I’ve been on many road trips around the US over the years. It’s far and away my favorite thanks to exploring the country.

One state especially is ideal for road-tripping: California.

Occupying much of the West Coast, California is home to almost 40 million people. Here you discover high mountains, giant trees, deserts, valleys, stunning beaches, and vibrant cities. It’s its own little country in some ways.

Since California is so big, I’m getting to do a series of posts that cover road trips within the state as it’s better to specialize in smaller areas so you'll really take in and luxuriate in each destination. In travel, less is more.

To begin the series, here may be a one-week itinerary for Southern California:


Days 1–2: Los Angeles



Looking out over l. a. from behind the Hollywood sign

Start in l. a., a city I’ve come to like. It’s not a city for tourists. Everything is opened up, you would like a car, and therefore the traffic makes getting around a pain. But, if you'll enjoy its slow pace, diverse food and drink scene, and hikes, you’ll get a taste of what it wishes to live there. You visit LA like how you'd spend your Saturday.

The city features a lot to try to do. Here are a number of my personal favorite activities:

Stroll down Hollywood Boulevard – Don’t miss the Walk of Fame (where celebrities have their names engraved within the sidewalk) and Grauman’s Chinese Theatre (featuring celebrities’ handprints and footprints).

Visit LACMA – With over 150,000 works, the l. a. County Museum of Art is that the largest art museum in the western USA. they need collections from just about every era throughout history and each region of the planet. Admission is $25 USD.

Hike to the Hollywood Sign – While you'll snap pictures of the sign from just about anywhere within the city, it’s also possible to hike up to the sign itself to require within the view. The three trails (from easiest to hardest) are the Mt. Hollywood Trail, the comb Canyon Trail, and therefore the Cahuenga Peak Trail.

Browse The Last Bookstore – this is often one of my favorite bookstores within the world. It sells books and records, has art displays, and features a cool upstairs area too with cheap books. Browse the shelves, grab a coffee, and buy a book!

Hit the beach – There are tons of awesome beaches in and around l. a. . a number of the simplest are Venice Beach, Carbon Beach, Santa Monica State Beach, Huntington City Beach, and El Matador.

Visit the Getty Museum – Opened in 1997 as a part of the huge Getty Center, this museum features a diverse collection of paintings, manuscripts, drawings, and other artwork from the eighth century to the present day. Admission is free.

Go hiking – LA features a lot of hiking trails so it’s easy to attach with nature. Some worth finding out is the Charlie Turner Trail (90 minutes), Baldwin Hills (30 minutes), Runyon Canyon (45 minutes), Portuguese Bend Reserve (3 hours), and Echo Mountain (3–3.5 hours).

See the Le Brea Tar Pits – These natural asphalt pits are located in Hancock Park and have existed for upwards of fifty,000 years. plenty of fossils, preserved for hundreds of years, are found in them. The museum has much interesting information about the pits and the way they came to be.

For more things to ascertain and do, here’s my complete guide to l. a.

Los Angeles also has countless food options. Some places i really like are Musso & Frank Grill, Dan Tana’s, Meals by Genet, The Butcher’s Daughter, Sugarfish, and Thai Pepper.


Where to remain

Banana Bungalow Hollywood – A chill, laid-back hostel that’s super social and organizes many activities.

Freehand l. a. – This hostel/hotel features designer rooms with comfortable beds, a rooftop pool and bar with amazing views of the town, a lobby bar, a restaurant, and even a fitness center.

For more suggestions, here’s my complete list of favorite hostels in Los Angeles!


Days 2–3: San Diego



The skyline of San Diego as seen from over the bay

Two hours down the coast in San Diego. It’s a well-liked city needless to say but not as popular because of the others. Personally, after LA, it’s my second favorite spot within the state! It’s easier to navigate, cheaper, has amazing weather, awesome beaches, and many great bars and restaurants. Spend two nights here.

Here are some things to try to do during your visit:

Visit the USS Midway Museum – This carrier was the most important ship within the world until 1955. It saw action in numerous conflicts before being decommissioned in 1992 and became a museum. you'll explore the landing deck also as many of the rooms below.

Have fun at Belmont Park – This kitschy funfair is true next to the ocean and excellent for a few cheesy fun. it's a couple of classic rides also like games and much of greasy (and delicious) food and snacks.

Go surfing – Whether you’re a veteran or a newbie, grab a board and hit the waves. There’s some awesome surfing here. you'll usually rent a board for around $30 USD each day. 90-minute lessons cost around $70 USD.

Visit the San Diego Zoo – located in Balboa Park and with over 3,500 animals and 700,000 plant species, the San Diego Zoo may be a massive, 1,800-acre park where you'll easily spend a whole day. It’s one of the simplest zoos within the country and an excellent choice for anyone traveling with kids.

Explore Balboa Park – this is often one of the oldest recreational parks within the US. additionally, to the zoo, there are dozens of museums, also as gardens, walking paths, sports fields, stadiums, theatres, and more. It’s a huge cultural center and green space with plenty to ascertain and do.

Enjoy Pacific Beach – Head to Pacific Beach if you would like to take in the sun, surf, or choose a swim. the world is additionally known for its nightlife and offers many bars, clubs, and restaurants too.

Go whale watching – Between December and April, California gray whales migrate from Alaska to Mexico. they will get older to 49 feet long and are incredible to ascertain up close. Tours usually cost around $35 USD.

Hike Point Loma – This peninsula is where Europeans first arrived in California. you'll walk bent the tip and luxuriate in the sweeping views of the ocean, visit the old lighthouse (built in 1855), and watch locals climb the cliffs of Osprey Point.


Where to remain

HI San Diego – This hostel organizes plenty of events and tours, includes free breakfast, and features a big kitchen so you'll cook your own food to save lots of money.

ITH Adventure Hostel – This eco-hostel features a kitchen garden (and gives free veggies to guests), a recycling and compost program, and even backyard chickens. there's many outdoor common space to relax in too.

For more suggestions, here’s an inventory of my favorite hostels in San Diego!


Days 3–5: Joshua tree park



The iconic Joshua trees growing within the aria California desert

Sandwiched between the Mojave and therefore the Colorado Desert , Joshua tree park offers a number of the foremost incredible landscapes within the country. Swaths of cacti and towering boulders dot the arid panorama, all peppered by the famous Joshua trees and their distinct twisting trunks and branches.

It’s an otherworldly place, a Martian landscape perfect for hiking, camping, and escaping the busy cities along California’s coast. There are countless trails to enjoy, starting from short and straightforward to multiday challenges. Some suggestions:

Ryan Mountain – A steep 3-mile hike offering some incredible views.

Wall Street Mill – a simple 2.8-mile hike that results in an old mill wont to refine ore during from gold mining.

Split Rock Loop – A quiet 2-mile hike with many neat rock formations.

Barker Dam Trail – A 1.1-mile loop offering an opportunity to ascertain rabbits, bighorn , and every one sorts of birds.

The visitor center has more information and trail maps. It’s only $30 USD for a seven-day vehicle pass, which is sweet for multiple entries just in case you stay outside the park itself. The park is three hours from San Diego .

Where to remain

Airbnb is that the best choice here if you don’t have your own camping gear, although there also are glamping and more rustic options round the area too. If you would like to remain in an RV, check our RVshare, a reasonable sharing economy option for renting RVs.


Days 5–7: Sequoia park & Kings Canyon park



Massive redwood and sequoia trees in Sequoia park in California, USA

Start early and head to Sequoia park . It’s an extended drive from Joshua tree (it takes about 4-6 hours to urge there).

The park itself is comprised of towering redwood and Sequoia trees, a number of the most important trees within the world. I’m talking trees so thick you'll drive a car though them then tall that you simply can’t see their crown!

Start things off by visiting the enormous Forest Museum to find out about the geography, history, and importance of the park. Afterward, walk the large Trees Trail, a brief loop which will get you in and amongst the trees. It also has the most important single-stem tree within the world, General Sherman!

For a sweeping view of the forest, hike up Moro Rock. Standing 250 feet tall, it’s a huge granite dome that juts out of the encompassing hills and forest. Stairs and a viewpoint were built into the rock itself so you'll climb to the highest safely and luxuriate in the magnificent vista.

While you’re here, visit nearby Kings Canyon park , a mountainous park with beautiful lakes, valleys to hike, and spectacular views. It’s also where you'll see “General Grant” (the third largest tree within the world). For a scenic drive, cruise the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway, a narrow road along the side of a mountain that gives more picturesque views of the rugged landscape.


Where to remain

There are many places to camp here, both inside and out of doors of the parks. However, if camping isn’t your thing (it’s not really mine), there are many lodges and hotels within the area. you'll find them via Booking.com.


Day 7: Head back to Los Angeles

After that, it’s back to LA. It’s only a 3.5-hour drive, so if you’re not in a hurry, enjoy the desert views and stop along the way if you see anything that piques your interest.