Epic California Road Trip 🚙 12-Day Itinerary Waterfalls, Beaches & Mountains!

Описание: Bucket list road trip around California 🚙 This route takes 12-14 days, and you can extend it as much as you want!

It’s great for first-time visitors and for locals who never found time to explore it all. The full route is great for fall or spring. Summer might be too hot in Death Valley National Park while in winter not all Mammoth Lakes places will be accessible. Still doable at any season with some adjustments!

If you’re visiting California for the first time, add 2-3 days to see Los Angeles as well.

Suggested places with easy access along the route:

Day 1 - 2: Death Valley National Park:
Badwater Basin
Zabriskie Point
Artist’s Palette
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
Devil’s Golf Course

Day 3 - 4: Mammoth Lakes
Hot Creek Geological Site
Mammoth Mountain
Convict Lake
Crowley Lake Columns (best in fall, 4x4 or a boat needed)
Mono Lake (nearby)
Devils Postpile National Monument
Rainbow Falls (if you have time for a longer hike)

Day 5 - 6: Yosemite
Yosemite Valley
Yosemite Falls
Bridalveil Fall
Tunnel View
Glacier Point

Day 7 - 8: Lake Tahoe
Emerald Bay
Vikingsholm
Eagle Falls Trail
Zephyr Cove Beach
Sand Harbor
Heavenly Gondola Ride

Day 9 - 10: San Francisco
Golden Gate Bridge
Helicopter flight above the city
Painted Ladies
Lombard Street
Palace of Fine Arts
Golden Gate Park

Day 11 - 12: Big Sur
Bixby Creek Bridge
McWay Falls
Pfeiffer Beach
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

Note that Big Sur drive is partly closed so you’ll need to turn around and exit Big Sur from the north.

Please always remember to leave no trace: explore responsibly, pick up all waste, don’t disturb nature and be considerate of others 💚

Check out my California map for more fun destinations in our beautiful state. It has over 600 pins and will show you even more beauty along this drive! ✨ Lіnk in bіо ✨
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