Top 4 Road Trips in California

It was manifest destiny -- the great westward expansion -- that brought the first settlers to the U.S.A’s third-largest state. Since the early days of California, the state has grown massively in population while at the same time preserving its myriad natural beauties and sweeping landscapes. Indeed, for adventure lovers and family vacationers alike, there is no better state in which to sojourn than the Golden one. 

Of course, the biggest drawback to visiting California is its biggest positive as well: there’s simply too much to see and do for one single outing. That’s why California’s treasures have always been best experienced via the road trip. This staple of American culture allows the average person with adventure on the mind to hit the open road and accumulate a story or two. And the great thing about road-tripping through California is that it has something to offer for everyone. 

With that in mind, here are some road-trip ideas fit for the camper and sports car alike.

The Pacific Coast Highway 

There are few better ways to take in California’s majesty than by driving its seemingly never-ending coastline. Route 1, as its commonly known, covers a staggering 655 miles from San Diego all the way up to northern California. And while traveling the length of route 1 makes for the trip of a lifetime, those with less time to spare may want to settle on the 123-mile section from central California through to Big Sur. This five-hour scenic drive includes the sleepy art colony of Carmel, Point Lobos State Ecological Reserve and the redwood groves hugging San Simeon’s beautiful coast. 

Route 66

John Steinbeck called it “the Mother Road” because at one time this U.S. institution was the prime artery that carried Dust Bowl refugees westward in search of work. In the ensuing years, and with the development of major interstates, the romanticized Route 66 that was dotted with charming motels and mom-and-pop diners has been mostly abandoned to modernity. These days, Route 66 isn’t much more than a barren relic of past glory, but it still possesses some of that old magic and much nostalgic charm. 

Road-trippers in California would do well to travel a portion of this 270-mile stretch of history, especially from Needles, AZ, to Barstow, and Victorville to Pasadena. 

Highway 49 

“The Gold Rush Trail,” as locals call it, is a paved celebration of California’s rich Gold Rush history. The number itself even signifies the famed “49ers” who struck out for the Sierra Nevada foothills a year after gold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill in Coloma, CA, in 1848. This two-lane stretch of road covering around 326 miles still passes through numerous old mining towns, gold museums, inns and old-town neighborhoods rife with charming Victorian buildings.

Avenue of the Giants 

Those reaching the end of their PCH adventure may want to turn off onto Avenue of the Giants, a short (31 miles) road that runs through northern California and Humboldt Redwoods State Park. Those who do take this short drive are privy to some of the largest trees in the world, such as the Immortal Tree, a majestic redwood that is over 950 years old and 250-feet high. 

These are some of the more well worn routes California has to offer. And they certainly deliver in terms of natural beauty and rich history. But there are many other travel routes as well. California is a wonderful state to get lost in, and those intrepid enough to travel off the beaten path will likely find as many undiscovered treasures as those listed in any guidebook.

Jay Allen writes for Lazydays, a RV Superstore which offers recreational vehicle enthusiasts a place to search class A motorhomes for sale, stay at a campground, or service their RV.