LA to SF
 

We have 2 full days, Sat and Sun to make it from LA to SF.We want to see as much of coastal route as possible. Our must sees are Carmel,San Simeon and Big Sur obviously not able to see them in depth.
Is this possible? Is there a part non coastal route that would be more appropriate for this time frame without us missing too much scenery.Yes,we do want it all! Any suggestions welcome.
Thanks

This is definitely possible.

Spend the night in Cambria, at one of the hotels on Moonstone Drive.

Cambria is six miles from San Simeon.

I would book my Hearst Castle tour for early on Sunday.

On Saturday, my choice of routing, considering the limited time, would be LA, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Cambria.

On Sunday, after an early tour of the Hearst Castle, I would drive Big Sur, Carmel, Monterey, San Francisco.

It would be rushed, but memorable.

Enjoy.

HTTY

I've done this trip in two days several times back in my younger days when I was always in a hurry.

Just drive up Hwy 101 from LA and stop for the night in San Simeon. I don't think you will have time to tour the Hearst Castle because you would have to wait for it to open in the morning.

Get an early start and drive up to Carmel on Hwy 1 along the Big Sur Coastline. If you can, stop at Point Lobos State Reserve. In the afternoon, continue up to SF.

LA to San Simeon is 5 or six hours at a gentle pace (4.5 if you race).

San Simeon to SF is 6 or seven hours (5 if you race).

Don't race. Take your time and enjoy the sights. You wont have much time to stop anywhere for any length of time but the drive itself will still be awesome.

Here's a map you can follow.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...ca36&msa=0

I'm working on my trip report, but we really enjoyed this place in Cambria -

http://www.bestwesternfiresideinn.com/

And, eating here in Cambria -
http://www.linnsfruitbin.com/restaurant

I would try to add a night to stay in Carmel. I loved this hotel -
http://www.cypress-inn.com/

This hotel was not as nice as the Cypress Inn, but was just fine for the extra night I added on in Carmel -
http://www.carmelbayviewinn.com/

If you are determined to visit the Hearst Castle, Tour 1 starts as early as 8:20 and lasts 1:45 hours.

The drive to San Francisco via Big Sur is 222 miles--about four hours of driving.

My math says it is doable.

The 8:20 time slot is often booked well in advance.

Supercilious, www.tinyurl.com can be your friend.

ps - your link only shows the Big Sur area...while distorting the format of this thread

"ps - your link only shows the Big Sur area...while distorting the format of this thread"

Sorry. It looks fine in IE7. I don't know why the link was doubled.

Use the bar on the left of the map to increase or decrease the scale. You can see the whole world or a single road.

If the OP does this trip in Spring or Fall, the Hearst Castle has an evening tour they could take on Saturday.

http://www.hearstcastle.com/tours/evening_tour.asp

I would take Hwy 101 to San Luis Obispo then take Hwy 1 over to the coast. Cambria is a great spot to spend the night. However, when you get ready to leave in the AM to head up the coast there will probably still be plenty of fog.

You could stay between Santa Maria and San Luis Obispo along Hwy 101 and then do the short drive over to the coast in AM to give the fog a chance to burn off.

Then take Hwy 1 along the coast to just north of Monterey where Hwy 101 will join back up for a minute.

If you have time stay on Hwy 1 around Monterey Bay to Santa Cruz and then take Hwy 17 toward San Jose and back to Hwy 101 to San Francisco.

If you are running out of time then take Hwy 101 at Castroville toward SF.

There are also a few hotels in San Simeon (I've used the Motel 6 on occasion, even had a partial ocean view!).

You should be able to get on the first morning tour if you book ahead. You will be able to reach San Francisco the same day, even driving US1, but you won't have much time at Carmel.

The other alternative is to drive straight from LA on Day 1 in time to get on a Hearst tour. Spend the night in San Simeon. The next morning you will have time to drive the coast road and spend an hour or two in Carmel.

We had actually thought of the Direct to San Simeon route with a tour later in the day.Can you estimate travel time with us leaving LA(West Hollywood around 8AM, could/would do earlier if we had to. Thanks

Google maps says 236 miles and 4hrs 9 minutes, but I don't think that's safe. I'd say 6 hours. If you're out of LA in less than an hour, I'd be surprised, and there's always a slowdown around Santa Barbara. If it looks like you'll be early, you can always stop for a bite. I might even allow 7 hours so I could be sure to stop in San Luis Obispo for a meal at Big Sky Cafe and allow time for a check in at Hearst. If you're early you can see the movie first (it should be included with the ticket).