Road Trip

California's Greatest Parks

From the desert floor to the Sierra Nevada peaks — California's parks span every landscape.

Updated

11Days
6Parks
1,200Miles
May, June, September, OctoberBest Months

The Itinerary

1The sky turns hues of pink and purple over a field of Joshua trees.

Joshua Tree National Park

CA · 2 days

Moderate Crowds

Hidden Valley · Keys View · Skull Rock

2badlands bathed in pale pink and orange light from the setting sun

Death Valley National Park

CA, NV · 1 day

Moderate Crowds

Badwater Basin · Zabriskie Point · Mesquite Flat Dunes

3A deep canyon with a forested floor and steep granite cliffs

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks

CA · 2 days

Comfortable

General Sherman Tree · Moro Rock · Crystal Cave

4Two tall waterfalls flowing down snow covered granite walls.

Yosemite National Park

CA · 3 days

Comfortable

Half Dome · Yosemite Falls · Glacier Point

5A frozen lake below snow-covered trees and peak

Lassen Volcanic National Park

CA · 1 day

Comfortable

Bumpass Hell · Lassen Peak Trail · Manzanita Lake

6View from forest floor looking straight up. Ferns as seen close up and redwood trunks meet.

Redwood National and State Parks

CA · 2 days

Comfortable

Tall Trees Grove · Fern Canyon · Prairie Creek