The cinnamon roll at Stationæry. | Matthew Kang
There are a handful of routes connecting the Bay Area and Los Angeles, each offering wildly different options in terms of natural beauty and amenities for travelers. You can spend a long day (or a leisurely weekend) winding down Highway 1, stopping along the way at a handful of charming seaside enclaves, each with its own culinary destinations. Or prioritize a quicker drive and take Interstate 5, the flat, often boring four-lane expanse that runs straight through California’s agricultural heartland.
But with a little planning, it’s possible to eat well while traveling through the center of the state as well as on the periphery. Here’s a guide to the best stops along Highway 1 and Interstate 5, including a beachside oyster stand in Ventura, a destination for Indian food in Bakersfield, and a charming all-day cafe in the seaside enclave of Carmel.
Additional reporting by Greg Morabito.