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Hi all, my fiance and I are driving from San Diego to the Joshua Tree National Park, hiking around the trails there, staying overnight in Palms Spring and then doing some hiking there. On the way back to SD we'd like to stop in Temecula. Any suggestions on scenic driving from Palm Springs to Temecula or back down to SD?
Thanks !
Its been a number of years, but one day when just taking a leisurely drive from San Diego to Phoenix I cut across from Temecula to the Palm Springs area and really enjoyed it.
The route from I-15 was CA-79 to US-371 to CA-74. It certainly involved some mountain driving, but the trip down the mountain into the desert below still stands out as a favorite.
Do you have to stop in Temecula? If not, here's a very scenic route:
Take CA-111 out of Palm Springs to Palm Desert, and pick up CA-74 and go over the mountain. After Santa Rosa, take CA-371 to Aguanga. Take CA-79 through Warner Springs and Santa Ysabel to Julian. Stop in Julian for lunch and some sightseeing, and make sure you have some of their famous apple pie. Get back on CA-79 through Cuyamaca SP, it will meet I-8 in Descanso. Take I-8 to San Diego, stop at Viejas for some outlet shopping.