San Diego Coastal Driving Tour: Iconic Beaches & Bluffs

13 Ratings

Del Mar

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Embark on a scenic driving tour of San Diego’s iconic beaches and bluffs. Explore Torrey Pines State Reserve, stroll through La Jolla’s village, and take in breathtaking views from Cabrillo National Monument.

Duration: 6 hours

Cancellation: 24 hours

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Highlights

Torrey Pines State Beach - Discover San Diego’s coastal climate and find the perfect spot to capture an iconic photo of Torrey Pines State Beach.
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve - Learn about Torrey Pines Natural Reserve and get recommendations for an easy hike if you wish to explore. Admission is free, but parking isn’t; however, you can…

Torrey Pines State Beach - Discover San Diego’s coastal climate and find the perfect spot to capture an iconic photo of Torrey Pines State Beach.
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve - Learn about Torrey Pines Natural Reserve and get recommendations for an easy hike if you wish to explore. Admission is free, but parking isn’t; however, you can find free parking along the beach.
Torrey Pines Golf Course - We’ll highlight Torrey Pines Golf Course and explain why it might be worth a stop.
Torrey Pines Gliderport - Watch paragliders take off from the cliffs at Torrey Pines Gliderport and decide if you’d like to try a tandem flight yourself!
Birch Aquarium at Scripps - We’ll pass by San Diego’s Birch Aquarium and point out the entrance for those interested in visiting.
La Jolla Shores Park - Get insider tips on activities to enjoy at La Jolla Shores.
La Jolla Cove - As you drive along Coast Blvd, learn about La Jolla. We’ll share recommendations on restaurants, attractions, and more.
Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial - Take in the breathtaking panoramic views from Mt. Soledad as we point out major landmarks visible from the summit.
Bird Rock - Drive through the charming neighborhood of Bird Rock and stop for a coffee at a renowned San Diego coffee roaster.
Pacific Beach - Get an overview of why Pacific Beach is one of San Diego’s top beach destinations.
Belmont Park - Drive through Mission Beach and learn what sets it apart from Pacific Beach. Hear about Belmont Park and decide if you want to stop and ride the historic wooden roller coaster.
Ocean Beach - Explore Ocean Beach, including Dog Beach and the OB Pier. Discover local restaurants and other attractions in this eclectic San Diego neighborhood.
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park - Drive along Sunset Cliffs Boulevard and learn more about this popular San Diego spot.
Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery - Enjoy the views from Point Loma as you pass by Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. If you start early, you can drive to the end of the road and visit Cabrillo National Monument (admission not included) before it closes at 5:00 PM. If you choose to visit, you can take in some of the best views of San Diego and Coronado Island or take a short hike down the Bayside Trail.

What's Included

Convenient app and tour download
Flexible usage with unlimited access for 30 days

What's Not Included

Smartphone
Transportation

Additional Information

Embark on a self-guided scenic drive along San Diego’s coastline, starting from Torrey Pines and ending at Cabrillo National Monument. This journey takes you past renowned beaches, stunning coastal cliffs, and charming oceanfront neighborhoods. With a GPS-triggered audio tour, enjoy automatic commentary as you reach significant viewpoints and landmarks….

Location

2602 Del Mar Heights Rd

Del Mar Heights Road

The tour starts in the parking lot in front of Starbucks in the shopping center just off I-5 North at Del Mar Heights Road.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings

4.4

(13 Ratings)

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Nichole_s

Mar 8, 2026

We loved it - So much fun with so much to see. Being able to stop and see the places then pick up right where you left off was great!

Review provided by Viator

Bonnie_n

Sep 7, 2025

This is a very low cost... - This is a very low cost way to see a lot of San Diego. Some of the most beautiful views and options to explore. Plan to spend the whole day with stopping and checking things out. Clear directions to get from place to place. We all had a blast on this excursion.

Review provided by Viator

Nancy_p

Apr 26, 2025

A great value - This driving tour was the perfect way to get a good feel for the coastline and communities near San Diego. We would love to do it again now that we know what to expect, and we would allow more time to stop along the way. Although the information says you can spend around 3 hours driving straight through, based on our experience, we would plan an entire day around the tour. We started after lunch in La Jolla and missed the last stop at Cabrillo National Monument because we arrived after it closed (although the information was very clear about the closing time). We appreciated that the tour took us off the beaten path and we saw things we would have never found on our own. We also liked that it provided suggested places to eat, visit, and shop along the way, which we kept track of for future reference. Although the audio directions were easy to follow, the app settings did not seem to work (e.g., I could never get the audio to repeat although it seemed to have that functionality). Still, any quibble with the app is not a reason to skip the tour if you like driving around an area to learn about it. On this tour you'll see beautiful scenery and interesting sights.

Review provided by Viator

Alison_b

Dec 28, 2024

The tour was fun,... - The tour was fun, informative, and flexible! It was the right mix of sight seeing, driving, and walking around!

Review provided by Viator

Jodi_h

Jul 10, 2024

Easy inexpensive way to see the sights of San Diego - We really enjoyed this tour. It’s well organized and gives a lot of details without being boring for the kids. Highly recommend!

Review provided by Viator

Rebecca_o

Jun 18, 2024

Great views and great info! - I’ve taken several of these tours and I was so glad to see that they also had one of the bluffs. The views were incredible. The information was interesting. Definitely check out this tour if you are in the area.

Review provided by Viator

Marksj9635ji

Jun 17, 2024

First Time Users - It was a first time using the app for a tour. The download and play was simple and greatly added to our trip. I can't imagine going on another trip without this. Well done!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Kaye_c

Jun 10, 2024

My. Soledad was very... - My. Soledad was very pretty. Many beautiful views. The directions were difficult to follow and one of the streets was closed so had to bypass it.

Review provided by Viator

Bert_m

Jul 15, 2024

Meh... it is so-so.. just use your own GPS - It is not a full GPS system and that's a problem. And the navigation controls if you skip a site are clunky. You can do just as well or better if you just take the time to plan the sites you want to visit and just use your own GPS. The narration provided is interesting, but the navigation aspect of it needs improvement. If you do decide to use this app, you need to have a designated navigator familiar with the app. It's not like a GPS.

Review provided by Viator

Poppopnnana

Jul 14, 2024

It is a B- thing. Read my detail for a better way. - It is fairly ok, but not great. This is NOT a substitute GPS. If you make a wrong turn, you need your own GPS to get back on track. Do not even attempt to park at the busy beach at La Jolla. It ain't happening. You actually don't need the guide even though the price is right. Just pick your spots in advance and use your own GPS. The nav controls on the app are clunky. Do NOT miss Cabrillo Nat Mon. Arrive at least by 4pm. It is pretty much only of interest to adults.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Check Availability

From $12

(Per Group)

From $12 (Per Group)

up to 15 guests

1 - Traveler