California Road Trip -- Options en route to San Francisco

Question

We're flying in for a road trip in late April/May for 2 weeks. We'll be due in San Francisco on the middle Friday, arriving in California on the Wednesday coming from Williams, so I'm firstly looking at stopping somewhere like Tehachapi or Mojave on the Wednesday night (not sure if too far for a days drive from Williams but it seems Barstow is to be avoided?).

For the Thursday day and night, I can't decide on if its worth trying to fit an afternoon at Yosemite area, or if really not worth it for such a short visit and time better spent going over to the Pacific coast as we want to quickly visit Santa Cruz on the Friday before heading into San Francisco.

We'll be leaving SF on the Monday heading north to Seattle but I'll leave any questions on that part for another post.

But one more side question, going north to SF from Santa Cruz, is the coast road unmissable (bearing in mind we have the coast drive to Seattle afterwards) or is there anything worth looking at in Silicon Valley such as the Intel Museum etc yes I'm an old computer geek :) )

Any thoughts?

Many thanks

Answer

For a California road trip in late April/May, planning your stops between Williams and San Francisco can be optimized for both scenery and manageable driving times. Williams is in Northern California, near the I-5 corridor, so heading south toward Tehachapi, Mojave, or Barstow requires careful consideration of distances and driving fatigue.

Driving from Williams to Tehachapi or Mojave in a single day is quite long. Here’s a rough breakdown:

Williams to Tehachapi: approximately 330–350 miles, roughly 5.5–6.5 hours of driving depending on traffic.
Williams to Mojave: slightly longer, around 360 miles, ~6 hours driving.
Williams to Barstow: around 380–400 miles, ~6.5–7 hours. Barstow is often considered less scenic and more industrial, so many travelers avoid overnight stays there if possible.

Considering that, stopping at Tehachapi or Mojave is reasonable, but make sure you factor in rest breaks and possible late afternoon arrival times. Tehachapi offers a small-town charm and scenic mountain backdrop, which can be more pleasant than Barstow.

For Thursday, you are contemplating a Yosemite visit versus heading to the Pacific Coast. A quick afternoon visit to Yosemite Valley from Tehachapi/Mojave is not practical:

Tehachapi/Mojave to Yosemite Valley: approximately 4–5 hours one way, which would require a full day and possibly overnight near the park to enjoy it meaningfully.
Given your plan to quickly visit Santa Cruz before Friday, it would likely be more efficient to head toward the coast rather than squeezing Yosemite into a short timeframe. Yosemite deserves at least a full day to see highlights such as Yosemite Falls, El Capitan, and Tunnel View.

Heading toward Santa Cruz gives you a more relaxed drive and allows you to enjoy the coast and small towns without long detours. You could plan an overnight in the Bay Area or nearby before your Friday visit to Santa Cruz and then continue into San Francisco.

Regarding the route from Santa Cruz to San Francisco, you have a choice between the coastal Highway 1 or the faster inland routes:

Highway 1 along the coast: extremely scenic, especially through Half Moon Bay and Pacifica, but slower due to curves and speed limits. Worth it if you want coastal views and photo stops.
Inland routes via Highway 101 or I-280: faster and less scenic but more direct. I-280 has rolling hills and some views of the Bay Area.
Optional Silicon Valley stop: For a computer enthusiast, you could visit the Intel Museum in Santa Clara or the Computer History Museum in Mountain View. These are small but interesting stops and can be done en route if you take the inland route instead of hugging the coast the whole way.

Summary recommendations:

Wednesday night stop: Tehachapi is preferable over Mojave or Barstow for a shorter, more scenic rest stop.
Thursday: Skip Yosemite unless you want a full-day detour. Head toward the coast for a relaxed drive and overnight near Santa Cruz or Half Moon Bay.
Friday: Visit Santa Cruz, then proceed to San Francisco. Decide if Highway 1 is feasible based on your timing; if pressed, I-280 is a faster alternative.
Silicon Valley options: Intel Museum, Computer History Museum, and possibly tech campuses like Apple or Google for photo stops, if you are into computer history.

Overall, prioritizing the coast and manageable driving distances will make your trip more enjoyable, while Yosemite could be saved for a dedicated visit in the future.

California Road Trip -- Options en route to San Francisco

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