Apple Pies & Desert Skies: A Self-Guided Driving Tour
- 4–6 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- 2 languages
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Explore San Diego’s mountains, desert, and backcountry on a self-guided scenic driving tour from Escondido to Julian via Palomar Mountain and Borrego Springs. This 152-mile route takes you along some of the best backroads in Southern California, with GPS-triggered audio guiding you to overlooks, historic sites, and hidden stops along the way. Climb to the summit of Palomar Mountain to visit the famous Palomar Observatory, then descend into the desert landscapes of Anza-Borrego. Along the way, you’ll spot Borrego Springs’ iconic metal sculptures, sweeping valley views, and roadside viewpoints worth stopping for. The route finishes in the historic town of Julian—perfect for a slice of its famous apple pie. This flexible, self-paced tour lets you explore on your own schedule. Allow a full day to take in viewpoints, small towns, and optional short hikes like Borrego Palm Canyon. Bring water, snacks, and sun protection if you plan to stop and explore.
Inclusions
What's included
- App & Tour Download
- Flexible Usage (unlimited access within 30-days)
- Downloadable Content (pre-download tour to save data)
What's not
- A Smartphone
- Admission to Attractions
- Transportation
Itinerary
Queen Califia's Magical Circle is an outdoor sculpture garden created by artist Niki de Saint Phalle.
Enjoy a scenic overlook as you drive by Lake Wohlford.
Take in the spectacular views of Pauma Valley as we make our way to Palomar Mountain.
Stop and visit the Palomar and Observatory and Museum, home to the famous 200-inch Hale Telescope.
Enjoy spectacular views of San Diego County from Kica Mik Overlook. Downtown San Diego and the Pacific Ocean are visible on clear days.
Another viewpoint on Palomar's East Grade Road provides breathtaking views of Lake Henshaw and the surrounding meadows.
Stop and visit out one of southern California's famous mission churches, dating back to 1818.
Enjoy stunning views of the harsh desert landscape and the Salton Sea from the Montezuma Valley Road Scenic Overlook.
Stop at the Anza Borrego State Park Visitors Center before deciding if you'll take a short hike into Borrego Palm Canyon to see the fan palm oasis and seasonal creek. Be sure to keep an eye out for bighorn sheep, they blend in surprisingly well with the rocks!
We'll take you to the some of the most iconic metal sculptures in Borrego Springs. With more than 100 scattered across the desert, you could spend a whole day visiting them.
Explore the historic mining town of Julian, known today for its apple pies! We'll tell you the best place to go for pie, plus we'll point out several other local attractions worth visiting.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
4.1
- 58
- 46
- 31
- 21
- 11
Ratings come from 17 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- Use your favorite navigation app to make your way to the parking lot at the Plaza Del Lago shopping center, located at 3440 Del Lago Blvd, Escondido, CA 92029. Once you're there, open the Drives & Detours app and tap "Start Tour".
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operated by
- Drives & Detours
- Service animals allowed
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Palomar Observatory Closes at 3PM
- Anza Borrego Visitor Center Closes at 5PM
- Mom's Pies in Julian Closes at 5PM
- Eagle Mine in Julian Closes at 4PM
- Queen Califia's Has Extremely Limited Hours
How it compares in San Diego
- Its from-price is 94% below the median of the 56 day trips we list in San Diego.
- It is shorter than most of them.
- By number of reviews it ranks 12 of 56.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About San Diego
San Diego is a sunny Pacific port city in southern California, with long beaches, a park of museums, a Victorian Gaslamp district and the border close by.
San Diego is where Spanish settlers founded California's first mission and presidio in 1769, remembered today in Old Town. Balboa Park holds museums, gardens and Spanish-style buildings from the 1915 exposition, with the zoo beside it. The Gaslamp Quarter's Victorian streets, a restored waterfront, Coronado's grand seaside hotel and a retired aircraft carrier turned museum are other landmarks.
Top-ranked sights in San Diego: Downtown San Diego, USS Midway Museum, Coronado.
Special offers in San Diego
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
