This guide will take your on a tour of the National Parks in Southern California over the course of 15 days. 

Yosemite National Park, California, USA

Joshua Tree National Park, California, USA

Kings Canyon National Park, California, USA

Death Valley National Park, United States

Southern California, CA, USA

Sequoia National Park, California, USA

Pinnacles National Park, California, USA

National Park Tour of Southern California

The first day of travel is the flight to LAX. I recommend getting an early flight so you have time to pick up your rental car and drive to the hotel in Joshua Tree

There is an alternative option of flying into Phoenix, but flights through LAX are usually faster, cheaper, and easier to find, especially coming from farther away. 

I recommend booking your flights and reserving a car/SUV early. 

The 2 days spent in Joshua Tree are not intended to be for climbers - just the casual traveler looking to visit a National Park. There are some hikes and a good bit of walking around, however. 

There are many hotel options INSIDE the park, but I decided to stay outside due to the insane amount of traffic that is constantly at Yosemite Lodge. 

LAX to the Hotel ~2H 15min (~125 miles) with little to no traffic; in reality it took closer to 3H with the time that I flew in, which was around 3p. 

While this wasn't the nicest room I've ever stayed in, the access to the mineral pools on-site made up for it, especially after a long day in the desert. 

Start: Cottonwood Visitor Center (1H from the hotel; 30 miles)

Keys View (0.25 mile paved nature trail; would recommend stargazing here!)

Start: Joshua Tree Visitor Center (35min from the hotel: 27 miles); west entrance

Park Drive: This is where the Joshua Trees are! Keep a lookout for wildlife among the trees. I took a short walk and managed to see a desert tortoise and a few mice.

Barker Dam Trail (1.1 mile - roundtrip): This trail is great when filled with water. If it's not, there are the pictographs to see towards the end of the trail. 

Hall of Horrors (0.8 miles - includes the slot canyons)

I recommend getting an early start on day 2; the drive to Death Valley is long and a little walking before keeps from getting too stiff driving the rest of the way. 

The two days in Death Valley are busy and well spent; the hotel is contained in the National Park!

The drive from Joshua Tree to Death Valley is long and desolate, so make sure you have plenty to listen to in order to keep from getting too bored!

Travel: ~4H / ~275 miles from hotel to hotel

The Darling Hotel was one of the best ones on this trip with the best shower you've taken in your life. 

Ash Meadows and Devils Hole *This is outside of the National Park, to the east and was closed at the time* 

Artists Palette and Desolation Canyon: This is a one-way loop around, showing off the beautiful colors in the hills.

Badwater Basin: The lowest point in the US!

Darwin Falls: The road to get here requires 4WD but was beautiful!

Part 4: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

The drive from Death Valley to Sequoia is the longest yet, 6H 45min; 317 miles. I recommend leaving Death Valley around 7a to get to 100 Giants around 3p, considering the time for stops on Day 2. 

On the way to Sequoia, Trail of 100 Giants! Close to Sequoia, but does help to break up the drive from Death Valley, the longest drive of the trip (4H45 min into the drive; 315 miles).

1.3 mile paved loop that features some Giant Sequoias, both alive and fallen. The road to the trailhead goes through a state park and I would absolutely recommend going back down the road you came up; the other way is a hellish twisty-turn after sharp turn. 

4 days split between the two parks are filled with hiking and spending time outside among the trees (be sure to bring your allergy meds!)

Moro Rock: 300ft climb to the top of a granite dome (very weather dependent, be sure to check for trail closure)

Crescent and Log Meadow and Tharp's Log: 2 mile loop with a small detour to Tharp's Log; great picnic area!

Wuksachi and Little Baldy: 3.4 mile round trip trail, but weather dependent so be sure to check first.

Big Trees Trail (0.7 mile loop) and Hazelwood Meadow Trail (0.5 mile loop); great picnic area

Start: Sequoia National Park Historic Entrance Sign

Distance from Hotel to Sequoia: 45min / 35 miles

Crystal Cave: Weather dependent and tickets are required; this is prior to the Giant forest museum as you pass it on the way.

General Sherman Tree: 0.5 mile STEEP trail down to the tree, but the path is paved and has many stopping points, if needed.

*This was the most heavily impacted portion of the itinerary due to road closures*

National Park Tour of Southern California

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