10 Unforgettable Fall Getaways From San Diego
Autumn colors last until after Thanksgiving in the area surrounding San Diego. Discover the variety of colorful leaves clinging to dry grapevines post-harvest. Walk, drive, or hike through parks and nature preserves and find them quiet and peaceful starting around mid-October. Fall visitors enjoy the off-season in southern California’s tourist regions, including San Diego. Late fall is the perfect time to visit the beaches, trails, museums, and attractions within a three-hour drive of the city and refresh or recharge.
Borrego Springs
Borrego Springs is the only town in California surrounded by a state park and an excellent destination for a fall getaway under two hours from San Diego. As a registered International Dark Sky Community member, Borrego Springs is ideal for quiet stargazing without light pollution.
During the daylight hours, visitors can take in the Anza-Borrego desert. Before heading out, be sure to stop at the Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association for a map of GPS locations to find and view all the giant metal beasts that appear out of nowhere. All the artwork was sculpted by artist Ricardo Breceda with delicate details down to curling eyelashes and shaved iron fur. Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind public art experience.
Consider camping at the Azna Borrego State Park for free, or utilize one of several campgrounds or RV parks.
Julian
Julian is a short hour and 20-minute drive from San Diego, but an entirely different experience. Visiting Julian in the fall is perfect for apple lovers. Julian is east of San Diego in the Cuyamaca Mountains. Catch the beautiful fall views, enjoy cooler temperatures, and smaller crowds. Walk down Main Street and peruse a wide selection of Western-inspired shops like Cedar Rio. Grab a bite to eat at the Miner’s Diner or the Julian Beer Company.
For the outdoorsy crowd, camp outside of town at William Heise County Park, rent a cabin, or choose a cozy bed & breakfast. Everything is about apples in Julian, and you will find apples you can pick, apple-cider tastings, tastings of apple wine, and just about any dessert baked with apples at local farms like Julian Farm and Orchard. Take in the fall foliage via a 45-minute scenic drive from Julian to Palomar Mountain State Park. Hike or bike the Thunder Ridge and Chimney Flat Loop trail. Close to town, explore the Volcan Mountain Wilderness preserve. The preserve holds some of the oldest and largest black oak trees in California.
San Juan Capistrano
Travel just an hour from San Diego by car to the birthplace of Southern California’s famous Orange County. History lovers will enjoy several historic mission landmarks and museums open to the public, such as the Mission San Juan Capistrano. The area is a monument to California’s multi-cultural history. Stroll the peaceful beauty of the grounds while learning about the local history in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Be sure to stop at the Serra Chapel, named after Saint Junipero Serra.
Mix history with shopping and dining in the Los Rios District across from the Capistrano Train Depot. The area represents the oldest active neighborhood in California. Mixed in with the original adobe structures are a variety of stores and restaurants, including the Zoomars Petting Zoo and the Tea House of Los Rios. Discover the local history by visiting the O’Neill Museum.
Take in the cooler temperatures and fall colors at the Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park. Located in the neighboring Santa Ana Mountains, the park includes 8,000 acres of hiking, biking, birding, and wildlife-viewing trails.
Joshua Tree
A two-and-a-half hour drive from San Diego, visitors seeking a peaceful escape from the city find Joshua Tree. The community is close to the west entrance to Joshua Tree National Park. The park is 800,000 acres of desert that sits between the Mojave and Colorado Deserts. The two landscapes offer contrasting landscapes and a wide variety of fall colors.
Relax under a blanket atop your car or from a camping spot and take in the stars in the dark sky. Outdoor enthusiasts can also hike, rock climb, or experience the power of the desert. The park boasts hundreds of trails, such as Hidden Valley Nature Trail, through the rock formations and neighboring desert fauna. Find yourself in a totally different world in Joshua Tree. Camp at the park, or take advantage of campgrounds, cabins, and hotels outside the park.
Glamis
Glamis is a two-and-a-half-hour drive from San Diego. This pile of sand includes the Imperial Sand Dunes, and you will feel like you are on a different planet. Visitors unwind by renting a dune buggy, dirt bike, OHV, or horse. Explore these extensive dunes for an entire weekend. While in Glamis, be sure to visit the ledge at sunset. The Ledge is the tallest sand peak. Stop for a while and watch the spectacular fall sunset.
Next, make your way to Oldsmobile Hill. Oldsmobile Hill is located in the center of the dunes. It’s a great locale for racing up and down the dunes. There’s also the Sand Drags for racing on flat land. Participate in the races or sit nearby and watch. Don’t skip a fall visit to the Art Wood’s Swing Set. The giant swing set is the ideal spot to spend the day, have a picnic, or let the kids loose to play.
Fall is the perfect season for visiting the Glamis dunes. Lower temperatures make the experience more bearable, and the crowds are thinner.
Lake Arrowhead
Are you looking for a getaway to the fresh mountain air? Drive two-and-a-half hours from San Diego to Lake Arrowhead. Lake Arrowhead is located in the Bernardino Mountains. On the drive, you will see plenty of fall leaves changing to vibrant red, orange, and yellow. Once you arrive, find a charming small town with a public lake, hiking, fishing, and camping.
The lake is privately owned, so verify access before renting a place to stay. Enjoy karaoke every Friday night at The Cadillac Cowboy or relax at the Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa. Visitors can even take in a relaxing ballet at the Lake Arrowhead Classical Ballet Company’s presentation of The Nutcracker in December.
La Jolla
Are you looking for a quick day or weekend getaway and don’t want to drive far from San Diego? Take a short, 30-minute drive to La Jolla and get away from the city. La Jolla is a small seaside town with an uncharacteristically rugged coastline. Trails along the beach wind past pine trees and through sandstone canyons if you visit Torrey Pines State Natural Preserve.
Golf lovers can take a swing at the famous Torrey Pines Golf Course while checking out the impressive sea cliff views. Find your fall foliage at the beach! In late fall, check out the So Fine on Kline Block Party and the Turkey Splash at the swim club on Thanksgiving. At Christmas, attend the La Jolla Christmas Parade and Holiday Festival. Enjoy a cup of hot chocolate or coffee and walk the beach or through all the arts and crafts vendors at the Holiday Festival.
Laguna Beach
Drive an hour-and-a-half drive from San Diego and find yourself in Laguna Beach. Like La Jolla, Laguna Beach is a small seaside town known for its art galleries, coves, and beaches. In the fall, experience the beach and changing fall foliage colors at the beach. Head to the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park for the best fall view and hiking or biking through miles of coastal canyons.
For hikers looking for a more leisurely hike, try Heisler Park. Get spectacular views of the coastline on a half-mile walking path. Enjoy a low-key fall picnic or barbeque. Art is everywhere in Laguna Beach, with over 100 public artworks in the city. Head to the Laguna Beach Visitors Center for a map.
Try a whale and/or dolphin-watching cruise any time of year. View giant blue whales and dolphins in their native habitat. The population of dolphins off Laguna Beach is significantly higher than anywhere in Florida, Hawaii, or the Caribbean. Finish your fall weekend getaway with a trip to one of California’s oldest museums —the Laguna Art Museum.
Fallbrook
Looking for the best Fall Avocado Festival in the US? Find it an hour’s drive from San Diego at Fallbrook, the "Avocado Capital of the World." Fallbrook is an agriculture-based town that’s expanded in the past several years. Visitors can relax and enjoy farm life. The local farms support hundreds of acres of avocado groves.
On November 1, celebrate the Day of the Dead at the Masonic Cemetery. For wine lovers, fall is the perfect time to tour the many vineyards in the area for tastings, like Monserate Winery and Fallbrook Winery. Take a fall hike on the Santa Margarita trail, where you will find plenty of colorful fall scenery. November 11, take part in the Veteran’s Day Parade, and on November 23, attend the Fallbrook Certified Farmer’s Market.
Coronado
For a fall beach experience just 20 minutes from San Diego, drive to Coronado across the bridge or take a ferry. Take a stroll along the harbor and visit Harbor View Park to get the best panoramic views of the area, including the fall colors. Spend a relaxing day at Coronado Beach without the heavy summer crowds. Bring your dog along and hit the Coronado Beach dog park.
For live music lovers, see famous features, like Sweeney Todd, at the Coronado Playhouse. Enjoy the seafood and wine-tasting party at the Bluewater Boathouse every other Tuesday throughout the year. Get a reservation for Thanksgiving dinner at the Hotel del Coronado. Celebrate without having to cook. You can also give thanks at the Loews Coronado Bay Resort, which offers a full Thanksgiving buffet.
The fall season weather in California is typically around 70 degrees. However, by November, rain is frequently forecasted. The beauty of the region within three hours of San Diego in the fall is often ignored, but it rivals the spectacular fall colors of the northeastern US. The best part of visiting in the late fall is the sparse tourist crowds and the quiet, relaxing access to parks, beaches, and other attractions.
