The Ultimate California Road Trip Itinerary: Cities, Coast, & National Parks

Does the ultimate California road trip actually exist? Is it possible to fit all of this extraordinary state into a singular looped route? Well, guys, after living here my whole life and driving countless hours all over the state, I think I have done it with this California road trip itinerary right here.

This California road trip itinerary incorporates the BIG cities in Northern California and Southern California (San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego), the whole Pacific Coast Highway, some smaller towns along the West Coast Highway 1 (Laguna Beach, Malibu, Santa Barbara, SLO, Big Sur, Monterey/Carmel, Santa Cruz, Point Reyes, Fort Bragg, and more), a bit of wine country, and all the epic and drool-worthy California State + National Parks as well (Yosemite, Sequoia, Death Valley, Big Sur, Highway 395, and more).

This California road trip route is a loop, so you can start and end wherever you want! At the bottom, I have included an optional add-on of San Diego/Southern California and some cool California National Parks down there also. There are so many California road trip ideas… As Will Ferrell once said, SO MUCH room for ACTIVITIES!

About This Freestyle California Road Trip Itinerary

My California road trip itinerary is a bit more freestyle – e.g. I won’t be telling you how many days in each place and where exactly to stay the night. Instead, I will make suggestions of things to, places to stay, and more, and let YOU decide what’s best for YOU.

I’ll let you know how many hours drive it will take between each place, as well as driving distance, how many days you can spend in each of the California road trip stops, and which route/roads are best to plan your trip in California.

Some people may want more time in LA and San Francisco, some may want a whole week in Yosemite or other National Parks, and some may prefer off-the-beaten-path road trip stops to stay the night and take in the nature.

I do have some helpful articles – such as the most unique places to stay in California that you can choose along this route, and especially the most unique Joshua Tree stays, too. Out in the desert, they have some of the coolest rentals EVER.

Whichever way is right for you, I am confident this California Road Trip itinerary will help you plan the perfect trip! I’m already feeling all giddy inside because I can’t wait for your awesome adventure in my beautiful home state 🙂

California Road Trip Map

Here’s a map preview of of all the best places to visit on a road trip in California! LOTS more info below.

California Road Trip Tips to Know Before You Go

For the sake of starting somewhere, this California road trip itinerary will start in Los Angeles and go inland/north, but you can start at any point because it’s one big loop. But, a few things to consider before your trip are:

Planning + Getting to California

If you’re driving – sweet. If visiting from afar, you’ll most likely have to fly. The main hubs are Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO). Either is great, because again, this route is a loop! Check for the best flight rates to Los Angeles here and to San Francisco here on CheapOAir.

Make sure to always book travel insurance – We have used Heymondo for years and love it. Read our review and 5% off Heymondo booking link here, and get your USA ESTA visa also before your trip, if coming internationally.

Transportation

So obviously you kinda need a vehicle to do a California road trip… duh. And unless you have a friend with a car, you’re going to have to rent something. My go-to would be to use RentalCars.com California because they compare the prices of all different rental car companies, giving you the best price for sure.

Try to rent a car with a good amount of space and preferably a 4wd… snow tires would be good in the winter just in case.

Your other option would be to Rent an RV in California. This could have MANY benefits, including saving you on accommodation costs everywhere you go (besides cheap campground fees). This could potentially be a road trip game changer and money saver, and you could make your new home on wheels into a cozy space. That is, if you don’t want to check out some of the awesome hotels in California. Up to you!

Time of Year

The time of year may dictate roads you can and cannot take on this California road trip itinerary, especially in the Sierra Nevada mountains in Northern California (Yosemite/Sequoia National Parks).

Make sure to check Caltrans for road conditions when you drive. Summer is obviously going to be a lot easier, but more crowded. In winter, you may need chains to drive in some places in the mountains, but the coast will be OK.

Weather

Snow flurries sometimes still happen in April in the mountains (Yosemite/Sequoia etc), and rain may make certain hilly roads more difficult. Sometimes June and July are not the best times to visit the west coast, because of dense fog we get in the summer (‘June gloom’).

But, California is known for its perfect weather basically always. Just (common sense) make sure to be wary of the weather! September and October are actually the best times to travel in California.

Direction

Do you want to drive clockwise, or counter-clockwise? I assume you will start your California road trip from LA or SF if you are flying in, but it depends if you want to do the beaches and west coast first, or mountains + parks first. Do whatever suits you!

But I must point out, when you drive south from San Francisco, your car is closer to the water on your Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip. This itinerary is my most recommended CA road trip route.

California Traffic

In California, traffic is a huge factor. This is unfortunate but true, and you will definitely feel this in LA and SF at the very least. Leave yourself more time if you are driving on a weekday mid-afternoon or morning, especially in the cities!

For more help planning, check out some great road trip planner tools to make the perfect trip. Also see some California Quotes for your inevitable IG pics.

And, without further ado… let’s begin!

California Road Trip: Los Angeles

Days: 1-4

No California road trip is complete without a stop in the city of Angels. Whether you are a city person or not, there is something for you! I lived in LA for almost five years during college, and in that time I got to know it pretty well.

If you’re a city person, downtown LA and Hollywood might be for you. If you’re a hiker, head to the Pacific Palisades or Griffith Park. For the beach bums, check out Venice Beach or Malibu. If you love to be touristy, go to the Santa Monica Pier and do a Big Bus tour. If you like to get off the beaten track, there are smaller boroughs of LA that have more of a small town vibe.

Check out my post on day trips in LA and you’ll be able to zone in on what LA areas and activities you will like for your California road trip. Or you can follow my recommended ‘classic LA’ activities below.

If you are a lover of great views – whether you want to hike or drive to them – you may also like to check out the 8 Best Views in Los Angeles (ranked by yours truly), the best sunsets in Los Angeles, and the best Los Angeles captions for your pics.

Things to Do in Los Angeles on a Road Trip

Here are the top things to do and see during your stop in Los Angeles. You could stay in LA for years and not do everything, but here are the main sites and a couple hidden gem ideas for you to choose from.

Go Los Angeles Card – if you are looking to visit theme parks, aquariums, museums, and check out different celebrity/studio tours, this card may be for you. It includes a LOT of main attractions and could save you money if that’s what you are into.

Universal Studios – A must in LA for theme park/film lovers

Santa Monica Pier – touristy, but great classic LA views. Walk the boardwalk or go on rides. Or take an e-bike tour to Venice.

Venice Beach – A classic LA grungy + beautiful beach. You can muscle beach, check out the skate park, shop along the boardwalk, and check out great street art. There’s a beautiful boardwalk that goes all the way between Santa Monica and Venice, which is great to run, walk, or bike.

Los Angeles Sightseeing Hop on Hop Off – touristy, but truly the best way to see the most sights in LA the fastest

Hollywood Sign Hike/Griffith Observatory – Definitely check out the Hollywood Hills. You can hike to the Hollywood sign, check out Griffith Observatory, or do the classic LA Runyon Canyon walk. You can also do a guided Griffith Park + Hollywood Sign Hike.

Hollywood Walk of Fame – walk along Hollywood Blvd and see which names you know on the stars! I always take visitors to LA here, it’s iconic and still fun even for me.

Downtown LA – Downtown, although not classically the ‘city center’ of LA, is pretty cool to check out. This is where all the tall buildings are. You can check out Pershing Square, go shopping on Santee Alley, or visit Perch rooftop bar.

Getty Museum – This is my favorite view in LA. The museum is cool, but I think the amazing architecture and design make this one of my favorite places in LA. You would have to pay to park, but the entrance is free.

Where to Stay in Los Angeles

Because LA is such a stupidly HUGE city with bad traffic, I oftentimes recommend to people to spend a few nights in Venice/Santa Monica to do the beach stuff, then spend a few nights in Hollywood or downtown to do the hills and celebrity/big city stuff. If you have to pick just one I would choose the beach.

Airbnb/VRBO: LA is an obvious place to rent a super cool Airbnb. You can find these all over the city, on the beach, in the Hollywood Hills, and more. Check VRBO

Hostels: There are some great hostel options in LA for budget travel. This one in downtown is incredible, this one is right on Venice Beach.

Hotels: In downtown I recommend the Ace Hotel for amazing views and a unique vibe. For something unique by the beach, the Venice Beach House is gorgeous. You can also compare all the options and prices here.

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California Road Trip: Death Valley National Park

(NOTE: Scroll to the bottom of this post to see the “Southern California Add-On” to this road trip – if you would like to include Orange Country, San Diego, Anza Borrego State Park, Joshua Tree National Park, and/or Palm Springs to your trip in between LA and Death Valley. I excluded them for the sake of time but included all the info you need at the bottom.

Days: 1-2

Distance: 260 miles

Time: 4-5 hours drive (heavily dependent on LA traffic and road conditions/time of year)

Route: After Los Angeles, you can visit California’s most desolate desert, Death Valley, on your California national park road trip. You will first be heading east, towards the Californian deserts and Nevada. You’ll end up on the 178 to get into the National Park, which is near the eastern border of California.

Things to Do in Death Valley on a Road Trip

Death Valley is best known for its rugged desert landscapes, amazing geological formations, and sand dunes. It’s a photographer’s and adventurer’s paradise!

Death Valley is beautiful for getting out into nature and experiencing the unforgiving desert in contrast to the concrete jungle of Los Angeles. It actually contains America’s lowest point of elevation – 282m below sea level – even while being between two mountain ranges (one of which contains the highest mountain in the lower 48).

The best things to do in Death Valley include hiking, biking, 4×4, stargazing, camping, visiting the Badwater salt flats, and the colorful painter’s palette.

Where to Stay in Death Valley:

Camping – Many people choose to camp at Death Valley. As it is a National Park there are a few different sites available to camp, get out into the elements, and do some stargazing!

Hotels: For hotels, the best towns to get a hotel are Panamint Springs, Stovepipe Wells, and Furnace Creek.

The Ranch at Death Valley (4 star) and The Inn at Death Valley (5 star) are both clear standouts as they are closest in proximity to the park (and comfortable/beautiful/wellness options). If you’re after a cheaper option, the Panamint Springs Motel + Camping is more affordable and nearer the road you will enter from.

If you look closely, you can see the stairs up the rock!

California Road Trip: Sequoia National Park + King’s Canyon (if Weather Permits)

Days: 1-3

Distance: 300-350 miles

Time: 5-6 hours drive

Route: Next up in your California national Parks road trip itinerary is Sequoia National Park! Now, Sequoia is actually not that far away from Death Valley as the crow flies. But, in that Sequoia is on the west side of the Sierra Nevada Mountain ranges (of which Death Valley is on the east) you will have to drive back down and around these mountains to get on the proper road to get there.

In winter you’ll have to go back down the 178 to the 58 to the 65 to the 198, but if the roads are open you may be able to take the 178 to the 65 to the 198 (see google maps). Check the road conditions in this mountainous area!

Route Tip: If you are pressed for time, you can skip out on Death Valley and reach Sequoia National Park from LA in 3-4 hours.

Things to Do in Sequoia National Park on a Road Trip

My first time visiting Sequoia national park was actually well into my adult life on my own California road trip itinerary. I must say, its unbelievably underrated! This high-elevation national park is home to groves and groves of the largest trees in the world. I’m not kidding, either!

You can visit the actual largest tree in the world here, General Sherman, which has more mass than any other tree on Earth – pictured above. Apparently, the trunk’s diameter is over 100 feet!

It’s not just General Sherman, though. Driving through this area is absolutely incredible, because I swear I saw about ten other trees that were at least almost the same size! It truly is a forest of giants, and these trees are anywhere from 1000 to 3000 years old.

Other than this forest, you can also do lots of hiking in Sequoia NP, my favorite of which was hiking to Morro Rock. This bite-sized trail goes straight up a granite outcropping of rock which is actually visible from a lot of the park and is doable in an afternoon.

King’s Canyon National Park

King’s Canyon is just north of Sequoia, and you can drive straight there when the roads are open in the summer/spring/fall.

The actual ‘King’s canyon’ is one of the deepest canyons in the country, and also has famously large sequoia trees, amazing mountains views, hikes, nature, and more. To hear more about things to do in Sequoia and King’s Canyon National Parks, click here!

Where to Stay in Sequoia/King’s Canyon National Parks:

Camping: There are lots of camping options here as with most National Parks.

Hotels: There are plenty of adorable, tiny, extremely mountain-esque hotels up here. On a budget at one point, I stayed in the Sierra Lodge Three Rivers which completely met my needs. There are plenty of other hotels near the southern entrance to Sequoia National Park in Three Rivers as well.

You can stay at a few properties inside the national park or out the northern side in Pinehurst. The most popular hotels inside the park are the Wuksachi Lodge and John Miur Lodge.

My recommendation: if you are doing a hotel, try staying a night in Three Rivers after a driving day, and then explore the park the next day if you are short on time. If you have more time, spend a few nights at a hotel inside the park that will be in close proximity to all adventures you’d like to do.

California Road Trip: Yosemite National Park

Days: 1-3

Distance: 130-180 miles, depending on accommodation (see below)

Time: 3-4 hours drive

Route: For Yosemite national park, you’ll want to either camp inside the park, or stay at a hotel outside. If you stay inside or close to the park, you’ll drive to Fresno from King’s Canyon and head up the 41 towards Yosemite West.

If you stay in one of many hotels out the north gate, you’ll take the 99 north from Fresno to Merced and end up on the 120 past Groveland (where many Yosemite rangers live).

Things to Do in Yosemite on a California Road Trip

Yosemite is a must-visit in California, and its beauty has made it world famous. Be wary that you were lucky in King’s Canyon and Sequoia – now you’re going to experience real crowds. That is, unless you are visiting Yosemite National Park in Winter, which is what I did.

My post below details the most basic Yosemite itinerary that you can do in a few days, which includes driving Yosemite Valley and some hikes and waterfalls. It also has the best lodging in Yosemite that are appropriate all year but geared towards winter.

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Yosemite Valley

Yosemite Valley is the picture-perfect part of Yosemite that we have all seen in photos. It is one 7-mile loop that takes you past lots of hikes, river beaches, granite cliffs, camping areas, hikes, and more. This is where you must go if you only have one day in Yosemite!

Tunnel Viewpoint

This is the first viewpoint of Yosemite Valley that will take your breath away!

Glacier Point

If it’s open, Glacier Point may be the best view of your California road trip itinerary. Located above the whole Yosemite Valley, glacier point allows you to look out over sweeping views of El Capitan and Half Dome – and you can drive to it (no hiking involved).

Waterfalls

Some waterfalls you may want to check out in Yosemite Valley are: Bridalveil Falls and Yosemite Falls (visible from the loop drive) and  Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls (a shorter and longer hike).

Hikes

Some hikes to check out during a few days in Yosemite are: the Yosemite Falls trail and Bridalveil falls loop (very easy), Mirror Lake Trail (also easy but can extend longer), and the Vernal Falls/Nevada Falls trail (harder) that continues up to the most famous hike up to Half Dome (very difficult).

Where to Stay in Yosemite

Camping: There are lots of camping places in and around Yosemite Valley.

Hotels: During my stay, I stayed at Rush Creek Lodge, which is just outside the park’s northern gates. I absolutely LOVED it here and couldn’t imagine staying anywhere else!

Read more about Rush Creek and other Yosemtie hotels in my Yosemite post. Rush Creek was cheaper in the winter and can get pricey in the summer.

California Road Trip: San Francisco

Days: 2-5+

Distance: 160ish miles

Time: 3ish hours drive

Route: You’ll want to take the 120 to the 205 to the 580 across the Bay Bridge (80) and into the city!

I hope you have enjoyed your time out in nature, because you’ll be livin’ the northern California big city life now! San Francisco is one of my favorite cities in the world – a compact 7×7 mile square full of vibrant culture, interesting people, great food, beautiful views, and so much to do.

Like LA, SF has different areas for different vibes. There’s the Marina for the preppy shoppers and brunchers, The Mission for the trendy and grungy, Haight + Ashbury for the psychedelic hippie, the Embarcadero and Fisherman’s wharf for the tourist, and more. There are loads of different tours and ways to explore the city.

**Optional: If you want to visit California Wine Country, you should visit Napa Valley and Sonoma in between Yosemite and San Francisco. Post coming soon! **

Things to Do in San Francisco on a Road Trip

I could write thousands of words just on San Francisco alone, but I’ll keep it fairly short here for you. All these points of interest and SF California road trip ideas will be visible on Google Maps.

Check out some San Francisco quotes and captions for post ideas and some fun facts about San Francisco before you go.

Viewpoints: Twin Peaks, Bernal Heights, Forest Knolls, Dolores Park (great for picnics!) Check out the best sunsets in San Francisco.

Best Views of the Golden Gate Bridge: Battery Spencer, Baker Beach, Crissy Field, Land’s End Labyrinth (great nature walk too) or a Golden Gate Bay cruise

Golden Gate Park: An iconic huge green leafy park in the city! Try a Self-guided bike tour

Fisherman’s Wharf: Touristy wharf/pier with seafood restaurants and views across the bay

The Mission: Neighborhood with great food (especially Mexican food), shopping, culture

Hop On Hop Off Tour: Easiest way to see the city with little time

Haight + Ashbury: psychedelic area with antiques, costume shops, street art, interesting people, restaurants

GoCar Tour of Lombard + Golden Gate: Super fun way to explore SF

Union Square is like the Times Square of SF with shopping, tall buildings, and ice skating in the winter.

Helicopter Tour: for the BEST view and fast

Visit the prison on Alcatraz Island: If there’s one thing to do in SF, it would be taking a boat to Alcatraz. This tour to Alcatraz also comes with a city tour.

Where to Stay in San Francisco

Where to stay in SF depends on your budget and what kind of area you like. I would recommend staying in the Marina (upscale near the water), Haight + Ashbury (more free-spirited and near Golden Gate Park), Pacific Heights (up on the hill above the city), or Downtown/near Union Square (city center) or North Beach/Wharf (near the water).

Airbnb/VRBO: San Francisco has tons of accommodation options! This is my favorite SF VRBO that’s really central AND affordable.

Hostels: There are also quite a few hostels in San Francisco for more budget travelers, although they are still quite expensive and it might even be cheaper to split the cost of a hotel or Airbnb with travel companions. This hostel in Fisherman’s Wharf is a great location and I’ve heard good things about it.

Hotels: As for hotels, the most fun and unique ones are the Hotel Zephyr – a nautical themed hotel in Fishermans wharf, of the Hotel Vertigo near Union Square from the 1958 Hitchcock film.

California Road Trip: Pacific Coast Highway 1

Days: 2-4+

Distance: 655 miles top to bottom, 460 miles San Francisco to LA

Time: without stops, 10 hours drive along the west coast from SF to LA and probably about 16 hours top to bottom (Leggett to Dana Point). I would recommend spending at least 2 nights/3 days on this road trip, and preferably 4-5+ to really explore the amazing places.

Route: Just stay on Highway 1… that’s it!

Now it’s time for perhaps the best part of your California road trip itinerary – Pacific Coast Highway/PCH/Highway 1! Before I get too far into it I’ll let you know that I’ve written an ENTIRE POST specifically dedicated to an awesome Pacific Coast Highway road trip and its hidden gems.

It lists over 75 different PCH road trip stops and tell you a little bit about each one so you can decide which places you’d like to stop based on your needs, desires, and time.

I won’t go into as much detail as I do there, so click the photo below or this link for my Highway 1 PCH Road Trip Stops Article to continue your road trip:

A few of the Stops on Your California Coast Road Trip Itinerary:

These are the most important stops on the way from San Francisco back to LA and beyond.

• North of SF: Fort Bragg Glass Beach, Mendocino, Point Reyes Lighthouse + Seashore + Cyprus Tree Tunnel
• Santa Cruz, Monterey Bay, Carmel 17 Mile Drive
• Big Sur, hikes + viewpoints, Nepenthe restaurant overlook, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park waterfall onto the sand, Hearst Castle
• San Luis Obispo, Avila Beach, Santa Barbara
• Malibu + Los Angeles
• Orange County
• tons of waterfalls, lighthouses, state parks, beaches, viewpoints, small towns, and more!
• recommendations of where to stay the night

Use my guide to create the perfect Highway 1 section of your California Road Trip Itinerary. You can either end your loop back in LA, or continue to the Southern California loop I have detailed below.

Views from the beaches of Laguna Beach

California Road Trip Itinerary: Orange County, San Diego, Joshua Tree, Palm Springs, and Anza-Borrego Desert

Now that you have read my PCH Road Trip article above, you will have ended up past Los Angeles and now down into Orange County/San Diego.

Many people consider San Diego as a must-visit in California, and/or may want to visit the esteemed Joshua Tree National Park. This is why I have included this optional add-on for extra California road trip ideas if you have more time. There are also some amazing Southern California beach hikes in this area not to miss!

It may also be a contributing factor that I am from Orange County, and think that some of the best beaches in the whole state (and world) are in Laguna Beach. So take this California road trip loop and put it right between LA and Death Valley if you are so inclined – So Cal is the BEST!

California Road Trip: Orange County

Days: 1-2+

Distance: LA is directly adjacent to Orange County, so if you are making stops along your PCH road trip the distance doesn’t matter as much. For a frame of reference, Newport Beach is about 55 miles from Santa Monica.

Time: About 1-2 hours drive from LA depending on where you start and finish/time of day (traffic)

Route: You can stay on PCH/Highway 1 for the scenic route, or there are quicker freeways available (the 405/5) but they’re very boring!

Most of Orange County is already detailed in my PCH Road trip stops article above and also in my guide of fun things to do in Orange County. Most of the places you’d want to visit in Orange County are along the coast anyway. Here’s a rundown of the places you’d want to see (from north to south):

Huntington Beach

This is the ‘surfing capital’ of the USA and has a lively beachside downtown, busy beach, and pier with a restaurant at the end.

Newport Beach

Newport has a long peninsula/beach that gets pretty busy in the summer, and a great boardwalk to ride your bike or go rollerblading – perhaps with some ice cream! You can also go whale watching. There’s a good bar scene too.

Disneyland

One of the most popular places to visit in California is Disneyland and its Californian counterpart, California Adventure Park. Disneyland is located in Anaheim, Orange County, and is about 45 minutes from LA and the OC coast.

Laguna Beach

This is one of my favorite places in the whole world, and also a great place to spend a night. Check out the 10 best hotels in Laguna Beach for a quick taste, and I also love the Surf & Sand and Montage for ultimate luxury (let’s be honest, I usually just go walking there – but they’re amazing!).

Laguna Beach has some great hiking and outdoor activities. Check out my list of the best laguna beach hiking trails here!

There’s a bustling little downtown with amazing art and galleries all over the place, with great restaurants around as well. There are some beautiful beaches right next to the road, but the true charm comes with the smaller beaches you can only reach via secluded stairwell. The beast few beaches:

• Victoria Beach
• West Street Beach
• Thousand Steps

Dana Point

Dana Point is actually where Pacific Coast Highway begins/ends, depending on which direction you are going. I grew up here, learned to surf here, went to school here, and know the area well.

The Dana Point Harbor is a beautiful place to have a walk or grab a coffee, and Salt Creek Beach is very family-friendly. There are lots of parks and headland hikes with views. Check out my guide below for more info.

California Road Trip: San Diego

Days: 1-3

Distance: Southern Orange County to Downtown San Diego is about 60 miles.

Time: About an hour

Route: You’ll want to stay on the I-5 South, which is what becomes of the Pacific Coast Highway after it finishes in Dana Point.

Sunny San Diego is on the list of many California visitors, with good reason! Located right above the border from Mexico, it basically has perfect weather all year long and is full of tan, fit, not-as-pretentious-as-LA Californians living the good life.

It’s full of beaches, viewpoints, beach towns, happening nightlife, and amazing San Diego sunsets. If you don’t have much time, you can see most of the below in a one-day sightseeing tour. If you have more time, check out this awesome guide of 101 things to do in San Diego!

Things to Do in San Diego on a Road Trip

La Jolla 

La Jolla is where the elite of San Diego live – it’s an area where life can’t be much better. For the water-lovers, La Jolla Cove is a beautiful seashore full of caves, cliffs, beaches, grassy parks, and beautiful aqua water. The best things to do here are a snorkel + cave tour or coast + mountain biking.

Ocean Beach

Ocean Beach, or ‘OB’ as it is called, is the more free-spirited and hippie section of San Diego. Expect tattoo parlors, street art, thrift shops, and that type of thing on the main street of OB next to the beach and pier. They also have a fantastic night market.

Pacific Beach

Pacific Beach, or ‘PB,’ is a more upbeat and trendy place full of yoga studios, hip bars, and cafes. There are great family-friendly beaches and the area also borders Mission Bay.

Downtown/Gaslamp District/Balboa Park/Coronado

The Gaslamp Quarter is the heart of downtown San Diego, and there’s a lot going on in this area. The Gaslamp Quarter itself has loads of trendy restaurants and a popping nightlife scene. Balboa Park is a vast park with museums and gardens.

Coronado is an island right off the coast from Downtown San Diego that’s known for its beauty. Here are the top ideas for what to do in San Diego:

• San Diego Craft Brewery Tour is one of the mos popular SD activities for locals and visitors alike
• USS Midway Museum skip-the-line ticket – one of the most popular museums in SD on a war ship
• San Diego Zoo – it’s one of the most famous zoos!
• Balboa Park Scavenger Hunt – A fun way to explore SD’s famous park
• Hop On Hop Off Narrated Tour of Old Town + Coronado for some history

Where to Stay in San Diego

I would recommend getting a place close to the action so you can get everywhere you want to go, quickly. For this reason I would say to stay in the Gaslamp Quarter/Little Italy – or if you need to be beachside, Pacific Beach would be a good idea (La Jolla is a bit farther north – it’s a lovely place to visit but it’s not really close to anything else).

Vacation Rentals: There are some fantastic VRBOs in San Diego to check out.

Hostels: One of the coolest hostels I have seen is this one in Ocean Beach (it’s fully covered in a colorful mural and is right next to the beach and rents surfboards). I recommend Hi Hostel Downtown for location + social atmosphere.

Hotels: There are some lovely boutique options in Pacific Beach and in the Gaslamp Quarter/Downtown I love Staypineapple for a fun + unique boutique hotel.

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California Road Trip: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Days: 1-2

Distance: Just over 80 miles from downtown San Diego

Time: About 1:40-2 hours drive

Route: Check Google Maps on the day of your trip for this one – sometimes it’s faster to take the 1-8E to the 79N to the 78E, and sometimes the 15 to the 67 to the 78E is.

The Anza-Borrego State Park is one of California’s lesser-known gems on a California road trip itineray. You’ll feel like you landed on Mars when you see Anza-Borrego’s incredible desert rock formations and canyons after just having been relaxing on the beach the day before!

This is actually the largest State Park in the lower 48 states, and there’s a LOT to do! Most of the park is free, public land, which means camping is also free. There are amazing wildflower blooms at certain times in the year and beautiful varieties of cacti.

If that wasn’t cool enough, this area has one of California’s only dark sky communities, meaning it’s the BEST place around to see the stars. Free camping + amazing stars gives you some good ideas, doesn’t it?!

Places to Visit in Anza Borrego

• Hikes: Borrego Palm Canyon, Smuggler’s Canyon, Pictograph Trail/Little Blair Valley, Blair Valley
• Font’s Point Viewpoint
• Explore the Badlands
• “The Slot” Slot canyon
• Borrego Springs: Visitor’s Center, small desert town + Accom
• Stargazing: learn more in Borrego springs

Where to Stay in Anza-Borrego Stage Park

There are plenty of trendy desert accommodation options and, of course, free camping like I mentioned.

If you want some luxury, La Casa del Zorro resort is unanimously the place to be. It’s 10 minutes from the state park and has FIVE outdoor pools, among other things. Or, you can stay at a vintage trailer park for a bit of a different experience.

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California Road Trip: Palm Springs

Days: 1-2

Distance: 90ish miles

Time: About 1.5 hours drive

Route: From Anza-Borrego/Borrego Springs you will take the 78E, to the 86N (and drive along the Salton Sea) to the 10W.

So Palm Springs is an optional stop on your California road trip itinerary, but many people really enjoy this little haven in the desert. Palm Springs is known for having lots of sun and pools to splash around in, and some beautiful mountains you can ascend with a cable car as well. There are loads of big resorts, golf courses, and also boutique hotels for you to relax by the pool.

What to do in Palm Springs:

• Take the aerial tramway up to Mt San Jacinto State park – ascend 6,000ft up into the mountains and go from desert to mountain in just a few minutes. There are miles and miles of hiking up here, or just relax in cooler temperatures.
• Visit celebrity houses – The likes of Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Bob Hope, and more used to have houses in Palm Springs, and these are popular places to visit these days.
• Go Golfing – there are over 100 golf courses in Palm Springs!
• Go for a meal on El Paseo – the main road of town
• Visit the Desert Hills Outlets – if you want some good deals

Where to Stay in Palm Springs

Palm Springs is perhaps one of the most famous places for super cute boutique hotels. The Saguaro is beautiful and hosts a music festival a few times a year called Splash House.

Coachella Music Festival is also the first two weekends of April – so if you love festivals it could be a great California road trip idea! Compare other hotel options here.

California Road Trip: Joshua Tree National Park

Days: 1-3

Distance: About 35 mi to the National Park Entrance from Palm Springs

Time: About 45 minutes drive

Route: You’ll want to enter Joshua Tree National Park from the north – passing through Yucca Valley and the town of Joshua Tree. So you’ll need to take the 62 from Palm Springs.

Joshua Tree is the last epic California National Park you’ll visit on your ultimate California Road Trip! It’s a high desert- meaning the altitude will change the temperature quite drastically. It could get quite cold at night depending on the time of year.

Joshua Tree is known for having millions and millions of, well, Joshua trees scattered about its vast landscape. There are also incredible stacks of smooth boulders that are tons of fun to explore and climb.

There are many hiking trails through/around these massive piles of boulders as well. There’s also a Joshua Tree Music Festival if you’re there the right time of year.

What to Do in Joshua Tree

• Check out Pioneer Town – it’s a few miles from the entrance. It’s literally an old pioneer town model (it used to be a movie set) with wooden buildings, old-style carriages, and ancient jail, and more. It’s an amazing photo op!
• Wander around the eclectic shops of Joshua Tree town
• Do some hikes/walks through all the Joshua Trees! Some popular hikes/points of interest are: Ryan Mountain, Hidden Valley, Split Rock Loop, and Arch Rock, Skull Rock, and Barker Dam.
• Drive up to different boulder piles and climb them! Explore, see how high you can get, squeeze through crevices, and look through arches.
• Keys View – a popular vierpoint

Where to Stay in Joshua Tree

Well, the obvious choice yet again would be to camp! There are heaps of great campsites inside the park, for which you would obviously just have to pay a small fee. Check out ‘Jumbo Rocks Campground’ and/or ‘Hidden Valley Campground.”

Other than that, Joshua Tree has some pretty awesome accommodation options. There are entire houses, airstreams, treehouses, and cabins to rent on Airbnb/VRBO. Check out my list here of the most unique Joshua Tree stays.

Well, that’s about it for your California road trip itinerary! From Joshua Tree you can just drive 2-2.5 hours/about 130 miles back to LA, dive onto a bed for the night, turn on a movie, and revel in the awesomeness that was your incredible journey!

You visited three main cities, 4+ National Parks, probably 5+ State Parks, tons of beaches, loads of beautiful hiking trails, some charming smaller cities and towns, and probably checked out some pretty sweet accommodation options as well. California really has it all, doesn’t it?! And now, you’ve seen it!

How much of this California Road trip did you complete? What do you think of these California road trip ideas? Would you add or change anything? Or subtract things?! I would love your feedback on everything in the comments below!

See also:

• Top sunset captions for instagram
• Unique Places to Stay in Ohio
• Unique Places to Stay in Texas
• Tulum Hotels with Private Pool