It’s hard to beat a California road trip. From iconic coastal highways to stunning mountain passes, we’re spoiled for choice when choosing a route through the Golden State. I’ve published a lot of driving itineraries on the California Wayfaring blog, and today I want to pull them all together in one place. My blog post will show you the highlights of road tripping in California, from Mendocino to Big Sur and Malibu. I’ve included a map, too.
California Road Trip Itineraries
Whether you’re in the mood for stunning oceanside scenery or a famous national park, California has something for every visitor. Taking a road trip is a great way to see the highlights and enjoy the journey along the way.
Having grown up in the Bay Area, I’ve been road tripping in the Golden State all my life. From childhood adventures in Yosemite and Sequoia National Park to college drives up Highway 1 from San Diego, I’ve covered a lot of ground. In recent years I’ve driven from San Francisco to the Oregon border and beyond. I’ve shared about many of my experiences here on the blog.
I hope to bring you many more road trip guides in the future. I’ll add them to this blog post as I publish them. If you want to bookmark this post or pin it on Pinterest, you can reference it to find my past, present, and future itineraries.
1. San Francisco to Los Angeles in 2 Days
The first of my California road trip itineraries is for a classic drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles. It covers the highlights of what you can see and do along the coast in a couple days. From Carmel-by-the-Sea to the Santa Ynez Valley, it has the highlights.
Additionally, the itinerary will show you local places to eat and fun things to do along the way. There’s a beautiful spot to stay overnight, too.
If experiencing some of the best of the California coast sounds good to you, you can see the full itinerary here. It’s one of my favorite road trips in the Golden State, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it as much as I do.
2. Mendocino Road Trip
The next of my itineraries is for a Mendocino road trip. It’s for you if you want to see everything from cute towns to coastal areas, restaurants, redwoods, and shops. It will show you a broad range of things to do in 2 days.
The itinerary includes plenty of time exploring the charming streets of Mendocino village, a trip to the county’s famous wineries, clifftop walks, and famous beaches. There’s a cool place to stay for the night and a great restaurant for dinner, too.
If discovering a range of things to do in Mendocino County sounds like your kind of escape, you can see the full itinerary here. It’s a fun one for first-time visitors and those looking for a good overview of what this place has to offer.
3. Sideways Wine Tour
The next of my road trip itineraries follows in the tire treads of Miles and Jack’s famous journey in the movie Sideways. From towns like Los Olivos to dining and wine tasting at some of the places in the film, it has it all.
The itinerary includes a stay in the unique Danish-inspired town of Solvang, local hotspots from the movie, and wineries that Miles and Jack went to. It also includes towns like Buellton and famous spots like the Hitching Post 2.
If basing yourself in Solvang and seeing a range of filming locations from the movie appeals, you can see the details on my blog post with a Sideways wine tour itinerary. It’s a fun one if you love seeing sites from famous movies and enjoy food, wine, and quirky towns.
4. Yosemite Road Trip
The next of my road trip itineraries is a 4-day trip that covers areas in and around Yosemite National Park. It’s ideal if you want to see everything from historic towns to giant sequoias, famous waterfalls, and classic views.
The itinerary starts in Sonora, Columbia, and Groveland. These famous gold rush towns in the Sierra Nevada Foothills offer a range of activities for visitors. Whether you enjoy sightseeing, cider tasting, Old West saloons, or shopping, there’s something for you.
From there the itinerary continues with a stay at a unique ranch and a trip into Yosemite National Park to hike to Wapama Falls in the Hetch Hetchy Valley. One of the less visited areas in the park, it’s worth a trip to walk across the 430-foot-tall O’Shaughnessy Dam, around the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, and out to the cascades.
Next on the itinerary is a stay at a stunning chateau in Oakhurst. It feels like it’s straight out of a fairy tale, and it has a beautiful restaurant where you can enjoy a multi-course dinner.
From there you’ll get to go into Yosemite National Park again. Highlights include a hike in the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias and a day tour. The latter has stops at Bridalveil Fall, famous viewpoints, a landmark hotel, and Yosemite Falls.
If discovering a range of things to do in and around Yosemite National Park appeals, you can see the full itinerary here. It’s a great one if you want to experience a mix of places and activities in the eastern part of the state.
5. Big Sur Road Trip
My next road trip itinerary is for Big Sur. If you have 5 days to explore this iconic part of the California coast, it’s a great one. It will show you a broad range of things to do and see, and you’ll get to experience the highlights of the region.
The itinerary has everything from famous waterfalls to coastal hikes, sandy beaches, beloved restaurants, and two unique places to stay. You’ll get to see the redwoods, watch the sunset, and sit on Adirondack chairs in the middle of the Big Sur River.
If spending an extended amount of time exploring Big Sur sounds like your kind of trip, you can see the full itinerary here. It’s perfect for you if you have time to go at a relaxed pace and you want to get to know one of the most famous places on the California coast.
6. Monterey to Malibu Road Trip
The next of my itineraries is for a road trip from the Central Coast to Los Angeles County. If you have a day to drive from Monterey to Malibu, this is for you. It will show you a broad range of things to do as you cruise south on Highway 101.
The itinerary features everything from breakfast in downtown Monterey to wine tasting in Paso Robles, a classic lunch at In-N-Out Burger in Atascadero, more wine tasting in the Santa Ynez Valley, and a sunset dinner by the beach in Malibu.
If exploring multiple parts of the Golden Coast appeals, you can see the full itinerary here. If you’re pressed for time and you want to get a feel for a number of places in one day, it’s just the ticket.
7. Central Coast Road Trip
The next of my road trip itineraries is for 3 days on the Central Coast. From exploring Cambria and Paso Robles to visiting Hearst Castle and Sensorio, it covers a range of things to see and do.
This itinerary is centered around stays in Cambria and Pismo Beach. It includes coastal highlights like Morro Rock, dinners in Cambria and San Luis Obispo, wine tasting, shopping, and other local favorites. You’ll get to experience beautiful beaches and try delicious cinnamon rolls, too.
If all that appeals, you can see the full itinerary here. It’s a fun one if you want to get an overview of a variety of places in San Luis Obispo County and experience the highlights of what it has to offer.
8. 5-Day California Road Trip
The next of my road trip itineraries is a 5-day journey from San Francisco to Los Angeles. It will take you to classic coastal spots like Santa Cruz, Big Sur, and Santa Barbara along the way.
The itinerary covers a range of places on the Golden Coast. From Half Moon Bay and Pescadero in the north to Carmel and Cambria in the middle and Malibu and Santa Monica in the south, you’ll see the highlights as you drive.
If a coastal escape appeals, you can check out the full itinerary on my guide to taking a 5-day California road trip. It will show you how to have a fun time as you journey from north to south along the Pacific Ocean.
9. Big Sur, Carmel, and Monterey
My next itinerary features a road trip to Big Sur, Carmel, and Monterey. Many visitors want to see all three parts of the Central Coast in one trip, and this is a great one if you have 4 days to spend here.
This itinerary starts in Big Sur, where you’ll spend a couple days exploring, hiking, and enjoying some of the best restaurants and beaches in the region. The trip continues in Carmel, where it covers popular spots like Carmel Valley and Carmel-by-the-Sea. It ends with a quick stop in Monterey to have lunch and see the famous Cannery Row.
If that all sounds good to you, you can see the full itinerary here. This is an ideal one if you want to get a feel for how the three places differ and discover the highlights of each destination.
Map of Road Trip Itineraries
As promised, I’ve created an interactive Google map of all my California road trip itineraries. You can see it here. If you click on the pins, you’ll find my blog posts about each one. They can help you plan a great route.
Road Trip Itineraries
I hope my itineraries have inspired you to spend some time road tripping in California. There’s so much to see here, whether you want cruise along the coast or drive through the inland areas.
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