Starting from Los Angeles

California Trip Guides

Eight epic road trips you can start the moment you pick up your Big City RV. From desert canyons to redwood forests — California has it all.

Best time to go

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Spring

Mar – May

Best overall. Wildflower blooms, Yosemite waterfalls at peak, mild temperatures across all destinations.

☀️

Summer

Jun – Aug

Peak season for Yosemite and the coast. Avoid desert destinations — extreme heat above 100°F.

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Fall

Sep – Oct

Excellent for almost everything. Whale migration on the coast, harvest season, clear skies, fewer crowds.

❄️

Winter

Nov – Feb

Joshua Tree and Death Valley are at their best. Yosemite and Sequoia may have road closures.

Joshua Tree National Park

Desert wonder under a star-filled sky

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127 miles from LA

2.5–3 hrs drive

Recommended 2–3 days

Best: Nov – Mar

Highlights

→Rock climbing & bouldering on iconic formations
→World-class stargazing in the Mojave Desert
→Wildflower blooms in February & March
→Barker Dam, Hidden Valley & Skull Rock hikes

RV Tip · Visit during sunrise for golden light on the boulders. Bring all your water — the park has no potable water sources. RV camping available at several designated campgrounds inside the park.

Route: I-10 East → CA-62 North

Scenic Drive

Big Sur

The most dramatic coastline in America

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315 miles from LA

5–8 hrs drive

Recommended 2–3 days

Best: Mar – May, Sep – Oct

Highlights

→Bixby Creek Bridge — the most photographed bridge in CA
→McWay Falls — an 80-ft waterfall into a hidden beach
→Point Lobos State Reserve & tidepool walks
→Hearst Castle tour in San Simeon

RV Tip · Take Highway 1 north from LA and don't rush it — there are dozens of pullouts worth stopping at. Fill up on gas in Carmel before entering Big Sur. Pacific Coast Highway is fully open as of early 2026.

Route: US-101 N → CA-1 N (Pacific Coast Highway)

Must See

Yosemite National Park

Granite giants, roaring waterfalls, ancient forest

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280 miles from LA

4.5–6 hrs drive

Recommended 3–4 days

Best: Apr – Jun, Sep – Oct

Highlights

→Half Dome & El Capitan viewpoints from the valley floor
→Yosemite Falls — tallest waterfall in North America
→Mirror Lake reflection hike
→Mariposa Grove — 500 ancient giant sequoias

RV Tip · Book campsites and parking reservations months in advance for summer. Enter via Highway 140 (most scenic, open year-round). Late April through May is peak waterfall season — do not miss it.

Route: I-5 N → CA-99 N → CA-140 E

Epic Trip

Grand Canyon

One of Earth's seven natural wonders

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491 miles from LA

7–8 hrs drive

Recommended 3–4 days

Best: Mar – May, Sep – Nov

Highlights

→South Rim sunrise & sunset viewpoints
→Bright Angel Trail hike into the canyon
→Route 66 stops: Calico Ghost Town, Barstow, Kingman
→Lake Havasu & the historic London Bridge

RV Tip · Combine with a Route 66 drive for the ultimate American road trip. Take I-40 East through the Mojave — stop at Calico Ghost Town and the Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch along the way. The South Rim is open year-round.

Route: I-10 E → I-15 N → I-40 E → AZ-64 N

Adventurous

Death Valley National Park

The hottest, driest, lowest place on the continent

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286 miles from LA

4–5 hrs drive

Recommended 2 days

Best: Oct – Apr

Highlights

→Zabriskie Point — sunrise over the painted badlands
→Artist's Palette scenic drive — multi-colored mineral rocks
→Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes — over 100 feet tall
→Badwater Basin — 282 ft below sea level, lowest in N. America

RV Tip · NEVER visit in summer — temperatures exceed 120°F and can be life-threatening. October through April is ideal. Carry at least 1 gallon of water per person per day. Fill your RV tank before entering — gas stations are scarce.

Route: CA-14 N → US-395 N → CA-190 W

Classic Route

Pacific Coast Highway

The ultimate California road trip — ocean all the way

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500 miles (LA to SF) from LA

10–12 hrs total drive

Recommended 4–5 days

Best: Spring & Fall

Highlights

→Santa Barbara — Spanish missions, beaches & wine tasting
→Hearst Castle, Pismo Beach & Morro Rock
→Monterey's Cannery Row & world-class aquarium
→Golden Gate Bridge arrival in San Francisco

RV Tip · Drive northbound (LA to SF) to stay on the ocean side of the road for the best views. Plan for Malibu and Santa Monica early then push north. Carmel-by-the-Sea is worth an overnight stop.

Route: CA-1 N (Pacific Coast Highway) all the way

Family Friendly

Sequoia & Kings Canyon

The largest living trees on Earth

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215 miles from LA

4.5–5.5 hrs drive

Recommended 2–3 days

Best: May – Oct

Highlights

→General Sherman Tree — world's largest tree by volume
→Tunnel Log — drive your car through a fallen giant sequoia
→Crystal Cave marble caverns tour
→Moro Rock panoramic hike with Sierra Nevada views

RV Tip · Enter via the Ash Mountain entrance (Hwy 198) from the south — the most direct route from LA. The Generals Highway inside the park has size restrictions so check your RV height and length before entering. Book campsites early in summer.

Route: I-5 N → CA-99 N → CA-198 E

Iconic

Route 66 Heritage Drive

America's most iconic highway — nostalgia all the way

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270 miles to Las Vegas from LA

4–5 hrs drive

Recommended 2–3 days

Best: Sep – May

Highlights

→Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch — a quirky desert art installation
→Calico Ghost Town — 1880s silver mining ghost town
→Baker's 134-ft World's Largest Thermometer
→Barstow's Mother Road Museum & Route 66 history

RV Tip · The original Route 66 from LA to Chicago is 2,448 miles. For a weekend trip, drive to Las Vegas via I-15/Route 66 and take your time at the roadside attractions. The Wigwam Motel in San Bernardino is a classic photo stop.

Route: I-10 E → I-15 N → Historic Route 66

Ready to hit the road?

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