We're well within summer right now and that called for one of the best American pastimes – the road trip.
Long distance road trips are plentiful across the vast United States, and we wanted to tackle one of the most recognized A-to-Bs out there: Los Angeles to San Francisco. The trip consists of long highway stretches and beautiful roads along the CA-1 Pacific Coast Highway (known by locals as the PCH), but beyond the actual trip and six hours of commuting, what can you expect to in between and when you get there?
For our official road trip guide, we wanted to be a bit well-rounded when it comes to what we ate, where we stayed, what we experienced and more. Some locales may be familiar with our audience, while a few are a little less known and others are even downright touristy. Nevertheless, we wanted to share the destinations and stops we took on and what you can, and should, encounter should you be looking for the quintessential California drive.
Check out our LA to SF road trip guide below, and click here to quick save all of our destinations in one easy link.
How to Get There
Naturally the first question you'll have when attempting a road trip is 'what car are we driving?' For us, we prefer sporty rides and fast acceleration, however for long distance travel and a few hundred-mile stretches here and there, things change a bit. Hot take, but choosing the hardcore race-prepped track weapon is the wrong choice, as you'd want to prioritize comfort over anything else.
For us, the Audi RS6 Avant was made available for review, and naturally it fit the bill for a 450+ mile excursion. Gigantic rear trunk with 30 cubic feet of cargo space (even without the seats folded flat) easily fit all of our luggage, plus room to spare for any shopping, equipment, accessories and more made loading and unloading a cinch. The ride was extra comfortable with its modern, creature-comfort-filled interior, the Bang & Olufsen sound system engulfed the cabin in endless Frank Ocean and Kendrick Lamar tunes, and the 4.0L twin-turbo V8 with 621 horsepower made the trip not only fun, but exciting as well.
Where to Stay
Post Ranch Inn
Since we were tired from the first (and longest) leg of the trip, our first night required a bit of upscale elegance and refinement. Post Ranch Inn along the Big Sur coast provides exceptional ocean views, majestic redwood immersion, world-class dining and some of the most beautiful rooms available. It's no wonder the hotel was voted #1 Hotel in the World by the Andrew Harper Members’ Choice Awards 2024 and is a recipient of the highly-coved Three Keys designation by Michelin.
Post Ranch Inn
47900 CA-1
Big Sur, CA 93920
1 Hotel Embarcadero
The 1 Hotel in the Embarcadero district provided the cityscape living we'd come to expect from the booming tech-rich city. What impressed us however is how comfortable and settled we felt, with the accommodations' multiple amenities, close proximity to restaurants and nightlife, modern rooms and more. The hotel even provides Audi transportation to its guests should they feel the need to explore the town.
1 Hotel Embarcadero
8 Mission St
San Francisco, CA 94105
Where to Shop
WMV visvim Carmel
While the location for the cult-favorite brand may seem like a head scratcher to some, WMV visvim Carmel actually makes a lot of sense once you visit the shop. A "cozy feel and charm of the town" – as explained by director and founder Hiroki Nakamura – enhances the shopping experience and appeal of visvim and WMV products, while the beautifully open and minimalistic layout is quintessentially visvim. A must visit for fans while in NorCal.
WMV visvim Carmel
San Carlos 3 North West of 6th Ave
Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93921
The Darkside Initiative
When it comes to select streetwear shops, The Darkside Initiative is as OG as you can get in San Francisco. The Powell St. shop is a bit tucked away if you're unfamiliar, but the friendly staff and awesome curation of product makes it a top destination for streetwear kids and hypebeasts. One of the few locations in the US that regularly stocks ACRONYM and C.E as well.
The Darkside Initiative
1827 Powell St
San Francisco, CA 94133
FTC
Speaking of OG, FTC (short for For The City) has been the go-to spot for skaters and city kids looking for a chill hangout in San Francisco. We love how authentic the shop remains, catering more so to skate culture than fashion – the skate deck prep station is the first thing you see once you enter the store. That being said, be sure to pick up a fresh pair of kicks and an original FTC tee for your travels.
FTC
1632 Haight St
San Francisco, CA 94117
STASHD
If you're looking for an expanded selection of streetwear, look no further than STASHD, on the eastern outskirts of the Mission District. Inside you'll find the latest sneaker drops from Nike, New Balance, ASICS and more, while nestled within are pockets of brands like Stone Island, Human Made, Stüssy and more. Its website has a ton more to shop as well if you can't make it in.
STASHD
2360 3rd St
San Francisco, CA 94107
Where to Take a Coffee Break
Captain + Stoker
Monterey is highly touristy, but something about Captain + Stoker didn't feel like that. Perhaps its the garage-esque open layout and chill environment, where it's not too loud but also not ultra-quiet modern either. Grab your latte, find a street-facing seat and people watch your cares away.
Captain + Stoker
398 E Franklin St
Monterey, CA 93940
Sightglass
Need a place to check some emails while on your road trip? Sightglass blew us away with its massive seating options, strong wifi and even stronger coffee. We were surprised how long we stayed here, as we chatted alongside the bench seating up in the mezzanine area and watched the staff roast and pack its beans for distribution – a very cool and chill cafe experience.
Sightglass
270 7th St
San Francisco, CA 94103
Saint Frank
As we were preparing to leave San Francisco, we found Saint Frank and immediately felt like locals. The atmosphere was very clean and modern, but didn't feel intimidating at all. The Mira location – a stone's throw away from the Google SF headquarters – may have been filled with tech industry folks, but at no point did we feel out of place as tourists. We imagine it gets pretty busy here though, so avoid the rush hours before work and during the late afternoon if you're planning your weekday.
Saint Frank
120 Folsom St
San Francisco, CA 94105
Where to Eat
Lalla Grill Oceanside
What's the point of eating in Monterey if you don't have a view of the sea? Lalla is probably the most touristy spot on this guide, but we couldn't find a reason not to include it in the list. The food was good, service was fast, and the view was great as we dined on our fish and chips. Parking is a bit of a hassle, so swallow your pride and go for the paid garage parking on the next street over.
Lalla Grill Oceanside
654 Cannery Row
Monterey, CA 93940
Nepenthe
If you're looking for an amazing casual dining experience while on Big Sur, we highly recommend Nepenthe. The outside seating area is obviously what attracts most of the guests to this longtime coastal location, but the food was exceptional and drinks were amazing as well. If you're lucky, grab a table facing the ocean as the sun sets for the most serene dinner you'll probably have on the trip.
Nepenthe
48510 CA-1
Big Sur, CA 93920
The Google Cafe
On our way up to SF, we took a quick detour through San Jose to the Google headquarters, which surprisingly was easy to access and even provided free guest parking. The Google Cafe provided the needed lunch pick-me-up, as well as a great relaxation moment for coffee and treats. While a bit touristy and salesy – there's a Google Store right next door – we couldn't deny it was a solid lunch location for the traveling tourist.
The Google Cafe
2000 N Shoreline Blvd Ground Floor
Mountain View, CA 94043
Kevin's Noodle House
Sure there are fancy Vietnamese restaurants in San Francisco's parkside, but sometimes you just want something quick, easy, hearty and downright delicious. Kevin's Noodle House – also known properly as Pho Huynh Hiep – is just that, serving huge bowls of pho with more meat and noodles than its competition around the neighborhood. Locals love it and commonly refer to it as the "Best Pho in Town" – we agreed.
Kevin's Noodle House
1833 Irving St
San Francisco, CA 94122
Newkirk's
For breakfast, we needed a quick bite before heading out, and Newkirk's was there in a pinch. The small grab-and-go specializes in breakfast sandwiches, specifically egg varieties on a kaiser roll, but definitely ask for the house-made hot sauce which was a much-needed jalepeno-habanero-infused kick. Grab one to-go as well, as one might not be enough.
Newkirk's
1002 Potrero Ave
San Francisco, CA 94110
Niku Steakhouse
For our final meal of the trip, we had gone big before going home. Niku Steakhouse – a Michelin-starred wagyu steakhouse – hit the spot with its grilled maitake mushrooms, diver scallops, and of course the massive 44 oz. tomahawk ribeye which could probably even feed an extra companion of ours. The experience is there as well – prior to the meat arriving, our server brought out a custom made box of knives and told us to "choose our weapon." No wrong answers, just a fun teaser to the world class steak we were about to devour. Perfect for special occasions.
Niku Steakhouse
61 Division St
San Francisco, CA 94103
What to Experience
Big Sur Coast
Let's face it – the main reason for the LA to SF trip must be the coastal drive of Big Sur. While a section of the famous Highway 1 collapsed last year, the clean up has been steady so it shouldn't be a hinderance any more. Don't be disappointed if the clouds roll in and cover the horizon – in fact, we'd argue it was even more beautiful of a view. Pro tip: If you're going to stop on the side of the road to take photos, be sure to pull over completely and put your hazards on – everyone does it and it gets crowded real quick. Bring a hoodie as well, even in the dead of summer.
Big Sur State Historic Park
CA-1
Monterey, CA 93940
Cannery Row
Historically relevant and quaint, Cannery Row is probably the most recognizable destination in all of Monterey. There's plenty of small shops and stores to buy souvenirs, plus a slew of restaurants, cafes, ice cream shops and more. Prepare to spend easily an hour or two of your day walking up and down it and the adjacent streets.
Cannery Row
Monterey, CA 93940
Pfeiffer State Park
If you're a first timer to San Francisco, be sure to visit Pfeiffer State Park, for the redwood trees alone. While the park has plenty more to offer – quiet, serene atmospheres and pleasant hiking trails – we spent most of the day meandering around and through the thick redwoods, marveling at how colossal they really were. A must see for travelers and nature lovers.
Pfeiffer State Park
CA-1
Big Sur, CA
SF MOMA
Not an al fresco aficionado? San Francisco is home to SFMOMA, one of the largest museums of modern art in the U.S. Even for the inexperienced, SFMOMA is a spectacle of artwork, rarities, installations and more. Seven floors is a lot, but ask the front desk of their suggestions and they'll gladly advise. During our visit, we were able to enjoy the Art of Noise exhibit that displayed old audio equipment, concert posters and an awesome Teenage Engineering talking dolls exhibit, while tons of tourists including ourselves were drawn to the Kusama Yayoi floor(s) displaying her incredible dot-ridden pieces.
SFMOMA
151 3rd St
San Francisco, CA 94103
Where to Indulge
Bob's Donut & Pastry Shop
What's a road trip without a bit of indulgence? If you're a fan of carb overloading, Bob's Donuts is your spot. This small mom-and-pop specializes in daily, fresh doughnuts with huge proportions and sizes enough to feed anyone. No need for anything fancy – we tried the crumb cake donut, the raspberry jelly, a chocolate with sprinkles and the huge donut twist. There's even a "Big Kahuna" challenge donut if you're up for it – finish it within 3 minutes and become a Bob's hall-of-famer.
Bob's Donut & Pastry Shop
1621 Polk St
San Francisco, CA 94109
Humphry Slocombe
Craving a bit of dessert after our huge steak, we found Humphry Slocombe nestled within the Ferry Building just across the street from our hotel. While humble in appearance, the ice cream quality was top notch, evident in the line that was never shorter than 15 people. We were surprised how much we liked the "Secret Breakfast" flavor, which combined corn flakes with a touch of bourbon. Or, for the chocolate lovers, two scoops of Peanut Butter Fudge Ripple hit the spot just as well.
Humphry Slocombe
One Ferry Building #8
San Francisco, CA 94111
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