By Sally J. Clasen
With planned stops, unexpected detours, and a connection to the places and the people you meet along the way, a road trip is unlike any other vacation you’ll ever take. And because of its changing landscape and diverse attractions, there’s no better place than California to hit the open road. So, rev up the car (or van, motorcycle or RV), blast the playlist and take a stunning road trip only the Golden State can offer.
Pacific Coast Highway: Monterey, Carmel by the Sea, and Big Sur
A drive along the California coastline via the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) or State Route 1 is a bucket-list trip. And for good reason: It’s filled with everything from vibey beach towns, jaw-dropping sea cliffs, twisty bends and uniquely California attractions, both natural and man-made.The ultimate road trip would be to traverse the entire route, which starts in Orange County and runs all the way up to Mendocino County in northern California, about 655 miles total. If you’re short on time, one of the more scenic portions of the PCH includes a drive through Monterey, Carmel by the Sea, and Big Sur.
Historic Monterey was once California’s capital under the Spanish, Mexican, and American flag.
Today, visitors are drawn to the town’s Colonial architecture, famous Cannery Row, a shopping and restaurant district once the center of the sardine industry, Old Fisherman’s Wharf, uber-fresh seafood and its shining star, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, located on the ocean’s edge. Whale watching and kayaking are popular activities, too.
Four miles to the south is the one-square-mile village of Carmel by the Sea, lined with cobblestone streets and fairytale cottages. A colony for artists and other creatives, Carmel fiercely protects its independent spirit like no other California town. It has more than 100 art galleries and several tasting rooms featuring Carmel Valley wines.
Continue south for 25 miles and you’ll reach Big Sur, a dramatic, mountainous region filled with redwood forests where the Santa Lucia Mountains plunge into the Pacific Ocean. The isolated stretch of road is considered one of the most stunning—and cliff-hugging—sections of highway in the country.
Sightseeing from the highway is the main attraction, but visitors can also hike, camp and enjoy several small beaches. Popular attractions include Bixby Creek Bridge, McWay Falls at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, and Point Sur Lightstation, a 19th century lighthouse.
Worthy detour: 17 Mile Drive, a coastal loop 11 minutes from Monterey along the Monterey Peninsula that goes through the Del Monte Forest and Pebble Beach with cypress trees, rocky outcrops, luxury mansions and championship golf courses.
San Francisco to Yosemite National Park
California is home to nine national parks so if you want to tackle your list, head to Yosemite, the most famous of them all. The park covers nearly 1,200 square miles of rugged landscapes with pine forests, soaring granite peaks, raw wilderness, breathtaking waterfalls and serene vistas.Launch your adventure from San Francisco, a four-hour drive (177 miles) to Yosemite. The most direct route from San Francisco is Interstate 80 east to Interstate 580 east to Highway 120 east, which leads directly to the Big Oak Flat Entrance on the western side of Yosemite. You’ll meander through fruit and almond orchards; sleepy, but welcoming agricultural towns such as Oakdale, the Cowboy Capital of the World; and Groveland, a gold-mining town filled with shopping, hotels, restaurants, live outdoor music and the oldest operating saloon in the state, Iron Door Saloon. Along the path, you’ll also see stunning views of Lake Don Pedro, the Stanislaus National Forest and the Tuolumne River Canyon.
Once inside Yosemite, the wonders of nature unfold. Lookout spots such as Glacier Point showcase the Yosemite Valley and one of its most recognized granite monolith icons, Half Dome. From El Capital Meadow, view the majestic El Capitan, a 3,000-foot vertical rock formation known by expert climbers worldwide.
To view Yosemite’s countless waterfalls, including Yosemite Falls, plan a trip during the spring snowmelt. At any time, you can see giant sequoias, the world’s biggest and oldest trees, in Mariposa Grove. Plus, the park contains several museums dedicated to Native American arts and culture and the history of Yosemite’s unique geographical characteristics. Depending on the season, you can hike, birdwatch, ski, snowshoe, star gaze and even camp.
Worthy detour: Columbia State Historic Park, one hour from Yosemite, north of Highway 20 off Highway 49. A reenactment Gold Rush-era town that features local businesses, historic saloons, a theater, interactive exhibits and stagecoach rides.
Los Angeles to Palm Springs
Since the 1930s, Palm Springs has been a weekend escape for the rich and famous. Over the years, other less notables have discovered the enchantment of the luxe resort city with spas, golf resorts and designer boutiques.
Many take the Los Angeles-to-Palm Springs-route, a quick two hours and 45 minutes (110 miles) trip. But if you want to pack a real Southern California punch, take the long way (i.e., most scenic route) and head south from L.A.—a journey that includes beachside stops, wine country experiences, and one-of-kind attractions as you make your way from the urban center across mountains to the desert floor.
You’ll travel through Pasadena, Anaheim, Long Beach, Riverside, Temecula, and San Diego’s North County en route to Julian, a pioneering Gold Rush town and National Historical Landmark in the Cuyamaca Mountains 60 miles northeast of San Diego. Julian serves up small-town charm with mining history, antiques, orchards and apple pie, and is one of the only places in the U.S. where you can see the Milky Way.
From Julian, take State Route 78 through Anza-Borrego State Park, California’s largest state park with more than 600,000 acres and abundant wildflowers and wildlife. Next, follow State Route 86 north along the shores of the Salton Sea, one of the world’s largest landlocked saline bodies of water, then head past Indio's date palm farms to Palm Springs.
Once there, celebrate its affinity for old Hollywood glamour with a mid-century modern architecture tour and enjoy the vintage shopping, art and dining scene. You also can explore the surrounding natural beauty by hiking, biking or rock climbing and then soak in one of the natural mineral hot springs that flow near the quirky desert oasis.
Worthy detour: Joshua Tree National Park, 40 miles east of Palm Springs, one of the most mystical locations in the world with three ecosystems.
Lake Tahoe
The deep cobalt blue lake that straddles California and Nevada high above the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range is the second-deepest lake in the U.S. It’s also road-trip gold and a destination onto itself. Whatever your originating location, you can create a memorable road-trip itinerary simply driving around Lake Tahoe, which is 22 miles long and 12 miles wide, with 72 miles of shoreline.
Lake Tahoe is surrounded by mountains and nestled between national parks and nature reserves with two distinct areas, including the north and south shores. If you just cruise the main drag (Lake Tahoe Scenic Drive), it takes three hours to navigate, but there are plenty of sights and activities for outdoor enthusiasts and families, including water sports, hiking and skiing.
South Lake Tahoe is filled with a vibrant nightlife and has nearby ski resorts such as Heavenly Mountain Resort and El Dorado Beach, a public beach open year-round that’s great for swimming and windsurfing. Other top attractions on the south shore include Emerald Bay State Park, a large nature preserve with mountain trails that provide the best lookout points on Lake Tahoe.
The north shore, considered more family-friendly, has ski options and beaches including Palisades Tahoe (formerly Squaw Valley) ski resort and King’s Beach. In winter, you can snowshoe and tackle cross-country trails at North Tahoe Regional Park just a few miles away. During the summer, visitors can white-water raft on Truckee River and do a day hike on the 165-mile Tahoe Rim Trail, accessible from many points.
Worthy detour: Donner Pass, a three-hour roundtrip from South Lake Tahoe. At 7,085 feet elevation, it’s one of the most famous passes in the U.S. While there, visit Emigrant Trail Museum and the Pioneer Monument, which commemorates those who immigrated to California in the mid-1800s.