Things to do in San Diego from Los Angeles

San Diego is close enough to work as a genuine day trip from Los Angeles, unlike Las Vegas: the coastal route down Interstate 5 is roughly two hours in free-flowing traffic, though that figure stretches considerably during weekday rush hours and on summer weekends. San Diego stays within California, near the Mexican border, with a drier and steadier climate than Los Angeles year-round.

A day trip realistically covers one anchor and one add-on, not both in full: the retired aircraft carrier USS Midway, now a museum on the downtown waterfront, or the adobe-era streets of Old Town, but rarely a leisurely visit to both in a single morning. Travellers flying in can land at San Diego's own airport rather than routing everything through LAX.

Those with more time sometimes continue north to Carlsbad or inland to Temecula's wine country, covered separately.