I had exactly 2 days to visit San Diego in March 2026 as a weekend trip from Phoenix, Arizona. This was a solo speedrun itinerary designed for someone with limited time and big appetite for exploring.
San Diego’s been on my radar for a while, mostly because everyone raves about the weather and beaches. I flew in with a packed plan covering coastal highlights, local food spots, and even a mountain day trip.
Is San Diego Worth Visiting?
Yes — but with major caveats.
If you’re an outdoor enthusiast who loves coastal scenery and perfect weather, San Diego is absolutely worth it. The climate is incredible — sunny, a bit chilly, ideal for beach activities without being scorching hot. I spent my days in shorts and a light jacket, which is basically my perfect temperature zone.
But here’s the thing: San Diego is crowded and expensive. Like, really expensive. Every meal, every parking spot, every attraction — it all adds up fast. It is not quite NYC level but the crowds did stressed me out, I prefer places with few traffic jam and crowd.
But I totally understand why people adore this place. If you prioritize outdoor access, beach vibes, and don’t mind spending money, it’s a solid destination.
How to maximise 2 days in San Diego
Here’s how I broke down my speedrun:
Day 1 (half day):
- Afternoon at Coronado Island for bayside views
- Dinner at Phil’s BBQ (game changer!)
Day 2:
- Morning exploring La Jolla coast and beaches, brunch at Harry’s Coffee Shop
- Quick stop at Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial for panoramic views
- Day trip to Julian (1-2 hour drive each way)
- Sunset at Sunset Cliffs (absolute must-do)
Day 3 (half day):
- Little Italy Farmers Market on Saturday morning
- Return for evening at Balboa Park if time allows (I skipped this — more on that later)
As you can see, I arrived in the afternoon and left in the afternoon 2 days later, you can mix and match the itinerary based on your own schedule.
Day 1
Afternoon at Coronado Island
After waiting quite long for the shuttle bus from San Diego airport to the airport rental car area (San Diego had many tourists!). I started my trip at Coronado, an island just across the bay from downtown San Diego, which is about 15-20 minutes from the downtown area. I walked along the shore which was well-maintained and perfect for a morning stroll or jog.
The views across the bay to downtown San Diego was calming — harbor waters, city skyline, seabirds picking around the rocks. It’s popular with joggers and cyclists, which gives it a nice active vibe without feeling overcrowded, it is afterall a good residential area.
Dinner at Phil’s BBQ
After the stroll, I was already hungry from the flight from Phoenix. So I went to Phil’s BBQ, a San Diego institution since 1998, and I gotta say — this place delivers amazing food at surprisingly good prices.
I ordered a dinner ticker, which was basically 1 protein + 3 sides, so I got the baby back ribs. I also ordered an additional sausage and drink. Total came out at $20 without tips. This is a great price for American BBQ in San Diego!
The meat was tender, the sauce had that perfect sweet-smoky balance, and the onion rings, fries, and coleslaw — classic American sides - were legitimately filling.
If you’re visiting San Diego and watching your budget even a little bit, Phil’s BBQ is a must-visit. It’s beloved by locals for a reason — quality food without the tourist trap markup.
Day 2
Morning visit to La Jolla
La Jolla is where San Diego really shines. It is a residential area beside a coastline which is absolutely gorgeous — dramatic cliffs, pristine beaches, and that perfect California sunshine.
I loved the vibrant purple flowers (statice) blooming along the bluffs above the Pacific. The sea was this incredible blue, the weather was sunny and just slightly chilly. You can walk along the bluffs, head down to the beach, or just find a spot to sit and take in the views which I saw many people doing.
This is a must visit in San Diego.
Harry’s Coffee Shop
This diner in the La Jolla area has been operating since 1960, making it a classic San Diego diner with serious retro vibes. I stopped here for brunch during my La Jolla exploration.
I ordered tacos and fries — a classic San Diego-style Mexican-American fusion plate. The tacos were huge, but nothing too special. The whole meal with coffee felt a bit expensive for what you get ($25), but that’s La Jolla for you.
Harry’s is better for the atmosphere than the food itself. If you’re into classic diners and retro Americana, it’s worth a quick stop as you visit La Jolla.
Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial
Just a short drive (10 minutes) from La Jolla, Mount Soledad offers excellent panoramic views of San Diego.
The Veterans Memorial sits at the top of this prominent hilltop, featuring a large white cross monument that’s been there since the 1950s.
The memorial itself is thoughtfully done — walls featuring individual plaques with veteran portraits, military achievements, and medals from various conflicts.
Quick stop, maybe 20-30 minutes total, but absolutely worth the detour for both the memorial and the views.
Julian Day Trip
As you can tell, day 2 (the full day I had in San Diego), was very packed. I roadtripped to Julian, which is about 1-2 hour from San Diego, up into the mountains to this tiny town that used to be a gold mining settlement. Now it’s a tourist attraction known primarily for apple products — pies, cider, donuts etc.
The town itself is small with cool mountain vibes — wooden storefronts, rustic signs, that old-timey charm that feels authentically preserved. It’s a decent short day trip option, especially if you time it with apple season (fall is peak).
I grabbed that apple donut from Julian Pie Company and wandered around for an hour or so. It’s not going to blow your mind, but it’s a nice change of pace from coastal San Diego, and the mountain scenery on the drive is pleasant.
Julian Pie Company
As mentioned above, probably Julian’s the main attraction.
I tried an apple maple donut instead of the apple pie as I was still feeling too full from the tacos brunch. But the bakery display case is dangerous — rows of apple pies, cookies, cider donuts, all fresh and tempting. The rustic mountain town setting adds to the charm. Julian Pie Company is always full and has 2 locations, 1 in downtown area and another on the road you had to drive on to Julian.
Sunset Cliffs
By the time I drove back to San Diego from Julian, it was 5pm and I was very tired but I decided to push through to Sunset Cliffs and I am glad I did. This is it. The #1 spot in San Diego for sunset viewing, and I’m not exaggerating. Sunset Cliffs is absolutely beautiful — dramatic rock formations meeting gentle Pacific waves, all bathed in golden hour light.
I arrived about 30 minutes before sunset and found a spot on the cliffs. Watching the sun dip into the ocean while waves crashed against the rocks below… it’s the quintessential Southern California experience.
The vibrant ice plant blooms along the cliff edges add this perfect pop of color to the scene. Pink and purple flowers against orange sunset against blue ocean. This was easily my favorite moment in San Diego, worth whatever crowds and expenses came before it.
If you do nothing else in San Diego, come here for sunset. Bring a jacket (it gets chilly) and just soak it in.
Day 3
Little Italy Farmers Market
On the final day before I return my car, I hit up the Saturday farmers market in Little Italy, which transforms the neighborhood street into this massive outdoor marketplace. The atmosphere was vibrant, palm trees swaying overhead, tons of people browsing stalls…
But honestly? It was very crowded and the prices were typically San Diego — which means high ($7 for a danish? damn). I enjoyed the people-watching and the vibe, the produce looked great, lots of local vendors, good energy… but just be prepared for shoulder-to-shoulder crowds and wallet-lightening prices.
Worth a visit if you’re already in the area on a Saturday morning, especially for the atmosphere and the iconic Little Italy gateway arch.
Balboa Park (Skipped)
I wanted to visit Balboa Park in depth, one of the largest urban park in the US. The park is huge and supposedly beautiful, with museums and gardens sprawling across 1,200 acres and I wanted to see the famous Spanish colonial buildings.
But when I got there, the roads were closed for some reason, and finding parking took some time. Also the park is massive so it was not ideal for me to walk around for too long.
If you’re going to do Balboa Park properly, you need at least a few hours, maybe pack for a picnic. Don’t try to squeeze it in as a quick stop like I attempted.
After the schedule packed morning, this concluded my San Diego 2 days trip!
(Bonus) Anza-Borrego Desert
So here’s a funny story. ChatGPT recommended I drive from Julian to Anza-Borrego Desert (about 45 minutes) for “dramatic mountain-to-desert views.” I trusted the AI. Big mistake.
The scenery on this drive is completely overrated, at least to me. Don’t get me wrong you do see the change in landscape from mountain to desert but I think the National Parks like Olympic or Yosemite have way better sceneries. The drive added 90 minutes to my day trip on day 2, and I decided not to trust AI recommendations too much again. Ha!
Final Thoughts
San Diego has undeniable appeal. The weather is perfect, the coast is stunning, and there’s legitimate beauty here that I can appreciate.
Would I return? Maybe for Sunset Cliffs and La Jolla specifically. Those spots were truly beautiful and worth experiencing.