By Gigi Fulham.
Sometimes, all you need is a break from the hustle and bustle of city life. And what better way to do that than by going on a road trip? If you’re looking for some stunning scenery and breathtaking views, then check out these amazing scenic drives in California!
1. Big Sur Coast Highway
This stretch of highway along the central coast of California is definitely a must-see. With its winding roads and cliffside views, it’s no wonder this is one of the most popular scenic drives in the state! Along the way, you’ll be able to see some of the most beautiful coastlines in all of California. Make sure to stop at one of the many lookout points to snap some pictures!
2. Angeles Crest Highway
This 66-mile drive will take you through some of the most beautiful mountains and forests in California. Make sure to keep your eyes peeled for wildlife like deer and bighorn sheep! Make a stop at the Mt. Wilson Observatory for some spectacular views of the Los Angeles Basin.
3. Tioga Pass Road
This is the highest paved pass in the state, and it’s definitely a drive you won’t want to miss. From alpine meadows to glacial lakes, there’s so much to see along this road. You can even go skiing or snowboarding in the winter!
4. Highway 1
This iconic highway runs along the coast of California, and it’s definitely one of the most scenic drives in the state. With its beautiful beaches and majestic cliffs, it’s easy to see why Highway 1 is such a popular road trip destination!
5. Death Valley Scenic Drive
Come explore one of California’s most unique landscapes: Death Valley. With its barren deserts and towering mountains, it’s sure to be an unforgettable experience! See the amazing views from Zabriskie Point or take a dip in the hot springs at Furnace Creek.
6. Highway 101
The coastal highway is the ideal way to observe some of California’s most captivating beaches. This road stretches from San Francisco down to Los Angeles, and there’s so much beauty along the way! Stop and enjoy the views, or even better, pull over and take a dip in the ocean!
7. Lassen Volcanic National Park Scenic Drive
This drive will transport you to one of California’s most unique landscapes: a volcanic national park! Filled with steaming hot springs and bubbling mud pots, it’s sure to be an out-of-this-world experience. In fact, it’s been said that this drive is like taking a trip to another planet!
8. Joshua Tree Scenic Drive
If you’re searching for Something a little different, you should put Joshua Tree National Park at the top of your list. With unique desert plants and breathtaking views, it’s an experience you won’t want to miss! Joshua Tree is especially beautiful during sunset when the colors of the sky are reflected off the rocks.
9. Kings Canyon Scenic Byway
This drive takes you through one of the deepest canyons in the United States! With its towering cliffs and stunning views, it’s sure to be an unforgettable experience. Kings Canyon is also home to some of the tallest trees in the world, so keep your eyes peeled!
10. Yosemite Valley Floor Tour
This is the perfect way to see some of Yosemite National Park’s most iconic landmarks. From waterfalls to giant sequoia trees, there’s so much to see along this road!
11. Glacier Point Road
This road will take you to one of the best vantage points in all of Yosemite National Park! From here, you’ll be able to see some of the gorgeous views of Yosemite Valley. Make sure to bring your camera so you can capture the beauty of this place!
The only way to access Glacier Point, Sentinel Dome, Taft Point, and other destinations on the Glacier Point Road in 2022 will be by a long hike. There is no water or toilet facilities at Glacier Point.
12. Marin Headlands
This is one of the best ways to see the Golden Gate Bridge! The Marin Headlands offer stunning views of San Francisco Bay and the iconic bridge. Make sure to stop at one of the many lookout points along the way!
13. Napa Valley Wine Train
This is a great way to experience Napa Valley’s world-famous wine country! The Napa Valley Wine Train takes you on a scenic journey through the valley, with stops at some of the best wineries along the way. This is definitely a must-do for any wine lover!
To make the most of your road trip, here are our top tips on how to organize your journey:
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Choose your destination
The first step is to decide where you want to go! This will help you narrow down the list of potential scenic drives.
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Decide on your route
Once you know your destination, it’s time to start planning your route. If you’re not sure where to start, there are plenty of resources available (like Google Maps) to help you out. Book an Orange County limo service and leave the navigation to the professionals! Because all chauffeurs are locals, they know all the shortcuts and scenic routes. You can also ask to make stops along the way so you can explore more of the area.
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Pack your essentials
Before hitting the road, make sure you have everything you need! This includes things like snacks, water, sunscreen, a first-aid kit, and a map. It’s also a good idea to bring along some cash in case you need to make any unexpected purchases.
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Make a list of activities
To make the most of your trip, it’s always good to plan ahead and make a list of activities. This way, you can ensure that you won’t miss anything important!
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Pack your bags
Now it’s time to start packing! Remember to bring everything you’ll need for your journey, including a map, snacks, and plenty of sunscreens.
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Hit the road!
The final step is to hit the road and start exploring! Scenic drives are the perfect way to see everything that California has to offer, so sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.
California is definitely the place to be for an unforgettable road trip! With so many amazing scenic drives, you’re sure to find the perfect one for your adventure. So what are you waiting for? Start planning your journey today! You are about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime!
Have you been California Road Trippin?
Or perhaps you have this on your bucket list to do. Share your thoughts and/or experiences in the comments below.
*Source of images used here is unsplash.com
Gigi Fulham
I'm Gigi Fulham, and I help businesses by creating engaging content as a professional travel writer. As a travel writer, I specialize in traveling to different destinations and providing exclusive insight that can't be found anywhere else. In addition, I have plenty of experience with creating Google search results that rank highly and generate a lot of website traffic.
Me and my friends have been planning on going on a road trip when it gets a little nicer outside and we will defiantly go to some of these especially Glacier Point and Death Valley!
A local here, so we have definitely been road tripping in California. And I don’t think we ever get bored of it, there is just so much to see here. Pacific Coast Highway should absolutely be on everyone’s list but one of my favourites is also Highway 101 towards north on Avenue of Giants. Be careful with Tioga Pass because it’s actually closed most of the year due to snow. It usually opens late spring and is open during summer months until fall.
There are so many great stops on your list. It makes it hard to choose which one to go to first. But I’d probably go for Yosemite.
These road tripping routes in California are awesome filled with spectacular views. The drive along the Pacific Coast High is amazing with beautiful sunrise and sunsets so is the drive in and around Joshua tree park. I would love to visit the Golden Bridge from Marin headlands, the Yosemite and the Lassen view volcanic national park with bubbling mud pots and hot springs. And definitely don’t want to miss the Napa valley train ride.
These seem like very wonderful places to go road tripping and camping!!
California is such a beautiful state, and these roads look like a great way to see it. (Hopefully, they are all repaired and ready to be traveled soon.)
Such a really great ideas for our next trip this is so helpful thanks for sharing this with us!
I have yet to visit California but man do I want to! Especially after seeing this post, I need to make plans!
I am impressed! So many beautiful and unique views to see! I would like to visit all of them!
I have always wanted to take a trip like this with my husband. California is so beautiful! My friend and her husband did a scenic drive along the whole state and loved it.
I’ll have to save this for when I’m ready to travel around again. It’s been a minute.
I haven’t done any road trips in California, but that’s on my bucket list. Most of these are on my list, like Big Sur Coast, Highway 1, and Tioga Pass. The view on Glacier Point Road looks spectacular, and I think the Marin Headlands will be great as well.
These sound like cool roads to drive on. I need to add them to my list.
I would love to do this some day. I can see many of these trips would be well worth it.
Pretty! I wouldn’t mind doing a road trip to these places. It would be an exciting adventure.
I have to agree that California has many great driving routes. We have done some of the ones on your list. But I can see there are many more on future visits to California. We definitely have Lassen Volcanic Park and Joshua Tree on our travel wish list. And one day we will certainly do the Napa Valley Wine Train!
I am not a big fan of road trips – but some of these California road-tripping ideas really get my attention. I am a huge wine lover, so taking the Napa Valley Wine Train is something I would enjoy. Driving along the Tioga Pass road is for sure a great adventure too!
I love road trips! I have never been to the States but I have heard about the Big Sur road and how beautiful it is. I would love to go on a road trip here when I finally visit. Also, driving through the desert, on the Death Valley Scenic road must be pretty impressive as well, especially that you can see the mountains as well. As a wine lover, I’d also like to take the Napa Valley Train and visit the wineries, guilt free.
I have never been to California, but I’d love to go for a California road trip as there are lots of places to visit. The Death Valley Scenic Drive and, Napa Valley Wine Train, Highway 101 and The Joshua Tree Scenic Drive are on my travel bucket list since long. Hopefully visit them soon.
What a wonderful list of destinations for a road vacation! Each location has something unique to offer. The Big Sur Coast Highway looks frightful from its clifftop vantage points. For breathtaking views, though, head to Glacier Point Road. If I ever make it to California, I can’t wait to start the journey with these fantastic destinations!
Nnniiiiccceeeeeee…I would like to drive through all these roads of Cali…but mostly, the Death Valley!
I have never been to California, but I’d love to. The Death Valley Scenic Drive and The Joshua Tree Scenic Drive are both on my travel bucket list.
I would love to visit any of these places. Ireland is gorgeous but in a different way. California looks to have some gorgeous sights too!
A trip to California is one of my lifetime goals. There are so many things to see and do.
Never been to Cali before but would loove to go and explore the big place. Going on road trips is a fave.
I know this feeling. When I feel too stressed out, going on a long drive/ride just soothes me. Been there, done that. That said, I haven’t been on a California road trip yet. As someone who loved the view of sea, the Big Sur Coast Highway would be my top choice. Highway 1 would be my 2nd choice with the beautiful mix of coasts & cliffs. Wait a minute, no, as a wine lover, Napa Valley Wine Train would be my first choice! Haha.
I love Yosemite! It’s been over 30 years since I was there, but it was gorgeous. It would be great to do some of these other drives, too.
California is such a gorgeous state. I have always wanted to take an extended trip there. If I ever do, it’s going to be a road trip.
Great ideas for our next road trip! The hardest part will be deciding which ones to take.
A California road trip is high on my bucket list. My parents did a version of this for their 50th anniversary and loved it. Thank you for the helpful tips.