More about: 4 Best Day Trips to San Francisco from Los Angeles
Among the activities you can see and do in Los Angeles is a tour to discover San Francisco, one of the most characteristic places on the Californian coast, with its permanent fog, the ubiquitous Golden Gate Bridge and its picturesque cable cars.
Due to the distance between Los Angeles and San Francisco, which is over 600 kilometres, excursions last two days or more, but usually include other destinations that are also characteristic of the West Coast of the United States.
1. 3-day tour to San Francisco, Santa Barbara and Yosemite National Park
California has so many destinations to visit and the distances between them are so great that for some travellers it can be overwhelming.
For this reason, if you are visiting Los Angeles and have a few days to spare , an organised trip to San Francisco, Santa Barbara and Yosemite National Park may be a good option.
What you will see on this tour
On these bus tours, you will see some of the main sites on the Californian coast, such as Santa Barbara, Solvang, Carmel-by-the-Sea and San Francisco, with its eclectic Hearst Castle.
This is one of the best tours to do from Los Angeles, as it includes a full tour of San Francisco on the second day, with a boat trip in the city of the Golden Gate and a visit to Chinatown, as well as a three-day trip along the 17 Mile Drive.
The last stop before returning to the hotel is Yosemite National Park, where you can go on a full hike. If you are visiting Los Angeles in winter, you will be able to enjoy the snow-covered forest.
These excursions include accommodation for the first two nights, the permanent assistance of an expert local guide and tickets to attractions.
Details of interest
- Price of the tour... These tours cost approximately £579 per person, including round-trip bus transfers with hotel pick-up, the assistance of a local guide, admission to attractions, and accommodation for the first two nights.
- Duration of the tour... Approximately 3 days.
- Advantages of this excursion... It is one of the most comprehensive tours of the Californian coast.
2. 5-day trip to San Francisco, Las Vegas and Hoover Dam from Los Angeles
If you are planning a longer stay in Los Angeles and would also like to visit San Francisco and Las Vegas on an organised tour, these tours may be the ideal option for you.
Day 1
On the first day, you will take a comprehensive tour of Los Angeles, which will include a complete tour of Hollywood and the main sites, including the city's best museums
Second day
On the second day, you will visit San Francisco on an itinerary that usually includes a bay cruise from which you can see the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, Fisherman's Wharf and the Transamerica Pyramid.
Remaining days
From the third day onwards, the tour is dedicated to visiting Las Vegas, its iconic welcome sign and The Strip, which is the heart of the city. You will also have the opportunity to visit the Hoover Dam.
On the fifth day, back in Los Angeles, there is a tour of Yosemite National Park.
If you are visiting Los Angeles during the summer, these excursions also allow you to explore the farmland of the San Joaquin Valley, which is adjacent to Yosemite.
Details of interest
- Tour price... These tours cost approximately £750 per person, including round-trip bus transfers with hotel pick-up, four nights' accommodation at hotels in the destinations, the services of a local guide and admission to attractions.
- Duration of the tour... Approximately 5 days.
- Advantages of this tour... This tour offers good value for money and a detailed tour of some of the main attractions of the West Coast.
3. Two-day private tour to San Francisco from Los Angeles
The Californian coast is a very popular destination for group trips, so private tours often offer the best options.
On these two-day tours, you will be able to see the best of Los Angeles and San Francisco, with private transport from your hotel and a night-time trip along the Californian highway.
In Los Angeles , you can discover the legendary Hollywood sign, Venice Beach, Santa Barbara, Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea.
These tours are ideal for privately exploring the sites included in the hop-on hop-off tourist bus tours of Los Angeles
What to see in San Francisco
Once in San Francisco, don't miss places like Fisherman's Wharf, the Golden Gate Bridge and Napa Valley, one of California's natural wonders.
These tours also include a tour of the city centre with an expert local guide and a walk through the Victorian houses of Painted Ladies, which can be just as exciting as a helicopter ride over Los Angeles or a tour of celebrity homes
Details of interest
- Tour price... These tours are priced at approximately £2,500 per group of up to 14 people, including round-trip bus transfers with hotel pick-up and the assistance of a local guide.
- Duration of the tour... Approximately 2 days.
- Advantages of this tour... It is a quick tour to see the main sights of Los Angeles and San Francisco.
4. Car tour of the Pacific Coast to San Francisco from Los Angeles
A self-guided tour can be an ideal option if you are looking for an economical alternative or if you are visiting Los Angeles with children It is also a good option if you are travelling along the Californian coast with a hire car, as you can drive at your own pace.
On these self-guided tours, you can start the tour in Los Angeles or anywhere along the road to San Francisco. Along the way, you'll learn the best stories about the places you visit.
You'll pass through Santa Barbara, Lompoc, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Monterey, San Jose and Pescadero before arriving in San Francisco after a tour lasting between 3 and 4 hours.
These self-guided options are also ideal if you are planning a short stay in the city and are looking for a quick and direct route from Los Angeles to San Francisco, avoiding tourist buses or multi-night excursions.
If that's the case, here is a list of the best things to see and do in the city in 3 days.
Details of interest
- Price of the excursion... The self-guided tour costs approximately £15 and is charged per vehicle, not per passenger.
- Duration of the tour... Between 3 and 4 hours.
- Advantages of this excursion... It's an economical, quick and ideal alternative if you're visiting Los Angeles with children.
How to book a trip to San Francisco from Los Angeles?
You can book a trip to San Francisco from Los Angeles online in advance or you can book tours once you arrive in the city.
If you are visiting Los Angeles during Christmas or in the high season, I recommend booking in advance to avoid delays or last-minute price increases.
Please note that, depending on the time of year, the itineraries of multi-day tours may change, especially those that include visits to Yosemite National Park, so you should take this into account when making your reservation.
How long does a tour to San Francisco from Los Angeles last?
The answer depends on the tour you choose, but keep in mind that given the distance between Los Angeles and San Francisco, which is more than 600 kilometres, most tours are two days or more, with the exception of the self-guided tour.
If you opt for the two-day private tour, you will take an overnight trip along the Californian coast, which is one of the best things to do in Los Angeles at night, and you will also save on a night's hotel accommodation.
What will I see on a trip to San Francisco from Los Angeles?
On these tours, you will discover the best attractions in San Francisco, such as Fisherman's Wharf, the Golden Gate Bridge, colonial houses and cable cars, as well as the
Transamerica Pyramid.
Depending on the tour you choose, you can also visit attractions in Los Angeles and other nearby sites such as Carmel-by-the-Sea, Santa Barbara, Solvang, Monterey, Lompoc, Pescadero and San Jose.
If you decide to take the longer tours, you can also stop in Las Vegas and its main sites in the city centre, the Hoover Dam, Yosemite National Park and Napa Valley. In any case, you will have access to the most iconic places on the Californian coast.
Tips for a trip to San Francisco from Los Angeles
If you plan to visit Los Angeles during the high season, I recommend booking in advance, as trips to the main attractions, such as San Francisco, tend to sell out quickly or may increase in price if you book at the last minute.
If you are visiting Los Angeles with children or planning a short stay in the city, the best option for your trip to San Francisco may be a self-guided tour, although keep in mind that you will need a car for this.
If you are travelling in a group, the best options are private tours, as tourist services on the Californian coast are well equipped for this type of trip.
Before booking the tour that best suits your travel plans, I recommend checking the best times to visit Los Angeles
How much does a trip to San Francisco from Los Angeles cost?
The answer depends on the tour you choose and the visits and services included in the tour you book, although you should bear in mind that , except for the self-guided tour, which costs approximately £15, tours of San Francisco from Los Angeles are not cheap.
A private two-day excursion costs approximately £180 per person for groups of up to 14 people, while options that include other sites, such as Yosemite National Park, Hoover Dam, the Napa Valley wine reserves or a visit to Las Vegas, cost approximately between £579 and £850.
Please note that these options usually include round-trip transportation from Los Angeles with hotel pick-up, accommodation at hotels in the destinations, and admission to attractions, although meals are not usually included.
Why is it a good idea to take a trip to San Francisco from Los Angeles?
The West Coast has some of the most iconic sites in the United States, and one of the most important of these is undoubtedly San Francisco.
For this reason, if you are visiting Los Angeles and this tour fits your schedule and budget, I recommend that you don't miss out on this city, which is famous for the Golden Gate Bridge but has many other attractions to discover.
The nearly 600 kilometres between Los Angeles and San Francisco are no small distance, but I assure you that when you see the sloping streets, cable cars and colonial houses of the City of Fog, you will see that it was well worth the visit.
What are the advantages of taking a guided tour vs. visiting San Francisco from Los Angeles on my own?
The West Coast is a very popular destination for visitors travelling on their own, so it is possible to get to know San Francisco from Los Angeles without taking a guided tour, although a tour will definitely be the most comfortable option for your trip and will save you time and money.
The more than 600 kilometres separating the two cities can often be covered by bus while enjoying the night-time scenery.
On a guided tour, you'll also be sure to learn all the details about the places you visit, especially those towns along the 17 Mile Drive or on the outskirts of Los Angeles and San Francisco, such as Santa Barbara, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Lompoc and Pescadero.
If you are driving a rental car or your own car and do not want to book a guided tour , you can opt for a self-guided tour, which is economical and provides information about the places you visit, with recommended routes and other suggestions to enhance your experience on the Californian coast.