LA to San Francisco — Weather & Driving Conditions

Driving from Los Angeles, CA to San Francisco, CA? This 382-mile route follows I-5, US-101, CA-1. TripCaptain checks the weather at every stop along the way — not just at each end — so you can see where conditions change before you pick a departure time.

What to watch for on this route

In the planner, TripCaptain highlights forecast weather risks between Los Angeles, CA and San Francisco, CA and summarizes the analysis with a Hazard Score™ from 0 to 100. A higher score indicates lower forecast risk, without guaranteeing road conditions.

• Dense Fog: Tule fog in the Central Valley (I-5) is the deadliest weather hazard in California — visibility can drop below 50 meters.
• High Wind: Altamont Pass and Pacheco Pass on I-5/I-580 see sustained winds over 60 km/h.
• Heavy Snow: Tejon Pass (I-5, Grapevine) can close due to snow November through March.

When to go, season by season

• Spring (Mar–May): Excellent driving conditions. PCH is stunning but watch for rockslides after rain.
• Summer (Jun–Aug): Clear and safe. Central Valley can be very hot on I-5. PCH has coastal fog in the morning.
• Fall (Sep–Nov): Tule fog season begins in November. Central Valley visibility can be near-zero.
• Winter (Dec–Feb): Grapevine closures possible. Tule fog at its worst. PCH landslides after heavy rain.

Compare departure times

Open LA to San Francisco in the planner to check the forecast for your date and compare nearby hours within your plan's limits. Save the trip to follow changing conditions in Live Mode.

Fuel, EV range, and rest stops

See a weather-adjusted fuel or EV energy estimate for the drive, sensible break points across the 382 miles, and a packing list matched to the conditions ahead.

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