USA West Coast - San Francisco to San Diego or the other way?

[StripyZebras]

We are just planning our West Coast road trip for next year. We’ll be driving along the coast, probably with a hop inland to Yosemite.

We are just looking at booking flights and we are trying to decide whether we should fly in to San Francisco, drive down to San Diego and fly home from there. Or if we should do it the other way and fly in to San Diego and drive North and home from SF.

I’d be very grateful if anyone has any advice on which is the best way to go.

We’re going early July. I know it’s not necessarily the best time to go but we have to work around school holidays.

We’re planning on staying in Yosemite. I know accommodation can get booked up really quickly so we’re looking at getting it booked now.

I need to plan carefully our time in LA. We’re not doing Disney/Universal etc, but I’ve read in lots of places that traffic is horrific so I want to minimise time spent in the car as much as I can.

If you are going in early July, be aware that San Diego residents refer to "gloomy June" for a reason and the cloudy weather can extend into early July. I don't remember how cloudy June is further north (lived in San Diego for several years) but if you want to spend some time on San Diego beaches (La Jolla Cove is lovely) then I would start up north and travel South so you have the best chance of sun by the time you get down to San Diego.

I went from San Fran via Yosemite, then to Monterey and Carmel, Cambria, Santa Barbara, then inland to Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon and then back to LA. Loved it. Had to divert inland early on as part of Big Sur had fallen into the sea or got blocked which happens regularly.

We particuarly enjoyed cycling in San Fran, Yosemite, Monterey and its aquarium, Vegas, the Grand Canyon (our absolute favourite of the whole trip) and going to Universal and the Griffiths Observatory in LA. Yosemite is very hot in August, as would be the valley floor in the Grand Canyon.

I have been to San Diego on a separate trip. Its fine but I don't think the cities were the high point of the trip.

June Gloom is a thing in San Francisco too. I was there early June one year - one day of murk, one day it was really hot and sunny.

If you can afford to stay in Yosemite valley, do so to max on your time and avoid the traffic. Remember 4 July is a public holiday too. (That said, I was at the Grand Canyon last year on 4 July and it was fine.)

I have been to San Diego on a separate trip. Its fine but I don't think the cities were the high point of the trip.

I agree with this. State and National Parks, and little towns, are always the best bits.

@StripyZebras LA is the city of the car! I would strongly suggest you stay in Santa Monica or even Santa Barbara. You don’t really have time for LA and you are driving a lot! Contrary to a poster above, we liked Carmel. It has a great beach! Calm ambience. Whale trips are good from Monterey if the whales are about.

LA has a couple of great things to see. The Getty Centre is fab. We really liked driving along Mulholland Drive. Malibu is worth a look and Santa Barbara has the mission and more beaches. Clearly there are things to see in LA, but I’d definitely stay north and then just go to the airport.

You are right about San Diego. It’s not that great! Spend your time on the delights of highway 1. Much more rewarding.