About this experience
Follow the Pacific Coast Highway between Los Angeles and San Diego in either direction on a self-guided smartphone audio drive. Hear 40+ GPS-triggered stories about beaches, surf towns, wildlife and coastal history, from Manhattan Beach and the Queen Mary to Laguna Beach, Dana Point, Oceanside and Torrey Pines.
A live GPS map shows the route while audio plays through your phone or connected car speakers. Download before departure for offline use, then start anywhere, pause for viewpoints and travel at your own pace. Allow about 4–5 hours plus optional stops and traffic. Bring your own vehicle and smartphone; there is no in-person guide.
This is a one-way drive between LA and San Diego, not a return to your starting point. Attractions and interior visits are optional and admission is separate. Seal Beach refuge has restricted entry, and Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve is currently closed to visitors; the audio route can be completed without entering either site.
At a glance
- Duration: 4 hr–5 hr
- Private experience
Plan your experience
Set aside 4 hr–5 hr for the experience itself, with additional time to reach your meeting or pickup point.
Before you go
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Local guides to help you plan
A practical San Diego coastal day from La Jolla to Ocean Beach
Build one flexible coast day around geography, marine conditions, realistic transitions, and a late return to the water.
How to choose a San Diego neighborhood base
Compare coast, park, downtown, and central-neighborhood bases by the trips they make easier, not by one universal center.
Where to stay in San Diego by trip rhythm
Use coast time, museum days, nightlife, family logistics, and transport needs to compare accommodation areas.
What is included
- One booking per vehicle
- GPS-triggered smartphone audio tour
- Live GPS route map
- Download for offline use
- Flexible, self-paced access
Not included
- Smartphone or tablet; headphones optional (device speaker works)
- Vehicle, fuel and parking fees
- Optional attraction admission and interior access are separate unless specifically stated.
- In-person guide
Itinerary and highlights
Pass LAX as this self-guided coastal drive begins or ends near Los Angeles.
Discover El Segundo, a coastal city with deep ties to aviation and industry.
Enjoy Manhattan Beach’s lively shoreline and classic Southern California pier.
Take in Redondo Beach’s harbour, pier and storied seaside past.
Pass Torrance, a diverse South Bay city with a strong Japanese American heritage.
Hear the remarkable story of Louis Zamperini near the airfield named for him.
Follow the Palos Verdes Peninsula for sweeping Pacific views and coastal history.
Pass San Pedro’s working waterfront and its role as a gateway to Los Angeles Harbor.
See the RMS Queen Mary in Long Beach; boarding and ship tours require separate tickets.
Discover Long Beach’s waterfront, arts and diverse neighbourhoods.
Pass California State University, Long Beach, a landmark campus with notable alumni.
Enjoy Seal Beach’s relaxed seaside streets and historic pier.
Learn about Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge; public entry is limited to advance-booked guided tours on the Navy base.
Pass Sunset Beach, a low-key coastal neighbourhood beside the Pacific.
Look toward Bolsa Chica’s protected wetlands, a haven for shorebirds and other wildlife.
Discover Huntington Beach’s surfing heritage and broad oceanfront.
Look offshore toward Santa Catalina Island, long tied to Southern California maritime stories.
Hear how Huntington Beach’s oil fields shaped the coast near this coded location.
Explore Newport Beach’s harbour, sandy shores and oceanfront neighbourhoods.
Pass Balboa Peninsula and nearby Balboa Island, known for harbour views and waterfront streets.
See Crystal Cove’s coastal bluffs and historic beach cottages; park visits are separate.
Discover Laguna Beach’s art scene, rocky coves and ocean views.
Hear about Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, a protected landscape just inland.
Pass Monarch Beach, a coastal neighbourhood of Dana Point with sweeping Pacific vistas.
Enjoy Dana Point’s harbour and headlands, a celebrated whale-watching area.
Pass San Clemente’s Spanish-style streets and beaches by the sea.
Hear about San Onofre’s surf coast, Acjachemen history and the closed nuclear plant from the road.
Pass Las Flores near Camp Pendleton; the historic estancia is on a restricted military base.
Discover Oceanside’s long pier, waterfront and coastal heritage.
Pass Carlsbad, known for its beaches and seasonal Flower Fields.
Enjoy Encinitas’s surf culture, gardens and coastal neighbourhoods.
Look toward Cardiff State Beach and the nearby San Elijo Lagoon; beach access is optional.
Continue through San Diego County, where coastal communities meet the city’s older and newer districts.
View Torrey Pines’ coastal cliffs from outside; the state reserve is closed to visitors during its utility project.
Meeting and pickup information
- For the San Diego-to-LA direction, begin near San Diego and follow the in-app coastal route; there is no in-person meeting.
- For the LA-to-San Diego direction, begin near Los Angeles and follow the in-app coastal route; there is no in-person meeting.
Languages and tickets
- English — Audio
- English — Written
- Mobile Only
Tour operator
- Tripvia Tours
Meeting points and locations
Accessibility and practical details
- Service animals allowed
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- This self-guided drive uses your own vehicle and is mainly enjoyed from the road. Optional beach, park and harbour visits may involve uneven surfaces or separate admission; the audio route remains usable when nearby sites are closed. Seal Beach refuge requires an advance-booked guided visit, and Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve is currently closed to all visitors.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Questions about this experience
How long is this experience?
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What accessibility information is provided?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Wheelchair accessible
What is the cancellation policy?
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