Let’s be honest. Los Angeles has everything you need: Beaches, skyscrapers, desert hikes, a foodie scene; the list goes on. However, sometimes you just need a complete change of scenery. Lucky for us, California is filled with adventurous spots that are only a car ride away. Here is a list of the best road trips to take from Los Angeles.

Solvang

Flagstaff

San Francisco

Lake Tahoe

Napa County

Sonoma County

Ojai Valley

Las Vegas

San Diego

Joshua Tree

Big Sur

Palm Springs

Big Bear Lake

Bryce Canyon Drive & Zions Park Road

Death Valley

Huntington Beach

Santa Catalina Island

Temecula Valley

Channel Islands National Park

Santa Barbara

Sedona

Laguna Beach

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks

Yosemite National Park

Salton Sea

Rosarito

Mammoth Lakes

Phoenix

The Absolute Best Roadtrips From LA

The United States currently has 63 protected areas known as national parks that are operated by the National Park Service. I’m on a mission to see as many of them as I can. I’ve been to 28 so far. Following is a list of where I’ve been in chronological order. To learn more about my journey, please visit darkskyoverland.com.

National Parks

Yosemite National Park offers a plethora of adventures for outdoor enthusiasts, from awe-inspiring granite cliffs and waterfalls to challenging hikes and world-class rock climbing. Whether you seek a leisurely exploration of nature or an adrenaline-fueled escapade, Yosemite provides an unforgettable experience.

Yosemite National Park, California, USA

Yosemite Valley 

Explore this map, I made as the ultimate California guide, to get inspired and discover the places that will become the highlight of your next trip. Many of the places in this map will have helpful booking links and/or links to social media posts with more inside information. 

I see all my Guide Maps as perpetual works in progress and will do my best to add to and update them as my knowledge expands.

Use my Klook promo: ACKUGARTE for 10% off for new users and 3% off for returning users.

Los Angeles, CA, USA

San Francisco, CA, USA

California, USA

South Lake Tahoe, CA, USA

California Ultimate Guide Map +300 Places

Every detail about how I pulled off a trip around the Western United States and saw some of the country's most incredible natural wonders for less than $1,300 total. 🤯 Of course, this is the exact route that we used, but there are plenty of other options to choose from. Keep in mind, this is definitely not the itinerary to follow if you are looking to spend a significant amount of time in one specific area. We intentionally planned to see some major highlights along the trip and knew going into it that we would miss a lot of what these parks have to offer.

Mount Baker–Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington, USA

Sequoia National Park, California, USA

Olympic National Park, Mt Angeles Rd, Port Angeles, WA, USA

Horseshoe Bend, Arizona, USA

Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA

Glacier National Park, Montana, USA

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, USA

Seattle, WA, USA

Antelope Canyon, Arizona, USA

Fresno, CA, USA

Chicago, IL, USA

Denver, CO, USA

Amtrak USA Rail Pass: 14 Day Itinerary 🇺🇸

Hey Babe! Thank you for choosing my shop to help you have a fantastic road trip around Cali - my home state! I always have so much fun adventuring around California, and with this guide, so will you! 

You can email me any feedback regarding my guides or if you want to connect! 

Please be safe on your travels and tag Ma I'm Fine in your adventures!

xoxo
lex 

Instagram| @ma.im.fine
Email | contact@maimfine.com

Recommended seasons -Winter - Fall - Spring 

Burney Falls
South Lake Tahoe 
Mono Lake
Mammoth 
Lone Pine 
Death Valley
Mojave National Preserve 
Joshua Tree
Joshua Tree
Sequoia National Park
Yosemite

Ultimate California Road Trip 
 

This is the ULTIMATE TWO-WEEK CALIFORNIA ROAD TRIP.  I was born and raised in San Diego, California, and have spent years exploring all the corners of the Golden State.  I've distilled a lifetime of California adventures into this epic 14-day itinerary that will showcase the best California has to offer,  Grab your copy today!

The Ultimate California Road Trip

Friday Harbor

United States

South Dakota

Spokane

Washington

California

Montana

Dallas

Gold Beach

Nashville

New Mexico

Seattle

Portland

Memphis

Chicago

Laguna Niguel

US Road Trip 

Discover the best of the West Coast's national parks with this diverse itinerary. From majestic Crater Lake to stunning Redwoods, picturesque Napa & Sonoma, and iconic Yosemite and Sequoia, this road trip has it all! Enjoy scenic drives, breathtaking hikes, and indulgent wine tastings. With carefully planned driving times, you'll wake up at each destination ready to explore.

Yosemite Valley, CA, USA

Sequoia, CA, USA

Redwoods, CA, USA

Portland, OR, USA

Sonoma, CA, USA

Monterey, CA, USA

Napa, CA, USA

West Coast American Road Trip: 10 Day Itinerary

Springtime is the perfect season to explore the United States' best travel destinations. In this guide, we'll show you the top places to visit, activities to do, and sights to see during spring.


Sedona, AZ, USA

Maui, Hawaii, USA

Tennessee, USA

New Orleans, LA, USA

Charleston, SC, USA

San Antonio, TX, USA

The Best Spring Travel Destinations in the United States: A Guide to Discovering Nature's Renewal

"🌴✨ California Dreaming: Your Ultimate Travel Guide! 🌞🌊 Explore the Golden State's hottest spots with us! From the iconic palm-lined streets of Beverly Hills to the breathtaking cliffs of Big Sur, we've curated the ultimate California adventure. 🚗🌅 Discover hidden gems in Joshua Tree National Park, ride the waves in Malibu, and savor farm-to-table cuisine in Napa Valley. 🍷🍇 Get ready for sun-soaked days, star-studded nights, and unforgettable memories! Follow along as we take you on a journey through the best of California. 📸🌴 #CaliforniaDreaming #TravelGoals #WestCoastWanderlust"

Big Sur, Kalifornija, Jungtinės Valstijos

Monterey, Kalifornija, Jungtinės Valstijos

California, Jungtinės Valstijos

Joshua Tree, Kalifornija, Jungtinės Valstijos

Yosemite National Park, Kalifornija, Jungtinės Valstijos

California 

Las Vegas is so much more than the gambling and glamour on the Strip. I've shared my favorite Las Vegas spots across my other guides and socials, but let's get started with some of the best day trips and weekenders from Sin City. 

This loop in particular can be done as a long day trip or as a more casual weekender. This loop begins with the Extraterrestrial Highway, runs through a small town called Tonopah, Nevada, and circles back via the Art Highway. 

Goldfield, NV, USA

Extraterrestrial Hwy, Hiko, NV, USA

Tonopah, NV, USA

Rachel, NV, USA

Las Vegas, NV, USA

Nevada, USA

Downtown, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Las Vegas Strip, NV, USA

Best Day Trips From Las Vegas: Aliens, Ghosts, Oh My!

This guide takes you through central California, starting from Fresno. I was able to find cheap flights from my hometown to Fresno. You could also fly into Sacramento and make this loop work just as easily!
This guide uses mainly Marriott hotels, where if you're a member, you can use points to save money. Otherwise, there are tons of other lodging options at each stop.

Outdoorsy (and beachy!) 7 days through Central California

Yosemite, KY, USA

Aspen, CO, USA

Zion, IL, USA

Atlanta, GA, USA

San Diego, CA, USA

The Best Places to Visit in the USA

In this guide I include my top picks for…
✨Hotels & Airbnbs 
✨Must try restaurants & bars
✨Outdoor Activities & Hikes 
✨Day Trips & More! 

Lake Tahoe, United States

The Best of Lake Tahoe, California  

As a California native, I’ve curated a list of amazing sights across my home state. Filled with amazing views of nature, cute cafès and restaurants and more. 

Surrounded by mountains and crystal-clear lakes, Mammoth has endless adventures for all. Below is a comprehensive guide on the area for anyone traveling here in the summer. 

Mammoth Lakes: Summer Guide

Are you looking for a mix of adventure and romantic? This itinerary is for you! Start by hiking through Yosemite and end with wine tastings in beautiful Napa Valley.

The trip details included are best suited for an adult getaway (friends, couples, or solo). Hikes and activities listed were done in May.

4-day Yosemite National Park Adventure

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

Joshua Tree National Park, California, USA

Kings Canyon National Park, California, USA

Death Valley National Park, United States

Southern California, CA, USA

Pinnacles National Park, California, USA

National Park Tour of Southern California

Yosemite is arguably one of the most famous national parks and we’re lucky that it’s so close to Los Angeles! Best known for its tremendous waterfalls, you don’t even have to be a nature lover to fall in love with the area. You can hike through the valleys, meadows and cliffs or simply do a scenic drive through the area and keep your eyes peeled for wildlife. If possible, I’d plan a visit here in May or September, the seasons when the roads are still accessible, but not too crowded yet.

One of the most breathtaking moments of your trip will definitely be driving through the Tunnel View area of the park that opens to a picturesque view of Yosemite Valley! Also take a drive through the valley and participate in the easy hikes it offers!

Find your adventure in Yosemite National Park: Experience the stunning beauty of towering granite cliffs, cascading waterfalls, and serene meadows, while immersing yourself in outdoor activities that will leave you breathless

Just 45 minutes north you would be remiss not to visit one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Soaring peaks, towering waterfalls, tranquil lakes, and ancient forests Yosemite offers a variety of indescribable beauty. 

Iconic national park offers an array of options such as hiking among redwoods & river rafting.

Go into Yosemite for a day; see this link __ for a guide through the park

We went for six days. Including 2 days of travel to and from San Jose. 

Yosemite National Park

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