Five Must-See Places to Stop While Driving from San Diego to San Francisco

It’s a long drive when you are driving from San Diego to San Francisco. And, normally we are just driving to reach our end destination. However, there are so many must-see places that you are actually missing out on when you are just driving without stopping. When you are driving from San Diego and San Francisco, you should make some time to stop at these places, especially if you rent a car in San Diego at the border crossing.  Make some time to rest and to enjoy the road trip. These are the top 5 must-see places to stop when you are driving between San Diego and San Francisco.

Malibu

A stop that you should make for sure is at Malibu. Not only is this a really popular tourist destination, but, there are a couple of things that you can do during this stop.

This is a great place to make an eating stop. It can be breakfast or a lunch meal. Purchasing it at one of the best restaurants, and eating it at the beach. There is nothing better. Doing some fast shopping at a market can also be fun if you have the time.

Santa Barbara

Your next stop; Santa Barbara. Here you can make a stop at the Santa Barbara zoo. Letting children enjoy different animals and letting them get rid of some energy. Or, you can spend an hour or two at the botanical gardens. Enjoying the different flowers and the tranquility that the gardens have to offer.

Visiting the museum, doing some shopping, or just taking a stroll down the beach. However, you can’t drive past Santa Barbara without stopping.

San Simeon

The castle at San Simeon is a must-stop. This might be the only chance you are getting to see the inside of a castle. After the caste visit, you can make some time to visit Cambria Village. This is the best place in the area for some much-needed shopping. Or, just to get out of the car and to do something different than just driving.

Many people are also talking about Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery and the beach. If you have the time to spend, this is a great idea to go down and experience something that you will not forget very soon. And, make the trip for the children unforgettable.

Monterey

The second last stop. Monterey. You might be tired by now, and ready to reach your destination. However, this is the one place that you can past without stopping. There are so many things that you can see here, that it is even recommended that you are making a day out of it.

There is the aquarium, the nature reserve and the 7 Mile Drive that is unbelievable beautiful. Shops, cafes, and restaurants are a must as well. The Big Sur just outside town is a must-see as well.

San Jose

The last stop between San Diego and San Francisco. San Jose.  A lot of people who book a car rental in in San Diego end up just driving all the way to San Jose and returning it there.  This is an easy option too if you had started by flying to Mexico and drove across the border first to get to San Diego.  This is where you can find the popular Winchester Mystery House. The place with the 165 rooms and that costs more than $20million to build.

Then, there is the zoo, the open-air market and great cafes and restaurants that you can enjoy a meal at. For sure a place where you should make a last-minute stop before reaching San Francisco.

When you are traveling from San Diego to San Francisco, you might want to make it a trip with stops along the way. There are so many great things that you are actually missing when you are driving without stopping. With these 5 top places to stop at on your route to San Francisco, you will ensure that your trip is turning into a great, fun experience.