13 Long Weekend Getaways in California You'll Love

It's hard to beat California when it comes to travel. From famous beaches to stunning mountains and world-class cities, the Golden State attracts visitors from around the world. I've published a lot of long weekend 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 spending 3 or 4 days in various parts of California. I've included a map, too.

Long Weekend Getaways in California

California is not only one of the most visited states in the US, but also one of my top picks for an all-around travel destination. There's something for everyone here, from coastal areas to cute towns, national parks, and big cities.

I was born and raised in the Bay Area, I've been traveling throughout California all my life. I spent nearly all my childhood weekends in Santa Cruz, and I've lived everywhere from San Diego to San Francisco. In recent years I've gone on a lot of long weekend trips, and I've shared about them here on the blog.

I hope to bring you many more in the future, too. 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 use it as a reference for finding all my travel guides.

1. Los Angeles

I'll start my list with an itinerary for a long weekend in LA. It's a great guide if you have four days and you want to see a mix of the major sights and places locals frequent.

The itinerary includes an amazing house rental in Silver Lake, iconic landmarks like Griffith Observatory and the Hollywood Sign, some of the best restaurants in Los Angeles, and famous places like Beverly Hills and Venice Beach. It also features local areas like Echo Park.

If spending several days exploring the best attractions and coolest neighborhoods in LA sounds like your kind of getaway, you can see the full itinerary on my blog post about how to spend a long weekend in Los Angeles. It's great for first-time visitors and repeat ones alike.

2. Santa Ynez Valley

The next of my itineraries is for a long weekend in the Santa Ynez Valley. It's ideal if you enjoy visiting cute towns and going wine tasting. The guide offers a mix of local spots, famous filming locations, and world-class tasting rooms.

This itinerary is centered around the pretty town of Los Olivos. It includes time in the town, shopping, sightseeing, and wine tasting. It also features a couple wineries in the surrounding area.

If spending a few days experiencing a range of the best this part of Santa Barbara County has to offer sounds good, you can see the full itinerary on my blog post about how to spend a long weekend in the Santa Ynez Valley. It's perfect if you like wine tasting and discovering places locals love.

3. Central Coast

The next of my long weekend itineraries is for you if you have 3 days on the Central Coast and you want to see a range of highlights. From Cambria and Paso Robles to Hearst Castle and Sensorio, it features a range of things to do and see.

My itinerary is centered around stays in Cambria and Pismo Beach. It includes wine tasting, shopping, coastal features like Morro Rock, dinner in San Luis Obispo, a hidden brunch spot, and other local favorites.

If you like the sound of this trip, you can see the full itinerary on my blog post about how to spend a long weekend on the Central Coast. It's a fun one if you want to get an overview of a number of places in San Luis Obispo County and experience the highlights of what the area has to offer.

4. San Francisco

The next of my long weekend itineraries is for San Francisco. It's ideal if you have 3 days in SF and you want to discover both the big sightseeing attractions and the local areas of the City by the Bay.

The itinerary includes everything from the Golden Gate Bridge to Alcatraz, Ghirardelli Square, cable cars, and other San Francisco icons. It also features Golden Gate Park, Lands End, and Ocean Beach. It includes a range of local neighborhoods and good options for dinner and nightlife, too.

If experiencing some of the best sightseeing, natural beauty, food, and local favorites in San Francisco sounds like your kind of escape, you can see the full itinerary on my blog post about how to spend 3 days in San Francisco. It's a fun one if you have a few days in the city and you want a mix of things to do and see.

5. Lake Tahoe

The next itinerary on my list is perfect if you want to visit Lake Tahoe. Not only does it cover the highlights of this part of the Sierra Nevada, but also a range of things to do and see on and around the water in 4 days.

The itinerary features a lot of the main things to do in Tahoe in the warmer months. From hiking to shopping and places to stay, it will show you a range of experiences on offer. It also includes local restaurants, coffee shops, and cafes.

If experiencing the best of Lake Tahoe sounds like your kind of vacation, you can take a look at my blog post with an itinerary for 4 days in Tahoe. It's perfect whether you're a first-time visitor or a regular.

6. Big Sur, Carmel, and Monterey

My next long weekend itinerary covers a 4-day trip to Big Sur, Carmel, and Monterey. If you want to see all three places in one trip, this is a great guide for you. It will show you a good overview of each place.

My itinerary starts in Big Sur, where you'll spend a couple days exploring, hiking, and discovering some of the most famous beaches and restaurants in the area. The trip continues in Carmel, where it covers popular destinations like Carmel Valley and Carmel-by-the-Sea. It ends with a quick stop in Monterey to have lunch and see the highlights of the iconic Cannery Row.

If a combination of these three places sounds good to you, you can see the full itinerary on my blog post about visiting Big Sur, Carmel, and Monterey. This is a great trip if you want to get a feel for how each place differs from the others and discover the highlights of all of them.

7. Mammoth Lakes

The next of my itineraries is for a trip to Mammoth. If you love the mountains in summer, this is a perfect one for your California travel bucket list. It will show you a range of things to do in and around Mammoth.

My itinerary features everything from fun hikes to ghost towns and delicious restaurants. Whether you like taking in mountain scenery, enjoying good food, or visiting famous lakes, it has something you'll love.

If visiting this part of the eastern Sierra Nevada sounds like your kind of mountain escape, you can see the full itinerary on my blog post about how to spend 3 days in Mammoth in summer. This one is for you if you want to get a feel for what you can do in the area in the warmer months.

8. Yosemite National Park

The next of my itineraries is for 3 days in Yosemite. It covers areas in and around the national park. It's a fun one if you want a mix of historic towns, giant sequoias, waterfall hikes, iconic views, and High Sierra scenery. It will show you a range of things to do in a few days.

My itinerary starts in Mariposa, a 19th-century gold rush town near the national park. It includes sightseeing in town and an overnight stay at Mariposa Lodge. From there it continues with a trip into the park, a hike on the Mist Trail, photo stops at Valley View and El Capitan Meadow, and a night at Yosemite View Lodge.

The itinerary then features a drive along the Tioga Road, a seasonally-opened high-elevation pass with mountain lakes. It concludes with a hike in the Tuolumne Grove, one of the best places to see giant sequoia trees in Yosemite.

If you're visiting in summer or fall and you want to discover a range of things to do in and around the national park, you can see the full itinerary on my blog post about how to spend 3 days in Yosemite. If you want to check out guided tours, you can see options and book one here.

9. Napa Valley

The next of my itineraries is for 3 days in Napa Valley. Not only does it include wine tastings, but also great restaurants, spas, and a hot air balloon ride. It's perfect if you have a few days in the region and you want to enjoy a balance of winery visits and other activities during your time here.

My itinerary is centered around Calistoga, with a stay at a unique hotel. You'll get to see a lot more of Napa County during your stay, too. From wine tasting in St Helena to dinners in Los Carneros and Yountville and markets in the city of Napa, there's a lot to love about this one.

If experiencing the best of Napa Valley sounds good to you, you can see all the details on my 3-day Napa itinerary. It's a fun one whether you're a first-time visitor or an experienced one.

10. Healdsburg

The next of my itineraries is for Healdsburg in Sonoma County. It's ideal if you have 3 days and you love a mix of wine tasting, shopping, hiking, and coastal areas. It's a great one if you want to stay in one of the most beautiful towns in the county and you're looking for a broad overview of what Sonoma has to offer visitors.

The itinerary centers around downtown Healdsburg. It includes a stay at a boutique B&B called the Grape Leaf Inn, plenty of time in the shops around the plaza, wine tasting, restaurants, and jaunts to Guerneville, Geyserville, Occidental, and Bodega Bay.

If basing yourself in Healdsburg and enjoying a range of activities sounds like your kind of getaway, you can see the details on my blog post with a 3-day Sonoma itinerary. It's a fun one if you enjoy great food, wine, shopping, and hiking in Northern California.

11. Sonoma County

The next of my long weekend itineraries is for you if you have 3 days in Sonoma County and you want to live like a local. From wine tasting in Russian River to museums in Santa Rosa and famous restaurants and bars, it covers the highlights.

My itinerary is centered around Guerneville, a town on the Russian River. It includes wine tasting, a hike in the redwoods, a trip to Healdsburg, coastal gems, the town of Bodega, and other local favorites.

If you like the sound of this one, you can see the full itinerary on my blog post about how to spend 3 days in Sonoma County. It's a great one if you want to get a more local perspective on this part of California and experience a good overview of what it has to offer.

12. Napa and Sonoma

The next of my itineraries is one that covers both Napa Valley and Sonoma County. This is a great trip if you have 3 days to spend in wine country and you want to cover a lot of ground while you're visiting. It will show you a good overview of both valleys and some of the California coast.

My itinerary revolves around the historic town of Sonoma. It includes a gem of a local hotel called Sonoma Creek Inn, wine tasting in both Napa and Sonoma, local spots in Sebastopol, a coastal hike in Jenner, a famous museum, downtown Napa, and amazing restaurants.

If a combination of the two counties appeals to you, you can see all the details on my itinerary for 3 days in Napa and Sonoma. This is a fun one if you want to get a feel for how the two places differ and discover a range of highlights while you're at it.

13. Mendocino

The next of my long weekend travel guides is for Mendocino County. It's a fun 4-day itinerary that will show you the highlights of both the Northern California coast and the inland areas.

My itinerary for Mendocino includes time at the beach, beloved local wineries, coastal walks, canoeing, forest hikes, a nighttime train ride to a bar in the redwoods, a botanical garden, and more. It also features things to do and see in Mendocino village, from boutiques to bakeries and restaurants.

If experiencing the best of this part of California sounds like your kind of getaway, you can see the full itinerary on my blog post about a long weekend in Mendocino. You can also watch the YouTube video here. The trip is a fun one if you have several days in the area and you want to get a good overview of things to do and see.

Itinerary Map

California Long Weekend Itineraries

I hope my itineraries have inspired you to get out and explore more of California. There's so much to do in the Golden State, whether you want to see the famous coastal areas, visit a city, or go to a national park.

If you're after additional ideas, you can take a look at my blog posts about the best California itineraries and classic California road trips. They have lots more good tips for places to visit.

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