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California Road Trip Ideas

California is made for road trips. We have nearly 400,000 miles of highway-- your on ramp to craggy coastlines, granite mountains, redwood forest, rolling pastures and desert moonscapes. And whether you're just visiting here and planning an epic trip or you live here and you want some weekend getaways, these California road trip ideas will help you plan your trip

3 Tips for Making the Most of Your California Road Trip

Robert Frost recommended the road less traveled by...and so do we.

Even if you're road tripping to a popular place, like Yosemite, make time for that quirky roadside attraction, little known state park and scenic diversion through wine country. We like Atlas Obscura for finding offbeat attractions and you can use our California State Parks guide (with map!) or our complete list of California National Park sites (with another map!) for finding smaller parks and little known historic parks.

Don't be hasty.

There's a lot to see and do in California and you don't have time for all of it. It's better to slow down and really savor a few places than rush a best-of tour tour, skimming along the blacktop while actually seeing very little. Take time to go forest bathing in Hendy Woods or take the loop around Convict Lake when the leaves are turning and you'll have a richer experience for it.

Take an old-school map with you.

The best California road trips travel through some hard-to-reach places, which often have poor mobile service. Taking an atlas will help you get off the beaten track, while still staying on course. We recommend the Benchmark California Road Atlas. It's got a ton of detail, including dirt roads, campgrounds and topographical features.

The California Road & Recreation Atlas

Nothing behind me, everything ahead of me, as is ever so on the road.

Jack Kerouac

5 of Our Most Popular California Road Trip Ideas

California road trip pines trees Webstory

20 Eye-Popping Scenic Drives in California

These California road trip ideas cover some of our best scenic drives and officially designated byways. Find a mix of day trips and multi-day ideas for both Northern and Southern California.

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McWay falls in southern Big Sur

The Pacific Coast Highway

San Francisco to Los Angeles in 5 days with all the essential stops.

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Joshua tree landscape with blue sky and rocks

Joshua Tree to Death Valley Road Trip

Including 19 key stops in each national park, PLUS some cool and little known spots in between.

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Dawn in the Alabama Hills Eastern Sierras

Eastern Sierra Highway 395 Corridor

5 day itinerary for the Eastern Sierra which includes funky geology, hot springs, historic sites, lovely lakes and tons of pine forest.

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Day Drive Around Scenic Lake Tahoe

This 74 mile drive is chock full of beautiful lake views. You can do it in a day using our guide, which features 13 killer stops.

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3 Road Trips from San Francisco

SF to the North Coast Redwoods


San Francisco to Yosemite road trip: Yosemite bridal veil falls

SF to Yosemite & Gold Country


San Francisco to Las Vegas Drive Routes- city skylines

SF to Las Vegas (4 Routing Options)


Peruse the Blog Roll for More Road Trips

How to Do Death Valley from Las Vegas: Route Map & 9 Stops

Last Modified: April 3, 2022 by Carol Guttery

Death Valley from Las Vegas Zabriskie Point

This guide for how to do Death Valley from Las Vegas will help you plan the most efficient route with 9 key stops at top spots in the park.

13 Killer Stops on the Scenic Lake Tahoe Drive

Last Modified: April 3, 2022 by Carol Guttery

Lake Tahoe scenic drive: Emerald Cove Nevada

This guide for the scenic Lake Tahoe Drive tells your how to find the 13 best spots for beaches, killer views and a slice of California history.

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Carol Guttery Welcome to California Crossings, your gateway to the Golden State. I'm Carol, your friendly travel buddy, here to help you plan an extraordinary California vacation. Visit the about page for more info and resources.

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