Interstate 5: The Primary SF to LA Freeway

Interstate 5 (I-5) runs ~380 miles (610 km) through California's Central Valley, connecting San Francisco and Los Angeles in about 6 hours. Known as the West Side Freeway, it's the fastest, most direct route.

Alternate Routes

US-101 (coastal) is slower but scenic. CA-99 parallels I-5 eastward, serving Central Valley cities.

Travel Notes

I-5 has limited services in rural stretches; fuel up in Tracy or Buttonwillow. The Grapevine (Tejon Pass) can close in snow. Traffic peaks around LA and Bay Area rush hours.