10 Best California Road Trips

Whether you want to visit surfing hotspots, famous filming locations or breathtaking National Parks, the Golden State has it all. So, you could be driving through Death Valley one day, and dining with Hollywood’s up-and-coming stars the next.

Ready to make the most of your time in California? We’ve pulled together some of our best California road trips to help inspire your next adventure. And if you want to expand your trip further afield, our road trip planner covers more of North America’s iconic routes.

1. Joshua Tree National Park to Mosaic Canyon: Natural California

1,516 miles, 9 days, 9 stops

Witness California’s natural charms for yourself on this epic road trip through national parks, towering forests and winding valleys. It’s the perfect opportunity to tick off must-see sights like Mirror Lake in Yosemite and the Santa Ynez Mountains, as well as iconic filming locations – from Big Bear to Lone Pine Lake.

With nine stops over nine days, you’ll have plenty of time to hike, bike or boat your way around the different parks. Stop off in well-known resorts such as Autocamp Yosemite and the Treebones Resort for a relaxing retreat along the coast. Or, if you prefer to embrace the elements, pack your camping supplies and sleep beneath the stars.

After eight action-packed days, end your trip in the depths of Death Valley at the Mosaic Canyon – a true natural wonder.

Plan your Natural California road trip

2. San Diego to San Francisco: Surfing California

633 miles, 10 days, 12 stops

If you’re a surfing enthusiast or a watersports lover ready to ride the waves, this coastal route is for you. Starting at San Diego’s seaside village, La Jolla, this 12-stop road trip takes you to the best surf spots in California.

Surfers of all levels can make the most of La Jolla’s gentle waves and warm waters, before venturing to Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve for a scenic hike overlooking the ocean. From here, you’ll drive to Crystal Cove State Park and Newport Beach – where the experienced surfers among you can play.

When you fancy a break from your board, there’s plenty to do – from whale watching in Santa Barbara to a tour of the historic Hearst Castle in San Simeon. Finish up at the Ferry Building Marketplace in San Francisco, where you can enjoy a well-deserved meal to commemorate your Californian adventure.

Surf your way through California

3. Hollywood to Seattle: Eat the West Coast

1,446 miles, 7-9 days, 12 stops

Looking to explore beyond California? Get to know the best of the West Coast with a foodie tour through California, Oregon and Washington.

Begin your road trip at an old Hollywood classic, Musso & Frank Grill, where you can experience true fine dining, complete with red-jacketed waiters, Art Deco interiors and signature Italian dishes.

Plan a stop for breakfast with a view at Big Sur Bakery. Then get ready for a global culinary experience along the I-5. We’re talking authentic Greek meze, all-American brunches and sensational seafood – from BBQ oysters at the Hog Island Oyster Co. to award-winning clam chowder at Duke’s Seafood in Tacoma.

Round off your trip at Pike Place Market in Seattle for the final feast.

Eat your way along the West Coast

4. California to Arizona: Ghost Towns of the West

1,346 miles, 10 days, 12 stops

Remember those Wild West towns from the old cowboy movies? Well, you can find the remains of these deserted towns across California on this road trip.

Start in Bodie – a former 19th-century gold mining town – and make your way through other ghost towns like Goldfield, Rhyolite and Ballorat. Walk their abandoned streets and enter eerie empty buildings. Sometimes abandoned places tell more fascinating stories than lively cities.

This route then takes you to other boneyards of the west in Nevada and Arizona. How about an aircraft graveyard or an unoccupied beach resort? And, of course, you can’t miss the abandoned Santa Claus Christmas town.

Visit the ghost towns of the West

5. Illinois to California: Getting your Kicks

2,062 miles, 14 days, 14 stops

Take your cue from Nat King Cole and get your kicks on the historic Route 66 – from Illinois to California. You’ll begin this epic two-week road trip at the Cahokia UNESCO World Heritage Site to see the remains of the native civilization that once upon a time was larger than London.

Then make your way down the most famous route in American culture, where you can collect souvenirs at quirky rest stops and hear old tales of the Wild West at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

And don’t forget to check out the surrounding desert scenery along the way. You’ll have plenty of time to visit the Palo Duro Canyon, Sunset Crater Volcano and the Grand Canyon.

End your trip in the Golden State, where fast-food fans can visit the very first McDonald’s branch, before settling down for a night in Santa Monica.

Plan your Route 66 road trip

6. Washington to California: Pacific Coast Paradise

1,431 miles, 10 days, 14 stops

This Washington to California road trip follows the picturesque Pacific Coast Highway to some of America’s most interesting landmarks, museums and landscapes.

Start in Seattle, where you can browse legendary pop culture artefacts and climb to the top of the Space Needle for a view of the route that lies ahead.

Admire the snowy peaks of Mount Rainier and Mount Hood on your way to California, where you’ll be greeted by Victorian mansions and quirky boutiques in Old Town Eureka.

Then it’s on to the Big Sur section of the Pacific Coast Highway. Spend your days watching whales, touring the Point Sur lighthouse and unwinding at Morro Rock Beach.

Follow the Pacific Coast Highway

7. Washington to California: Pop Culture Cruisin’

1, 363 miles, 10 days, 13 stops

The West Coast is well connected to America’s music, movie and TV scene. So, if you fancy checking out some of the region’s coolest movie haunts, hotels and studios, then this road trip is sure to impress.

Discover legendary filming locations such as The Goonies House in Astoria, and Alcatraz Prison off the shores of San Francisco Bay. Walk in the footsteps of gangsters like Al Capone and Mickey Cohen, as you recreate scenes from Escape from Alcatraz.

Visit other pop culture hotspots in California, from the tech-filled Apple Park to popular A-list hangout, the Rainbow Bar & Grill. Step into the world of film at Sony Studios, walk among stars at the Hollywood Walk of Fame and drive to the Hollywood sign to enjoy panoramic views of Los Angeles.

Plan your Washington to California road trip

8. Utah to California: Roads Paved with Gold

1,288 miles, 10 days, 12 stops

Follow the trail of gold and silver on this unique trip through Utah, Nevada and California. Explore ghost towns from the gold rush, golden sand beaches and glittering restaurants and resorts along the way.

Treat yourself to a luxurious stay at the Amira Resort in St George, so you’re rested and ready to explore Nevada’s historic gold mines and boomtowns stuck in the 19th-century.

Experience the gold-finding thrill for yourself as you pan for precious metals outside Jamestown. If you’re lucky enough to find some, you can keep it as a souvenir.

Then it’s back on the road to Sacramento and Sand Dollar Beach to soak up the golden hues of California’s coastline.

Plan a Gold Rush road trip

9. Arizona to Oregon: Into the Valleys

1,764 miles, 14 days, 12 stops

Go deep into the valleys of Arizona, Utah, Nevada, California and Oregon to discover the dazzling rock formations, desertscapes and volcanic craters that connect these five states.

This road trip covers legendary locations like the Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Yosemite and Crater Lake, as well as outback conservation areas and geothermal geysers. What more could you want?

Venture into the Valleys

10. Washington to Nevada: The Weird, Weird West

1,950 miles, 14 days, 13 stops

Want to uncover the weird and wacky underbelly of America’s West Coast? Swap the tourist experience for a tour of the states’ most peculiar attractions.

In Seattle, admire quirky architecture at Gas Works Park and meet Sylvester the mummy at  Ye Olde Curiosity Shop. Then it’s time to explore Oregon’s weird natural wonders, from the Mount Tabor “urban volcano” to Lava River Cave.

As you arrive in California, enjoy a musical interlude at The Wave Organ in San Francisco, before picking up a souvenir from the future at the Echo Park Time Travel Mart in LA.

Other unusual stops include an atomic survival town, a clown motel and Nevada’s very own micronation – an unforgettable combination to say the least.

Discover the Weird, Weird West

Ready to kickstart your Golden State road trip? Reserve car rental in California with Hertz today and take to the open road with ease.

For more travel inspiration, check out our travel blog.