California is one of the most beautiful and unique parts of the United States. Spanning almost 800 miles from north to south, the state of California offers something for every type of traveler: large cities, quaint small towns, beautiful hiking trails, multiple wine regions, and great beaches.
An LA to San Francisco road trip is just under 400 miles and provides the perfect taste of everything that California has to offer. During a Los Angeles to San Francisco drive there are a ton of activities, towns, and sites to see.
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Map of towns to see during an LA to San Francisco road trip
Los Angeles to San Francisco road trip: How long will the trip take?
If driving straight through without stopping, an LA to San Francisco road trip can be completed in 8-10 hours. However, I recommend staying overnight in a few towns along the way in order to make the most of your trip.
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Where to stay
I opted to spend two nights in the Santa Ynez Valley, one night in San Luis Obisbo (at The Kinney), and one night in Monterey at The Mariposa Inn and Suites. However, if you want to have more time for hikes, beach visits, and wine tasting, I recommend adding a few additional nights.
Best stops on an LA to San Francisco road trip
Below I am going to outline the best towns, sites, and activities that you should be sure to add to your LA to San Francisco road trip.
Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara is located approximately 90 minutes outside of LA and is the perfect first stop on an LA to San Francisco drive. Two of the biggest tourist sites in Santa Barbara are Stearns Wharf and Old Mission Santa Barbara.
The Santa Ynez Valley: Solvang, Los Olivos, and Los Alamos
The next must-visit region on an LA to San Francisco road trip is the Santa Ynez Valley. If you have the time, I recommend staying overnight in this region for 1-2 nights so that you have time to experience a few of the different towns and wine tasting rooms.
I recommend seeing three towns while in the Santa Ynez Valley: Solvang, Los Olivos, and Los Alamos.
Solvang
Solvang is a unique Danish village known as “The Danish Capital of America”. Walking around Solvang will make you feel like you are in a quaint European town. Here you will find Danish pastries, European architecture, a beer garden, and multiple wine tasting rooms.
While you are in town, be sure to get a photo at the Solvang Windmill and stop by the Copenhagen Sausage Garden for beer and sausage (vegan options available).
Los Olivos
Los Olivos is a charming small town with a ton of tasting rooms. My favorite tasting rooms were Stolpman Vineyards and Blair Fox Cellars. There are also cute shops and galleries in town.
A few minutes drive north of the town of Los Olivos is Fess Parker Winery which has fantastic wine and beautiful views.
Los Alamos
Los Alamos is another cute town to visit in the Santa Ynez Valley. I recommend coming here for dinner at Pico Los Alamos. They are a fantastic upscale restaurant with a great selection of wines.
Pismo Beach and Avila Beach
The next stop on a Los Angeles to San Francisco road trip should be Pismo Beach and Avila Beach. These are both popular beach towns with beautiful beaches and cute shops.
In Pismo beach, be sure to stop by Old West Cinnamon Rolls– their cinnamon rolls were AMAZING. They also sell baking kits so that you can make their cinnamon rolls at home. This would make a great souvenir!
If you have time, the nearby Pismo Preserve is a fun and easy hike with beautiful views. There are several trail options here ranging in length from 1.1 miles to 7.7 miles.
Next I recommend visiting Sycamore Mineral Springs for some relaxation. Sycamore Mineral Springs has naturally heated hot mineral spring tubs that can be rented by the hour. Reservations are required and cost $22.50-$27.50 per person.
If you are looking for additional relaxation during your time in the golden state, you should check out one of these peaceful meditation retreats in California.
In the town of Avila beach, I recommend grabbing pizza at Mission Pizza and having a sunset picnic at Pirates Cove Beach. This was a beautiful and secluded spot with amazing views.
San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo is a small city located 10-15 minutes north of Pismo Beach and Avila Beach. I recommend staying overnight in San Luis Obispo during your LA to San Francisco road trip because there are many affordable accommodation options. My top hotel pick is The Kinney San Luis Obispo. They had great amenities including a pool, cute lounge areas, and a bar with games.
While in this region, I highly recommend visiting Sextant Winery for a wine tasting and lunch. Sextant Winery has two locations- one in Edna Valley which is 10 minutes south of the San Luis Obisbo, and one in Paso Robles which is about 30 minutes north.
Disclaimer: Thank you to Sextant Winery for hosting us for a wine tasting and lunch! Below is my honest review of the experience.
I visited Sextant Winery’s Edna Valley location with my friends Francesca from Homeroom Travel and Meghan the Traveling Teacher. We had a fantastic experience!
This winery is very unique- it is located on the Old Edna historic townsite which has roots as far back as the 1840’s. There are many cool buildings on site, including a 100+ year old former general store, a blacksmith shop, and a historic farmhouse that is also available as a vacation rental on VRBO.
Sextant Winery offers a mixed flight tasting for $20 that includes five different tastings. My favorite wines were their Verdejo which was a crisp white wine, and their Zindandel which was a smooth red wine with notes of strawberry and vanilla. Sextant Winery also offers an extensive lunch menu- we loved their flatbread, salad, and Sextant bar.
For more info on visiting the Central Coast, check out this Central California Coast Itinerary, and this itinerary for a fun weekend trip from LA.
Big Sur
Next up on a Los Angeles to San Francisco road trip is the iconic Big Sur drive.
Big Sur is a 90 mile stretch of coastline with stunning scenery, jagged cliffs, and endless natural beauty. It is one of the most unique places that I have visited and I think that everyone should add it to their bucket list!
There is limited cell signal along the drive, so be sure to plan ahead where you would like to stop for restroom breaks, snacks, and wifi.
My favorite stops and sites along Big Sur were:
Portal to Big Sur at the Ragged Point Inn and Resort
This is a fun spot for a photo and to grab a snack/use the restroom before continuing on your drive. There was also a live band playing when I visited!
McWay Falls
McWay Falls is a beautiful site that is accessible via a short .6 mile round trip hike.
Big Sur Taphouse
The Big Sur Taphouse is a great place to stop for a drink or snack before continuing on your drive. And if you are interested in adding a short beach trip to your itinerary, located just ten minutes from Big Sur Taphouse is Purple Sand Beach which is the only the only Purple Sand Beach in California.
Hurricane Point
Hurricane Point is a beautiful stop along the Big Sur drive with dramatic exposed views of the coastline.
Bixby Creek Bridge
Bixby Creek Bridge is one of the most iconic stops along the Big Sur drive. Be sure to stop here for photos!
Notley’s Landing Viewpoint
Notley’s Landing Viewpoint is another site that offers beautiful views of the California coastline. On a clear day, you might be able to see the Bixby Creek Bridge in the distance.
Monterey/Carmel-by-the-Sea
Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea are the final stops that I recommend during your LA to San Francisco drive.
I recommend staying overnight in this region to get some rest before finishing the drive to San Francisco. Two hotel options are the Mariposa Inn and Suites in Monterey or the Hofsas House Hotel in Carmel.
In the town of Monterey, be sure to check out Old Fisherman’s Wharf. Here you will find Paluca Trattoria which was used as the backdrop for the cafe in Big Little Lies. For amazing coffee and breakfast, stop by Happy Girl Kitchen Co. at Cannery Row.
Carmel-by-the-Sea is a cute upscale town with plenty of shops and galleries. Some popular dining options here are Cultura and Dametras.
If you would like to see some additional beautiful scenery, be sure to visit Point Lobos State Park.
Finally- Arrive at San Francisco!
There are a ton of activities to do and sites to see in San Francisco. In addition, there are a lot of cute towns that you need to explore near San Francisco.
As you can see, an LA to San Francisco road trip has fun activities for every type of traveler. Quaint towns, wineries, hikes, beaches, fine dining- there is so much to do and see.
Leave a comment below- which site would you be most excited to see during a Los Angeles to San Francisco drive?
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