From the sunny shoreline and white sandy seashores to rugged desert mountains and the jagged Excessive Sierra peaks, California has so much to supply. Fortunately, Los Angeles is situated near many highlights, and with a big worldwide airport, it’s a fantastic start line for any highway journey.
And there’s no higher strategy to highway journey than in an Escape Camper Van! Nothing could possibly be simpler with a handy pickup location proper in Los Angeles! So now you simply should resolve which of those highway journeys from Los Angeles strikes your curiosity most!
Pacific Coast Freeway 1 to San Francisco
Complete Driving Time: 10 hours
How Many Days? 3 – 6 days
Driving the Pacific Coast Freeway 1 from Los Angeles to San Francisco is certainly one of California’s crown jewel highway journeys. It’s arduous to drive this route with out stopping each few miles to soak up the placing vistas. And there are a lot of cities and cities alongside the route providing completely different alternatives for exploring.
With a lot to see and discover this is among the finest highway journeys from Los Angeles. It’s doable to drive the coast in a protracted day however there’s no method you’ll need to do this; spend a minimum of just a few days to per week tenting alongside the coast to benefit from the highlights and past.
*Street closures often happen alongside Route 1 because of rockfall and highway repairs. Check online for road updates earlier than your journey in case you must detour round a piece. Some detours add just a few hours of driving.
Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara is an ideal first cease as you drive the Pacific Coast Freeway 1 from Los Angeles to San Francisco. Recognized for its Spanish influences, pristine shoreline, chill way of life, and comfy climate it is a scenic metropolis to cease in.
Santa Barbara Highlights
Downtown Santa Barbara: Discover artwork, tradition, museums, and historic Spanish structure on this vibrant metropolis. Dine on native bites and luxuriate in a wine tasting. Stroll the streets to buy at boutiques, seize a espresso at a neighborhood roastery, or attend a lively event; they happen commonly all year long!
Old Mission Santa Barbara: Outdated Mission Santa Barbara is among the most photographed landmarks within the metropolis. Discovered by the Spanish Franciscans in 1786, it’s thought of the “Queen of Missions”. The church and grounds sit on 15 acres overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Stearns Wharf: Head to Stearns Wharf for among the finest views within the metropolis whereas eating on among the tastiest meals. Outlets, eating places, and a small aquarium are situated on the wharf.
Santa Barbara Tenting
Carpinteria State Beach Campground: Carpinteria State Seashore has 4 campground loops. Websites are open year-round with hearth grates, picnic tables, water, and bathrooms. Reserve a spot as much as 6 months upfront. Through the sluggish season, the remaining websites can be found the day of.
Gaviota State Park Beach & Campground: This can be a seasonal campground from April to October. Websites are situated close to the sandy Gaviota Seashore. Websites have water, bathrooms, hearth grates, and picnic tables.
San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo is one other California metropolis based by Spanish missionaries. The quaint downtown is stuffed with boutiques and eating places. Town is surrounded by well-known seashores and delightful websites. It’s price spending an evening right here to dive in and benefit from the shoreline, wine, and eating.
San Luis Obispo Highlights
Pismo Beach: Seafood, sandy seashores, wineries, and monarch butterflies lure many to Pismo Seashore. It’s truly thought of the clam capital of the world!
Morro Rock Beach: Morro Bay is famously recognized for the big Morro Rock rising 576 ft above the Pacific Ocean. It’s the right place to observe the sundown.
Downtown SLO (San Luis Obispo): Take pleasure in artwork, eating, procuring, and native occasions in Downtown SLO. And don’t miss the well-known Downtown SLO Farmers’ Market each Thursday from 6 – 9 pm.
San Luis Obispo Tenting
Morro Strand State Beach Campground: Morro Strand Campground has 70 campsites, every with hearth rings, tables, water, and flushing bathrooms. The campground is situated proper on Freeway 1, 15 miles west of San Luis Obispo.
Morro Bay State Park Campground: Morro Bay State Park Campground is situated proper on Freeway 1, 13 miles west of San Luis Obispo. It has 140 campsites with hearth rings, tables, water, flushing bathrooms, and token-operated showers.
Islay Creek Campground: Situated proper in Montaña de Oro State Park, Islay Creek Campground gives lovely coastal views at this primitive campground. Websites have tables, hearth rings, water, and bathrooms close by.
North Beach Campground: North Seashore Campground is situated at Pismo State Seashore alongside the Oceano Lagoon. It has 103 campsites with hearth rings, tables, water, bogs, and showers out there for pay.
Big Sur
The well-known shoreline of Big Sur is among the most iconic spots alongside the California Pacific Coast Freeway and makes this top-of-the-line highway journeys from Los Angeles. The dramatic coast has steep cliffs, waterfalls, and towering Redwoods, multi functional!
Massive Sur Highlights
McWay Falls: Mcway Falls is an 80-foot waterfall that drops proper into the ocean off the coast of Massive Sur in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. It flows year-round and with the white sandy seashore, turquoise-blue water, and a rocky coast it’s a web site you don’t need to miss!
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park: Situated simply inland from Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is Pfeiffer Massive Sur State Park, totally on the east aspect of Freeway 1. The park is dwelling to dense forests crammed with redwoods, oaks, sycamores, conifers, cottonwoods, alders, maples, and willows.
Bixby Creek Bridge: Bixby Bridge is a concrete open-spandrel arch bridge. It’s famously photographed because of its aesthetic design mixing in with the placing shoreline. It’s one of many highest bridges of this sort and rises 260 ft above the canyon carved by Bixby Creek.
Massive Sur Tenting
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park Campground: There are 189 websites at Pfeiffer Massive Sur State Park. Websites are open year-round with hearth pits, picnic tables, water, bathrooms, and sizzling showers. It’s a very fashionable campground so e-book as far upfront as doable.
Kirk Creek Campground: Kirk Creek Campground is a nationwide forest campground situated simply south of Massive Sur. It’s a busy campsite open year-round so e-book campsites as far upfront as doable.
Monterey
Well-known for its plentiful wildlife, scrumptious seafood, rugged shoreline, reward outlets, and factories transformed into bars, Monterey gives a lot to take a look at in your highway journey from Los Angeles to San Francisco.
Monterey Highlights
Point Lobos Natural Reserve: Level Lobos is a fantastic nature protect situated on the Pacific Ocean. It’s a preferred spot to see wildlife together with sea lions and seals, or spot an occasional whale spout. It’s a pleasant space for climbing with gorgeous views.
Carmel-By-The-Sea: If you wish to buy groceries in a quaint city and luxuriate in a pleasant lunch, procuring, or sport of golf then Carmel-By-The-Sea is a superb place to spend your day.
Monterey Bay Aquarium: The Monterey Bay Aquarium is a world-famous analysis institute. There are over 200 marine displays with greater than 80,000 species of animals.
17-Mile Drive: Drive alongside the Pacific Ocean on 17-Mile Drive working from Monterey Bay to Pebble Seashore and Carmel-By-The-Sea.
Monterey Tenting
Saddle Mountain Ranch: Camp amongst pines, oaks, and redwoods at Saddle Mountain Ranch just some miles inland from Freeway 1. The campground has bogs with free sizzling showers, a gazebo with a fireplace pit, horseshoe pits, ping pong and badminton video games, and extra!
Sunset State Beach: Sundown State Seashore is a busy campground year-round. It’s situated alongside the Pacific Ocean surrounded by sand dunes and pine timber. The campground has bathrooms, water, hearth rings, and tables.
Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz is famously recognized for its browsing, seashores, historic landmarks, and laid-back vibe. From exploring seashores and the tall Redwood timber to eating on contemporary seafood on the wharf and grabbing a beer on the town, this vibrant coastal metropolis shouldn’t be skipped!
Santa Cruz Highlights
Downtown Santa Cruz: Downtown Santa Cruz is the right place for eating, procuring, and reside music and occasions. The wharf, boardwalk, and foremost middle present hours of enjoyment.
Whale Watching: Whale watching is a should when visiting California’s coast and Santa Cruz gives loads of tour choices! Relying on the time of yr you will have the possibility to see whales, sharks, dolphins, sea lions, otters, birds, and extra.
Big Basin Redwoods State Park: Stroll amongst among the tallest timber on the planet at Massive Basin Redwoods State Park. It’s situated simply north of Santa Cruz and is dwelling to many climbing trails.
Santa Cruz Tenting
New Brighton State Beach Campground: New Brighton State Seashore has 100 campsites with bluff and ocean views, simply quarter-hour from San Cruz. It’s a preferred campground open year-round so reserve your web site early.
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground: Simply inland from Santa Cruz is a redwood grove in Henry Cowell Park. The campground there has 107 reservable campsites in a shaded oak and pine forest. The campground has flushing bathrooms, potable water, picnic tables, and hearth pits.
San Francisco
End off top-of-the-line highway journeys from Los Angeles within the colourful, vigorous metropolis of San Francisco. From iconic landmarks and rugged coastal walks to wealthy tradition and metropolis life you’ll absolutely need to spend a few days exploring round San Francisco!
*As a result of excessive prevalence of break-ins it’s really useful to return your Escape Camper Van at the San Francisco location earlier than spending the evening within the metropolis to keep away from any points with car security.
**There’s a $150 charge to return your camper van to a unique metropolis.
San Francisco Highlights
Golden Gate Bridge: The Golden Gate Bridge is certainly one of the vital iconic landmarks in California and driving your Escape Camper Van throughout the bridge that connects San Francisco to the Marin Headlands is an expertise you don’t need to miss!
Sausalito: When you get throughout the Golden Gate Bridge you’ll cross by way of the realm of Sausalito. It’s a fantastic city famously recognized for its houseboats. The lovable city has many outlets, cafes, ice cream parlors, and eating places all searching on the majestic San Francisco bay and skyline.
Lands End: Lands Finish is a big park space situated in Golden Gate Nationwide Recreation Space on the northwest most level of San Francisco. Right here you may get pleasure from views of the Golden Gate Bridge, go on a hike by way of the Cypress Timber, or try the historic Sutro Baths subsequent to the Pacific Ocean.
Massive Bear, Palm Springs, & Joshua Tree Nationwide Park
Complete Driving Time: 9 hours
How Many Days? 4 – 5 days
Discover the highlights of Southern California on top-of-the-line highway journeys from Los Angeles whereas visiting Massive Bear, Palm Springs, and Joshua Tree. This highway journey gives you a style of the mountains, the desert, and a vibey and opulent metropolis. Each water and mountain actions are on the itinerary paired with a little bit of eating and tradition.
Big Bear Lake
Your first cease in your southern California spotlight highway journey is Massive Bear! It’s a small metropolis surrounding Massive Bear Lake which is dwelling to climbing and mountain biking trails in the summertime and Southern California’s largest ski resort within the winter.
There are many eating places, reward outlets, boutiques, and cafes to take a look at in addition to the gorgeous nature of San Bernardino Nationwide Forest.
Massive Bear Highlights
Big Bear Lake: Swimming, climbing, mountain biking, boating, fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and extra! There are numerous methods to get pleasure from your time at Massive Bear Lake and it’s lower than a 3-hour drive from Escape Camper Vans in Los Angeles.
Big Bear Mountain Resort: Get your skis and snowboards prepared for winter and hit up the slopes at Massive Bear Mountain Resort.
Lake Arrowhead: Lake Arrowhead is about 45 minutes west of Massive Bear. It’s one other nice space to go boating, fishing, swimming, and paddling.
Massive Bear Tenting
Serrano Campground: Serrano Campground is a nationwide forest campground situated proper subsequent to Massive Bear Lake. It’s open from mid-March by way of November. It has over 100 campsites and gives shut entry to climbing, mountain biking, boating, and fishing.
Pineknot Campground: Pineknot Campground is one other nationwide forest campground situated subsequent to Massive Bear Lake. It’s open seasonally from late April to mid-October. Websites have ingesting water, flushing bathrooms, and picnic tables.
Hanna Flat Campground: Hanna Flat Campground is simply north of Massive Bear Lake. It’s a nationwide forest campground open from April to September. The campground has bathrooms, ingesting water, and picnic tables.
Palm Springs
Recognized for its procuring, eating, arts, golf, and spas you may’t go flawed with a go to to Palm Springs. With a lot to do that metropolis attracts guests year-round to benefit from the nature, tradition, and actions of this vigorous California desert metropolis.
Palm Springs Highlights
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway: Hop on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway for spectacular views of the Palm Springs Space together with Mount San Jacinto, the San Bernardino Mountains, and the Coachella Valley.
Downtown Palm Springs: Palm Springs is thought for its upscale eating, luxurious and boutique procuring, wellness spas, and artwork scene from sculpture gardens and galleries to museums and performing arts facilities. Head downtown to immerse your self within the vigorous Palm Springs tradition.
Golfing: The Better Palm Springs space is well-known for its gold scene. From learners to professionals it attracts golfers from throughout. Town itself is dwelling to 9 golf programs and the Better Palm Springs space has greater than 130 golf programs.
Palm Springs Tenting
Palm Springs / Joshua Tree KOA: This KOA is about 20 minutes from Downtown Palm Springs and the closest tenting choice to town. The campground has a pool, sizzling tub/sauna, mini golf, a pavilion, and different snug facilities.
Stone Creek Campground: Stone Creek Campground is situated in Mt. San Jacinto State Park, about 45 minutes from Palm Springs. The campground has 44 websites open from spring to fall. Situated at 5,411 ft, it’s a bit of cooler at Stone Creek Campground than in Palm Springs in the course of the summer time.
Black Rock Canyon Campground: Black Rock Campground is a 99-site campground situated within the northwest a part of Joshua Tree Nationwide Park, only a 45-minute drive from Downtown Palm Springs. It has flushing bathrooms, water, tables, and hearth grates.
Joshua Tree National Park
Dwelling to the namesake Joshua timber, gigantic granite boulders, plentiful cacti, desert wildlife, and extra, Joshua Tree Nationwide Park is a must-visit highway journey from Los Angeles.
The park is simply about 45 minutes from Palm Springs so it really works completely with the itinerary of Massive Bear, Palm Springs, and Joshua Tree!
Joshua Tree Nationwide Park Highlights
Hidden Valley Nature Trail: Stroll amongst big boulders, alongside Joshua timber, and look out for different desert flora and occasional fauna on the Hidden Valley Nature Path. The 1-mile loop path showcases among the finest Joshua Tree Nationwide Park has to supply!
Skull Rock: Cranium Rock is among the most iconic rock formations within the park and also you guessed it – it appears like a cranium! The 2 eye sockets have been fashioned by erosion. Cranium Rock is situated simply off Park Boulevard and is definitely accessible from the parking space.
Keys View: Benefit from the park with a chicken’s eye view from Keys View. At 5,185 ft excessive you’ll get pleasure from panoramic vistas of the park up there. And it’s a drivable viewpoint!
Cholla Cactus Garden: The Cholla Cactus Backyard is a can’t miss in Joshua Tree. Teddy bear cholla covers the panorama till they meet the rugged mountains. A 0.25-mile stroll is the right strategy to get pleasure from them, and even higher at sundown!
Joshua Tree Nationwide Park Tenting
Hidden Valley Campground: Hidden Valley Campground is a year-round, 44-site, first-come, first-served campground. This primary campground has pit bathrooms, tables, and hearth grates however no water. It’s situated centrally within the park close to the Hidden Valley Nature Path.
Jumbo Rocks Campground: Jumbo Rocks Campground is a 124-site, year-round campground. Reservations are required year-round. It has pit bathrooms, hearth grates, and tables, however no water. It’s situated centrally within the park.
Indian Cove Campground: Indian Cove Campground is a 101 web site campground open year-round. It’s situated amongst big boulders however it is just accessible from 29 Palms Freeway and isn’t linked to roads contained in the park. The campground has pit bathrooms, tables, and hearth grates. It doesn’t have water.
Jap Sierra to Mammoth Lakes
Complete Driving Time: 11 hours
How Many Days? 4 – 6 days
Cruising Freeway 395 by way of the excessive desert alongside the Eastern Sierra is among the finest highway journeys from Los Angeles. The dramatic landscapes are jaw-dropping with peaks rising 10,000 ft above the freeway!
Alongside the drive, you’ll cross by way of the desert and up into the forest and alpine. This journey gives plentiful alternatives for climbing and swimming in the summertime and snowboarding and snowboarding within the winter.
Lone Pine
Lone Pine is thought for its Wild West film historical past and because the final city earlier than climbing up Mount Whitney. The lovable city has just a few outlets and eating places however is finest recognized for its climbing entry.
Lone Pine Highlights
Alabama Hills National Recreation Area: Scramble round massive granite boulders with the gorgeous backdrop of Mount Whitney and different Excessive Sierra peaks at Alabama Hills Nationwide Recreation Space. Drive the dust, Outdated Film Street to see the place many well-known wild west movies passed off.
Whitney Portal: Mount Whitney is the very best level within the US outdoors of Alaska. The height rises 14,505 ft tall. Whereas it’s not doable to drive to the highest you may drive to Whitney Portal sitting at about 8,600 ft. As you drive up Whitney Portal Street you’ll get pleasure from placing views of Mount Whitney and look down on the Owens Valley and the city of Lone Pine.
For those who’re an avid hiker prepared for a troublesome journey then look into climbing Mount Whitney!
Museum of Western Film History: Lone Pine is the backdrop for a lot of Wild West motion pictures with many scenes shot proper off Outdated Film Street in Alabama Hills. Study concerning the historical past and filmmaking on the Museum of Western Movie Historical past.
Lone Pine Tenting
Turtle Creek Campground: Turtle Creek Campground is a year-round, first-come, first-served BLM campground in Lone Pine. It’s situated near city and has hearth pits, bathrooms, picnic tables, and water seasonally.
Portuguese Joe Campground: Making your method up Whitney Portal Street you’ll come throughout Portuguese Joe Campground. It’s a easy campground with vault bathrooms, potable water, hearth grates, and picnic tables.
Bishop
About an hour north of Lone Pine is Bishop. It’s well-known for its mountaineering scene but in addition has a easy downtown with loads of eating choices and is situated close to many climbing trails accessing the Excessive Sierra.
Bishop Highlights
Lake Sabrina: Lake Sarina is a reservoir situated round 9,000 ft, nearly a 30 minute drive from Bishop. The lake has a restaurant and dock and it’s the start line for a lot of climbing trails.
Keough’s Hot Springs: Keough’s Sizzling Springs is among the few established sizzling springs alongside California’s 395. This implies it’s simply accessible and has facilities like a swimming pool and gorgeous views!
Rock Creek: In your method from Bishop as much as Mammoth you’ll cross Rock Creek Street which leads up Rock Creek Canyon. It’s a fantastic spot to hike amongst Excessive Sierra peaks and alongside pristine alpine lakes.
Erick Schat’s Bakery: Schat’s is a well-known bakery, well-known on the East Facet for its breads, sandwiches, pastries, and extra. The road will wrap across the constructing by mid-day so seize your treats early!
Bishop Tenting
Pleasant Valley Campground: Nice Valley Campground is a primary campground situated off Freeway 395, north of Bishop. It has 75 websites with potable water, picnic tables, vault bathrooms, and hearth rings. Websites are first come, first served from June to October. Reservations can be found from November to Could.
Horton Creek Campground: Horton Creek is a 49-site BLM campground simply outdoors of Bishop. The campground is open seasonally from Could to October with first-come, first-served websites.
Brown’s Town Campground: Brown’s City is a privately owned campground proper in Bishop. It has 150 websites with sizzling showers, shade, coin-op laundry, water, a camp retailer, and a restaurant. The campground is open year-round and requires reservations from April by way of October.
Mammoth Lakes
Mammoth Lakes is dwelling to many pristine alpine lakes mendacity among the many dense coniferous forests with the Excessive Sierra peaks as a backdrop. It’s a should go to vacation spot as top-of-the-line highway journeys from Los Angeles.
From climbing and swimming in lakes in the summertime to snowboarding and snowboarding within the winter there are many methods to get pleasure from this superb city.
Mammoth Lakes Highlights
Mammoth Mountain: Mammoth Mountain is the right place to go to within the winter for snowboarding or snowboarding. It’s the very best ski resort in California and is open as late as July throughout an enormous snow yr!
Lakes Basin: There’s a motive the city is named Mammoth Lakes – and also you guessed it! It’s surrounded by lakes! There are 5 lakes all with highway entry only a 10-minute drive from the principle a part of city. In the summertime stroll or bike alongside the Lakes Basin Path or cross-country ski or snowshoe it within the winter.
Devils Postpile National Monument: Take a brief hike to the 60-foot volcanic basalt columns at Devils Postpile Nationwide Monument. Proceed alongside the path to Rainbow Falls, which drops 101 ft.
Convict Lake: Convict Lake is a turquoise blue lake surrounded by the excessive peaks of the Sierra. It’s a picturesque spot solely 20 minutes south of Mammoth. Drive to the sting of the lake or stroll the two.5-mile path across the lake. Convict Lake can also be a preferred spot for fishing and pontoon boat leases.
Mono Lake: Mono Lake is a saline lake with its famously photographed calcium-limestone tufa columns and Excessive Sierra horizon. It’s one of the vital spectacular spots on the east aspect of the Sierra.
Mammoth Lakes Tenting
Lake Mary Campground: Camp proper alongside Lake Mary for gorgeous views within the Lakes Basin. Campsites are primary with flushing bathrooms, picnic tables, and water.
Twin Lakes Campground: Twin Lakes Campground is situated subsequent to Twin Lakes and only a quick stroll from different lakes within the basin. Websites have potable water, bathrooms, picnic tables, and hearth rings. It’s open when it’s away from snow.
Mammoth Mountain RV Park: Situated proper if you enter city, Mammoth Mountain RV Park & Campground is inside strolling distance of eating places and outlets. Websites have picnic tables, hearth grates, water, and bogs with showers.
San Diego & Anza Borrego Desert State Park
Complete Driving Time: 6 hours
How Many Days? 3 – 4 days
From a placing shoreline and vibrant metropolis to the rugged desert panorama, a San Diego and Anza Borrego Desert State Park journey is among the finest highway journeys from Los Angeles. Go to this area on a protracted weekend journey or give your self a pair additional days to discover the realm extensively.
Anza Borrego Desert State Park
Anza Borrego Desert State Park is a hidden gem in Southern California. It’s the right place to detour on a highway journey from Los Angeles to San Diego. Stroll by way of badlands and among the many rugged desert panorama. Go to within the spring to see wildflowers blooming and ensure you catch a dawn or sundown right here – that’s when the panorama involves life.
Anza Borrego Desert State Park Highlights
Borrego Palm Canyon: Discover the Borrego Palm Canyon on a 3-mile loop path. Wander among the many palms by way of the third-largest palm oasis in California.
Borrego Badlands: Borrego Badlands are a big span of colourful badlands within the park. They’re a fantastic spot to observe dawn or sundown.
Fonts Point: Fonts Level gives probably the most expansive view in Anza Borrego Desert State Park searching on the badlands and past.
Anza Borrego Desert State Park Tenting
Borrego Palm Canyon Campground: This campground is situated proper in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. It has 120 websites with water, bathrooms, picnic tables, and hearth grates. It gives shut entry to climbing trails. Websites are open yr spherical with reservations out there from October 1 – April 30.
Tamarisk Grove Campground: Tamarisk Grove Campground can also be situated proper in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. It has showers, picnic tables, water, and hearth grates.
San Diego
Thought-about to have among the finest climate within the US year-round and residential to many museums, gardens, artwork galleries, gorgeous coastlines, native wildlife, and glorious browsing, San Diego is among the finest highway journeys from Los Angeles. Discover town for a weekend or keep for per week to see all the pieces town and surrounding space has to supply!
San Diego Highlights
Balboa Park: Balboa Park covers 1,200 acres within the coronary heart of San Diego and is dwelling to 18 artwork, science, and historical past museums, gorgeous gardens, historic landmarks, and the well-known San Diego Zoo.
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park: Sundown Cliffs stretch alongside the coast and are dwelling to sea caves, bluffs, and arches. It’s a preferred spot for whale watching.
La Jolla Cove: Whether or not you get pleasure from swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, or walks with gorgeous views, La Jolla Cove is the spot. Generally the water is as clear as 30 ft deep and plenty of marine wildlife frequent the realm.
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve: Stroll alongside the rugged cliffs of San Diego and discover the seashores and lagoon dwelling to many vegetation, seabirds, and marine wildlife.
San Diego Tenting
San Diego Metro KOA Resort: Tenting isn’t all the time simple in an enormous metropolis however this KOA makes it doable. It’s open yr spherical and has many snug facilities together with a sizzling tub and sauna, a pool, a pavilion and extra.
Sweetwater Regional Park: Sweetwater Regional Park is situated on the outskirts of San Diego and gives 112 year-round campsites. It has a big pavilion with kitchen amenities, coin-operated showers, a splash park, an train course and extra.
Kumeyaay Lake Campground: Kumeyaay Lake Campground in Mission Trails Regional Park gives tenting on Friday and Saturday nights on a first-come, first-served foundation. There are 46 websites with shut entry to many climbing trails.
Sequoia & Kings Canyon Nationwide Parks
Complete Driving Time: 10 hours
How Many Days? 3 – 4 days
There isn’t a place like Sequoia and Kings Canyon Nationwide Parks. Seeing Big sequoias towering above you is an awe-inspiring sight. The parks are dwelling to the most important timber on the planet by way of cubic quantity and they are a bucket list destination to explore and top-of-the-line highway journeys from Los Angeles.
Whereas it’s doable to discover each Kings Canyon and Sequoia Nationwide Parks in a few days, it’s finest to spend just a few days. For those who love climbing you can simply spend per week exploring the Excessive Sierra right here.
Sequoia National Park
Begin your journey to the Big sequoias in Sequoia Nationwide Park. The southern entrance is a couple of three and a half hour drive from Los Angeles. From quick hikes lasting an hour to lengthy hikes lasting a day there may be loads of lovely nature to discover right here.
Sequoia Nationwide Park Highlights
General Sherman Tree: Normal Sherman Tree is the most important tree on the planet by way of cubic quantity. This Big sequoia stands 275 ft tall and has a circumference of 102 ft at floor stage. Hike to the tree by way of the 1.2-mile round-trip hike by way of the Normal Sherman Tree Path.
Tunnel Log: Tunnel Log is a Big Sequoia that fell on the highway in 1937 and has since had a tunnel carved in it so guests can drive by way of it!
*Escape Camper Vans are a bit too tall to drive by way of the 8-foot tunnel however you may drive round it and take pictures of different vehicles driving by way of.
Moro Rock: Hike up 350 steep stairs to the panoramic vista atop Moro Rock. From the highest, you’ll look out on the Excessive Sierra peaks, the encircling nationwide forests, and the foothills. The hike is steep and uncovered however quick and price it for the views.
Tokopah Falls: To see some traditional Sierra waterfalls flowing throughout the graceful granite then go to Tokopah Falls! It’s a 1.7-mile out-and-back path with a gradual incline. Tokopah Falls attain 1,200 ft excessive and circulation at their highest in the course of the early summer time when snowmelt is at its peak.
Sequoia Nationwide Park Tenting
Potwisha Campground: Potwisha Campground is situated within the foothills in your method into Sequoia Nationwide Park. It’s one of many first nationwide park campgrounds you attain when driving from Los Angeles. It has 42 websites and is often snow-free year-round. Potwisha has potable water, hearth grates, bogs, and picnic tables.
Lodgepole Campground: Heading additional and better up into the park is Lodgepole Campground. It’s a seasonal campground often open from late April to late November. There are 214 reservation-only campsites with potable water, flushing bathrooms, picnic tables, and hearth grates. A camp retailer is close by in Lodgepole Village.
Kings Canyon National Park
Proceed your highway journey from Los Angeles to Kings Canyon Nationwide Park. Kings Canyon and Sequoia are linked park models so you may simply proceed alongside Generals Freeway into Kings Canyon. Right here you’ll proceed to get pleasure from Big sequoia groves in addition to extra Excessive Sierra peaks.
Kings Canyon Nationwide Park Highlights
General Grant Tree: Go to the second-largest tree on the planet by way of cubic quantity, Normal Grant Tree. This tree is in Kings Canyon Nationwide Park and rises 267 ft tall and is sort of 3,000 years previous. The stroll to Normal Grant Tree is about 0.3 miles spherical journey. It’s a shorter and flatter climbing choice than the Normal Sherman Tree.
Panoramic Point: Cease by Panoramic Level Overlook for expansive vistas searching over Kings Canyon Nationwide Park.
Giant Forest Museum: Study extra concerning the Big sequoias and their dwelling on the GIant Forest Museum. There you may chat with a ranger and be part of a tour or stroll the self-guided interpretive path to study extra concerning the park and its environmental historical past.
Kings Canyon Scenic Byway: Drive the 50-mile highway of Kings Canyon Scenic Byway to discover the gorgeous websites of Kings Canyon Nationwide Park. The byway is open when away from snow from late spring to early summer time by way of late fall.
Kings Canyon Nationwide Park Tenting
Azalea Campground: Azalea Campground sits among the many Big sequoias and has 110 websites all through the summer time and 20 websites within the winter. The campground has bathrooms, picnic tables, hearth grates, and working water from spring to fall. Reserve websites in the course of the busy season from mid-Could to November. Within the winter websites are first-come, first-served.
Sunset Campground: Sundown Campground is a 158 web site campground conveniently situated close to Grant Grove Village. It has websites with flushing bathrooms, water, hearth grates, and picnic tables. It’s a reservation solely campground and is open when snow free, often from late Could to early September.
