San Diego to LAX

We will be stay in SD on Sat night and have a 5:00 PM flight out of LAX on Sun....how long in hours would it take to drive Hwy 1 from San Diego to LAX....with a stop somewhere along the way for lunch....Any suggestions for lunch?

San Diego to LAX

You shouldn%26#39;t drive Hwy 1 from SD to LAX. Once you get north of Orange County, much of Hwy 1 is a busy commercial road with lots of traffic and not much to look at in terms of tourist-appeal.

I recommend driving the 5 Freeway from San Diego up to Laguna beach and then transfer to the coast route. Take it north to Huntington Beach and then transfer to the 405 freeway into Los Angeles to LAX.

You have the option of visiting Long Beach in between Huntington Beach and LAX. Long Beach has a superb aquarium -- the Aquarium of the Pacific -- as well as adjacent harbor cruises of varying durations.

So, your time at the wheel has a lot to do with what you plan on seeing and doing during the drive up.

By way of perspective, if you drove from SD to LAX via the interstate system without stopping, it would take about 2-1/2 hours. If you detoured onto the coast highway (as I recommended) and stopped a couple of times, had something to eat, etc, it would add another 2-1/2 hours easily. If you added Long Beach to the mix, that%26#39;s another 2-1/2 hours (including a visit to the Aquarium).

So, tell us more about your plans and we can narrow it down a little.

San Diego to LAX

This will be the last day of our 8 day vacation.....3 nights in LA ( Hollywood )....3 nights in Palm Springs....2 nights in SD. We plan to leave SD Sun morning about 10:00 and end at LAX in time for a 5:00 pm flight back to MN.... Would like to be at the airport by 3:00 to drop off rental car, etc....I like your idea of taking the 5 to Laguna....stop for lunch and a little siteseeing.....take Hwy 1 to Huntington Beach and catch the 405 to LAX.....any suggestions for lunch in Laguna....maybe someplace with a view of the ocean.

stop at san clemente and have lunch on the pier. exit el camno real, turn left under the bridge. about a mile, turn left on avenida del mar and follow it to the pier. there will be a parking lot on your right .

You can try the Sunday brunch at Las Brisas in Laguna Beach:

http://www.lasbrisaslagunabeach.com/

It has a great view of the ocean. You should probably make reservations and see if you can be seated on the patio.