Road trips from San Francisco

7 road trips that start in or near San Francisco, from 2 to 6 days, each with a stop-by-stop itinerary, distances and campsites along the way.

Coast & island drives

Tule elk, oysters and fog coast – by camper from Muir Woods via Point Reyes to Fort Ross

116 mi11 stops5 days

In-depth road trip guides

Fog, cliffs and elephant seals – the Pacific Coast Highway by camper

434 mi10 stops5 days

In-depth road trip guides

Vines, redwoods and fog coast – by camper through Napa, Sonoma and the Anderson Valley to Mendocino

155 mi10 stops6 days

Route	Suggested days	Distance	Driving	Stops
Highway 1 south: San Francisco to Santa Cruz and Monterey	2	113 mi	2 h 01 min	7
Sonoma, Napa and Point Reyes	3	144 mi	2 h 35 min	6
Sonoma and Mendocino coast on Highway 1	3	174 mi	3 h 06 min	9
Highway 1: San Francisco to Santa Monica	4	448 mi	8 h 00 min	11
Tule elk, oysters and fog coast – by camper from Muir Woods via Point Reyes to Fort Ross	5	116 mi	2 h 04 min	11
Fog, cliffs and elephant seals – the Pacific Coast Highway by camper	5	434 mi	7 h 45 min	10
Vines, redwoods and fog coast – by camper through Napa, Sonoma and the Anderson Valley to Mendocino	6	155 mi	2 h 46 min	10

FAQs

What are the best road trips from San Francisco?

Popular routes starting in or near San Francisco: Highway 1 south: San Francisco to Santa Cruz and Monterey, Sonoma, Napa and Point Reyes, Sonoma and Mendocino coast on Highway 1, Highway 1: San Francisco to Santa Monica and Tule elk, oysters and fog coast – by camper from Muir Woods via Point Reyes to Fort Ross.

Is there a short road trip from San Francisco?

The shortest is Highway 1 south: San Francisco to Santa Cruz and Monterey: 2 days, about 113 mi.

What is the longest road trip from San Francisco?

The longest is Highway 1: San Francisco to Santa Monica: 4 days, about 448 mi with 11 stops.