A San Diego Day Trip: A Solo Travel Guide

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San Diego, California is well known for its perfect weather, beaches, and tons of things to do. But what if you only have 1 day and are exploring solo? Don’t worry, I got you! Keep reading for a San Diego day trip itinerary for the solo traveler. All of these activities are things that can be done on your own without feeling weird about being solo, or they offer opportunities for you to strike up conversations with those around you if you are more social.

Arrival: I arrived in San Diego via Amtrak, as I was staying in Anaheim for a work trip. If you aren’t familiar with Amtrak, it’s a super easy way to travel via train. This trip was a few hours along the coast on the Pacific Surfliner route. Rates can be as low as $30 one way.

Morning: La Jolla

One of the first things that come up when researching San Diego is La Jolla (pronounced hoya). So I headed there first after getting off the train. La Jolla is known for its seals and sea lions, so I walked to Seal Rock first before continuing on to Sunny Jim’s Sea Cave.

Sunny Jim’s Sea Cave is a touristy store that has a tunnel underneath that leads to La Jolla cove. It started as a bootlegger’s tunnel in 1902, and is an easier way to go into the cove than by the water. The tours are only 15 minutes, and first-come, first-serve, so the line can get a bit long. Also, the stairs are slippery and it’s a bit of a workout, so be aware of this if you have mobility limitations.

Another fun activity in La Jolla is finding the secret swings. These swings are put up by locals, and also get taken down a lot, so it’s tricky to find them. There are a lot of articles and blog posts about these, so I’d recommend finding the most recent ones to when you visit. I couldn’t find the one I was looking for, but accidentally stumbled upon a different one, which was more secluded, but still fun!

Afternoon: Balboa Park

Balboa Park is another extremely popular spot to visit on your San Diego day trip. Balboa Park is a 1,200-acre urban park, with 18 museums, almost as many gardens, and the San Diego Zoo, just to name a few attractions. I didn’t have time to explore everything, but I did wander around a few of the gardens, including the Alcazar Garden. I also ate lunch at the Prado, which was delicious.

Evening: Petco Park

To wrap up my San Diego day trip, I headed to Petco Park for a baseball game. Now I know this is a very specific interest that not everyone shares, so you could replace this with more time at Balboa Park or exploring Old Town. But if you are a fan, I highly suggest attending a sporting event solo. I always have a good time people-watching and learning a different city’s and team’s traditions and fun activities.

I had to catch the train back to Anaheim, so my San Diego day trip wrapped up here, but I hope this gave you some ideas for your own day trip. And how to handle it if you are traveling solo. And if you want to see other solo itineraries, you’re in the right place.

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