💛 Trip dates: April 8–12, 2026
Planning a San Diego to Monterey and San Francisco road trip with kids can feel overwhelming…
We took this 5-day family road trip with our 6-year-old and 4-year-old in April 2026, and I’m sharing everything that worked for our family—including where we stopped, what we ate, and what actually worked (and didn’t 😅) 💛
This guide will help you plan a stress-free California coast road trip with kids.
👉 If you haven’t yet, check out my full Road Trip Essentials with Kids guide (this saved us on the drive!)
🚗 DAY 1: San Diego → Monterey (Travel Day)
We left at 9:00 AM—not super early, but it worked for us.
🍽️ First Stop: Filipino Comfort Food
Our first stop was lunch at Barrio Fiesta in Glendale.
You can check out their full menu here before you go—it helped us decide what to order!
We ordered:
- Kare-Kare
- Chicken Inasal
The serving is actually good for a family of 4 (with 2 adults and 2 kids) which is perfect.
💛 Sooo good and honestly the perfect comfort food to start the trip.
.🛣️ Drive Route
We took Highway 101 and Highway 1 for the views—longer drive, but totally worth it 💛 absolutely breathtaking.
⛽ Quick Stops
Quick stop in Santa Barbara for gas and a stretch break—just enough to recharge before hitting the road again.
Then we grabbed a quick takeout snack from Jack in the Box around 5 pm and just ate in the car while driving. Honestly, this made things so much easier with the kids and helped us keep moving without a long stop 💛.
These little breaks make such a big difference when you’re traveling with kids 💛.
🏨 Hotel Check-In
We arrived at Days Inn by Wyndham Monterey-Fisherman’s Wharf Aquarium around 8:20 PM
- Budget-friendly
- Perfect for late arrival
- Clean and “just right” for what we needed
💛 Mama Tip: Don’t overspend on night 1—you’ll just sleep!
🐠 DAY 2: Monterey with Kids (Main Activity Day)
🍴 Brunch + Wharf Walk
We spent the morning at Old Fisherman’s Wharf, grabbed brunch and walked around the area.
Parking Tip:
📍 Park at 201 Washington St
✔ We paid using the Parking Mobile app—it was honestly so convenient and saved us a lot of time.
👉 I highly recommend downloading it before you go so you’re not stressing about parking when you arrive.
You can download it ahead of time here to make parking stress-free.
🍤 Lunch Spot
For lunch, we stopped at The Grotto Fish Market right on the wharf—and it was such a good, easy choice with the kids 💛
👉 You can check out their menu here before you go (this helped us decide what to order!)
We ordered:
- Surf & Turf
- Lobster roll
- Cheeseburger + chips for the kids
Everything was delicious, and the location made it even better—super convenient, casual, and very family-friendly with beautiful waterfront views.
🌊 Monterey Bay Aquarium
We headed to the Monterey Bay Aquarium around 1:30 PM, and it was definitely the highlight of our day 💛
Parking was easy—we found street parking nearby and used the Parking Mobile app again (so convenient!).
👉 I highly recommend downloading it ahead of time to make things smoother.
The kids absolutely LOVED it—especially the jellyfish, sharks and the sea otters 🦦 It was one of those moments where they were just completely in awe.
💤 Afternoon Reset
We headed back to the hotel around 4:00 PM for some much-needed rest. It had started drizzling, and the kids were already tired and sleepy from missing their usual nap time, so it just made sense to slow things down.
Taking a break like this helped us recharge and continue the day without feeling overwhelmed—something I always recommend when planning family trips.
👉 Including downtime like this is an important part of creating a realistic and manageable family travel itinerary.
🍽️ Dinner + Evening
For dinner, we kept things simple and headed to Little Korea, and it turned out to be such a comforting and easy choice after a long day 💛
👉 You can check out their menu here before you go.
It’s an eat-all-you-can Korean BBQ spot, which made it a fun experience for the whole family. After being out all day, we just wanted something warm and filling—and this was exactly what we needed.
The atmosphere was casual and relaxed, which made it easy with the kids, and we were able to take our time and enjoy the meal.
✔ Family-friendly
✔ Eat-all-you-can option
✔ Great for winding down after a busy day
💛 Overall, it was a great, no-stress dinner spot to end the night.
After that, we took a casual stroll around Del Monte Shopping Center, just letting the kids walk around and burn off a little more energy.
We also made a quick stop for gas at Shell before heading back.
💛 It was the perfect low-key way to end the day—nothing rushed, just simple moments together.
👉 We included this stop as part of our travel guide to help other families find easy and family-friendly dining options.
🌉 DAY 3: Monterey → San Francisco
Checked out at 11 am then off to San Francisco.
🍽️ Lunch Stop
We had a late lunch at Crab House, and it was such a great stop during our San Francisco day 💛
👉 You can check out their menu here before you go.
After a busy morning, this was exactly what we needed—a place to sit down, relax, and enjoy a warm, satisfying meal. The restaurant is located right near Pier 39, which made it super convenient while exploring the area with the kids.
For parking, we chose the Pier 39 parking lot. It was a little on the pricier side, but we decided it was worth it for the safety and peace of mind—especially since we had our belongings in the car. It felt much more secure while we walked around and enjoyed the area.
The food was flavorful, the setting was relaxed, and it was an easy, family-friendly place to recharge.
✔ Great location near major attractions
✔ Family-friendly and easy dining
✔ Safer parking option (worth the extra cost)
✔ Perfect break during a busy day
💛 Overall, it was a solid spot to recharge before continuing our day around San Francisco.
👉 We included this stop as part of our travel guide to help other families find convenient and kid-friendly dining options in San Francisco.
🦭 Pier 39
After lunch, we walked around Pier 39, just taking in the views and letting the kids explore and have so much fun. Of course, they couldn’t resist riding the carousel 🎠
🚋 Cable Car Experience
We lined up for the cable car around 3:11 PM, and it ended up being such a fun highlight for the kids 💛
We rode the Powell–Hyde line and returned via the Powell–Mason line, which drops off closer to the Pier 39 parking lot—super convenient when you’re traveling with kids and trying to keep things simple.
We purchased our tickets through the MuniMobile app, which made everything so much easier.
👉 I recommend downloading it ahead of time so you’re not scrambling while in line.
💛 Mama Tip:
Cable cars run until around 11PM, so you have plenty of time to plan your ride. If you’re planning to ride more than once, the all-day pass is definitely worth it.
👉 We included this experience as part of our San Francisco family travel guide to help other parents plan an easy and kid-friendly visit.
🏨 Hotel Check-In
We checked in around 8:00 PM at the Embassy Suites by Hilton in Oyster Point .
It was the perfect place to end the day—spacious, comfortable, and just what we needed after a full day of exploring.
💛 The extra space was especially helpful with the kids, and it gave us time to rest, organize our photos, and plan out the next part of our trip.
👉 If you’re planning a similar family trip, I definitely recommend checking it out—especially if you want a more relaxed stay just outside the busy city.
🌧️ DAY 4: Rainy Day in San Francisco
Slow Morning + Friends + Sweet Treats
🏨 Morning Reset
We started the day slow and easy—no rushing, just a relaxed morning at the hotel.
The kids got to enjoy some pool time, which is always a win when traveling 💛
🛍️ Quick Stop
We made a quick stop at Serramonte Center
👉 Picked up a little gift for a 3-year-old
Simple, quick, and just what we needed before heading to lunch.
🍽️ Meet-Up + Late Lunch + Dessert
We met up with friends for a late lunch at Boulevard Cafe—such a nice, relaxed spot to catch up.
And of course… we had to end it with dessert at Red Ribbon 🍰
Because no trip is complete without something sweet 😅
🌧️ Rain Plan
It started raining HARD, so we decided to head back to the hotel and call it a night.
On our last night in San Francisco, we kept things simple and ordered takeout from Sofra Grill.
It was SO good! It’s Mediterranean food, and the portions were honestly a lot—perfect for sharing, especially with the kids.
After a full day of exploring, it honestly felt like the perfect way to end the trip—no rushing, no long waits, just a cozy dinner back at the hotel.
💛 And honestly… it turned into one of our favorite moments of the trip.
💛 Mama Moment
This day was simple, but so special.
Slowing down, seeing friends, and letting the kids just enjoy the moment—those are the memories that really stay with you
🚗 DAY 5: San Francisco → San Diego
⛽ Stopover: Kettleman City
On our way back home, we stopped in Kettleman City around 3:00 PM for a late lunch and to refuel.
This is honestly one of the BEST road trip stops—especially when traveling with kids—because everything is in one place.
👉 You’ll find:
- In-N-Out, McDonald’s, Starbucks, Taco Bell
- Clean restrooms (huge mom win 👏)
- Tesla chargers
- Souvenir shops and convenience stores
💛 It’s the perfect spot to stretch, eat, and reset before finishing the drive home.
🏡 Home Sweet Home
We got home around 8:00 PM
✔ Kids were tired
✔ We were tired
✔ But it was SO worth it 💛
🧾 Download our FREE 5-Day Family Road Trip Itinerary here 💛
💛 What Actually Helped Us (Real Mom Tips)
- Don’t overpack your schedule
- Plan rest time every day
- Use Parking Mobile (huge time saver!)
- Keep snacks easily accessible
👉 And most importantly…
✔ Be flexible
✔ Go with the flow
🧳 Don’t Forget This (Must Read 👀)
Before your trip, make sure you check out my full guide:
👉 Road Trip Essentials with Kids
This includes:
- What to pack
- How to stay organized
- Tips that make travel WAY easier
💛 Mama Tip
Plan ahead for where you want to save—and where you’re okay spending a little extra for comfort and convenience. It makes traveling with kids so much easier.
This trip wasn’t perfect—but it was real, memorable, and manageable.
And mama, that’s what matters most 💛
