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What is the best route from Santa Barbara to San Diego?

I’m heading south to San Diego, starting from Santa Barbara. What route should I take from Santa Barbara to San Diego?

avatar
Matt Nightingale · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
The best route from
Santa Barbara
to
San Diego
is to take the US-101 to the I-405 heading south.
You’ll pass through
Los Angeles
before connecting with the I-5 at
Mission Viejo
. From there you’ll travel along the coast past
Oceanside
and
Carlsbad
, before finally arriving in San Diego.
This route is your fastest option, clocking in at about three hours and forty-five minutes without stops. And you won’t find a more scenic route, either, with long stretches along the beautiful
California
coastline.
If you have a bit more time, there are plenty of places to stop for food and fun, including:
  • Laguna Beach
  • The Hollywood sign
  • Universal Studios
  • Disneyland (Anaheim)
  • Legoland (Carlsbad)
  • Sea Life Aquarium (Carlsbad)
  • Pacific Park (Santa Monica)
  • Six Flags (Santa Clarita)
  • Camarillo Premium Outlet Mall
You might also want to take a couple of detours to visit some slightly more out-of-the-way destinations like the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library or
Temecula
Valley Wine Country.
Of course, we hope that your road trip goes smoothly, but you should still make sure that you have good
car insurance
to be safe. That’s where
Jerry
comes in.
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