Phoenix to San Francisco Road Trip 2023

Road-tripping from Phoenix to San Francisco is a impressive panoramic adventure bypassing most of the West Coast’s best possible sights and landscapes. If you probably did the force flat out, it will take round 12 hours, so naturally, you’ll need to destroy it up. The best possible manner to take on the force is over a couple of days or perhaps a week, to see up to imaginable alongside the best way.

There are a couple of primary highways main out of Phoenix, however the course you’ll want to take heads at once west against San Diego, ahead of using at once up the coast all of the manner to your ultimate vacation spot. Luckily, this stretch of the West Coast contains wonderful towns akin to Los Angeles, nationwide parks just like the Pinnacles and breathtaking herbal wonders akin to Big Sur and the Channel Islands.

Phoenix to San Francisco

20 Places To Visit On A Phoenix To San Francisco Road Trip

1- Phoenix

Phoenix, Arizona, makes the very best position to get started a street commute. Known because the Valley of the Sun, it sees nearly year-round sunshine and is one in all America’s biggest towns through inhabitants.

Its recognition method it’s stuffed with many sights, eating places and leisure, so spend no less than an afternoon or two right here to get started the commute.

To benefit from the elements, head to Phoenix’s most renowned appeal, the Desert Botanical Gardens, house to 1000’s of species of plants and timber.

In season, additionally test forward to see if there’s a baseball (generic term) on at Chase Field, house of the Arizona Diamondbacks, ahead of wandering round Tempe within the night time, which is town’s pupil district and has probably the most best possible nightlife within the town.

Top Tour: Small-Group Deluxe Grand Canyon with Sedona Day Trip.

2- Kofa National Wildlife Refuge

As you permit Phoenix, one of the most first sights to forestall at is the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, which lies on the very fringe of Arizona.

If you don’t have a lot time, you’ll take a scenic force throughout the park, which is gorgeous and will get surprising sunsets.

Keep an eye fixed out for the natural world the park is house to, akin to Golden Eagles, Bighorn Sheep, mountain lions and wasteland tortoises.

With extra time, mountaineering is especially standard within the park, as is looking for glowing quartz crystals, which will also be discovered through digging round within the Crystal Hill Area.

Kofa National Wildlife Refuge is 176 miles (283 km) from Phoenix or a 4-hour force

3- Cleveland National Forest

Just ahead of hitting the 1st primary town of San Diego, you’ll go Cleveland National Forest.

This is a spot to forestall for outdoorsy varieties, as the world has over 100 miles (161 km) of mountaineering ranges for rookies and professionals, together with a big chew of the Pacific Crest Trail.

Other issues to do come with biking, searching and fishing, plus there are a number of campsites for each tents and RVs, in the event you’re travelling in a single.

Also within the woodland is the Palomar Observatory, which provides guided excursions and academic reveals, or should you’re staying in a single day, you’ll sign up for a celebrity looking at workforce.

Cleveland National Forest is 200 miles (322 km) from Kofa Wildlife Refuge or a 4-hour force

4- San Diego

San Diego is the 1st primary town at the street commute and one of the most best possible at the West Coast.

You’ll want no less than two or 3 days to on this town, which is a haven for seashore fanatics and surfers, so head to Mission Beach or Torrey Pines to swim or catch a wave.

La Jolla is a well-liked seashore house the place you’ll experience water-based actions and notice the masses of sea lions that love to bask within the sunshine or even swim with them in La Jolla Cove.

Since town is so shut to Mexico, the meals is unequalled.

Downtown San Diego and the Gaslamp Quarter are house to superb Mexican eateries, taquerias, bars, eating places and stores.

The San Diego Zoo is among the best possible within the nation. Skip the road and pre-book your tickets right here. 

San Diego is 48 miles from Cleveland National Forest or a 1-hour force.

5- Legoland California

Legoland California is a brief manner up the coast from San Diego and is a perfect forestall should you’re travelling as a circle of relatives to get a divorce the adventure.

Like different Legoland theme parks, this one has many rides, leisure and thrilling issues to do for youngsters.

The most renowned trip is the Coastersaurus, however there’s additionally a Lego Ninjago 4D screening, a a laugh boat trip with performances for more youthful children and Miniland USA, which has miniatures of a few of America’s most renowned landmarks.

If making a decision to go to, check out to steer clear of weekends, that are the busiest time, however don’t fear an excessive amount of about what to carry, because the park has many eating places, drink stands and stores.

Legoland California is 33 miles from San Diego or a 45-minute force. Skip the road and reserve your tickets right here. 

6- Palm Springs

Palm Springs is among the most pretty areas in California and a must-visit should you like artwork or the outside.

The get a correct view of town, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway provides terrific perspectives around the mountains past, the place you’ll additionally move mountaineering just like the locals.

Down at the floor, choose between the Palm Springs Art Museum, Air Museum or Botanical Gardens to get your tradition repair, ahead of taking a walk down Palm Canyon Drive, the place the most productive galleries, stores and eating places in Palm Springs will also be discovered.

If you’re passing thru on a Thursday, make the effort to go to the Palm Springs Villagefest, which is a large weekly truthful downtown with masses of stalls promoting presents, crafts and meals.

Palm Springs is 115 miles (185 km) from Legoland California or a three.5-hour force.

Top excursion: Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Admission Ticket.

7- Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park is aptly well-known for the masses of uniquely formed Joshua Trees which are living throughout the park, making it a haven for photographers, influencers, hikers and extra.

Hiking and tenting are two of the preferred actions right here, particularly because the park has little gentle air pollution, permitting guests to see incredible evening skies.

Bouldering could also be slightly not unusual, because the park is suffering from rocks and crevices.

Even should you don’t have the time to spend the evening, you’ll force throughout the park on one of the most two major roads, that have many pull-ins to respect the view and picnic spaces for a scenic lunch.

Joshua Tree National Park is 37 miles from Palm Springs or a 1-hour force.

Top excursion: Joshua Tree National Park Offroad Tour.

8- Los Angeles

The very first thing to observe about Los Angeles is that it’s a lot larger than most of the people suppose, and to see anything else correctly, you’ll want at least 3 or 4 days.

The most renowned attractions, after all, are Venice Beach, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills and Hollywood, however there’s so a lot more to see but even so.

Downtown Los Angeles has a number of theatres and museums, or you’ll head to the quirky neighbourhood of Silver Lake and catch the LA Dodgers at a recreation (skip the road and purchase your tickets right here).

Less visited neighbourhoods akin to Anaheim, Long Beach and Torrance cover town’s best possible bars, seashores and nightlife, so there’s one thing for everybody.

Los Angeles is 135 miles (217 km) from Joshua Tree NP or a 2.5-hour force.

9- Universal Studios

In the northeast of Los Angeles is the well-known Universal Studios Hollywood.

Although many suppose this theme park is very best for youngsters, adults will like it too, as LA is house to the whole thing movie-related and Universal has rides, displays and interactive leisure according to probably the most well-known motion pictures in historical past.

The studios have just lately opened Nintendo World, which is terribly a laugh for avid avid gamers, or every age will love the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Other movie-themed spaces of the park come with Jurassic World and Despicable Me.

The most well liked appeal, then again, is the World-Famous Studio Tour, which displays guests at the back of the scenes of a real-life film set.

Universal Studios is 9 miles from Central Los Angeles or a 30-minute force. Skip the road and ebook your tickets on-line right here. 

10- San Bernardino

San Bernadino is an often-overlooked town simply east of Los Angeles, then again, it has probably the most house’s best possible surroundings and landmarks.

One of the original sights drawing other people to town is the unique McDonald’s, the place the first-ever fast-food eating place opened, now a museum and homes masses of items of memorabilia.

Also, force alongside the Rim of the World Scenic Byway, a street alongside the San Bernardino National Forest with epic perspectives over the hills.

The woodland itself is impressive when you have time to spend the day, and section manner in is the gorgeous Big Bear Lake, backdropped through snow-capped peaks, the place you’ll move fishing, boating, mountaineering and extra.

San Bernardino is 66 miles (106 km) from Universal Studios or a 2-hour force.

11- Calico Ghost Town

Calico Ghost Town is a former mining the town in San Bernardino and one of the most coolest puts to revel in a genuine Wild Western the town, because it has homes, bars and saloons similar to you’d see in a Western film.

Adults and youngsters will experience quite a lot of actions right here, akin to panning for gold, driving the previous Western teach or looking at the day-to-day performances and fake gun fights.

There also are many ancient structures to discover, akin to a schoolhouse and a prison, at the side of memento stores and quite a lot of choices if you wish to have a chew to devour.

Calico is 80 miles from San Bernardino or a 1-hour 50-minute force. Most other people do a ghost the town excursion from LA however should you’re passing through, you’ll save masses of greenbacks through popping in and seeing it for your self. 

12- Six Flags Magic Mountain

You could have spotted; California is the house of theme parks and Six Flags Magic Mountain is among the best possible unique American theme parks you’ll go to.

Some of the park’s most well liked curler coasters come with the Twisted Colossus and Tatsu.

However, the rides aren’t the one factor to thrill guests, as there also are reside displays, video games and lots of eating places all over the park.

Depending on which era of yr you go to, the park additionally usally places on particular occasions like Fright Fest at Halloween and Christmas occasions all the way through iciness, which will also be a laugh to take a look at.

Six Flags is 130 miles from Calico or a 2.5-hour force.

13- Malibu

Malibu is among the most adorable spaces in California and residential to probably the most stunning seashores, other people and homes at the coast – together with many belonging to celebrities.

There are many seashores, akin to Surfrider Beach, Zuma Beach, and El Matador State Beach, the place you’ll usally see locals browsing and swimming.

Nearby, you’ll additionally move mountaineering within the within reach Santa Monica Mountains for surprising perspectives of the sea and surrounding hills.

If you’re willing to get a glimpse of the place the opposite part lives, a number of ‘celebrity homes’ excursions will indicate probably the most over-the-top homes within the house and who they belong to.

Malibu is 50 miles from Six Flags or a 1-hour force.

Top excursion: 4×4 Vineyard Tour.

14- Santa Barbara

Like Malibu, within reach Santa Barbara has year-round sunshine and lovely seashores, akin to East Beach and Butterfly Beach, the place you’ll swim, surf and sunbathe to your center’s content material.

The town could also be house to many artwork galleries and museums, such because the Santa Barbara Museum of Art and the Granada Theatre, which host a number of exhibitions, performances and occasions, so ensure that to take a look at the impending schedules on-line.

Another outstanding landmark is the Santa Barbara Mission, which has surprising structure and manicured gardens for taking a walk, or additional afield, there are lots of mountaineering trails and nature reserves to be explored within the within reach Santa Ynez Mountains.

Santa Barbara is 66 miles from Malibu or a 1.5-hour force.

15- Ventura & The Channel Islands

Ventura, a town northwest of Los Angeles, provides nice seashores, buying groceries and eating.

However, its major draw as a street commute forestall is that it’s the gateway to the gorgeous Channel Islands National Park, and in addition, off the coast, you’ll move whale-watching in season.

The park is made up of 5 separate islands, which will also be explored by the use of boat or ferry excursions from Ventura, and lots of of those mix whale or natural world looking at journeys.

The islands are house to natural world, together with seals, sea lions and dolphins.

On the islands, many actions come with mountaineering, tenting, kayaking and caving.

Ventura is 27 miles (43 km) from Santa Barbara or a 1-hour force. Find out why you must ebook a browsing lesson in Ventura. 

16- Big Sur

Big Sur is a stretch of sea coast between Carmel and San Simeon, however it’s usally argued to be probably the most stunning stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway.

It has rugged cliffs and windswept seashores, and all the house is very best for swimming, mountaineering, and even merely using round.

Major attractions no longer to pass over come with Point Lobos Natural Reserve, the place an enormous inhabitants of sea lions reside, Pfeiffer Beach, which has probably the most best possible perspectives alongside the coast, and the Bixby Creek Bridge, which has turn into well-known in lots of footage for its distinctive arches in opposition to a jaw-dropping backdrop.

Big Sur is 290 miles from Ventura or a 5-hour force. Download the Big Sur Self-Driving Audio Tour in California (Highway 1, Pacific Coast Highway).

17- Pinnacles National Park

Pinnacles National Park is among the most original nationwide parks in California, which has landscapes no longer too other to Zion in Utah, with towering rock formations, boulders and cliffs created through volcanoes tens of millions of years in the past.

Spend no less than a complete day right here, as you’ll experience mountaineering and exploring the numerous trails within the park, and alongside the best way, you’ll be fortunate sufficient to spot the natural world within the park, akin to condors, bats or even some snakes and lizards.

The park could also be very talked-about for rock mountaineering, with over 30 miles of mountaineering routes to be had for all ranges of revel in, even if should you don’t understand how to climb, you’ll at all times watch from afar.

Pinnacles NP is 80 miles (129 km) from Big Sur or a 2-hour force.

18- Monterey

Just a brief force from Big Sur lies Monterey, a town widely recognized for its maritime connections, with incredible coastal perspectives, seashores and natural world.

If you don’t spot whales in this street commute, which is very not likely, make time to discover the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the place you’ll see probably the most creatures that reside deeper within the ocean, like jellyfish and sharks, in addition to playful sea otters.

The town could also be house to Cannery Row, a ancient district now a full of life buying groceries and eating neighbourhood, with many eating places, boutiques and galleries very best for grabbing a chew to devour or selecting up a memento.

Monterey is 53 miles (85 km) from Pinnacles NP or a 1-hour force. Download the Monterey Bay Drive: A Self-Guided Audio Tour from Del Monte Beach to Cannery Row.

19- Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is inside touching distance of San Francisco, however it’s value creating a forestall right here to discover.

The town is understood for its well-known seashore boardwalk, which has rides, video games and reside leisure, and surprising ocean perspectives should you favor to take a stroll alongside the period of it.

Santa Cruz’s ancient downtown house is house to quite a lot of stores, galleries, and eating places, which come alive each and every night time, and could also be the place you’ll in finding the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, or no longer some distance from the pier, the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum.

For some chill-out time, Natural Bridges State Beach is very best for swimming and has cool rock formations and tide swimming pools, the place children can seek for starfish and different small fish.

Santa Cruz is 43 miles (69 km) from Monterey or a 50-minute force. New to browsing? Take Beginner Surf Lesson in Santa Cruz.

20- San Francisco

Your ultimate vacation spot is any other that merits a couple of nights of exploring, as San Francisco is among the maximum iconic towns in America with lots to uncover.

The Golden Gate Bridge is a great start line, visual from nearly in every single place alongside the bay and its Recreational Area is a a laugh position to cycle or stroll, plus there are lengthy stretches of seashore all of the manner alongside to discover.

Head again to Fishermen’s Wharf for probably the most town’s best possible meals, together with the well-known clam chowder from Boudin’s, ahead of catching one of the most well-known boulevard vehicles proper up to the easiest level within the town, Coit Tower, which you’ll climb for fantastic perspectives.

With some spare time, Alamo Square is house to the well-known Painted Ladies – lovely colored homes set in opposition to the San Francisco skyline.

The within reach neighbourhood of Pacific Heights has a number of native eating places and bars.

San Francisco is 75 miles from Santa Cruz, or a 1.5-hour force. Book your
San Francisco CityPASS to lower your expenses whilst you’re there. 

Looking for a street commute? Here are some epic using holidays.