Discover the best day trips from San Francisco and visit the best destinations in California in just one day. With our tips, you’re sure to get a lot out of it.
1. Half Moon Bay
To get to know all the best towns near San Francisco, you need a rental car. That way, you’ll discover all the beauties of Half Moon Bay, a small, quiet town 40 minutes from San Francisco.
Some people aren’t attracted to it because of its icy sea, but it’s an excellent place for those who like to surf, as there are plenty of instructors in the area to teach you how to surf from scratch. And even if the sport isn’t your thing, take a break to cool off and enjoy the day there.
- Important tip: San Francisco is a city with many tourist attractions, such as museums and tours. That’s why our tip is to always buy your tickets in advance. We buy everything on this website that has the best price.
2. Pescadero
Just 30 minutes from Half Moon Bay is another excellent California town: Pescadero. Due to its small size, comprising a little more than one street, there are no major excursions to be made in the town, apart from two excellent highlights of Pescadero.
Firstly, its beautiful beach, Pescadero State Beach, which attracts many visitors to spend the afternoon enjoying a cool breeze and a paradisiacal landscape that makes for incredible photos. The second highlight is its lighthouse, Pigeon Point Lighthouse, located on the Pescadero coastline. From the top, the lighthouse offers a great view of the American west coast.
These are two cool and free tours that can be done in just one morning or a whole day, depending on how much time you have available.
3. Santa Cruz
Driving a little over an hour will take you to Santa Cruz, where there is a divine beach, great for relaxing on its white sand and swimming in the blue sea. However, what really sets Santa Cruz apart is its appreciation of sport, where you’ll see lots of people surfing, skateboarding and doing many other physical activities.
Whether you’re with family or friends, you’re guaranteed to have fun there. There are several volleyball courts on the waterfront for everyone to play lots of team sports. And after a good workout, there’s nothing better than cooling off on Santa Cruz beach.
Take the opportunity to have lunch in one of the city’s excellent restaurants. And on your way out, be sure to stop by the Surf Museum, the first in the world dedicated to the history of this sport.
4. Monterey
Monterey is another city in California that offers its visitors some really cool excursions. The Monterey Bay Aquarium, for example, is a great aquarium that houses many species of marine animals. It’s one of the kids’ favorite places to visit in California.
Another special place in Monterey is Old Fisherman’s Wharf, a pier on the city’s coastline where you can come into contact with the sea lions that swim by, while gazing at the horizon. Finally, for those who like to buy lots of souvenirs, don’t miss Cannery Row, which has restaurants, cafés and lots of little shops that tempt every tourist.
5. Carmel-by-the-sea
Two hours from San Francisco is charming Carmel-by-the-sea, the ideal town for enjoying California cuisine. As well as having some of the most excellent restaurants in the region, there is no shortage of cultural entertainment in the city’s many art galleries. You can learn a lot about California culture through the exhibitions.
6. Big Sur
Big Sur is another of California’s paradises, boasting the most beautiful stretch of the entire Highway 1. The region’s landscape is utterly splendid, surrounded by natural beauty: the mountain range on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other.
To make the most of a day in the city, the tip is to prioritize the region’s main tourist attractions: Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and the Bixby Brigde and Rocky Creek Bridges.
One of the city’s postcards, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is a tourist favorite, with a wonderful waterfall and beautiful scenery, making for an unforgettable trip to the city. Big Sur’s bridges are perfect for those who want to take a relaxing walk while appreciating the city’s beauty from every angle.
- Important tip: to make the most of your trip to San Francisco, staying in the best areas is essential. So, if you want, check out our article explaining the main areas, the hotels and how you can save a lot on accommodation.
7. Sacramento
A 1.5-hour drive will take you to Sacramento, the capital of California. Known for being a quiet and charming city, Sacramento is one of the most popular honeymoon destinations in California.
The Tower Bridge, one of the city’s main monuments, is well worth a visit. Also, don’t forget to walk along the Waterfront Boardwalk and take some incredible photos for your social networks.
8. Oakland
One of the largest cities in the region is Oakland, about 25 minutes from San Francisco. And just like the previous destinations, the city offers plenty of unmissable sights.
A family trip must include the Oakland Zoo, which has more than 600 animals of different species. Also, don’t miss the opportunity to have an incredible picnic in Redwood Regional Park. And if you want a lot of excitement, the Lake Marritt neighborhood and the Jack London Square area are perfect for you. The latter, in particular, has bowling alleys, stores, bars and markets that are great to visit.
How to rent a car at an unbeatable price?
We’re going to give you some important tips to save a lot on renting a car in San Francisco, even if you get a full-size car from the biggest car rental companies in California and the United States.
The first is to rent the car as far in advance as possible. The earlier you book your car, the cheaper you’ll pay. If you leave it too late, there will be few cars available, prices will be higher and you run the risk of not getting the model you want.
Another tip is to search on the Internet, as this will make it much easier to find good prices and analyze the car models available. If you want to do the search, click here on Car Rental Comparator. In just a few seconds, you’ll have all the options for renting a car in San Francisco from the best companies on your screen, and you can choose the cheapest one. You really will save a lot.
Save money on your trip to San Francisco:
Tickets: find out where to buy your San Francisco tickets in the cheapest and safest way. You can save up to 40%!
Car: if you are thinking about renting one this is the best website. It compares the price at all rental companies and finds unbeatable prices. You can save up to 30%!
Mobile chip: we always use this chip. It’s electronic (eSIM), you install it instantly and you can use your cell phone’s Internet anywhere in the world.
Hotels: our article on where to stay in San Francisco. You will find out the best areas and how to save a lot on the hotel.
Travel insurance: medical care in another country is very expensive and it is extremely important to take out travel insurance for any trip abroad. This is the website we always take out our insurance on. Reliable and at a good price.
Transfer: do you need one from the airport to the hotel? Find out here how to book and for the lowest price!
