SF To Las Vegas Road Trip: How To Make A Rather Boring Drive Fun

The straight-shot drive from San Francisco to Las Vegas is a snoozefest. I know this from way too much personal experience.

I used to do it in college with my girlfriends—eight and a half hours of flat, dry nothingness, powering down I-5 with minimal stops and even less scenery. It’s the kind of drive where your most exciting moment is spotting cows or catching a whiff of that one stretch that smells like straight poopie.

You barely graze Route 66 near Barstow before landing in Vegas and pretending the last nine hours of beige landscape didn’t happen.

But you don’t have to suffer through that. If you’re willing to veer off the main highway, take it slower, and actually stop along the way, you’ll find some weird, wonderful, and wildly scenic detours that make the journey just as fun as the destination.

Think: an old-school 50s diner, a dusty ghost town that’ll make you feel like you’re a Western town prospector, even a chance to dip into Yosemite or Sequoia National Parks if you’re craving a taste of nature along the way.

Below, I’m giving you two alternate road trip routes that trade “get there fast” for “make it memorable.” This is how you turn the SF-to-Vegas drive into a legit adventure.

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A Brief Intro To The SF to Las Vegas Route

If you’re doing this drive without any stops, prepare for a long haul—about 8.5 hours of mostly flat, uninspiring scenery, especially if you take the fastest route via I-5.

That stretch is known for massive industrial farms and CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations), which means yes, it smells as bad as it sounds. There’s little to see, few places worth pulling over, and the landscape doesn’t change much until you’re basically in Vegas.

But here’s the good news: you don’t have to take the boring way.

There are two far more scenic and experience-rich alternatives if you’re willing to take your time and get off the freeway. Think redwood forests, rugged coastline, gold rush towns, national parks, and desert oddities. This is where the road trip actually becomes part of the adventure—not just something you suffer through.

Pro Tip: The less time you spend on I-5, the better. The best stuff is off the main freeway, on the smaller highways and backroads. It takes longer, but that’s the point—you’re not in a rush, you’re exploring.

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SF to Las Vegas: Route Options Worth Your Time

Forests + Deserts Route

Best for: nature lovers, national park collectors, and folks who don’t mind mountain roads.

This route takes you through some of California’s most iconic landscapes—think Sierra Nevada peaks, giant sequoias, and the eerie beauty of Death Valley. It’s a more inland route with big elevation swings and some longer detours, but it’s packed with natural wonders.

Highlights:

• Columbia State Historic Park (Gold Rush vibes)
• Yosemite National Park
• Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
• Death Valley National Park
• Enter Las Vegas from the north

Click here to jump to this route.

The Coastal Route

Best for: foodies, ocean chasers, and anyone who wants to take it slow and soak in small-town charm.

This route hugs California’s famous coastline for as long as possible before cutting inland to cross the desert. Expect ocean views, beach towns, good eats, and fewer crowds. Eventually, you’ll connect to the I-15 corridor through the Mojave and enter Vegas from the south.

Highlights:

• Santa Cruz
• Monterey & Carmel-by-the-Sea
• Big Sur
• Wine tasting in Paso Robles
• Retro stops like Peggy Sue’s 50s Diner and Calico Ghost Town
• Enter Las Vegas from the south

Click here to jump to this route.

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SF to Las Vegas: Forests + Deserts Route

Berkeley, CA

A quick stop in Berkeley can give you a nice mix of quirky charm and college-town culture. Grab pastries in town, walk around the UC Berkeley campus (don’t miss the famed Campanile), or hike in the nearby Berkeley Hills for a scenic break from freeway driving.

Top stops for a half-day:

• Telegraph Avenue for vintage shops, boba, and college bites
• Snack on amazing pastries at Patisserie Rotha or Fournee
• Explore the UC Berkeley campus: Sather Gate + Memorial Glade
• Tilden Regional Park or Grizzly Peak for views over the Bay

San Francisco Premium Outlets

Ah yes, the outlets that have “San Francisco” in the name despite being 1 hour away from SF (it’s actually in Livermore, CA). If you want to knock out some shopping, this is one of the better outlet centers in Northern California with high-end brands like Prada, Gucci, Saint Laurent, Lululemon, and Allbirds all in one place.

Top stops for a half-day:

• Go shopping at SF Premium Outlets (obviously)
• Stop at a nearby Livermore winery if you want a quick wine tasting
• Grab a bite to eat—the Pacific Pearl plaza across the street has tons of amazing Asian restaurants

Yosemite National Park

One of the crown jewels of the U.S. national park system, Yosemite offers jaw-dropping granite cliffs, waterfalls, and massive sequoias. Even with just one day, you can hit a few of the iconic viewpoints and hikes.

Top sights for a 1-day itinerary:

• Take in the epic view at Tunnel View (classic Yosemite Valley shot)
• Take the free shuttle to Yosemite Falls or Bridalveil Fall
• Quick hike around Yosemite Valley or Lower Yosemite Falls
• Have a picnic under El Capitan
• Drive or hike to Glacier Point (if open—check seasonally)

Sequoia National Park

Home to some of the largest trees on Earth—including General Sherman, the biggest tree by volume—this park is quieter than Yosemite but no less awe-inspiring. Expect winding mountain roads and a cooler, alpine vibe.

Top sights for a half day:

• See the General Sherman Tree with your own eyes
• Stroll along the Congress Trail (easy loop among giant sequoias)
• Drive through Tunnel Log (yes, you can really drive through this one!)
• Head to Moro Rock for panoramic views (a short but steep climb)

Kings Canyon National Park

Often overshadowed by its neighbor Sequoia, Kings Canyon is a hidden gem with deep glacial canyons, roaring rivers, and fewer crowds. If you like dramatic scenery without the Yosemite-level traffic, this is your park.

Top sights for a half day:

• Scenic drive along Kings Canyon Scenic Byway
• Explore Zumwalt Meadow, an easy loop with great views
• Admire Grizzly Falls (right off the road, no hike needed)
• Feast your eyes on Roaring River Falls (short paved walk)

Flight Test Museum

If you’re into aviation history or Cold War-era tech, this aircraft museum is a must-stop—but only if you can get access to Edwards Air Force Base (for now).

The museum houses 85+ historic aircraft, including legendary models like the SR-71 Blackbird, its predecessor the A-12, and the rare U-2D spy plane. You’ll also see Chuck Yeager’s Bell X-1 replica, propulsion systems, wind tunnel models, and test pilot memorabilia.

A new facility just outside the base is in progress and expected to open to the public by 2026.

Death Valley National Park

This is one of those places that doesn’t look or feel real—an otherworldly landscape of salt flats, dunes, and colorful canyons. It’s also home to the lowest point in North America and holds the record for the hottest temperature ever recorded on Earth.

Despite the name, it’s full of life if you know where to look—and you can cover the top sights in a solid day.

Top sights for a 1-day itinerary:

• Badwater Basin: An expansive salt flat, devoid of obvious life, with distant desert mountains. Walk across the salt flats at 282 feet below sea level.
• Zabriskie Point: Catch sunrise or sunset over surreal, eroded hills
• Artist’s Palette: Colorful canyon drive best viewed late afternoon
• Dante’s View: Panoramic view over the valley from above

Where To Stay: The Inn at Death Valley or The Ranch at Death Valley

Calico Ghost Town

Not too far from Barstow, you’ll run into one of the most iconic stops on this Route 66 road trip—Calico Ghost Town.

Once a booming silver mining town, Calico is now a recreated Wild West attraction where you can wander old-timey saloons, general stores, and dusty boardwalks.

Calico was a real-deal former mining town that dates back to 1881, during California’s largest silver strike. With over 500 mines, Calico pulled in more than $20 million worth of silver in just 12 years. But when silver prices crashed in the 1890s, the miners packed up their mules and left town, turning Calico into a true ghost town.

Today, it’s been semi-restored by San Bernardino County to serve as both a museum and a slice of living history. Expect a couple hours of fun shops, miner-themed attractions, and beautiful desert views.

Peggy Sue’s 50’s Diner

Hungry again? Peggy Sue’s is a neon-lit blast from the past serving up all the diner classics in a kitschy ‘50s setting. Think jukeboxes, checkerboard floors, and waitresses in retro uniforms. The whole shebang.

Everyone I know who’s driven from California to Las Vegas knows about Peggy Sue’s. This is a classic Route 66 stop!

Grab a milkshake and wander through the Elvis room, soda fountain counter, and the oddball dinosaur garden out back.

Alien Fresh Jerky

Welcome to Baker, home of the world’s tallest thermometer and… extraterrestrial beef snacks? Yep. Alien Fresh Jerky is a UFO-themed jerky shop that doubles as a roadside attraction.

This place is straight-up desert kitsch at its best. Even if you’re not a jerky person (though their whiskey and honey teriyaki flavors are solid), Alien Fresh Jerky is worth a stop for the photos alone. There’s a UFO on the roof, aliens chilling in a car out front, and a full lineup of novelty merch inside—think fake Area 51 badges, alien-themed snacks, and all the dried meat you could possibly want.

Bonus: There’s a life-size “Galaxy Peace Patrol” spaceship outside for fun photos.

Pioneer Saloon + Goodsprings Ghost Town

To keep exploring the historic side of Nevada, head to Goodsprings Ghost Town, about 20 minutes south of Vegas.

This ghost town, once a supplier of zinc and lead for World War I, is a little slice of Old West history. Today, it is known to be home to the oldest bar in southern Nevada — the Pioneer Saloon — a rustic hangout that was once a haunt for prospectors and Hollywood legends, featuring a solid steak menu, cowboy vibes, and ghost stories to boot.

At the saloon, look for bullet holes from a poker game gone wrong and cigar burns left by a sleepy Clark Gable in the 1940s while enjoying a Food Network-featured Ghost Burger.

Afterwards, take the Goodsprings Historic Walking Tour to explore the rest of the little town: the Goodsprings General Store, Goodsprings Elementary School, Campbell Stone Cabin, and more.

Seven Magic Mountains

If you love big and bold art installations, Seven Magic Mountains is worth veering off the main highway for.

This art installation by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone features seven stacks of neon-painted boulders rising out of the Mojave Desert. It’s loud, colorful, and feels completely out of place in the best way possible.

It’s free to visit, no reservations needed, and the barriers that used to keep people at a distance have been removed—so yes, you can walk right up to the boulders and get all the photos you want. Just remember to respect the space and leave no trace.

Fun Fact: Seven Magic Mountains wasn’t supposed to be here this long—when it opened in 2016, it was only meant to stay up for two years. But thanks to its huge popularity (and a whole lot of selfies), it’s still standing today. People just kept coming. So the artist and the producers decided to keep it around, and they’re actively working on keeping it up for the foreseeable future.

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SF To Las Vegas: The Coastal Route

Santa Cruz / Capitola

Santa Cruz has a laid-back surf town vibe with a little bit of everything—beaches, redwoods, college vibes, a historic boardwalk, and plenty of quirky charm. It’s a great place to stretch your legs, grab a bite, and get a quick dose of NorCal coastal life.

Top stops for a half-day visit:

• Get your morning cup of coffee at award-winning Verve Coffee Roasters
• Soak in the nostalgia at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, a classic seaside amusement park
• Coast down West Cliff Drive for scenic ocean views and surfers
• Natural Bridges State Beach (a must-see especially during monarch season)
• Downtown Santa Cruz for ice cream, tiki bars, and secondhand shopping
• Stroll through the colorful town of Capitola

Monterey & Carmel-by-the-Sea

These neighboring towns offer very different vibes but pair well for a relaxing coastal stop. Monterey is known for the world-famous aquarium and Cannery Row history, while Carmel is full of fairytale cottages, art galleries, and upscale restaurants.

Top stops for a half- to full-day:

• Monterey Bay Aquarium (even if you’ve been before, it’s worth it)
• Cannery Row and Old Fisherman’s Wharf
• Do the scenic 17-Mile Drive (especially if you’re continuing to Big Sur)
• Explore Carmel’s walkable downtown with lots of great restaurants and wine tasting rooms

Big Sur, CA

This rugged stretch of coastline offers jaw-dropping cliffs, redwood forests, and dramatic ocean views. Cell service is spotty, but you won’t miss it. Just driving through is memorable, but it’s even better if you take time for a few hikes or photo stops.

Top stops for a half- to full-day:

• Stop and photograph the iconic Bixby Creek Bridge (the famous postcard photo!)
• Spend a few hours at Pfeiffer Beach (purple sand + keyhole rock formations)
• McWay Falls at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park (the iconic view of the waterfall into the ocean)
• Fit in a hike at Andrew Molera State Park
• Grab lunch or coffee at Nepenthe or Big Sur Bakery

Paso Robles, CA

Paso Robles is one of California’s top wine regions, known for bold reds and fewer crowds than Napa. The town itself is cute and walkable, and the surrounding countryside has dozens of tasting rooms with a relaxed, unpretentious vibe.

Top stops for a half-day:

• Wine tasting at all the famous spots like DAOU, JUSTIN, or Tobin James
• Stroll around the Paso Robles town square
• Grab lunch or dinner at a local favorite like Fish Gaucho or Il Cortile
• Check out the Field of Light at Sensorio if staying overnight

Paso Robles to Las Vegas

If you’re ready to head toward Vegas without a ton of added stops from this point onward, veer back onto the main highways to get through the following cities:

• Route: Paso Robles → Bakersfield → Barstow → Baker → Las Vegas
• What you’ll see: Rolling farmland, wind turbines in Tehachapi, high desert nothingness, and the roadside oddities we mentioned above:
  • Peggy Sue’s 50’s Diner (Barstow)
  • Calico Ghost Town (off I-15 near Yermo)
  • Alien Fresh Jerky (Baker)
  • World’s Tallest Thermometer (Baker)

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