The big draw here is Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. This hip, fun beach town has a lot to offer. There is plenty to see here if you want to stay a while. Stay At Hotel Zephyr San Francisco Photo Credit: William Casey via Have Fun In Santa CruzĪbout two hours 98 miles away from San Franciso you will reach Santa Cruz. The thrift stores here are amazing as is the nightlife and food with so much variety.Īnd of course, a trip on the San Francisco Tram, a walk down Lombard Street, and a drive over the Golden Gate Bridge are things you absolutely must do in San Francisco. If you have more time San Francisco has many museums to explore and Union Square and Chinatown are also great to see. My top three things you must see here are Golden Gate Park, Alcatraz Island, and Fisherman Wharf.
If I was you I would spend at least a few days here as there is so much to see and do. I adore this city it’s a quirky mix of history, culture, charm, and cool. No San Francisco to Los Angeles road trip couldn’t include a stop at San Francisco. I’m going to start at San Franciso and work my way down but you could start at L.A. The time you spend on this road trip is up to you but I would say take it as slow as you can.Īnd remember this San Francisco to Los Angeles itinerary can be done in reverse. You can either stretch out your journey by spending a night in each location or shorten the journey with stops along the way. I am now going to walk you through my favorite San Francisco to Los Angeles road trip stops. Best Stops On The Drive From San Francisco To Los Angeles There may be some areas where you find cell or satellite signals spotty and unreliable.Įnjoy your drive from SF to LA, I know you are going to love it. I would suggest downloading a map or even having a paper map to hand. This route has you traveling mainly on Highway 1 from San Francisco to Los Angeles. No San Francisco to Los Angeles itinerary would be complete without a map so here is one with the route I believe you should take. Most believe driving from San Francisco to Los Angeles is one of the best stretches of road in the world and it would make my top ten. Highway 1 starts at the northern border of California with Oregon and stretches down to San Diego.
There is a faster route along the I-5 which takes six hours and is 383 miles but you miss all the sights and it’s boring. This route is approximately 454 miles and takes anywhere from 9 to 11 hours to drive in full. This means you will be driving down Highway 1. I am assuming if you are here that you want to do the San Francisco to Los Angeles drive the scenic way. Distance from San Francisco To Los Angeles So grab a chair get comfy and let me share my thoughts on how best to do a San Francisco to Los Angeles road trip. It’s scenic, and beautiful and takes you to some of the U.S.A.’s most well-known destinations.
In my opinion, this is one of the must-do American road trips. Let’s just say the San Francisco to Los Angeles road trip is iconic. The landscape at times leaves you breathless, the beaches are some of the best in the world and this road trip has a vibe that is hard to replicate elsewhere. I’ve just made your San Francisco to Los Angeles drive 10 times easier. The places to stop between SF and LA have all been tried and tested and are places I feel you just MUST visit. I remember driving the PCH in my 40-foot RV growing up, covering my eyes with my Mom being so scared that we would go careening off the side as Dad drove the hairpin turns. In this article, I will take the guesswork out of all the planning. I have done the road trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles multiple times both as a child and an adult so I know what is worth visiting and what isn’t. I grew up traveling California and the Pacific Highway and when I say this journey is breathtaking I mean it. A San Francisco to Los Angeles road trip is one of my favorite things to do.