California dreaming: Customize the ultimate road trip itinerary, national parks included
If you’ve found yourself “California dreaming” but want to do more than just lounge on the beach, it’s time to hit the road and experience the ocean and so much more from the comfort of your own car.
The Golden State is the third largest in the United States, and there is no shortage of ground to cover it. So grab the snacks, charge or fill up your SUV , cue up your best playlist, and hit the road for some drive time that will not disappoint.
This list of the best California road trips will get you started with some of the most epic ways to make every mile worth it.
Enjoy the perks of the PCH
Fort Bragg to Dana Point: 603 miles
Every coastal California road trip worth its sea salt includes the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) — or Highway 1 — which runs along the ocean and is one of the most iconic drives in California. It also ventures through some of the most picturesque beach towns you can imagine.
A Highway 1 California road trip could easily extend across multiple weeks, especially if you explore the many stopping points along the way — the most popular of which include San Francisco, Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz, Paso Robles, Cambria, Solvang (the Danish capital of America!), Santa Barbara, Malibu and Laguna Beach.
But often, one of the most beloved expanses of the Highway 1 path is the section that includes Monterey, Carmel-by-the-Sea and Big Sur. Monterey is just about two hours from San Francisco and is your gateway to seaside charm, along with Pebble Beach’s famous 17-mile drive, which is full of coastal cliffs, powdery beaches and magical forests.
Stay in Carmel-by-the-Sea, a lovely, quaint town where you’ll find both L’Auberge Carmel and Tickle Pink Inn — both of which are elegant and full of character. You can also keep driving straight to Big Sur — crossing over the iconic Bixby Bridge — and stay amid the surreal nature, scenic trails and coastal beauty. In addition to camping, Big Sur Lodge is in the heart of Pfeiffer State Park.
While you’re in Big Sur, swing by the Esalen Institute for a relaxing Healing Arts Day Pass, which will also grant you access to their cliffside hot spring.
Get your kicks on Route 66
Needles to Santa Monica: 272 miles
Starting in Needles (the boyhood home of Charlie Brown and Snoopy cartoonist Charles Schulz), hop on Route 66 for an all-American road trip.
The route goes right through the Mojave National Preserve and has many interesting stops along the way. Amboy is a ghost town where you’ll see Roy’s Motel and Café, a quirky assembly of roadside architecture that includes an Instagrammable neon sign. Amboy Crater, a 6,000-year-old volcanic remnant, is worth a visit along this route.
You’ll also pass through renowned western towns, like Barstow and Daggett, before getting to the lusher surrounds of the San Bernardino National Forest. Pasadena (home of the Rose Bowl Stadium) and Los Angeles are right on the way, too.
Make sure to commemorate the end of your trek at the Santa Monica Pier, where there’s a Route 66 End of the Trail sign. There’s plenty more to explore in the Santa Monica area, so you might consider some R&R at the historic boutique Channel Road Inn or the Palihouse Santa Monica, a 1920s Moorish-style manor-turned-hotel with manicured gardens galore.
Commune with giants
Stafford to Highway 101 junction: 32 miles
Experience forest bathing at its best from your car when you take on the Avenue of the Giants within Humboldt Redwoods State Park — deemed the “finest forest drive in the world.” It may only be 31 miles, but if you do it right, it is truly an all-day endeavor. Meander the gentle curves that pass through fairytale forest hamlets and access points to Eel River for swimming and paddling. There are also multiple picnic areas and hiking trailheads, each that lead further into the mystical redwoods.
If you haven’t gotten your fill of titan trees, continue with a California national parks road trip that also hits Redwood National Park, only about an hour north. We think you’ll find it worth the extra mileage.
But first, rest up at the historic boutique Scotia Lodge, right on the northern edge of Avenue of the Giants. Or the neighboring Victorian village of Ferndale is nearly cinematic in its charm, and there are numerous historic inns where you can spend the night, including the iconic Gingerbread Mansion.
Hit the desert drive-thru
Palm Springs to Death Valley: 229 miles
Start in sun-drenched, retro-chic Palm Springs, where you can explore the mid-century-mod-influenced surroundings before buckling up for the drive. The Palm Springs Art Museum is a must-see as well as the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway — the world’s largest rotating tramcar — which travels more than 2.5 miles along the Chino Canyon up to Mt. San Jacinto State Park. The views are breathtaking — and the temps are generally more than 20 degrees cooler than the desert, a refreshing reprieve in the summer months.
If you’re staying the night before you set out, splurge at the Parker Palm Springs with all its Hollywood Regency-style glory. The unique property used to be the estate of Western movie star Gene Autry.
Once you depart Palm Springs, your next stop is Joshua Tree National Park, where you can commune with the cacti as you take in the fascinating, stark landscapes. There’s incredible stargazing, too, if you decide to stay for the night. There is no shortage of cool AirBnB options or check in to The Bungalows. While you’re in the area, swing by the Integratron for a sound bath, which will be a hit for lovers of science and art alike.
Your ending destination is another incredible national park: Death Valley. Don’t let its name fool you. It’s very much full of life with colorful rocks, canyons and rolling sand dunes. The views here are vast, and you can achieve some of the best vantage points from Zabriskie Point and Dante’s View, which shows off the highest peak in the contiguous 48 states — Mount Whitney — and the lowest, Badwater, which is 282 feet below sea level. Make sure to take the nine-mile Artists Drive, aptly named for its vivid and colorful desert hills.
Fun fact: Portions of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope were filmed in the area when that type of commercial filming was still allowed.
If you want to keep driving, Las Vegas is only two hours away. (We’ll let you be the judge of that.)
Choose your own adventure with these California road trip itineraries that could span as many days as you like. Whether you’re a native Californian, a first-time visitor or somewhere in between, there’s always more to explore in this expansive state that boasts an indescribable amount e of natural beauty, charm and history.