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San Diego to The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens road trip: best stops

The drive from San Diego to The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens takes about 2 hr 5 min (northwest of San Diego), by real roads from ZIP 92101. Along the way we found 102 stops within a short detour: 21 coffee shops, 5 bakeries, 25 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 San Diego) 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: The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens 2 hr 5 min from San Diego

The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens

Photo: Netherzone, CC BY-SA 4.0

Garden

The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens

A huge garden with a Japanese garden, rose garden, desert garden, library and art.

  • Half day
  • Closed Tuesdays (confirm before you go)
  • See the official site for current fees

Heads-up: Buy timed tickets ahead on busy weekends. Open 10am-5pm, closed Tuesdays.

Map of the stops between San Diego and The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens

First third Middle third Last third The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens

First stretch 11 stops

  1. Karak House Coffee Co. Coffee shop · San Diego
    About 14 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-We 07:00-22:00; Th 07:00-23:00; Fr 07:00-24:00; Sa 09:00-24:00; Su 09:00-23:00 Website
  2. Zumbar Coffee & Tea Coffee shop · San Diego
    About 16 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Fr 06:30-16:00; Sa 07:30-13:30 Website
  3. The Craft Taco Mexican restaurant · San Diego
    About 16 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo,Tu,We,Th,Sa 11:00-20:00; Fr 11:00-21:00; Su 11:00-17:00
  4. Pacific Cafe and Catering Coffee shop · San Diego
    About 18 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  5. Milton's Deli restaurant · Del Mar
    About 21 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Fr 09:30-19:30; Su 08:30-19:30; Sa 08:30-20:00 Website
  6. Annie's Canyon Attraction · Solana Beach
    About 23 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  7. Sushi Lounge Japanese restaurant · Encinitas
    About 25 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Fr-Sa 11:00-21:30; Su-Th 11:00-21:00 Website
  8. Gordy's Bakery and Coffeehouse Bakery · Encinitas
    About 26 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Sa 06:00-17:00; Su 06:00-15:00 Website
  9. Pizzaiolo Pizza restaurant · Encinitas
    About 26 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Tu 11:00-14:30; We-Th 11:00-20:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-21:00; Su 12:00-20:00
  10. Invita Cafe Coffee shop · Carlsbad
    About 30 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  11. El Puerto Street Tacos Mexican counter-service · Carlsbad
    About 31 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website

Middle of the drive 19 stops

  1. Las Flores Viewpoint Viewpoint · Agra
    About 47 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  2. Smugglers Sink Historic site · Agra
    About 50 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  3. Zebra House Coffee Coffee shop · San Clemente
    About 57 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  4. Paradis Handcrafted Ice Cream Ice cream · San Clemente
    About 57 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  5. Orange County Creamery Ice cream · San Clemente
    About 57 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Fr-Sa 12:00-22:00; Su-Th 12:00-21:30
  6. Top of the World Viewpoint · San Clemente
    About 57 min into the drive · detour about 4 min
  7. Knob Hill Viewpoint · San Clemente
    About 58 min into the drive · detour about 6 min
  8. Bowlology Superfoods Coffee shop · San Clemente
    About 59 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  9. Patriots Hill Viewpoint · Capistrano Beach
    About 1 hr 3 min into the drive · detour about 5 min
  10. Helicopter Hill Viewpoint · San Juan Capistrano
    About 1 hr 6 min into the drive · detour about 4 min
  11. Milk & Cookies Pastry shop · Mission Viejo
    About 1 hr 7 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Su 11:00-22:00 Website
  12. Aguaje del Cuate Historic site · Laguna Hills
    About 1 hr 9 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  13. San Honoré Panaderia Bakery · Laguna Woods
    About 1 hr 12 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Su 08:00-21:00
  14. Giant Wheel at Irvine Spectrum Center Attraction · Irvine
    About 1 hr 15 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Su 10:00-23:00
  15. Sunmerry Bakery/ Happy Lemon Bakery · Irvine
    About 1 hr 18 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  16. MeloMelo Coconut Dessert Ice cream · Irvine
    About 1 hr 18 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Su-Sa 11:00-22:00 Website
  17. Wanderlust Creamery Ice cream · Irvine
    About 1 hr 20 min into the drive · detour about 3 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: 12:00-23:00 Website
  18. Cream Pan Bakery · Tustin
    About 1 hr 23 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: 05:00-19:00
  19. Donut King Bakery Donut restaurant · Tustin
    About 1 hr 23 min into the drive · detour about 2 min

Last stretch 4 stops

  1. Minnie's House Attraction · Neff
    About 1 hr 29 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  2. Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin Attraction · Neff
    About 1 hr 29 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  3. Anaheim Packing House Food hall · Anaheim Our pick
    About 1 hr 30 min into the drive · detour about 6 min Website
  4. Candle Light Bakery Bakery · Norwalk
    About 1 hr 41 min into the drive · detour about 10 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Sa-Su 10:00-18:00; Mo-Fr 10:30-18:00

Questions about the drive from San Diego to The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens

How long is the drive from San Diego to The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens?

About 2 hr 5 min by road, heading northwest from the middle of ZIP 92101. Traffic and weather change that.

What are the best stops on the way from San Diego to The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens?

Good ones to start with: Anaheim Packing House (Anaheim). The page lists 34 in all, in driving order.

Where can I get coffee or a bakery stop between San Diego and The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens?

Karak House Coffee Co. in San Diego, Zumbar Coffee & Tea in San Diego, Pacific Cafe and Catering in San Diego and Gordy's Bakery and Coffeehouse in Encinitas. Check hours first; they come from OpenStreetMap listings.

Where can I eat on the way to The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens?

The Craft Taco in San Diego, Milton's in Del Mar, Sushi Lounge in Encinitas and Pizzaiolo in Encinitas.

Are there viewpoints or quick sights on the way?

Annie's Canyon in Solana Beach, Las Flores Viewpoint in Agra, Smugglers Sink in Agra and Top of the World in San Clemente.

More about San Diego and The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens

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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