The Best Things to Do in a One Day Trip to San Diego from LA
Last Updated: August 12, 2023
San Diego is a gorgeous city located just 120 miles south of Los Angeles. San Diego has been ranked multiple times as the best city in the country to live in. Once you visit, you’ll see why! Here is our complete guide to the best things to do in a one day trip to San Diego from LA.
Is it worth it to drive to San Diego from Los Angeles for just one day?
Absolutely! Given that it’s about a 2-2.5 hour drive, you can leave Los Angeles before 8am and stay in San Diego until 8pm—giving you 10 amazing hours in San Diego. When you follow this timeline for your day trip to San Diego, you end up driving for around 4 hours and 30 minutes total. Plan ahead and choose your favorite 4-5 hour audiobook to enjoy the ride.
To maximize your day trip to San Diego from Los Angeles, we break down the top things to fit into your day, organized by location. 🗺 If you follow our guide for a day trip to San Diego, your trip will make geographical sense, and you’ll see some amazing sites in this gorgeous city!
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Day Trip to San Diego Summary
1. Refuel from your road trip at Lofty Coffee in Solana Beach
Face it, after the drive from Los Angeles, you’ll probably need ‘second breakfast’ when you reach San Diego County. So do not miss the chance to have a quick bite in Solana Beach. Solana Beach is a laid back sleepy beach town just north of San Diego, full of tons of cute shops and cafes.
Lofty Coffee is the place to go if you want to be walking distance from the coast, while tasting locally roasted beans, and enjoying outdoor seating. Plus, we’ve been told by a former barista that multiple celebrities have been spotted at this very location! Once you’ve refueled, take the 5 minute walk to Fletcher Cove Beach Park for some stunning cliff views. More of that coming up as well!
2. Visit Torrey Pines for a nature trail
Your next stop on your day trip to San Diego is Torrey Pines. Torrey Pines is a natural reserve, so you should know that this stop is not dog friendly. Torrey Pines’ beach is great for you to lay on the beach or take a short hike. Torrey Pines offers a ton of different hikes to choose from. The walking and hiking trails at Torrey Pines range from an easy half mile, up to 4.5 miles. If you want to read more about the top hiking trails at Torrey Pines and their difficulty levels, check out All Trails’ Best 10 Hikes in Torrey Pines.
Is it free to visit Torrey Pines?
3. Smell the sea lions at La Jolla Cove
Are there sea lions at La Jolla Cove? Yes, and they are adorable and smelly. What many people don’t know is that La Jolla is also a marine reserve, so make sure to keep your distance, as sea lions are, in fact, *wild* animals. In other words, do not touch or approach the sea lions when at La Jolla Cove. Lifeguards are often there, ready to whistle if you come too close to the creatures. The sea lions have been at La Jolla Cove every time I have visited.
Is La Jolla home to Seals or Sea Lions? You might also be wondering, if they are seals or sea lions that you see at La Jolla Cove. And the answer is both! But if you hear any “barking” from the sea pups, your best bet is that you’re looking at sea lions.
What to do at La Jolla Cove?
Most people spend their time at La Jolla Cove walking around the sidewalk, or watching the sea lions nap and swim.
If you want to step up your La Jolla experience, you can see the sea lions on their home “turf” by going cave snorkeling. Obviously you wouldn’t have to worry about navigating safely as your tour guide will show you the ropes.
La Jolla Cove is also the perfect stop for photographer enthusiasts, as it’s deemed one of the most photogenic beaches in Southern California. Many people also choose to visit La Jolla Cove to swim, surf, and snorkel!
How much is it to visit La Jolla Cove?
La Jolla is a top free attraction in San Diego. You do not need a ticket, and it’s essentially open 24 hours as a public beach.
Where should you park at La Jolla Cove?
If you have parking anxiety, you’ll want to prepare to drive around for a bit if you want free parking. However, there is 2-hour street parking along Coast Blvd, as well as some neighboring residential streets. But you will have to drive around a bit to find a spot, and you might have to walk a few blocks.
There are also a number of paid parking lots and garages nearby which you can search for in advance.
4. Have a craft cocktail at fancy Coronado Island
What is Coronado Island? Coronado Island is a city located on a peninsula right on San Diego Bay. Coronado Island a great spot to visit if you’re also planning to visit downtown San Diego, since Coronado is usually just a 15 minute drive away from downtown SD. What makes Coronado Island so popular? Its stunning beaches, cute boutique shops, and the Hotel del Coronado, which we recommend stopping by for a cocktail.
Is the Hotel del Coronado worth a visit?
Yes, Hotel del Coronado is a great stop. 
The Hotel del Coronado is a gorgeous hotel with a lively beach front. You may not be able to afford a night at the Hotel del Coronado (or if you are, here’s the link if you’re ready to book). Nonetheless, you can admire its elegance and history by cooling off with your favorite cocktail at one of the hotel’s many bars and restaurants. All to say if you’re into sightseeing, visiting the Coronado Hotel is a great option to add to your day trip.
What’s so great about the Hotel del Coronado?
If you’re into Victorian Architecture, you’ll love the Coronado Hotel. It’s been there since 1888, but I promise it doesn’t look a day older than 2023. It’s adorned with red roofs, majestic water fountains, and green grass that makes you forget California was ever in a drought.
What to do in Coronado Island?
Beyond the Hotel del Coronado, the island is lined with miles and miles of coastline which means your options are endless. Coronado offers options for cycling, surfing, swimming, eating, and shopping! If you enjoy strolling around different shops, I recommend you walk around Orange Ave, starting at Village Pizzeria and walking North after visiting the Hotel del Coronado.
Is Coronado expensive?
It depends. If you’re from southern California, you may be used to paying $5-7 for a latte. But if you’re from out of town, Coronado may hurt your wallet. My biggest advice is to at least bring your own water! As an example, I purchased a water bottle at a pizza shop in Coronado for $5. However, don’t let the price tag keep you from the fun!
Coronado does have cheaper food options such as Domino’s Pizza, Subway, and Chipotle within walking distance of the beach. Plus, the beach is free, and so is parking if you don’t mind driving around in search of a spot!
If you do have a little more to spend, there are also mid-range places such as Village Pizzeria, which sells pizza by the slice with special deals including sodas or beers!
Where to park in Coronado?
For such a pricey island, parking in Coronado is, in fact, free! You can park for up to 2 hours in most street parking situations. Parking on Ocean Boulevard is also free. There is a parking lot right at the Bayshore Bikeway on Coronado Island if you’re looking for a specific place to plug into Google Maps.
5. Take in the Spanish Architecture at Balboa Park
How long should I spend at Balboa Park?
Short answer: at least several hours. Fun fact, did you know Balboa Park in San Diego is actually larger than New York’s Central Park? So, unless you have multiple days in San Diego, do not expect to see the entirety of Balboa park.
You cannot see Balboa Park thoroughly in a few hours or even in a day. For this reason, if Balboa Park is part of a day trip to San Diego for you, we recommend just taking a walk around and taking in the sights, maybe getting a light snack.
What’s at Balboa Park?
Balboa Park is a massive green space perfect for walks, puppies, and baby strollers. Balboa Park is popular with locals and tourists alike. Balboa houses a multitude of museums—including science, history, culture, art, veterans, railroad, automotive, photographs, and Comic Con. There’s literally something for everybody.
15 of the 17 museums in Balboa Park will cost you something. However, there are two options for free museums at Balboa Park, which are 1) the San Diego Mineral & Gem Society Museum, and 2) the Timken Museum of Art. Plus, if you happen to be visiting Balboa park on a Tuesday, check closely as some museums are free of charge on Tuesdays!
I’d be remiss if I did not mention the San Diego Zoo, which is the top rated zoo in the country. You’ll definitely want to plan on returning to San Diego for this one, as the San Diego Zoo is definitely a full day experience.
Balboa Park is also home to restaurants, cafes and snack bars, restrooms, and water fountains to refill your water bottle. If you’ve ever been to southern Spain, you’ll feel right at home at Balboa Park. You’ll quickly fall in love with the Alcazar gardens!
Is there parking at Balboa Park?
Yes. Balboa Park is free to the public, and its parking is free as well. There are 11 free parking lots.
6. Kayak in the San Diego Bay
If you like adding a bit of sport into your day trips, kayaking in the San Diego Bay is a great option for your day trip to San Diego. The water at the bay is very very warm, which isn’t the norm for California’s coast. The water at San Diego’s Bay was in the 70’s when we visited one July. It really felt like bath water! 🛀 Kayaking in the San Diego Bay is a great way to see Coronado Island and the skyline from afar.
There were wash stations and bathrooms to get changed in if you’re worried about getting sticky from the salt water. Plus, kayaking can be one of your last stops on your San Diego day trip!
7. See the sunset at Sunset Cliffs Natural Park
Before heading back up to Los Angeles, stop at Sunset Cliffs to watch the sunset! Sunset Cliffs Natural Park in San Diego is located in the wealthy neighborhood of Sunset Cliffs. So beyond stunning views, you’ll also get to see some really unique cars coming in.
What to do at Sunset Cliffs Natural Park?
Sunset at Sunset Cliffs is the golden hour for locals and tourists alike. You’ll park alongside the cliffs, open up your beach chairs, and snack on tacos from The Taco Stand (one of our personal favorite taco spots in San Diego! 🌮). If you have extra time, you can also walk alongside the cliffs for a round trip of 2.5 miles.
Can I go cliff jumping at Sunset Cliffs Natural Park?
No. The cliffs tower dramatically over the ocean—meaning, be careful or you can certainly plummet. There are no guard rails at Sunset Cliffs. Keep in mind if you’re bringing pets to keep them leashed, because they can fall off of Sunset Cliffs. A non-fun fact is that on average, about 5 people fall a year. Plus, it’s illegal to try to go cliff jumping at Sunset Cliffs, and you can be fined up to $470 for jumping. So please be safe!
Is Sunset Cliffs Natural Park free?
Yes! You can park for free along the cliffs. Sunset Cliffs is open every day from sunrise to sunset. And it’s always been pretty packed during sunset. But people come in and out, so be patient and you’ll be sure to find a spot!
Conclusion: Try a Day Trip to San Diego from LA!
Looking for more things to do when visiting Southern California? Check out our complete guide to 30 unique things to do in LA!