In search of unbelievable issues to see and do on a San Francisco to Las Vegas drive? Right here’s our final San Fran to Las Vegas street journey itinerary.
San Francisco and Las Vegas are two of probably the most outstanding cities within the Western USA.
With huge open roads, gorgeous nationwide parks, and loads of cool landmarks round California and Nevada, the easiest way to journey between San Francisco and Las Vegas is an effective old school street journey!
Although it’s a fast and simple flight between the 2 cities, taking the scenic route with a rental automotive or campervan is an incredible approach to discover California’s pure wonders.
We’re going to supply two completely different San Francisco to Las Vegas drive itineraries, each with epic surroundings and distinctive sights.
Each itineraries will start in San Francisco with a go to out to Yosemite Nationwide Park following shortly after. The Sierra Nevada Mountains run by way of Western California, so from Yosemite, you’ll have to choose driving down the japanese or the western facet of the mountains.
It’s not straightforward to crisscross throughout the large peaks of the Sierra Nevadas. So we’ll listing two completely different street journey routes that cowl all sides of the mountain vary.
In fact, you possibly can alter these itineraries nonetheless you need. However these two itineraries are designed to make your San Francisco to Las Vegas drive as seamless as potential!
How lengthy is a San Francisco to Las Vegas drive?
Essentially the most direct route for a San Francisco to Las Vegas drive is about 570 miles and takes 9-10 hours. Nevertheless, this driving time doesn’t embody any stops or detours.
It’s positively value taking the scenic route on your Las Vegas street journey!
You actually can’t go to Northern California with out seeing the magnificent Yosemite Nationwide Park, and there are many different locations value visiting like Zabriskie Level in Loss of life Valley, Mammoth Lakes, Kings Canyon, Tioga Go, and the Mojave Desert.
So in case you’re keen to unfold your journey out into a number of days or extra, you possibly can actually see some unbelievable sights on the scenic route.
Our first itinerary goes from San Francisco to Yosemite Nationwide Park and down the japanese facet of the mountains towards Las Vegas. That is about 620 miles and 12.5 hours of driving time with out stops.
The second itinerary travels alongside the western facet of the mountains. That is about 750 miles and 15 hours of driving time with out stops.
Each San Francisco to Las Vegas street journeys will be modified to suit your timeframe. You’ll actually wish to spend at the very least a number of days in Yosemite, and you can simply stretch the drive out into per week or extra. But it surely’s as much as you!
San Francisco To Las Vegas Drive Itineraries
Let’s dive into these two unbelievable San Francisco to Las Vegas street journey itineraries!
Each street journeys start in San Francisco after which head to the world-famous Yosemite Nationwide Park. From Yosemite, you possibly can select to drive down the japanese or the western facet of the Sierra Nevada Mountains as you make your approach to Las Vegas.
Should you plan to move additional south, take a look at our listing of the very best issues to do in Southern California!
San Francisco
Earlier than you hit the street, you’ll positively wish to spend at the very least 3 days having fun with San Francisco. This charming metropolis presents a mix of historical past, tradition, and innovation.
Identified for its picturesque setting, the town is nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the San Francisco Bay, creating a shocking backdrop of rolling hills and iconic landmarks.
The Golden Gate Bridge, an engineering marvel, stands tall as an emblem of the town, connecting San Francisco to Marin County and providing breathtaking views. A ship cruise over to the well-known Alcatraz Island and former jail can also be a prime attraction.
San Francisco’s eclectic neighborhoods every possess their very own distinctive attraction, from the bohemian vibes of the Mission District to the upscale boutiques and tech giants in SoMa (South of Market).
Famend for its progressive values, San Francisco has been on the forefront of social actions and technological developments, making it a hub of creativity and alter.
San Francisco additionally presents superb locations to eat, from upscale eating places to cozy meals vans. Vacationers can discover world-class museums, such because the de Younger Museum and the San Francisco Museum of Trendy Artwork, or wander by way of the enduring streets of Chinatown and North Seaside.
For nature lovers, close by sights like Muir Woods Nationwide Monument and the wine nation of Napa Valley provide an escape to pure magnificence. With its mix of wealthy historical past, forward-thinking mindset, and gorgeous environment, San Francisco continues to encourage and captivate residents and guests alike, making it a metropolis like no different.
Discover extra inspiration with our final 3 Day San Francisco Itinerary!
Yosemite Nationwide Park
- Distance from San Francisco: 200 miles
- Driving Time: 3.5 hours
After exploring San Francisco, drive a number of hours east of the town in the direction of one of many USA’s most well-known nationwide parks.
Yosemite Nationwide Park, situated within the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, is a wide ranging testomony to the wonders of nature. Encompassing almost 1,200 sq. miles of awe-inspiring magnificence, the park is famend for its towering granite cliffs, majestic waterfalls, and pristine wilderness.
The park’s numerous ecosystems present a haven for a wide selection of wildlife, together with black bears, mule deer, and uncommon chook species.
Guests can embark on numerous climbing trails, take pleasure in scenic drives, and immerse themselves within the tranquility of the good open air. Yosemite’s timeless magnificence and serenity will undoubtedly depart a mark on you as you cross by way of.
Iconic landmarks resembling Half Dome, El Capitan, and Yosemite Falls draw adventurers and nature lovers from all around the world. There are such a lot of cool issues to see and do, most of them centered across the Yosemite Valley.
Should you make an effort to go to Yosemite Nationwide Park, it’s value staying for at the very least a number of days to actually soak all of it in. You may all the time get a self-guided audio driving tour in case you’re unsure the place to go as effectively!
From Yosemite Valley, you possibly can resolve whether or not you’re going to street journey down the japanese or western facet of the Sierra Nevadas, as it may be troublesome to drive by way of them. Should you’re going east, we advocate taking the scenic mountain cross often called Tioga Go, situated within the japanese a part of Yosemite Nationwide Park.
Located at an elevation of over 9,900 toes (3,018 meters), Tioga Go is among the highest freeway passes within the Sierra Nevada mountain vary. The cross gives a wide ranging and picturesque drive by way of a rugged panorama of alpine meadows, glacially-carved valleys, and snow-capped peaks.
Tioga Go presents entry to a few of the park’s most iconic sights, together with Tuolumne Meadows, Tenaya Lake, and Olmsted Level. The journey alongside Tioga Go is an unforgettable expertise, so it’s positively value taking in case you’re selecting to move east!
Street Journey Itinerary #1 – Jap Aspect Of The Sierra Nevadas
Right here is your first street journey itinerary route that takes you from Yosemite Nationwide Park, by way of the Tioga Go, and out onto the japanese facet of the Sierra Nevadas.
You’ll proceed exploring probably the most lovely areas on this facet of the mountains, earlier than heading southeast in the direction of Las Vegas.
Mammoth Lakes
- Distance from Yosemite: 40 miles
- Driving Time: 45 minutes
As soon as you allow the Tioga Go and exit the japanese facet of Yosemite Nationwide Park, proceed east in the direction of Mammoth Lakes. Should you’re driving within the hotter months, take the attractive, 16-mile June Lake Loop route in your approach to Mammoth Lakes.
When you arrive in Mammoth Lakes after driving the June Lake Loop, you’ll discover that the realm presents a paradise for out of doors lovers all year long.
In winter, Mammoth Mountain turns into a world-class ski vacation spot with considerable snowfall and an enormous community of ski trails catering to all ranges of experience.
Because the snow melts and summer season arrives, the panorama transforms right into a haven for climbing, mountain biking, fishing, and tenting.
The shimmering lakes, resembling Lake Mary and Convict Lake, invite guests to chill out by their shores or embark on paddling adventures. Mammoth Lakes additionally serves as a gateway to the close by Satan’s Postpile Nationwide Monument and the Ansel Adams Wilderness, offering additional alternatives to discover and join with nature.
Along with its pure sights, Mammoth Lakes presents an enthralling mountain city environment with a wide range of retailers, eating places, and cultural occasions. The city’s village space options cozy lodges, inviting cafes, and a vibrant après-ski scene the place guests can unwind and indulge after a day of journey.
All year long, Mammoth Lakes hosts varied festivals and occasions, celebrating every thing from music and humanities to out of doors sports activities and native delicacies.
Whether or not searching for an adrenaline-pumping escapade on the slopes or a serene retreat surrounded by nature’s magnificence, Mammoth Lakes gives a fascinating escape and a memorable expertise for all who enterprise into its breathtaking wilderness.
Lone Pine
- Distance from Mammoth Lakes: 99 miles
- Driving Time: 2.5 hours
The subsequent cease in your San Francisco to Las Vegas street journey is Lone Pine. Nestled towards the towering peaks of the japanese Sierra Nevada mountains, the city serves as a gateway to a few of the most breathtaking pure wonders in america.
One of many city’s fundamental sights is the proximity to the gorgeous Alabama Hills, a singular geological formation recognized for its majestic rock formations and gorgeous landscapes.
Alabama Hills has been a well-liked filming location for quite a few Hollywood motion pictures and presents limitless alternatives for climbing, pictures, and stargazing.
There are additionally quite a few climbing trails and tenting spots not too removed from the city middle. The city itself exudes a relaxed and welcoming environment, with charming cafes, native boutiques, and historic buildings that mirror the realm’s wealthy Western heritage.
Whether or not searching for out of doors adventures, testing Alabama Hills, or just basking within the tranquility of nature, Lone Pine presents a memorable vacation spot for vacationers searching for a real escape into the wonders of the Sierra Nevada.
Sequoia Nationwide Park
- Distance from Lone Pine: 10 miles
- Driving Time: half-hour
Sequoia Nationwide Park is one other one among California’s greatest nationwide parks. It’s enormous, so the driving distance from Lone Pine to the park will rely upon the place you intend to reach!
The ten-mile distance talked about above accounts for touring from Lone Pine to Mount Whitney, the tallest mountain within the continental US! It is a tremendous standard climbing vacation spot in California, so many vacationers might want this to be their first cease in Sequoia Nationwide Park.
Different enjoyable issues to do within the park embody climbing, tenting, birdwatching, and testing the large timber!
Sequoia Nationwide Park is famend for its huge sequoia timber, together with the Common Sherman Tree, which stands because the world’s largest tree by quantity. These towering giants, a few of that are over 2,000 years outdated, create an awe-inspiring environment that leaves guests humbled and in awe of nature’s grandeur.
Past the majestic sequoias, Sequoia Nationwide Park encompasses a variety of ecosystems, from rugged mountain peaks to lush meadows and cascading waterfalls.
The park is a haven for out of doors lovers, providing an in depth community of climbing trails, mountain climbing alternatives, and scenic drives, together with the well-known Generals Freeway, which winds its means by way of the center of the park.
It’s undoubtedly among the best locations to cease whereas touring from San Francisco to Las Vegas.
Seeking to discover extra of the Golden State? Try our excellent 10-Day California Street Journey Itinerary!
Loss of life Valley Nationwide Park
- Distance from Sequoia Nationwide Park (japanese facet): 108 miles
- Driving Time: 2 hours and quarter-hour
One other spotlight on the drive from San Francisco to Las Vegas is Loss of life Valley Nationwide Park, a land of extremes and superlatives.
Overlaying over 3.4 million acres, Loss of life Valley is the biggest nationwide park within the contiguous United States and boasts a various and mesmerizing panorama.
From the huge salt flats of the Badwater Basin, the bottom level in North America, to the towering sand dunes of Mesquite Flat, the park showcases nature’s spectacular sculpting abilities. Zabriskie Level is a well-known viewpoint in Loss of life Valley Nationwide Park the place colourful and eroded rock formations create a surreal and otherworldly panorama.
Loss of life Valley is famend for its excessive temperatures, with a few of the hottest recorded temperatures on the planet, making it a real desert marvel. Regardless of its harsh setting, the park is residence to a stunning array of plant and animal species which have tailored to the difficult circumstances, including to its ecological significance.
The park’s geological formations are equally charming, with colourful canyons, rugged mountains, and distinctive rock formations just like the Racetrack Playa, the place mysterious transferring rocks depart trails within the dry lakebed.
Guests may discover the historic websites of Loss of life Valley, together with remnants of outdated mining operations and ghost cities that inform tales of the realm’s previous.
Stargazing is a spotlight in Loss of life Valley as a consequence of its Darkish Sky standing, providing an unforgettable celestial expertise. Get your self a self-guided driving tour in case you want a little bit of steering whereas exploring the park!
It’s additionally value spending a number of days in Loss of life Valley Nationwide Park so you possibly can keep in a single day, stargaze, and soak all of it in. There are some superior lodges proper within the park, or you can strive tenting within the wilderness!
Purple Rock Canyon
- Distance from Loss of life Valley Nationwide Park: 120 miles
- Driving Time: 2 hours
Earlier than you arrive in Las Vegas, cease at Purple Rock Canyon which is situated simply west of the town. The canyon is characterised by its vibrant purple sandstone formations, sculpted by thousands and thousands of years of geological processes.
With its quite a few climbing trails, guests can discover the rugged terrain, uncover hidden caves, and marvel on the colourful rock formations. The Calico Tanks path is a well-liked selection, main hikers to pure water pockets and panoramic views of the Las Vegas Strip from a distance.
Past climbing, Purple Rock Canyon gives alternatives for mountain climbing, horseback driving, and wildlife viewing. The world is residence to numerous plant and animal species, together with bighorn sheep, desert tortoises, and varied chook species.
The customer middle presents instructional displays on the area’s geology, ecology, and cultural historical past, offering useful insights into the realm’s pure wonders.
Should you’d relatively simply head proper to Las Vegas with out stopping, take into account reserving a 4X4 tour of Purple Rock Canyon so you possibly can nonetheless expertise the wonders of this unbelievable place!
Las Vegas
- Distance from Purple Rock Canyon: 20 miles
- Driving Time: half-hour
Lastly, you’ve made it to Las Vegas!
Additionally known as “Sin Metropolis”, Las Vegas is synonymous with pleasure, extravagance, and continuous leisure. Well-known for its vibrant nightlife, world-class casinos, and dazzling neon lights, Las Vegas is a playground for adults searching for an unforgettable expertise.
The long-lasting Las Vegas Strip is lined with opulent resorts, every showcasing its distinctive theme, providing every thing from grandiose exhibits and concert events to luxurious eating experiences.
Past the glitz and glamour, the town additionally boasts a various vary of sights, together with high-end procuring, artwork galleries, and exhilarating out of doors adventures.
After finishing the epic street journey from San Francisco, be sure you cherish each second within the well-known metropolis of Las Vegas!
Learn subsequent: The 21 Finest Issues To Do In Las Vegas, Nevada
Street Journey Itinerary #2 – Western Aspect Of The Sierra Nevadas
Now let’s dive into another driving route from San Francisco to Las Vegas. This street journey additionally goes from San Francisco to Yosemite Nationwide Park, however you then’ll exit by way of the western facet of the park.
This lets you journey down the western facet of the Sierra Nevadas. Although this route is a bit longer by way of driving time, it presents a unique array of surroundings and sights.
However you possibly can in fact mix our two street journey routes to create your individual excellent itinerary. These are simply solutions concerning the best methods to get from San Francisco to Las Vegas with a bit of wonderful surroundings thrown in!
Kings Canyon Nationwide Park
- Distance from Yosemite: 111 miles
- Driving Time: 2 hours and quarter-hour
So for this street journey itinerary, depart Yosemite Nationwide Park by way of the western facet of the mountains the place you entered. Then head south to Kings Canyon Nationwide Park!
As one of many least-visited nationwide parks in america, Kings Canyon presents a way of solitude and serenity amidst its gorgeous vistas.
The park’s centerpiece is the Kings Canyon itself, a deep and steep-sided gorge that rivals the Grand Canyon in depth, making it one of many deepest canyons in North America.
The towering granite cliffs, pristine alpine lakes, and plush meadows add to the park’s attract, offering a number of alternatives for climbing, backpacking, and exploring the excessive nation.
Kings Canyon can also be recognized for its outstanding groves of large sequoia timber, a few of the largest dwelling organisms on the planet. The Common Grant Grove options the Common Grant Tree, famously designated the Nation’s Christmas Tree, and the Redwood Mountain Grove is residence to the Boole Tree, one of many largest sequoias by quantity.
Guests may marvel on the roaring Kings River, which carves its means by way of the canyon, providing hanging views and cascading waterfalls, together with the magnificent Grizzly Falls.
With its considerable pure wonders and comparatively untouched wilderness, Kings Canyon Nationwide Park stays a hidden gem, inviting explorers and nature lovers to find the untamed great thing about the Sierra Nevada mountains.
Sequoia Nationwide Forest
- Distance from Kings Canyon Nationwide Park: 25 miles
- Driving Time: 45 minutes
Sequoia Nationwide Forest, situated within the southern Sierra Nevadas, is an enormous and numerous forest recognized for its towering sequoia timber and gorgeous alpine landscapes.
Though separate from Sequoia Nationwide Park, the forest shares the identical area and presents a singular and equally charming expertise.
The Big Sequoia groves throughout the forest, such because the Alder Creek Grove and the Freeman Creek Grove, home a few of the largest and oldest dwelling timber on earth, together with the well-known Stagg Tree. Guests can discover these historical giants by way of climbing trails and revel in scenic drives that wind by way of the forest’s breathtaking terrain.
Past the sequoias, Sequoia Nationwide Forest presents a variety of outside actions, together with tenting, fishing, and horseback driving, amidst its scenic lakes and rivers. The forest is a haven for nature lovers, with numerous wildlife and plant species that thrive in its varied ecosystems.
The Kern River Canyon, a rugged and picturesque space throughout the forest, is a well-liked vacation spot for whitewater rafting and mountain climbing. For these searching for a quieter and fewer crowded various to the close by nationwide park, Sequoia Nationwide Forest gives a serene and enchanting escape into the wonders of nature.
Bakersfield
- Distance from Sequoia Nationwide Forest: 111 miles
- Driving Time: 2.5 hours
After a scenic drive by way of the Sequoia’s, proceed in your San Francisco to Las Vegas street journey. Your subsequent cease is Bakersfield, a vibrant metropolis located within the southern a part of California’s San Joaquin Valley.
Identified for its wealthy agricultural heritage, Bakersfield is also known as the “Breadbasket of the World” as a consequence of its important contributions to the nation’s meals manufacturing. The town’s heat and sunny local weather, coupled with fertile farmlands, has made it a hub for rising crops like almonds, grapes, and citrus fruits.
Past its agricultural roots, Bakersfield presents a various and full of life neighborhood, with a thriving arts and music scene, historic landmarks, and a variety of outside actions.
Whether or not savoring the native delicacies, having fun with cultural occasions, or exploring the pure great thing about the encircling landscapes, Bakersfield welcomes guests and residents alike with its distinctive mix of custom and modernity.
Whereas Bakersfield isn’t one of many prime locations in California, it’s proper on the best way as you drive from San Francisco to Las Vegas. So it’s a handy place to cease and there are many reasonably priced lodges right here.
Calico Ghost City
- Distance from Bakersfield: 140 miles
- Driving Time: 2.5 hours
Subsequent in your street journey by way of Southern California in the direction of Las Vegas is Calico Ghost City. Positioned within the Mojave Desert, it is a fascinating dwelling museum that takes guests again in time to the period of the Wild West.
As soon as a bustling silver mining city within the late 1800s, Calico is now preserved as a well-maintained historic attraction, providing a glimpse into the rugged and adventurous days of the previous.
Strolling by way of the dusty streets of the historic city, guests can discover unique and restored buildings, such because the schoolhouse, saloon, and blacksmith store, all embellished with period-appropriate furnishings and artifacts.
Participating reside performances and reenactments convey the city’s colourful historical past to life, offering an immersive expertise of what life was like in the course of the top of the silver rush.
With its distinctive mix of historical past, leisure, and scenic desert environment, Calico Ghost City continues to attraction and captivate each historical past lovers and curious vacationers searching for a style of the Outdated West.
Should you’re touring round extra of Western USA, right here is our supreme Las Vegas to Los Angeles street journey information!
Mojave Nationwide Protect
- Distance from Calico Ghost City: 55 miles
- Driving Time: 1 hour
The subsequent cease on this San Francisco to Las Vegas drive is Mojave Nationwide Protect. Overlaying over 1.6 million acres, the protect encompasses a wide range of desert environments, together with sand dunes, volcanic cinder cones, Joshua tree forests, and huge expanses of desert wilderness.
Guests to Mojave Nationwide Protect can discover the gorgeous Kelso Dunes, the place the shifting sands create a mesmerizing sight, or hike by way of the rugged terrain to find hidden oases and historical lava tubes. The protect can also be residence to an array of wildlife, together with bighorn sheep, coyotes, and desert tortoises, including to its ecological significance.
Mojave Nationwide Protect gives ample alternatives for out of doors actions, resembling tenting, stargazing, and backcountry exploration. The protect’s vastness and comparatively low visitation charges provide a way of solitude and reference to nature, making it an ideal vacation spot for these searching for a distant and unspoiled desert expertise.
Mojave Nationwide Protect presents an unforgettable journey within the coronary heart of the Mojave Desert, whether or not you’re reveling within the stark great thing about the desert panorama or marveling on the starry evening skies.
Seven Magic Mountains
- Distance from Mojave Nationwide Protect: 42 miles
- Driving Time: 45 minutes
After experiencing the Mojave Desert, your street journey will curve north in the direction of Nevada so you may make your approach to Las Vegas. However one other worthwhile cease lies simply south of Las Vegas!
The Seven Magic Mountains is a hanging and kooky artwork set up that has change into an iconic, Instagram-worthy vacation spot.
Created by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone, the set up consists of seven towering and brightly coloured limestone boulders stacked on prime of one another, standing as much as 30 toes tall. The colourful hues of the rocks, starting from neon pinks and yellows to deep blues and greens, create a surreal and crowd pleasing distinction towards the stark desert panorama.
The set up serves as a playful and thought-provoking commentary on the connection between nature and human intervention, in addition to an emblem of the merging of the pure and synthetic worlds.
So earlier than you end up your San Francisco to Las Vegas drive, cease right here and snap a number of photographs!
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Las Vegas
- Distance from Seven Magic Mountains: 26 miles
- Driving Time: half-hour
From the Seven Magic Mountains, it’s solely a 30-minute drive to Las Vegas! You are actually free to return your rental automotive and take pleasure in all of the wonders and funky sights supplied by the well-known metropolis.
Whether or not you selected to drive the japanese route or the western route, otherwise you blended and matched the sights on each street journey, any San Francisco to Las Vegas drive is certain to be gorgeous.
Attempt a few of our favourite day journeys from Las Vegas when you have some additional time in Sin Metropolis!
Wrapping Up
So there are many superb issues to see in your San Francisco to Las Vegas street journey! From Yosemite, Sequoia, Loss of life Valley, and Kings Canyon nationwide parks, to the distinctive cities and cultural stops in between, it’s an extremely scenic path to take.
Should you’re trying to discover extra of the western USA by street, you’re in luck. This nook of North America is full of lovely drives!
Drive additional north to California gems like Lake Tahoe, or full a beautiful loop drive round Northern California. Or head to the coast and street journey alongside the Pacific Coast Freeway or all the way down to Los Angeles.
When you get all the way down to Las Vegas within the desert, you possibly can head east to the Grand Canyon or proceed to discover Arizona in locations like Sedona and Phoenix.
Or tackle extra of the enduring nationwide parks in close by places like Utah. The choices for exploration are limitless!
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