ride from LA to san diego
Thread started by
ttheahh at 08.10.10 - 9:09 pm
hey i was wondering about the route to san diego from LA. i know that people do it all the time but i have no clue what it entails.
is it straight or are there connections that you must make/find?
do you have to be on the highway for part of it?
are there spots to camp along the way?
is it a bike path?
thankssssss a looottt for any information on the process!
-thea
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depends on where in LA you are starting and here in SD you are ending. A lot of folks will take the LA River Trail from Vernon to LB then get on the Beach Path from LB to Belmont Shores then taking PCH the rest of the way. Another way to do it is to go east from LA and take the SGRT to PCH. Lots of routes up on mapmyride.com just do a search.
Past Dana Point there's a stretch where you either ride through the military base (Camp Pendleton) which requires helmet and photo ID or you can hop on the 5 freeway. I believe most people take the 5, so if you do that, make sure you stay as far right as you can and take the one rest stop exit and hop back onto the 5. Exit at the next exit in Oceanside.
There are campsites before and after San Juan Capistrano and I think past Oceanside as well. Do a google search.
tfunk40808.10.10 - 11:25 pm
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me and some riders are planning a ride to san diego soon (august 28th). you should join.
in terms of the route i hear it's mostly PCH and real smooth riding.
grAde08.11.10 - 12:48 am
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my buddies and i did a ride from LA to oceanside, everything is smooth for the most part.
there's a lil bit of climbing around laguna and san clemente but nothing major.
DON'T FORGET TO BRING A HELMET.
they won't let you thru camp pendelton if you don't have one.
it gets hilly before torrey pines.
have fun!
KiMS108.11.10 - 8:37 am
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I've been trying to do a LA to SD ride all summer. Everyone says they're into it until the time comes. BUMMER
Rosiekins08.11.10 - 1:21 pm
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I do this ride about once a month. Where you're starting is pivotal, but I've come down the LA River to LBC and also gone across town to PCH and gone through Venice/Marina del Rey/Hermosa/etc.
There are a few little forks on Route 1 to watch out for. Going through Newport Beach, you have to fork left. Right after you pass through Dana Pointe, you have to fork right.
Going through San Clemente, you can either stay on El Camino Real or go through a neighborhood bike route. I recommend staying on El Camino Real; however, you will need to, after a few blocks, cross over the I-5 (basically making a right) then make an immediate left onto a bike lane. Eventually that bike lane (after less than a mile) and the street veer left and you have to go up onto the sidewalk and into a beach access path (through a fence/gate). When you get to the top of the little hill there, you actually have a little fork and should go left to go back onto Route 1/El Camino Real. This will take you through San Onofre State Beach (lovely riding) and into Pendleton.
After you get out of Pendleton it's a little tricky to go around the harbor and get back to Route 1, and going through Torrey Pines in La Jolla to enter San Diego is also a little tricky (when I say tricky I mean you can't just stay on PCH/Route 1 to get there--so not difficult you just have to turn).
All in all, it's a very easy route, you just need to take your iPhone or map with you.
When are you going? If you want company/guide, I might be available.
danceralamode08.11.10 - 1:37 pm
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We just rode to SD this weekend to Stone Brewery and had a freakin blast! We rode down PCH most of the way which was surprisingly flat. There is a bike path in some areas that runs parallel to PCH, so its up to you on which way you wanna take. There were a few hills but nothing too daunting. The only thing that may seem a little daunting is going on the 5 for a few miles, but thats about it. We had the choice of going through camp pendleton, but decided the 5 would be quicker and easier for times sake.
As for camping spots, there a quite a few along the way, but you many have to call in advance to see if they're not booked. Considering that it is summer, you may have a difficult time finding a place.
Nygmatic08.11.10 - 1:44 pm
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One more very important thing to be aware of: if you are taking the train back, particularly Amtrak, they have only 3-6 spaces per train (depending on the car makeup). The conductor may allow you to bring your bike into the large baggage area, but it's up to him--if the spaces are full. Use of the bike spaces are first come, first serve, and during the summer, many cyclists ride south then take the train back up. When I rode down a few weeks ago, there were 8 cyclists on our train, and the conductor almost wasn't going to let us on (and it was the last train of the day). So be sure to start very early in the day, so when you get there you will have more than one train to wait for.
danceralamode08.11.10 - 1:45 pm
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I will have to agree on the Amtrak thing. I waited at Oceanside as Amtrak announced on the platform that there will be no bikes allowed. An hour later the same thing, but that time I said F it and took my bike on and hooked it on a rail in the disabled car.
Conductor didn't even see the bike or did not care, but be warned. The trains fill up with bikes going northbound.
Foldie responding to a
comment by danceralamode
08.11.10 - 1:52 pm
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+ 1 danceralamode
This happened to me on the way back. I went to nearly every car and each one was filled with bikes. The conductor was nice enough to let me use an empty passenger car to load up my bike. Like danceralamode said, be sure to start early because the last thing you want is to get stuck in oceanside for 9 hours...
Nygmatic responding to a
comment by danceralamode
08.11.10 - 2:06 pm
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Thank you so much. I really appreciate it!
-thea
ttheahh responding to a
comment by tfunk408
08.11.10 - 2:12 pm
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that would be awesome; unfortunately i will be on the east coast then... thanks for the invite though!
-thea
ttheahh responding to a
comment by grAde
08.11.10 - 2:13 pm
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im not sure when im going yet but ill let you know and that'd be really awesome. thanks for all of the info!
-thea
ttheahh responding to a
comment by danceralamode
08.11.10 - 2:15 pm
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