San Francisco Day Trips from Los Angeles
If you are visiting the California coast you won't want to miss getting closer to San Francisco to get the most out of your trip. The most convenient way is to do it on an excursion from Los Angeles.
San Francisco | ©Braden Collum
Among the activities you have to see and do in Los Angeles, you can take a tour to visit San Francisco, one of the most characteristic places of the Californian coast, with its permanent fog, the omnipresent Golden Gate and its picturesque streetcars.
Due to the distance that separates Los Angeles from San Francisco, which is over 600 kilometers, the tours are of two days or more, but usually include other destinations that are also characteristic of the West Coast of the United States.
1. Three-day tour to San Francisco, Santa Barbara & Yosemite National Park from Los Angeles
California has so many destinations to visit and the distances are so great that for some travelers it can be overwhelming.
For that reason, if you are visiting Los Angeles and have a few days available, taking an organized tour of San Francisco, Santa Barbara and Yosemite National Park can be a good option.
What you will see on this tour
On these bus tours you will see some of the main sites of the California 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 ride in the Golden Gate City and a visit to Chinatown, plus a three-day trip along 17 Mile Drive.
The last stop, before the return to the hotel, is at Yosemite National Park, where you can do a full hike. If you are visiting Los Angeles in winter, you will be able to enjoy the snowy forest.
These tours include accommodations for the first two nights, round-the-clock assistance from an expert local guide and entrance fees to the attractions.
Details of interest
- Price of the excursion... These excursions have an approximate price of 579 euros per person, including round-trip bus transfers with hotel pick-up, the assistance of a local guide, entrance fees to the attractions and accommodation for the first two nights.
- Duration of the tour... Approximately 3 days.
- Advantages of this tour... One of the most complete tours of the California coast.
2. Private two day tour to San Francisco from Los Angeles
The California coast is a very common destination for group travel, so private tours often offer the best alternatives.
On these two-day tours you will be able to see the best sites of Los Angeles and San Francisco, with transfer in a private vehicle with hotel pick-up and an overnight California road trip.
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 touring the sites included in the Los Angeles hop on-hop off tour bus tours.
What to see in San Francisco
Once in San Francisco, you can'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 downtown tour with an expert local guide and a tour of the Painted Ladies Victorian homes, which can be as exciting as a helicopter ride over Los Angeles or a tour of celebrity homes.
Details of Interest
- Price of the tour... These tours are priced at approximately 2500 euros 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... This is a quick tour to see the highlights of Los Angeles and San Francisco.
3. 5-day tour to San Francisco, Las Vegas and Hoover Dam from Los Angeles
If you are planning a stay of several days in Los Angeles and would also like to see San Francisco and Las Vegas on an organized tour, these tours may be the ideal choice.
First day
On the first day you will take a full 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, in an itinerary that usually includes a cruise around the bay from which you will be able to see the Golden Gate, Alcatraz Prison Island, Fisherman's Wharf and the Transamerica Pyramid.
Rest of the days
From the third day, the tour is dedicated to the visit to Las Vegas, its iconic welcome sign and The Strip, which is the heart of the city. You will also be able to visit the Hoover Dam.
On the fifth day, on the way back to Los Angeles, you will tour Yosemite National Park.
If you are visiting Los Angeles during the summer on these tours you can also visit the farmland area of the San Joaquin Valley, which is adjacent to Yosemite.
Details of interest
- Tour price... These tours cost approximately 850 euros per person, including round-trip bus transfers with hotel pick-up, four nights' hotel accommodations at the destination hotels, local guide assistance and attraction entrance fees.
- Duration of the tour... Approximately 5 days.
- Advantages of this tour... This is a value for money tour with a detailed tour of some of the top attractions on the West Coast.
4. Self-guided driving 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 a budget alternative or if you are visiting Los Angeles with children. It is also a good option if you are traveling along the California coast with a rental car, as you can drive at your own pace.
On these self-guided tours you can start the tour in Los Angeles or from anywhere on the road to San Francisco. Along the way you will learn the best stories of the places you visit.
You will pass through Santa Barbara, Lompoc, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Monterey, San Jose and Pescadero before arriving in San Francisco after a 3 to 4 hour tour .
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 tour buses or overnight excursions.
If that's your case, here's 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 has an approximate cost of 15 euros and applies per vehicle, not per passenger.
- Duration of the excursion... Between 3 and 4 hours.
- Advantages of this tour... It is an economical, quick and ideal alternative if you are visiting Los Angeles with children.
How to book a tour to San Francisco from Los Angeles?
You can book a tour to San Francisco from Los Angeles online in advance or you can book the tours as soon as you arrive in the city.
If you are visiting Los Angeles during the Christmas or peak season months, I recommend that you book early to avoid delays or last minute price increases.
Keep in mind that, depending on the time of year, the routes of the multi-day tours may be modified, especially those that include visits to Yosemite National Park, so you should consider this point when making your reservation.
How long is a tour to San Francisco from Los Angeles?
The answer depends on the tour you choose, but keep in mind that given the distance between Los Angeles and San Francisco, which is over 600 kilometers, most tours are two days or longer, with the exception of the self-guided tour.
If you opt for the two-day private tour you will be taking an overnight trip along the California coast, which is one of the best things to do in Los Angeles at night and you will also save a night in a hotel.
What will I see on a tour to San Francisco from Los Angeles?
On these tours you will see the best attractions in San Francisco, such as the Fisherman's Wharf, the Golden Gate Bridge, the colonial houses and their streetcars and also theTransamerica Pyramid.
Depending on the tour you choose, you can also visit Los Angeles attractions 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 excursions, you can also stop in Las Vegas and its major sites in downtown Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, Yosemite National Park and Napa Valley. In any case, you will have access to the most emblematic places of the Californian coast.
Tips for a trip to San Francisco from Los Angeles
If you are planning to visit Los Angeles in the high season months I advise you to book early as tours to major sites, such as San Francisco, tend to sell out quickly or can increase in price if you book at the last minute.
If you are visiting Los Angeles with children or are 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 for this you will need to have a car.
If you are traveling in a group, the best options are private tours, as the tour services on the California coast are prepared for this type of trip.
Before hiring the tour that best suits your travel plan, I recommend that you check which are the best times to visit Los Angeles.
How much does a tour to San Francisco from Los Angeles cost?
The answer depends on the tour you choose and the visits and services included in the contracted tour, although you should keep in mind that except for the self-guided tour option, which has an approximate cost of 15 euros, the visits to San Francisco from Los Angeles are not cheap.
A two-day private tour is priced at approximately 180 euros per person in groups of up to 14 people, while options that include other sites, such as Yosemite National Park, Hoover Dam, Napa Valley wine reserves or a visit to Las Vegas, are priced at approximately 579 to 850 euros.
Please note that these options generally include round-trip transfers from Los Angeles with hotel pick-up, hotel accommodations at the destination hotels and entrance fees to the attractions, although meals are not usually included.
Why is it advisable to take a tour to San Francisco from Los Angeles?
The West Coast has some of the most emblematic sites in the United States and one of the most important of those sites is, without a doubt, San Francisco.
For that reason, if you visit Los Angeles and this tour fits your time and budget, I recommend that you do not miss this city, which stands out for the Golden Gate but has many more attractions to discover.
The almost 600 kilometers that separate Los Angeles from San Francisco are not few, but I assure you that when you get to know the sloping streets, the streetcars and the colonial houses of the City of Fog, you will see that it was 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 frequent destination for visitors traveling on their own, so it is possible to visit San Francisco from Los Angeles without a guided tour, although an excursion will definitely be the most comfortable option for your trip and will save you time and money.
The more than 600 kilometers that separate both cities in many cases can be traveled by bus while you enjoy the night scenery.
A guided tour will also ensure that you get to know all the details of the places you visit, especially those cities along 17 Mile Drive or outside of Los Angeles and San Francisco, such as Santa Barbara, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Lompoc and Pescadero.
In case you are driving a rented car or your own car and do not want to hire a guided tour you can opt for the self-guided tour, which is economical and allows you to have information of the sites you visit, with recommended roads and other suggestions that will enliven your experience in the Californian coast.