The best road trips from L.A.

Miles from L.A.: ~105
Suggested round-trip time: 2 days min.

A quick and easy drive from L.A. (aside from the eastbound evening rush hour), Palm Springs is definitely doable over a weekend. Head east past miles of wind farms, where turbines cast formidable shadows and make an otherwise monotone landscape come alive. Look out for prehistoric creatures on the side of the road; the 50-foot Cabazon Dinosaurs (a Brontosaurus and a T. Rex, to be exact) are a popular roadside attraction. You can check out the gift shop (in the bront’s belly), but to climb to the top of the T. Rex and sit in his mouth (a la Pee-wee during his big adventure), you’ll have to fork over $15 (money perhaps better spent on a date shake from Hadley Fruit Orchards down the street).

When you arrive in Palm Springs, pick up a map of modernist buildings at the Albert Frey-designed Palm Springs Visitors Center for a self-guided architecture tour of the town.

Discover the best things to do in Palm Springs.

Miles from L.A.: ~130
Suggested round-trip time: 2–3 days min.

Joshua Tree is one of the most magical places in California (and the country, we think). The national park’s varied and alien landscapes—due mostly to gnarled, ancient Joshua Trees and giant boulders strewn willy nilly—make for impressive scenery during leisurely drives. The stargazing is choice here, and wild coyotes may howl you to sleep if you plan an overnight camping trip. Stop at Pappy & Harriet’s for lunch on the way, and stick around for live music and a ghost-town stroll. Pick up a new houseplant at the Cactus Mart, or visit the Integratron (reservations required) for a new-age sound bath and a shady hammock nap.

The town of Joshua Tree itself also offers some fun stops, such as the World Famous Crochet Museum, filled with the kind of quirky public art that only exists in tiny, warm-weather communities. 

Discover the best things to do in Joshua Tree.

Miles from L.A.: ~235
Suggested round trip time: 3 days min.

If you’re a tree lover, you must go see the giant redwoods of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Driving through and under such gentle giants is an experience that can only be had on the way to and within these parks. There’s not a whole lot worth stopping at on the way until you get just outside of the park; Three Rivers is lined with a small but charming array of coffee shops and breweries, plus—our favorite—Ol Buckaroo, an open-air diner along the water.

Sequoia is slightly more drive-and-look friendly, with cool attractions like the General Sherman Tree, the largest living thing in the world; Tunnel Log, a fallen, hollowed out Sequoia that you can drive your car through; and Moro Rock, a dome-shaped peak accessible via a couple hundred steps. Meanwhile, the winding roads and backcountry trails in Kings Canyon are on every hiker’s bucket list (the drive to the end of Highway 180 is worth it even if you don’t plan on pushing yourself on foot).

Just make sure to check conditions before you go: Some roads close after the summer season (specifically the bulk of Kings Canyon), and there’s always a risk of wildfires in the area.

Miles from L.A.: ~270
Suggested round trip time: 3 days min.

Our advice? Never fly to Vegas; the drive is too much fun to miss (well, aside from the traffic on the way home). First, check out Calico Ghost Town. It’s not the most authentic of ghost towns, but it’s a worthwhile detour for a bit of Wild West history.

For something a little stranger, look out for exit 23 on the 15, which will lead you to the ruins of the former Zzyzx Mineral Springs and Health Spa. Created by criminal, quack radio evangelist Curtis Howe Springer back in 1944, the resort duped visitors into thinking they were soaking in healing natural hot springs, when in reality all the pools were boiler-heated. (Eventually the FBI shut this little operation down.) Get even weirder seven miles down the road in Baker with an alien sighting at Alien Jerky, a kitschy, alien-themed sundries shop selling flavored jerky, olives, nuts and candy.

If you’re hungry for something more substatial, don’t miss the Mad Greek, a surprisingly delicious Greek fast food joint. In fact you can’t miss it, due to the lifesize plaster statues and Parthenon patio. Get a gyro plate to fuel the rest of your journey to Sin City. If you’re itching for the open road once your’re in Vegas, take a loop through Red Rock Canyon, including a 13-mile scenic loop that follows the canyon walls.

Discover the best things to do in Las Vegas.

Miles from L.A.: ~310
Suggested round trip time: 3 days min.

Take the scenic Route 395 and you’ll have a view of the snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountain range for most of this gorgeous drive. When you hit Big Pine, stop for a bite at Copper Top BBQ, a bright red smoke shack that serves piping-hot ribs and tri-tips. You may end up befriending some hungry alpine clibers headed to or from Mount Whitney (the highest point in the contiguous U.S. at 14,505 feet!). Take a small detour east to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, home to the oldest trees in the world; some of these beauties have been around for more than 4,000 years.

Farther north, stop in Bishop for some fresh-baked loaves or pastries at Schat’s Bakery. Drive up the road to Mahogany Smoked Meats and choose some road snacks from a huge selection of gourmet beef, turkey, elk, buffalo, boar and fish jerkies. Though there’s no formal address, if you’re determined (or willing to ask a local), you can find a group of easily-accessible hot springs right off the 395, just south of Mammoth Yosemite Airport.

Miles from L.A.: ~390
Suggested round trip time: 3–4 days min.

There’s more than one way to get up to the Bay; you can choose the scenic route up the Pacific Coast Highway, or the down-and-dirty quick shot up the 5. (Yes, we mean dirty; miles of cattle farms give off a terrible stench, and miles of citrus farms—while more pleasing to the nose—will leave your car covered in bug guts.)

For a leisurely road trip, we suggest taking the 101 (and then detouring to Highway 1 if you want a very leisurely trip—but more on that in our Big Sur entry farther down this page). Stop in San Luis Obispo at the Madonna Inn for a giant slice of cake or a peek into one of the themed guest rooms. If you have more time, Hearst Castle is a must-see; a sprawling estate with 56 bedrooms, multiple pools, 127 acres of gardens and even grazing zebras.

As you continue north, closer to the Bay Area, look out for the signs (and smells) of Gilroy, the garlic capital of the world. Take a detour just outside of San Jose for more quirky home architecture at the Winchester Mystery House, supposedly haunted by ghosts of those killed by Winchester rifles, which led Sarah Winchester to build new additions onto the house continuously until her death to confuse the wandering spirits.

Discover the best things to do in San Francisco.

Miles from L.A.: ~350
Suggested round trip time: 3 days min.

Arguably one of the most iconic stretches of coastline in the world, the Big Sur area is a road tripper’s paradise. It’s where redwood-covered mountainsides plunge into the surging ocean, with a narrow road carved into the cliffside, offering incredible views and a bit of vertigo. Before you get too far north, stop off at Morro Bay or Pismo Beach (both right near San Luis Obispo) for a dip or a sunbathe and later, look for the sign alerting you of the elephant seals, who crowd along the shoreline. Then steel yourself for a few hours of curves—every one is worth it for the next view around the corner.

One of the best ways to see Big Sur is simply by driving along Highway 1, parking your car wherever it looks cool (read: basically everywhere), and following a probably unmarked trail—though be careful of poison oak—down in the direction of the ocean. For more mappable destinations, try the touristy-but-still-totally-worth-it McWay Falls and Pfeiffer Beach for even more stunning vistas (we also used to suggest you check out the Esalen Institute, as their hot spring baths used to be open to the public from 1–3am with a reservation, but that’s been temporarily, if not permanently, suspended).

Dying to get off the beaten path? Head up Nacimiento Road to the remote valley setting of Mission San Antonio de Padua—one spot in Big Sur that you just might have to yourself. And consider extending your trip to the north, too: Carmel is utterly charming, and it’s worth strolling along the rocky coastline of Pacific Grove into attraction-stuffed harbor of Monterey.

Just a heads up: Increasingly common landslides have temporarily shut down sections of Highway 1 in recent years, so make sure to check up on the latest road closures before you depart. You may only be able to reach certain sections of Big Sur from the Bay Area-end of the highway in the event of a closure.

Miles from L.A.: ~415
Suggested round trip time: 5 days min.

There’s so much to explore in Wine Country. Enjoy a picturesque drive up the coast, then swing inland for miles and miles of bucolic, verdant, rolling hills dotted with wineries and farms.

Once you get close, you’ll have to pick a direction: west for Sonoma, east for Napa. You can’t go wrong, but it isn’t easy to drive back and forth between the two, so if you don’t have time for both, choose between spread out, rustic Sonoma or more condensed and touristy Napa. Spring for a hot air balloon ride if you can, or spot them from the road in the early mornings. The main event here, of course, is wineries—just be sure to drive safely, or turn the wheel over to Lyft for the day.

Discover the best things to do in Napa.

Miles from L.A.: ~465
Suggested round trip time: 4–5 days min.

The scenic Route 395 is one of the loveliest roads in California. Wind your way along the Eastern Sierras, stopping in the small towns of Lone Pine, Big Pine and Bishop for quaint strolls and delicious detours (we’ll repeat here our recommendations for Copper Top BBQ in Big Pine and the famous Schat’s Bakery in Bishop).

The area is perfect for exploration by car; take any westward road to head up into the mountains, where you’ll find pine forests, crystal clear snowmelt lakes and tiny towns. Ask the locals where to find one of many natural hot springs to soak tight muscles from a long day’s drive, or pull off at the Happys, Sads or Owens River Gorge, all world-class bouldering and climbing sites, for some rock scrambling.

For otherworldly waterscapes, check out Mono Lake’s “tufas,” spindly towers of limestone buildup reflecting across the saline waters. If you have time, a stop in Yosemite National Park (reservations required during the summer) is a must, as is a hike or stroll (or ski day) in Mammoth. Another worthwhile (if far) detour is Bodie, one of the most legitimate and well-preserved ghost towns in America.

Discover the best things to do in Tahoe

Miles from L.A.: ~470
Suggested round trip time: 5 days min.

The change of scenery you’ll see on this drive is worth the trip alone: from vast stretches of desert into shrub-covered hills, followed by dense forest and—depending on the time of year—even snow.

There are plenty of detours along the way: the Hoover Dam (an inspired Art Deco wonder), the Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Las Vegas—it’s definitely a choose-your-own-adventure type of trip, depending on how much time you have. But whether your destination is Flagstaff or Sedona, take the 30-minute drive between the two. Each has distinct offerings; from a hip, small-town feel in Flagstaff with craft beer, live music and friendly folks to stunning views and an overwhelming number of health and wellness spas in sleepy Sedona (treat yo’ self). 

Discover the best things to do in Flagstaff and the best things to do in Sedona.

Miles from L.A.: ~165
Suggested round trip time: 2 days

Driving south down a desolate stretch of the 111, you’d never guess that the lake was a popular vacation spot in the 1950s, with resorts dotting its eastern shore. But increasing salinity and pollution due to agricutlural runoff have turned what was once a luxury retreat into a destination appealing only to those with an affinity for the forgotten and decaying.

Explore abandoned structures along the shoreline as sun-bleached fish bones crunch underfoot. When you get hungry, the Ski Inn is your best option—and one of the only remaining establishments in the area. Make sure to visit late local Leonard Knight’s gigantic folk art sculpture, Salvation Mountain, a rainbow-hued hill emblazoned with the words “God is Love.”

Miles from L.A.: ~500
Suggested round trip time: 6–7 days min.

The route to southwest Utah will take you directly through Vegas, so you can hit up all the roadside attractions listed above before venturing into more scenic landscape on the second half of your journey.

There’s no shortage of incredible parks and monuments to check out in this area, so if you’re looking to see some natural wonders, this is the trip for you. A few must-visits are Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park (the backdrop to most Westerns since the 1930s), Glen Canyon National Recreation Area for some swimming amidst the desert landscape (if the season is right) and Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, home of incredible “wave” rock formations and painted desert vistas. You’ll be greeted in Zion by soaring monoliths and sunset-colored cliffs; beyond in Bryce Canyon, the pinks turn to reds in a surreal, hoodoo-covered landscape (hoodoo means rock spire, and is way more fun to say).