See the best of California's coast and Yosemite National Park on this 14-night fly drive from Los Angeles to San Francisco. Start in Hollywood and Beverly Hills, follow the coast north through Santa Barbara, San Simeon and the cliffs of Big Sur to Santa Cruz, then head inland for three nights in Yosemite before finishing in San Francisco. Return flights from the UK, car hire and hotels at every stop are included, and every holiday is tailor-made, so we can change the hotels, add nights or reverse the route to suit you. ABTA and ATOL Protected.
Duration: 14 Nights
Quote CHH95
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Itinerary Highlights:
Total Expected Local Fee: $203
Resort fees are paid locally and subject to additional local taxes. The amounts shown are based on current rates and may vary depending on the hotel and travel dates.
This sample California Fly Drive itinerary is a starting point. We can change any hotel, add or remove nights, or reverse the route. Enjoy the best of Coastal California and Yosemite!
| Route | Los Angeles to San Francisco, via the coast and Yosemite |
|---|---|
| Length | 14 nights / 15 days |
| Stops | Los Angeles (3 nights), Santa Barbara (1), San Simeon (2), Santa Cruz (2), Yosemite (3), San Francisco (3) |
| Driving | About 780 miles over 5 driving days |
| Best time | May - June and September - October |
| Includes | UK flights, car hire with one-way drop-off, 14 nights’ hotels |
| Price | From £2475 pp, based on 2027 dates |
| Quote | CHH95 |
Fly direct from the UK to Los Angeles, collect your hire car and check in to the The Garland Hotel. Spend your days at Universal Studios Hollywood, the Walk of Fame and Griffith Observatory, Rodeo Drive, Malibu, or by the sea at Santa Monica Pier and Venice Beach. Disneyland in Anaheim is an easy day trip.
Drive north along the coast through Malibu to Santa Barbara, around two hours away. Known as the American Riviera, it has Spanish-style architecture, palm-lined beaches and a relaxed pace. Walk along Stearns Wharf, visit the Old Mission or try local wines in the Funk Zone. Stay at Mar Monte Hotel, in The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, a beachfront hotel.
Continue north to San Simeon, on the southern edge of the Big Sur coast, and stay at the oceanfront Cavalier Resort. Tour Hearst Castle, the hilltop estate of newspaper owner William Randolph Hearst, and see hundreds of elephant seals on the beach at Piedras Blancas. The seaside village of Cambria and the fishing harbour at Morro Bay are close by.
Today you drive the most spectacular stretch of the California coast. The road through Big Sur clings to the cliffs above the Pacific, with stops at McWay Falls, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and Bixby Creek Bridge. Pass through Carmel and Monterey, then continue to Santa Cruz. Ride the Giant Dipper, a wooden roller coaster built in 1924, on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, or explore the coastal trails of Wilder Ranch State Park. The Monterey Bay Aquarium is an easy day trip. Staya at Hilton Santa Cruz/Scotts Valley.
Leave the coast and head inland to Yosemite, staying at Tenaya at Yosemite, near the park's south entrance. Walk among the giant sequoias of the Mariposa Grove, see Yosemite Falls, El Capitan and Half Dome from the valley floor, and, when the road is open, watch the sunset from Glacier Point.
Finish with three nights in San Francisco at Hotel Riu Plaza Fisherman's Wharf. Ride a cable car from Fisherman's Wharf to Union Sqaure, take the ferry to Alcatraz and walk or cycle across the Golden Gate Bridge. On day 15, return your car at San Francisco airport for your flight home.
Starting in Los Angeles means you begin with sunshine, beaches and Hollywood, and finish in San Francisco, one of the most walkable cities in the USA. You can return the car when you arrive and explore on foot and by cable car. Adding Yosemite between the coast and San Francisco gives you mountains, waterfalls and giant sequoias as well as the ocean. If you'd rather keep to the coast and drive south from San Francisco, see our California Highway 1 road trip along the Pacific Coast Highway.
Looking for a different route? See all our California self drive holidays, or read more about Yosemite National Park holidays.
Every Charter Travel fly drive is tailor-made. Tell us when you want to travel and what you'd like to see, and our USA specialists will build your Los Angeles to San Francisco road trip around you, from the hotels at each stop to how many nights you spend in Yosemite. We've been arranging holidays for UK travellers since 1988, and you'll speak to the same specialist from your first enquiry until you're home.
All our holidays are tailor-made and can be adapted by changing hotels durations and destinations to suit the individuals tastes and requirements – please do get in touch so we can start planning.
The fastest inland route takes around six hours. Following the coast through Santa Barbara and Big Sur is much slower, at around 10 hours of driving without stops, so it's best spread over several days. This itinerary takes eight days to reach San Francisco, including three nights in Yosemite.
We recommend at least 12–14 nights to combine Los Angeles, the coast, Yosemite and San Francisco without rushing. This itinerary gives three nights in Yosemite, enough to see Yosemite Valley, the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias and, in season, Glacier Point.
Yosemite is around 170–200 miles from San Francisco, depending on which entrance you use. That's usually around four to four and a half hours' drive, which is why we suggest staying near the park rather than visiting on a day trip.
At busy times of year, Yosemite has required visitors to book a timed entry reservation in advance. The rules change from year to year, so we'll check the current requirements for your travel dates and let you know what to book.
Yes. Driving from San Francisco to Los Angeles puts you on the ocean side of the road along Big Sur, which many people prefer for the views. We can reverse the route, flying into San Francisco and home from Los Angeles.
Late spring, from May to June, is best for waterfalls, when snowmelt is at its peak. September and October are quieter, with settled weather, though the falls are lower. Some high roads, including Glacier Point Road and Tioga Road, usually close in winter.
