The United States is pretty much the perfect country to road trip in, with great roads, cheap gas and hundreds of gorgeous destinations to choose from. It’s no wonder that a California road trip is on many visitors to-do lists!
Weโve taken a number of fantastic US road trips, including Route 66, the Pacific Coast Highway, the Oregon Trail and a route through the Deep South, and have never failed to have an amazing time.
One of our favourite states to explore though has to be California. With a mix of an excellent climate, some of the best National Parks in the country, and world-famous cities to explore, youโre never going to run short of things to do in California.
With this in mind, I wanted to put together a classic two week California road trip itinerary, taking in some of the best that the sunshine state has to offer. I did a trip almost exactly the same as this a few years back, so I know that itโs a good one.
Two weeks is also a good amount of time for a trip like this, although you could of course extend it by a few days if you wanted to see a bit more, or wanted to go a bit slower.
Table of Contents
California Road Trip Itinerary
This California road trip itinerary has you starting and finishing in San Francisco. As it’s a loop, you could also start and finish at any other point. If you would prefer another starting location, LA would be the most logical.
The route runs anti-clockwise, but you are welcome to drive it in whichever direction you prefer!
San Francisco โ 3 Days
Weโre going to start our California road trip with three days in San Francisco. San Francisco is home to the second largest airport in California, so there are plenty of opportunities for getting here for both domestic and international travellers.
San Francisco, and the surrounding San Francisco Bay Area is also an excellent city to base yourself for your first three days.
If youโre arriving internationally, youโre going to want a few days to adjust to the time zone difference before hopping into a car. For this reason, Iโm going to recommend spending three nights in San Francisco, and picking up your hire car as you leave. You wonโt want (or need!) a car while youโre in the city – parking is expensive and there are plenty of other options to get around.
You wonโt be short on things to do in San Francisco, and in fact, might feel a little overwhelmed by all the choices!
Our suggestions would be to take in the Golden Gate bridge (hire a bike to get here easily), explore Chinatown, pop across to Alcatraz, revel in the tourist trap that is Fishermanโs Wharf, donโt miss golden gate park, head to the top of Nob Hill for cocktails at The Mark, hop on a cable car and, if you still have time, take a stroll at Lands End.
To get yourself oriented, we can also recommend taking a walking tour with the excellent SFNative folks, they know the city backwards. Finally, if youโre looking for some great photo opportunities, check out our guide to the best photography locations in San Francisco.
Accommodation wise, there are plenty of options in San Francisco. Here are some of our favourite picks for your stay, across a range of budgets.
- HI San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf Hotel – found right on Fisherman’s Wharf, this budget hostel offers both dormitory and private accommodation options. There’s free breakfast and free parking, making this an excellent option for the location.
- Marines’ Memorial Club & Hotel – found in the popular Union Square district, this great value 3-star hotel has a rooftop restaurant, library, and on-site theatre. Rooms have private bathrooms and coffee makers, and breakfast is included. A paid parking garage is available nearby.
- Parker Guest House – found in the old Mission district just behind the San Francisco mission building, this is a well reviewed and good value guesthouse offering private rooms. Free breakfast is available, and parking is available on site for a reasonable (by San Francisco standards) fee.
- Columbus Inn – Just a few hundred yards from Lombardy Street and Fisherman’s Wharf in the North Beach district, this 3* inn offers great value for the location. Private rooms offer en-suite and tea/coffee making facilities. There’s also free parking on site.
- Golden Gate Hotel – a very well reviewed 3* hotel just minutes from Union Square. Continental breakfast and afternoon tea are included. Rooms are definitely on the cosy side, and some have shared bathrooms, but the price is great for the location. Paid parking available nearby.
- Staypineapple Union Square – we stayed at this restored historic 4* 1913 hotel on a recent trip to San Francisco, and loved the mix of the old and the new. We loved the rooms, the colorful pineapple theme, and the free pineapple flavoured cupcakes certainly helped! Parking is available nearby for a fee.
- Four Seasons Hotel – if you are after five star luxury, then consider the Four Seasons hotel. Also found in Union Square, rooms are huge, there’s an on-site restaurant, fitness centre, and many rooms have city views.
See more options for hotels in San Francisco here, as well vacation rentals on Plum Guide here and Vrbo here.
Pacific Coast Highway โ 2 Days
The drive down the section of the Pacific Coast Highway from San Francisco to Los Angeles is definitely one of the best road trips in the world. So itโs really a no-brainer that this would be your first destination after you pick up your hire car and head out of the city.
There are numerous highlights along the way, from cute seaside towns to gorgeous wilderness areas. Donโt miss Santa Cruz, Monterey, Big Sur and the Julia Pfeffer Burns State Park (camp here if you can!).
The latter is particularly famous for the waterfall that cascades onto the beach, a gorgeous photo opportunity.
From Big Sur head further south and take in highlights like the seals at Cambria, tasty food at San Luis Obispo, the gorgeous Pismo beach, Hearst Castle and more.
For loads more information on this stretch of highway and to help you plan the perfect coastal road trip, check out our super detailed guide to planning a Pacific Coast Highway road trip.
For the 2 days you’ll spend on this part of your California road trip, we recommend stopping overnight around Monterey or Carmel on your first night, and San Luis Obispo, Morro Bay or Cambria on your second night.
There are plenty of accommodation options all the way down this stretch of highway, from campsites and B&Bโs to luxury hotels โ it all depends on your budget and what youโre aiming for. Here are a few options to consider in our recommended towns along the way.
For your first night, we recommend one of the following:
- If you like to camp, then there are camping options in the national parks along the route here, including the Pfeiffer Big Sur Campground. I’ve camped here and it’s lovely to be surrounded by the massive redwoods. Just be aware that it is popular, and booking in advance is a must.
- Sandpiper Inn, Carmel – we stayed here when we visited Carmel. We enjoyed the comfortable rooms, inclusive breakfast, and proximity to the beach. Free parking is available.
- Coachman’s Inn, Carmel – we’ve stayed at a number of the boutique hotels which are in the Four Sisters Inn collection, and they’ve all been excellent. This inn, found in the heart of Carmel Village, gets good reviews. Rooms include coffee makers and free popcorn, wine with hors d’oeuvres is served in the evenings, and breakfast is included.
- The Inn at 1252, Monterey – a good value inn on the way into Monterey. Rooms feature coffee makers, and a heated pool is available year round. There’s also a fitness room, free parking and free coffee.
- The Jabberwock B&B, Monterey – just a few blocks from Cannery Row, this very well reviewed B&B offers seven lovely guest rooms, some of which have fireplaces and hot tubs. Free parking, and breakfast is included.
For your second night, we recommend one of the following:
- Apple Farm Inn, San Luis Obispo – we really enjoyed our stay here on one of our Pacific Coast Highway road trips. The rooms are spacious and comfortable, the breakfast was fantastic, and the on-site bakery has some delicious food. There are also two pools on site, and free parking.
- Madonna Inn, San Luis Obispo – this four star family-owned motel just to the south of SLO is a truly quirky destination, and a landmark of the central coast. Each of the 110 rooms is uniquely decorated, with pink being a key theme throughout. We didn’t stay here, but we did have dinner at the Gold Rush steak house on-site, which was fantastic.
- Seaside Inn, Morro Bay – this 2* budget inn is one block from the waterfront. Rooms have a microwave and refrigerator, and there’s free on site parking and coffee.
- Beach Bungalow Inn and Suites, Morro Bay – five minutes walk from the aquarium, this three star inn is very well reviewed. Comfortable rooms have fireplaces, refrigerators and coffee machines, and a hot breakfast is included as is parking.
- Cambria Palms Motel, Cambria – this 2* motel is a couple of blocks from downtown, and offers comfortable rooms at a good price. Rooms have refrigerator and coffee machine, and free parking is available on site.
- El Colibri Hotel & Spa, Cambria – on one of our visits to Cambria we stayed here for a couple of nights and really enjoyed it. The rooms are lovely, with fireplaces, and some have spa tubs. There’s an on-site spa, outdoor hot tub, and breakfast is available. Free parking on-site.
- J Patrick House B&B, Cambria – this five star Irish themed inn was Cambria’s first B&B. There’s a a free wine hour, evening cookies and a full breakfast included with your stay. Each room is individually designed, and there’s free parking on site. A great pick in Cambria.
Santa Monica, LA โ 2 Days
Los Angeles can be a big, confusing place, particularly after your trip down the Pacific Coast Highway. Thatโs why I suggest you head to Santa Monica and make that your LA base.
On the coast, and technically a separate city (itโs kind of hard to tell as LA and its surrounds are part of a fairly vast urban sprawl), youโll have access to the wonderful beach and pier, as well as nearby Venice, most famous for its beach and people watching opportunities.
Again, thereโs no shortage of things to do in LA. If youโre interested in film, you can visit the Hollywood sign, walk the Hollywood walk of fame or go on a tour of the backlot at Universal Studios.
Art lovers will find their thrills at the Getty Center, which also offers gorgeous panoramic views of the surrounding city. Other highlights include Sunset Boulevard, and of course, you can hop on one of those tours of the stars homes if youโre so inclined.
LA also has plentiful accommodation options to suit all budget. Here are some of our recommended options:
- Santa Monica Motel – we enjoyed our stay at this basic 2* motel, which is around a 10 minute walk from Santa Monica Pier. There’s free morning coffee and free parking, and rooms come with coffee makers and in-room refrigerators. It’s definitely a value option.
- Banana Bungalow – this hostel offers shared and private accommodation, around a mile from the downtown Hollywood area. There’s free parking on-site, and reviews are positive.
- Magic Castle Hotel – this 3* hotel is a short walk from the Hollywood walk of fame, and you get a pool, unlimited free snacks, free continental breakfast and reasonably priced parking. It’s also a short walk to the Hollywood Bowl, and only three miles from Universal Studios. We really enjoyed staying here.
- Villa Delle Stelle – this boutique hotel in central Hollywood gets excellent reviews and will make you feel like a celebrity. Each suite is designed after a specific old Hollywood Celebrity, and guests can avail of celebrity style services such as in-room massages, private chefs and a personal trainer. Free parking is also included.
- The Georgian Hotel – this beautiful 1933 4* Art Deco hotel is a short walk from Santa Monica pier, and offers ocean views and on-site dining. Breakfast is available, and parking is available on-site for a fee.
See more LA listings here for inspiration, as well as LA listings on Vrbo here. For a more curated apartment rental option, check out Plum Guide. You can see their LA listings here.
If youโre not excited about Los Angeles, you could also choose to skip it and head down the coast to San Diego County and the city of San Diego itself. This is a more laid back (and easily navigable!) experience compared to LA, and there’s a great deal to do here as well.
For more reading on San Diego, check out this guide to things to do in San Diego we put together.
Joshua Tree National Park โ 1 Day
Time to head out of the city, and the remainder of this itinerary is going to focus on exploring some of Californiaโs unbelievable wilderness areas and National Parks. Weโre going to start this off with a trip to the Joshua Tree National Park, home to those iconic shaped trees that the park is named for.
Itโs a wonderful place, the meeting point of two deserts, and offers good opportunities for camping, hiking and star-gazing.
The best way to experience the park is to camp overnight in one of its many campgrounds (you should definitely reserve a spot well in advance if this is your plan), otherwise, there are various lodging opportunities outside the park if youโre not big into camping. You should also be aware that there is very limited water availability in the park (and no hookups for RVโs), so make sure you bring plenty of water and food โ this is a remote desert environment after all!
Here are some suggested accommodation options in nearby Twentynine Palms.
- 9 Palms Inn – this budget 2* property gets good reviews, and rooms come with a coffee machine, microwave and refrigerator. There’s also free parking on site.
- El Rancho Dolores – this is a great value 3* property with a seasonal pool. Rooms have microwaves and refrigerator, and free parking is included.
- Sunnyvale Garden Suites – a very well rated 2* hotel offering a range of suites, each of which comes with a BBQ as well as a full kitchen. There’s a hot tub and gym on site, and free parking is available.
- Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites – this 3* chain hotel offers comfortable and well reviewed accommodation, with an outdoor heated pool and fitness centre. Rooms have coffee making facilities, microwave and small fridge, and there are BBQ facilities available for guest use.
- Flying Point Homestead – if you want something a little bit different, check out this property. It’s actually a holiday home rather than a hotel, but one of the options is a beautiful silver streak trailer!
See more listings for Twentynine Palms and this general region on Plum Guide here.
Note, if you want to include a detour to Las Vegas, this would be the moment to do just that. We’d suggest adding a couple of days to your trip if you want to experience the city and its surrounds as there’s a lot to see and do here. Then you can rejoin the trip at the next stop.
For more on that sort of trip, check out our two week USA road trip itinerary, which include Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon.
Death Valley National Park โ 1 Day
Moving on from one desert environment to another desert environment โ and the largest national park in the contiguous United States. Death Valley (the name was given by gold rush travellers who nearly perished here) is the hottest and driest place in North America, and has recorded the hottest ambient air temperature in the world.
So, overall, a hot place.
Other than making you want to crank up the AC then, what does Death Valley offer? Well, thereโs that sense of remoteness. The vast, unforgiving wilderness. The knowledge that youโd probably die fairly quickly if you happen to wander off and get lost (donโt wander off and get lost folks).
Truth be told, thereโs plenty to do here. You can visit Badwater Basin, the lowest point in the entire North America, which actually sits 86 metres below sea level. Then there are sand dunes, salt flats, craters, colourful canyons and hiking opportunities galore.
Just be aware that this is a seriously inhospitable, and, in the summer months, unbearably hot, destination, so plan and pack accordingly. If youโre looking for more ideas on spending a day in Death Valley, check out this excellent post.
Mammoth Lakes โ 1 Day
From Death Valley weโre going to head further north, up to Mammoth Lakes. This drive is quite incredible, along the Sierra Nevada mountains, and the scenery (and temperatures) will change dramatically as you ascend into this gorgeous part of the world.
Mammoth Lakes are an adventure lovers playground. You can go hiking, camping, cycling, rock climbing, horseback riding, fishing โ the list goes on! Thereโs also a ghost town, craft beer companies, shopping opportunities โ basically, pretty much everything you could imagine.
Whilst youโre here, you should also take the opportunity to visit Lake Mono. Now a state nature reserve, Lake Mono is a million year old lake notable for the โtufaโ towers, calcium carbonate structures that stand above the lake like strange modern art installations. Definitely worth a visit, and particularly photogenic at sunrise and sunset.
Yosemite National Park โ 3 Days
Finally on our awesome California road trip, Iโm going to suggest you spend three days exploring Yosemite National Park before heading back to San Francisco to return your hire vehicle and head home.
Yosemite is without doubt one of my favourite places in the entire United States. Itโs a wonder of nature, a photographerโs paradise, and somewhere I dare anyone to visit without falling instantly in love.
Thereโs a lot to see and do here, which is why Iโm going to suggest taking three days to get the most out of your visit. This will let you see all the highlights, as well as go for some longer hikes (or drives), and not feel too rushed.
Iโve got a full guide to the best photography locations in Yosemite, but in brief, donโt miss Yosemite Falls, the hike up to Nevada and Vernal Falls, the drive (or hike) to Glacier Point, Tunnel View, Valley View and Bridalveil Falls.
If you love longer, more challenging day hikes, then Half Dome is a seriously challenging walk (permit required), as is the walk up to the top of Yosemite Falls.
There are a range of accommodation options in Yosemite National Park, ranging from campsites to canvas-sided tent cabins, through to luxury hotels.
There are 13 campsites available in the park, with a number of these available for reservation, and the rest operated on a first come first serve basis. If you want to camp, we highly recommend booking well in advance, which you can do here.
There are also nine lodging options operated by Yosemite Hospitality inside the park, which are the only other accommodation options available in the park itself. These can be reserved up to a year in advance, and range from simple canvas cabins through to a high-end luxury hotel. These can all be reserved online in advance here.
Important – As of 2022, Yosemite has introduced a reservation system for park entry. If you are visiting between late May and the end of September and planning on driving into or through the park between 6am and 4pm you will need to have a reservation. You can find out more and make your reservations online here.
California Road Trip Map
We’ve put together a map of our suggested California road trip itinerary, which you can see below, and also on Google Maps here. Note that depending on the time of year, access to Yosemite can be restricted due to snow, so you have to take the longer way round.
In addition, parts of the Pacific Coast Highway are often closed due to damage caused by landslides. As such, the map should be seen as an overview rather than a definitive route. You’ll want to plan your own California road trip route that matches any current road conditions and closures.
You can check the status of the coast route (state highway 1), as well as all the other roads in the state, on the Caltrans website here.
California Road Trip Itinerary Overview
- Days 1 – 3: San Francisco
- Days 4 – 5: Pacific Coast Highway
- Days 6 & 7: Los Angeles
- Day 8: Joshua Tree
- Day 9: Death Valley
- Day 10: Mammoth Lakes
- Days 11 – 13: Yosemite National Park
- Day 14: Return to San Francisco
When to Take a California Road Trip
California is a fairly good year round destination, but there are a few things to be aware of when planning your trip. In the Winter months, places like Yosemite can become accessible particularly from the east side, due to snow, as you can see in the map above.
The main road in to Yosemite is the Tioga Road, and this is usually closed from November through to May or even June. In addition, parts of the park, including Glacier Point road, are often closed for a similar timeframe.
If this happens to you, youโll have to take a serious detour to get in based on this itinerary. A better option might be to embrace the snow, and head up to Lake Tahoe for some fantastic skiing opportunities. Or, you can head east, out to Nevada and the pleasure city of Las Vegas.
In summertime, the heat can be quite intense, in particular in places like Death Valley, where in the summer months temperatures can exceed 100F, and itโs not recommended to spend much time outside.
Where to Stay in California
California has a serious range of accommodation options to meet pretty much every budget, although larger cities and busier months do tend to increase the prices. We’d always recommend booking in advance for your trip if possible – in particular for national park campsites and hotels, and to get the best deals on city centre hotels.
For two people travelling together, youโre looking at a budget range of $60 โ $150 per night for comfortable private en-suite accommodation, although you can obviously spend far more than that!
Our preferred option for hotel booking is booking.com, as they usually have the best prices, regularly run deals, and many properties offer good last minute cancellation policies. See their listings for California, San Francisco and Los Angeles to get you started.
We also use and recommend Plum Guide and Vrbo for vacation rentals.
For more ideas, take a look at our travel resources page for helpful hints and tips on getting the best deal on accommodation when you travel.
How to Get Around California
This is a road trip, so obviously youโre going to want a hire a car! We nearly always hire cars for our US road trips through Enterprise. We generally find they have the most competitive prices and widest choice of locations, plus if you’re thinking of a one way trip they have reasonable fees for doing that.
If you’d prefer to compare prices across a range of providers, then we recommend Rentalcars.com.
Drivers with foreign licenses are allowed to drive, if your license is in a language other than English then you would be best with either an international drivers license, or a certified translation.
Another option of course is to hire a camper van or RV, which will let you stay in campgrounds and other, more out of the way areas. This can be a fun way to travel in a more self sufficient style. If this sounds like you, we recommend comparing RV rental prices at Motorhome Republic. They list all RVs from many of the major suppliers to help you find the right one for you. See their USA listings here.
We can also recommend checking out RVShare, who offer peer to peer campervan rental – a bit like the AirBnB of RV rental! Similar options include Outdoorsy and RVEzy.
If this is your first time in the USA, or you just want a reminder of what it’s like to drive in the USA, check out our guide to driving in the USA for lots of tips!
Practicalities for a California Road trip
Travelling in the USA is relatively easy, but we wanted to share a few things to help make planning your California road trip a little easier.
Electricity
The USA uses a 110v electrical system, with plugs that are either two pin or three pin. The holes are flat, and sometimes the two pin plug holes will be different sizes, so the plug will only go in one way.
If you’re coming from much of the rest of the world, including Europe, the UK or Asia, you will definitely need a travel adaptor like this. You will also need to check that your equipment supports the 110v supply, as much of the rest of the world uses a 220v supply.
In our experience, most electronics like laptops and phone chargers accept a universal voltage, whilst higher power devices like hairdryers do not. Always check the device itself, the voltage rating should be on your plug or adaptor somewhere.
Internet Access
Internet access is widely available across the USA in the form of WiFi, which can be found for free at most hotels, cafes, bars and restaurants. There are also a number of free WiFi hotspots in some of the cities on our list.
If your phone is unlocked you can pick up a pay as you go SIM in the USA. One of the better options is from Straight Talk, which you can buy in Walmart stores.
For more options on getting online when travelling, check out our guide to getting online when travelling to help you figure out the best options.
Currency
The USA uses the US dollar, and there are ATM’s available throughout. In our experience though, you can pay for nearly everything with a credit card, so you will rarely need cash. Whilst it is worth having a few bills on you, for the most part you won’t need them.
Instead, just make sure you have a credit or debit card that doesn’t charge you any foreign transaction fees and uses a fair price for currency conversions, and you should be good to go.
Water
Water across the USA is safe to drink, unless otherwise indicated. There are drinking fountains in the majority of public locations, and we recommend you travel with a re-usable water bottle so you can just fill it up as you go.
One thing we always love about travelling in the USA is how drinking water is always brought to your table at a restaurant – something we wish was standard around the world!
Safety
For the most part, the USA is a safe destination to travel in, and we have never had any problems. Of course, every country has crime, and areas where you would be wiser to avoid, however if you practice basic safety precautions, keep your valuables out of sight and behave as you would at home, you should be fine!
Further Reading and Resources for a California Road Trip
California is a very popular destination, so thereโs no shortage of research material to help you plan your trip! Here are some of my favourite resources:
- We have a guide to things to do in San Diego
- I’ve written a guide featuring some of my top tips for driving in the USA to help get you going on the road!
- Wondering how much a California road trip will cost? Check out our guide to how much it costs to travel in the USA to help you plan your trip budget.
- Jess has a guide to driving the Pacific Coast Highway, which will give you lots of ideas for that section of the road
- If you’re interested in California’s wine country, see our guide to visiting Napa Valley
- Route 66 ends in California, so take a look at our guide to planning a route 66 trip, as well as our detailed 2 week Route 66 itinerary and 1 week Route 66 itinerary
- Fodorโs Guide to California, which also includes details on a number of fantastic road trips
- The Lonely Planet California Guide, which is great for finding things to do, places to eat and places to stay
- A US road atlas, because sometimes you donโt want to rely on GPS!
- If youโre planning on hiring an RV or camping, this guide to free and super cheap campgrounds will quickly pay for itself
- The official Visit California page, which will give you more advice on what to see and when to visit
- For more in California, see this awesome guide to places to visit in California, from fellow bloggers at yTravelBlog
- My guide to things to do in Redding California, if you decide to head to northern California
- Getting online when travelling in a foreign country can be daunting – check out our guide to getting online when travelling to help you figure out the best options for your trip
- And if you’re looking for inspiration for the rest of the USA, check out our USA section, which includes a Deep south itinerary, tips for New Orleans during Mardi Gras – and lots more!
And that sums up my perfect two week California road trip itinerary! If youโve got any comments, suggestions or additions, do pop them in the comments below. Plus, if you liked this post, do check out the rest of my itinerary series, which will help you plan the perfect trips all around the world!
William D Villont says
My wife and I took a California trip similar to this one except we went south to San Diego as our final destination. I really enjoyed the trip and can fully understand why you highlight this trip as one someone should surely take. We agree. My only disappointment of the trip is that, at the time, I was doing videography and that is all I took on the trip, my video camera. Now that I have gotten back into photography I wish I had taken my camera as well. We rarely get out the old video (VHS tape) and watch and I have not taken the time to transfer the VHS to DVD yet. I just gave it away, that this trip was sometime ago because I was shooting VHS. Anyway I would love to take this trip again and if this Covid thing ever goes away, maybe I will. Thanks for sharing this trip.
Laurence Norah says
Hi William,
I’m glad to bring back positive memories of your California trip! Interesting to hear you mostly took video. I have a similar reverse quandry when I travel, I usually only find myself able to concentrate on one medium of story telling as we go, so I focus on photos. But I often think it might be nice to have more videos. I hope you get to watch your video soon and also to take the trip again one day!
Have a lovely and safe 2022,
Laurence
Delaney Blute says
Hi! Thank you so much for the wonderful travel recommendations. Iโm planning on taking this trip with my mother and sister, possibly leaving next late summer. Do you have a ball park recommendation for price for the entire trip for 3 people? We plan on budgeting it, but just wanted to know if you had any estimate of what this trip would cost for 3 people. Thanks so much!
Laurence Norah says
Hi Delaney,
This is a great question. So it’s really hard to give a price estimate because everyone has a different travel style, and it will depend on what type of accommodation you are thinking of booking, whether you are happy to share a room for the three of you vs have individual rooms, whether you are ok with budget dining vs more expensive options and so on. I’m also not sure if you’re from the US or not, so car rental if you need to rent a car would also be a cost to consider.
I do have a guide which has a ballpark idea of costs for travel in the UK, which you can see here: https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-travel-in-usa/
That should give you an idea of how much each element of the trip should cost you, to help you come up with a rough figure. The main costs are going to be your accommodation, gas / car rental / car parking in cities, food, and any attraction entry.
I hope this helps! Let me know if I can provide any further input, and have a great trip ๐
Laurence
Chantelle says
Hello,
We have a trip booked for just short of a month in September! Your blog was really helpful, thank you!
I was wondering if you had some advice on Car vrs Camper. Is it easy to find places to stay in a camper or would you recommend a car and motels. We are happy either way just want our trip to be as stress free as possible!
Laurence Norah says
Hi Chantelle!
So we have done both, and honestly, we prefer motels / B&Bs to campsites.
In the USA, campsites are a bit different to the UK in my experience. They tend to have more formal “sites” for each visitor, which means they can’t just squeeze another person in. When they are full they’re full. For National Parks especially, this means that they can book out and then you can be stuck trying to find somewhere to stay. You can of course book them in advance, so that’s an option. The other good news is that if you have a campervan all is not lost as there are places you can camp for free. However these tend not to be totally exciting, Walmart carparks for example let folks stay overnight, but this might not be the dream option.
The other thing is that if you do the math, you will find that the cost of renting a campervan + the cost of paying campsite fees will probably be a lot more than the cost of a cheap car and economy lodging. Plus if you plan on visiting a few of the cities in this itinerary a camper will be more effort than it’s worth. You didn’t mention budget so this might not be a huge factor, but I just wanted to highlight it.
I think you can see where my preference lies for this itinerary. Obviously if you love camping and want to spend more time out in the backcountry and national parks, it’s a great option. But you might find that buying a cheap tent and a couple of sleeping bags for a few nights is a better option than renting a camper ๐
Have a great trip – let me know how it goes and what you decide to do! We have a facebook group you’re welcome to share your experiences in here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/travelloversandphotography/
Laurence
chantelle sims says
This has been so incredibly helpful thankyou!!
Laurence Norah says
My pleasure Chantelle – have a great trip!
Sharon says
Great inspiration and ideas, thanks
Laurence Norah says
Our pleasure Sharon, thanks for stopping by and commenting!
Thiago says
Just want to thank you for these super detailed guides, guys;
Laurence Norah says
Our pleasure Thiago, if you have any questions we’re happy to help ๐ Safe travels!
Laurence
Kathy Reed says
Hi – this was an amazing find! Loved all of your recommendations. Do you have any recommendations for anything just a little further north into the Redwoods. Perhaps starting in Santa Monica and going north? Though i do love the loop feature of this itinerary. Makes it so hard to decide.
Thanks!
Laurence Norah says
Hi Kathy,
We have travelled north of this itinerary as well, with our highlights including Napa Valley, Point Reyes National Park and Redding, however we’ve not put together a detailed itinerary for this sort of trip as we’ve not covered the area in enough detail. If redwoods are what you are after particularly, then on this itinerary you can see them near Santa Cruz, if you did want to follow it.
Let me know if I can offer any more advice for your trip!
Best
Laurence
Barry says
Hi
Great site for info ?
Just would like to know what time of year would you recommend doing this road trip ive just read on here ,weโre coming from the UK so any info will help us plan
Many thanks
Barry
Laurence Norah says
Hi Barry!
It can definitely be done at any time of year, but I might avoid the depths of winter as snow can make the roads into Yosemite a challenge, plus it will be quite cold. So if you are looking for more of a summery California road trip, I might suggest May through September. We just toured California in August, and it was definitely very hot inland, as well as being busy so perhaps May/June or September would be the best time for a good combination of weather and fewer people ๐
Have a great trip!
Laurence
Debbie says
Hi
We are planning this trip in April 2020! We will skip LA (Not interested) & Yosemite (Weโve already been) & we will only spend 1 day in San Francisco (weโve already been) my question is do you think we can do the rest in 7 days?? We definitely want to do the scenic drive from San Francisco to San Diego & back to San Fran an thank you for all the wonderful information!!
Laurence Norah says
Hey Debbie!
Awesome ๐ So you can do the Pacific Coast Highway from SF to San Diego in a couple of days if you don’t mind going at a bit of a pace. I’d probably slow it down to 3 days though. I’m not sure if you still plan on seeing Joshua Tree and Death Valley – if you plan on going up and down the Pacific Coast Highway both ways, then you’re actually going to end up driving much more than this itinerary if you do visit Death Valley, as you’ll do about 2/3rds of the route and then turn around.
I’m not sure if you wanted to go to Las Vegas instead, but what you could do instead of going all the way back is finish in Vegas. I have noticed that many car hire firms don’t charge one way fees for trips between SF and Las Vegas, and flights out of Las Vegas are also very inexpensive. Even if you don’t want to do the whole Las Vegas thing, there are some lovely outdoor attractions in the area including the Hoover Dam and the spectacular valley of fire state park.
Anyway, just a thought. To answer your question – yes, you could do the rest in 7 days but I fear it might be a bit rushed,
Have a great trip!
Laurence
Josh says
Hey,
How many miles is this trip in total?
thanks!
Laurence Norah says
Hey Josh!
Around 1400 miles, but you’ll want to add on detours, side trips etc. So I’d say 1500 – 2000 to be on the safe side ๐
Laurence
Mallikarjun says
Hello,
Nice blog!
Can you please let me know the “Public Transport” options, it may be Bus, Metro or any other services in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego. I am planning for a trip in end of Jan 2020 for about 6 to 7 days to cover these cities.
Or is there any travel packages you suggest for these cities. Please let me know.
Thanks,
Malli
Laurence Norah says
Hi Malli,
My pleasure, and apologies for the slow response, I’ve had some site issues I’ve been working on.
For your question, are you looking for public transport between the cities, or in the cities? If the former, then I’d generally recommend the long distance bus as the best way to get between the cities in California, although you will struggle to get to more remote locations this way.
For each city you mention, there are different options. San Francisco is the easiest to get around, as there’s a great bus system as well as bikes, e-bikes and scooters. LA is a bit trickier – there are both buses and a metro, but just be aware that the distances can be quite far as the city is very spread out. So the best option is to figure out what you want to see and make sure the accommodation you pick is as close to the sights as possible.
San Diego is also easy to get around for the most part, with buses, trolleys and trains.
I hope this helps ๐
Have a great trip!
Laurence
Samantha says
Hi! this sounds amazing and I am literally looking at booking this for June next year! From looking about the only area that I am a bit unsure of is Death Valley – where is best to stay around there and if only doing a day – what would be the best suggestion of something to do? I am also thinking that we will add 1 day on to do a Vegas stay since its so close!
Laurence Norah says
Hi Samantha,
So when we visited we stayed just outside the valley at Panamint Springs – specifically we stayed here.
A day is enough to see the highlights of Death Valley. You’ll want to visit Badwater Basin of course, the lowest point in North America. Other highlights including the Mesquite Sand dunes, Zabriskie Point, the Devil’s Golf Course, the Artists Drive and Palette and Mosaic Canyon.
We can definitely recommend tacking on a trip to Vegas as well. We’re actually thinking of publishing a new itinerary in the coming months which includes Vegas, as it’s a popular addition ๐
Have a great trip!
Laurence
Gisele leduc says
Would like to know w ymt is there a bus trip to 14 days in calif. Where does the bus leave from in the US. And approx how much is the cost
Laurence Norah says
Hi Gisele,
Sorry, could you clarify? Are you looking for a tour of California?
Thanks!
Laurence
Gisele leduc says
Looking for next year we live in Ottawa Canada and would like to take a 14 day bus tour especially san Francesco and pacific route. Are there bus tours leaving letโs say from Buffalo, New York we can easily drive to these destinations. I meant leaving from New York City and
Buffalo. What would be the cost and does it include meals. Thank u
Gisele Leduv says
Hi I would like to know if there are Any bus tours leaving from New York City or buffalo 14 day road trip to California especially the pacific coastland. What would be the cost for such a trip.
Laurence Norah says
Hey Gisele,
I have looked but most tours that depart from New York and go to California are much longer, because the distance is so great from the east coast to the west coast. If you want a tour that focuses more on California, it would definitely be easier to get one that departs from San Francisco or Las Vegas rather than New York – is that a possibility?
Laurence
vivianchoo says
Good articles and good photos, Helps a lot. Thank you!
Laurence Norah says
My pleasure – have a great trip!
Jason Parsons says
This is a super inspiring blog. Which area did you stay in Yosemite? We are planning to complete our road trip with 3 nights in Yosemite. We will have a car and plan on day trip walks within the park.using a hotel or lodge as our base.
Laurence Norah says
Hi Jason
Thanks very much! In Yosemite we’ve stayed in a few places. On the trip with the photos in this post, we stayed in Curry Village, which were canvas tents (https://www.nationalparkreservations.com/lodge/yosemite-curry-village/).
Jess has also stayed at the Wawona hotel, and the other lodge options are The Ahwahnee Hotel and the Yosemite Valley Lodge. I would definitely recommend staying with the park if you can as it makes it a lot easier to see everything within a short distance. The various options are at different price points though, so you’ll have to figure out which is best for you ๐
Have an amazing trip!
Laurence