# San Diego with a day in La Jolla

[Canonical itinerary](<https://zukio.com/trips/north-america/single-base-plus-day-trip/san-diego-with-a-day-in-la-jolla-z0404/>)

Add a nearby city or landscape while keeping one overnight base

- Region: North America
- Trip format: Single base + day trip
- Nights: 6
- Interests: Nature, Science, Food & Drink, Design

## Route and nights

- San Diego · 6 night(s)

Tradeoff: A day trip avoids repacking. Check the last return option and whether the travel time is worth the outing.

Compare: Local transit, rail, ferry or road for the outing as applicable

## Day-by-day agenda

Suggested schedule. Times are local. Check hours and availability for your dates.

### Day 1 · San Diego

- 14:30 to 15:20 · Check in or drop bags · The Westin San Diego Bayview
- 15:35 to 16:50 · Walk the public waterfront near Broadway Pier · Broadway Pier, San Diego. Make this optional on a late arrival.
- 17:00 to 18:00 · Continue toward Waterfront Park or Little Italy · Waterfront Park, San Diego
- 18:15 to 19:40 · Dinner near the hotel · Downtown San Diego
Overnight: [The Westin San Diego Bayview](<https://www.hotels.com/ho126381/the-westin-san-diego-downtown-san-diego-united-states-of-america/>) · San Diego

### Day 2 · San Diego

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Breakfast near the hotel · Downtown San Diego
- 09:10 to 10:00 · Travel to Cabrillo National Monument · Cabrillo National Monument, San Diego. Check National Park Service access, weather, and operating hours.
- 10:05 to 12:10 · Explore the monument overlooks and lighthouse grounds · Cabrillo National Monument, San Diego. Use the upland viewpoints as the default. Check official tide and access information before attempting a tidepool visit.
- 12:25 to 13:35 · Lunch in Point Loma · Point Loma, San Diego
- 13:50 to 15:30 · Walk public shore paths around Shelter Island · Shelter Island Shoreline Park, San Diego. Choose a short out-and-back route and skip exposed paths in poor conditions.
- 15:45 to 16:50 · Return downtown · Downtown San Diego
- 18:00 to 19:30 · Dinner around Little Italy or downtown · San Diego, California
Overnight: [The Westin San Diego Bayview](<https://www.hotels.com/ho126381/the-westin-san-diego-downtown-san-diego-united-states-of-america/>) · San Diego

### Day 3 · San Diego

- 08:45 to 09:30 · Breakfast downtown · Downtown San Diego
- 09:45 to 10:20 · Travel to Balboa Park · Balboa Park, San Diego
- 10:30 to 12:55 · Choose the Fleet Science Center or San Diego Natural History Museum · Balboa Park, San Diego. Check opening days and pick one museum. Verify any separate film or exhibition times.
- 13:05 to 14:05 · Lunch in or near the park · Balboa Park, San Diego
- 14:20 to 15:45 · Walk El Prado and see the outdoor plazas · El Prado, Balboa Park
- 16:00 to 16:55 · Return downtown · Downtown San Diego
- 18:00 to 19:30 · Dinner near the hotel · Downtown San Diego
Overnight: [The Westin San Diego Bayview](<https://www.hotels.com/ho126381/the-westin-san-diego-downtown-san-diego-united-states-of-america/>) · San Diego

### Day 4 · La Jolla

- 08:30 to 09:15 · Breakfast downtown · Downtown San Diego
- 09:25 to 10:25 · Travel to La Jolla Village · La Jolla Village, San Diego. Check the current bus or road route and reserve extra time for the return.
- 10:35 to 12:15 · Walk near La Jolla Cove and Ellen Browning Scripps Park · La Jolla Cove, San Diego. Follow posted closures and wildlife viewing rules, and give animals space.
- 12:25 to 13:35 · Lunch in La Jolla Village · La Jolla Village, San Diego
- 13:50 to 15:25 · Choose a short Coast Boulevard walk or an indoor stop · Coast Boulevard, La Jolla. Check weather, access, and opening days for any museum alternative.
- 15:45 to 17:00 · Return downtown · Downtown San Diego
- 18:00 to 19:30 · Dinner near the hotel · Downtown San Diego
Overnight: [The Westin San Diego Bayview](<https://www.hotels.com/ho126381/the-westin-san-diego-downtown-san-diego-united-states-of-america/>) · San Diego

### Day 5 · San Diego

- 08:45 to 09:30 · Breakfast downtown · Downtown San Diego
- 09:45 to 10:30 · Travel to Liberty Station · Liberty Station, San Diego
- 10:40 to 12:10 · Explore Liberty Station's public courtyards · Liberty Station, San Diego. Choose a short gallery or park stop if its hours fit.
- 12:15 to 13:30 · Pick lunch at Liberty Public Market · Liberty Public Market, San Diego. Check vendor hours and leave room for an evening taco stop.
- 13:45 to 15:15 · Walk the waterfront paths around Spanish Landing · Spanish Landing Park, San Diego. Use current signed public access and shorten the walk if needed.
- 15:35 to 16:55 · Return downtown for a break · Downtown San Diego
- 18:00 to 19:30 · Choose a fish taco dinner · San Diego, California. Pick a route-friendly shop and verify its current hours.
Overnight: [The Westin San Diego Bayview](<https://www.hotels.com/ho126381/the-westin-san-diego-downtown-san-diego-united-states-of-america/>) · San Diego

### Day 6 · San Diego

- 08:45 to 09:30 · Breakfast downtown · Downtown San Diego
- 09:45 to 10:20 · Travel to Balboa Park · Balboa Park, San Diego
- 10:25 to 12:15 · Walk El Prado and compare the park's facades · El Prado, Balboa Park. Use public paths around the California Tower and Plaza de Panama.
- 12:25 to 13:25 · Lunch near the park · Balboa Park, San Diego
- 13:40 to 15:10 · Walk the Botanical Building area and nearby gardens · Botanical Building, Balboa Park. Check building hours and choose open garden paths.
- 15:25 to 16:45 · See the public spaces around the Spreckels Organ Pavilion · Spreckels Organ Pavilion, Balboa Park. Treat any performance as optional and check the schedule.
- 18:00 to 19:30 · Dinner near the hotel · Downtown San Diego
Overnight: [The Westin San Diego Bayview](<https://www.hotels.com/ho126381/the-westin-san-diego-downtown-san-diego-united-states-of-america/>) · San Diego

### Day 7 · San Diego

- 08:30 to 09:15 · Breakfast around downtown · Downtown San Diego
- 09:25 to 10:10 · Take an optional final waterfront walk · Broadway Pier, San Diego
- 10:20 to 10:50 · Check out and collect bags · The Westin San Diego Bayview