Road trips continue to be one of the most popular types of vacations for travelers in the United States. With so many famous routes, the US is the perfect place to plan a road trip adventure. Historic routes, scenic byways, and busy highways all offer unique access to some of the most interesting natural and human-made wonders in the country that are sure to make any road trip traveler’s bucket list.
California is a truly unique state, with a huge variety of natural mountain wonders, thriving metropolises, and cool coastal towns. Those hoping to make the most out of a trip to California can hop on one of the many scenic routes throughout the state. From 30-mile afternoon drives to week-long excursions, a California road trip is an unforgettable experience.
10 Pacific Coast Highway: Highway 1 Road Trip
Bixby Bridge along the Pacific Coast Highway
The Pacific Coast Highway is perhaps the most popular road trip in California, and for good reason. Snaking along the California coastline, Highway 1, better known as the Pacific Coast Highway, runs from San Francisco to San Diego, passing through major cities San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles along the way.
In between the big-city exploration, road trip travelers can enjoy some of California’s best beaches as they travel through Big Sur, Morro Bay State Park, and Carmel-by-the-Sea.
One of the best road trips in California, particularly for those hoping to see a wide variety of California highlights, the Pacific Coast Highway is a weeklong adventure worth doing again and again.
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Distance:
656 miles -
Highlights:
San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Big Sur, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Morro Bay, Hearst Castle, Monterey
There is an entrance fee of $8/vehicle to travel the Pacific Coast Highway.
9 Southern Desert: Joshua Tree and Death Valley Road Trip
Joshua Tree National Park at sunset
California is an exceptionally unique shape thanks to its size and the variety of landscapes it includes. For those hoping to explore Southern California’s national parks and desert landscapes, a road trip through Joshua Tree and Death Valley National Parks is a perfect option.
This road trip starts in Palm Springs before heading to Joshua Tree National Park, which deserves several days of exploration on its own. From Joshua Tree, road trippers can drive through the Mohave Reserve to Death Valley National Park before returning to Palm Springs or Los Angeles, Instagram-worthy desert pictures in hand.
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Distance:
450 miles -
Highlights:
San Diego, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Joshua Tree National Park, Death Valley National Park
Cell service is notoriously spotty through Southern California’s desert. Bring a physical map for the best chance of success on this road trip, particularly for traveling between Joshua Tree and Death Valley.
8 Volcanoes and Geysers: Redding to Lassen National Park Road Trip
Bumpass Hell boardwalk in Lassen Volcanic National Park, California
As the least-visited national park in California, a road trip to Lassen National Park is not only a scenic drive but a chance to explore one of California’s hidden natural wonders.
Starting in Redding, another hidden gem of California and a town well worth exploring, the road trip map follows I-5 to Lake Shasta where travelers can enjoy swimming and water sports as well as views of the awe-inspiring Mount Shasta.
Turning to Highway 89, the route passes through a part of the Volcanic Legacy Byway before ending at Lassen National Park itself.
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Distance:
188 miles -
Highlights:
Redding, Lake Shasta, Mount Shasta, Lassen National Park, Castle Crags State Park, Burney Falls
7 Wine Country: Napa’s Silverado Trail Road Trip
Vineyard in Napa Valley, California
Away from both the beaches and the mountains of California’s borders, Napa Valley is a beautiful adventure through the state’s wine country. The Silverado Trail was built in 1852 to connect Napa and Calistoga and continues to offer a scenic drive through the countryside today.
The route starts in Napa and winds through some of California’s best wineries, including the Reynolds Family Winery, Stags Leap District, and Mumm Napa. The short distance of the road leaves plenty of time to truly explore each stop on this California wine-country road trip.
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Distance:
29 miles -
Highlights:
Napa, Reynolds Family Winery, Stags Leap District, Mumm Napa, Calistoga
6 Natural Wonders: Lake Tahoe To Lone Pine Road Trip
People paddling on the shores of Lake Tahoe in California, USA
For those hoping to see the most popular natural attractions in California in one visit, a road trip from Lake Tahoe to Lone Pine is a must. Starting in South Lake Tahoe, one of the most popular tourist locations around the border lake, visitors can immediately enjoy the natural beauty of one of the clearest lakes in the US.
From there, travelers follow Highway 395 Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve and Mammoth Lakes, both of which offer hiking, mountain biking, skiing, and snowboarding, depending on the season.
Those who stay on 395 end their road trip in Lone Pine, while those hoping to extend their adventure can detour to Highway 120 and connect to the Tioga Pass Road Trip as well.
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Distance:
234 miles -
Highlights:
South Lake Tahoe, Emerald Bay State Park, Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve, Mammoth Lakes, Bishop, Lone Pine, Mobius Arch
5 Land Of The Giants: Giant Redwoods Road Trip
General Sherman Tree In Sequoia National Park
While all road trips are an excellent way to visit multiple attractions in one vacation, the best routes offer plenty of interest between stops as well. For those traveling between the national parks that protect California’s giant redwoods, the drive itself is as scenic as the surrounding hiking trails.
Starting and ending in San Francisco, the Giant Redwoods road trip explores both the towering coastal redwoods and massive inland giant sequoias. The road trip runs from San Francisco to Arnold before heading to the iconic Yosemite National Park.
From Yosemite, travelers can enjoy driving by Shaver Lake and start exploring Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks before returning to San Francisco.
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Distance:
888 miles -
Highlights:
San Francisco, Arnold, Calaveras Big Trees State Park, Yosemite National Park, Shaver Lake, Kings Canyon National Park, Sequoia National Park, General Sherman Tree
4 Beach Towns: Orange County Road Trip
Surfing on Oakley Lowers Pro in San Clemente, California
One of the most popular activities along California’s beaches is surfing, and Orange County has some of the best surfing spots in the state. This road trip follows Highway 1, starting at the coastal town of Dana Point, which offers not only wonderful surfing spots but excellent whale-watching vantage points during the right season as well.
The beach views continue north to Laguna Beach and Crystal Cove State Park before reaching Newport Beach with its yacht-filled harbors. The grand finale is Huntington Beach, also known as Surf City USA, where road trip travelers can ride the waves themselves or simply enjoy the coastal views at the end of this surf-centered California road trip.
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Distance:
30 miles -
Highlights:
Dana Point, Laguna Beach, Crystal Cove State Park, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach
3 Sierra Nevadas: Tioga Pass Road Trip
View at June Lake Loop, close to Yosemite Tioga Pass
For one of the most scenic drives through the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Tioga Pass, also known as California State Route 120, is a one-of-a-kind mountain road.
The route itself is just over 60 miles and takes only a couple of hours to complete, giving travelers plenty of time to leave their vehicles and explore the waterfalls, hiking trails, and giant sequoias that can be found along the way.
Tioga Pass ends on the eastern side of Yosemite National Park, offering even more opportunities to explore California’s natural wonders.
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Distance:
64 miles -
Highlights:
Tuolumne Grove, White Rocks in Olmsted Point, Tenaya Lake, Tuolumne Meadows, Mono Lake, Yosemite National Park
Tioga Pass is only open from late May or June until mid-November. Check ahead of time to ensure the road is cleared and open before planning a Tioga Road Trip.
2 Classic Route: California Route 66 Road Trip
A section of road along Route 66, one of the most famous road trips in the US
Route 66 is perhaps the most classic US road trip, spanning eight states and nearly 2,500 miles. Those looking to stay within California’s borders can still enjoy a 300-mile stretch of this iconic route.
Starting at the California/Arizona border and Needles City, Route 66 runs all the way to Santa Monica and the California Coast. Along the way, travelers will pass ghost towns, unique desert landscapes, major cities of Barstow, Los Angeles, and Pasadena, and unique Route 66 sites like the birthplace of McDonald’s.
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Distance:
315 miles -
Highlights:
Needles City, Goffs Ghost Town, Essex Ghost Town, Amboy Crater, Daggett, Calico Town, Barstow, Pasadena, Los Angeles, San Bernadino, the birthplace of McDonald’s, Santa Monica Pier
1 Rim Of The World Scenic Byway: San Bernardino Mountains Road Trip
Scenic view of San Bernardino Valley, Rim of the World Scenic Byway, California
For those looking for beautiful vantage points, the San Bernardino cliffs are unbeatable. Those hoping for a scenic road trip along the cliffs can follow the 100-mile Rim of the World Scenic Byway. The scenic route starts in San Diego, Orange County, or Los Angeles, before following the 2-hour route towards Lake Arrowhead.
The short distance of the drive offers plenty of time to stop and kayak on the lake before heading towards Big Bear Mountain and Big Bear Lake, a haven for winter activities like bobsledding and snowboarding and summer outings like hiking and kayaking.
The remainder of the route offers multiple stops for road trippers to hike through the natural beauty of the mountains or simply snap photos of the sea of greenery.
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Distance:
117 miles -
Highlights:
San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles, Lake Arrowhead, Pacific Crest Trail, Big Bear Mountain, Big Bear Lake, Castle Rock Trail