This is a full 2-week road trip up the California Coast, starting from the warm shores of San Diego and ending with the towering redwoods of Humboldt. Some of the days are optional extensions that can be cut if you only have a shorter time.

Each day focuses on NATURE, including our favorite hikes, sunrise & sunset spots, beautiful vistas, and more. We've linked added intel like hiking routes and dispersed camping locations.
We've also added some of our top bakeries, breweries, and other spots to check out along the drive.

This guide has almost 90 individual recommendations and represents the best of our accumulated knowledge over years of road trips. The included interactive map makes it super simple to plot your own route!

Use this as your main resource, or combine it with your own research to craft your ideal journey.

Be sure to tag us in your trip photos! 
@theloverspassport

Coastal California Roadtrip

Capitola

San Francisco

Oceanside

California

Half Moon Bay

Santa Cruz

Big Sur

Newport

Oceano

Point Reyes Station

Mexico

Otter Rock

Montecito

Cannon Beach

Carmel-by-the-Sea

Roadtrippers

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

The tranquil counties of California's North Coast and Wine Region are emphasized by mammoth tree forests that yield to the great Pacific Ocean's rocky shoreline while farms and vineyards roll across inland hills. 

History about the natives and original settlers gives a bit of context to this serene region. Experience redwood forests, a sublime Pacific coastline, nature preserves, organic farms and creameries, pastoral wine and olive country, and world-class restaurants, inns, and spas. 

Feel a sense of awe in the collective of Redwoods National and State Parks, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in Del Norte and Humboldt Counties. Mendocino County is also heavily forested with redwoods and a stunning coastline, while inland to its east, Lake County takes its name from Clear Lake, the largest natural lake completely in California.

Sonoma and Napa Counties may be most famous for their world-class winemakers and are also considered to be part of the San Francisco Bay Area, but most of Sonoma County fits into the North Coast and both counties feel uniquely separate from (and more relaxed than) the bustling Bay Area.

List of Places per County: Del Norte (12) + Humboldt (23) + Mendocino (31) + Lake (6) + Sonoma (38) + Napa (19)

Inspired California: North Coast + Wine Country

Some stops for you along the 1/101. Trails, shops, restaurants, breweries… and a Bigfoot Museum, for good measure. I’d recommend looking at this via the map view for some sense of direction.

Hotel confirmations have all been forwarded to your email. Confirmations numbers & contact info are under each hotel (bottom of the list). If you ever need anything or any advice — I am just a little beep boop bop on the phone away. Have the best time. 🫶

Ilana & Jeremy’s Redwoods Road Trip

Humboldt Redwoods State Park

In a park with a total area almost twice the size of San Francisco, about one-third of this 53,000-acre park is old-growth redwood forest—the largest expanse of ancient redwoods left on the planet.

Humboldt Redwoods State Park

About Humboldt Redwoods State Park

What people say

Mentioned in these guides