Travel from Las Vegas to San Francisco on this epic California National Parks road trip!
Embark on an awe-inspiring journey that’ll take your breath away! Explore the picturesque beauty of California’s most celebrated national parks accompanied by the world-renowned Napa Valley, all in one spectacular road trip from Las Vegas to San Francisco.
On this 9 day road trip, witness the stunning transformation from scorching deserts to the verdant forests, passing by magnificent waterfalls and top-class vineyards on your way. We can’t wait to share with you the exquisite details of our California road trip!
The Perfect California Road Trip
This past June, David and I experienced a trip of a lifetime! We flew from Florida to Las Vegas and spent the next 9 days driving through gorgeous landmarks and scenery, finally ending in San Francisco. While we love traveling with our kids, this was an anniversary/birthday trip, so it was just us. You could also easily do the reverse of this trip and end in Las Vegas. We will share the route we took, what worked well (and what didn’t), where we stayed, and all the sights we saw along the way!
Day One: Las Vegas
Las Vegas is a great starting point for a California road trip because there are so many direct flights into the city from all over the country. Once you pick up a rental car the airport is just minutes from the Las Vegas strip, which is the perfect place to spend an afternoon and evening before heading off on your travels. Also, there are several supermarkets and stores right outside of the airport to get any gear you will need for your road trip!
Even though we were only there for one night, it was enough to wear us out! Between the early morning flight and walking through the airport, walking up and down the strip, and exploring the different casinos, we walked over 7 miles. And this was just day one.
Highlights
- Of course, number one is the Bellagio fountains. They play a large rotation of shows with music so stay for a few songs!
- Explore inside some of the other casino hotels to see how differently they are all decorated.
- Definitely check out the strip! Find one of the many rooftop bars and enjoy an evening of people-watching. We found a spot at Beer Park right across from the Bellagio.
- Take that iconic photo of the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign… who knows, you might run into Elvis!
Where we stayed
We got a great deal on TripAdvisor for Caesars Palace, believe it or not! This place was incredibly over the top, and we loved how it was right on the strip. There are seven pools to choose from, which we were pretty happy about since we were in the middle of the desert in June. Plus watching people gamble in the pool was pretty fun.
Day Two: Death Valley National Park
The drive from Las Vegas to Death Valley National Park the next morning was quick, just under two hours from the Vegas strip to the entrance of the park. We left our hotel about 7AM in order to get into the park before the day got too hot. We’ve detailed our day in the post linked below, we were able to see all the highlights with just one day in Death Valley.
Highlights
- See Zabriskie Point, one of the most photographed spots in Death Valley.
- Drive up to Dantes View, 5,000 feet above sea level, to see the salt flats from above.
- Head down to Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America.
- Walk on the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, where several scenes of Star Wars were filmed!
Where we stayed
After a long (and hot!) day in the car exploring Death Valley, we arrived at our hotel about two hours outside the park. We opted to stay in Tehachapi, California. This way we were well on our way to Sequoia and Kings Canyon parks the next day!
The town of Tehachapi is super cute. We asked around and found a local barbecue restaurant that all the locals recommended, Red House BBQ. Then we happened upon a place called Local Craft Beer, a tap house in a storage unit. It was the perfect end to a great day!
Tip: See our post about Driving Through Death Valley for tips about visiting in the summer, especially about how to get over the pass as you head west out of the park so your car doesn’t overheat!
On this trip especially, we were super excited to have our America the Beautiful National Park pass. We visited four national parks so the pass paid for itself right away! If you are planning on visiting more than two parks a year, the pass is definitely worth the investment. Plus it can even save you time waiting in lines to enter the parks!
Day Three: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
Even though we stayed closer to Sequoia, it was still a 2½ hour drive to get into the park from Tehachapi. Thankfully, David likes to drive and I make a great co-pilot. 🙂
We stopped for gas, ice, and to restock the cooler at the small town of Three Rivers before entering Sequoia. The plan was to spend the first part of the day in Sequoia and then follow the General’s Highway into Kings Canyon.
LEARN MORE: Spend One Day in Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National Park
What a difference Sequoia was from the day before in Death Valley! While the desert was hot, barren, quiet, and stark, the forest was shaded, lush, cool, and so green. And the trees were huuuuge. It is hard to comprehend until you are standing right underneath them just how large they really are.
But what surprised us was the fact that the park is not just about big trees. There are forests of course, but also alpine landscapes over 14,000 feet high, and rivers, canyons, and caves. 95% of the park is wilderness, and if you drive through on the Generals Highway you can see both Sequoia and Kings Canyon in one day.
Kings Canyon National Park
Kings Canyon also has gigantic Sequoia trees, including the second largest tree in the world by volume. This park was much less crowded than Sequoia, without the long lines for hikes and to see the top sights. But the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway is really what sets this park apart from Sequoia National Park.
LEARN MORE: Driving the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway
Highlights
- Drive the Generals Highway from Three Rivers into Sequoia all the way through to Kings Canyon, and then continue on the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway. Be sure to stop at overlooks along the way. You will not be disappointed!
- See the General Sherman and General Grant trees. They are both worth the short hikes out!
- Moro Rock in Sequoia gives you a panoramic view of the valley below, just get there early to avoid crowds.
Where we stayed
We opted to stay in Fresno, just about halfway between Kings Canyon and Yosemite National Parks. We grabbed a burger on the road, relaxed in the hot tub at our hotel, and then went to bed early so we could get into Yosemite before the crowds the next morning!
Days Four & Five: Yosemite National Park
This part of our trip was, by far, the part we were most looking forward to. Up until now, Grand Teton National Park had been our favorite park to visit. But we had heard Yosemite was just as magnificent, and we were excited to see for ourselves!
We filled up our cooler with ice at the hotel before leaving, and we still had plenty of drinks and snacks. After a hot breakfast at the hotel in Fresno (thank you Best Western) we drove about one and a half hours to the Yosemite National Park Wawona entrance. It took another 45 minutes or so to get into the park, apparently we arrived at the same time as everyone else!
Tip: At the entrance booth we were told between 7 and 9 AM were the busiest times to enter.
There are so many amazing sights for people of all ages and abilities in Yosemite National Park. See our post all about the best of Yosemite National Park here, and then read on for details on the rest of our California Road Trip!
LEARN MORE: How to See the Best of Yosemite National Park
Highlights
- Explore Yosemite Valley. Be sure to pick a spot to watch the sunset either in the meadow by El Capitan or at Tunnel View. These sunsets are legendary!
- Hike up to Taft Point and Sentinel Dome. You get such an amazing view of the valley from up here!
- Hike to the bottom of Vernal Fall on the Mist Trail.
- Stop at Glacier Point to relax and soak in the panoramic views of Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, Vernal and Nevada Fall.
- Make the short walk to Lower Yosemite Falls and cool your feet in the water below.
Where we stayed
We chose Yosemite View Lodge because it is the closest lodging without actually being inside the park. If you know your dates well in advance, we recommend staying at the Yosemite Valley Lodge or even in the one of the canvas tent cabins in Curry Village. If money is no option, the Ahwahnee hotel would definitely be a worthy splurge! These sites do book well in advance however.
We did enjoy the Yosemite View Lodge, although it needs some updating. There is a very large convenience store right where you check in, for groceries, gifts, beer and wine, and other local treats. Also on their property is a restaurant, and a pretty amazing pizza place! You don’t ever have to leave once you’ve come back to your hotel for the night. The lodge also has 3 pools and 6 outdoor spas, much needed after days of hiking in the parks.
Needless to say, after just two days we fell in love with Yosemite and can’t wait to visit again. The only reason we were willing to leave is because the next day we would be sampling wines in Napa Valley!
Days Six & Seven: Napa Valley
Napa
Driving from Yosemite View Lodge to Napa, California took less than 4 hours through Modesto and Stockton. We stayed in downtown Napa in a rented Airstream owned by an awesome couple who gave us recommendations of the best places to eat and drink, and great day trip ideas.
LEARN MORE: How to Spend a Weekend in Napa Valley
The Sonoma Coast
On our second day in Napa, a heat wave came through and it was miserably hot. We decided to drive about an hour and a half to the Pacific Coast for the day, where the temperature was 30 degrees lower and much more refreshing. We watched the Harbor seals, ate fresh sandwiches on the beach, and drank local wine. It was a heavenly break from the heat!
LEARN MORE: Top Sights on a California Coast Drive
Highlights
- Plan a few wine tastings, but only 2 or 3 a day tops. Any more than that and you won’t remember your afternoon!
- Explore the 5 different towns in Napa Valley. Each one offers a different, and very tasty, type of wine.
- Prepare to eat, and eat well! There are tons of Michelin star restaurants all around Napa Valley.
- If you have time, go to the coast for a day. There really is nothing like the Pacific coast!
Day Eight: San Francisco
San Francisco was our last stop on our California road trip. We’ve been before and seem to fall more in love with this beautiful city every time we come! It’s only about an hour drive from Napa to San Francisco.
Tip: Be sure to take the 101 and drive over the Golden Gate Bridge, the architecture of the bridge up close is just stunning.
LEARN MORE: How to Spend a Day in San Francisco
Highlights
- See the Golden Gate Bridge. Whether you drive over it, sail under it, or hike around it, you have to get up close to this magnificent structure!
- Definitely visit the Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39. The silly sea lions, constant boat traffic, and tasty chowder are worth it!
- Ride a cable car through the city.
- Enjoy a meal in Chinatown. So, so yummy!
Where we stayed
We stayed at the Marriott at Fisherman’s Wharf, thinking it would save us from paying for parking. This backfired, because there is a separate fee charged from the hotel to park overnight even as a guest.
In hindsight, I would pay to park for the day somewhere central to where you want to visit in San Francisco. Then book a room at the on-airport hotel for the night to avoid traffic, rental car returns, bussing, and trams to get to your flight on time. Our flight was at noon, and we barely made it even though we left at 8AM from the wharf.
Whether you start in Vegas and travel to San Francisco like we did, or if you reverse this whole trip, you will have a fantastic time. This road trip through California hits so many amazing sights, every day is different and that is what keeps things so interesting!
Our favorite memory of the trip was relaxing in the meadow in Yosemite, watching the sun set over El Capitan. It was so nice to take a moment to just reflect on the trip so far, knowing we were only halfway done! I can’t wait to do this same exact trip again some day, maybe in the fall to compare the seasons.
Other epic road trip itineraries:
Happy Travels!
Sounds fun! I love that you travel from the manmade wonder of Las Vegas through the natural wonders of our national parks, quite the juxtaposition.
How funny Christina, that is the exact word I used to describe it: such a juxtaposition!
This was a fun read since I live between Napa and Yosemite, right below Lake Tahoe. The one place on your list I haven’t visited is Death Valley, which is definitely on my bucket list. What a fun trip you had.
I would highly recommend Death Valley, but I’ve heard it is even more beautiful (and enjoyable!) in the winter and spring!
What a fantastic trip! Thank you for all the highlights and places to stay which are extremely helpful.
thank you for sharing
Looks like you had a great time here. I live in California and I just love it how many different landscapes and natural terrains can be found here. From the coast to the mountains, forests and deserts, it’s an amazing state to live in and to visit.
We would love to live in California! For now, we will just have to escape to the west coast whenever we can 🙂
What a cool trip. The photos look so stunning, especially those huge secoya trees!!!
The entire trip to California mesmerized me.
lovely photos! Im saving vegas and cali for my next visit. I just didnt have enough time before, thank you for this post
Sequoia National Park is a place I would love to see (not that I would refuse some wine tasting 😄). You have so much variety, and there is so much to see! California’s landscape looks incredible!
Looks like a wonderful trip!
It was absolutely amazing!
How many nights did you stay at Yosemite lodge?
We were there for 3 nights, and I honestly can’t wait to go back!