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Los Angeles to Cabrillo National Monument road trip: best stops

The drive from Los Angeles to Cabrillo National Monument takes about 2 hr 2 min (southeast of Los Angeles), by real roads from ZIP 90012. Along the way we found 95 stops within a short detour: 15 coffee shops, 10 bakeries, 23 ice cream and treats and 26 places to eat.

The list below is the best few of each kind, in driving order, with how far into the drive you reach each one (counted from Los Angeles) and the detour it adds. Stops marked Our pick are chosen by us; the rest come from OpenStreetMap listings, so confirm hours before you count on them.

Where you are going: Cabrillo National Monument 2 hr 2 min from Los Angeles

Cabrillo National Monument

Photo: Blervis, CC0

National park

Cabrillo National Monument

A historic lighthouse and tide pools at Point Loma with a big view over San Diego bay.

  • 2-3 hrs
  • Year-round
  • See the official site for current fees

Heads-up: Tide pools are best at low tide. Check for any closures.

Map of the stops between Los Angeles and Cabrillo National Monument

First third Middle third Last third Cabrillo National Monument

First stretch 10 stops

  1. Ozzie's Diner American restaurant · Commerce
    About 16 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Fr 07:00-20:00; Sa-Su 07:00-15:00
  2. Sproul Museum Museum · Norwalk
    About 21 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  3. Village Cafe & Dani_Macaron Coffee shop · Buena Park
    About 25 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Fr 08:30-14:00; Sa 09:00-13:00 Website
  4. Anaheim Packing House Food hall · Anaheim Our pick
    About 30 min into the drive · detour about 6 min Website
  5. Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin Attraction · Neff
    About 30 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  6. Tacos La Calle Mexican counter-service · Orange
    About 33 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Su-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr,Sa 11:00-22:00
  7. Discovery Science Center Museum · Santa Ana
    About 34 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  8. 6100 Bread Bakery · Santa Ana
    About 35 min into the drive · detour about 3 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Th-Su 08:00-13:00 Website
  9. Cream Pan Bakery · Tustin
    About 37 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: 05:00-19:00
  10. Curry Do Japanese restaurant · Tustin
    About 37 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website

Middle of the drive 19 stops

  1. Sunmerry Bakery/ Happy Lemon Bakery · Irvine
    About 42 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  2. MeloMelo Coconut Dessert Ice cream · Irvine
    About 42 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Su-Sa 11:00-22:00 Website
  3. Kaju Soft Tofu Restaurant Asian restaurant · Irvine
    About 42 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  4. Giant Wheel at Irvine Spectrum Center Attraction · Irvine
    About 45 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Su 10:00-23:00
  5. Grateful Earth Coffee Co Coffee shop · Laguna Hills
    About 46 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Fr 09:00-17:00 Website
  6. San Honoré Panaderia Bakery · Laguna Woods
    About 47 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Su 08:00-21:00
  7. Adolfo's Mexican Food Mexican counter-service · Laguna Woods
    About 47 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-We 08:00-02:00; Th-Sa 08:00-04:00; Su 11:00-02:00
  8. Little France Coffee and Bakery Coffee shop · Mission Viejo
    About 52 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Su 08:00-16:00; PH 08:00-16:00
  9. Milk & Cookies Pastry shop · Mission Viejo
    About 52 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Su 11:00-22:00 Website
  10. Délice Breton Coffee shop · San Juan Capistrano
    About 55 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  11. Mission San Juan Capistrano Historic site · San Juan Capistrano
    About 55 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo,PH off; Tu-Su 09:00-17:00 Website
  12. Blas Aguilar Adobe Museum · San Juan Capistrano
    About 55 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  13. Guichos Eatery (North) Coffee shop · San Clemente
    About 59 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Sa 11:30-20:30 Website
  14. Bowlology Superfoods Coffee shop · San Clemente
    About 1 hr 1 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  15. Knob Hill Viewpoint · San Clemente
    About 1 hr 1 min into the drive · detour about 6 min
  16. Paradis Handcrafted Ice Cream Ice cream · San Clemente
    About 1 hr 2 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  17. Orange County Creamery Ice cream · San Clemente
    About 1 hr 2 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Fr-Sa 12:00-22:00; Su-Th 12:00-21:30
  18. Top of the World Viewpoint · San Clemente
    About 1 hr 2 min into the drive · detour about 4 min
  19. Las Flores Viewpoint Viewpoint · Agra
    About 1 hr 12 min into the drive · detour about 2 min

Last stretch 6 stops

  1. Corner Bakery Bakery · Carlsbad
    About 1 hr 27 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  2. Menchie's Ice cream · Carlsbad
    About 1 hr 27 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  3. Tern Point Viewpoint · Solana Beach
    About 1 hr 36 min into the drive · detour about 4 min
  4. Handle's Homemade Ice Cream Ice cream · San Diego
    About 1 hr 44 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  5. View of Mission Bay Viewpoint · San Diego
    About 1 hr 50 min into the drive · detour about 7 min
  6. The Cravory Bakery · San Diego
    About 1 hr 52 min into the drive · detour about 3 min

Questions about the drive from Los Angeles to Cabrillo National Monument

How long is the drive from Los Angeles to Cabrillo National Monument?

About 2 hr 2 min by road, heading southeast from the middle of ZIP 90012. Traffic and weather change that.

What are the best stops on the way from Los Angeles to Cabrillo National Monument?

Good ones to start with: Anaheim Packing House (Anaheim). The page lists 35 in all, in driving order.

Where can I get coffee or a bakery stop between Los Angeles and Cabrillo National Monument?

Village Cafe & Dani_Macaron in Buena Park, 6100 Bread in Santa Ana, Cream Pan in Tustin and Sunmerry Bakery/ Happy Lemon in Irvine. Check hours first; they come from OpenStreetMap listings.

Where can I eat on the way to Cabrillo National Monument?

Ozzie's Diner in Commerce, Anaheim Packing House in Anaheim, Tacos La Calle in Orange and Curry Do in Tustin.

Are there viewpoints or quick sights on the way?

Sproul Museum in Norwalk, Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin in Neff, Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana and Giant Wheel at Irvine Spectrum Center in Irvine.

More about Los Angeles and Cabrillo National Monument

Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP <class 'zip'> (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Stops come from our own picks and OpenStreetMap listings; hours and detours change, so check before you go. We do not store anyone's location.

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