San Francisco
Start of the Pacific Coast: fog, the Golden Gate and then slowly south.
Flying and arriving
San Francisco International (SFO) lies south of the city and can usually be reached nonstop from Amsterdam; from Brussels you mostly fly with one connection. A nonstop flight takes around eleven hours. You generally land in the afternoon local time, nine hours behind the Netherlands and Belgium, so to your body it already feels like night.
SFO is more manageable than LAX, but expect a wait at immigration here too. From the airport the train (BART) takes you into the city easily, which is handy if you want to spend the first night in San Francisco itself. Note that summer on this coast is cooler than you expect — fog and a fresh wind are normal, even in July. A sweater in your hand luggage is not over-cautious advice.
Picking up the RV
The Bay Area's RV depots are not in San Francisco itself but in the surrounding cities, usually half an hour to an hour's drive from SFO, depending on traffic over the bridges. Many rental companies offer a shuttle from a number of hotels or a fixed pickup point; otherwise a taxi or rideshare is the way to get there. Check where your depot is before booking the hotel, because the Bay makes distances longer than they look on the map.
The 24-hour rule applies with almost all rental companies: no pickup on the day your intercontinental flight lands. So book a hotel for the first night, near the airport, in the city or close to the depot, and plan the pickup for day two. If you want to see San Francisco itself, do it before pickup: with an RV, the city with its hills and narrow streets is no place to park.
The first night
A logical first night in the RV is on the coast south of the city, around Half Moon Bay, or north in Marin near Point Reyes and Olema — both about an hour's drive from the depots and right on the ocean. Keep it short so you get to know the RV on a calm drive, and reserve the site in advance via ReserveCalifornia or the operator's reservation system. If you are heading for Yosemite you can also opt for a campground in the Sierra foothills, but save the mountain pass for day three.
Supplies and gear
Large supermarkets and big-box stores of the Walmart, Target or Costco type are in the suburbs around the depots, plus outdoor stores for camping gear and clothing against cold and fog. Ask the rental company what the RV includes: a kitchen kit and bedding are often an optional package, camping chairs vary and firewood is never included — you buy that at the campground. Do the first big shop near the depot, because along Highway 1 the village stores are small, and bring extra water, a cooler and warm layers for the coast.
Frequently asked questions
Can we visit San Francisco itself before we leave?
Yes, and preferably without the RV. Plan an extra hotel night and use the train or streetcar for the Golden Gate, the cable cars and Fisherman's Wharf. With the RV the city is hard to park in and some streets are too steep or too narrow.
Can we pick up the RV on the day we arrive?
With almost all rental companies, no: the 24-hour rule after an intercontinental flight requires a hotel night first. Plan the pickup for day two, as early as the depot allows.
Is it smart to start in San Francisco and end in Los Angeles?
For the coast route, yes: you then drive south with the ocean on your right, so the viewpoints are on your side of the road. One-way rentals between these cities are possible with many rental companies, usually for a fee — check the terms.
Routes that start here
- 14 daysUnited States
Pacific coast for families
San Francisco → Monterey → Santa Barbara → LA
Beaches, sea lions, slow mornings
Starts in San Francisco (SFO)
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