The Ultimate California Road Trip
California Road Trip ranks 1st on the list of the best U.S. road trips for epic drives. Fulfill your California dreams with this ultimate west coast road trip, taking in everything from wine regions to surf towns to the big cities of LA and San Francisco. Start your journey in Sonoma wine country, enjoying the farm-to-table dining and small, independent wineries. Then next up is the creative hub of San Francisco where you could spend days exploring its neighborhoods, restaurants, and museums. Santa Cruz is the place to go for surfing or a walk along the famous boardwalk. And don’t miss the steam train through the redwoods. Monterey and its 17-mile drive are one the most scenic spots on the route and you’ll want to pay a visit to the world-famous Monterey Aquarium and the idyllic village of Carmel.
Big Sur is the most iconic part of the Pacific Coast Highway and an absolute must for any California Road Trip. Stop at Nepenthe for a meal along the way with some of the best lunch views you’ll ever have. Many overlook Paso Robles in San Luis Obispo, but this quaint wine town is well worth a visit, and after that head to Santa Barbara, known as the ‘American Riviera’ and the perfect place to soak up that laid-back California lifestyle. On your way to LA, stop off at Malibu and Topanga before spending some time in the beach towns of Venice and Santa Monica. Also, try one of the famous theme parks such as Universal Studios. Heading on down the coast, your next stop is Laguna Beach followed by San Diego where it’s worth staying around La Jolla for beach vibes and the beautiful Torrey Pines. Finally, head inland to the desert town of Palm Springs, a playground for Angelenos. And finish it all off with a visit to the magical, other-worldly landscapes of Joshua Tree before looping back to LA. To extend this road trip, you could head to Las Vegas from Joshua Tree and then up through Death Valley National Park, Yosemite, and Lake Tahoe, before looping back to San Francisco.
Distance: 1234km
Duration: 2 weeks – 1 month
Things to do:
- Discovering the laid-back lifestyle in Sonoma wine country
- Driving along the Pacific Coast Highway at Big Sur
- Soaking up the creativity of San Francisco
- Relaxing in Palm Springs
- The other-worldly landscapes of Joshua Tree National Park
- Enjoying the California lifestyle in places like Santa Barbara, Laguna Beach, and San Diego
