Santa Monica to Santa Cruz

I%26#39;m planning on driving from Santa Monica to Santa Cruz in 2 days. I then have 3 days in the Santa Cruz/Monterrey Bay area (visiting friends). I was thinking of spending the morning of the first day at the beach in Santa Monica, visiting Santa Barbara for a couple of hours and ending up in SLO. Second day driving to Santa Cruz, basically taking in sights - not interested in Hearst Castle. (This trip also includes a couple days in SF, Yosemite, and LA). How long, mostly along the PCH, will this drive take (excluding the stops)? Any thoughts on this plan? Thanks!

Santa Monica to Santa Cruz

Sorry, your post is a bit confusing, you%26#39;ll have 2 days to drive from Santa Monica to Santa Cruz then 3 days around Monterey Bay but this includes visits to SF, Yosemite and LA? Or are the visits to SF, Yosemite and LA outside of these 5 days?

Well, whichever, 2 days from Santa Monica to Santa Cruz is doable, but it%26#39;s a ';keep moving'; kind of thing, not a stop and smell the roses deal. OK, it%26#39;s not so bad if you don%26#39;t want to do anything besides stop for five minutes now and then to admire the view.

Santa Monica to Santa Cruz

Hi Summertripper

It%26#39;s 200 miles from Santa Monica to San Luis Obispo 5 hours traffic allows and taking parts of PCH.

It%26#39;s 190miles SLO to Santa Cruz, 5 hours along PCH.

Tet

Sorry for the confusion. I have a limited amount of time in CA, and some people to visit, which informs this itinerary:

Day 1 Land at LAX late, stay in Santa Monica

Day 2 Spend morning in SM, stop in Santa Barbara, drive to SLO

Day 3 Drive from SLO to Santa Cruz (not sure what I%26#39;m doing along the way -- my next piece of planning.

Day 4 Santa Cruz/Mont Bay area (visiting friends)

Day 5 ditto

Day 6 up to SF, spend the night in SF

Day 7 SF (see some friends)

Day 8 drive from SF to Yosemite Village

Day 9 Yosemite

Day 10 Drive from Yosemite to LA -- stay in Beverly Hills

Day 11 LA (friends here too)

Day 12 LA

Day 13 LA fly out from LAS this night on red eye

I might have planned a 3-day trip along the PCH, but want to spend the time in other destinations to see west coast friends.

So my question was, is the 2-day trip from Santa Monica to Santa Cruz reasonable? We understand it may be long days, but we%26#39;ll have plenty of downtime afterward.

By the way, we are a family of 4, and the airfare was SO cheap RT to LAX, that my original plan of flying into LA and out of SF went by the wayside.

Any suggestions for what to do along the 2 day drive welcome as well.

Thanks all!

IF you have time...that is quite an itinerary- stop off at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The kids%26#39;ll love it and so will you. Best I%26#39;ve ever been to. And do not miss the Boardwalk in Santa Cruz for old school fun.

Hi Summer

Glad to hear you%26#39;ve got a lot of friends! Maybe saves you $$$$$ in this expensive part of the world.

Your worries are about a 2 days trip from Santa Monica to Santa Cruz.

Drive the coastal hw 1 through Malibu, Ventura to Santa Barbara. Make some stops along the way and have coffee and cake in SB. Short visit and take scenic ca 154 to Solvang, Danish Delight and have lunch.

From Solvang to Santa Maria, Pismo Beach San Luis Obispo-Morro Bay to Cambria for the night. Next morning, visit Hearst Castle( not interested? Skip it and visit Monterey Aquarium instead as Lulu mentioned) and up north ca 1 to Carmel. Short visit to Point Lobos SR and Carmel. Then Monterey and on to Santa Cruz.

Early rise both days and you%26#39;ll have a wonderful trip.

Have fun.

Tet

Thanks Lulu and Tet -- we%26#39;re looking forward to our trip!

You%26#39;re welcome. Try to make a tripreport after your return.