California packs beaches, mountains, desert, big cities and theme parks into one state, and it works brilliantly as a road trip. It is also big. This guide covers how to get there from the UK, when to go, a route that doesn't waste days, and the costs that catch people out. Prices are in US dollars, change often and come from the sources listed at the end, so check official sites before you book.

Getting there

From Heathrow you can fly non-stop to both Los Angeles and San Francisco, in roughly 11 hours. According to FlightsFrom, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and United fly to both cities, and American also flies to Los Angeles. Times given are about 11 hours 5 minutes to 11 hours 45 minutes for Los Angeles and about 10 hours 55 minutes to 11 hours 30 minutes for San Francisco. We haven't confirmed non-stop flights from other UK airports, so check current schedules on Google Flights or Skyscanner.

California is eight hours behind the UK, so expect a long first day. Book an open-jaw ticket if you can: fly into San Francisco and home from Los Angeles (or the other way round) so you don't drive back to where you started.

When to go

Spring (April to May) and autumn (September to October) are the sweet spot, with pleasant weather and fewer crowds. Summer is busiest and most expensive, and San Francisco is often foggy and cool even in July. Winter is the quietest, but snow can affect the Sierra Nevada, including Yosemite roads, from November. Wildfire smoke can affect parts of the state in late summer and autumn, so check local air quality reports before you travel.

A classic 10-day route

This San Francisco to San Diego route covers about 805 miles and roughly 15 hours of driving in total, so no single leg is too long.

  • San Francisco (2 days): the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, cable cars and the waterfront. For a first look, a hop-on hop-off bus or the San Francisco Love Tour saves planning
  • Yosemite (2 days): about 170 miles and 4 hours from San Francisco. Waterfalls, granite cliffs and giant trees. If you'd rather not drive the mountain roads, there's a small-group Yosemite tour from San Francisco
  • Santa Barbara (1 to 2 days): about 300 miles, just over 5 hours. A relaxed coastal stop
  • Los Angeles (2 days): about 95 miles, around 2 hours. Hollywood, Santa Monica and Venice Beach
  • Palm Springs (1 day): about 107 miles, 1 hour 45 minutes. Desert, mid-century architecture and hiking
  • San Diego (2 days): about 133 miles, 2 hours 25 minutes. Beaches, the zoo and a laid-back finish

Want quieter stops along the way? See our guide to lesser-known places in California.

Highway 1 and Big Sur

The coast road between San Francisco and Los Angeles is the famous drive. Big Sur was cut off by the Regent's Slide closure from February 2024 and fully reopened on 14 January 2026. The road is landslide-prone and winter storms can close it again, so check Caltrans road status before you go and keep a back-up plan.

Yosemite: fees and tips

According to Yosemite.com, Yosemite doesn't need a vehicle reservation in 2026. Entry is $35 per vehicle, valid for 7 days and covering everyone in the car. The National Park Service says visitors aged 16 and over who don't live in the US pay an extra $100 each. The America the Beautiful non-resident annual pass costs $250 and takes away that extra fee, according to the NPS.

Our sums, based on those figures: two adults pay $35 plus $200, so $235 at the gate, against $250 for the pass. With three or more adults the pass is cheaper, and it also covers many other national parks and federal sites. The Yosemite Annual Pass is cheaper, but the NPS says it is for US citizens and permanent residents only. The NPS page has been updated recently and isn't fully consistent, so check nps.gov/yose before you go.

Arrive before 8am, go midweek if you can and use the free valley shuttle.

Disneyland and the Los Angeles parks

Disneyland uses date-based pricing. In 2026, a one-day, one-park adult ticket ran from $104 to $224 and a child (3 to 9) from $98 to $214, according to Disney Park Nerds (July 2026). A one-day Park Hopper for an adult was $174 to $314, a three-day ticket $425 and a three-day Park Hopper $535. Lightning Lane Multi Pass started at around $34. Book ahead, as the cheapest dates sell first. Some tickets are sold for US residents only, so check which ticket you're eligible for before you pay. You can see Disneyland Resort tickets on Viator.

In Los Angeles itself, you can see Universal Studios Hollywood tickets on Viator, or take the Hollywood to Beverly Hills tour if you'd rather not drive in the city.

Car hire

You'll want a car. One-way drop-off charges vary, and airport to airport hires often have none, according to National Car Rental's FAQ. Understand CDW (collision damage waiver) and SLI (supplementary liability insurance) before you pay for extras, which our Florida in winter guide explains. Remember to drive on the right. We compare prices on DiscoverCars.

Travel insurance

US healthcare is expensive, and there's no reciprocal agreement with the UK, so don't travel uninsured. If you use SafetyWing's Nomad Insurance, note that the standard plan does not cover treatment in the US. US cover is a paid add-on, so make sure you tick it when you buy, and read the policy wording yourself before you pay, because you're the one signing up to what it covers. You can see SafetyWing's Nomad Insurance here. Our guide to whether you actually need travel insurance explains what to look for.

Before you go

  • Sort your ESTA and check your passport before you book
  • Sort your phone data before you fly: see our guide to eSIM for travel from the UK
  • Budget for tax and tips, which add to restaurant prices. Our Trip Budget Calculator can help, using "My own numbers"

Heading to Disneyland? See what to eat at Disney.

Heading east as well? See our New York guide for UK visitors.

Planning more? See all our USA guides for UK travellers.

Where this comes from

Prices and rules change, and the sources don't always agree, so this is a snapshot checked on 19 October 2026. These are the sources it draws on: