San Diego is a great location for a motorcycle trip. It’s the 8th largest city in the US, and like other big cities, it’s made up of smaller unique neighborhoods.
Seventy miles of beachfront coastline make for some stunning views, and the weather is consistently warm and sunny year-round.
San Diego is known for amazing tourist destinations, including SeaWorld, the San Diego Zoo, and the Pacific Coast Highway.
Where to Rent a Motorcycle in San Diego
Renting a motorcycle in San Diego is easy when you use Twisted Road. The app has multiple options, including street bikes, adventure bikes, cruisers, and even some one-off options that will make your trip memorable. Just go to the site, put in your dates, and browse through the available bikes. You’ll be impressed!
What are the Best Rides in San Diego?
Sunrise Highway
Sunrise Highway is about 35 miles long and climbs 2000 feet. Incredibly scenic, this ride starts on I-8 at exit 47 near Cuyamaca Lake. You’ll see snow here in the winter months, so keep that in mind if your vising from November to March. The road itself is easy to follow, just turn on to County Road S1 and follow it to the end. You’ll see the amazing Laguna Mountains all along to the East as you do this ride.
State Route 78
California State Route 78 is known as the most famous road in California. It’s a fun day trip with lots of great stops along the way. The route starts in Oceanside and heads east all the way to Blythe. Start your day in Oceanside, with breakfast at the Beach Break Café. It’s right on the shore and has some great views of the ocean. Try the coffee cake! From here, head north on Vista Way, then turn east onto Highway 78.
Spend your day enjoying the cruise. Spend the morning hours enjoying the desert views, pass right by the San Diego Zoo, and you’ll find a few twisties along the way. You start to climb the mountain a bit as you pass through Ramona, then it’s mountain roads and small towns for the rest of the day. For lunch, you can’t go wrong with Farmhouse 78 in San Ysabel. Press on for dinner in Blythe.
The whole route is about four and a half hours of riding. You can decide to stay the night in Blythe or come on back down I15 to save time getting back to San Diego.
Old Highway 80
Highway 80 originally ran from Georgia to San Diego. The highway is technically deserted now, but still has sections you can ride with some great “old California” sights. This ride is fully paved but has some abandoned ghost towns along the way, so having an adventure bike can make this more interesting. To get to Highway 80, take I-8 east from San Diego, and get off at exit 40, Japatul Valley Road.
This is CA-79 which becomes Old Highway 80 about 10 miles down the road. The route follows along I-8 and sometimes crosses over. Follow the route all the way to Boulevard to see some great abandoned towns.
Motorcycle Hangouts in San Diego
San Diego has lots of great hangouts for motorcyclists. Here are some of our favorites.
Cheswick’s Nest
Some call this the greatest biker bar in San Diego. It’s about a block away from the beach, with a strong local feel. Plenty of people come here for cheap drinks followed by a walk on the beach. No AC in here, but the San Diego evenings don’t really need it.
Live Wire
Good selection of beers here, and they serve mixed cocktails in pint glasses. Plenty of bikes come around during weekdays, a pool table, and a jukebox. You’re allowed to bring outside food, and they always have old movies playing on their TV. Bartenders are known for being friendly, and the whole place has a relaxed atmosphere.
Josie’s Hideout Saloon
This place has been a motorcycle destination for a few decades. They closed down for a bit and just recently reopened. It’s just north of Santa Ysabel. This location used to be a dive bar with a rough reputation, but since the renovation, it’s a lot cleaner and ready for a great evening with friends. It’s also popular with car clubs in the area.
San Diego Weather and Riding
San Diego weather is consistent all year round. Highs in January hover around 65, and in August they get to 77. There’s not a bad time of year to visit unless you’re planning to swim. The ocean is cold here year-round, except for a couple of weeks in September and October.
This is a desert. You won’t see rain in San Diego except occasionally in the winter months. When it does rain, stay off the road, they get pretty slick as four months of road oil floats to the surface.
We were surprised to find we needed a warm jacket for riding in the evenings here. The cold ocean water cools off the air pretty quickly, so bring your sweater and jacket liner in your saddlebags when you go out riding.
San Diego Motorcycle Laws and Tips
California requires helmets on every rider and passenger, so be sure to bring yours. If you need to borrow one, let us know and we may be able to help you work it out. California is famous for allowing lane splitting, you can split in between the two leftmost lanes on the freeway, and you can filter through stopped traffic to reach the stoplight. Headphones are not allowed for bikers in California unless you only have one ear covered.
Preparing for your San Diego Motorcycle Trip
Once you know where you’re staying, plan some rides and invite your friends along. With Twisted Road, you can find a motorcycle rental in San Diego for everyone and have a memorable trip.
Plan to bring your gear if you can, but if you need to borrow some let us know! We can often work with the owners to lend you some gear for your trip. Often they’re willing to share their jackets or helmets to make sure you enjoy your ride. Bring your jacket, jacket liner, and a sweater or long-sleeved shirt if you often get cold, evenings here can be chilly.
Good, breathable boots will make your days nicer. The air here is very dry, if you’ve never been here before you may like to have some eye drops—they help for some riders.
