Itinerary And Top Picks On The Drive From San Francisco To Los Angeles

There is nothing like the drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles, along the California coast. When Kevin and I moved to the west coast over a decade ago, this was one of the very first road trips we did. Whether you’re a California native — who’s done this trip many times — or visiting from across the country or around the world, there are so many hidden gems along the way.  But where are the best stops? And what are the must-see attractions along the way?

We recently returned from an amazing trip through northern California — boarding the Napa Valley Wine train (a must!) and enjoyed several days in wine country. We then made our way down the coast — planning out a 7 day itinerary. Of course, like most of our itineraries, you can scale this back or build it out from our recommendations. But it should give you a good sense of the many fun stops along the drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

How Long is the Drive From San Francisco to Los Angeles?

There are several options to drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles. If you’re in a hurry, the total drive (on Interstate 5) takes about 5 to 6 1/2 hours depending on traffic. But take it from us. The drive along Interstate 5 is long and tedious. It’s tempting to do it all in one shot, which we’ve done before. But if you have the time, you should stretch it out and travel along the coast along Route 1. We’ve outlined our latest road trip adventure below where we spent 7 days heading down the coast. It was just the right amount of time for us.

Day 1: Drive from San Francisco to Monterey

• 8 AM, Depart from San Francisco for Monterey (2 to 2.5 hours to drive)
• 10:30 AM, Arrive in Monterey and explore Cannery Row.
  • If you have kids like us, they’ll really enjoy this spot. Cannery Row was once the center of the sardine-packing industry,  immortalized by novelist John Steinbeck. Today, it’s a popular strip of gift shops, seafood restaurants and bars in converted factories. It’s pretty compact so you’ll likely enjoy an hour wandering around here.
• 11:30 AM – 4 PM, Explore Monterey Bay Aquarium.
  • When Kevin and I first moved to California, this was our very first trip from San Francisco. We love aquariums and this is considered one of the best in the world. You’ll find frolicking sea otters, fast-swimming sharks, pulsating jellies and waddling penguins — all with an oceanfront view. With over 200 exhibits and 80,000 plants and animals, you can easily fill up a whole day here like us! Admission: $49.95 for adults; $39.95 for youth (13-17); and $34.95 for children (5-12). Four and under are free.
  • As of writing, all tickets must be purchased online ahead of your visit. No tickets are sold on-site.

• 4-5 PM, Wrap up your time in downtown Monterey by either enjoying a seaside meal at the aquarium’s restaurant or strolling along the waterfront. If you have time, we think you should do both.

• 4:30 PM, Check into your hotel or Airbnb for the night.
  • We had a tiring day so we were totally okay relaxing for the night at our Airbnb.
  • Our recommendation, especially if you are looking for space, is to book this Villa with an Ocean View in nearby Pacific Grove on Airbnb for 2 nights.

Day 2: Pacific Grove/Monterey

• 8 -11 AM, Wake up for a morning hike along Point Lobos Loop Trail.
  • This 6.7 mile hike will take about 3 hours to complete.
  • Pacific Grove is a fantastic place to base yourself to experience some of California’s best hiking.
  • Just take note, you’ll need to leave pups at home — dogs aren’t allowed on this trail.

• 12 PM, Following your hike, you’ll be ready to grab a bite to eat. You’re just moments away from downtown Carmel. We recommend heading to this fancy town and strolling its many shops and eateries.
• 12-3 PM, Enjoy wandering around downtown Carmel.

• 3-5 PM, Hop in your car and take a leisurely drive along 17-mile drive, one of the most scenic coastal drives you can take. It’s also a fantastic place to bike (if you have the energy!).
  • 17-mile drive will take you past the famed Pebble Beach resort and along some beautiful coastal scenery.
  • Note: if driving, you’ll need to pay a toll. Admission  is $10.75 per vehicle. The gate fee is reimbursed with a purchase of $35 or more at all Pebble Beach Resorts restaurants.

• 5-7:30 PM, Enjoy dinner at one of Pacific Grove’s many delicious restaurants. We ate at Fandango Restaurant, which was located in a historic building in the center of town. The wine was great. The food? Passable.
  • 10 min walk from Airbnb to downtown Pacific Grove.
• 8 PM, Still up for some action? Head over to the Lighthouse Cinema for a movie screening. It’s a really cute spot.

Day 3: Monterey to Paso Robles

• 8-9:30 AM, Wake up; Hike Monterey Peninsula Recreational Trail
  • This 3.9 mile loop trail is just steps away from the Airbnb, and hugs along the coast. This was one of our favorite hikes we’ve done. It was flat the entire route and the soothing sound of the ocean waves will make any stress go away.
  • The entire hike took us about 1 hour 30 minutes.

• 11 AM, Check out time! Depart from Pacific Grove to Paso Robles.
  • There are 2 options for this drive. You can take the direct route (taking about 2 hours). Or if you have the time, we suggest going down Route 1, passing through Big Sur (a rugged stretch of California’s central coast).
  • If you take Route 1, the total time would be a 3 hour drive from Pacific Grove to Paso Robles without stops. But you’ll definitely want to make some stops along the way to check out the views.

• 2:30 PM, Arrive into Paso Robles and check into your hotel or Airbnb. We stayed 3 nights at this modern farmhouse Airbnb located just outside downtown.

• 3:00 PM, Head out to your first winery.
• 3:30-5:30 PM, Pre-booked Daou Winery tasting.
  • One of our favorite wineries in Paso Robles. We’ve done several stories about Daou and always make sure we stop here on any trip to Paso Robles. You won’t be disappointed.

• 6-7:30 PM, Do some shopping in downtown Paso Robles and grab a pre-dinner cocktail at The Alchemists’ Garden.

• 7:30-9:30 PM, Dinner at Les Petites Canailles.
  • Before wrapping up your jam-packed day, you won’t want to miss a meal at this tiny French restaurant in the heart of downtown Paso Robles. Best spot in the place? Head straight to the bar and watch all the action.
  • Every dish is spectacular but the mussels and fries were spectacular.

• 10:00 PM, Head back to your Airbnb. You’ll sleep well tonight.

Day 4: Paso Robles

• 9 AM, Wake up and head just 15 minutes south to Atascadero to hike the Jim Green Trail.
  • This 1.6 mile trail will take about 1 hour to hike. It’s a pretty easy trail but a little workout is better than nothing, right?

• 11 AM – 12 PM, Grab lunch in Paso Robles. We love the casual spot Amstrdm Coffee Shop.
  • During the day, this is a comfy cafe setting. At night, it turns into a piano jazz club. How fun!
• 12:30-1 PM, Before leaving downtown Paso Robles, you’ll want to stop into the olive oil shop, Pasolivo.
  • Insider tip: ask for their olive oil tasting at the bar. You’ll get to try free samples of their delicious olive oil served with some tasty bread. You had us at free sample!

• 12:30-5 PM, You can either just relax this afternoon. Or if you’re looking for something really unique, you can rent bikes and hit the Paso Robles wine trail. Looking for ideas? Check out our full feature here on biking through Paso Robles.

• 6 PM, Depart Paso Robles for San Luis Obispo.
  • We love San Luis Obispo, located just 30 minutes south of Paso Robles. This compact college town has a walkable downtown, filled with shops and restaurants.
  • Make it a night out with dinner or head to the Movie Experience, a theater with reclining seats and wine.

• 9:30 PM, Head back to Paso Robles and pass out!

Day 5: Paso Robles

• 9:30 AM, Enjoy a slow start to the day. We needed some extra rest at this point. Paso Robles is packed with wineries. So we structured our day to check out some of the most unique ones.
• 11 AM, Depart for Justin Winery.
  • This winery is far out there. It will take about 30 minutes to drive from downtown Paso Robles. But it’s worth the trek.
• 11:30 AM – 1 PM, Enjoy a wine tasking at Justin Winery.
  • Note that Justin has cut back on its lunch offering. As of writing, lunch is only available on the weekends but they do have a limited number of charcuterie boards and snacks for purchase.
  • We signed up for their estate wine tasting ($45 per person). The wine was fantastic.
  • Justin is best known for its iconic Isosceles wine, a Bordeaux blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc. Wine Spectator magazine ranked Justin’s 1997 Isosceles as the sixth best wine in the world in a list of the top 100, and the wine has continued to draw high scores from critics.

• 2-3 PM,  Head next to Steinbeck Winery and take their Jeep Tour.
  • This experience was much more rustic than the typical wineries Kevin and I enjoy. With that said, it’s a unique spot and the winery has been in the family for generations.
  • You won’t find the fancy tasting room or flashy marketing materials. So if you’re more low key, this might be your spot.
  • The jeep tour takes you through the sprawling property. The ride is as long (or short) as you’d like. We opted for the shorter ride since it was so chilly out!

• 3:30-4:30 PM, It’s a short drive to the next tasting room at Sculpterra Winery.
  • Again, this stop was more for its uniqueness. If you’re into top notch wine, head to Daou or one of the wineries included on our bike tour.
  • Sculpterra is known for its elaborate outdoor sculptures. It’s whimsical, fun and even has an outdoor timeline taking you through the history of the region. The wine? It was strong. Kevin and I were glad we shared a tasting here as it topped out the alcohol content.

• 5-6 PM, Relax back at your hotel or Airbnb. We needed a break.
• 6:45-7:45 PM, Check out River Oaks Hot Springs Spa
  • We love natural springs. You can rent a semi-private hot tub  (meaning bring your bathing suit).
  • The spot is open 9 am – 9 PM, Insider tip? Check out their specials on Tuesdays/Wednesdays at $32 per couple
  • Must call for reservations (805) 238-4600.

• 8:30 PM, Grab a bar seat at one of the best restaurants in Paso Robles, Il Cortile Restaurante.
  • This lively spot has some of the best Italian food we’ve ever eaten. Plus, you’re in wine country so you’ll find an extensive wine list for any taste.

Day 6: Paso Robles to Solvang and Santa Barbara

• 11 AM, Depart Paso Robles for Solvang (1.5 hour drive)
  • Be sure to stop along the way in Pismo Beach and pick up some freshly baked cinnamon rolls at Old West Cinnamon Rolls. Trust us, these will put Cinnabon to shame (and this is coming from the guys who LOVE a Cinnabon!).

• 12:30 – 1 PM, Arrive in Solvang and check out its many shops and bakeries.
  • Solvang is considered the Danish capital of America. Is it a little kitschy? Does it feel like you arrived in Disneyland? Yes! But we still love it. And the kids had a blast.

• 1-3 PM, Wander around Solvang.
  • Before you leave, make sure you try the “Aebleskiver” (a pancake-like donut covered with powdered sugar and Ligonberry jam) at Solvang Restaurant. It’s the thing to do. We typically get the jam on the side (to help scale back the sweetness).

• 3 PM, Drive to Santa Barbara (a 45 minute drive)
• 4-6 PM, Explore Santa Barbara; grab dinner on State Street at one of its many incredible restaurants like Opal.
  • We adore Santa Barbara. In fact, if you’re looking to extend your stay along this trip, this would be an amazing place to base yourself.
  • Looking for ideas of fun things to do in Santa Barbara? Check out our feature story of the top things to do in Santa Barbara.

• 7 PM, Head to our hotel or Airbnb. We were obsessed with this comfy Airbnb in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara ($321 a night).

Day 7: Santa Barbara to Los Angeles

• Sadly, our trip comes to an end. It’s just a 1.5 hour drive to LA where you can continue your adventures through Hollywood, Malibu, Santa Monica and Beverly Hills.

Looking for other ideas in LA? Be sure to visit all of our recommendations here, including 5 secrets spots in LA you (probably) never knew existed (but should!). Want to see the Hollywood Sign and learn where you can get the closest photo? Read our story on the best hikes to the Hollywood Sign. Then check out our feature on the hotel in downtown with the best views of Los Angeles.