Explore Pescadero State Beach, visit the historic Pigeon Point Lighthouse, or take a walk through the sprawling fields of nearby Harley Farms Goat Dairy. Unique to the town is its annual summer Artichoke Festival, celebrating its locally grown crop.
New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Share ... Healdsburg or Calistoga for wine country. ... Sonoma Coast. Monterey, Caramel, or Santa Cruz for a less foggy coast.
Carmel Valley (not to be confused with nearby Carmel-by-the-Sea) is less than three hours from San Francisco by car. ... Napa Valley and Sonoma County aren’t the only places to go for a weekend of winetasting and sunshine (though you’ll rarely see us turn down a trip to either).
Going south means visiting beach towns like Santa Cruz, Monterey and the ever-charming hamlet of Carmel-by-the-Sea. You’ll find a profusion of national parks, giant redwood forests and a long, iconic coastline for an epic Highway 1 road trip.
... Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, San Ramon, and Danville make up the Tri-Valley in the East Bay Area. You can reach them from San Francisco via BART if you prefer to leave your car behind, as there is a Dublin/Pleasanton BART station.
Don’t Miss: Pfeiffer Beach, Henry Miller Library, Nepenthe for sunset Pack: Layers—it gets cold even in summer Perfect for: 2–3 day trips with a car, ideally midweek if you want to avoid crowds · Drive time from SF: ~2.5 hours Best for: art lovers, low-key wine people, coastal walks, anniversary weekends · Carmel-by-the-Sea is one of those places that feels a little too perfect in the best way. Think white-sand beaches, storybook cottages, and a town center that somehow has zero street numbers but a thousand galleries.
There’s no direct public transit to the top, but the Marin Transit Route 61 bus runs to the base on weekends. ... Half Moon Bay is an iconic coastal getaway south of San Francisco and one of the best day trips near San Francisco, famous for its dramatic cliffs and sandy beaches. (And with a hint of luxury). It’s ideal for a scenic drive, a visit to the pumpkin patch (in fall), or simply relaxing by the ocean.
From underrated, affordable spots like Murphys + Guerneville to classics like Napa, here are some of the best weekend getaways in Northern/Central California within 3 hours of San Francisco.
We drove out to nearby Mount Shasta, and I thought it was absolutely spectacular to see the snowcapped peak rising above the town—it made the whole trip feel magical. I also thought it was awesome how easy it was to reach waterfalls, hiking trails, and natural wonders just minutes from the hotel. Check prices and availability at McCloud Hotel. ... For me, McCloud Hotel is one of the best weekend getaways from San Francisco.
If you’re driving down from San Francisco, be sure to stop at Hearst Castle near San Simeon – it’s ridiculously beautiful. Travel Time: drive south 4 hours, or fly nonstop to SBP in 1 hour // Check flight prices // Check hotel prices in SLO · What a beautiful beach town to spend a long weekend in! We recently perused the area for just a few hours, and are already planning a return trip here.