Depending on what time of year you travel and where you are going, California highway conditions can vary a great deal. In the California Mountains, you might be in trouble if you're caught on a mountain pass with no tire chains. In other areas like the Mojave Desert, you have to consider the heat and it effects on your car. All in all, the roads are well-marked and in excellent repair, so highway conditions and concerns about this aspect of California travel is mainly in relation to getting around in the mountains and California State Parks.
If you don't have time to make a scenic trip on the coast as you travel north or south on your California vacation, you can take a plane. There are several major airlines that service the big airports and have flights to California. Some of these may not have service between the cities, so you c can save time and money on California flights by booking with one of the smaller commercial airlines such as American Eagle, Southwest Airlines, and United Express. On average, a round trip ticket between Los Angeles and San Francisco is going to run you between $79 to $200 for a round trip ticket.