California Road Trip — Best Views & Hikes

The Road Trip

My favorite state for scenery.

No state packs more variety into one drive. In 48 hours you can go from redwood forests to granite valleys to ocean cliffs that drop straight into the Pacific. These are the stops worth going out of your way for — and a few that are already on the way.

For now these five use San Francisco as a home base. Redwood National Park, Sequoia, and Fern Canyon are coming.

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Stop 01

Yosemite.

Yosemite National Park · ~3.5 hrs from San Francisco

"Nothing in the lower 48 hits quite like that first view of the Valley from the tunnel. You understand immediately why people lose their minds over this place."

Three hikes worth doing above everything else. Pick one based on your fitness level — all three are worth it. Book lodging or camping months in advance. Day-use reservations required in peak season.

Easy

Hike 01 — Best Bang for Buck

Taft Point

Yosemite National Park · Glacier Point Road

Distance

2.4 mi

Elevation

360 ft

Difficulty

Easy

Short, accessible, and jaw-dropping. The exposure at the edge of Taft Point is serious — nothing between you and a 3,000 ft drop. Best bang for your effort in all of Yosemite.

Moderate

Hike 02

Mist Trail

Yosemite National Park · Happy Isles Trailhead

Distance

6.4 mi

Elevation

2,000 ft

Difficulty

Moderate

The trail passes two incredible waterfalls — Vernal and Nevada Falls. The climb beside Vernal Falls is the highlight: stone steps, mist in your face, and water crashing beside you the entire way up. Best in spring or early summer when the flow is full. If you want a bigger challenge, add Half Dome (permit required). A couple of my friends consider it one of the best and hardest hikes they've ever done.

Strenuous

Hike 03

Upper Yosemite Falls

Yosemite National Park · Camp 4 Trailhead

Distance

6.7 mi

Elevation

3,000 ft

Difficulty

Strenuous

The longer, harder day with the bigger payoff. North America's tallest waterfall at 2,425 feet. Steep switchbacks the whole way up — earn the views from the top looking back over the entire valley.

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Stop 02

Big Sur.

Highway 1 · ~2.5 hrs from San Francisco

"Drive it in the spring when everything is green, the waterfalls are running, and the light on the cliffs in the afternoon is something else entirely."

The best way to experience Big Sur is to drive it and stop where you feel like stopping. Two spots worth building your day around: Bixby Bridge for the classic view, and McWay Falls where an 80-foot waterfall drops straight onto a beach. Visit in the spring or early summer for lush, green hills — fall and winter the landscape goes golden and dry.

Best Time March–June for green hills and full waterfalls. Avoid holiday weekends — Hwy 1 backs up badly.

Two Key Stops Bixby Bridge and McWay Falls. Both are pull-offs off Hwy 1 — no big hike required.

Pro Tip Check road conditions before you go — Hwy 1 closes periodically due to slides.

Bixby Bridge → McWay Falls →

Stop 03

Lake Tahoe.

Sierra Nevada · ~3.5 hrs from San Francisco

"Drive around the lake and stop where you feel inspired. Rent kayaks. Walk to Chimney Beach. Eat the meatloaf at Austin's."

Like Big Sur — drive, stop, explore. The water is a color you'd expect in the Mediterranean, not the Sierras. Chimney Beach is a relatively easy trail down to a stunning hidden beach. Sand Harbor is polished and popular for a reason. And the meatloaf at Austin's Restaurant is genuinely not to be missed.

Best Time July–September for swimming. Winter for skiing. Shoulder seasons are quiet and beautiful.

Two Key Stops Chimney Beach and Sand Harbor. Both on the Nevada side of the lake.

Worth the Detour Austin's Restaurant — get the meatloaf. Seriously.

Chimney Beach →

Stop 04

Mt. Tamalpais.

Marin County · ~45 min from San Francisco

"Again, stop where you feel inspired and just walk around — that's the whole philosophy for this one. The views over the Bay and out to the Pacific are incredible."

The closest big nature experience to the city and easy to underestimate. The summit looks out over the Bay, the Golden Gate, and on a clear day the whole East Bay. The trails are well-maintained and the forest is dense redwood. A solid half-day from San Francisco with no big commitment.

Distance from SF ~45 minutes. Cross the Golden Gate, head north into Marin.

Best Time Clear winter days for the sharpest views. Fog rolls in often in summer.

Pro Tip Combine with Muir Woods — they're 15 minutes apart.

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Stop 05

Muir Woods.

Marin County · ~40 min from San Francisco

"Crowded? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely. Photos just don't really do it justice."

The redwoods here are old-growth coast redwoods — some over 250 feet tall and a thousand years old. It gets busy, especially on weekends. Go early. Parking and shuttle reservations required — book ahead.

Distance from SF ~40 min. Combine with Mt. Tamalpais for a full Marin day.

Best Time Weekday mornings. Avoid summer weekends if possible.

Book Ahead Parking reservations required. Use the shuttle from Mill Valley to skip the lot entirely.

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California.

My favorite state for scenery.

Yosemite.

Taft Point

Mist Trail

Upper Yosemite Falls

Big Sur.

Lake Tahoe.

Mt. Tamalpais.

Muir Woods.

More worth exploring.