6 best day trips from San Diego

Day trips compared

The day trips

50 km · About 45 minutes by car

1.San Diego Zoo Safari Park

The zoo's sister park in the San Pasqual Valley lets giraffes, rhinos and antelope roam large open enclosures, viewed from the Africa Tram, walking trails and optional caravan safaris. It is a full day out and especially good with children.

Getting there

Car via Interstate 15 to Escondido

Best for

Families, First-timers

55 km · About 45 minutes by car or 1 hour by Coaster

2.Carlsbad and LEGOLAND California

Carlsbad combines LEGOLAND California, aimed at children aged about 2 to 12, with the Flower Fields' spring ranunculus blooms and a walkable seaside village with a long beach promenade.

Getting there

Car via Interstate 5, or Coaster train to Carlsbad

Best for

Families, Beach

40 km · About 35 minutes by car or Coaster

3.Encinitas and the North County coast

A string of surf towns north of the city: Del Mar's beach and racetrack, Solana Beach's cliffs, and Encinitas with Swami's surf break, the Self-Realization Fellowship meditation gardens and a main street of cafés.

Getting there

Coaster train to Solana Beach or Encinitas, or car

Best for

Beach, Couples, Quiet stays

95 km · About 1 hour 15 minutes by car

4.Julian

A former 1870s gold-mining town in the Cuyamaca Mountains, known for apple pie, autumn apple picking and an old-west main street. It sits at about 1,300 metres, so it can be cool, and occasionally snowy in winter.

Getting there

Car via State Route 78 or 79

Best for

Families, Couples, Quiet stays

140 km · About 2 hours by car

5.Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

California's largest state park covers badlands, slot canyons and palm oases around Borrego Springs, plus more than 100 large metal sculptures of prehistoric animals at Galleta Meadows. Spring wildflower blooms after wet winters draw big crowds.

Getting there

Car via Julian to Borrego Springs

Best for

Quiet stays, Solo travellers, Families

95 km · About 1 hour by car

6.Temecula Valley wine country

Dozens of wineries line Rancho California Road and De Portola Road in Riverside County, many with tasting rooms, restaurants and views over the vines. Old Town Temecula has western-style storefronts and antique shops.

Getting there

Car via Interstate 15, or an organised wine tour

Best for

Couples, Food lovers

Day-trip tips

• Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
• MTS buses fill the gaps, including routes to Balboa Park, Ocean Beach, Pacific Beach and La Jolla, though journeys to the beaches can be slow.
• The Coaster commuter train runs from downtown's Santa Fe Depot up the coast to Solana Beach, Encinitas, Carlsbad and Oceanside, and Amtrak Pacific Surfliner trains continue to Los Angeles.
• For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.

Questions travellers ask