Ocean views along the Highway 1 coastline.

I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and my husband’s entire family lives in San Diego. Needless to say we have spent many vacations road tripping from Northern California to Southern California. Over the years we have become bonafide experts on driving up and down the state of California.

Every road trip through California is a bit different because we often detour to new cities en route. Sometimes when we travel our goal is to explore new areas of the state, and other times we are just trying to get to San Diego as quickly as possible. You should always expect your drive time to be at least 8 hours, and then add more time for traffic and stops along the way.

This California road trip guide will break down all the driving route options and highlight the pros and cons of each one. When you’re planning out your trip itinerary you should account for gas stops, restroom stops, food options and sightseeing. Some road trips are meant for sightseeing, and others are just a straight shot to your destination of San Diego (or Los Angeles).

The Most Scenic Driving Route from San Francisco to San Diego

Highway 1 / Pacific Coast Highway

If you’re looking for a California road trip with plenty of ocean views and scenic stops worth pulling over for, then Highway 1 is your go to route. There’s several coastal towns that make for excellent overnight stays if you plan on taking your time and breaking up the trip.

While the Pacific Coast Highway is a beautiful drive, there are a couple of disadvantages to this route. This route is significantly longer than some of the more inland routes because driving speeds are slower. There’s several long stretches where the road is one lane and you can get stuck behind large semi trucks that must drive slower. Also if there’s traffic building up, everyone is stuck in one single lane.

The Best Places to Pull Over on Highway 1 for Photos

Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park

Along Highway 1 between the small coastal towns of Pescadero and Davenport you’ll find the most picturesque lighthouse sitting on the edge of the cliffs. The Pigeon Point Light Station is a state park that’s open to the public free of charge. You can walk around the grounds and take beautiful vacation photos.

Pumpkin Patches in Half Moon Bay

If you happen to be driving down the Pacific Coast Highway during the months of September or October, there’s adorable pumpkin patches along the highway. Celebrate the autumn season with hay rides, farm produce stands and of course pumpkins. See my full guide to Half Moon Bay pumpkin patches here.

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

Point Lobos is a 5 square mile coastal reserve that is considered the “crown jewel” of all the California State Parks. The rugged coastline inside the park is filled with active wildlife such as sea otters and seals. Located inside Monterey County, it’s a 2 hour drive south from San Francisco. A great place to take a break from driving and stretch your legs.

Beaches in Malibu

By now you’ve reached Southern California and the weather may be warming up. Malibu is a popular surfing hub and the beaches are pristine with ample white sand for laying out. Popular public beaches include Paradise Cove Beach, El Matador Beach and Malibu Surfrider Beach.

Santa Monica Pier & Venice Beach Boardwalk

Two of the most popular attractions in Los Angeles is the Santa Monica Pier and the Venice Beach Boardwalk, mostly because they fulfill all your quintessential California beach life dreams. They’re located about 2 miles apart from each other along the coastline, and it’s a scenic 45 minute walk between the two destinations.

Huntington Beach in Orange County

This classic California beach spot is still on our travel wishlist. Huntington Beach is know for iconic pier, surfing memorabilia and surrounding parks and recreation areas. I’ve heard this is an ideal spot to plan a picnic and take in some scenery before you load up back into the car on your way to San Diego.

Carlsbad Flower Fields

Carlsbad is another city along the Southern California coast and it’s famous for two reasons - beautiful beaches and their stunning flower fields. Every spring Instagrammers and flower lovers flock to the flower fields farm to capture these colorful fields on camera. The blooming season runs from March to May.

Scripps Pier in La Jolla

It would certainly be worth your time to spend a day or two in the lovely town of La Jolla. You have officially reached San Diego after your journey from San Francisco, and the sightseeing has just begun. My favorite beach in San Diego is Scripps Pier, the views and photo opportunities are really stunning.

Best Places to Eat Along Highway 1

Barn Burger in Half Moon Bay

Driving along Highway 1 between El Granada and Half Moon Bay you’ll see an adorable renovated barn that has been converted into an upscale burger joint. The Barn Burger restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating, and the food is fresh and delicious.

Sam’s Chowder House in Half Moon Bay

Right next to Surfer’s Beach and the Beach House Hotel is the popular seafood restaurant Sam’s Chowder House. Both visitors and locals love to frequent this long established restaurant, which sometimes means there can be a long wait for a table.

Pacific Avenue in Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is one of the biggest beach cities located centrally along Highway 1, about halfway between Northern and Southern California. Pacific Avenue is a large downtown strip filled with restaurants, shops, cafes, bakeries, ice cream and more. Any kind of food you’re craving will be available here.

Downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea

Another big restaurant hub along the coast can be found in the fairytale village of Carmel-by-the-Sea. You’ll find a mix of fine dining and casual eateries throughout the cobblestone streets. The beach is walking distance from downtown for an seaside picnic.

Big Sur Roadhouse

When you’re driving along the coastline between Monterey and San Luis Obispo, there’s very limited places to find food. Inside the glamorous rustic chic Hotel Glen Oaks in Big Sur is the Roadhouse restaurant. This oasis among the ocean and the forests serves upscale California cuisine.

Nepenthe in Big Sur

Another spot for fresh food is Nepenthe, which is especially known for epic cliffside views of ocean and surrounding landscape. The surrounding Loma Vista area also has a bakery, hotels and other dining options.

Downtown San Luis Obispo

The Mission and college town of San Luis Obispo has a bustling downtown with all kinds of eateries and stores. During our visit we loved the open faced sandwich from Mint + Craft, slider burgers from Taste! and tapas from Luna Red.

State Street in Downtown Santa Barbara

State Street in downtown Santa Barbara is where you’ll find all the action. It’s a lovely stroll through the main drag where you can find restaurants and cafes.

In-N-Out Burger in Ventura

Sometimes when you’re on the road you just want to grab a quick bite and keep moving. There’s an In-N-Out Burger in Ventura is right off Highway 1 so you don’t need to detour very far from your driving course. The location closest to the beach is located at 2070 E Harbor Blvd, Ventura, CA 93001. There’s also several other locations within a couple miles. If you’re new to California, In-N-Out Burgers are the best!

Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood

If you’re heading inland when you arrive in the Los Angles area, one of my favorite parts of LA is West Hollywood. Particularly the stretch of Melrose Avenue between La Cienega Blvd and North Fairfax Ave. You’ll find some of the trendiest shopping, restaurants and cafes within these blocks.

Maison Cafe + Market in Dana Point

During one of our road trips down to San Diego we detoured and spent 72 hours in Dana Point and San Clemente. We loved the fresh and healthy cuisine at the Maison Cafe. We also ate tacos at Lupe’s Mexican Eatery and had lattes at Bear Coast Coffee.

The Best Places to Spend the Night Along Highway 1

Monterey Hotels

Monterey a great halfway point between San Francisco and San Diego if you want to split up your driving days. The entire area of Monterey is filled with excellent choices in hotel accommodations which vary price ranges. Popular areas to visit are Cannery Row, the world famous Monterey Bay Aquarium and downtown Old Monterey.

San Luis Obispo & Pismo Beach

Another excellent halfway point is San Luis Obispo and it’s coastal counterpart Pismo Beach. We have stayed in a couple times in SLO. Once at the chic and elegant Granada Hotel & Bistro conveniently located downtown and walking distance to restaurants. The second time we went a completely different direction with the wonderfully tacky Madonna Inn.

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is a 6 hour drive south from San Francisco and just before you get into the Los Angeles area. This can be an ideal spot to set up camp overnight in one of the many stylish Santa Barbara hotels. Although there’s not much distance in miles between Santa Barbara and San Diego, the traffic in Los Angeles County will significantly increase your driving time. Taking an overnight break from the road in Santa Barbara is an excellent option for a pleasant road trip.

The Fastest Driving Route from San Francisco to San Diego

California Interstate 5

If your goal is to get from Northern California to Southern California with the least amount of driving time, the Interstate 5 is the fastest route. From San Francisco you’ll have to go slightly inland and catch the Interstate 5. The easiest way is to head to the East Bay over the Bay Bridge and take the Interstate 580 to catch the Interstate 5 in the Tracy area.

Once you’re coming into Santa Clarita in Southern California you’ll switch over to the Interstate 210 and then to the 71 and then finally to the Interstate 15.

The biggest downfalls of taking the Interstate 5 is it’s by far the least scenic route and there’s limited options to stop for food and gas. You’ll find almost exclusively fast food stops and gas station snacks.

Our most frequented stop along Interstate 5 is the Starbucks in Buttonwillow. This particular roadside hub has the most options for restaurants, EV chargers and gas stations. You’ll find it located at 20673 Tracy Avenue in Buttonwillow, CA.

The Driving Route from San Francisco to San Diego with the Most Traffic

U.S. Highway 101

In our experience driving the length of California, Highway 101 tends to have the most traffic. Particularly starting from San Francisco to San Jose and then again from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles. At any time of day you can expect bumper to bumper traffic along the 101.

The only exception to this rule is when you’re driving through the 101 late at night. We’ve done trips where we leave Northern California around 8pm and drive through the night to avoid traffic along the route. While this is a bit extreme, there are scenarios where you would consider this option.

Northern California to Southern California Road Trip Tips

Be Preapred to Pay Tolls

Make sure to be vigilant about bridge and road tolls. Some of them you’ll drive through without stopping, but they will scan your plate and give you a ticket if you don’t pay on time.

Many of the tolls require that you have cash on hand. Make sure you have at least $20 in cash in your car to avoid a ticket.

If you’re beginning your journey in San Francisco and want to head east to catch the Interstate 5, if you drive over the Interstate 80 heading to the East Bay you will have a bridge toll ranging from $8 - $6 depending on the time of day.

Avoid taking the Golden Gate Bridge to head over to the Interstate 5 from San Francisco. Although it’s much more scenic and doesn’t require a toll fee when leaving San Francisco, it’s a much longer detour to merge onto the Interstate 5.

Keep Your Eye on the Gas Tank

If you’re unfamiliar with the California landscape, I recommend planning your road trip itinerary in advance. You will be driving through vast unpopulated areas that don’t have food or gas stations for many miles. You don’t find yourself without adequate gas in your car.

Make Sure Your Car is in Excellent Condition

This may seem like an obvious statement but you may not realize that the 500 mile drive from San Francisco to San Diego will really put your car to the test. Your car will be on the road for over 8 hours and it could possibly overheat or breakdown. Get your car checked out before you hit the road and be prepared with a roadside assistance plan.

Weather Differences Between Northern California & Southern California

If you’re new to the California climate, you may not be aware that the temperatures on the Northern California coast are usually much colder than Southern California. It can be very cold and chilly in the San Francisco Bay Area, and then very warm and sunny in Los Angeles and San Diego. Make sure when you’re packing up your bags you have warm layers and hot weather outfits.