the help I can get!
Thank you!

Highway 1 will not be open through Big Sur. So you would not be able to drive down the coast all the way.

You you can still go to Santa Cruz if you want but then you will have to head over to 101 to bypass the coast between Monterey and Pismo Beach.

Pismo Beach to Carlsbad is about a 5 hour drive plus whatever traffic you hit in the LA basin

With hwy 1 out of the picture- Where else would you recommend staying Friday night that maybe acts as more of a middle point between Santa Cruz and Carlsbad? And is Santa Cruz worth the visit? Looked kid friendly
Appreciate the gelp

- Thursday in SF. Dinner in SF (what time do you consider dinnertime? - we eat early in restaurants at 7PM) Then driving 2 hrs to Santa Cruz & arriving at 10:30PM??? Boardwalk will be closed by then. Maybe you eat at 5PM at a Subway or another fast food place in SF & arrive in Santa Cruz at 8PM. Still not much time to do anything.

- Friday, drive 3 hrs on 101 & arrive in Pismo Beach at noon to 2PM. Explore around a bit & stay the night.

- Sat, drive 5 hrs and arrive in Carlsbad at 2-4 PM. Not a fun or interesting day.

IMO, I would stay in San Francisco as long as you can, then get up early & fly to San Diego.

Even if Hwy #1 was open - you don't really have any time to enjoy the cost between SF & Carlsbad.

Stu Dudley

>>. . . then get up early & fly to San Diego.

Stu is right -- driving to SC after dinner doesn't work. Driving down before dinner and getting to SC by 6 or 7 would make more sense -- but skipping the long drive south and flying makes even more sense.

>> Driving down before dinner and getting to SC by 6 or 7 would make more sense

In reality -- there is no good way to fit inSanta Cruz

Skip SC altogether and fly down - or spend a day/night night in SF and dash down I-5 or 101/I-5.

San Francisco is abbreviated SF, not San Fran.

Highway 1 will not be open through Big Sur.

Will the highway still be closed in August, when the OP is traveling?

HTtY

Yes -- the bridge will be closed for up to a year

Parts of Highway 1 north of San Francisco are also quite scenic and a possible alternative to the Big Sur area.

>>Parts of Highway 1 north of San Francisco . . . Carlsbad in two days so driving in the opposite direction makes no sense at all.

I would skip Pismo Beach and continue your drive further to Santa Barbara. Stay in Santa Barbara.