Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip: Oceanside to San Diego

The iconic Pacific Coast Highway runs along the California coast from San Diego until it almost reaches the Oregon border.

The stretch of highway connecting Oceanside to San Diego is known as US Route 101 and boasts cheerful beach towns and striking ocean views.

Here are 6 spots not to miss on a Pacific Coast Highway road trip from Oceanside to San Diego!

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6 Stops on an Oceanside to San Diego Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip

Table of Contents

• 1. Oceanside
  • A few more things to do in Oceanside:
• 2. Carlsbad Strawberry Fields
  • Other things to do in Carlsbad:
• 3. Annie’s Canyon Trail in Solana Beach
• 4. Fletcher Cove State Park
• 5. La Jolla Tide Pools
• 6. San Diego

1. Oceanside

O’side is a family-friendly walkable beach town and the gateway to San Diego County.

Soak up the sun at Pier View South Beach or rent a surfboard and head out to catch some waves.

The Oceanside Pier is the longest over-water wooden pier on the West Coast.

Walk to the end of this historic pier and get a burger and malt shake at Ruby’s Diner (update: unfortunately Ruby’s Diner is permanently closed).

Take a whale watching tour or eat fish and chips on the dock at Oceanside Harbor.

Enjoy some comfort food at the 101 Café, a 50s-style diner and California’s oldest continuously operating restaurant on the 101.

Stop in at the California Surf Museum to learn the history of surfing and to see Bethany Hamilton’s surfboard. The Top Gun house is also currently being refurbished in Oeanside so keep your eye out!

Bring your skateboards or rent a bike and cruise The Strand at sunset. End the day cozied up around a fire pit on the beach for a bonfire and s’mores.

And if you’ve got a big appetite, head to Pho Bowl & Grill and try their Pho Bowl Challenge.

If you can finish the bowl that is equivalent to 7 regular bowls in 45 minutes then you’ll win a free meal, a $50 Visa gift card, and your photo on the wall of fame.

Even if you don’t do the challenge, you can still enjoy a delicious bowl of this Vietnamese noodle soup.

A few more things to do in Oceanside:

• The Mission San Luis Rey is considered the largest mission in California. If you look along the highway you’ll notice old iron bells. These are the El Camino Bells that were used to let travelers know that a California Mission was nearby. Today visitors can take a self-guided tour of this historic 1798 Spanish Catholic Church and museum.
• Heritage Park Village Museum is a collection of the original buildings in downtown Oceanside. You’ll find the city’s first General Store, city jail, schoolhouse, blacksmith shop, newspaper printing shop, and many more original structures. Be sure to make a stop at the North County Model Railroad Museum where you can operate model trains with the help of volunteers.
• Guajome County Park offers wide-open spaces for walks, bike rides, picnics, and fishing. You’ll also find a historic 1850s adobe ranch house. 
• The Buena Vista Lagoon is the only freshwater lagoon in Southern California. It is home to a variety of birds and mammals. Visit the BVAS Nature Center to learn more about the lagoon and the creatures that reside there.
• Shop the Sunset Market every Thursday from 5-9. Four city blocks on the corner of Coast Hwy and Pier View Way transform into an outdoor market.

For more recommendations, see our guide for the Best Things to do in Oceanside.

And if you’re looking for places to stay in Oceanside, we always love staying at the Marriott Springhill Suites. It’s a great location and we love the rooftop pool and hot tub.

2. Carlsbad Strawberry Fields

Due to the mild climate ideal for growing strawberries, California is the top strawberry distributor in the nation.

And there’s no better way to experience those farm-fresh strawberries than the U-pick fields at the Carlsbad Strawberry Company.

This has been a family favorite for years and the perfect pit stop while driving from Oceanside to San Diego.

The kids like to have contests to see who can pick the biggest and juiciest strawberry.

These ripe strawberries fresh off the vine are irresistible. Of course, you have to sample a few while you’re picking.

The 25-acre family-run farm is located just off I-5 at 1050 Cannon Road, Carlsbad.

If you don’t have time to stop and pick your own strawberries, they also have a stand selling freshly-picked strawberries for you to purchase.

The strawberry season typically lasts from February-July. They are open daily from 9 am- 6 pm during the season. They also have a pumpkin patch in the Fall.

Admission is $5 per person, 5 years and under are free.

Buckets are $5 each, you can purchase as few or as many as you would like. You pay per bucket not per pound so fill it all the way to the top!

While you’re in Carlsbad, be sure to stop by Handel’s for the best homemade ice cream. It is made fresh daily and they have so many delicious flavor combinations.

The Carlsbad Premium Outlets are also a great place to go for some good deals.

Other things to do in Carlsbad:

• The 50-acre Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch are a popular tourist attraction and Instagram destination. The flowers bloom in the spring and the fields are open to visitors from March 1 through Mother’s Day weekend.
• The South Carlsbad State Beach is a beautiful wide stretch of sand. It has a nice paved bike path that runs along the 5-mile beach, and a campground up on the bluff.
• Legoland California is located in Carlsbad and is a fun amusement park with rollercoasters and impressive Lego displays throughout the park. The Legoland Waterpark and Sea Life Aquarium are also in the same complex.
• Enjoy antique shopping or grab brunch at the charming Carlsbad Village.
• Rent a paddleboard or other watersport equipment at Aqua Hedionda Lagoon for a fun day on the water.
• Visit the Museum of Making Music to learn about the history of music and have the chance to play different instruments.
• The Green Dragon Tavern and Museum offers free admission to the museum where visitors can see documents and memorabilia dating back to the Revolutionary War. Grab a bite to eat at the restaurant or coffee house and enjoy the historic old-world ambiance.
• Your kids will love the Miniature Engineering Craftsmanship Museum featuring a collection of miniature engines, guns, chips, cars, clocks, and more!
• Visit the 2 1/2-acre historical Magee Park. The park features picnic sites overlooking the ocean, a renowned rose garden, a gazebo, and several historic buildings. Take a tour of the Shipley-Magee House, a beautiful Craftsman-style home that has been transformed into a museum for the Carlsbad Historical Society. You can also visit Heritage Hall that served as Carlsbad’s first city hall and police station.
• Take a local food tour to experience the best culinary dishes in Carlsbad!
• The nearby Moonlight State Beach in Encinitas is one of the most family-friendly beaches in the area. You’ll find a playground, grassy area, fire pits, picnic tables, and concession stands. Grab some authentic Carne Asada tacos from The Taco Stand about a half-mile away and enjoy them on the beach. VG Doughnuts, Blue Ribbon Pizza, and The Baked Bear are also highly recommended in Encinitas. Swami’s Beach in Encinitas was also made famous by the Beach Boy’s hit song, “Surfing in the USA”.

If you’re looking for places to stay in Carlsbad, I would recommend these Beach Front Ocean Villas.

3. Annie’s Canyon Trail in Solana Beach

Annie’s Canyon Trail is located in Solana Beach and is one of the best short hikes in all of San Diego County. It’s the perfect spot to get out and stretch your legs while driving from Oceanside to San Diego.

To get to the slot canyon, you’re going to want to take the North Rios Avenue Trailhead. 

The trail actually starts at the end of a cul de sac in a residential neighborhood.

It is a very unassuming spot for a slot canyon hike and you may question whether you’re at the right spot, but don’t worry, you’re in the right place.

After finding parking on the street, head to the trail where you’ll follow an easy path along the San Elijo Ecological Lagoon.

After about .6 miles you’ll come to the entrance of Annie’s Canyon Trail. You’ll immediately enter towering sandstone walls that begin to narrow into a slot canyon.

The trail through the canyon is only 1/4-mile long and is perfect for kids. There are rocks to scramble up and nooks and crannies to hide in. Our whole family loved it!

The trail has a gradual incline until you reach a steel ladder at the end.

This will take you up to the top of the canyon where you can soak in the sweeping panoramic views over the lagoon.

From here you can take the trail back to your car, or go down the hill and enter into the canyon again!

4. Fletcher Cove State Park

Fletcher Cove State Park in Solana Beach is a favorite among locals.

It tends to be less crowded and the picnic tables overlooking the water are the perfect spot to enjoy a meal.

Grab some pizza from Pizza Port and a carton of the best Thrifty Ice-cream from Rite Aid down the road and enjoy a picnic with a view.

There is also a small playground, basketball court, and a grassy area near the picnic tables.

This beach is also known by locals as ‘Pillbox Beach’, due to the concrete military bunkers that can be found on the bluff. They are like the pillboxes that are fun to hike to in Hawaii.

The beach is relatively small, but even at high tide you will still find a stretch of sand to relax and play on.

When the tide is low, you can walk a little ways north to explore the tide pools in a secluded cove at Tide Beach Park.

If you want to explore more of Solana Beach, check out the Cedros Design District. You’ll find 85 unique shops, restaurants, galleries, and cafes housed in vibrant industrial buildings.

The Belly-Up Tavern is also located in the Design District and was named one of the hottest clubs on the West Coast by the Rolling Stones magazine.

5. La Jolla Tide Pools

The La Jolla Tide Pools are a favorite among locals and tourists alike. Check the tide chart and when the tide is low head to the tide pools at Shell Beach.

A staircase from the parking lot leads to a small sandy cove.

If you head to the right you’ll see a small cave. The tide pools can be found just beyond the cave on top of the rocks.

My boys loved trying to catch crabs and discovering little creatures hiding in the pools and crevices.

If you take a short walk to the left, you’ll see sea lions lounging at the Children’s Pool.

In 1931 a seawall was constructed to form a safe swimming area for kids, which was referred to as the Children’s Pool.

Today the area has been designated as an underwater park and ecological reserve.

My kids loved walking over to see the seals and got a kick out of them wiggling their way up the beach!

A little over a mile north of the tide pools you’ll find La Jolla Cove.

This small cove is home to an abundance of sea lions and seals that love to sunbathe on the cliffs and rocky shores. 

While you’re at La Jolla Cove, be sure to take advantage of the scenic Ellen Browning Scripps Park that lies on the bluffs adjacent to the cove. 

The park offers beautiful views over the water with plenty of grassy areas for a picnic. 

Dr. Seuss had a home overlooking this park and it is rumored that the windblown trees were the inspiration for the truffula trees in The Lorax.

The Torrey Pines State Reserve is also located about 8 miles north and is worth a stop on your way down to La Jolla.

You’ll find a visitor center, 8 miles of hiking trails, the Torrey Pines State Beach, and beautiful views of the ocean and sculpted sand cliffs.

The best place to see the sand cliffs, as well as the rarest pine tree in the nation, is from Broken Hill.

The 0.7-mile Guy Fleming loop trail is also a great introductory trail to the park and is good for all skill levels.

6. San Diego

San Diego is our favorite big city in California and the last stop on a Pacific Coast Highway road trip from Oceanside to San Diego.

The well-manicured streets of downtown San Diego are filled with museums, parks, historic landmarks, sophisticated restaurants, mom & pop cafes, upscale shopping, and small boutique shops.

Just outside of downtown you’ll find beaches, hiking trails, nature preserves, the zoo, and amusement parks. There really is something for everyone! 

Grab a slice of pizza in Little Italy, stroll through the shops at Seaport Village, admire the preserved architecture at the Gaslamp Quarter, and tour the collection of eight historic vessels at the Maritime Museum.

Visit Waterfront Park, a downtown oasis with grassy fields and picnic tables, and state-of-the-art playground equipment.

Drive across Coronado Bridge and spend the day at Coronado Island.

Enjoy the relaxed vibe, charming historic homes, and white sandy beaches. Stop by the landmark Hotel del Coronado and get an ice-cream cone from the MooTime Creamery.

Take a tour of the USS Midway, the longest-serving aircraft carrier in the 20th century. The self-guided audio tour will give you insights into its long and dramatic history.

With so many amusement parks in California, Belmont Park is one of the best-kept secrets. It sits right on the shores of Mission Beach and is reminiscent of the classic all-American boardwalk amusement park.

Spend the day at the world-famous San Diego Zoo. Sitting on over 100 acres with over 3,700 animals, it is one of the largest zoos in the world.

Visit the sprawling Balboa Park where you can enjoy walking trails through the botanic gardens, pop into one of the 16 museums, ride the carousel, admire artist’s work at the Spanish Village Art Center, or grab a bite to eat at an outdoor cafe.

Watch history come to life in Old Town San Diego, the birthplace of California. Tour a haunted house, visit historic buildings, and enjoy authentic Mexican food.

Visit Sea World to discover the mysteries of the ocean through various aquariums and exhibits, entertaining shows, interactive encounters, and educational opportunities.

Catch the sunset at one of San Diego’s many beautiful golden sand beaches. Watch the fisherman bring in their catch at the Ocean Beach Pier and enjoy fresh seafood at the OB Pier Cafe.

Observe sea creatures at the Windandsea Beach tide pools. See the leopard sharks during the summer months at La Jolla Shores Beach, and kayak with sea lions at Mission Bay.

For more details about visiting San Diego, check out our guide 12 Unforgettable Things to Do in San Diego with Kids.

If you’re looking for places to stay in San Diego, we love the location and views at Wyndham Bayside.

I hope this guide will help you discover 6 amazing places to stop on your Pacific Coast Highway road trip from Oceanside to San Diego!

And if you’re continuing your road trip further north, check out our guide for the best stops on a Coast Road Trip from San Francisco to Big Sur.

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