From the Mojave Desert’s big-sky horizons to San Diego’s sea-breeze neighborhoods, this 7-day Las Vegas to San Diego road trip stitches together two iconic American cities with a ribbon of classic I-15 highway. Expect neon-soaked nights, red-rock day trips, and coastal sunsets that seem to pause time.

Las Vegas rose from railroad outpost to entertainment capital in a whirlwind century, a place where mid-century glamour meets modern spectacle, from Bellagio’s fountains to The Sphere’s kaleidoscopic façade. San Diego, once a military harbor town, grew into a mosaic of beaches, parks, and taco temples; its Spanish Revival architecture in Balboa Park is as beloved as its craft beer scene.

Practical notes: the desert is dry and hot much of the year—carry water and check your car’s coolant and tires. Wildfire season (late summer–fall) can affect visibility or cause closures in Southern California; monitor local advisories. For food, think noodles and neon in Vegas; fish tacos, oysters, and third-wave coffee in San Diego.

Las Vegas

Las Vegas is a study in theatrical excess and surprising depth. Yes, there’s the Strip—sky-high dinners, jaw-dropping shows, late-night lounges—but you’ll also find a genuine arts scene downtown, the luminous Neon Museum, and easy access to natural marvels like the Hoover Dam and the Colorado River’s emerald waters.

• Top sights: Bellagio Conservatory, The Sphere, Neon Museum, Fremont Street Experience, Arts District murals, Seven Magic Mountains (en route south).
• Dining highlights: Tacos El Gordo (al pastor on the spit), Lotus of Siam (Northern Thai), Esther’s Kitchen (house-made pastas), Peppermill (old-Vegas lounge), Momofuku, Bouchon Bakery.
• Fun fact: The Hoover Dam created Lake Mead, once the largest reservoir in the U.S., and helped power the boom of the American Southwest.

Where to stay: Browse stays on VRBO Las Vegas or compare hotels on Hotels.com Las Vegas—consider a Strip resort for pool time or a Downtown boutique for nightlife on foot.

Getting to Las Vegas: Compare flights on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Typical nonstop times: 1–5 hours within the U.S., ~$80–$250 round-trip outside peak weekends. Pick up a car on arrival if you’re driving to San Diego.

Day 1: Arrival, First Bites, and Fountain Lights

Afternoon: Arrive in Las Vegas and check in. Stretch your legs with an easy walk through the Bellagio Conservatory (seasonal displays) and watch the Fountains of Bellagio’s choreographed water show.

Evening: Dinner choices: Lotus of Siam (crispy garlic prawns, khao soi) for destination-worthy Northern Thai; or hit Tacos El Gordo for sizzling adobada tacos carved to order. Cap the night with a skyline view at Skyfall Lounge (Delano) or old-school ambiance at Peppermill Fireside Lounge.

Night: If you have energy, taxi past The Sphere to see its animated exterior, then a quick spin down Fremont Street for live music and vintage neon.

Day 2: Hoover Dam, Downtown Arts, and “O” by Cirque

Morning: Coffee at Vesta Coffee Roasters or Makers & Finders in the Arts District. Then take this compact guided excursion:

Award Winning 3-Hour Hoover Dam Small Group Mini Tour from Vegas — see Lake Mead overlooks, Boulder City, and the dam’s Art Deco details without losing your whole day.

Afternoon: Explore the Neon Museum (reserve timed entry) and the Downtown Arts District for murals and indie galleries. Lunch at Carson Kitchen (American with a creative twist) or Esther’s Kitchen for rustic Italian.

Evening: Book Vegas’s most beloved water-ballet spectacle:

O™ by Cirque du Soleil® at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino — surrealist stagecraft meets aquatic wizardry.

Pre- or post-show bites: Eataly (casual Italian counters at Park MGM) or Momofuku (ramen and bing bread) at The Cosmopolitan.

Day 3: Emerald Waters and Night-Flight Over the Strip

Morning: Head to the Colorado River for a guided paddle into glowing grottoes:

Half-Day Emerald Cave Kayak Tour with Optional Hotel Pickup — tranquil Black Canyon scenery, clear waters, and photo stops.

Afternoon: Pool time back at your hotel or dive into AREA15 for immersive art. Light lunch ideas: Bouchon Bakery (almond croissants) or In-N-Out for a West Coast classic.

Evening: Toast the skyline in a helicopter:

Las Vegas Helicopter Night Flight and Optional VIP Transportation — 10–12 minutes over the Strip’s icons, a spectacular way to cap your Vegas stay.

Dinner before or after: Bazaar Meat by José Andrés (playful carnivore’s feast) or the retro Peppermill, open late.

Day 4: Drive the Mojave—Las Vegas to San Diego (330–340 miles, ~5–6 hours without stops)

Morning: Depart around 8:00 a.m. Quick stop at Seven Magic Mountains (15–20 minutes south of the Strip) for a colorful desert photo. Continue down I-15; pull into Baker for coffee or a date shake at roadside institutions and snap a pic of the world’s tallest thermometer.

Afternoon: Optional detour to Calico Ghost Town near Barstow (1.5–2 hours including visit) to wander preserved silver-mining streets. Lunch nearby at Peggy Sue’s 50’s Diner (classic burgers and pies). If time allows, break in Temecula Old Town for a stroll; wine tasting is tempting, but designate a driver if you sip.

Evening: Arrive in San Diego (target 5:00–6:00 p.m.). Check in, then dinner in Little Italy: Herb & Wood (wood-fired Mediterranean) or Ironside Fish & Oyster (oysters, lobster rolls). Walk the Embarcadero at dusk and browse Seaport Village.

Alternative to driving today: Quick hop flight LAS → SAN (1–1.5 hours, often $49–$129 one-way) on Trip.com or Kiwi.com; ride-shares or taxis connect easily at both airports.

San Diego

San Diego is a patchwork of beach towns and historic districts stitched together by sunny microclimates. Mornings smell like espresso and eucalyptus; afternoons like salt spray and tacos; evenings hum with patio clinks under fairy lights.

• Top sights: Balboa Park and its museums, USS Midway Museum, La Jolla Cove sea lions, Torrey Pines State Reserve, Coronado Beach, Sunset Cliffs, Little Italy, Gaslamp Quarter.
• Food & drink: Fish tacos at Puesto or Blue Water Seafood; oysters at Ironside; steak at Born & Raised; coffee at James Coffee Co., Bird Rock Coffee Roasters, Dark Horse Coffee. Breweries: Stone Brewing (Liberty Station), North Park Beer Co., Belching Beaver.
• Fun fact: Cabrillo landed here in 1542; you can stand at his namesake National Monument for panoramic harbor-to-Pacific views.

Where to stay: Search VRBO San Diego for beach cottages (Mission Beach, La Jolla) or compare downtown and Little Italy hotels on Hotels.com San Diego.

Day 5: USS Midway, Embarcadero, and Balboa Park

Morning: Espresso at James Coffee Co. (Little Italy) and a pastry from the roastery’s in-house vendors. Tour the USS Midway Museum—flight deck views, restored aircraft, and stories from volunteer docents (plan ~2–3 hours; adult tickets commonly ~$31).

Afternoon: Head to Liberty Public Market (Point Loma) for lunch—try Wicked Maine Lobster, Mastiff Sausage Co., or poke bowls. Continue to Balboa Park: San Diego Museum of Art, Timken (free, small gem), Botanical Building’s lily pond, and the Alcazar Garden’s tiled fountains.

Evening: Dinner in the Gaslamp/Little Italy area. Picks: Born & Raised (tableside Caesar, rooftop), Herb & Wood (seasonal pastas), or Ironside (shellfish towers). Drinks at False Idol (tiki, reservations recommended) or the hidden Noble Experiment if you can snag a seat.

Day 6: La Jolla Coves, Torrey Pines Hike, Sunset Cliffs

Morning: Coffee at Bird Rock Coffee Roasters, then stroll La Jolla Cove and Children’s Pool to see sea lions basking on the rocks. Consider a guided kayak to the La Jolla sea caves or snorkel in the protected marine reserve (water clarity best in summer). Breakfast burrito at The Taco Stand.

Afternoon: Drive to Torrey Pines State Reserve for coastal trails like Guy Fleming Loop (easy, huge views) or Razor Point (moderate). Watch paragliders at the Torrey Pines Gliderport. Lunch at Caroline’s Seaside Café (oceanfront, casual) or Duke’s La Jolla (Hawaiian-inspired plates).

Evening: Golden hour at Sunset Cliffs Natural Park. Dinner in Point Loma at Point Loma Seafoods (counter-service, super fresh) or in La Jolla at George’s at the Cove (ocean terrace). Nightcap at Polite Provisions (North Park, cocktail temple).

Day 7: Coronado Morning, North Park Bites, Departure

Morning: Breakfast at The Mission (Mission Beach—churrioso and soy chorizo plates) or Better Buzz for the “Best Drink Ever.” Drive across the Coronado Bridge to beach-walk near the red-turreted Hotel del Coronado. Rent bikes and cruise the flat Silver Strand if time allows.

Afternoon: Swing through North Park for a casual sendoff: coffee at Dark Horse, tacos at Puesto or City Tacos, and a quick tasting at North Park Beer Co. or Belching Beaver (drivers, go light or skip). Head to SAN for an afternoon flight—compare options on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Optional Vegas add-on if you want a longer day trip earlier in the week:

Grand Canyon West Tour + Hoover Dam Stop and Optional Skywalk — a full-day escape combining the West Rim’s viewpoints and a Hoover Dam photo stop.

Driving notes: The I-15 is fast but exposed; fill up before long stretches, keep extra water, and check weather winds. With stops, plan 7–9 hours total on Day 4. Tolls: none on the route; parking in San Diego can be metered near beaches—use garages downtown.

With this route, you’ll taste the Southwest’s full range: chopper lights over Las Vegas, Art Deco marvels at Hoover Dam, roadside Americana in the Mojave, and a soft landing among San Diego’s tide pools, museums, and tacos. Keep this itinerary handy—you’ll want to revisit both the road and the coast.