Our Southern California Road Trip
Desert landscapes, ocean views & Unforgettable stops
Southern California had been on our travel list for years, and somehow it still managed to exceed every expectation.
Over the course of our trip, we experienced everything from towering desert mountains to iconic city landmarks and some of the most beautiful ocean views we’ve ever woken up to. It quickly became one of those vacations we’ll be talking about for years.
Palm Springs: Desert Vibes, Pool Days & Plenty to Explore
After landing in San Diego, we headed straight to Palm Springs, where we spent three relaxing nights. The moment that we walked into our vacation rental, we knew we had picked the perfect place! Everything was quintessential Palm Springs from the bright colors on the outside of the house, and every room having the mid-century modern decor, and the backyard pool quickly became our favorite place to unwind after a day of exploring.
But don’t make the mistake of thinking Palm Springs is just a place to sit by the pool.
There is SO MUCH to do and see around the area.
Their shopping is fantastic, especially if you enjoy boutiques, home decor, unique finds, and the unmistakable Palm Springs aesthetic. Downtown is easy to explore on foot, and you can easily spend an afternoon wandering through shops before stopping somewhere for a meal or a drink. Palm Canyon Drive is one of the central areas for shopping, dining, and soaking up the city’s mid-century-modern personality.
Speaking of food- there are plenty of amazing places to eat in Palm Springs. We love finding unique and delicious restaurants and let’s just say we did not go hungry on this trip!
One thing I would recommend when planning a Palm Springs stay is to get out and explore beyond Palm Springs itself. We drove through Indian Wells and Palm Desert, and it was worth it just to see how much the landscape changes as you move through Coachella Valley. Palm Desert also offers its own shopping and restaurant scene, particularly around El Paseo.
Then there are the bigger adventures.
We spent time exploring Joshua Tree National Park, which felt like stepping onto another planet. The desert landscape is completely different from Palm Springs, and it’s one of those places where you can spend the day driving, stopping at viewpoints, exploring, and taking the most incredible photos of the Joshua Trees.
We also road the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, which takes your from the desert floor up into the mountains and offers incredible views along the way. The dramatic change in landscape makes it such a unique experience.
Palm Springs ended up being the perfect first stop because we could pack our days with exploring- or simply stay at our rental and enjoy the pool.
And that’s exactly the kind of flexibility I love in a road trip.
Planning a Southern California road trip? Get my complete Southern California road trip Itinerary:
Southern California Road Trip Itinerary
Los Angeles: Iconic Sights & City Views
From Palm Springs, we headed toward Los Angeles.
LA is one of those places where you could spend weeks exploring and still barely scratch the surface (I would love to go back one day and just explore more especially the food)! Since we only had a couple of days we focused on some of the classic experiences we wanted to see.
We walked along the Hollywood Walk of Fame, saw the Hollywood sign, and spent some time shopping along Rodeo Drive.
We also made our way to the Santa Monica Pier, which was one of those quintessential Southern California experiences I was excited to check off the list.
But one of my favorite parts of LA wasn’t actually an attraction.
It was where we stayed.
Our vacation rental was high and above the city and had an incredible view overlooking downtown Los Angeles. The balcony was the kind of place where you could sit for a while and simply watch the city below you.
And that became a theme of this trip: our accommodations weren’t just places to sleep. They became part of the experience.
We also found some fantastic food in LA, and this is one area where I’ll keep a few of my specific recommendations to myself!
After all, part of the fun of my complete itinerary is getting the exact places I researched and chose for our trip, rather than just a general list of things to do.
San Diego: The Perfect Way to End the Trip
Our final drive took us back toward San Diego, and this was the point in the trip where I truly did not want to leave.
Our San Diego rental was incredible.
It had floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and from inside the house we could watch surfers out in the water.
I could have stayed forever.
There is something about waking up, looking out at the ocean, and realizing you don’t have anywhere you need to be that makes a vacation feel like a real vacation.
We spent time at the Coronado, visited the iconic Hotel del Coronado, did some shopping, and enjoyed the beautiful weather.
San Diego was the perfect contrast to the desert and the energy of Los Angeles. After several days of driving and sightseeing, it gave us the chance to slow down and enjoy the coast.
And the weather?
Absolutely incredible.
By the end of our stay, I was already wishing we had more time.
Ready to plan your own Southern California road trip? I’ve done the research for you.
Southern California Road Trip Itinerary
Would We Do This Road Trip Again?
Absolutely.
What I loved most about this Southern California road trip was how different each stop felt.
PALM SPRINGS gave us the desert, incredible food, shopping, Joshua Tree, mountain views, and plenty of pool time.
LOS ANGELES gave us iconic California sights, shopping, city views, and that unmistakable LA energy.
SAN DIEGO gave us the ocean, beaches, beautiful weather, and the perfect place to slow down before heading home.
Three destinations, completely different experiences- and somehow they fit together perfectly into one road trip.
Planning Your Own Southern California Road Trip?
This trip also reminded me just how much research goes into putting together a really good itinerary.
It’s not just deciding where to go.
It’s figuring out how long to stay, which areas are worth exploring, what attractions can realistically fit into each day, where to eat, when to drive, and which experiences are actually worth your time and money.
That’s exactly why I created my Southern California Road Trip Itinerary.
I’ve taken everything I researched for our trip and turned it into a detailed, ready-to-use itinerary so you don’t have to spend hours researching dozens of tabs and trying to piece the trip together yourself.
You’ll get the route, day-by-day planning, places to stay, restaurants, things to do, maps, and the details that helped make our trip so memorable.
Because sometimes the best part of a vacation isn’t planning it yourself.
It’s knowing someone already did the research for you.
Ready to skip the hours of research?
