If you’re planning a San Diego to Monterey road trip with kids, mama—you’re going to love this 💛

We recently did a 5-day family road trip with our 6-year-old and 4-year-old, and I’m sharing our real itinerary, including where we stopped, what we ate, and what actually worked (and didn’t 😅).

👉 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

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
Highway 1 (for some scenic views)

⛽ Quick Stops

Gas stop at Shell in Santa Barbara
Snack dinner at Jack in the Box around 5 PM

🏨 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 headed to
Old Fisherman’s Wharf

Parking:
📍 201 Washington St
✔ Paid via Parking Mobile (super easy)

🍤 Lunch Spot

We ate at The Grotto Fish Market

We ordered:

Surf & Turf
Lobster roll
Cheeseburger + chips for the kids

👉 Family-friendly and right on the wharf

🌊

Monterey Bay Aquarium

We went around 1:30 PM

Parked on street (Parking Mobile again)
Easy access
Kids LOVED the jellyfish + otters

💤 Afternoon Reset

Back to hotel at 4:00 PM → rest time (VERY needed)

🍽️ Dinner + Evening

Dinner at Little Korea
Evening stroll at Del Monte Shopping Center
Gas stop at Shell

💛 Perfect low-key end to the day

🌉 DAY 3: Monterey → San Francisco

🍽️ Lunch Stop

We had a late lunch at The Crab House

🦭

Pier 39

Walked around
Kids rode the carousel 🎠

🚋 Cable Car Experience

We:

Lined up at 3:11 PM
Bought tickets via MuniMobile

💛 Tip:

Cable cars run until 11 PM
Get the all-day pass if you plan to ride more than once

🌧️ DAY 4: Rainy Day in San Francisco

🏨 Morning Reset

Kids enjoyed hotel swimming (always a win!)

🛍️ Quick Stop

We went to Serramonte Center
👉 Quick gift shopping for a 3-year-old

🍽️ Meet-Up + Dessert

Lunch with friends at Boulevard Cafe
Dessert at Red Ribbon 🍰

🌧️ Rain Plan

It started raining HARD, so we:

Went back to the hotel
Ordered takeout

💛 And honestly? It was the perfect cozy night

🚗 DAY 5: San Francisco → San Diego

⛽ Stopover:

Kettleman City

We stopped around 3:00 PM for:

Late lunch
Gas

👉 This is an AMAZING stop because it has:

In-N-Out, McDonald’s, Starbucks, Taco Bell
Clean restrooms
Tesla chargers
Souvenir shops

🏡 Back Home

We got home around 8:00 PM

✔ Kids were tired
✔ We were tired
✔ But it was SO worth it 💛

💛 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

💛 Final Thoughts

This trip wasn’t perfect—but it was real, memorable, and manageable.

And mama, that’s what matters most 💛