Driving from LA to San Francisco - Recommendations/Advice

[uklatecomer]

Will be driving from LA to San Fransisco in October. Would appreciate any recommendations or advice, e.g. how may stops, places to stay en route, car rentals, how many days should I schedule?

Thanks in advance.

 

[IM469]

I did business out there a few years and would rent a car for the trip on the weekend. Just stick to the Pacific Coast highway and stop in the local towns. Similar to a drive to Montreal - I'd give it a couple days to jump out at a few beaches - see the sights. Sorry I can't be much more help. I never planned anything specific - just jumped in the car and drove. BTW: San Fran is amazing just don't drive a stick in there. The Napa Valley is nice too.

 

[whitewaterguy]

Take some time to browse around Carmel and Monterey. Avoid weekends

 

[tightfit]

la to san fran...just great views all the way up the coast...make sure to stop at san simeon and go see hearst castle..well worth a full afternoon. monterey bay has some great restaurants and carmel is well worth a 2 hour shopping stop.,,
whn you get to san fran...keep going over the bridge and up to wine country..only about 1/2 hr north but you can relax and have a drink there.

 

[Ceiling Cat]

Personally, I think the ocean route is over rated. There are many more things to see inland and the traffic is not as bad. Highway 101
( inland ) is much bigger than route 1 ( ocean view ) I was always afraid of dozing off and flying off the cliff into the ocean.
( Rockford style ) If you have ever read Of mice and men plan a stop in Salinas. You are transported back in time to post depression days in that town.

Stop at the local info offices along the highway, they can tell you all the unique places to see. Check the weather reports, In October, you can get days in the low 20C and nights at 10C., mostly sunny days. If you are limiting yourself to LA to SF 2-3 days should be plenty, wine country is north of SF.

Lastly, L.A./S.F is not Montreal/Toronto/ Vancouver. Crime is much more prevalent down there, be careful, be smart.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/usa/california/along-highway-101/things-to-do

 

[mandrill]

C Cat is the odd man out. I drove up the PCH and loved it. Not that much to see for the first part. Pulled in for the night (late start) at San Luis Obisbo, a nice little campus town in the middle of nowhere. Then the road breaks back to the coast at San Simeon. You can't go that fast as the road is narrow and curves along the cliffs. So it takes about a day to get up to SF from San Luis. I booted it because I was meeting a friend. But I should have overnighted in Carmel or camped in Big Sur.

So book about two or three days depending how many breaks you want to take. It's just an ordinary drive up to San Luis but gets good after that.

 

[Varmitt]

Go from SF to LA....going south you'll be closer to the water and the scenerie.

 

[HobbyHorse]

Pebble Beach GC is worth a stop and a look-see though probably not worth the outrageously steep green fees, unless you are a true enthusiast.
On the way north you'll pass by Big Sur ( so if you haven't read Richard Brautigan do so now, and ditto Canadians Jack Kerouac and Brian Moore, and maybe throw in Ferlinghetti.)
Monteray is Steinbeck country so Cannery Row is your required pre-reading, or (for the hobbyest) Sweet Thursday.

 

[mandrill]

Pebble Beach GC is worth a stop and a look-see though probably not worth the outrageously steep green fees, unless you are a true enthusiast.
On the way north you'll pass by Big Sur ( so if you haven't read Richard Brautigan do so now, and ditto Canadians Jack Kerouac and Brian Moore, and maybe throw in Ferlinghetti.)
Monteray is Steinbeck country so Cannery Row is your required pre-reading, or (for the hobbyest) Sweet Thursday.

Probably half the good American lit ever written involves locations along that stretch. And depending on your taste in music, you can stock up on the Beach Boys, the Doors, the Eagles, the Dead, Santana, Green Day or the Dead Kennedy's for the car stereo.

 

[Ceiling Cat]

C Cat is the odd man out. I drove up the PCH and loved it.

I was referring to the section of the Pacific Coast Highway that is between LA and SF that was overrated. If you want ocean view then go north of SF on the Pacific Coast Highway. There are places like Bodega Bay where Alfred Hitchcock movie The Birds was filmed. Before hitting the PCH north of SF, I suggest you stop in the Napa Valley. I am not a wine person, some wineries have good sherry.

 

[Gentlescorp]

The restaurant by the cliff near Big Sur is a must stop. If you are a serious golfer Pebble is a must play at least once in a life time. Its about 500 bucks a round now but you are playing in heaven. I have played there twice. 8 yrs ago it was 350 a round and 2 yrs ago it was 500. We play like crap on our first round cuz my family was so busy taking pictures and videos on almost every hole along the ocean side and your mind was not in the game. Avoid windy days to play there. If you are not a golfer, you can still go for a good drive at 17 mile drive in pebble beach. There is a small fee about 20 bucks to drive around that neighbourhood.

 

[Butler1000]

Make sure you hit Hearst Castle and the Winchester House if you can in SF. Both are fun but you may need to book online first as they have limited tours.

Dining in San Fran if you have the money go to a Michael Mina Restaurant. I prefer the one on California St. Just have the Prie Fixe menu and matching wine set. And enjoy a fabulous dining experience. Bill won't be cheap but it's worth it.