Hi!
We will be flying into SFO and driving to Sonoma overnight then onto Santa Barbara to Carlsbad in August. We would like to spend 3 nights en route. Do you have any suggestions for overnights or routes? We would appreciate any input you have. Thanks!

Will you spend any time in San Francisco?
Have you ever driven down Highway 1?
Do you want to stay someplace with an ocean view?

I would consider any 3 of the following, depending on how much you want to drive each day: San Francisco, Monterey, Big Sur, Pismo Beach, Newport Beach.

I concur with these choices, except perhaps for Monterey which, despite its attractions, isn't a place I enjoy being.

I like Pismo Beach for the chance to have a room with a great ocean view.

Cambria is a good option too, especially if you want to take a tour at the Hearst Castle.

Sorry montereybob, but when I go to Monterey I'm thinking, "It happened in Monterey a long time ago," but what I find is a very hectic, modern city overrun with tourists--like me.

Well, maybe Carmel then.

>>

That's funny! I think you could just lump Monterey-Carmel-Pacific Beach together for a day, and you'd find something for everyone

Thanks for all your suggestions. We have been to most of those areas and towns. I guess I was not specific enough in my request. What we were undecided about was where to stay for the 3 nights and by which route would we make the best time. I was thinking Santa Rosa, Santa Barbara, Newport Beach. Didn't want SF or LA this trip. Does that sound OK? How long a drive from Santa Rosa to LA if we went Rte. 5 (boring)?

" How long a drive from Santa Rosa to LA if we went Rte. 5 (boring)?"

I like Google Maps for these kinds of questions. It comes out a little over 7 hours of actual driving time.

From Santa Rosa to LA would be - to be on the safe side - about 8-9 hours. Then it's another two hours from LA to Carlsbad.

If you drove this starting at 10/11pm in the late night, you could make the entire trip in about 9 hours. During the day, it just depends on when you start out and when you arrive in LA. It could be a long 14-hour day, if you caught in commuter traffic at both ends.

You might consider Morro Bay.

I'm confused-are you staying in the town of Sonoma for one night
and then moving up to the town of Santa Rosa ?

R5

add Santa Barbara and Laguna to your list

the 5 sux, if you don't want to travel on highway 1, use 101.