12 National Parks Near San Francisco (Under 3 Hours of Drive-time)
Get inspired to visit cool national parks near San Francisco. This guide lists ALL of the national parks within a 3 hour drive, with suggested things to do and a map.
Did you know that California has nearly 300 state parks? They range from beaches to redwood forests, lakes, OHV areas and tons of campsites.
Explore California State Parks with our resources. Start with our full California State Parks guide, which includes a list of ALL state parks and a map. We’ve also got some advice on whether getting an annual CA parks pass is worth it for you.
And check out our archive, which includes guides for individual parks and itineraries featuring parks.
Get inspired to visit cool national parks near San Francisco. This guide lists ALL of the national parks within a 3 hour drive, with suggested things to do and a map.
Rhyolite ghost town (near Death Valley) is a well-preserved example of California late gold mining boom. This guide has Rhyolite’s history and practical tips on how to visit.
This guide has everything you need to know for a visit to Pismo State Beach. Enjoy hiking, birding, off-roading and camping on the Central Coast’s best beach.
Figure out how and where to go camping in Big Sur. This complete guide features 11 campgrounds with detailed info on each campground and full FAQ.
Explore CA’s boom and bust by visiting these ghost towns in Death Valley. These towns in (and near) the national park offer dusty, rusty California history.
Learn some fun facts about Yosemite National Park before you visit. Get the scoop on Yosemite’s history, natural resources, big gigantic rocks, and offbeat factoids.
This is the only guide you’ll need to plan your Joshua Tree visit. This insanely thorough travel guide has planning tips, top things to do, lodging and packing ideas.
This guide covers all of the best Joshua Tree National Park campgrounds. Get planning tips, costs, amenities, how to snag a reservation and things to do nearby.
The best hikes in Joshua Tree run the gamut from easy nature trails to longer hikes with epic landscapes. Get the guide with 10 hikes + practical planning tips.
Visit the John Muir National Historic site in Martinez, CA. Learn about Muir’s conservation legacy, his family and his ranch. This guide offers practical advice on how to visit.
Get inspired to visit California’s national parks. This guide lists ALL 33 national park sites in California with park info, activity ideas and a map.
Figure out what to take to Yosemite…whatever the season. This complete packing list has everything you need (plus a few odd items you probably never considered.)