California - Driving LAX to SFO

So, I'm planning a trip to LA and my wife wants to head to San Francisco for a day. Does it sound absolutely crazy to drive it in one day? We'll be arriving at LAX around 12:00 on a Thursday and picking up a rental car. For the return to LA, we'd be leaving San Francisco around 15:00 or so on Friday. I figure that we'd be able to have dinner in San Francisco on Thursday, wander around Fisherman's Wharf, etc. on Friday morning and stay for lunch, then head back. I know it sounds rushed, and I'm positive that it will be.

From what I've read elsewhere, the shortest route (we're not interested in the scenic route this time) along I-5 should take about six hours. Following my plan, I'm guessing we'd be avoiding the bad traffic both ways.

Does this sound doable? I know it doesn't sound ideal, but is it reasonable?

For the return to LA, we'd be leaving San Francisco around 15:00 or so on Friday.

3pm might be a little late to beat the traffic around here on a Friday. 2pm might very well work.

It's doable, you should certainly take the 5, unless you're very lucky you will hit traffic and it will take longer than 6 hours. I can't see enjoying it, though. Why not head down to SD or Santa Barbara or something much closer if you only have a day.

If I were going to do this trip (which I am not-just too much effort for way too little time in SF), I would be looking at a flight on SW which is pretty cheap and makes it more reasonable, timewise.

My rule is I don't drive LA-SF unless I have at least three nights at destination.

By the way, there is an excellent chance, at this time of year, of finding I5 closed for a long time because of snow or the deadly tule fog. I once spent twelve hours parked on I5 when the Highway Patrol closed the pass due to snow. Not an experience I recommend.

So, I'm planning a trip to LA and my wife wants to head to San Francisco for a day. Does it sound absolutely crazy to drive it in one day? We'll be arriving at LAX around 12:00 on a Thursday and picking up a rental car.

Certainly the trip is possible... I was commuting up for weekend gigs just before Christmas last year. It's roughly 390 miles via I-5 (aprox. 6 hours w/ no traffic) . I'd observe however that in winter, I-5 may be subject to delays due to ice/snow on the Grapevine or Tule fog in California's Central Valley that can considerably lengthen the trip's duration. US-101 up the coast is a bit more scenic, a bit longer at 440 miles (7 hours), and *much* less subject to nasty weather.

For the return to LA, we'd be leaving San Francisco around 15:00 or so on Friday.

That's the early start of the evening rush hour... Doubly bad that it's a Friday and people will be looking to head out of town. Think 2pm for a happier "get out of town..."

As one who is a native of the San Joaquin Valley (through which I-5 runs), the warnings about the tule fog are NOT being exaggerated. The problem is that the valley floor , situated in the middle of two mountain ranges, lies at about elevation 200 to 300 feet. Wind currents cause an air inversion, essentially trapping the fog and not allowing it to dissipate.

Otherwise, I concur with the recommendation of an earlier departure. Also, don't waste your time on such a limited schedule at the Wharf - it really is the worst kind of tourist trap imaginable.

Thanks for all of the advice. We're going at the end of March. Everything I've read says that this tule fog is no longer an issue come March 31. I'll cross my fingers and hope for the best.

While it adds an hour to your driving, consider 101 in one direction - it's a very pretty drive this time of year - green hills, wildflowers etc.

By the way, there is an excellent chance, at this time of year, of finding I5 closed for a long time because of snow or the deadly tule fog. I once spent twelve hours parked on I5 when the Highway Patrol closed the pass due to snow. Not an experience I recommend.

Yes, that happened when we drove from the SF Bay Area to visit Disneyland over President's Day weekend. The drive south was OK and fast, but the day of departure, Caltrans closed off the pass south of the Grapevine on I-5.

We had to take US 101 northbound as an alternative route, and it was really slow because of the diverted traffic going northbound, pretty much from the San Fernando Valley all the way to Santa Barbara.

[in re. Grapevine on I-5 closure]

We had to take US 101 northbound as an alternative route, and it was really slow because of the diverted traffic going northbound, pretty much from the San Fernando Valley all the way to Santa Barbara.


Hate to break this to you, but as someone who drives from "the San Fernando Valley all the way to Santa Barbara" all the time (finishing up a PhD at UC Santa Barbara while living in the SFV), the traffic on these two routes are pretty much unrelated. I've never seen an I-5 closure affect the 101... However, the 101 *is* subject to commuter traffic tie-ups, and has numerous choke points that accidents or local congestion can turn into lengthy parking lots. I expect the holiday weekend had more to do with the slow traffic rather than traffic diversion from the 5.

Hate to break this to you, but as someone who drives from "the San Fernando Valley all the way to Santa Barbara" all the time (finishing up a PhD at UC Santa Barbara while living in the SFV), the traffic on these two routes are pretty much unrelated. I've never seen an I-5 closure affect the 101... However, the 101 *is* subject to commuter traffic tie-ups, and has numerous choke points that accidents or local congestion can turn into lengthy parking lots. I expect the holiday weekend had more to do with the slow traffic rather than traffic diversion from the 5.

Just curious - if I-5 was closed, other than 101, what route would you take between LA and the Bay Area?

Just curious - if I-5 was closed, other than 101, what route would you take between LA and the Bay Area?

You could take CA-99 from the Grapevine to Modesto and cut over to San Francisco. This would still require a bit of I-5 from the San Fernando Valley up past Gorman and down the hill.

If you had to avoid the I-5 completely, and this happened once due to fires when my Uncle was trying to drive from LA to Visalia, you would need to take I-405 from LA to CA-14 to CA-58 to CA-99. You would get to see beautiful :rolleyes: Palmdale and Lancaster that way.

You could take CA-99 from the Grapevine to Modesto and cut over to San Francisco. This would still require a bit of I-5 from the San Fernando Valley up past Gorman and down the hill.Or take CA-99 to CA-152 (turn off is north of Madera). Travel via Los Banos and the Pacheco Pass, and meet up with US 101 at Gilroy ("enjoy" the pungent odor of garlic as you drive past the big garlic processing plant located just before the junction with 101). :)

One advantage to this route is that you can take I-280 North (Junipero Serra Freeway) beginning at San Jose for a scenic ride up to The City (you also get to avoid the very busy Bayshore Freeway).

When I-5 closes it's usually due to snow on the Grapevine. That's the section over Tejon Pass between Santa Clarita and the I-5/CA-99 junction south of Bakersfield.

Routes using CA-99 will not work in this situation. US-101 is the best alternate to the Bay Area and Monterey. The other detour mentioned (CA-14/CA-58) is longer, but works if you must get to the Central Valley (Bakersfield, Fresno, Yosemite, etc)

During tule fog season US-101 is a safer bet as it isn't affected like I-5 and CA-99 are.

Or take CA-99 to CA-152 (turn off is north of Madera). Travel via Los Banos and the Pacheco Pass, and meet up with US 101 at Gilroy ("enjoy" the pungent odor of garlic as you drive past the big garlic processing plant located just before the junction with 101). :)

One advantage to this route is that you can take I-280 North (Junipero Serra Freeway) beginning at San Jose for a scenic ride up to The City (you also get to avoid the very busy Bayshore Freeway).

Isn't there a little shortcut just past the Pacheco Pass where you take a sort-of back road in the direction of Hollister and come out by the outlets, where you can then jump on 101?

Isn't there a little shortcut just past the Pacheco Pass where you take a sort-of back road in the direction of Hollister and come out by the outlets, where you can then jump on 101?Correct - it is the Ferguson Road turnoff: (it is actually located a few miles past the Hollister turnoff):

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images151/ca-152_wb_san_felipe_16.jpg

Making the left (staying on 152) takes you past the garlic processing plant to 101. If you don't follow 152 and take Ferguson Road instead, the road curves and change its name to Leavesley Road, which leads to the outlets and 101.

(When I was a kid, we used to go from Fresno to Watsonville, so I am used to the 152 routing).

Isn't there a little shortcut just past the Pacheco Pass where you take a sort-of back road in the direction of Hollister and come out by the outlets, where you can then jump on 101?

There are several of these back road shortcuts. The one we use is to take 156 off of 152 toward Hollister. Turn right on Fairview, which becomes Shore Road and go to Hwy 25. Turn right on 25 to 101. Since we live in Santa Cruz, we then take 101 south to 129 and take 129 through Watsonville to Highway 1 and head north from there.

Thanks.

Correct - it is the Ferguson Road turnoff: (it is actually located a few miles past the Hollister turnoff):

Making the left (staying on 152) takes you past the garlic processing plant to 101. If you don't follow 152 and take Ferguson Road instead, the road curves and change its name to Leavesley Road, which leads to the outlets and 101.

(When I was a kid, we used to go from Fresno to Watsonville, so I am used to the 152 routing).

Isnt that the stupid spot where there isnt a stop sign yet everyone who is turning left stops to yield to drivers going the other way, creating 10 minute delays while everyone sits backed up waiting for them to turn?

Isnt that the stupid spot where there isnt a stop sign yet everyone who is turning left stops to yield to drivers going the other way, creating 10 minute delays while everyone sits backed up waiting for them to turn?

Yes.

Save the time and put the gas money towards flights between LAX and SFO? That'd be my preference, certainly.

Flying is great if you are going solo, but if you have 2-3 traveling with you, it makes sense to drive..

Isnt that the stupid spot where there isnt a stop sign yet everyone who is turning left stops to yield to drivers going the other way, creating 10 minute delays while everyone sits backed up waiting for them to turn?

Actually, it's a lot better now since the 152-156 overpass/interchange was completed, so what you've described is now a thing of the past.

Actually, it's a lot better now since the 152-156 overpass/interchange was completed, so what you've described is now a thing of the past.

I havent done that drive in a while, but its good to know ^