Summary
The map above shows California divided into eight areas. There’s no standard definition of these areas, and you may see the state divided up differently elsewhere. This map was created for California visitors and California residents who want to explore more of their state, grouping things that are easy to visit in one trip or as part of a road trip.
Use the California regions map to identify areas you’re interested in visiting, then consult the lists on the following pages to get visitor guides for places in that area.
01. Southern California
Californians often refer to this vibrant area as SoCal. From a tourist’s perspective, it is characterized by stunning beaches, bustling cities, and numerous theme parks. Vacationers of all types can discover numerous activities in this region.
Places to Visit in Los Angeles and Orange County
- Beverly Hills
- Catalina Island
- Disneyland
- Hermosa Beach
- Hollywood
- Laguna Beach
- Long Beach
- Los Angeles
- Newport Beach
- Pasadena
- Redondo Beach
- Santa Monica
- Venice Beach
- West Hollywood
Places to Visit in and Around San Diego
- San Diego
- Coronado
- La Jolla
- Tijuana, Mexico Side Trip
More Places in Southern California
- Big Bear Lake
- Julian
02. California Deserts: Mojave and Colorado
California’s desert area occupies the southeast part of the state and encompasses three distinct desert regions. This section summarizes two of them, while the third will be explored on the next page.
Places to Visit in the Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert is distinguished by its iconic Joshua Trees and holds remnants of historic US Route 66 and Death Valley, the lowest point in North America and the hottest place on Earth.
- Calico Ghost Town
- Death Valley National Park
- Joshua Tree National Park
- Mojave National Preserve
- Route 66 in California
Places to Visit in the Colorado Desert
The Colorado Desert includes popular destinations such as Palm Springs, the Salton Sea, and Anza-Borrego State Park, making it California’s warmest desert region.
- Tour of the Coachella Valley and Colorado Desert
- Anza-Borrego Desert
- Palm Springs
- Salton Sea
03. Eastern California and the Great Basin Desert
Eastern California resides within the Great Basin Desert, distinguished as a cold desert where most precipitation falls as snow. It possesses a unique profile, thanks to the Sierra Nevada Mountains, creating a rain shadow effect that results in low moisture levels.
Places to Visit in Eastern California
- Bodie Ghost Town
- Convict Lake
- June Lake
- Mono Lake
- Manzanar National Historic Site (former Japanese Internment Camp)
04. California Mountains
California is home to a diverse range of mountains, particularly the Sierra Nevada Mountains that stretch between the central valley and the high desert to the east. These majestic mountains host two of California’s renowned national parks as well as the picturesque Lake Tahoe, along with charming gold rush towns along their western slopes.
Places to Go in the California Mountains
- Gold Country
- Lake Tahoe
- Sequoia & Kings Canyon
- Yosemite National Park
05. Central Corridor (I-5 and US Hwy 101)
Between the lofty mountains in the east and the coastal range in the west lies central California, traversed by US Hwy 101 and Interstate Hwy 5. The coastal sights on Hwy 101 between Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo define the Central Coast Region.
Places to Go Along Hwy 101
When traveling inland on Hwy 101, visitors will encounter charming and historic locations worth stopping at or exploring further.
- Solvang and the Santa Ynez Valley
- Mission San Miguel
- Ojai
- Paso Robles
- Salinas
- San Juan Bautista
- Valley of the Oaks
Places to Go Along I-5
California’s state capitol offers a quick yet fascinating visit, while the river delta remains one of the state’s hidden gems, cherished by locals.
- Sacramento
- Sacramento River Delta
06. Central Coast
As a visitor, California’s central coast is defined as any location with ocean views between Los Angeles and Monterey.
Places to Visit on the Central Coast
Organized geographically from south to north:
- Ventura
- Channel Islands
- Santa Barbara
- Pismo Beach
- Morro Bay
- Hearst Castle
- Cayucos
- Cambria
- Big Sur
- Carmel
- Pacific Grove
- Pebble Beach
- Monterey
07. San Francisco Bay Area
While San Francisco serves as the heart of this region, the Bay Area stretches southward to Santa Cruz, east through Berkeley, and extends north into Marin County.
- San Francisco
- Berkeley
Places to Go North of San Francisco
- Muir Woods
- Point Reyes National Seashore
- Sausalito
Places to Go South of San Francisco
- Half Moon Bay
- Los Gatos
- Palo Alto
- San Jose & Silicon Valley
- Santa Cruz
08. Wine Country: Napa and Sonoma
While California boasts numerous wine-growing regions, when discussing Wine Country, the focus is primarily on Napa and Sonoma.
Places to Go in Napa
- Calistoga
- Town of Napa
- Napa Valley
Places to Go in Sonoma
- Healdsburg
- Sonoma Backroads: Sebastopol and Occidental
- Russian River
- Sonoma Valley
09. Far North California
This region encompasses nearly one-third of California’s land area but attracts less than one-tenth of its total visitors. The following highlights are separated into coastal and inland sights. Coastal Marin County is part of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Places to Go on the Northern California Coast
- Eureka
- Mendocino
Places to Go in Inland Northern California
- Lake County
- Lake Shasta
- Mt. Lassen National Park
- Mt. Shasta
