Today I want to share my San Francisco to Los Angeles road trip itinerary for 2 days with you. This is one of the most popular driving routes in California. You can discover some of the best places in the Golden State if you have a couple days to travel between the two cities. There are lots of fun spots along Highway 1, and you’ll find a variety of stops to explore as you go. Read on for my California road trip itinerary. I’ve included an interactive map of the route I recommend as well.
San Francisco to Los Angeles Road Trip Itinerary for 2 Days
A lot of people ask me how many days you need to drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles. You can certainly do the drive in 2 days, and it’s a good amount of time if you want to take the scenic route along the California coast.
The whole drive takes around 10 to 12 hours, so it’s nice to split it up over 2 days. You’ll have enough time to see the major cities and sights along Highway 1 and stop off at a few key places on the route. You’ll be able to stay somewhere fun for the night as well.
Whether you’re interested in seeing the main attractions, heading to the beach, shopping, dining, or checking out famous filming locations from movies set in California, you’ll find no shortage of things to entertain you while you’re driving from SF to LA.
My 2-day San Francisco to Los Angeles road trip itinerary covers a range of destinations and experiences. It’s the perfect guide for first-time visitors and those who want to see the highlights of the California coast.
You can use my itinerary as a template and adjust it to fit your travel style and personal interests. If there’s something specific you want to do or see, you can add it in wherever you’d like to.
I hope my road trip itinerary will give you an introduction to the Golden State and make you want to come back for a longer drive.
Where to Stay on a Road Trip from SF to LA
If you’re driving from San Francisco to Los Angeles, there are plenty of places you can stay along the way. Whether you want to base yourself in a hotel by the Pacific Ocean or an apartment rental on the coast, there’s plenty of accommodation to choose from.
My go-to place to call home-away-from-home for a night is the Avila La Fonda Hotel in Avila Beach. It’s in a great location near the Pacific Ocean and it has spacious guest rooms. The hotel is dog-friendly and it offers delicious breakfast and a complimentary happy hour, too. If you want to follow in my footsteps, you can book a room here.
If you’re interested in checking out more options, you can see some of the most popular hotels in California here. There’s no shortage of fun places to stay in the Golden State for every travel style, taste, and budget.
Tips for a California Road Trip on Highway 1
Before you depart, it’s worth noting a few things that will make your road trip smoother and easier. First, don’t assume you’ll be able to find a gas station everywhere you go. This is particularly true in coastal areas like Big Sur, where gas stations are few and far between (and extremely expensive). It’s a good idea to fuel up when you’re starting to run low.
Second, make sure to account for traffic in places like the San Francisco Bay Area, Santa Barbara, and the greater Los Angeles area. There can be congestion around Santa Cruz and other parts of the coast, too. It’s wise to add in extra time to make sure you don’t run behind schedule if you hit delays along the way.
It’s also worth checking for road closures in places like Big Sur, which often suffer from landslides in the winter. You may have to take a detour or alter your route, so it’s good to find that out ahead of time.
Lastly, if you’re traveling in the summer or over busy holiday periods like Memorial Day weekend, 4th of July, Labor Day weekend, and Thanksgiving, it’s a wise idea to book things like rental cars and hotels well in advance. Even if you’re not traveling in peak season, reserving ahead of time is always good for peace of mind.
Day 1: San Francisco to San Luis Obispo
My San Francisco to Los Angeles Road trip itinerary for 2 days starts with an early departure from the City by the Bay. You can drive south along Highway 1, passing through Pacifica, Half Moon Bay, and Santa Cruz on the way to Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Monterey
After around 2.5 hours you’ll reach Monterey. This coastal city is known for the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It’s an ideal place for kids of all ages to learn about marine ecosystems and get up close to everything from sea otters to jellyfish. You can also cruise along 17 Mile Drive, walk around Old Fisherman’s Wharf, or shop on Cannery Row.
Carmel
Just south of Monterey, Carmel-by-the-Sea is one of the cutest towns in California. From the beaches to the boutiques, restaurants, and thatched-roof cottages, there’s a lot to do and see here. It’s a great place to have a quick sandwich or pizza for lunch at a spot like Rise + Roam.
There’s wine tasting in Carmel Valley and stunning natural scenery at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve as well. The latter is a great place to walk around and see some of the most beautiful coastline in the area.
Big Sur
Not far from Point Lobos, you’ll come to Big Sur. This is a must on any San Francisco to Los Angeles road trip itinerary, not least because it’s one of the most beautiful places on the California coast. Big Sur is famous for its bolder-studded beaches, hiking trails in the redwood trees, and outdoor activities.
From Calla Lily Valley and Garrapata Beach in the north to Bixby Bridge, Andrew Molera State Park, McWay Falls, and Nepenthe, there’s no shortage of places to love here. My Big Sur itinerary can give you more ideas for things to do.
San Luis Obispo County
When you’re done exploring, you can drive south to San Luis Obispo (SLO). This city and the beaches around it are fun places to explore.
Whether you want to go shopping in downtown SLO, browse the farmers’ markets (there’s a night market on Higuera Street on Thursdays), or find somewhere delicious for dinner (my favorite is Giuseppe’s), you can’t go wrong.
If you have time to explore the beaches, Morro Bay, Avila Beach, and Pismo Beach are great options. Morro Bay is known for Morro Rock, an ancient volcanic mound at the end of Morro Rock Beach. Avila Beach is beloved for its cute shops and restaurants, and Pismo Beach is famous for its sandy shoreline and Monarch Butterfly Grove.
As I mentioned before, my go-to place to stay on a San Francisco to Los Angeles Road trip itinerary for 2 days is the Avila La Fonda Hotel in Avila Beach. It’s a great spot to rest your head at the end of a big day of driving and sightseeing. There are fun restaurants on the waterfront you can walk to for dinner as well.
If you want something different, you can stay at the famous Madonna Inn. This classic destination resort in San Luis Obispo is one of the most unique places to stay in California. With individually-themed guest rooms, a spa, a pool, restaurants, a bar, a bakery, shopping, and horseback riding, this quirky place is one-of-a-kind. You can book a room here.
Day 2: San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles
The next morning, you can start the second leg of your 2-day San Francisco to Los Angeles Road trip itinerary with a drive to Santa Barbara County.
Santa Ynez Valley
It takes just under an hour to get from the Avila La Fonda Hotel or the Madonna Inn to the Santa Ynez Valley. Situated between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the San Rafael Mountains, this part of Santa Barbara County is known for its charming towns, beautiful wineries (the movie Sideways was filmed here), and scenic beauty.
From Los Olivos to Santa Ynez, there are plenty of places to stop here for shopping, wine tasting, and lunch (or breakfast if you got an early start). Los Olivos has one of the most exciting main streets in the area, and it’s worth a stop just to walk around.
But the real draw in this part of California is Solvang. A Danish-inspired town, this place is famous for its whimsical architecture, themed shops, windmills, and range of spots to eat and drink. It’s fun to stroll through town, check out the boutiques, and do some sightseeing while you’re visiting.
Santa Barbara
From Solvang it’s under an hour’s drive to Santa Barbara. If you take Highway 154 you’ll enjoy scenic views of Cachuma Lake along the way. You can also make a quick detour to see Cold Spring Tavern, a historic stagecoach stop that’s now a bar and restaurant complex.
Once in Santa Barbara, there are lots of fun things to do. You can shop your way down State Street, go to the beach, see Stearns Wharf, admire the street art murals in the Funk Zone, check out the food stalls in the Santa Barbara Public Market, sip your way along the Urban Wine Trail, or see the historic mission.
Malibu
When you’re done exploring Santa Barbara, you can continue your San Francisco to Los Angeles Road trip itinerary for 2 days with a drive to Malibu. If you go via Highway 1, it takes less than 1.5 hours to get there.
Once in Malibu, there’s plenty to do and see. Zuma Beach is often considered the best stretch of sand, but there are lots of others. From Paradise Cove Beach to Carbon Beach, this part of Los Angeles County has an abundance of them. If you’re traveling with a dog, part of the one in Leo Carrillo State Park is dog-friendly if you keep your pup on a leash.
If you want to continue driving, it’s fun to cruise down the Pacific Coast Highway (call it PCH if you want to sound like a local) or head up the roads in Topanga Canyon. This is particularly true if you have a sports car or a convertible.
If you’re here at dinnertime, Malibu has great restaurants. Malibu Seafood is my favorite order-at-the-counter spot, Nobu is known for sushi, and the Inn of the Seventh Ray has creekside dining in the Santa Monica Mountains.
Los Angeles
Whatever you choose to do in Malibu, you can continue your road trip by driving the rest of the way to your final destination in Los Angeles. If you need inspiration, you can take a look at my Los Angeles itineraries. Whether you stay for 1 day or 4 days, there’s plenty to do and see in the City of Angels.
If you need a place to stay, my top pick is the STILE Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. It’s in a central location and it has great guest rooms. If that sounds good, you can book a room here.
If you want to check out more options, you can see some of the most popular hotels in Los Angeles here. There’s no shortage of fun places to stay in LA for every travel taste, style, and budget.
SF to LA Road Trip Itinerary Map
If you want to follow my San Francisco to Los Angeles road trip itinerary for 2 days, you can find my interactive Google map of all the places on the route here. It will give you an understanding of where things are in relation to one another so you can make the most of your time along the way.
San Francisco to Los Angeles Road Trip Itinerary for 2 Days
I hope my 2-day San Francisco to Los Angeles road trip itinerary has helped you plan how to spend your time in California. Highway 1 shows off some of the best places in the Golden State, and it’s worth a special trip. There are so many things to do and see that you’re bound to have a good time no matter what you do.
There are lots more places to discover here as well. If you have the time, it’s worth taking a bit longer to do the drive. You’ll be able to experience more coastal highlights and other famous parts of the state.
If you’re interested in seeing additional California road trip itineraries, you can take a look at my blog posts about a road trip from Monterey to Malibu and a 5-day California road trip. There are more in the pipeline, too!
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