San Francisco is a top travel destination with world-class beaches and parks, plus endless amounts of cultural and architectural wonder. Even with so much to explore, it's worth venturing a bit outside San Francisco to see more of what Northern California has to offer during your next vacation.
This guide will help you discover the best day trips from San Francisco, along with tips on what to see and how to maximize your time there. These are all perfect places for families, couples and travelers of all ages.
How to Reach and Enjoy These Destinations
While these locations can easily reached by car from San Francisco, it should be noted when planning a Bay Area day trip that the traffic can sometimes make certain routes much longer than usual. On weekends and holidays, expect travel to increase or double depending on the destination.
Luckily, these destinations feature hotels for all budgets, so if you’re too tired to safely travel back, or simply wish to extend your day trip overnight, there are an assortment of places where you can relax before returning to San Francisco if needed.
Santa Cruz
• Distance from San Francisco: Santa Cruz is only 80 miles from San Francisco and it should be a 90-minute drive in normal traffic.
• Go for: Beaches, redwoods, state parks, plus a thriving downtown.
Santa Cruz is a gorgeous destination that features a beautiful downtown district, complete with historic buildings plus boutique shops, cafés and restaurants, along with a stunning coastline that ranges from sandy and golden to more rocky and rugged.
Plus, the vast hillside features amazing redwoods that can be viewed simply by driving along the roads or by hiking in one of the numerous state parks.
The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is another famous attraction where you can enjoy classic wooden rollercoasters alongside more modern rides.
Perfect for families, couples and solo travelers of all ages, Santa Cruz is an ideal destination for a day trip from San Francisco in any season.
Capitola
• Distance from San Francisco: 75 miles, and typically only a bit over an hour drive.
• Go for: A charming coastal town, similar to Santa Cruz, but smaller and more quaint.
Capitola is only about 25 minutes from Santa Cruz and it features a beautiful downtown area along with cozy beaches that make it worth the visit. The iconic Capitola Hotel and its brightly colored houses line the main beach and nearby you can find tons of amazing restaurants featuring fresh seafood and incredible coastal views.
Monterey
• Distance from San Francisco: Monterey is 115 miles from San Francisco and it takes about two hours to drive there during average traffic.
• Go for: Amazing coastline trails and views, a gorgeous downtown and being near Big Sur.
Monterey features the best of Central California’s rugged golden coastline, complete with steep cliffs, turquoise water and soft sand beaches that can be easily reached by all. In short: Monterey has it all.
Aside from the incredible coastline, the city also has an endless supply of restaurants, bars and cafés to make your day unforgettable. The Monterey Aquarium is world-renowned and great for families with kids and the city has lovely coastal bike paths that are worth exploring as well.
There’s also the famous 17 Mile Drive, which is a private coastal and Cypress-lined road that you can pay to drive on the way to our next recommendation, Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Carmel-by-the-Sea
- Distance from San Francisco: 121 miles, or a little over 2-hour drive.
- Go for: A stunning coastal town, white sand beaches, jaw-dropping Spanish and cottage-style and boutique-filled streets.
With historic Spanish missions next door to modern art galleries and bustling restaurants, you can enjoy the best of California’s art and culture along with some of the most stunning beaches in the state. The cafés and shops feel right out of Europe and the cobblestone streets are a joy to walk on at any hour.
If you’re making a day trip to Monterey, Carmel-by-the-Sea is an essential stop as well. Plus, both towns feature an assortment of hotels for any budget just in case you’re too tired to make the drive back to San Francisco. If you have extra time, you can also travel to Big Sur which offers incredible views along Highway 1.
Skyline Blvd
• Distance from San Francisco: Skyline Blvd is about 40 miles away and takes less than an hour to get to.
• Go for: An enjoyable rural road that goes through redwoods and picturesque views of the foothills.
Skyline Blvd is a gorgeous road in the foothills that winds through towering redwoods, sprawling open fields and has beautiful pockets of light and fog that make it a must-see destination.
Stop at one of the countless parks for a quick hike, or simply enjoy driving along the endless and not too windy road. If you’re hungry, stop at Alice’s Restaurant for a great meal and live music, or head to one of the nearby farms in Pescadero to pick up fresh produce, artisanal cheeses and beautiful bouquets.
Plus, you can take the road all the way to Santa Cruz, or you can take one of the adjacent roads West to reach Highway 1, a stunning coastal road that runs right along the coast back to San Francisco.
Half Moon Bay
• Distance from San Francisco: Half Moon Bay is only 30 miles from San Francisco and the coastal drive is only about 40 minutes.
• Go for: Various shops, restaurants and a wonderful state beach.
Half Moon Bay is a charming coastal community right off Highway 1 and nearby San Francisco. Enjoy walking in the downtown area where you can get locally-made jewelry, pottery and other arts and crafts.
The city is also home to some of the region’s best fish and chips, such as the local favorite Barbara’s Fish Trap.
For a day at the beach, you can’t go wrong at Half Moon Bay State Beach, or you can just cruise along the coastal and rugged Highway 1. Stop at Devil’s Slide for an amazing sunset view along the top of a sprawling rocky cliff.
If you wish to spend more time there, you can also enjoy Half Moon Bay State Beach, which has tons of fire pits and tables, making it a great place to enjoy a picnic before sunset.
Pacifica
• Distance from San Francisco: 15 miles, although it's recommended that you take the longer yet scenic Highway 1 which offers incredible views.
• Go for: A long stretch of beach and coastline and gentle waves ideal for learning how to surf.
Pacifica is another coastal town worth visiting and it’s right off Highway 1 and before Half Moon Bay when traveling from San Francisco.
Enjoy walking along the large and sprawling piers or try surfing lessons in some of the region’s most gentle and beginner-friendly waves.
Plus, Pacifica features what’s referred to as the most beautiful Taco Bell in the world due to its location directly on the beach at Pacifica State Beach. If you need a quick bite, this location offers incredible views that rival any 5-star restaurant.
Napa Valley
• Distance from San Francisco: Roughly 70 miles from San Francisco and it takes an average of 90 minutes to drive there.
• Go for: Wine tasting and exploring California's most famous vineyards.
Napa Valley is a hilly and stunning region full of rolling green hills and endless world-class vineyards to enjoy. However, you don’t have to love wine to fall in love with Napa, as the area features idyllic trails and an exceptional historical downtown with great artisanal restaurants.
If you do wish to taste some of the region’s most famous wines, there are daily bus tours from San Francisco that can bring you to multiple vineyards for tastings, pairings and tours of the beautiful facilities. Different providers go to different vineyards, so check in advance to see which looks best for you.
With so much to explore, Napa Valley is one of the best day trips from San Francisco for both couples and adults.
Point Reyes National Seashore
• Distance from San Francisco: Point Reyes is 90 miles from San Francisco and it takes about two hours on average to drive there.
• Go for: Incredible views plus whale-watching opportunities.
With vast green fields, sprawling granite cliffs and idyllic Pacific waves, Point Reyes National Seashore is a highly recommended day trip for those looking for more rugged beaches than those in San Francisco.
Enjoy whale watching from December to May, watch elephant seals as they sleep on the beach, or visit elk at the nearby sanctuary. If you’re ready for a 13-mile round-trip hike, you can even visit the Alamere Falls to experience pure secluded beauty.
At Point Reyes, you can spend your day hiking, relaxing and soaking in the best of California's untamed natural coastline, making it one of the top San Francisco day trips on this list.
Planning Your Trip
The city can offer plenty of things to see and do on its own, but the surrounding area offers even more opportunities to plan the best day trips from San Francisco. You can help your trip go more smoothly by finding discounts on hotels, rental cars and entertainment tickets through a AAA membership.