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San Francisco to Los Angeles

Essentials

Trip Length

10 Riding Days

+1 Rest Day

Start & Finish

Start - San Francisco

End - Los Angeles

Distance

486 Miles

782 Kilometres

Difficulty

Challenging

Itinerary

From the Santa Cruz mountains, to Big Sur, and beyond, this journey takes you through the best of Southern California’s coastline. Redwood forests, curving cliffsides, California’s breadbasket, and SoCal’s famous beach towns are only some of the places you’ll experience along this journey. You’ll have the chance to visit towering trees, dip your toes in the Pacific, and gaze out from mountain tops over the coastline. Visit California’s most iconic cities, and opt to continue all the way to San Diego to bike the whole of California’s Southern Coast.

Day by Day

 

Arrival Day | San Francisco

Arrive into the beautiful city by the bay, and enjoy a night in town. From the Mission, to Hayes Valley, Haight-Ashbury, SOMA, North Beach, and the famous Golden Gate Park, you'll have plenty to explore. 

 

Day 1 | San Francisco - Big Basin | 52.1 miles

Skip the busy bay, and start riding in the South Bay. Climb up to beautiful forest covered bike paths along the San Andreas Lake and Crystal Spring Reservoirs, and ride along quiet cyclist filled roads into Big Basin Redwood Forest.

 

Day 2 | Big Basin - New Brighton | 32.3 miles

Riding downhill through the Santa Cruz mountains, pause for the awe inspiring views. Cycling through quaint mountain towns, enter one of California’s surf capitals, Santa Cruz.

 

Day 3 | New Brighton - Monterey | 42 miles

Biking through small communities, enjoy quiet residential roads, bike paths and seaside views with incredible wildlife on your way to Monterey.

 

Day 4 | Monterey - Big Sur | 44.5 miles

Start the day with the famous 17-mile drive through Pebble Beach, stopping in Carmel for a visit to a few galleries and a stop at the beach. After miles of rolling coastal bliss, enter Big Sur, where you’ll finish at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park for a night nestled amongst giant Redwoods.

 

Day 5 | Big Sur - Kirk Creek | 28 miles

Keep the day short and enjoy all the beauty around you. Stop for hikes, visit hidden beaches and check out the famous McWay Waterfall, while biking some of Southern California’s biggest and most beautiful climbs.

 

Day 6 | Kirk Creek - San Simeon | 40.5 miles

Enjoy epic views and soar down the curving coastal Highway 1. Pass sea lions and catch distant glimpses of the famous Hearst Castle before finishing in San Simeon.

 

Day 7 | San Simeon - Oceano | 56 miles

Head inland for quiet riding between rolling hills. Briefly ride along the coast in Morro Bay, before heading inland again to the town of San Luis Obispo, and South towards Pismo Beach's curious Monarch colony.

 

Day 8 | Oceano - Lake Cachuma | 78 miles

Pass Missions, forest lined creek roads, meadows, and small adorable towns on our way to Lake Cachuma.

 

Day 9 | Lake Cachuma - Foster Park | 57.5 miles

Starting with a major climb, you’ll soon be rewarded with some of the most incredible views Southern California has to offer. From the top of the Santa Barbara mountains, you’ll see rolling hills and coastline for miles.

 

Day 10 | Foster Park - Santa Monica, LA | 66 miles

The coastal stretch to Santa Monica is dotted with state beaches to the right and coastal mountains to the left. Passing Malibu, finish your ride just after the Santa Monica Pier. Welcome to LA!

A Glimpse at Day 1

San Francisco - Big Basin State Park | 52.1 miles

 

7 am: Wake up and get ready for day 1. Make sure you have all your personal belongings packed in your panniers.

8 am: Eat breakfast, load your panniers onto your bike, do a last minute check and hit the road!

8:30 am: Hop on BART, San Francisco's rapid transit system, and head to Millbrae, where you'll to begin the ride.

9:30 am: Ride out of town, along the bike path by the scenic Crystal Springs reservoir.

11:30 am: Stop at Robert's Market for lunch and pick up dinner and breakfast supplies. Perhaps grab lunch to go and enjoy a picnic lunch once you reach the Skyline Vista Point.

3 pm: Bike along the top of Skyline, catching views of rolling coastal moutains, the ocean, and the South Bay.

4 pm: Enter Big Basin Redwood Forest. Enjoy quiet roads lined with these magnificent giants. 

5 pm: Arrive at Big Basin Redwoods State Park and set up camp. Check out the walking trails, visit the camp restaurant, or simply relax by the campfire. 

 

Have questions? Check out our   

 

Itinerary

PACK:

Bike Equipment

 

Touring bike, waterproof panniers & handlebar bag, pump, bike tools,  & essential spare parts. You'll also receive a custom biking jersey to keep!

Camping Gear

 

Tent, sleeping mat, tarp, cookware, flashlight, sleeping bag

Route Design

 

Expertly designed day-by-day route suggestions, essential tips, campsite options, places of interest, and dining recommendations along the way.

PLAN FOR:

Accommodation Costs

 

We provide suggestions and details of the best campsites. They average $5 per person per night. 

Meals and Beverages

 

We outline our favorite cafes, restaurants, and grocery stores.

Emergency Services

 

911 is always your first point of contact in an emergency situation. A list of hospitals and clinics are listed in the pre-trip manuals.

Travel Medical Insurance

 

It is recommended to purchase travel medical insurance before embarking on your journey if you are coming from abroad.

Personal Travel Expenses

 

Plan for costs associated with personal travel to arrive at your starting point and heading home from your endpoint.

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