San Francisco to Los Angeles Drive – Which Route Should You Take?

Looking for the best route from San Francisco to Los Angeles?

We’ve driven back and forth a dozen times using different routes. While living in California, we often took I-5 for the most direct route. However, if you’re looking for scenic options or you want to explore new parts of California, these are the ones you should consider.

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Last Updated: April 20 2026

Highway 1 →

This is the most scenic route, taking you along the coast most of the way, but it’s also the windiest and most time-consuming. Here are some of the highlights, but see our full PCH guide here.

• Mile 0 – San Francisco (click links for full guides)
• Mile 120 – Monterey / Carmel by the Sea
• Mile 148 – Big Sur (one of my favorite places in the US)
• Mile 255 – San Luis Obispo / Paso Robles
• Mile 368 – Santa Barbara
• Mile 468 – Los Angeles / Pasadena

Pro Tip: If you’re taking Highway 1, we recommend driving south from SF to LA to be closer to coastal views. It also makes turning off on pull-outs easier.

See More: Your Ultimate Pacific Coast Highway Guide in California

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Highway 101

Highway 101 is more inland and takes you through vineyards, rolling hills, and some coastal views. We recently visited the Santa Maria Valley and Solvang, and they are so charming.

• Mile 0 – San Francisco
  • Before we left the Bay, we had a great time exploring Oakland! On our first visit, we only made it to Pacific Pipe, the largest bouldering gym in the US. This time, we played pickleball at Pickle Athletics, walked the Rockridge Neighborhood, and hiked in the Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve. We also stopped by Clio’s Books, a bookstore bar. Our favorite food stops were Parche for their Colombian food and The Crown for an espresso flight.
• Mile 231 – San Luis Obispo / Paso Robles
• Mile 263 – Santa Maria
  • Things to Do
    • Horseback winery tour and mezze picnic at Presqu’ile Winery
    • Tasting rooms in Old Town Orcutt
  • Where to Eat
    • Presqu’ile Winery – The chef’s mezze was my favorite meal of the trip. I would absolutely go out of my way to eat here. It’s extremely popular, so make reservations in advance.
    • The Hitching Post – Famous for their BBQ steak, we tried their ribeye and scallops, and they were both delicious. Make reservations since this place was also packed. Be aware that there was no cell service for us (don’t forget to download offline maps on Google Maps if you’re bad with directions.
    • Cups & Crumbs – Pick up baked goods and coffee. They have a huge patio out back. We got the breakfast bagel and avocado toast. I would order a latte or desserty coffee over a cortado here.
    • Where to Stay: Wine Stone Inn – a cute B&B feeling spot with a tasting room downstairs. During our stay, they had wine bingo and a food truck in the evening.
• Mile 299 – Solvang
  • See the windmills (there are 4 in town), meet Lulu the Troll inside the California Nature Museum, and stop by one or two Danish bakeries. Check our Instagram post for more activities in Solvang!
• Mile 332 – Santa Barbara
  • Thing to Do
    • Kitty time at Cat Therapy
    • Meditate at Salt Cave
    • Browse books at The Book Den or Godmothers (10 minutes South of SB)
    • Walk through the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
    • Enjoy the sunset at Stearns Wharf
  • Where to Eat
    • ‘Que – Delicious BBQ. I loved the elote salad! It’s located inside the Santa Barbara Public Market, which has a bunch of food options.
    • HandleBar Coffee Roasters – My favorite coffee spot in Santa Barbara.
    • Dune Coffee Roasters – This was my second fave. You can see their roasting setup at the Anacapa location.
  • Where to Stay: Canary Hotel – We loved our corner room with a great balcony. It was walking distance from pretty much everywhere we went, except for Godmother’s.
• Mile 427 – LA / Pasadena
  • We ended our trip in Pasadena this time. We stopped in Vroman’s Bookstore again, saw a play at A Noise Within Theatre, and ate at Panda Inn, the original Panda Express.

Pro Tip: There are several points where it joins up with Highway 1, so you could even do a hybrid of the PCH and 101 if there are stops along both that you want to visit.

See More: 7 Unique Things to Do in SLO

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Highway 99

This route offers mountain views and can take you through a forest of giant trees. If you’re a fan of National Parks, it’s a short and worthwhile detour to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park.

• Mile 0 – San Francisco
• Mile 186 – Fresno (53-mile detour to Kings Canyon National Park)
• Mile 228 – Visalia (35-mile detour to Sequoia National Park) – Visalia is known as the gateway to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. It’s a great home base to end your day with nice meals and hotel options.
  • Things to Do
    • Tour Historic Downtown Visalia
    • Day trip to Sequoia Kings Canyon National Park
    • Follow the Taco Trail
    • Browse Linda’s Used Books – The books were pricey, but the selection was really good. Plus, they have a super-friendly resident cat!
    • Watch the game at Soccer City 1852 – they will be hosting World Cup watch parties.
  • Where to Eat
    • Bravo Farms – Fresh, farm-to-table foods. I loved the taco salad the best, and the portions were ginormous.
    • Bistro di Bufala – The pizza was really good.
    • Component Coffee Lab – the best coffee you’re going to get near Sequoia National Park.
    • El Tarasco Mexican Restaurant – On the taco trail. Try the Governador.
    • Elderwood – Rooftop brunch spot. The chicken sandwich is so good!
    • Velasco’s Mexican Food – On the taco trail. Try the crispy chicken taco.
  • Where to Stay: Marriott Downtown – walking distance to the heart of the city. We walked everywhere.
• Mile 418 – LA /  Pasadena

Pro Tip: If you have more time, I would even add Yosemite National Park to the road trip, although it’s a much longer detour.

See More: 15 Amazing Things to Do in Sequoia Kings Canyon National Park

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Our Favorite Route

Having driven all four routes multiple times, our favorite way to get from SF to LA is a hybrid of Highway 101 and Highway 1 if time isn’t a major concern. Although Big Sur is one of my favorite places in the world, it’s also gotten so crowded recently. If you’ve never been, it’s a must. If you’ve already had your Big Sur fix, I suggest popping over to Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea instead, and then returning to the 101 for the rest of the drive.

See More: Recap of Our Endless Caravan

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Essential Tips

• Check for closures on Highway 1. Big Sur regularly has landslides, mudslides after rain, one-lane traffic controls, and bridge repair delays. We almost missed our flight because of a marathon race.
• Download offline maps on Google Maps for stretches without signal.
• Fog can ruin coastal views. Many summer mornings have a marine layer that sometimes burns off by midday. Fall and Spring on the coast often give you clearer skies. March through May is the sweet spot.
• Renting a car. Rather than renting a regular car, we wanted something with more personality, so we got a bright Jeep from Turo. It was waiting for us at the airport when we arrived, and we dropped it back off in the parking deck before flying home.

Are you planning a San Francisco to Los Angeles drive or vice versa? Which route would you take?