Here's a sample itinerary for a drive from San Francisco 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.
11:00 am start in San Francisco
drive for about 2 hours
1:10 pm Carmel
stay overnight at Mission Ranch Hotel
leave the next day around 10:00 am
day 1 driving ≈ 2 hours
find more stops
10:00 am leave from Mission Ranch Hotel
drive for about 2.5 hours
12:27 pm San Luis Obispo
eat at Firestone Grill
stay for about 3 hours
and leave at 3:27 pm
drive for about 1 hour
4:37 pm arrive in Solvang
stay at Ballard Inn & Restaurant
day 2 driving ≈ 3.5 hours
Carmel (102 answers)
Monterey Bay Aquarium (41 mentions)
Pebble Beach (21 mentions)
Point Lobos (9 mentions)
Point Lobos State Reserve (8 mentions)
17-Mile Drive (6 mentions)
restaurants around Carmel:
Passionfish
Katy's Place
Epsilon Fine Greek Restaurant
Flaherty's Seafood Grill & Oyster Bar
Sunset Lounge
hotels around Carmel:
Mission Ranch Hotel
Lodge at Pebble Beach
Seven Gables Inn
Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa
La Playa Hotel Carmel-By-The-Sea
questions about Carmel:
Favorite Restaurants & Wineries
Luxurious but not pretentious hotels and any restaurant recommendations
San Luis Obispo (122 answers)
Bishop Peak (4 mentions)
San Luis Obispo Mission (3 mentions)
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (3 mentions)
Edna Valley (2 mentions)
F. McLintocks Saloon and Dining House (2 mentions)
restaurants around San Luis Obispo:
Firestone Grill
Novo Restaurant & Lounge
Bello Mundo
Splash Cafe
Avila Valley Barn
questions about San Luis Obispo:
What is your favorite restaurant in San Luis Obispo?
Lodging
Exploring SLO in March to scout moving there - what should I check out?
Where to stay outside of San Luis Obispo for Cal Poly graduation
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 Francisco drive, or go to the main page to plan a new road trip.
You can also compare the travel time if you're flying or driving by calculating the distance from San Francisco to Solvang. Or get a full San Francisco 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 Francisco well, please help your fellow travelers and answer their questions about San Francisco!