I am planning a trip to Hollywood to see the sights such as universal studios, Burbank studios, etc. Is it worth renting a car to drive up to SanFran just to go see Alcatraz??

not it's not worth it JUST to see alcatraz. but if you have 4 days it is worth it to drive up the pacific coast highway to san fran. gorgous drive. then, while in san fran, go see alcatraz (book in advance).

The drive from Hollywoog to San Francisco is at least 7 hours. It would not be worth it to drive to San Francisco just to see Alcatraz. I would recomend a drive up highway 1 through Big Sur and the Monterey Bay Area. The Bay Area has lots to see including the Monterey Bay Aquarium, 17 Mile Drive, and Carmel by the Sea. The coastal scnery on highway 1 along the Central Coast is spectacular.

oops,
That's Hollywood, NOT Hollywoog!

There is SO much to see in the North part of the state, and Alcatraz is the least of the wonders! The Monterey area is spectacular - the Pacific Ocean and Monterey Bay are unlike the East Coast or Southern Ca. Try renting a kayak and paddle out with the sea lions and otters. Or rent a bike - there are numerous trails, many easy and family friendly. Check out http://www.montereyaquarium.com

Santa Cruz has a wonderful old roller coaster plus the art and hippie scene "downtown". Just go to Google and type Santa Cruz, CA and you'll get lots of sites to check out.

San Francisco is a BEAUTIFUL city - from the "painted lady" victorian homes and sweeping vistas of the ocean, hills and Golden Gate Bridge to the wonderful Golden Gate Park, ritzy Nob Hill mansions and vibrant financial district. Then there is the diversity -China Town (one of the largest outside of China), Japan Town, the Castro's gay quarter, and the Haight-Ashbury with remmnants of the 60's and newer art scene. Do some research - there's much much more than Alcatraz!

Northern Ca is also home of the most beautiful natural settings - Muir Woods, just north of SF has ancient redwood trees, the Sierras and Gold Rush towns are beautiful too.

LA LA land is a wonderful tourist destination, but balance out your CA visit with the north part of the state too.

You won't need a car in SF and don't want one! Why not book a cheap flight from LA to Oakland on SWA if you really only want to see Alcatraz. But, once you're here, you'll want to do more that just Alcatraz.

I agree that there is a lot of natural beauty in Northern California including Monterey and Yosemite(www.yosemitepark.com) If you decide to check out Yosemite, reservations are a must. If in Santa Cruz, in the mountains above San Jose I would recommend visiting Big Basin Redwoods State Park (www.bigbasin.org) The Roaring Camp Railroad (www.roaringcamp.com) offers steam train tours through the redwood forests. While in the area, you should stop in the San Jose/Silicon Valley region (www.sanjose.org) for a visit to one of the great museums(The Tech, Rosicrucian, etc) or restaurants in San Pedro Square, Japantown, or South First Street.

Alcatraz is only an old prison rich in history on a little island. Done in 2-3 hours max with audio guide. Do not drive 6-7 hours from LA just to see it
unless you're interested in all the towns such as Moterey and Carmel in-between. Go to Yosemite if you haven't been already. That is worth the 4 1/2 hours drive there. Breath-taking scenery.