classic california road trip

1. California's Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1) Start: Dana Point (Orange County) End: Leggett (Mendocino County) Distance: 656 miles. Recommended time: At least five days, ideally one or two weeks. Following the California coastline, the iconic State Route 1—or Highway 1—is one of the best road trips in the world.

Take these 10 scenic road trips around California, including winery trails, mountain scenery, desert wildflowers, and the rugged coastline not far from Big Sur. Editor's note: Check out more than 50 amazing road trip itineraries on our California Road Trip Republic hub, filled with inspiration and ideas for your next adventure. ...

Driving time: 7 hours and 44 minutes. Start point: Los Angeles. End point: South Lake Tahoe. Just as scenic as the Pacific Coast Highway, but showcasing completely different scenery along the way, the Highway 395 road trip through the Eastern Sierra is a must for all nature and outdoor lovers.

A classic 10-day California road trip is incomplete without a drive down the most scenic road in probably all of America— Highway 1, aka the Pacific Coast Highway. And in this 10 day itinerary, we hit on just that. The highway extends for more than 650 miles from San Francisco to San Diego. It's famous for it's stunning coastline and sea ...

The Perfect 10 Day California Road Trip Itinerary (2024 Guide) Plan the ultimate California road trip itinerary with our 10-day road trip itinerary, including all of the best national parks, cities and other attractions! California is instantly captivating. Its major cities twinkle in the spotlight, from the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco ...

Table Of Contents. Our 13 Fave California Road Trip Itineraries. Pacific Coast Highway: SF to LA. Pacific Coast Highway: North Coast. North Coast Redwoods. The Central Coast Loop. Napa/Sonoma Wine Country Drive. Highway 49 Gold Country Route. The Lassen/Shasta Volcanic Legacy Highway.

3. Gold Country and California Highway 49. Best for historic hills & family road trips. Oakhurst-Nevada City; 200 miles. Follow Hwy 49 through the rough-and-tumble Sierra Nevada foothills, a stronghold of gold-rush history with thrilling, mostly true tales of banditry, bordellos and bloodlust.

This California road trip thrills everyone who takes it due to its world-class destinations, superb scenic drives, and famous Californian climate. Key road trip highlights: Visit all of California's world-class destinations on this relatively short drive. Explore the iconic Californian cities of San Francisco, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles.

1. Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1) The iconic Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), also known as Highway 1, is the quintessential California road trip. This spectacular route stretches for over 650 miles between San Diego in the south and Leggett in the north. Highlights include the glitz and glamour of Los Angeles, the legendary beaches of Malibu ...

Route 66 ends in California, so take a look at our guide to planning a route 66 trip, as well as our detailed 2 week Route 66 itinerary and 1 week Route 66 itinerary. Fodor's Guide to California, which also includes details on a number of fantastic road trips. The Lonely Planet California Guide, which is great for finding things to do, places ...

California's Pacific Coast Highway is a classic American road trip. Here's what to see, do, and eat between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

For Classic Coastal Vibes: Monterey Peninsula. If you'd prefer to head to the coast, do a California road trip to the Monterey Peninsula. The three main towns are Monterey, Pacific Grove, and Carmel-By-The-Sea and each is distinct. Go to Monterey for the famed aquarium and a fishing history so rich Steinbeck espoused it.

Huntington Beach: Classic California Vibe. Huntington Beach is a must-see stop on all coastal California road trips. If you're looking for a city that fully embodies southern California's beach culture, you won't find a better spot than Huntington Beach. It's also known as "Surf City USA.".

Avenue of the Giants (southeast of the Route 36 junction and parallel to Highway 101) This 31-mile scenic road traverses more than 51,000 acres of America's most spectacular redwoods. Honeydew. Stop in at the general store and post office in this tiny community to send a postcard and enjoy a frozen fruit bar.

This classic road trip along the California coast is what has appeared in countless films throughout the years and is the most iconic road trip in the Golden State and thus, shouldn't be missed. While many believe that the popular Pacific Coast Highway stretches from Seattle to Los Angeles, the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) is technically only ...

Trip 10: Oenophile's Paradise. Napa and Sonoma get a lot of hype, but California's central coast is a wine-lover's paradise. From Santa Barbara to Edna Valley, this is area is for the true connoisseur who is more intrigued by finding the next big name in wineries than following the same old trend.

End: Mammoth Lakes. Distance: Approximately 330 miles. This stretch of highway connects Southern California with the Eastern Sierra mountains up north. Most people start this iconic road trip in ...

In Washington, Oregon, and at the northern end of California, the Pacific Coast route follows US Highway 101. Near the small town of Leggett (home to the famed Chandelier Drive-Thru Tree) US-101 transitions into scenic Highway 1, the most popular portion of this route and the classic Coastal California road trip.

The most classic of California road trips, the Highway 1 California trip technically leaves Southern California, but we're including it all the same. We try to drive up to Big Sur once a year because we like it that much.

D. L. Bliss State Park, Rubicon Trail. Location: 9881 CA-89, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150. On one of those California trips to Emerald Bay, you can drive 5 miles straight to this rural area. The Rubicon Trail is a moderately challenging route, taking you out and back near Tahoma, Cali.

Welcome Centers. Regional Map. Visit California's Road Trip Republic is your go-to resource for planning a dream drive in the Golden State. Choose from a variety of road trip itineraries for all types of travelers, including foodies, families, and active adventurers.

Follow this spectacular coast-hugging drive, making time for stops in places like Huntington Beach, Santa Barbara, and Monterey.

This classic Baja California road trip follows the entire length of Mexico's Baja peninsula - from Tijuana to Cabo. The Baja California peninsula is an arid desert with giant cacti almost entirely surrounded by water; From Tijuana to Cabo, check out all the best beaches and must-see spots on this classic Baja California road trip down Mexico's ...

3. Natchez Trace - Mississippi. If John Denver's classic hit "Take Me Home, Country Roads" evokes one road trip route, it would be the Natchez Trace. This Rocky Mountain monolith starts in ...