It takes 6 hours and 31 minutes to drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles by I-5 South route. The total distance via this road trip pathway is 383 miles.
San Francisco and Los Angeles are two popular destinations in California. People often travel between the two cities while visiting the coastal state, but most of the travelers take a flight between the city which only takes them about 1 hour and 20 minutes.
The two cities are connected by several driving routes taking nearly 7 hours to drive. However, people often break their road trip into multiple days and visit nearby places while exploring California. Some of the most popular driving routes include US 101-S and I-5 S.
Scenic routes of California State Route 1 also commonly known as Pacific Coast Highway or Cabrillo Highway is also a popular option. However, the highway is closed for maintenance for the foreseeable future and only parts of the routes are in use.
If you are wondering how many miles from San Francisco and Los Angeles then the answer is 383 miles via I-5, 420 miles via US 101-S, and over 500 miles via Pacific Coast Highway.
Distance from San Franciso to Los Angeles can be easily covered in one day.
Related: How long is the flight to Hawaii from Seattle?
How Long Does It Take To Drive From San Francisco To Los Angeles?
Drive time from San Francisco To Los Angeles is 6 hours and 31 minutes. Interstate 5 South is the shortest route between the cities.
If you plan on driving between San Francisco and Los Angeles then you have a few options to take. Some of them are way faster than others but the slower routes take you through a scenic drive.
Here are the three best routes to take between SF and LA.
1. Interstate 5
Interstate 5 is the fastest route connecting the two cities of California.
The highway runs from the Canadian border to the Mexican border. Although Interstate 5 does not connect to San Francisco directly, you will need to take I-580 E for roughly 70 miles before merging with Interstate 5 in San Joaquin County.
It takes 6 hours and 31 minutes to cover 383 miles between the two large Californian cities. However, that is if you drive at a constant speed of nearly 60 miles per hour without stopping.
If you are in a hurry then you can push the gas peddle slightly more to maintain 70 miles per hour, the hight permitted speed on I-5. It will take about 5 hours and 28 minutes if you maintain 70 miles per hour. However, most people break the journey into several days as they drive enjoying along the routes.
2. US-101 S
Taking US-101 south from San Francisco to California will take you 7 hr 14 min.
US-101 S is much longer than taking Interstate 5. The entire trip will clock 420 miles between the two cities, the number might be a favorite for some people and they might prefer to take the longer route but it is 37 miles longer in total.
You can cover the route in 7 hours and 14 minutes if you drive constantly at the posted speed of about 55 miles per hour, however, the realistic drive speed in the route is 50 miles per hour and less meaning it might take you 8 hours, 24 minutes if you drive at a constant 50 miles per hour.
While US-101 S might have a slightly longer distance to cover between the cities, it will have significantly less traffic as most people tend to take the shorter I-5 route.
3. California State Route 1
California State Route 1 which is most commonly known as Pacific Coast Highway is the longest of all taking over 10 hours to drive.
The route is almost 500 miles long but it has several sections following the coast making it filled with twists and turns. Furthermore, you would not want to drive straight from point A to point B along PCH as it lures everyone with its beauty.
Unfortunately, you might need to wait for several more weeks to be able to use Pacific Coast Highway to travel between LA and San Francisco because over 25-mile sections are still closed as of April 2023 for maintenance and repair after January 2023 storm damages.
Nevertheless, once the route opens completely, it will be one hard trip to pass.
Places To See Along The Route
Scenic drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles has several places to explore like Big Sur, Carmel by the Sea, and Stanford University.
The different routes stretching between LA and SF offer different destinations along the way. While the fastest route I-5 has the least number of attractions along the way, Pacific Highway is the most scenic one among the three.
List of places to visit between San Francisco and Los Angeles
I-5 Route
- Harris Ranch ( You need to go a few miles away from your route but the visit is worth the extra miles)
- Bravo Farms
- Tule Elk State Natural Reserve
- Tejon Ranch
- Fort Tejon State Historic Park
- Vista Del Lago Visitor Center
US-101 S
- Half Moon Bay
- Santa Cruz
- Monterey
- Mission San Miguel Arcángel
- Eberle Winery ( a little de-tour but totally worth it)
- Monarch Butterfly Grove
- Arroyo Burro Beach County Park
- Cerro Alto Trail ( a little detour to connect with nature)
- Visit the city of Solvang
- Santa Barbara
- Malibu
- Santa Monica
Pacific Coast Highway
- Half Moon Bay
- Silicon Valley
- Santa Cruz
- Monterey
- Carmel-by-the-Sea
- Big Sur
- Ragged Point
- San Simeon
- Cambria
- Cayucos
- Baywood Park
- Pismo Beach
- Santa Maria
- Visit the city of Solvang
- Santa Barbara
- Malibu
- Santa Monica
Hotels And Restaurants To Stop Between San Francisco And Los Angeles
Los Angeles to San Francisco road trip itinerary includes many stops in between. Embassy Suites by Hilton San Luis Obispo is about halfway between SF and LA.
San Francisco to Los Angeles road trip has several beautiful places to take overnight rest or a quick bite along the way.
However, if you are taking the I-5 highway route, you might not need to take an overnight halt but driving down the Pacific Coast Highway needs at least one or maybe two-night stay in between.
Here is a list of some great places to have an overnight stay along all three major routes between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Most of the hotels are located around the midpoint of the trip but some are quite closer to San Francisco along the PCH.
Best Places To Stay Between San Francisco And Los Angeles
Hotels for overnight stay between SF and Los Angeles along California State Route 1 are:
- Hotel 1110 in Monterey
- Country Inn & Suites by Radisson in Monterey
- Red Lion Hotel Monterey in Monterey
- The Inn at Spanish Bay in Monterey
- Monterey Surf Inn Downtown in Monterey
- Big Sur Lodge in Big Sur
- Alila Ventana Big Sur
- Post Ranch Inn
- Cavalier Oceanfront Resort near Hearst Castle
- Oceanpoint Ranch in Cambria
- Cambria Pines Lodge in Cambria
- Pelican Inn & Suites in Cambria
Along the US-101 S
- Motel 6 King City in King City
- Quality Inn Near Fort Hunter Liggett in King City
- Economy Inn in Paso Robles
- La Bellasera Hotel & Suites in Paso Robles
- Western States Inn San Miguel
- Pacific Plaza Resort in Pismo Beach
Along Interstate 5
- Quality Inn Santa Nella on I-5 in Santa Nella
- Best Western Andersen’S Inn in Santa Nella
- Best Western Kettleman City Inn & Suites in Kettleman City
- Harris Ranch Resort
Restaurants For A Quick Bite Between San Francisco And Los Angeles
Along California State Route 1
- Googie Grill in Monterey
- Rosine’s Restaurant in Monterey
- Islands Restaurant Monterey
- Pangaea Grill in Carmen-By-The-Sea
- Restaurant at Big Sur River Inn in Big Sur
- Cottages Grocery Restaurant in Big Sur
- Fernwood Tavern in Big Sur
- Big Sur Deli in Big Sur
- Wild Coast Restaurant in Big Sur
- Cavalier Coastal Kitchen near Hearst Castle
- Robin’s Restaurant in Cambria
- Eureka! in San Luis Obispo
- Spirit of San Luis Restaurant in San Luis Obispo
Along the US-101 S
- Stonies Taphouse & Bistro in Salinas
- Portobello’s on Main in Salinas
- The Village Restaurant in Salinas
- The Windmill Restaurant in Soledad
- Teriyaki Express in Soledad
- Soledad Bowl Bar & Grill in Soledad
- King City Grill in King City
- The Cork & Plough in King City
- El Taco Bravo Restaurant in King City
- Leo’s Cafe in San Miguel
- Taco Mafia in San Miguel
- Manny’s Pizza in San Miguel
- The Palace Grill in Santa Barbara
- The Creekside Restaurant & Bar in Santa Barbara
- Finch & Fork in Santa Barbara
Along Interstate 5
- Harris Ranch
- Carl’s Jr. in Kettleman City
- Wild Jack’s Tex-Mex BBQ in Kettleman City
- Baja Fresh in Kettleman City
- Taste of India in Buttonwillow
- Black Bear Diner Arvin in Arvin
- Tacos Jimenez in Lebec
Related: Best Restaurant In Los Angeles CA That Can Fulfill Your Appetite
Vehicles For Hire In San Francisco
Car hire San Francisco to Los Angeles is available in abundance. Hertz and Discover Car provide rental facilities in San Francisco.
All sorts of vehicles ranging from compact economic cars to premium luxury vehicles are available for hire in San Francisco. They come as cheap as around $71 for a day but you will get it cheaper if you are renting it for more than one day.
Some of the best companies to hire your vehicle for the San Francisco to Los Angeles trip include SIXT, Thrifty, Yes Away, and Enterprise, among several others. Over 500 car rental companies operate in California and most of them have their services in SF and LA.
You can also roll in style by hiring a Campervan or RV for the trip. A compact campervan capable of sleeping two adults will set you back around $425 for three days from San Francisco to Los Angeles if you book it from Go See.
There are also other larger campervans or RVs available for hire for your trip between the two coastal cities of California.
Related: 10 Best RV For A Big Family