This Northern California Loop road trip itinerary covers just about everything you’d want in a west coast road trip. Experience the great city of San Francisco, drive coast-hugging Highway 1, witness giant sequoia groves, explore iconic Yosemite National Park, spend time on the water in Lake Tahoe and stroll through the vineyards in Napa Valley.
All of our road trips are fully customisable and can be tailor-made to suit your own individual requirements. Please let your Discover North America travel specialist know if you would like to start in a different destination, use specific hotel accommodation or simply want to add an excursion or two. Do you have more or less than 16 days for your road trip? No problem, we can add extra nights to allow more time to explore or shorten the number of destinations as required.
As we can offer you such a extensive choice of flights & car rental and prices vary per departure date, we don’t include these elements as standard within the headline fare displayed on our website, unless stated otherwise in the `What’s Included’ section. When requesting your initial quote, your Discover North America Travel Specialist will take the time to understand your own individual requirements with regards to international flights and car rental and will tailor the quote specifically to your needs.
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Start your California adventure in San Francisco, in northern California. Known for its year-round fog, iconic Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars and colourful Victorian houses, this city is also famed for its steep streets - the most famous being Lombard Street. Located in the upscale Russian Hill neighbourhood, Lombard Street is the famous crooked road that’s goes one way (down) past gorgeous Victorian mansions. During your 3 days here, see major sights such as Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge and Fisherman’s Wharf.
Collect your rental vehicle and depart San Francisco in the morning and start your journey south along the Pacific Highway en route to the coastal city of Monterey for a 2-night stay. The coastal drive from San Francisco to Monterey is one of the top scenic drives in the US so take your time and enjoy the 2-hour journey. Monterey has a scenic location and offers a lot for visitors. Visit Cannery Row, visit the aquarium or take a boat tour to see marine species in their natural habitat.
After you’ve had your fill of Monterey, it’s time to drive the famous and spectacular Highway 1 towards Big Sur. Make sure to stop and check out the view from Bixby Bridge, one of the largest single-span concrete bridges in the world, and one of the most photographed bridges in California. Consider visiting Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, McWay Falls, Point Sur State Historic Park, and Big Sur State Historic Park. Each place is unique, but all provide breathtaking views, so make sure to pack a pair of comfortable shoes and a camera. Overnight at Big Sur Lodge, nestled deep in the mighty redwood forest of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park.
After savouring the breathtaking views, continue south to Morro Bay, which is an incredibly quaint coastal town with a much slower pace for an overnight stay. Sit at the beach and stare into the water, which is filled to the brim with local seals and otters who will swim by and wave hello. Visitors who are feeling a bit more motivated could even hop on one of the many seal and whale watching tour boats waiting at the docks or visit Hearst Castle for a tour, and pop your head in across the street at the Hearst Ranch to try one of their wine varietals.
Sequoia National Park and adjacent Kings Canyon National Park are located in California's southern Sierra Nevada mountains. On Day 8, drive inland to the Sierras to visit the home of these majestic trees in the Giant Forest. Drive your car through “Tunnel Log,” a fallen sequoia on Crescent Meadow Road. Stop for a quiet picnic amid colourful wildflowers and walk along the Big Trees Trail, an interpretive 0.6-mile paved loop through a sequoia grove. Look for General Sherman, the largest known sequoia in the United States.
In Kings Canyon you'll find deep valleys, skyscraping trees, and distinctive rock outcroppings, Located next to Sequoia National Park, Kings Canyon Park is composed of two distinct areas - Grant Grove (home to the General Grant tree, also known as "the Nation's Christmas Tree") and Cedar Grove. Kings Canyon is also home to Redwood Canyon, the largest remaining grove of sequoia trees in the world.
On Day 10, continue north into majestic Yosemite National Park where you'll stay for the next 2-nights. The Park enthrals visitors with its diverse terrain, abundant wildlife, and incomparable scenery. 750,000 acres of soaring cliffs, cascading waterfalls, and lush meadows make Yosemite one of the world’s natural wonders. Yosemite Falls, North America’s tallest waterfall, cascades 2,425 feet to the Valley floor far below. Light dances across the sheer granite faces of El Capitan and Half Dome, a natural performance unlike any in the world. A shuttle system, a web of paved walking paths and trails, and plentiful dining and accommodation options make a trip to the Valley effortlessly easy.
Welcome to California’s beautiful jewel in the mountains, Lake Tahoe. This year-round destination is a dream come true. There’s fresh mountain air, brisk turquoise water, scenic short hikes, and epic sunsets. It’s actually the largest alpine lake in all of North America. There’s nothing much better than a few days in the mountains of Lake Tahoe
Welcome to the land of world-class wines and agricultural abundance. Located just an hour north of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, Sonoma County is home to more than 300 wineries, a huge selection of excellent farm-to-table restaurants and a whole host of art galleries, shops and spas.
Your tour ends when you return your rental car to the agreed drop-off point. Alternatively, speak with your Discover North America Travel Specialist about possible trip extensions.