15 days in Los Angeles & San Francisco Itinerary

Surrounded by mountain ranges, forests, valleys, beaches, and deserts, the metropolitan area of Los Angeles is home to over 17 million people.

Step out of the city life by going to Zuma Beach and Santa Monica Bay. You'll get in some beach time at Santa Monica State Beach and Venice Beach and Boardwalk. Get out of town with these interesting Los Angeles side-trips: Rodeo Drive (in Beverly Hills), Malibu (Malibu Lagoon State Beach, Westward Beach, &more) and Annenberg Community Beach House (in Santa Monica). Next up on the itinerary: examine the collection at The Getty Center, explore the world behind art at Los Angeles County Museum of Art, appreciate the extensive heritage of Santa Monica Pier, and deepen your understanding at Paley Center for Media.

To see where to stay and more tourist information, read our Los Angeles route tool.

Washington DC to Los Angeles is an approximately 7.5-hour flight. You can also drive; or take a bus. Due to the time zone difference, you'll gain 3 hours traveling from Washington DC to Los Angeles. Plan for a bit cooler temperatures traveling from Washington DC in July, with highs in Los Angeles at 83°F and lows at 66°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 12th (Sun) so you can fly to San Francisco.

San Francisco is a top holiday destination featuring scenic beauty and great ethnic and cultural diversity.

Musee Mecanique and Legion of Honor will appeal to museum buffs. Deepen your sense of the past at sights like Alcatraz Island and Golden Gate Bridge. Explore San Francisco's surroundings by going to Armstrong Redwood State Reserve (in Guerneville), Sonoma Coast State Beach (in Sonoma) and Sonoma Coast Vineyards (in Bodega Bay). There's much more to do: look for all kinds of wild species at Safari West, see the interesting displays at Charles M. Schulz Museum, steep yourself in history at SS Jeremiah O'Brien, and wander the streets of SoMa.

To find where to stay, photos, more things to do, and more tourist information, use the San Francisco trip tool.

Fly from Los Angeles to San Francisco in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. Traveling from Los Angeles in July, things will get slightly colder in San Francisco: highs are around 73°F and lows about 57°F. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 19th (Sun) to allow time for the flight back home.