Are you looking for the best getaways from San Diego? One of the best things about this California city is that it’s in fairly close proximity to a lot of other incredible places, which means you can easily take some fun weekend trips from here.
Whether you’re looking for relaxing vacations, adventurous vacations, or something in between, these 15 locations are some of best places within driving distance from San Diego. So what are you waiting for? Start booking your next incredible weekend trip from San Diego now!
1. Newport Beach
When you’re looking for the best weekend trips near San Diego, taking a trip to Newport Beach is the perfect idea! This a delightful place with a fun waterfront and several cool things to do, so any short trip from San Diego to here will be well worth your time.
Some popular things to do here include checking out nearby attractions like the gorgeous Crystal Cove State Park and Balboa Island. However, probably the biggest draw of visiting Newport Beach is going on an incredible whale watching trip. During my last visit to Newport, I had the chance to go whale watching with Davey’s Locker and it was one of the best whale watching experiences I’ve been on in California. We saw two both gray and blue whales plus tons of dolphins, and more!
Traveling to Newport Beach from San Diego takes around 1.5 hours by car, so this is an easy weekend trip from San Diego with very little driving time. Whether you spend your time on the water searching for whales or spend time exploring the city areas and parks nearby, a weekend spent in Newport Beach will surely be a weekend to remember!
Travel Tips for Newport Beach:
- Book your whale watching tour ahead of time to secure your spot. When I went, lines were out the door as we queued up to sign in for our tour!
- Consider staying at the Lido House or Balboa Bay Resort for unforgettable accommodation, or check out other Newport Beach hotels here.
2. San Luis Obispo
There are plenty of weekend vacations from San Diego that you could take, but one of my favorites is San Luis Obispo. The city of San Luis Obispo (SLO) is a charming place filled with plenty to do for all types of vacationers, so it really is one of the best getaways from San Diego!
SLO offers a variety of fun things to do, but some of the best things involve outdoors activities in particular. If you like hikes, then you should visit Serenity Swing and Bishop Peak while you’re here. And if you’re interested in beaches, you will be spoiled for choice with Pismo, Avila, and Montaña de Oro right nearby. Whether you’re looking for a traditional California sandy beach to enjoy or somewhere with lots of cool tide pools, you’ll be able to find the perfect spot between these three beaches.
But SLO’s city scene is also adorable and offers up plenty of delicious restaurants to enjoy and cool boutiques and shops to explore. There’s also an incredible Farmers’ Market downtown every Thursday, which is a gem that both locals and visitors love!
This barely scratches the surface of all there is to see and enjoy here, so you’ll find lots to keep you engaged even on long weekend trips from San Diego. Travel time is around 5.5 hours by car from San Diego, but the beauty of this part of California makes the longer driving time so very worth it!
Travel Tips for San Luis Obispo:
- Eat at Firestone Grill while you’re here, a local favorite that is often packed with people. But never fear, the lines always move quickly!
- Madonna Inn may be a hotel, but it’s also one of the most unique things to see in SLO. Be sure to stop by to see the hot pink interior and the waterfall in the men’s bathroom.
- Looking for accommodation? Apple Farm Inn and Madonna Inn are both luxurious and comfortable options, or you can find more possibilities here.
3. Sequoia National Park
If you’re looking for an outdoor weekend getaway from San Diego, then taking a trip to Sequoia National Park is an ideal choice. This is probably my favorite of the national parks in California, as it is so unique and also so incredibly gorgeous!
This park takes its name from the gigantic Sequoia trees you’ll see all around during your time exploring here, and these trees are part of what makes this place so unique. You won’t find trees like this growing anywhere else in the world…and, in fact, the rest of the world thought California was telling tall tales about the size of our trees until we finally shipped cross sections of a sequoia log to places like the Natural History Museum in London and they could see it for themselves!
While you’re visiting Sequoia, you will have the chance to see the largest tree in the world in person (when measured by volume, not height…although it is still unbelievably tall). This tree is named General Sherman, and it is one of the best things to see in Sequoia while you are here. Other things you might enjoy include exploring hiking trails, climbing inside an old burnt out Sequoia tree, and seeing a log cabin made out of the hollowed-out fallen log of a giant Sequoia!
No matter what you choose to see while you are here, you will find the whole park filled with stunning beauty and fascinating things to see. Travel time takes around 6 hours by car, so this is an amazing getaway near San Diego…and would also be one of the best places for 3 day weekend trips from San Diego, as there is so much to enjoy here! As far as California destinations go, it doesn’t get much better than this.
Travel Tips for Sequoia National Park:
- Stop by a visitor center when you first arrive to chat with a ranger and see what activities or guided walks are happening during your stay!
- Stay in campgrounds, cabins, or lodges in the park (like Wuksachi Lodge and John Muir Lodge) for ease and convenience in accessing sights in the park.
- If you’re making a last-minute trip, check lodging 2 days prior to your arrival as new room openings might pop up! Rooms must be cancelled 48 hours prior to arrival or forfeit the deposit, so people often give up their rooms at this time.
- Visiting in the winter during the snow? Consider going snowshoeing in the park!
Read next: 20 Epic Places to Visit in California
4. Santa Catalina Island
Santa Catalina Island is one of the best weekend trips from San Diego, so it is definitely a place you’ll want to add to your ideas for short vacations from San Diego. Whether you like having adventures while on vacation or enjoy relaxing and the island life, Catalina is the place for you!
If you want a taste of adventure, there’s not better place than here. You can go on an underwater cruise to see local marine life, go zip lining, or even take a tour to see the island’s local bison population! And during certain parts of the year, you can even go out on a boat and see the flying fish. This is an activity you will never forget!
But if you prefer leisure and relaxation, you can also simply enjoy wandering and seeing the beauty all around you…or go shopping or visit some of the delicious restaurants here! If you like, you could even join a food tour of the island to discover some local favorites.
With around a 1 hour drive to Dana Point and then a 1 hour ferry ride over to Catalina, this is a great place if you’re looking for quick vacations from San Diego but is also perfect for San Diego romantic getaways. But regardless of your reason for visiting, this is one of the destinations near San Diego that will definitely capture your heart!
Travel Tips for Catalina Island:
- Plan your weekend getaway from San Diego between May and September if you want to see the flying fish!
- There are three ports that sail to Catalina, but Dana Point is the closest to San Diego so is the one you should choose to sail from.
- The Pavilion hotel and Mt. Ada Bed and Breakfast are lovely places to spend the night, although you’ll discover there a lot of other nice hotel options as well.
Read next: 17 Most Romantic Getaways in the USA
5. Palm Springs
Looking for San Diego weekend getaways in the desert? A weekend in the stylish resort city of Palm Springs may be just the thing! This city was often called “Hollywood’s Playground” because so many stars came here to live and play, so if you’re looking for a bit of luxury in the desert then this is the place to go.
Palm Springs is known for its stylish and upscale hotels, hot springs and spas, golf courses, and more…so overnight trips from San Diego don’t get much more luxurious than this! There’s also some fun shopping and vintage boutiques, plus of course lots of delicious restaurants to enjoy.
As Hollywood’s Playground, you might also expect to see some celebrity-related sights, so if you like you can take a celebrity tour of Palm Springs to learn more about the stars who lived here, including icons like Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley. It’s a fun activity that Hollywood fans definitely enjoy!
Other really cool things to do in this area include taking the Palm Springs aerial tram up into the San Jacinto Mountains for spectacular views over the desert below, and going on a jeep tour of the infamous San Andreas Fault (and just hoping there’s no earthquakes when you visit!).
Travel time to Palm Springs from San Diego takes around 2.5 hours, so this is a delightful place for going on short trips from San Diego. And with so many fascinating things to see and do in the area, you will be sure to have a full and enjoyable weekend while you’re here!
Travel Tips for Palm Springs:
- Try the Date Shake from Windmill Market (whether you think it sounds good or not, it’s something you have to try at least once while you’re here!
- There are lots of exceptional places to stay here, like the Desert Riviera Hotel or Parker Palm Springs. Be sure to book early, as places sell out quickly in the more popular months. If these are not available, you can find other great hotels to book here.
6. Riverside
If you’re curious about the best vacation ideas from San Diego, particularly in the winter, then Riverside should definitely be on your list. This California city is a great place to visit all year round if you look visiting museums, hiking, shopping, and more…but in the winter it is an especially perfect place to go.
Why is the winter one of the best times to go on a San Diego weekend trip to Riverside? Because Riverside is where the gorgeous Mission Inn is, and thus where they hold the Mission Inn Festival of Lights!
The Mission Inn itself is a beautiful hotel in the Spanish mission style of architecture, but during the holiday season it is always decked out in over 5 million lights! During this time of year, the whole city of Riverside also gets in on the festival spirit and sets up a spectacular display that has become a tradition to visit for Southern California residents and people around the world.
This is one of the most iconic Christmas traditions in Southern California, so it is worth a visit. Travel time is under two hours from San Diego, so you could conceivably visit here as a day trip from San Diego…but honestly, the festival is best when staying at the Mission Inn as you get special access to more of the hotel and lights.
Whether you visit here during the winter for the Festival of Lights or decide to come another time during the year, this is a fun place to visit (and there is also a lot of cool history at the Mission Inn to explore, including learning about some pretty famous people who have visited!). As far as vacations near San Diego go, it’s hard to find a more interesting place to visit!
Travel Tips for Riverside:
- Look for President Taft’s chair at the Mission Inn. It was specially made for him and you can sit in it while you are there!
- The Mission Inn is definitely one of the most popular places to stay in Riverside. If you are visiting for the Festival of Lights, stay here to get behind-the-scenes access and see the lights from areas like the pool and the roof!
7. Joshua Tree National Park
When you’re considering weekend getaways near San Diego, Joshua Tree National Park is a unique location that will be a great choice for your next trip. This special national park contains a varied desert landscape unlike anywhere else in the world, and it is also filled with plenty of cool things to enjoy during your San Diego getaway.
Some of the best things to do in this park include going hiking, rock climbing, or even going on a fun adventure by taking a Hummer tour of the park. This is also the perfect place to go stargazing at night, as it is far enough from major cities that you will have phenomenal views of the night sky!
At only 3 hours from San Diego by car, you can pretty easily visit Joshua Tree on a day trip…but it’s even better when you have a bit more time to explore and enjoy all that the park has to offer, so a weekend is the perfect amount of time to start discovering this incredible place. You’ll find the breathtaking desert landscape will quickly ensure you add this to your favorite places to visit outside of San Diego!
Travel Tips for Joshua Tree National Park:
- Don’t forget to bring tweezers with you! It is the desert, and there are cacti, so you’ll want to have some tweezers on hand in case you get a spine stuck in your finger, foot, etc. and need to remove it.
- There are no gas stations in the park, so be sure to fill up before you enter.
- The only accommodation options in the park are campgrounds. You can find a list of the various campgrounds and open seasons here.
- If you prefer not to camp, the nearby town of Twentynine Palms offers some nice accommodation options. Depending on what you’re looking for, places like The Castle House Estate or the Fairfield Inn & Suites can be great choices.
Planning to visit multiple national parks? Save yourself a lot of money on entrance fees by buying a year-long America the Beautiful Pass!
8. Solvang
Of all the places to travel near San Diego, Solvang is one of the most unique. This adorable town boasts Danish-style architecture, and will make you feel as if you’ve embarked on a weekend trip to Europe even though you’re only in California!
A trip to Solvang is a great place to enjoy a relaxing weekend getaway near San Diego, as the city provides the perfect atmosphere for a calm and tranquil getaway. But there are still plenty of things to enjoy doing here, including trying all the Danish pastries and æbleskiver, shopping in boutiques around the town, and exploring museums about Danish culture. You can also spend some time enjoying wine tasting at one of the many downtown tasting rooms or nearby wineries, and if you love food and photography then there’s also a cool food and photo tour you can take with a local!
Shops close early in the day rather than staying open all evening, but this is part of the charm of this cute city as you get to slow down and enjoy each moment of your weekend getaway from San Diego, CA. Travel time to Solvang is around 5 hours by car, but your patience will be rewarded as you enjoy this city that is unlike any other in California!
Travel Tips for Solvang:
- Choose somewhere cute to stay, like the boutique Mirabelle Inn. There are also plenty of other adorable inns in Solvang to check out!
9. Los Angeles
Of all the weekend trips San Diego offers, one of the best quick trips from San Diego is to nearby Los Angeles. After all, what list of best vacation spots near San Diego could possibly be complete without this globally popular city?
Los Angeles is filled to the brim with all sorts of exciting things to do, bu it’s an especially popular place for visitors interested in Hollywood and films. While you’re here, you may be interested in taking a Hollywood tour and seeing celebrity homes or visiting Universal Studios.
Of course, a trip to this area wouldn’t be complete without visiting nearby Disneyland in Anaheim or exploring iconic Los Angeles areas like Venice Beach and taking surf lessons.
But beyond these classic activities in LA, you’ll also find the area filled with educational and fun activities including visiting the Getty Museum, the Griffith Observatory, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Another place you should definitely go is to the La Brea Tar Pits to discover all about the fossils excavated here and their current excavation work at this location in the heart of LA!
With only one weekend in Los Angeles, you definitely won’t be able to see everything this city has to offer. However, a weekend will allow you to get a taste of some of the best of LA and discover that it is one of the best vacation destinations near San Diego. It only takes around 2.5 hours to travel here by car, so you could easily choose to take several San Diego weekend trips here in the future as well!
Travel Tips for Los Angeles:
- Travel times are greatly increased during high-traffic hours, so try to plan your travel time to and from LA on off hours if you don’t wish to sit in traffic.
- You’ll be spoiled for choice with accommodation, but try to choose a hotel near whatever activities you wish to do on your trip. If you aren’t sure where to start, the Four Seasons at Beverly Hills is incredible or you can check out other hotel options here.
10. Big Bear
When you’re looking for mini vacations near San Diego, you can’t go wrong with a trip to Big Bear! This small mountain city is a wonderful destination for San Diego getaways year-round, but is also especially popular in the winter.
The city of Big Bear and Big Bear Lake are great places to explore outdoors, whether you enjoy hiking, swimming in the lake, or other water activities. In the winter, this resort becomes an excellent place to go skiing or snowboarding and you could even go snowshoeing if you like!
There are also some fun shops and boutiques along the streets of Big Bear Lake Village, and no matter where you go here you will find yourself surrounded by breathtaking scenery that you will never want to leave!
With a travel time of 3.5 hours by car from San Diego, a trip to Big Bear is a great way to enjoy an adventure on one of the best trips from San Diego. Whether you’re looking for quick weekend trips from San Diego or something more along the lines of romantic getaways near San Diego, Big Bear is a delightful destination and will be perfect for you!
Travel Tips for Big Bear:
- If you’re visiting in the winter, you must bring snow chains with you. It’s the law, but it’s also simply common sense.
- Big Bear is filled with adorable places to stay on Airbnb! Some cute options include this adorable A-Frame, this cute treehouse, or this cozy cabin.
If this is your first time using Airbnb, use this code to get $40 off your stay!
11. Laguna Beach
There are many places to visit close to San Diego, so when you’re looking for San Diego weekend trip ideas you don’t have to look far! And one of these weekend getaways San Diego has nearby is to Laguna Beach—a coastal city in Orange county that is well know for its beaches and art galleries.
While you’re visiting and enjoying all the shops nearby, you may also enjoy walking along the boardwalks near the beach, seeing the tide pools, and going surfing, stand up paddleboarding, or even kayaking with sea lions.
But one of the big Instagram-famous draws to Laguna Beach is the “castle” on the beach (also known as the Pirate Tower), which adds an air of mystery to the area. While the tower itself is locked up, you can visit the beach around its base and enjoy the picturesque view…or perhaps even take a few Instagram photos of your own.
If you’re looking for fun weekend trips from San Diego that are not very far away, then Laguna Beach is the perfect choice at around 1.5 hours away by car. And whether you enjoy hiking, playing in the water, exploring the town, or seeing stunning ocean views, this place will be a great vacation near San Diego!
Travel Tips for Laguna Beach:
- If you’re looking for the Pirate Tower, you’ll find it at Victoria Beach.
- Try the Montage Laguna Beach or the Pacific Edge Hotel for accommodation, or check out other options here.
12. Yosemite National Park
While California has a lot of national parks to enjoy (more than any other state!), there are none perhaps that are as globally famous and as beloved as Yosemite National Park. As such, this is an excellent choice for fun weekend getaways near San Diego!
There are plenty of exciting things to do in the park, whether that be hiking the iconic half dome, seeing beautiful waterfalls like Bridalveil, watching people climb up the cliff face of El Capitan, or simply enjoying the mountain and meadow scenery all around. Yosemite really does have some of the best natural landscapes in California, so it is easy to see why this is a popular place to go in California!
Once you’re here, you’ll discover that Yosemite is the type of place that captures your heart and never lets go. It’s been capturing hearts forever, and a trip here will also help you dive into the history of this park as it relates to John Muir and Ansel Adams and any number of other famous people who loved Yosemite as well (you can even go on an Ansel Adams photo walk to follow in his footsteps!)
But at 7.5 hours by car from San Diego, this is definitely one of the places to vacation near San Diego that takes a bit more commitment to get to. It is still worth visiting for the weekend as it is such an iconic place, but you might find it works even better to visit here on 3 day getaways from San Diego. Regardless of however much time you have to spend here, you will certainly find that this national park is a place you will not want to miss seeing!
Travel Tips for Yosemite National Park:
- If you want to hike Half Dome, be sure to apply for a permit. You will not be allowed to climb to the top unless you have a permit in hand!
- Want to stay in the park on your weekend trip? Be sure to book well in advance. There are camps and campgrounds as well as lodges like The Ahwahnee and the Wawona Hotel…but if these are booked out, you can check out other hotel options or Airbnb lodging near the park.
- If you’re visiting more last-minute and want lodging in the park, check 7 days before your travel dates as this is the last day for cancellation. People may give up their reservations, so new availability might pop up.
Read Next: 50 Adventurous and Fun Things to Do in California
13. Santa Barbara
Another great weekend getaway San Diego offers is going to Santa Barbara—a cute city on California’s central coast. This city’s white buildings and red tile roofs echo its Spanish colonial history and heritage, but you’ll find there’s plenty to enjoy beyond the buildings’ facades!
Some of the attractions you may enjoy include going up the Santa Barbara Courthouse for excellent views over the city or visiting the Mission Santa Barbara to discover what this city was like in its earlier days. There’s also a nice stop in the Santa Barbara Museum of Art if that’s an activity you’d enjoy. Beyond these attractions, other activities you might appreciate include going kayaking and surfing, going wine tasting, or even going up in a hot air balloon for some pretty spectacular views!
Travel time to Santa Barbara is around 5 hours by car, but it is worth it as this is a great place for enjoying romantic weekend getaways near San Diego or for the whole family to enjoy. With so many fun activities to enjoy in the city and on the water, you’re sure to enjoy your time in this adorable coastal city!
Travel Tips for Santa Barbara:
- You can request a digital version of Santa Barbara’s Visitor Magazine in case you need help deciding what to do while you’re here.
- Try The Santa Barbara Inn or the Spanish Garden Inn for accommodation, or check out one of these other options.
14. Big Sur
When you’re interested in a weekend trip San Diego offers that is a bit further afield, going on a road trip from San Diego to Big Sur could be the perfect option! This is well-known as one of the prettiest stretches of the California coast, so even though it is quite far it is still worth visiting.
Some of the best spots to see along this stretch of the coast are waterfalls like McWay Falls, the iconic Bixby Creek Bridge, and of course the infredible Pfeiffer Beach. Although there’s a lot of driving involved, it’s a delightful stretch of the coast that will surely leave you wanting to come back here soon!
If you’re looking for quick getaways from San Diego, Big Sur is unfortunately not the place to choose. At a distance of 9 hours by car, you’ll be driving quite a ways to get here. As such, this is probably best as a 3 day trip from San Diego on a long weekend. However, with so much beauty to explore, Big Sur is still one of the best getaways near San Diego if you can make it happen!
Travel Tips for Big Sur:
- Want to visit Big Sur from San Diego but don’t have the time to drive? You could fly into Monterey and then take a rental car from there to save you several hours off your transportation time.
- You’ll find some cute places to stay nearby on Airbnb. This cottage is particularly nice, although it’s a bit of a drive to the Big Sur coastline.
15. Grand Canyon National Park
If you’re looking for a weekend trip from San Diego outside of California, then a trip to the Grand Canyon could be in order. This national park is one of the most famous in the United States and people travel from all over the world to see it, so when you’re able to road trip to visit it for a weekend then you should definitely take advantage and go!
There are all sorts of things to do at the Grand Canyon that differ in intensity levels, but of course one of the best is simply to marvel at the impressive sight of the canyon itself! With its layered bands of rock and incredible geology, this is a unique sight that will take your breath away.
You should spend some time on the South Rim exploring all the incredible viewpoints, and there are also plenty of spots to enjoy hiking as well (and one of the most iconic is the Bright Angel Trail). You’ll also want to experience some of the incredible sunsets on offer here! But whatever outdoor activities you choose to enjoy, this place is one of the most memorable that you will ever visit and is perfect for families, friends, or even romantic weekend getaways from San Diego.
Like Big Sur, the travel time to the Grand Canyon from San Diego is quite long at around 9 hours by car. While you could make a somewhat hurried trip on a normal weekend, this is also a spot that could be one of the best 3 day trips from San Diego as there is so much to see. This is a place that should definitely be on everyone’s list to experience at least once in their lifetime, so it’s best if you have as much time as possible to explore and discover the awe-inspiring nature of this natural wonder!
Travel Tips for Grand Canyon National Park:
- Visiting with kids? Be sure to get a Junior Ranger handbook from a visitor center so they can earn their badge!
- There are quite a few accommodation options in the park, but one of my favorites is El Tovar. There are also some fun places to stay outside the park, like these western ranch style cabins.
- If you haven’t booked far in advance, check for openings for accommodation inside the park two days prior to your arrival as this is the deadline for cancellations and some rooms may become available.
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