There are infinite possibilities of great Californian destinations to choose from, but this is my ideal combination of cities, coastline, national parks and beautiful wide open roads. We have spent many weeks road-tripping around California, so I have woven together this 2 week California road trip itinerary from the highlights. Live that California dream and set off on your own road trip soon!
2 week California Road Trip: 14-day Itinerary
3 days in San Francisco
Start in the amazingly vibrant city of San Francisco. From the Queen Anne homes and hippy vibes of Haight Ashbury, to the buzzing Chinatown, and old Beat Poetry Scene of City Lights Books… there is something for everyone in San Francisco.
Tourist hotspots include Pier 39, cable cars, golden gate bridge, Alcatraz, the Painted Ladies, Palace of Fine Arts and Fisherman’s Wharf. Like any big city, it has some downsides and hardships, but overall, we have found that San Francisco shines in so many ways. The diversity (of people and food), alongside beautiful land and cityscapes, the city has a way of feeling like a small community despite its size.
My handy guide to 4 days in San Francisco will help you navigate your visit – just pick and choose the activities that suit your mood and timescales.
Where to stay in the Bay Area
We enjoy staying in Union Square (Courtyard by Marriott or citizenM), Nob Hill (FOUND Hotel Carlton), and Castro (The Hotel Castro) in San Francisco proper. On our last trip, we stayed in Oakland (Hampton Inn Oakland Downtown and AC Hotel Oakland Downtown – both walkable to the BART station), as it was more convenient for having a hire car (without paying extortionate parking fees), and for carrying on our road trip to Yosemite afterwards.
3 days in Yosemite
Yosemite is a park of such epic vertical scale, and with unique vantage points that allow you to appreciate that scale. You can drop into the valley from many different sides and each offers extraordinary outlooks.
We spent 2 full days in Yosemite (3 nights), and this was an ideal length of time to do some of the easier hikes, and take in many of the most amazing lookouts. I would not recommend visiting Yosemite in the height of summer (early July through until mid-August), as this requires a reservation every day of the week, instead of just at weekends like the rest of the season. We visited in mid-October, during the week, therefore did not need a reservation.
Don’t miss these extraordinary views and hikes during your 3 days in Yosemite:
- Mariposa Grove
- Tunnel View
- Bridalveil Falls
- Lower Yosemite Falls
- El Capitan (try to spot the mad climbers!)
- Yosemite Valley View Lookout
- Glacier Point Road (including Washburn Point, and Glacier Point – for the best views of Half Dome)
- Tuolumne Meadows
- Tioga Pass (if it’s open)
The parking gets very busy, so I would recommend choosing a carpark serviced by the shuttles and just use those to get to most of the sites or trailheads. You’ll need to drive up Glacier Point. Remember to bring water, as the viewpoints can be exposed despite the forest surroundings.
While you’re in the area, enjoy the historic town of Mariposa, and the Sugar Pine Railroad near Oakhurst.
Lodging options near Yosemite
You can either choose NPS lodging within the park (camping or park hotels), or choose one of surrounding townships outside the park (we found this option more affordable). The most convenient spot outside the park is El Portal, the Cedar Lodge or Yosemite View Lodge are close to the entrance, but can get expensive, so book in advance.
We stayed in Oakhurst, because it also allowed easy access to the Sugar Pine Railway. The Holiday Inn Express and Oakhurst Inn are decent mid-range motel options there.
A Visit to Death Valley
The most other-worldly place to visit on your California road trip, Death Valley should not be missed! While I recommend 1-2 days in Death Valley, you can do the highlights on a through-trip to Las Vegas, or if you head south through Barstow towards Joshua Tree and the Coachella Valley.
We stayed 2 nights so that we could go via LA on the way to Joshua Tree (to drop my brother off after our Yosemite adventure). These 2 nights allowed us one really long day exploring as much of Death Valley as we could manage in that time.
Whether you only drive through it or whether you devote a day or two there, don’t miss it off your California itinerary. The salt flats will dazzle you, the long straight roads will amaze you, and the fiery red rocks will beguile you.
Death Valley Accommodation
If you are doing a through trip to Las Vegas at this point, then staying anywhere in the park (The Ranch At Death Valley), or just outside in Beatty (Death Valley Inn) are easy options. We were continuing south to LA and Joshua Tree, so we stayed in Lone Pine. The Quality Inn Lone Pine was convenient for a brief stay.
Cholla Views in Joshua Tree
Your next stop is Joshua Tree, home to another famous national park (I know, 3 in a row, how lucky are you?). Compared to Death Valley, Joshua Tree feels small and like a different country, but they both include some of the Mojave Desert, so they are more similar than you’d think.
Spend two nights in Joshua Tree, which gives you a full day in the park, plus some star-gazing and sunrise opportunities. The Barker Dam hike is an easy loop through rock formations and thickets of joshua trees. As I walked past these trees, I had Dr. Seuss’s ‘Truffula trees‘ in my imagination!
Don’t miss a visit to the Cholla Cactus garden, sunrise or sunset over the rock formations, and a visit to nearby music venue Pappy + Harriet’s.
Stay in Joshua Tree (Joshua Tree Ranch House Motel) itself, for the easiest access to the park and amenities.
2 Days in Los Angeles
Los Angeles is known for Hollywood glamour, but also for being a little rough around the edges. The sheer scale of the place can be intimidating. If you plan out your must-see activities and allow plenty of time for traffic and parking, you can achieve a lot in two days in the city.
My top picks for things to do in the city:
- Hollywood Walk of Fame
- Hollywood Sign
- Griffith Observatory
- Beverly Hills Hotel
- The Getty Center
- Santa Monica Pier
- Formosa Cafe
- La Brea Tar Pits
- Visit a movie studio
Read my 1 day in LA post for some great ideas to kick off your visit!
Hollywood or Santa Monica Hotels
Try the Best Western Hollywood Plaza Inn Hotel or Le Parc at Melrose downtown. Or alternatively, choose to chill down in Santa Monica instead (we love the Fairmont Miramar).
3 days along California’s Highway 1
Spend your last few days of your two-week trip meandering back north along the Pacific Coast Highway. We have done this trip a few times by road, as well as on the Coast Starlight train. I would definitely recommend road-tripping over the train, you get to stop wherever suits and don’t just whizz by the gorgeous vistas!
Highlights along the way:
- Mugu Rock
- Morro Bay
- Moonstone Beach
- Hearst Castle
- Elephant Seals at San Simeon
- Big Sur views
- Monterey wildlife
- Pescadero
Where to stay along California’s Highway 1
We love the cute little villages that may not be the big hitters of the PCH, but that offer laid back seaside vibes. Cayucos (Cayucos Beach Inn), Cambria (Moonstone Landing), and the Big Sur River Inn further north. You can’t miss Monterey (Monterey Bay Inn) either.
If you want to pick up the pace and squeeze in even more into your 2 weeks in California, add in a trip down to San Diego, over to Catalina Island, or a visit out to the Channel Islands National Park.
If you want to add another week to your itinerary, add in Napa and Lake Tahoe!
California FAQ
If you love road trips in the USA, learn how to plan one for yourself!
And here’s some road trip inspiration for you!
All photos & content © Hannah Henderson and may not be used without permission (sharing this blog post is fine, though!). Images shot with a Canon DSLR T3i Rebel + Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM; and an iPhone.
