California is full of beautiful landscapes, hipster cities, quaint towns and amazing roadside attractions. There’s no better way to see more of California than on the open road. The road takes you past rugged coastlines, wildflowers abound, serene California lakes (besides the obvious Tahoe), distinctive Joshua he trees, and stunning deserts. , and impressive mountains. Whether you like the sea or the mountains, there are many options to choose from.
Nothing beats a California road trip in the spring! Springtime in California, when wildflowers begin to bloom, the drizzle clears, the skies clear, and the desert cools a bit, road trippers can have a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Here are the top 10 scenic routes in California to enjoy the best of spring. Whichever you choose, it will be an unforgettable trip. Because it takes travelers outside of Los Angeles to California’s magical spring celebrations.
Ten From San Francisco to San Simeon
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total distance
: 217 miles -
one way driving time
: 4 hours 45 minutes -
root
: San Francisco → Half Moon Bay → Santa Cruz → Monterey → Carmel by the Sea → Big Sur → San Simeon
The drive between San Francisco and San Simeon is more charming than you might think. Breathtaking coastal scenery, beautiful seaside towns, California’s favorite cities and much more to discover and experience on this route.
Starting in San Francisco, this route allows you to experience the surreal scenery of San Francisco. Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz Boardwalk, Carmel-by-the-Sea wine tasting. Additionally, the route passes through Monterey, known to be one of the world’s premier whale-watching destinations, and Big Sur, which is home to many Instagram-worthy locations. The route ends in San Simeon where you can see elephant seals.
9 From Los Angeles to South Lake Tahoe
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total distance
: 453 miles -
one way driving time
: 7 hours 44 minutes -
root
Los Angeles → Red Rock Canyon State Park → Lone Pine → Death Valley National Park (optional) → Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest (optional) → Bishop → Mammoth Lakes → Yosemite National Park (optional) → Lake Tahoe
Highway 395’s scenic route from Los Angeles to Lake Tahoe offers not only a breathtaking variety of scenery and endless natural beauty, but everything you need for a memorable road trip.
Beginning in the fabled City of Angels, this Highway 395 road trip takes visitors to the beautiful canyons and hiking trails of Red Rock Canyon State Park, Lone Pine, and Bishop’s Buttermilk. His two of the country’s best national parks and an ancient pine forest are a short detour from the highway but well worth exploring. The final stop is South Lake Tahoe, with many leisure activities and a beautiful end to this road trip.
8 From San Francisco to Crescent City
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Total distance:
398 miles -
One way driving time:
9 hours 30 minutes -
root:
San Francisco → Point Reyes National Seashore → Sonoma County → Mendocino Village → Fort Bragg → Redwood National and State Parks → Crescent City → Lassen Volcanic National Park (optional)
A thrilling drive along California’s wild and breathtaking North Coast is highly recommended to see historic lighthouses, enchanting beaches, redwood forests and seaside towns.
After leaving San Francisco, visit the Point Reyes National Seashore, see the Point Reyes Lighthouse, and sample local cheeses. Further along this route, explore the scenic Sonoma County coastline, Mendocino Coast, Mendocino Village, Mendocino Headlands State Park, Cabrillo Light Station, Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, Fort Bragg, Glass Beach, Redwood National and State Parks can. The trip ends at Battery Point Lighthouse in Crescent City. Take a detour to see Lassen Peak, or take an amazing hiking experience in Lassen Volcanic National Park.
7 Route through the California desert from Los Angeles to Los Angeles
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total distance
: 831 miles -
operating time
: 14 hours 30 minutes -
root
: Los Angeles → Palm Springs → Joshua Tree National Park → Salton Sea → Salvation Mountain → Anza Borrego State Park → Temecula → Los Angeles
This LA Loop route through the California desert highlights another side of the Golden State, an incredibly diverse landscape of breathtaking scenery. The awe-inspiring scenery of these vast desert parks can astonish anyone.
The first stop on this route, starting in Los Angeles, is Red Rock Canyon State Park, featuring dramatic desert cliffs. Other fascinating stops include the Alabama Hills National Scenic Area, which boasts wildflowers. Death Valley National Park for hiking. Mojave National Conservation Area looking at the Kelso Dunes. Joshua Tree National Park for rock climbing. Palm Springs is one of America’s most notable desert resort cities. The Salton Sea, Anza Borrego State Park, and Borrego Palm Canyon are next stops before returning to Los Angeles.
6 Route from San Francisco to San Francisco through Northern California wine regions
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total distance
: 273 miles -
operating time
: 6 hours -
root
: San Francisco → Napa Valley → Calistoga → Chinese Jade Lake → Sonoma Lake → Healdsburg → Sevastopol → Sonoma County → San Francisco
This spectacular California countryside road trip is ideal for lovers of nature, food, and most of all, wine. Visit his two of the best wine regions in the state, Napa Valley and Sonoma County.
This route runs directly from San Francisco to Napa Valley, allowing travelers to visit the region’s must-see vineyards and restaurants. You can also try volcanic mud baths in Calistoga and visit Chinese Jade Lake, Berryessa Lake and Sonoma Lake. Other attractions include the exciting Russian River Healdsburg with his activities and Sevastopol with its quirky art. The return trip to San Francisco begins in Sonoma County, famous for California’s last mission built by Spanish missionaries and many stunning wineries.
Five Carmel-by-the-Sea Los Angeles Big Sur Pacific Coast Highway Route
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total distance
: 348
miles -
one way driving time
: 5 hours 34 minutes -
root
: Carmel-by-the-Sea → Big Sur → San Simeon → Santa Monica → Los Angeles
This Big Sur route is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see one of California’s most spectacular coastlines.
Stop at Point Lobos Nature Reserve and Garrapata State Park, near Carmel-by-the-Sea, for hiking trails that cross Highway 1 and the ocean. Other great stops along this route include the historic Point Sur Lighthouse, Andrew Morella State Park, Big Sur State Park, Rugged Point and San Simeon’s Piedra Blancas his rookery famous for seeing elephant seals. I have. Your next stop is the Santa Ynez Valley, which features charming towns. Santa Barbara has a gastronomic scene. Santa Monica offers fun activities on its beaches and shopping streets. Last is Los Angeles.
Four San Francisco Loop through Eastern Sierra & 3 National Parks
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distance
: 643 miles -
total driving time
: 12 hours 34 minutes -
root
: San Francisco → Sacramento → Truckee → Lake Tahoe → June Lake → Mammoth Lakes → Yosemite → Kings Canyon National Park → Sequoia National Park → San Francisco
This is one of the most scenic springtime California routes through Northern California, the Eastern Sierra, and three national parks.
This route from San Francisco covers Sacramento, Truckee, Lake Tahoe, Bridgeport, Lee Vining, and June Lake. After the hot springs of Mammoth Lakes, continue to Yosemite National Park, famous for its supernatural Horsetail Fire Falls. Next up are Kings Canyon National Park, known for his third largest tree in the world, General Grant, and Redwood Canyon, a meadow full of wildflowers in the spring. General Sherman Treethe world’s largest tree by volume, and finally a U-turn to San Francisco.
3 Route 66 Needle City to Santa Monica
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distance:
315 miles -
One way driving time:
5 hours 50 minutes -
root:
Needles City (Arizona-California border) → Goffs and Essex towns → Amboy → Daggett → Calicotown → Barstow → Pasadena → Los Angeles → Santa Monica
Iconic Route 66, from the town of Needles to Santa Monica on the Pacific coast, is a must-drive to experience both natural and man-made attractions, as well as stunning desert drives.
After departing Needles City on the Arizona-California border, travel through the ghost towns of Goffs and Essex, Amboy, Amboy Crater, and Daggett before detouring to Calico Town to discover ghosts worth seeing . Other stops include Barstow, Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch, McDonald’s Birthplace San He Bernadino, Rancho His Cucamonga, Pasadena, and Los Angeles. The Santa Monica Pier is the final stop, and visitors take pictures with the “end of the trail” sign to commemorate the unforgettable end of the journey.
2 Reading Loop through Lassen Volcanic National Park and Mount Shasta
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distance:
553 miles -
Total operating time:
8 hours 46 minutes -
root:
Sacramento → Redding → Lassen Volcanic National Park → MacArthur Burney Falls Memorial State Park → Shasta Trinity National Forest → Whiskeytown Lake National Recreation Area → Castle Crags State Park → Redding → Sacramento
Offering the most breathtaking hydrothermal phenomena and natural wonders such as volcanoes and stunning waterfalls, this route is a must for adventure and nature lovers.
Beginning in Sacramento, the route leads to Redding, known for its unique Sundial Bridge and Turtle Bay Expedition Park. Lassen Volcanic National Park Your next stop is boardwalks, fumaroles, hot springs and cross-country skiing. Subway Cave, MacArthur Burney Falls Memorial State Park, MacLeod Falls, and Shasta Trinity National Forest are your next destinations. Mount Shasta is an inactive volcano that offers many exciting activities and is picturesque. After stops at Whiskeytown Lakes National Recreation Area and Castle Crags State Park, return to Reading and continue your journey back to Sacramento.
1 From Los Angeles to San Diego via the South Coastline
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distance
: 160 miles -
one way driving time
: 4 hours 20 minutes -
root
: Los Angeles –> Long Beach –> Huntington Beach –> Laguna Beach –> Dana Point –> Carlsbad –> San Diego
With all the spectacular Southern California beaches between Los Angeles and San Diego, this road trip is ideal for beachfronts and adventure enthusiasts.
This route starts in LA and covers all the spectacular beaches including Long Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Anita Street Beach and Thousand Steps Beach. Plus stops at Dana Point, the first Whale Heritage Site in the United States, Doheny State Beach, San Clemente, San Onofre State Beach, Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, and the beautiful Carlsbad Flower Fields in the spring. The final destination of the tour is San Diego. Finish off on a beautiful note by watching the sunset at the Point Loma Tide Pools.
