Road-tripping is the ultimate way to experience California, so fill the gas tank and buckle up for unforgettable drives through scenery that tugs at your heart and soul.
Get ready for memory-making encounters as you wheel through sensuous wine country, humbling redwood forests, epic desert expanses, endless miles of coastal highway, and sky-touching Sierra Nevada peaks. Just make sure that rental car has unlimited miles – you’ll need ’em all.
California is the third-largest state in the US, and you could easily spend weeks navigating its rural byways, safely distant from the nerve-jangling, often-jammed interstate system. These five classic road-tripping routes are soaked in enough epic scenery to make each deliciously slow, winding mile worthwhile.
1. Pacific Coast Highway
Best road trip for world-class ocean views & autumn trips
Dana Point at Interstate 5–Hwy 101 in Leggett; 656 miles
No matter if you follow the entire 656 miles or just a short stretch of coast-hugging Hwy 1, you’ll hit the Insta jackpot. Posing options include dramatic sea cliffs, sun-soaked surfing towns, playful harbor seals, and the Golden Gate Bridge.
Our top pick for classic California dreamin’ snakes along the Pacific coast. While only a short stretch of Hwy 1 through Orange and Los Angeles Counties can legally call itself Pacific Coast Hwy (PCH), equally bewitching ribbons of Hwy 1 and Hwy 101 await all along this route.
Local tip: For best results, avoid driving the PCH in the spring and summer months when the central and northern coastline can be socked in by fog. Instead, September and October will yield the sunniest skies and some of the best weather for road trippers.
2. Route 66
Best for iconic drives & weekend drives
Arizona border near Needles–Santa Monica; 315 miles
Get your kicks on America’s “Mother Road,” which has brought Dust Bowl refugees, Hollywood starlets, and hippies to California. Cruise from the desert to the Pacific Ocean, pulling up alongside retro relics, sleeping in a tipi hotel, and fueling up in neon-lit diners.
This iconic route takes you across the Mojave Desert, a relative breeze compared to times of yore, through famous western towns like Barstow and Daggett, ultimately leading to the San Bernardino National Forest. Emerge in Pasadena and Los Angeles before concluding your journey in Santa Monica for stunning coastal views.
3. Gold Country and California Highway 49
Best for historic hills & family road trips
Oakhurst–Nevada City; 200 miles
Follow Hwy 49 through the picturesque Sierra Nevada foothills, a stronghold of gold-rush history with thrilling tales of banditry, bordellos, and bloodlust.
This highway number is significant; it commemorates the ’49ers who came seeking fame and fortune in California’s historic Gold Rush. Today, the route winds through Gold Country towns such as Placerville and Nevada City, past ghostly Old West mines and Victorian buildings housing charming inns.
You won’t want to miss the blend of western history and enchanting wineries, all set against stunning views of the Sierra Nevada. Plan for three to four days to fully enjoy this family-friendly road trip, ideally during the summer or early fall.
4. Avenue of the Giants
Best for road trips with kids & raw redwood brilliance
Stafford–Highway 101 junction; 32 miles
The incredible 32-mile road at Humboldt Redwoods State Park is canopied by the world’s tallest trees. This drive is justifiably celebrated, as travelers often find themselves standing with jaws agape and necks craned upward. The best time to visit is in the morning when sunlight glints off dew-drenched ferns.
The route connects a number of small towns with mid-20th-century motels, diners serving hearty meals, and picturesque pull-offs frequented by motorcycle enthusiasts.
Among the majestic groves along the Avenue, like the rightly famous Rockefeller Grove, the California Federation of Women’s Clubs Grove contains an interesting four-sided hearth designed by renowned architect Julia Morgan. Walking trails wind through these groves for memorable experiences.
5. Desert Solitaire in Death Valley
Best road trip for moody moonscapes & winter or spring driving
Palm Springs–Death Valley; 290 miles
Prepare for an adventure as you road-trip from Palm Springs through Palm Desert and Joshua Tree to Death Valley. You’ll be traveling where California pioneers and gold miners once traveled.
In Death Valley National Park, natural and human history collide. Artists Drive is nine miles of vividly variegated desert hills, showcasing an incredible array of the area’s stunning landscapes, including sand dunes, water-sculpted canyons, and soaring mountains.
Local tip: Visit between February and April for spring wildflower blooms and cooler temperatures. Allocate three days to fully soak up sights like Badwater Basin (the lowest elevation in the US), Mesquite Flat, and the breathtaking Emigrant & Wildrose Canyons.
This article was first published Jan 19, 2011, and updated Sep 10, 2023.
