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What is the best route from San Francisco to Los Angeles?

My brother lives in Southern California and I’m planning a trip to visit him in a few weeks. Which is the best route to take from San Francisco to Los Angeles?

avatar
Joshua Levy · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
California
is full of beautiful sights and long stretches of open road. Luckily, that means anyone hoping to explore the Golden State has a variety of options. Here are the best routes you can take from San Francisco to Los Angeles:
Highway 5: The quick route
The drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles only takes 6 hours on Highway 5, but there isn’t much to see along the way. The whole trip is made of paved roads passing through rural communities. So while it’s definitely the fastest route, it’s not the prettiest.
  1. Hop on 101 South to Highway I-580
  2. Merge onto I-580
  3. Continue for 15 miles
  4. Merge onto I-5 South
  5. Continue until you reach Los Angeles
Highway 1: The scenic route
If you have some time to kill, this route may be the way to go. While driving to
Los Angeles
from San Francisco can easily take over 11 hours on Highway 1, the entire route takes drivers along the ocean and through deep, lush forests. While the drive-time is almost double, it’s worth it if you have a little time to spare.
  1. Take Highway 35 South through San Francisco
  2. Merge onto Highway 1
  3. Continue until you reach Highway 10
  4. Merge onto Highway 10
  5. Continue until you reach Los Angeles in about 3 miles
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