18 days in California Itinerary

San Francisco is a top holiday destination featuring scenic beauty and great ethnic and cultural diversity.

Bring the kids along to Golden Gate Bridge and Golden Gate Park. There's lots more to do: step off the mainland to explore Alcatraz Island, see the interesting displays at Musee Mecanique, engage your brain at Exploratorium, and take some stellar pictures from Twin Peaks.

Before you visit San Francisco, use our trip planner to discover what you can do and see there.

London, UK to San Francisco is an approximately 14.5-hour flight. The time zone difference moving from Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) to Pacific Standard Time (PST) is minus 8 hours. Plan for somewhat warmer temperatures traveling from London in October, with highs in San Francisco at 26°C and lows at 15°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 12th (Tue) so you can drive to Monterey.

Monterey is a city in the U.S. state of California, on the southern edge of Monterey Bay on California's Central Coast. Start off your visit on the 12th (Tue): immerse yourself in nature at Point Lobos, get up close and personal with brilliant marine life at Monterey Bay Aquarium, and then take a memorable drive along 17-Mile Drive.

To find more things to do, maps, and more tourist information, use the Monterey trip itinerary site.

Traveling by car from San Francisco to Monterey takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus; or fly. In October, plan for daily highs up to 24°C, and evening lows to 13°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 13th (Wed) to allow time to drive to Big Sur.

A sparsely populated area with stunning views, Big Sur attracts artists and tourists traveling California’s scenic Highway 1.

Kick off your visit on the 13th (Wed): snap pictures at Bixby Bridge, take in nature's colorful creations at Hawthorne Gallery, then admire the sheer force of McWay Falls, then kick back and relax at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, and finally stroll through Pfeiffer State Beach.

Discover how to plan a Big Sur trip in just a few steps with Inspirock's itinerary builder.

You can drive from Monterey to Big Sur in an hour. Alternatively, you can take a bus. October in Big Sur sees daily highs of 24°C and lows of 13°C at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 14th (Thu) to allow enough time to drive to Pismo Beach.

Pismo Beach is a city in San Luis Obispo County, in the Central Coast area of California, United States. Kids will enjoy Stepladder Ranch & Creamery and Moonstone Beach Dr. Venture out of the city with trips to Cambria (Cambria Nursery and Florist & Moonstone Beach) and Morro Bay (Morro Rock & Fiona Bleu Gallery). There's much more to do: discover the deep blue sea with Pismo Beach Dive Shop, look for all kinds of wild species at Monarch Butterfly Grove, take in the waterfront at Pismo Pier, and pause for some serene contemplation at New Life Community Church.

For photos, traveler tips, where to stay, and other tourist information, go to the Pismo Beach day trip planning tool.

Traveling by car from Big Sur to Pismo Beach takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of taxi and train; or take a bus. Traveling from Big Sur in October, you will find days in Pismo Beach are a bit warmer (32°C), and nights are about the same (14°C). Finish your sightseeing early on the 17th (Sun) to allow enough time to drive to Santa Barbara.

Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez Mountains, Santa Barbara is a solid vacation destination with its wide beaches, renowned wineries, and some of California's finest shopping and dining options.

To find reviews, traveler tips, ratings, and more tourist information, refer to the Santa Barbara day trip planning tool.

You can drive from Pismo Beach to Santa Barbara in 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus; or take a train. In October, daily temperatures in Santa Barbara can reach 29°C, while at night they dip to 13°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 18th (Mon) so you can drive to Santa Monica.

A famed resort town since the early 20th century, Santa Monica sits on the picturesque Santa Monica Bay, bordered on three sides by the city of Los Angeles.

On the 19th (Tue), take a leisurely stroll along Santa Monica Pier.

To find out how to plan a trip to Santa Monica, use our trip itinerary maker.

You can drive from Santa Barbara to Santa Monica in 2 hours. Other options are to fly; or take a bus. Traveling from Santa Barbara in October, plan for a bit warmer nights in Santa Monica, with lows around 19°C. You'll have a few hours on the 19th (Tue) to wrap things up before traveling to Los Angeles.

Surrounded by mountain ranges, forests, valleys, beaches, and deserts, the metropolitan area of Los Angeles is home to over 17 million people.

Kids will appreciate attractions like Disneyland Park and Griffith Observatory. Get out of town with these interesting Los Angeles side-trips: Anaheim (Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! & Disney California Adventure Park). Pack the 19th (Tue) with family-friendly diversions at Universal Studios Hollywood. The adventure continues: examine the collection at The Getty Center and make a trip to Hollywood Walk of Fame.

For maps, where to stay, traveler tips, and more tourist information, refer to the Los Angeles visit planning site.

Los Angeles is just a short distance from Santa Monica. In October in Los Angeles, expect temperatures between 32°C during the day and 19°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 22nd (Fri) to allow time to drive to San Diego.

Divided into neighborhoods with distinct characters and cultural heritages, San Diego sits just north of the Mexican border and offers visitors a blend of tourist attractions, including a lively nightlife, diverse cuisine, and a thriving musical scene.

Kids will appreciate attractions like San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park. Spend the 23rd (Sat) exploring the fascinating underwater world at SeaWorld San Diego. There's more to do: examine the collection at USS Midway Museum and browse the exhibits of Maritime Museum of San Diego.

To see where to stay, maps, and more tourist information, go to the San Diego road trip app.

Getting from Los Angeles to San Diego by car takes about 2.5 hours. Other options: drive; or take a bus; or fly. In October, daytime highs in San Diego are 30°C, while nighttime lows are 20°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 25th (Mon) to allow enough time to travel back home.