Best San Francisco to Palm Springs Route?

Get to I-5 or 99 by whatever route you prefer, then south to Bakersfield. Then 58 over the Tehachapi Pass to Barstow. Then 247 to Yucca Valley, then 62 and I-10 to Palm Springs.

Been snow birding in Palm Springs for the past 6 years and this has become my favorite route, mainly because it avoids all of the LA freeways.

As for places to kill time, the town of Tehachapi might be worth a day's stop. Anza Borrego State Park, which is about 70 miles south of Palm Springs, is one of our favorite places to camp.

Good Luck

From Vallejo take the 680 to the 580 to the 5. Just make sure you plan to miss morning rush hour. Heading South there is no toll going over the 680 bridge. Really nothing to see on the 5 and once South of Coalinga there really isn't a decent campground. Almond Tree is at least green for an overnight at Coalinga if you wish. So choices: Take the 46 from the 5 to the 101 and stop around Paso Robles. Wine Country RV is highly recommended (been there too) and you can spend a day wine tasting, or driving out to Morro Bay. South on the 101 you pass Flying Flags RV in Beulton, (Solvang) a great place to stop and visit. Once near LA either on the 5 or the 101 find the fastest route to the 210 to skirt the city...you will still get lots of traffic. Heading South Temecula is a great stop. Pechange RV resort and casino is a favorite, there are other RV resorts in the area. From there, it is about 2 hours to Palm Springs, not many miles but often plenty of traffic.

Try this:
I5 or 99S to
58E to
15S to
10E

Slightly shorter:
I5 or 99S to
58E to
395S to
15S to
10E