When we did the drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles, we did it in about 10 days, with plenty of stops on the gorgeous California coast along the way. Our number one tip is to take it slow. We recommend spending at least three to five days driving down the coast (sample itineraries below!)
How long does it take to drive from San Francisco Los Angeles?
How long is the drive from San Francisco, CA to Los Angeles, CA? The total driving time is 5 hours, 48 minutes.
Where should I stop on a road trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles?
There are many beautiful sights along the Big Sur driving from San Fran to LA – Pfeiffer Beach, McWay Falls, Point Sur State Historic Park, Ragged Point – lap them up by stopping often. If you have time, take a few days to relax along the route, soak up some of the scenery and just generally chill out.
How long does it take to drive the coast road from San Francisco to LA?
about 10 to 12 hours
Driving the Pacific Coast Highway from San Francisco to LA takes about 10 to 12 hours without stops. Most visitors choose to spend about 2 to 3 days driving from San Francisco to Los Angeles.
Is it a nice drive from LA to San Francisco?
However, if you want a more memorable west coast road trip, you should drive the legendary Pacific Coast from L.A. to San Francisco. Although longer (442 miles) and more difficult, this route is one of the most scenic drives in the world that should be on any USA bucket list.
Is it cheaper to fly or drive to LA?
When Is It Cheaper to Drive? Unless you’re making a cross-country trip and renting a large vehicle, driving is almost always the cheapest travel option on paper. You’re driving your own vehicle which means you don’t have to “rent” a plane seat or rental car.
How hard is it to drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles?
The fastest route driving from San Francisco to Los Angeles is straight down Interstate-5 (I-5), which only takes about six hours but is an incredibly boring drive and you miss out on all the best sights along the California coast.
What city is halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles?
Halfway between San Francisco, CA and Los Angeles, CA
The town that marks the exact halfway point is actually Turk, California. The closest zip code to the midpoint is 93234. The exact latitude and longitude coordinates are 36° 9′ 40″ N and 120° 10′ 50″ W. The closest major city that is roughly halfway is Fresno, CA.
How many days do you need in Los Angeles?
Let me start by saying that LA is a HUGE city and the landmarks are spread apart from each other. Ideally, you should try to spend 5-7 days here if you don’t want to be rushed and want to see everything.
How many days should I spend in San Francisco?
If you are wondering what is the adequate amount of time needed to properly visit this extravagant city, I would say that probably the most reasonable answer is to visit San Francisco in 3 days, not so much because in this time frame you will be able to see everything (forget it!), but because spending 3 days is a good
How far are the giant redwoods from San Francisco?
How far is the redwood forest from San Francisco? Armstrong Redwoods is a little less than 80 miles away. That’s about 4 hours round trip. These Northern California redwoods also make a great option for those who want to avoid the parking restrictions (and crowds) at Muir Woods.
Is it better to drive up or down the California coast?
Many travelers question, Is it better to drive up or down the California coast? We think the best route on California State Route 1 is from north to south – which is why we recommend the drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles via the Pacific Coast Highway.
What is the prettiest part of the Pacific Coast Highway?
The Golden Gate Bridge
Perhaps one of the most iconic views along the whole highway – San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge is as visually stunning as the views one gets from the bridge itself. Before you head across, come off the highway to get some of the best views and see the best San Francisco sights of the area.
Is it scary to drive the Pacific Coast Highway?
My fiance and would not repeat this drive because we found it to be very stressful, close to cliffs, very windy roads, cars pushing from behind if you are going too slowly for their liking.
How long is the scenic drive from LA to San Francisco?
The road trip from Los Angeles to San Francisco can cover between 380 and 460 miles depending on the route you choose. The quickest route will get you there in just over 6 hours, whereas the more scenic one should take about 10 hours with a few short breaks.
Is Yosemite near San Francisco?
San Francisco to Yosemite Road Trip
Yosemite is about 170 miles away from San Francisco and about a 4-hour drive. So, we recommend starting your day as early as 5 AM or 6 AM to have full experience in the park.
Is it better to fly or drive from LA to San Francisco?
So we include the value of your time spent in the car, as well as additional costs for things like hotel, tolls, food, and whatever else you want to include. The default drive score from Los Angeles to San Francisco is 312. So in this case, it’s better to fly from Los Angeles to San Francisco.
Is renting a car better than flying?
Getting There. Renting a car can be cheaper than flying because the travel expenses look a lot like driving your own car. You’ll pay for the use of the car, fuel, and e-Toll service (if you use it)—but you don’t have to pay for depreciation or insurance (unless you opt for add-on protections/insurance).
Is it better to travel by car or plane?
In absolute numbers, driving is more dangerous, with more than 5 million accidents compared to 20 accidents in flying. A more direct comparison per 100 million miles pits driving’s 1.27 fatalities and 80 injuries against flying’s lack of deaths and almost no injuries, which again shows air travel to be safer.
What is scenic route from San Francisco to Los Angeles?
Scenic San Francisco to Los Angeles drive is impossible without visiting iconic Big Sur and Bixby Bridge. Legendary Big Sur and Bixby Bridge are the highlights of a scenic drive from San Fran to LA!
9. BIXBY CREEK BRIDGE – Big Sur.
| Driving distance | Driving time | |
|---|---|---|
| Point Lobos to Bixby Creek Bridge | 11 mi (18 km) | 17 min |
Where should I stop on the 5 between Los Angeles and San Francisco?
These are a few of the best stops along I-5!
- Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico.
- Balboa Park.
- South Carlsbad State Beach.
- Mission San Juan Capistrano.
- Disneyland.
- Six Flags Magic Mountain.
- Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve.
- Last Place James Dean Stopped.