San Francisco Los Angeles by car. Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco: road trip route. Nearest localities to San Francisco

If you suddenly decide to get from Los Angeles to San Francisco by car, then you should not trust the navigator and drive along the fast highway. Feel free to open your maps and look for road No. 1, connecting these two cities along the Atlantic coast. Get up early in the morning, because the path will not be close, about 600 km, and even the views that will open to you from the road guarantee stops every 100 meters. But, believe me, you won’t regret it!

In LA we decided to take the fast road, leaving all the beauty of Highway 1 for the way back. I don’t remember if we left early, but the weather was terrible. Low clouds, occasional rain...

Our first stop was a place called Pillar Point. It is located near the city of Santa Cruz near Half Moon Bay. Great name.

In fact, Pillar point is a legendary place where the largest waves of the Atlantic Ocean come to the west coast of the USA - Maverick.

We were there in the off-season for waves - in May. Rocks in winter. Something like this (a couple of photos from the Internet):

It's a dream to see this spectacle! Choose good weather from November to the end of March. We only managed to swim in the cold water of the ocean and move on...

Along the way you can find incredibly beautiful places and, of course, it would be worth breaking this path into a couple of days so as not to rush...

Highway 1, we're heading south to Los Angeles

the abundance of colors simply amazes the eye

In some places you can see a rusty railway running along the coast

As I said, you want to stop literally every hundred meters. If you are a photographer, then driving is a stupid idea.

On the way, you will definitely pass through the Big Sur region, one of the most beautiful places in the USA. Many famous people live here, and the house costs from 2 million dollars.

And it’s clear why! The views here are incredibly beautiful

Every bay. Do you see the fur seals in the photo?

And they exist! But that's later)

Oh, by the way, if possible, take a convertible to travel along this road

Did I mention big waves? There are signs everywhere warning of danger.

One of the most recognizable views of the Atlantic coast of the United States

It’s clear why people are willing to pay that kind of money for housing...

Be careful walking along the cliff paths. We saw snakes, and once it was simply gigantic, scaring us greatly

A small panorama overlooking Big Sur

View from the other side towards San Francisco. Which direction to go is up to you, but I think the road from San Francisco is better. Firstly, you always drive near the ocean, and secondly, the sunset falls on the most beautiful places)

Yes, I almost forgot. Fuel your car on the way here. Finding a gas station along the road is not so easy and the price of gasoline is higher than usual

There are a lot of cool old cars along the way, but you'll see even more roofless Mustangs. The route is very popular among tourists and in the summer there are traffic jams

You can stop anywhere along the road. There are many places where there are observation decks or parking lots. Everything for the people

We left Big Sur...

250 miles from Los Angeles, don't miss the beaches with sea lions... or seals... At first I didn't understand what kind of stones were lying on the sand and reflecting the sun

There are simply thousands of them here. Walking paths have been made along the beaches so as not to interfere with animals living their natural lives. You just watch them from the balcony.

Mostly they lie quietly and bask in the sun, but when someone turns over on the other side, touching another, an uproar and uproar begins. The next one hits the next one and so on along the chain until everyone calms down...

the sun is already setting. the whole day on the road flew by very quickly

LA is still 245 miles away. Miles are generally deceiving. It seems close, but in reality it is almost 400 km. But we got there without any problems. There was nothing left to see; it became dark and we drove onto highway 101.

Travel by car from Los Angeles to San Francisco is one of the best drives in California and perhaps the most beautiful road in the state of California. Pacific Highway No. 1, which runs along, is called the Pacific Coast Highway and is rich in a variety of attractions. Along its entire length of approximately 500 miles there are picturesque towns and natural beauty, and the total distance between Los Angeles and San Francisco is 750 km along the first highway. We had no doubt that we would drive along this road during our trip. Therefore, we advise everyone to definitely enjoy the Californian nature and travel from Los Angeles to San Francisco by car. I will now tell you in detail about what to see on Highway No. 1 in California, what mandatory stops to make and how much time you need to plan for such a trip.

Pacific Highway (CA 1) is a road in the US state of California leading from the city to . Despite the fact that it is a regional road, it has received All-American status due to its great popularity among tourists. Another name for this road is Cabrillo Highway, named after the first European, João Cabrillo, who sailed and explored the California coast in the 16th century.

The length of the Pacific Coast Highway is 1055 km. It starts at Dane Point in Orange County and ends in the town of Leggett in northern California. But tourists usually choose the route from LA to SF, which is 800 km long. Along the way, from the car window you can see beautiful views of the ocean, high capes and observation decks.

Pacific Coast Highway is not only a road through California, but also many picturesque bays along the Pacific coast, amazing nature and beautiful cities. Also, since the Pacific Ocean borders the entire American continent, the PCH actually begins at the southern tip of Baja California in Mexico, and ends at the northern tip of the Olympic Peninsula (where is located) in Washington State.

Where will Route 1 lead in California?

So road number 1 in california is just part of the Pacific Coast Highway. And that is why it is called by this name too. And yet, Route No. 1 is one of the most popular in America among tourists traveling around the United States by car. Only the world-famous Highway 66, connecting the two coasts of the United States, received more fame.

So California Highway 1, Pacific Coast Highway (California), Cabrillo Highway, Pacific Highway and even just Route 1 are all names for one route along which tourists drive cars from Los Angeles to San Francisco and back.

Well, we have successfully figured out the definition of what the Pacific Coast Highway is, and now let's talk about features of traveling in California by car along route No. 1.

Official sign for the Pacific Coast Highway

Tip #1. I must say right away that in fact it is most convenient to travel along the Pacific Coast Highway not from south to north, but vice versa - from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Since most of the observation platforms and car parking areas on the first route are located on the ocean side, it is more convenient to stop there (you don’t have to constantly think about where to turn around). However, Russian tourists have already developed a tradition of traveling along the ocean from LA to SF, and returning back via (, etc.), since most travelers fly to the City of Angels and immediately want to see the ocean.
We, too, rented a car right at the airport (we booked it in advance at a good price on Rentalcars.com) and from there we immediately headed north along the Pacific Coast Highway towards San Francisco. Read our detailed instructions -.
And even though we really enjoyed this trip, we still hope to drive along Highway 1 from north to south on one of our next visits to the United States. If you also arrive in the USA through Los Angeles Airport, then after visiting the City of Angels, you can go to San Francisco (by plane or bus), and there you can rent a car to drive the Pacific Coast Highway from north to south:
- You can get from Los Angeles to San Francisco by Greyhound bus - it’s quite comfortable and fast (from 8 to 12 hours on the road) and not even very expensive, especially if you buy a ticket in advance for 5-10 dollars (then prices rise to 40-60 dollars).
- You can fly from Los Angeles to San Francisco by plane in just an hour and a half - this is the easiest way to get there, because there are a huge number of flights from LA to SF every day (tickets will cost $80-100). And it’s much easier to rent a car at the airport. Although you can rent a car first and only then, so as not to have to worry about finding parking every time.
- Another option is to travel from LA to SF by Amtrak train (San Joaquin Train), which runs daily in the morning. Travel time is about 12 hours, and tickets cost $60-100. However, it is worth keeping in mind that the trains do not call into the city of San Francisco itself, but stop in Emeryville or Oakland. There you need to take a special Amtrak Thruway bus which will take you to San Francisco in just 10 minutes.

The Pacific Coast Highway in California is sometimes built right along the edge of the coast.

Tip #2. You should be careful when driving along the road from Los Angeles to San Francisco, as it is mountainous and winds along the coast, where there is often fog, and the roadway was built specifically taking into account winding coastline. From time to time, after heavy rains, there are small landslides on the highway, and then the highway is closed altogether.
Tip #3. If California Route 1 is closed, you will have to travel part of the route on alternate roads. For example, you can use high-speed Highway No. 5, which is much more convenient, and you can use it to travel from Los Angeles to San Francisco much faster than along the leisurely first highway. But don’t be surprised that once you get onto Interstate I-5 you can get bored quite quickly, because the surroundings of this road are not as picturesque as along the coast. And road No. 1 periodically coincides with Interstate 101. The two highways intersect in cities such as Santa Barbara, Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo, Salinas (near Monterey) and finally San Francisco.

How can you tell in advance whether California Highway 1 is closed or free to travel? It's very easy to do. Try to build a route on a Google map in advance, and if Google is building a detour road and does not want to move the route under any circumstances, this is a sure sign that traffic on California’s Highway 1 is closed. After this, it’s worth clarifying which areas you can’t drive on. By the way, it was for this reason that we canceled the route along the Pacific Highway on one of our visits to the USA, since the road was partially blocked due to landslides in the area. And since we really wanted to get there again, but a problem arose, we decided to immediately change our route through California and go through this state.

Pacific Coast Highway - California sights on the road from Los Angeles to San Francisco

What should an independent traveler see on the US Pacific Coast? There is so much to see on one of America's most popular tourist routes that it will take more than one day to see it all with your own eyes.

Check out this video for a good idea of the Pacific Coast Highway:

Here is a list of the main ones attractions Pacific Coast Highway(or Route 1), which travelers will encounter in California along road No. 1 from Los Angeles to San Francisco:

Maps of attractions along the Pacific Coast Highway from Los Angeles to San Francisco:

This map shows almost all the points of interest that I describe in our route, as well as Route 1, Highway 101 and Highway 5.

For a detailed map of attractions on the way from Los Angeles to San Francisco with interesting places, transport and hotels, see the end of the article

Housing on Pacific Coast Highway

There are not many hotels on the Pacific Coast Highway; they are mostly found in cities, and they are by no means cheap. The choice of campsites is also quite limited. However, it is wise to travel along the Pacific Coast Highway for at least two or even three days. Believe me, we drove through in two and we really regret it, because we had to rush and see some of the beauties very quickly. Next time we will travel for three days and book accommodation on Booking.com.

It’s convenient to allocate time, taking into account the peculiarities of choosing housing on the Pacific Coast Highway, like this:

1st day— from Los Angeles to San Luis Obispo (housing options);
Day 2- from San Luis Obispo to Carmel or Monterey (hotels in Carmel, hotels in Monterey);
Day 3- from Carmel to San Francisco (link).

Or in reverse order, if you go from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

Or you can spend the night in another beautiful city, Santa Barbara, by booking a good hotel there. At the same time, look at the famous arches that are known to us from the series.

Los Angeles - San Francisco: our sightseeing route

Now I’ll tell you in detail how Dima and I drove along California’s first highway from Los Angeles to San Francisco by car and what we saw along the way, and I’ll also share our photos from the Pacific Coast Highway. We plan on three days for the trip to enjoy the trip and experience all the diversity of the Pacific coast.

Read also:

Day 1. Los Angeles - San Luis Obispo

Distance: 200 miles
Route: Santa Monica - Malibu - Point Dume - Point Mugu - Santa Barbara - Santa Ynez Valley - Solvang - Pismo Beach - San Luis Obispo

So, we wake up early in the morning at a good hotel in Santa Monica (I recommend DoubleTree Suites by Hilton) and leave Los Angeles early. We already had a look earlier and are now eager to hit the road. To avoid traffic jams, it is better to leave the City of Angels at seven o'clock in the morning.

1. We leave on Beach Road and move along the coast with numerous. Pretty soon we find ourselves in, but we are in no hurry to stop anywhere, but drive along beautiful beaches and watch them from the window. We know a great place, a secret of the Californians, and therefore after Escondido Beach we look out for the turn to Point Dume (you are unlikely to miss it, it is located right in front of Zuma Beach). A short walk up the hill and there it is! From this cape there is a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean, Malibu and the homes of the stars, as well as the beautiful Zuma Beach, where the series “Baywatch” was filmed. These views are worth a stop, believe me!

Here are the views of the Pacific Ocean from Point Dume. Isn't Malibu a great place?

2. Next along the road is Point Mugu State Park, which is worth a stop, especially if you're visiting in the spring, to watch the blooms. But we were traveling in the fall, and there were no flowers anymore. And then along the route - an interesting rock Mugu Rock. This place is curious because the rock was cut through here during the construction of Highway 1 in California. There is parking nearby, you can go out and have a look.

3. We drive further and find ourselves in a city famous throughout Russia, where everyone knows everyone. Santa Barbara offers classic colonial Spanish architecture and Riviera chic neatly nestled into the landscape of a small valley between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez Mountains. We rushed to the historic 1782 Mission to find out where the famous arches from the Santa Barbara series' opening sequence came from.

But see the famous arches of Santa Barbara in the beautiful Mission of St. Barbara in the suburbs

5. Don’t miss the very nearby picturesque - this is a small Danish town in the Santa Ynez Mountains. To get to the city of Solvang, we had to leave the coast for a while and drive deep into the continent along highway 101. And there we were greeted by a typical European landscape, with fabulous shops selling pretzels and pretzels. Anyone who read Andersen's fairy tales as a child will simply regret it if they don't stop by Solvang.

Anyone who loves the spirit of Scandinavia, come to Solvang!

6. Back on Route 1 Pacific Coast Highway, we reached Pismo Beach, where you should definitely see the high dunes on the ocean shore and stroll along the boardwalk.

And now the first day has come to an end. We traveled a lot, and saw even more. We went to spend the night in San Luis Obispo (we recommend a highly rated hotel - Quality Suites).

Day 2. San Luis Obispo - Carmel

Distance: 170 miles
Route: San Luis Obispo - Morro Rock - Big Sur (San Simeon - McVay Falls and Julia Prifer Park - Bisqueby Bridge) - Carmel

After yesterday's races along the California coast, we understand how much we have to see on the road along the Pacific Ocean, so we leave as early as possible. There’s not even time for San Luz Obispo.

1. Still in the morning fog, we approach the town of Morro Bay, where the state park is located. Morro Rock hangs over the city and looks poetically ghostly. And we understand that we were lucky with the weather, although at first it seemed as if we weren’t. The coastline dotted with cypress trees is very atmospheric. We see that people go kayaking, but, unfortunately, we don’t have time for that. Let's hurry on.

A high rock sticks out in the ocean off the coast of the town of Morro Bay. Such formations are more typical of Northern California, and especially Oregon and Washington. By the way, in fact, there is a path leading to Morro Rock and in fact it is a peninsula.

2. And now we are leaving for the famous - the most picturesque section of the road along the Pacific coast, which is an integral part of the Pacific Coast Highway, along which there are several interesting sights. The first one for us is the observation deck Elephant Seal Vista Point near the town from where we watch the morning games of fur seals. Here we linger for a long time, we don’t even notice the drizzling rain. There's also some in the mountains Hearst Castle, but we decided not to go there because of the weather.

The morning in California turned out to be cloudy again, but even this weather on the Pacific coast has its own charm. Gloomy beauty

Day 3. Carmel - San Francisco

Distance: 130 miles
Route: Carmel - 17 Mile Road - Monterey - Santa Cruz - San Francisco

— the town is so cozy that you want to stay here longer. The streets here are smooth and look like something out of a fairy tale, the beach is picturesque and the history of the city is rich. By an effort of will, after visiting the Carmel Mission, we turn to one and the entrances to the 17 mile road.

1. As the name suggests, this is a 17-mile scenic drive between Carmel and the Monterey suburb of Pacific Grove. There is a fee to enter it, it costs $10 (payment is accepted only in cash). Road 17 Mile Drive meanders along the coastline between cypress groves, golf courses and terribly expensive mansions. We were simply stunned by her beauty. It was foggy again. And fog and cypress trees are the most atmospheric combination that emphasizes the Victorian style of architecture. And, of course, we stopped by to look at lonely cypress- a symbol of California, because it is a mandatory observation deck for all travelers.

Lone cypress - one of the symbols of California

2. Now it’s the turn of the city, the former capital of California. The historic quarter immerses you in Steinbeck's novels. For those traveling with children, visit the Monterey Aquarium, you won’t regret it. We walk along the streets and along the beach. But honestly, we liked the suburb of Pacific Grove more: we spent a long time watching seabirds and squirrels there, which easily ran along the boardwalk.

Good hotels in Monterey(in the Pacific Grove area):

Spindrift Inn →
Pacific Gardens Inn →

The distance from Los Angeles to San Francisco is 614 km by car or bus, 550 km in a straight line by plane.

Travel time depends on the chosen transport: direct flight - 1 hour 15 minutes, with a transfer - from 2 hours 40 minutes; by train - about 10 hours; by bus - 7-12 hours; by car - 6-7 hours.

Train Los Angeles - San Francisco

The railway route is provided by the Coast Starlight train of the American railway company Amtrak. Departure from Los Angeles is from Union Station. The railway network is divided into six zones, and ticket prices vary for each zone.

It is better to book tickets in advance, as only the most expensive ones will be left at the last moment. Ticket prices depend greatly on the level of comfort, departure time (day or night) and duration of the trip (on average 10-11 hours).

Please note: Coast Starlight trains arrive in Oakland (about 10 miles offshore from San Francisco) and then take a ferry ride on BART (often called "subway"). Travel time on this section is about 30 minutes.

Bus Los Angeles - San Francisco

For those who prefer to travel by bus, it is more logical to choose one of the major bus networks. For example, Greyhound. Bus tickets from Los Angeles to San Francisco start at $23 early and $32 early and can be purchased on the company's website, by phone, or at the Greyhound terminal located at Union Station in downtown Los Angeles. Angeles.

In addition to Greyhound, there are other bus operators: Hoang Exp, USAsia. A budget option is to use the services of the low-cost bus service Megabus. The regular price of a bus ticket along the route is from 10 dollars, during promotional periods - from 1 dollar.

There are several bus flights from Los Angeles to San Francisco during the day, the travel time is from 7 hours, and this method of transportation is considered more convenient than trains.

You can compare prices for suitable routes from several bus companies at gotobus.com.

Plane from Los Angeles to San Francisco

You will have to travel to San Francisco from Los Angeles International Airport or Long Beach Airport. Arrival at San Francisco Airport, located 21 km from the city.

Flights from Los Angeles to San Francisco

Direct flights to San Francisco are offered by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and others. Departures take place quite frequently.

The minimum travel time is 1 hour 15 minutes. The approximate price of an air ticket is from 82 dollars one way, from 170 dollars there and back.

How to get from Los Angeles to San Francisco by car

Traveling by car will give you absolute freedom in choosing your route. State Route 1 and US Route 101 are coastal roads that provide great views of the surrounding area due to the added length of the roads due to the twists and turns. You should not take Interstate 5 as it is not very scenic and will be difficult due to the volume of traffic.

Route description Los Angeles - San Francisco

Route length between Los Angeles and San Francisco: 614 km

Approximate travel time: 5h 44m show route description

Distance	Time	Note
0.2 km	1 min.	Head to northwest By W 1st St to the side N Spring St
0.6 km	2 minutes.	Turn right on N Broadway
16.7 km	13 min.	Turn right and go to US-101N to the side I-110 N
9.7 km	6 min.	Stay at the fork to the left, continuing to move along CA-170N/Hwy 170 N/Hollywood Fwy; follow the signs on Sacramento
1.4 km	1 min.	Turn left to the congress 11B on Interstate 5N to the side Sacramento
3.3 km	2 minutes.	Go to I-5N
7.7 km	4 min.	Hold on to the left, continuing to move along I-5N
2.5 km	1 min.	Stay at the fork to the left, continuing to move along I-5N
93.9 km	53 min.	Hold on to the left, continuing to move along I-5N
363 km	3 hours 11 minutes	Stay at the fork to the right, continuing to move along I-5N; follow the signs on San Francisco/Sacramento/Interstate 5N
74.6 km	41 min.	Stay at the fork to the left, continuing to move along I-580W; follow the signs on Tracy/San Francisco
25.1 km	14 min.	Stay at the fork to the right, continuing to move along I-580W; follow the signs on Oakland/San Francisco
13.3 km	10 min.	Roll up left for departure 19A, to get to I-80W in the direction San Francisco Road with toll sections
1.1 km	1 min.	By congress 1B go to US-101N to the side Golden Gate Bridge
0.3 km	1 min.	Take the exit Mission St
0.3 km	1 min.	Continue on Mission St
0.3 km	3 min.	Smooth turn left on S Van Ness Ave The destination will be on the right

Car rental in Los Angeles

To travel around the United States, tourists from other countries cannot do without car rental services. You can find a rental car from a selection of companies using the Rentalcars aggregator:

Search for a rental car

Finding travel companions

If for some reason it is not possible to rent a car, there is always a chance to find a travel companion for a relatively small fee. Driver search service - Blablacar.ru.

You can get from Los Angeles to San Francisco very quickly - in 6 hours along Route 5. But you can travel for a very long time - two days. And stop at all the interesting places along the way. Go?

Visit the city of the longest soap opera, go to Denmark, listen to the swearing of lions, drive across the highest bridge, look into a postcard bay and not see one of the country’s largest castles...

Stop #1 – Santa Barbara

There's no smell of soap opera here. But the city is very nice and attractive in a Californian way. White houses, palm trees, a beach where you can’t walk barefoot...

You can hang out in Santa Barbara for a week. We didn't have a few days. We walked through the streets and moved on.

Stop #2 – Solvang, Danish America

From Santa Barbara to Solvang it is only 50 kilometers. And these 50 kilometers take you from the USA to Denmark. Because from the American in Solvang there are only flags and currency. This city was built by the Danes who moved to the United States in the image of their cities, and Solvang is the Danish capital of the United States. Even the main street here is called “Copenhagen Drive”. Solvang turned 100 years old in 2011.

Stop #3 – Hearst Castle

The castle is, of course, beautiful and worthy of deep study. Honestly. But there was nothing special to show us - the castle, standing on the mountain, was hidden by fog.

You can only get to the castle grounds with a guided tour, which costs $25. Without a tour, you will only see it from a distance, from the highway. The main manor house stands on the “Enchanted Hill” (Spanish: La Cuesta Encantada), 8 km from the ocean. The house has 56 bedrooms, 61 restrooms, 19 living rooms, and on the estate there are several swimming pools and tennis courts, a cinema, an airfield and the world's largest private zoo. William Randolph Hearst created one of the largest media and publishing empires in the United States. At the zenith of his career, he owned 26 newspapers, 13 national magazines, 8 radio stations and other news services. He also published film news reviews and created about 100 feature films. Throughout his life, Hirst collected works of art and antiques from all over the globe.

Stop #4 – Sea Lions

Sea lion rookery. They sleep, bury themselves in the sand (the reason why lions throw sand on themselves from the beach is still unknown), swim, swear, molt... They even swear and kiss. And from a deep bell tower they spit on tourists. Parking coordinates: N 35° 39.756" W 121° 15.393". You can view the lions endlessly and for free.

Stop #5 – Big Sur Bay

There was once a hotel here, which was destroyed in the 80s of the 20th century by a giant landslide. Traces of the foundation still remain. And the bay is very beautiful. There are a dime a dozen tourists there. True, not in the bay itself - going down into it is very problematic. More precisely, this is prohibited in principle, but at the risk of your legs, it is still possible. True, there is no guarantee that Americans who observe any prohibitions will not immediately report you. Viewing from above is suggested.

Stop #6 – Bixby Bridge

ABOUT!!! This is something! Not stopping and rushing further across the bridge is like death.

The Bixby Bridge was built in 1932. It is located 190 kilometers from San Francisco, which means that most of the route from Los Angeles has already been completed.

Before the construction of the bridge, residents of Big Sur were cut off from major cities in the winter, becoming almost impassable. We had to go around, making a detour of almost 20 kilometers and it took several days!

The gorge has the same name as the bridge - after Henry Bixby, who in the 19th century owned large tracts of land in Big Sur and had a sawmill here.

In order to build the bridge, rocks had to be cut away. The contract to build the bridge, awarded in 1931, was worth $200,000. Construction took 14 months during the Great Depression. As a result, we see the longest concrete span at a height of 98 meters.

How about traveling by car along the route "Los Angeles - Las Vegas - Hoover Dam - Grand Canyon National Park - Death Valley National Park - San Francisco - Monterrey - Santa Barbara - Los Angeles"? We'll tell you about what interesting things await you along the way.

Brief information about renting a car in the USA

To implement the route described in this article, you will need a car, which you can easily rent from an international or local company upon arrival, or book in advance via the Internet.

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Two important points:

There are ongoing debates on forums about whether an international driving license is needed or a national one is sufficient. The website recommends that guests of the country have both with them, as some companies refuse to rent to drivers without an IDP. On the forums you can also find stories about problems with the police on this basis;
Another stumbling block is the card that needs to be presented to the rental company. Many agencies' policies state that the card must be a credit card, but how do you know if it is? You can check this using specialized sites, for example, www.bincodes.com, indicating the first 6 digits of the number (BIN).

So, you have arrived in Los Angeles and intend to start your road trip there.

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From Los Angeles International Airport, located 16 kilometers from the center, you can leave in the following ways:

by car. Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, Sixt and other rental companies are represented here; free shuttles will take you to their offices, the stop of which is located near the baggage claim area;
by taxi. A trip to Downtown will cost about $60-75, to Hollywood - $70-80, to Beverly Hills - $65;
by minibus. PrimeTime and Super Shuttle will take you to Downtown, Hollywood or Santa Monica; tickets cost $16, $27 and $21 respectively;
on a regular bus. Ticket costs $1.75;
Metro. The closest station is Aviation Station/LAX, accessible by the free Green Line Bus shuttle. Ticket costs $1.75;
by Flyaway Bus to LAX. A ticket to Hollywood costs $8, to Union Station - $9.75, and there are other routes.

Guests of most hotels located near the airport can count on a free transfer. Their signature buses pick up passengers near each terminal, with stops marked Hotel & Parking Shuttle.

What to see in Los Angeles in a few days?

Hollywood. Stroll along the Walk of Fame, decorated with stars bearing celebrities' names and their hand and foot prints, stop by the Kodak Theater, home of the annual Academy Awards, and then head up to the Griffith Observatory, where you can see the famous Hollywood sign.

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Universal Studios Park (100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City). In the themed areas inspired by films and cartoons (The Walking Dead, King Kong, Despicable Me, Jurassic Park, Transformers, The Simpsons, Harry Potter), you will find attractions for children and adults, and in the Animal Actors pavilion, watch performances by animals that starred in films. We also recommend visiting the Special Effects Stage show, which reveals the secrets of creating spectacular special effects, and going on an hour-long Studio Tour through the current Universal filming pavilions. A 1-day ticket costs $105-116, with the opportunity to go to each attraction 1 time without a queue - $179-269.

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City Hall (200 N Spring St). On the 27th floor of the Los Angeles City Hall there is an observation deck where everyone can go for free during business hours. It offers panoramic views of the city center.
Union Station (800 N Alameda St), the interior of which has remained virtually unchanged since it was built in 1939.
U.S. Bank Tower (633 West Fifth Street) is the tallest building in California and the eleventh tallest in the United States (310 meters).

We also recommend taking a ride on the Angels Flight cable car, which runs between Hill Street and California Plaza, connecting the Bunker Hill area with Downtown. It has been closed since 2013 and reopened to the public in August 2017. A one-way ride costs $1 (50 cents if paid with a Metro TAP card).

An excellent addition to the specified route would be. During it, you will learn the history of California and its capital, stroll along the starry alley of Hollywood Boulevard, the ocean promenade and the graffiti district. You will discover all the most interesting things about the film industry, see the legendary “Hollywood” sign, the villas of the stars, as well as the filming locations of famous films and music videos.

Approximately 4 hours by car separates Los Angeles from Las Vegas (if you wish, you can fly here in 1 hour, spending $45).

Even if you are not a gambling person, it’s definitely worth a look at the “City of Sin”. With the onset of darkness, life here is just beginning; the famous Las Vegas Boulevard is filled with thousands of hunters for easy money from different countries. Feel how the air vibrates from their excitement, look into several casinos where a motley crowd gathers at the tables, and then go out into the street and go ahead - be amazed at the ingenuity of hotel owners who are trying with all their might to capture the attention of city guests!

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The most popular hotels, restaurants, shops and gambling establishments are concentrated on the so-called Las Vegas Strip - a section of Las Vegas Boulevard that is about 7 kilometers long.

Do not miss:

Bellagio Hotel and Dancing Fountains (3600 S Las Vegas Blvd). The show starts every 15-30 minutes: from 15:00 to 00:00 from Monday to Friday, from 12:00 to 00:00 on Saturdays and holidays, from 11:00 to 00:00 on Sunday;
Caesars Palace Hotel (3570 S Las Vegas Blvd). What guests remember first is the ceiling, made in the shape of the sky with clouds running across it;
The Venetian Hotel (3355 S Las Vegas Blvd). Canals, gondolas, the Doge's Palace, St. Mark's Square, Campanile and the Rialto Bridge - consider yourself in Venice. Episodes of the films “Resident Evil 3”, “Miss Congeniality 2: Beautiful and Dangerous”, “Rat Race” were filmed here;
Mirage Hotel (3400 S Las Vegas Blvd). The volcano erupts in front of the main entrance at 19:00 and 20:00 from Sunday to Thursday, and at 19:00, 20:00 and 21:00 on Friday and Saturday.

Almost any hotel can surprise someone who is in Vegas for the first time - their owners are fighting for the attention of potential clients and trying to outdo each other, focusing on designer features. Paris (3655 S Las Vegas Blvd), for example, boasts its own Eiffel Tower, while New York-New York (3790 S Las Vegas Blvd) has skyscrapers and the Statue of Liberty.

Coordinates: N 36.016222, W 114.737245. You can get here from Las Vegas in 40-50 minutes.

The dam on the Colorado River, named after the 31st US President Herbert Hoover, is one of the largest and, perhaps, the most famous structure of its kind in the United States, as well as the highest in the Western Hemisphere (221 meters). She appeared in the films “Into the Wild,” “Transformers,” “Vegas Vacation,” “Superman,” “San Andreas Fault,” as well as documentaries and TV series.

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Half an hour is enough for an inspection and photo session, if your interest in dams is not of a professional nature.

Grand Canyon National Park

Coordinates: 36°03"32"N, 112°06"33"W (South Rim, Visitor Information Center), 36°11"51"N, 112°03"09"W (North Rim, Visitor Information Center ). From the Hoover Dam to the entrance to the southern part of the National Park you will reach in about 4 hours.

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The Grand Canyon is one of the most famous natural attractions in the United States and North America; it is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The name is justified: the area of the park is 5,000 km², the length of the Colorado River canyon around which it is formed is about 400 kilometers, and the depth is up to 1.6 kilometers. The canyon conventionally divides the park into two parts:

South Rim is the most visited and “tourist” area, where there are three dozen observation platforms, several walking paths, souvenir shops, cafes and restaurants, campsites, a railway station and a clinic. South Rim is open all year round, but it is better to come here not in summer - crowds of tourists can spoil the impression;
The North Rim is the most picturesque part of the park, where fewer visitors get to due to its remote location. There are a variety of viewpoints and walking routes to suit every taste. North Rim is available from May 15th to October 15th.

In addition to exploring the park on foot or by car, you can diversify your leisure time with mule rides, helicopter and airplane flights over the canyon, rafting on the Colorado River, a train ride on a historic railroad, a jeep safari, watching the sunrise or watching the stars.

By the way, in 2018 you can visit the National Park three times for free: April 21, September 22 and November 11.

On other days, you will have to pay $30 for each car, regardless of the number of passengers. This fee allows you to stay on the territory for 7 days, leaving it if necessary and returning an unlimited number of times. Bicyclists, pedestrians and guests arriving by train pay $15.

The famous glass Skywalk bridge is not the property of the National Park; it is located on the territory of the Hulapai Indian reservation. You can climb it for $82. Opening hours: from 8:00 to 17:00 (from October to March), from 7:00 to 19:00 (from April to September).

Planning to stay in the park for a few days? Book your hotel room or campsite in advance! During the high season (from May to October) it is difficult to find accommodation. If you want to save on an overnight stay, you can stay in one of the neighboring cities: Tusayan (10 minutes drive), Williams (1 hour drive), Flagstaff (1.5 hours drive) - for those visiting the southern part of the park; Jacob Lake (1 hour drive), Kanab (2 hours drive) - near the Northern part; Peach Springs or Kingman (1.5 hour drive) - in the vicinity of the Skywalk.

Address: 328 Greenland Blvd, Death Valley (post office located 400 meters from the Visitor Information Center). The journey from the Grand Canyon will take about 4.5 hours.

Coordinates: N 36°27.70, W 116°52.00.

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The hottest and driest national park in the USA. It is also the largest in the country, if you do not take into account the parks of Alaska, - 13,650 km².

Death Valley's main tourist spots:

Dante's View is an observation deck at an altitude of 1,669 meters above sea level. The Panamint Mountains are visible in the east, and the Sierra Nevada range in the west, where the highest point of the Continental States is located - Mount Whitney (4,418 meters above sea level);
Mesquite Flat sand dunes;
Twenty Mule Team Canyon - a route of more than 4 kilometers, ideal for walking or cycling;
Zabriskie Point is the most popular viewpoint in the park and the best place to watch the sun set;
Badwater Basin is the lowest point in North America, located 86 meters below sea level. After heavy rains, a temporary lake forms here;
Devil's Golf Course is a course consisting of rock salt deposits of unusual shape.

The park is accessible to visitors every day, 24 hours a day, but some facilities may be closed due to weather conditions or for renovations.

For those who want to spend the night on the territory, there are 9 campsites; their opening hours can be found on the website.

Please note that there is no mobile operator coverage in most of the Death Valley area. It is also worth remembering that many of the roads here were built back in the 30s of the last century: they are narrow and twisted, so you need to drive extremely carefully. Make sure you choose the right machine and take the necessary tools and parts with you in case it breaks down.

Entry to the park costs $25 per car, regardless of the number of passengers. The ticket gives you the right to stay in Death Valley for 7 days, entering and leaving an unlimited number of times. Admission for pedestrians and cyclists is $12.

San Francisco

From Death Valley you can get here by car in 8 hours. If you decide to stay in the city for 1-2 days, we recommend including in the program:

a walk along Fisherman’s Wharf - an embankment that offers beautiful views of San Francisco Bay, city neighborhoods, the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island. Check out the famous Pier 39, where restaurants serve delicious crab chowder and a seal rookery on the pier. At the entrance to the pier is the Aquarium of the Bay, which displays the many inhabitants of the bay;