Here's a sample itinerary for a drive from San Diego to Solvang. If you're planning a road trip to Solvang, you can research locations to stop along the way. Make sure you check road conditions to double check the weather. Traveling with a dog or cat? Find pet-friendly stops. Camping along the way? Search for RV campgrounds. Find the best hotels, restaurants, and attractions based on the most talked about places recommended by Trippy members.
9:00 am start in San Diego
drive for about 36 minutes
9:36 am Carlsbad (California)
stay for about 1 hour
and leave at 10:36 am
drive for about 51 minutes
11:27 am Laguna Beach
eat at Javier's Restaurant - Newport Beach
stay for about 1 hour
and leave at 12:27 pm
drive for about 1 hour
1:34 pm Los Angeles
stay for about 2 hours
and leave at 3:34 pm
drive for about 59 minutes
4:33 pm Malibu
stay for about 1 hour
and leave at 5:33 pm
drive for about 47 minutes
6:20 pm Ventura
stay for about 1 hour
and leave at 7:20 pm
drive for about 1 hour
8:25 pm arrive in Solvang
stay at Ballard Inn & Restaurant
driving ≈ 5.5 hours
Carlsbad (California) (30 answers)
Legoland (8 mentions)
Self-Realization Fellowship (6 mentions)
Swami's Beach (5 mentions)
San Elijo Lagoon (3 mentions)
The Flower Fields (3 mentions)
restaurants around Carlsbad (California):
Swami's Cafe
La Costa Resort & Spa
Vivace
PAON
Vigilucci's Seafood & Steakhouse
hotels around Carlsbad (California):
Park Hyatt Aviara Resort
Tamarack Beach Resort
Laguna Beach (60 answers)
Crystal Cove State Park (10 mentions)
Balboa Island (8 mentions)
Balboa Island (3 mentions)
Victoria Beach (3 mentions)
Dana Point Harbor (2 mentions)
restaurants around Laguna Beach:
Javier's Restaurant - Newport Beach
Las Brisas
Cafe Zoolu
The Beachcomber Cafe
Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa
hotels around Laguna Beach:
Montage Laguna Beach
Surf and Sand Resort
The Inn at Laguna Beach
La Casa Del Camino
Laguna Beach House
questions about Laguna Beach:
Where to stay and non-surfing things to do in Laguna Beach
What is your favorite restaurant in Laguna Beach?
Los Angeles (612 answers)
Santa Monica Pier (70 mentions)
Griffith Observatory (63 mentions)
Venice Beach Boardwalk (62 mentions)
Abbot Kinney (56 mentions)
Third Street Promenade (55 mentions)
restaurants around Los Angeles:
Gjelina
Perch
Bottega Louie
Grand Central Market
Bestia
hotels around Los Angeles:
Shutters On the Beach
Hotel Erwin
The Standard Downtown LA
Ace Hotel Los Angeles
The Huntley Hotel
questions about Los Angeles:
Where are the top 5 places to see a celebrity in L.A.?
What's your favorite burger in L.A?
Free things to do in Los Angeles?
Area an hour away from LAX airport
What are the top 3 beaches in Los Angeles?
Malibu (66 answers)
Malibu Beach (44 mentions)
Zuma Beach (22 mentions)
Point Dume State Beach (14 mentions)
Malibu Country Mart (12 mentions)
El Matador State Beach (12 mentions)
restaurants around Malibu:
Nobu Malibu
Paradise Cove Cafe
Malibu Seafood
Geoffrey's Malibu
Malibu Farm Cafe
hotels around Malibu:
Malibu Beach Inn
questions about Malibu:
Places to eat in Malibu?
Lunch recommendations near Getty Villa - Views? Kid Friendly?
Wine tasting in Malibu?
Ventura (16 answers)
Downtown Ventura (2 mentions)
C Street (2 mentions)
questions about Ventura:
What to see, do & eat in Ventura, CA
Romantic weekend events/entertainment
Are you going straight to a hotel, or looking for a vacation rental or Airbnb?
The best resource on neighborhoods, areas, and hotels is the Trippy page on where to stay in Solvang.
If you're looking for a quick answer, you can check out Ballard Inn & Restaurant, which was mentioned 2 times on Trippy.
Here are some more hotels people talk about:
Want to research more popular hotels in Solvang? Click the blue button below.
Need some recommendations on somewhere to get food?
Trippy members suggest Los Olivos Wine Merchant Cafe, which was mentioned 4 times.
Here are some more restaurants people talk about:
Want to research more popular restaurants in Solvang? Click the blue button below.
This section could be endless, so rather than trying to suggest every local activity or attraction, we'll leave it open-ended.
These are some of the places people talk about on Trippy:
Of course, Trippy is the perfect place to ask questions because there's an entire community of travelers talking to each other and sharing tips and advice. Trippy is where you can get answers personalized for your tastes, budgets, trip dates & more!
For example, here are some questions people have asked about Solvang. Click on any question to see answers from the community!
Johnny from Las Vegas asked:
What to do in Solvang... good places to stay, eat, etc. (3 answers)
Click the button below to explore more questions and answers related to Solvang.
Yes, even this step is optional, because if you're on vacation who wants the trip to end? It's okay, you can start planning your next trip!
Want to plan the trip back? Get the reverse directions for a Solvang to San Diego drive, or go to the main page to plan a new road trip.
Looking for ideas for more destinations within driving distance of San Diego? Try searching for places within 4 hours of San Diego.
You can also compare the travel time if you're flying or driving by calculating the distance from San Diego to Solvang. Or get a full San Diego to Solvang flight plan.
Don't forget about exploring your own hometown with a staycation. You can also find some cool day trips or get away for a weekend. Maybe try typing in a faraway location like London, Hong Kong, or Sydney, and get inspired for your dream trip around the world.
And if you know San Diego well, please help your fellow travelers and answer their questions about San Diego!