After exploring all the fun things there are to do and see around Los Angeles in Southern California, a leisurely drive to the San Francisco Bay Area is a great way to experience more of the state. There are two main driving routes for a Los Angeles to San Francisco road trip, each with its own pros and cons.
Design your road trip to suit your travel needs, zip up the state, or take your time on the coast. The following lists of can’t-miss stops along the way will help you decide. Keep reading for our suggested routes and pit stops for the best Los Angeles to San Francisco road trip.
Local’s Tip: You’ll probably be hungry after your drive, so plan to stop at one of the best places to eat in San Francisco when you arrive!
Straight Shot from LA to SF on I-5
If you want to travel fast, Interstate 5 (I-5) is the quickest way to get from one city to the next. This Los Angeles to San Francisco road trip is usually completed within a day.
If traffic flow is good, the 380-mile straight shot up the middle of the state is about a 6-hour journey. The only drawback to taking I-5 is its unchanging farmland scenery.
Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia
Six Flags Magic Mountain, an amusement park in Valencia, CA, just an hour north of Los Angeles, could be an all-day affair on your Los Angeles to San Francisco road trip. If you can’t drive past all the roller coaster fun without popping in for some thrills, Magic Mountain’s DC Comics and Looney Tunes-themed rides will deliver.
The Wonder Woman “Flight of Courage” coaster opened in 2022, claiming the title of the world’s longest and tallest single-rail coaster. After a major scream therapy session flying like Wonder Woman, mellow out on some family-friendly rides like bumper cars, and tip down Jet Stream’s water flume. Stress gone, it’s time to get back on the road.
Bravo Farms, Kettleman City
When you reach Kettleman City during your Los Angeles to San Francisco road trip, you’ll be ready to stretch your legs, and Bravo Farms is the perfect roadside attraction pit stop. Kids can run around and explore fun Wild West town square façades, stepping through a saloon’s swinging doors and scampering past the stable and windmill.
Taste some of Bravo Farms’ specialty snacks: a variety of dried fruits, nutty candies like brittles and toffees, and savory treats like okra chips and wasabi peanuts. If it’s lunchtime, there’s Wild Jack’s Tex-Mex BBQ and Doc Burnstein’s Ice Cream Lab for dessert.
Harris Ranch Inn & Restaurant
Getting hungry? The hacienda-style Harris Ranch Inn & Restaurant in Coalinga rises above the surrounding ranch and farmlands about halfway into your Los Angeles to San Francisco road trip up I-5. Try Harris Ranch’s homegrown beef at your choice of casual or fine dining options.
The Ranch Kitchen and Horseshoe Lounge, local cowboys’ favorite watering hole, serve beef-centric comfort food dishes like pot roast and marbled ribeye. Or make dinner reservations for Prime Steakhouse, where you can pair a Harris Ranch Restaurant Reserve wine with a prime cut of beef.
But a true cowboy wouldn’t pass up finger-licking-good smoked meat from the Harris Ranch Express BBQ. Round up a meal of brisket, ribs, or tri-tip with a side of jalapeño cornbread and ranch beans. That right there are some good eats.
San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area, Gustine
Trade in I-5’s flat farmland views for a scenic drive through the grassy foothills around San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area’s waterways on HWY 152. Cool off in the water at O’Neill Forebay’s North Beach swim area, or launch a kayak to experience quiet, tranquil moments.
You can also explore by land. The San Luis Creek trail is an easy five mile route with wildflowers, scenic vistas, and possibly golden eagles soaring overhead.
Pea Soup Andersen’s, Santa Nella
An enormous Dutch windmill off the interstate will grab your attention. Pea Soup Andersen’s (12411 South Hwy 33) in Santa Nella is one of two locations. This storied restaurant has been around since 1924, ladling two million bowls of pea soup a year.
Old world trappings like dark wood booths and exposed ceiling beams decorated with coats of arms exude Danish ambiance. They’ve got Danish meatballs, Danish meatloaf, and all-you-can-eat split pea soup. Feel good about filling up on split pea because it’s vegetarian and made fresh.
See the Coast From Highway 1
If you have extra time to stop and explore California’s coastal beauty, driving windy Highway 1 (HWY 1) up the coast is a perfect two to three-day drive.
Taking HWY 1 will add almost 100 miles to your Los Angeles to San Francisco road trip for a total of 450 miles, about 8-10 hours of driving. Make frequent stops to enjoy beaches, small towns, and lots of nature.
Solvang in the Santa Ynez Valley
The Santa Ynez Valley–nestled amongst Santa Barbara wine country’s wooded foothills and rolling vineyards–is a beautiful region to stop on your Los Angeles to San Francisco road trip. The Valley is home to several quaint towns, including the Danish-American village, Solvang.
Established in 1911, the Scandinavian-designed buildings of Solvang’s commercial district showcase Danish history and culture. Ride the Solvang Trolley–a horse-drawn streetcar–to tour the colorful village and spot its windmill and clock tower. Stop by one or a few Danish bakeries to pick up some kringles (butter cookies), strudel, and flodebollers (cream puffs).
Pismo Beach Pier
Discover what California is all about: sun, sand, and surf. Halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco is the epitome of the classic beach town, Pismo Beach. The sandy coastline has beachfront hotels, restaurants, and boutiques with ocean views that sparkle under sunny skies.
Leave the squeals of delighted beachgoers playing in the foamy surf to walk the pier at Pismo State Beach, reaching almost a quarter mile into the Pacific Ocean. Get comfy on one of the pier’s many benches and watch for bobbing seals and surfers waiting to catch a wave back to shore.
Hearst Castle & Cambria, CA
Hearst Castle, the grand Spanish Colonial style estate, looks out to the Pacific Ocean from its San Simeon mountain top perch. The castle is a must-see Los Angeles to San Francisco road trip destination. The one-hundred-year-old, 165-room mansion estate was newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst’s fanciful design.
Take a specialty tour of the castle to learn about the classic Hollywood celebrities who partied at the castle, the centuries of art and artifacts on display, or the genius of architect Julia Morgan who created and built the estate. The nearby town of Cambria, with its main street full of storybook-style architecture, is an ideal place to stop for the night and keep the fairytale vibe going strong.
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, Carmel
Known for its many art galleries featuring local and international artists, Carmel is also rich in natural coastal beauty. The astonishing beauty of Carmel’s Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is revealed above and below the ocean’s surface. Watch crystal clear water lap into coves, tide pools, and beach shores from hiking trails, vista points, and benches.
At Sea Lion Point, eared seals play and bask on the beach below. Walk the easy South Shore Trail to China Cove, where kelp forests teem with ocean life. And trek around Cypress Grove, a cliff covered in the iconic windswept coastal tree. It’s easy to lose track of time in this gorgeous meeting of land and sea.
Half Moon Bay, CA
Arriving in Half Moon Bay means you’ve almost reached San Francisco. The coastal town is part country farmland famous for its pumpkins and artichokes, part fishing harbor, and part quaint downtown shopping destination.
Grab a cup of artisanal coffee on Main Street, then stop in Half Moon Bay Feed & Fuel to watch baby chicks vie for feed. Take the Half Moon Bay Coastal Trail on foot or bike and meander the length of town along bay bluffs and beaches. The trail is perfect for airing out kids and pets and feeling the misty ocean breeze against your skin.
Insider’s Tip: Need a place to stay once you reach the city? Check out our picks for the most unique boutique hotels in San Francisco.
Let’s hang out while you’re in town, preferably on our Ultimate San Francisco Food Tour! Let us feed your curiosity and show you our San Francisco.
Eva Barrows is a San Francisco Peninsula freelance writer and book editor. She writes for regional magazines PUNCH (The Spirit of the Peninsula) and Edible Silicon Valley and contributes to the Kampgrounds of America (KOA) blog. She visits San Francisco and its restaurants on weekends when she needs an adventure. Read more of her travel and food writing at www.evabarrows.com.