northern-california-road-trip

Northern California Road Trip Itineraries: Map, Routes and Ideas

When you go on a road trip in Northern California, you will face a vast territory, which extends from Inyo County (where Death Valley is located) and Tulare County (where Sequoia National Park is located) to the Oregon border. It is a very diverse region where there are deserts, mountain parks (Yosemite National Park, Sierra Nevada, and the Upstate California region), coastal attractions (e.g. Redwood Parks), incredible geological wonders (Lassen Volcanic National Park), Gold Rush historical sites, and most of the rural agricultural region known as the Central Valley.

The most important city is inevitably San Francisco, which is a beautiful city, and from there, you can take interesting excursions in the surrounding area. North of San Francisco, you can explore the wine region in the Napa and Sonoma Valley and admire more spectacular views on the northern stretch of the California coast. Here are all our itineraries to help you plan a Northern California road trip.

Contents

Northern California Road Trip itineraries

Here are all the itineraries divided by region:

Central Valley and Gold Country

from monterey to osemite

From Monterey to Yosemite: Travel through the Golden Hills of California

Today we’re not talking about a complete itinerary, but about a drive that extends about 187 miles along its entire route. It’s the drive from Monterey to Yosemite, which combines …
gold country california

California Gold Country Tour: Follow in the Footsteps of the Gold Rush

In this article, we will take you on a unique California itinerary. We will explore California’s Gold Country to retrace the steps of the Gold Rush that took place in …
Best Things to do in Sacramento

Sacramento: Best Things to Do in California’s Capital

If we consider the size of the United States, driving for 2 or 3 hours by car does not seem so long. For this reason, after visiting and shopping in …
things to do in Fresno

Fresno: a Strategic Point for Visiting Yosemite and Sequoia

Fresno is located in the San Joaquin Valley, in the heart of California. It is the fifth largest city in the state and is in a very advantageous position to …
from Death Valley to Sequoia National Park

From Sequoia to Death Valley: Best Routes and Accommodations

Choosing to drive from Sequoia National Park to Death Valley (or vice versa) is quite common especially during the time of year when the Tioga Pass is closed and it …
da-san-francisco-a-yosemite

Best Route from San Francisco to Yosemite by Car

Among the top parks in the US, the closest one to the city of San Francisco is also one of the most famous in the West: Yosemite National Park. The …
los angeles to sequoia drive

Los Angeles to Sequoia: Recommended Itinerary with Stops along the Way

When planning an on-the-road trip to the USA, the most common question is “What is the best route to take to get from point A to point B?“. Especially when …
things to do in bakersfield

Bakersfield: An Ideal Stop on the Way from Los Angeles to Sequoia or Death Valley

Bakersfield may not be one of the most famous cities in California, let alone the most interesting. If you look at the section of our website on California, you will …

Pinnacles National Park in California: Visit Caves and Pinnacles Made of Volcanic Rock

Perhaps a few of you have heard of Pinnacles National Park. In fact, this small park in the mountains is not as famous as Yosemite, Sequoia and other national parks in California, but for this very reason it is perfect for those who want to dive into a hidden corner of the Golden State without risking finding the “busy” nature …

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San Francisco Bay and the Surrounding Area

Things to do in Napa Valley

Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley Wineries: Best Places to Visit on a Wine Tour

Some of you may be wondering what possibly could be left to do in San Francisco when you have to figure out what to do when a day is freed …
How to visit Silicon Valley

Silicon Valley in California: Tour of the Headquarters of Major High-Tech Companies

Silicon Valley is a place we have all heard about before and now plays a central role in the collective imagination when it comes to computers and technology in general. …
oakland things to see

Best Things to do in Oakland and How to Get to San Francisco

Northeast of San Francisco, beyond the Bay Bridge, lies Oakland, a city that, with its 400,000 inhabitants, is among the largest and most important cities in the bay. Thanks to …
things to do in San Jose California

Best Places to Visit in San Jose, the Gateway to Silicon Valley

Just over an hour from San Francisco, San José is the third largest city in California and the tenth largest in the United States. It is located in the Santa …

Northern California Coast

Pigeon Point lighthouse

Pigeon Point Light Station State Park, a fascinating lighthouse on the California Coast

Located along the northern California coast, Pigeon Point is a hidden gem that captivates its visitors with its iconic lighthouse perched on the cliffs overlooking the ocean. So, let’s explore …
Point Arena Lighthouse California

How to Plan a Visit to the Historic Point Arena Lighthouse in Mendocino, California

On the stunning northern coast of California stands majestically the Point Arena Lighthouse, a historic beacon that once guided sailors and now captivates the imagination of visitors from around the …
Bowling Ball Beach in California

Bowling Ball Beach: Discover the Beach in California Covered with “Bowling Balls”

Around the world, there are many bizarre rocks, which may have strange shapes, be in unthinkable positions, or are balanced in a way that defies gravity and nature. In America, …
Point Reyes National Seashore

Point Reyes National Seashore and Lighthouse: Breathtaking Views on the California Coast

The Point Reyes National Seashore is one of the largest and most important coastal parks in California. Here you can find mile-long beaches, one of the most scenic lighthouses on …
things to do in Mendocino California

Visit Mendocino: Jessica Fletcher’s Cabot Cove in… California!

Mendocino is a slice of New England in California. Its cliffs overlooking the sea, its family-sized cottages and the quiet breathtaking atmosphere has become more and more popular among tourists, …
Star Wars filming locations California

Star Wars in California: Visit the Locations where the Star Wars Saga Was Filmed

If you’re planning a travel to California, and you also happen to be a Star Wars fan, you’re very lucky because you’re in the right state to visit some of …

Redwood Parks in California: the Tallest Trees in the World

When talking about Redwood National Park it would be more correct to say “parks”, because in northern California, a few miles from the Oregon border, the Redwood National and State Parks system includes four national and state parks that make giant redwood forests their undoubted strength. Organizing an on the road trip to this part of California is not for …

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Sierra Nevada Region

alabama hills california

Alabama Hills in California: Surreal Arches and Rock Formations at the Foot of the Sierra Nevada

During your road trip, are you planning to travel between Yosemite National Park and Death Valley, two of the California’s most famous national parks? In that case, an exhilarating drive on …
Sierra Nevada California

The Best Places to Visit in California’s Sierra Nevada

The image most people have of California is sunny beaches and beach life, but in reality, it is only a small part of what this vast state has to offer …
eastern sierra mountains

Eastern Sierra: An Amazing Road Trip from Yosemite to Death Valley on Hwy 395

The Sierra Nevada is a vast treasure trove of noteworthy natural attractions. Certainly among the main places of interest, there also happen to be some of the most common Southwest …
mammoth lakes things to do

Mammoth Lakes: Magnificent Scenery in the Sierra Nevada

There are small cities or towns in California that serve as bases to visit other places, and they prove to be especially useful, because they give you somewhere to spend …
lake tahoe things to do

Lake Tahoe: An Incredible Emerald Lake on the Border between California and Nevada

California and Nevada share the spectacular Lake Tahoe, one of the most beautiful and most visited lakes in the United States, as well as the second deepest in the USA …
mono lake california

Mono Lake: Tufa Castles in a Lunar Landscape

Of all the memories I have from my journey through the cities, parks and landscapes of the West Coast, there is one that stands out. I can still clearly see …
Bodie Ghost Town California Cosa Vedere

Bodie Ghost Town: Unveiling an Old West’s Hidden Gem

If you’ve always been fascinated by the Old West, the cowboys, and Sergio Leone’s movies, then you should definitely go to Bodie, the ghost town par excellence, the most authentic …
kings canyon things to do

Planning a Kings Canyon Adventure: Best Things To Do and Hiking Trails

Maybe you didn’t know this, but the deepest canyon in the U.S. is not the Grand Canyon; it is Kings Canyon in California. While the famous gorge in Arizona is 6001 …
Things to do in Sequoia National Park

Sequoia National Park: Why You Should Go and How to Plan Your Visit

Naturalist and explorer John Muir wrote in 1891: “In the vast Sierra wilderness far to the southward of the famous Yosemite Valley, there is a yet grander valley of the …
Where to stay in sequoia national park

Where to Stay in Sequoia National Park/Kings Canyon: Hotels and Accommodations near the Park

In Sequoia National Park, you feel so small in front of the gigantic majesty of nature. The sequoias of this famous park in California attract the most passionate arborists, or …

Upstate California

things to do in lassen volcanic national park

Adventure in Lassen Volcanic National Park, California’s Own Little “Yellowstone”

There are some travelers who just can’t settle for the best known U.S. National Parks. For instance, the Grand Canyon and Yosemite National Park are a must-see destination for any …
burney falls

Discovering Burney Falls, the Spectacular Waterfalls of the Shasta Region

Northern California, often less visited than other popular areas of the state, boasts remote and pristine areas where authentic gems await to enhance your road trip itinerary. Today, we will …
mccloud waterfalls trail

Hiking McCloud Falls, the Stunning Waterfalls near Mount Shasta

In the northeastern region of California, known as the Mount Shasta Region (named after the volcano of the same name), you’ll find many fascinating waterfalls. After telling you about the …

Northern California Road Trip Map