Here's a sample itinerary for a drive from Venice Beach to San Luis Obispo. If you're planning a road trip to San Luis Obispo, 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.
10:00 am start in Venice Beach
drive for about 1 hour
11:13 am Ventura
stay for about 1 hour
and leave at 12:13 pm
drive for about 29 minutes
12:43 pm Santa Barbara
eat at McConnell's Fine Ice Creams
stay for about 2 hours
and leave at 2:43 pm
drive for about 44 minutes
3:27 pm Solvang
stay for about 1 hour
and leave at 4:27 pm
drive for about 58 minutes
5:25 pm Pismo Beach (California)
stay for about 1 hour
and leave at 6:25 pm
drive for about 18 minutes
6:43 pm arrive in San Luis Obispo
eat at Firestone Grill
stay at The Madonna Inn
driving ≈ 3.5 hours
Ventura (19 answers)
Downtown Ventura (2 mentions)
C Street (2 mentions)
questions about Ventura:
What to see, do & eat in Ventura, CA
Romantic weekend events/entertainment
Santa Barbara (192 answers)
Butterfly Beach (7 mentions)
Bacara Resort & Spa (6 mentions)
Hendry's Beach (4 mentions)
Stearns Wharf (4 mentions)
The Funk Zone (4 mentions)
restaurants around Santa Barbara:
McConnell's Fine Ice Creams
La Super-Rica Taqueria
The Lark - Santa Barbara
Boathouse at Hendry's Beach
The Palace Grill
hotels around Santa Barbara:
Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara
Isla Vista
San Ysidro Ranch
El Encanto Hotel
questions about Santa Barbara:
Favorite restaurants in Santa Barbara?
Bachelorette Weekend Getaway in Santa Barbara
Best Beach in Santa Barbara?
24 hours in Santa Barbara, what do I have to see/eat/do?
How far from santa barbara to palm springs and PS to Phoenix?
Solvang (47 answers)
Firestone Vineyard (3 mentions)
Fess Parker Winery (3 mentions)
R Country Market (2 mentions)
Blackjack Ranch (2 mentions)
Saarloos And Sons Tasting Room (2 mentions)
restaurants around Solvang:
Los Olivos Wine Merchant Cafe
Olsen's Danish Village Bakery & Coffee Shop
Industrial Eats
Panino
Petros
hotels around Solvang:
Ballard Inn & Restaurant
HOTEL CORQUE
questions about Solvang:
What to do in Solvang... good places to stay, eat, etc.
Pismo Beach (California) (50 answers)
Laetitia Vineyard & Winery (3 mentions)
San Luis Obispo Mission (3 mentions)
Edna Valley (2 mentions)
F. McLintocks Saloon and Dining House (2 mentions)
restaurants around Pismo Beach (California):
Splash Cafe
Avila Valley Barn
hotels around Pismo Beach (California):
Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort
Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa
Seacrest Beach Resort
questions about Pismo Beach (California):
Places to visit / Things to see
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 San Luis Obispo.
If you're looking for a quick answer, you can check out The Madonna Inn, which was mentioned 12 times on Trippy.
Here are some more hotels people talk about:
Want to research more popular hotels in San Luis Obispo? Click the blue button below.
Need some recommendations on somewhere to get food?
Trippy members suggest Firestone Grill, which was mentioned 7 times.
Here are some more restaurants people talk about:
Want to research more popular restaurants in San Luis Obispo? 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 San Luis Obispo. Click on any question to see answers from the community!
Katie from Los Angeles asked:
What is your favorite restaurant in San Luis Obispo? (5 answers)
Bharat from Dallas, Texas asked:
Lodging (5 answers)
Tracy from Portland, Oregon asked:
Exploring SLO in March to scout moving there - what should I check out? (5 answers)
Debbie from San Francisco asked:
Where to stay outside of San Luis Obispo for Cal Poly graduation (3 answers)
Click the button below to explore more questions and answers related to San Luis Obispo.
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 San Luis Obispo to Venice Beach drive, or go to the main page to plan a new road trip.
Looking for ideas for more destinations within driving distance of Venice Beach? Try searching for places within 3.5 hours of Venice Beach.
You can also compare the travel time if you're flying or driving by calculating the distance from Venice Beach to San Luis Obispo. Or get a full Venice Beach to San Luis Obispo 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 Venice Beach well, please help your fellow travelers and answer their questions about Venice Beach!
More info on this route: