Take a West Coast road trip from LA to San Francisco

• The drive covers nearly 400 miles from Los Angeles to San Francisco, taking around six hours via the direct I-5 highway – or slightly longer if you choose the more scenic Pacific Coast Highway.
• Enjoy stunning coastal views, iconic landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge and Hearst Castle, wildlife at the elephant seal rookery, and local soccer culture from Major League Soccer matches to grassroots clubs.
• Renting with Hertz removes the stress of public transit and lets you take control of your own itinerary, including a range of vehicle options tailored to your terrain, and practical add-ons like one-way drop-offs.

The drive from LA to San Francisco

The LA to San Francisco drive is mainly along the I-5, in a journey that’s just under 400 miles. The direct route, which goes along the top eastern side of the Bay, covers 382 miles and typically takes just over six hours to drive. Another option is to head along the lower part of the San Francisco Bay area, covering the entire western side of it. This is a more a scenic route taking six hours and 15 minutes in a 387-mile journey – letting you enjoy more of the Bay views as you drive into San Francisco. There are some tolls on this route - Hertz’s All-Inclusive Tolling PlatePass can help you streamline the process.

Starting point: Los Angeles

Los Angeles is the starting point of this Pacific coast highway road trip, where the adventure begins. From the Hollywood Sign to the Santa Monica Pier and the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the City of Angels leaves you spoilt for choice on what to indulge in.

Soak up the sun and catch some waves over at Santa Monica and Venice beach, then enjoy a spell of retail therapy on Rodeo Drive. If you’re a fan of gastronomy, Grand Central Market is a foodie haven with everything from tacos to classic California coffee.

There are plenty of parking options, from metered street parking dotted around the downtown area to private garages such as the Aiso parking lot in Little Tokyo and K 3 parking lot in Koreatown. Consider renting a convertible to make the most of the LA sun and cool coastal breezes while driving.

LA is the home of LA Galaxy in the MLS (Major League Soccer), playing their games at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson. It’s always worth getting a ticket and taking in the match day atmosphere if you’re in LA. There’s also Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC), who ply their trade in BMO Stadium in Exposition Park. The NWSL’s (National Women's Soccer League) Angel City FC are the top women’s team, sharing the BMO Stadium.

Santa Barbara, California

It’s a one hour and 36-minute, 94-mile drive from LA to Santa Barbara, going past Thousand Oaks, Ventura and more along the Pacific Coast highway. Here you can find Stearns Wharf, a great spot to grab some scrumptious seafood with breathtaking coastal views.

Dwight Murphy Field  is a public park that features state of the art outdoor football turf, great for a quick pick-up soccer game or casual kickabout. If you’re after golden-hour sunset shots and relaxed beach vibes, go to Butterfly Beach over in Montecito. Also, sitting atop the Santa Barbara County Courthouse, the 85-foot Clock Tower  offers 360-degree panoramic vistas of the area. Then there’s Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, a tranquil green oasis, offering a full 78 acres of California’s natural flora.

If you’re in the mood to watch a soccer game, the USL Championship’s Santa Barbara Sky FC have their home games at La Playa Stadium. College soccer is hugely popular here too, with the UC Santa Barbara (UCSB) Gauchos – winners of the 2006 NCAA National Championship bringing in roaring crowds at Harder Stadium in an electrifying atmosphere. It had the country’s highest attended game in 2010, with the September 24^th’ game between UCLA and UCSB pulling in a full 15,896  fans.

San Simeon, California

Next up on the West Coast USA road trip is San Simeon, taking around 2.5 hours to drive the 137 or so miles from Santa Barbara. The itinerary list here includes Tour Hearst Castle, a 127- acre landscaped estate with 115 elegant rooms, two pools and lush gardens, an accredited art museum featuring over 20,000 art items, and the possibility of spotting some zebras on the nearby hills.

The Piedras Blancas Rookery is where elephant seals gather, with safe viewing points from nearby boardwalks, perfect to take a selfie with them. Then there’s the Boucher Trail, a 1.9-mile coastal trail that offers pleasant scenery while on a short walk. An SUV rental could be a perfect road companion for this route, with the ideal balance of space and ruggedness.

Big Sur, California

San Simeon to Big Sur is a 65-mile drive, which takes around 1.5 hours with a Hertz car rental. Picture this: you’ve rented an open top convertible, you’ve got the Cali rays on your skin and the cool offshore breeze of the Pacific Ocean hitting you as you drive. That’s the scene that awaits you on the San Simeon to Big Sur route along the CA-1 North.

Bixby Creek Bridge is a popular photo hotspot for people who come here, with the 714 feet long bridge overlooking the deep Bixby Canyon below. There’s also McWay Falls, located in Julia Preiffer Burns State Park. Here you can watch as the stunning 80 -foot waterfall surges onto the sand and into the Pacific Ocean, with panoramic views galore from the top. And the Redwood trails along here have some breathtaking deep forest, perfect for a spot of forest bathing . Next stop – Monterey.

Monterey, California

Monterey is a short 45-minute drive along the CA-1 North from Big Sur. The sublime coastal views continue all the way, with the Pacific Ocean on your left and the green Carmel Valley to your right as you drive, offering the perfect blend of land and sea.

Old Fisherman’s Wharf lets you stroll the piers for whale-watching and followed by a bowl of delicious local clam chowder. Then you have the Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, a few miles south of central area, with visually stunning scenery, sea lions, and hidden coves – a wanderlust paradise. Cannery Row, made famous by author John Steinbeck, is a waterfront strip with plenty of restaurants and boutiques if you’re in need of food and refreshments.

Monterey is also home to Monterey Bay F.C, who compete in the USL Championship, playing at Cardinale Stadium on the CSUMB campus. Despite being the second tier of U.S soccer, the games can still get competitive with a passionate crowd in support.

Santa Cruz, California

Driving 50 minutes or so along the CA-1 get you to Santa Cruz, which also has coastal views all the way. Here you can expect a laidback beach town atmosphere mixed with coastal redwoods and a vibrant surf culture.

By renting a truck you can just throw a couple of surfboards in the back and head out to catch some waves. The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk has The Giant Dipper – California’s oldest operating wooden roller coaster, built in 1924, as well as a host of carnival games for some fun leisure. Some of the top coastal spots here are Santa Cruz Wharf, West Cliff Drive, or the colorful Capitole Village for a mix of sea lions, surfing, and a lazy-days beach feel.

Soccer here is more grass-roots level, with Santa Cruz United FC competing in NorCal Premier Soccer and the National Premier League (NPL). This offers a chance to see promising upcoming players looking to make their break in the game, so expect to see two sides battling it out for the win.

Finish point: San Francisco, California

The final stop on this West Coast road trip is San Francisco, aka The Golden City – around 1.5 hours via the CA-17 North and US-101 North from Santa Cruz. You’re spoilt for things to do in San Fran, from its iconic hills, the giant Golden Gate Bridge, the Walt Disney Family Museum and much more. Perhaps head out to Alcatraz on a ferry from Pier 33 for a close-up look at the legendary penitentiary island that housed prisoners for nearly 30 years in the mid-1900s.

LA to San Francisco road trip, let’s go!

You could get planes, trains, and buses to do the West Coast soccer road trip you’ve always dreamed of. But you might find that transportation schedules, connections and cancellations get in the way of all the fun to be had.

That’s where Hertz comes in: sat at the wheel of a car rental of your choice, you have full freedom to explore the PCH Highway on your own terms. Switch up the itinerary as you go, take in new locations and stay a little longer if your plans allow. Journey the Pacific Coast Highway with a Hertz car rental and take in the full majesty of the American west coast.

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