Disneyland/LA and San Francisco

[mhingher]

My family and I (husband and 2 girls, ages 4 & 7) will be in California at the end of August. We're flying in to LAX on a Friday evening, and plan to stay in the area for a few days. In addition to Disneyland, my husband and I are going to a Dodger game (my parents will be there also and will babysit). Are there any other sights in the area we should plan on? Should we get 2 or 3 day passes for DL?

Then we'll be leaving Anaheim and driving up to San Francisco. Not sure if we should do the whole drive in one day or break it up? If we do it all in one day, we'll have 3 full days in Anaheim/LA, one day of driving and then 2 1/2 days in SF. Otherwise we would leave Anaheim Monday afternoon and stop at a halfway point for the night, and getting to SF for lunch on Wednesday. This way we would lose some time in Anaheim but gain time in SF. Any thoughts on which plan to use?

Any advice would be appreciated! I posted about breaking up he drive and most seem to say that's the better option, but I don't want to lose time in Disneyland! Thanks

 

[usnuzuloose]

Depending on how much you stop the drive is about 7- 8 hours to SF. When I do the route I drive straight through. I drive the I5.

 

[ladybug1983]

I'd say the trip is totally doable without longer breaks. I've driven it twice and only stopped for lunch. For me it was worth the extra time I had in Anaheim and San Francisco... Since you're traveling with your husband you can maybe take turns driving. If you're looking for family friendly hotels and activities in San Fran I'll be glad to give advice!

 

[Fantaluminishes]

As a Bay Area resident, I've done this drive MANY times, on highways 5, 99 and 101. The I5 drive is the fastest. You can make it to SF in 7hrs. Hwy. 99 takes longer because you'll be traveling inland, and the speed limit is a bit lower. Hwy 101 is the longest, but it goes directly to SF.

I'm taking the I5 route next week. I'll leave home at 5am, and should be at my Anaheim hotel by 10:30. But I live about 45 minutes east of SF. Please let me know if you have any questions.

 

[mhingher]

I'd say the trip is totally doable without longer breaks. I've driven it twice and only stopped for lunch. For me it was worth the extra time I had in Anaheim and San Francisco... Since you're traveling with your husband you can maybe take turns driving. If you're looking for family friendly hotels and activities in San Fran I'll be glad to give advice!

Thanks! I'm thinking we'll leave Anaheim after breakfast, around 9am. We would like to stop for lunch at Santa Barbara (I believe about a 2 hour drive). Assuming this works and we leave Santa Barbara around 1/2pm, do you think we can make it to SF for dinner around 6/6:30? And are there rest areas along I5 with clean bathrooms?

I would love to hear your suggestions on family friendly activities also!!

 

[pharmjenn]

Thanks! I'm thinking we'll leave Anaheim after breakfast, around 9am. We would like to stop for lunch at Santa Barbara (I believe about a 2 hour drive). Assuming this works and we leave Santa Barbara around 1/2pm, do you think we can make it to SF for dinner around 6/6:30? And are there rest areas along I5 with clean bathrooms?

I would love to hear your suggestions on family friendly activities also!!

Anaheim to Santa Barbara is listed as 2hrs, however, I don't think that takes into account weekday traffic. Are you driving during "rush hour?" That may add over an hour.

Leaving Santa Barbara by 2pm, puts you into the San Jose and then SF traffic, which is much more doable than LA, but still there. I think it would be pushing it to say 6pm, probably more like 8pm.

You will be on Highway 101 this trip, not Highway 5. There are rest stops on 5, but they aren't that clean (nor are most of the gas station bathrooms I noticed last week, the flies just congregate)
Anyway, I don't recall seeing many Rest stops along 101, but there are plenty of exits with restaurants and gas stations for bathrooms.

 

[gary1955]

from your description of your planned drive to San Francisco it sounds like your going to take a more leisurely approach. you may want to do it in two parts or plan on dinner somewhere south of San Francisco and arriving in the city in the evening. maybe dinner around Monterey.

there are a few rest stops on 101 but not many. I have to say that the nicest one I have seen is near Camp Roberts. it is located 8.5 miles North of San Miguel, CA. I think the south bound rest area is nicer than the one going north.

 

[zoicca]

If you're not from the area, the drive from LA to San Francisco can be interesting. Lots of farms and agriculture, at least that's how it was when I drive it last. If you drive all night, you will miss it.

Its a long drive, but if you're up for the challenge, get up at the crack of dawn and gun it! You can head straight up the I-5 and then cut over to the Bay Area.