Summer will be here before you know it – the long days of sun-filled warmth and possibility radiating from the soles of your sandals to the tip of your sun hat. The smell of sunscreen, and best of all, the sound of the key in the ignition and a car packed with the essentials for adventure.
It’s time to start planning that summer national park road trip! Goodbye to the same four walls we’ve been staring at for months. Goodbye to urgent deadlines, the growing pile of demands, and the stale routines that we promised ourselves months ago we would kick. Hello to a Yosemite road trip and to the freedom of the open road and national parks – America’s Best Idea.
Think about it.
California has nine — count ’em NINE — different national parks, more than any other state. That’s plenty to keep everyone busy for a whole host of summers. And that doesn’t even count 18 national monuments, over 270 state parks, the miles of coastal highway and more.
On a California national parks road trip, you can visit everything from one of the hottest dessert environments on earth at Death Valley National Park, to the island national park with world-class marine exploration at Channel Islands National Park. There are volcanic mountains (Lassen Volcanic National Park).
Photograph the distinctive trees and rock formations at Joshua Tree National Park. Wander through the cobblestone cliffs at Pinnacles National Park. Stand in awe below the most massive trees in the world in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and visit the tallest trees at Redwoods National Park.
And naturally, you can’t visit California’s National Park system without stopping in the crown jewel of them all, Yosemite National Park. The park is so beautiful that people travel from around the world to see the towering granite cliffs and waterfalls.
There is so much to do in California, you won’t be able to get to all of it in one trip unless you have much more time than most. And take our word for it, each of these destinations is so rich and so unique that they are worth slowing down for.
Leave time to follow your curiosity. Linger in the places that bring you the most joy. Soon find yourself making plans to return again next year to revisit your favorites, and become inspired by new spaces.
The key to an epic road trip is balancing the time in your vehicle on the road, and the time you spend actually exploring the national parks. Make sure you’re not so focused on your checklist that you miss out on discovering all there is to see in each destination.
The One Must-See National Park
If you had to pick just one national park to road trip to this summer, it would have to be Yosemite.
The renowned park ranger, Carl Sharsmith was once famously asked what he would do if he only had one day in the park. His answer: he would sit by the Merced River and cry. That’s because he spent a lifetime exploring and discovering every nook and cranny of this magical place as a Yosemite National Park Ranger. So, in case you were wondering if there is enough to do, the answer is yes.
There are spectacular historic and cultural locations. You could spend three days alone following in the footsteps of the famous naturalist John Muir on his first visit to Yosemite.
- Start that route in Gilroy, the Garlic Capital of the World.
- Cross Pacheco Pass.
- Take the back roads through welcoming small towns like Snelling, Coulterville, and Greeley Hill on your way into Yosemite filled with a wide array of lodging and dining options.
You can also break up your drive from the Bay Area with a stop at Lake McClure and Lake McSwain. These are beautiful places to camp, fish, and enjoy some of the area’s “˜off-the-beaten-path’ activities. Take a lap at Exchequer Mountain Bike Park ““ a 700-acre park with views of Lake McClure dedicated exclusively to mountain biking. Cool off at the Splash and Dash Aqua Park.
Yosemite is one of the most popular parks in California, and its popularity is growing. You’ll want to plan for your visit, so make sure you’re signed up for the Yosemite.com newsletter to get the best and most current information as well.
California National Park Road Trip Loops
Given its location in the center of the state, Yosemite is also an essential part of any California National Park loop trip. Making the scenic trip over Tioga Pass is the ideal, and most scenic way to cross the Sierra Nevada. If you have two weeks or more, and you’re looking for some longer loops, check out these itineraries. Just remember to take your time and linger in the places that are bringing you the most joy.
The Northern National Park Road Trip Itinerary
The northern national park road trip boasts three national parks, four if you are willing to go outside of California (we will forgive you). But wait, that’s not all! It also includes three National Monuments and a National Seashore.
If you start in San Francisco, you’ll find several outdoor parks nearby worth a visit. Take your time exploring parks like Fort Point with its unique history and vantage point overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. Gaze up into the towering tops of the old-growth coastal redwoods at Muir Woods National Monument. Wander Point Reyes National Seashore’s windswept beaches, and keep your eyes open for wildlife like tule elk or elephant seals.
Start your trip with a visit to the world-famous, Yosemite National Park. Breathe in the sweet pine-scented air and dangle your toes in playful mountain rivers. With the diverse natural landscapes in the region, you could easily spend 3-4 days (or a lifetime) exploring the trails, rock climbs, and other things to do. Don’t forget to get a taste of history and some “˜spirited’ refreshment in Mariposa on your way back to San Francisco.
From Yosemite, you’re ready to head north to Lassen National Park. Lassen is the southernmost volcano in the Cascade Range, and the park is filled with fascinating mud pots, fumaroles and hot springs.
At this point, you’ll be close to Crater Lake National Park in Oregon. We would forgive you a detour beyond the California boundary, or you could stick to California-based sights and visit two National Monuments on the way to Redwoods National Park. Lava Bed National Monument’s volcanic landscape includes more than 800 caves, Native American rock art sites, and historic battlefields. Tule Lake National Monument provides a sobering reminder of the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II.
After visiting the most massive trees in the world in one of the giant sequoia groves in Yosemite, you should visit Redwoods National Park, which boasts some of the tallest trees on Earth. Then take a leisurely trip down the Pacific Coast Highway back to San Francisco.
The Southern Coastal National Park Road Trip Loop
If the three (or four) national parks on the northern route were not enough to tempt you, then check out the southern national parks loop with a whopping SIX national parks, plus three iconic cities and a national monument.
Starting again in San Francisco, take your time driving to Yosemite National Park. This gives you more time to enjoy gold country along the way. Try your luck panning for gold or cast a fishing line in a clear lake or mountain stream.
If you have time, there is plenty to do here for a week or more if you have the time. Yosemite is the kind of destination that people return to year after year because there is so much to see and do.
From there head south to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Take your time to get one of the best views in the Sierra Nevada from Moro Rock, then visit the famous sequoias and contemplate the most massive trees in the world, like the General Sherman. Each grove has it’s own unique character.
Discover how these compare with the Tuolumne, Merced and Mariposa sequoia groves in Yosemite National Park. Don’t forget to also stop to wonder at the striking cave formations at Crystal Cave or watch the sunset at Moro Rock.
Once you’ve filled your mind with the ancient giants, head south to Joshua Tree National Park and marvel at the photogenic trees and scramble the natural rock formations. Many diverse hikes and viewpoints await your exploration.
From Joshua Tree National Park, drop south to explore San Diego and learn about 16th century exploration and go tide pooling at Cabrillo National Monument.
Follow the Southern California Coast to Ventura and Channel Islands National Park. Hopefully you’ve made a reservation to visit the national park for the day, or spend the night on the island. Just getting to the islands is a scenic journey on its own, and filled with opportunities for wildlife viewing.
More coastal exploration awaits you on the way to Pinnacles National Park to relish the quiet hiking there before returning to your starting point.
This one is for mountain lovers! But how do you top the six national parks in the southern coastal loop? Easy, with seven national parks in the southern mountain loop.
Start this loop the same way you started the Coastal loop from San Francisco, through Mariposa County into Yosemite National Park.
This time, instead of turning South, drive across the Sierra through Yosemite’s gorgeous high country. Olmsted Point, Tenaya Lake, and Tuolumne Meadows provide scenic stops and spectacular hiking options that are worth at least a day or two if you can manage it.
Emerge from Yosemite at Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve to see the delicate calcium-carbonate towers and abundant bird-life.
From here, the drive down Highway 395 parallels the scenic serrated edge of the Sierra Nevada. If you manage to get a highly-prized permit to hike Mount Whitney, you can go from the highest point in the contiguous US to the lowest point in Death Valley National Park.
From Death Valley, continue South to visit the unique trees and rock formations at Joshua Tree National Park. Then continue west to Ventura Harbor and Channel Island National Park.
This time, instead of following the coast, head inland past César E. Chávez National Monument toward the giant sequoia groves of Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park.
From there, drive west to visit Pinnacles National Park before finishing your loop.
The Complete California National Park Road Trip Itinerary
If you have a lot of time, love the open road and can’t bear to choose between these amazing options, by all means, visit them all. Simply combine the northern road trip with the southern mountain loop. You’ll be in for an epic California National Park road trip itinerary that hits all the bases.