I live in San Diego and do day trips to Orange County (and
Disneyland) often. Depending on where you are in San Diego it can be an hour to 90 min, and it’s a pretty drive for the first stretch, and then again when the mountains come into view.
That said, if it’s simply a scenic drive you want there are plenty in San Diego county. I’d suggest hopping on the 101 and driving up through carlsbad. Once you hit the Encinitas/carlsbad border it opens up and is all ocean - lots of free parking on the southbound side as well. Further south you have Cardiff, del mar and La jolla that also have some amazing views and are fairly easy to pull over and check out (again, easier if driving southbound as that’s where the parking and turnoffs are, but we Californians love our u turns so no big deal. If you’re headed into La jolla look up the Torrey pines glider port and pull off the freeway for a spell and take in the views of Torrey pines. It’s stunning.