Your Guide To Roadtripping Through California

Part 2: A One Week Itinerary

Your guide to roadtripping California, PART TWO (yes I’ve made a series) ✨ After living in California for just about 8 years, I wouldn’t say I’m an expert on this state but I would say I could give some solid roadtrip guidance 🤭 If you have 1 week for a roadtrip in California, this is how I’d recommend you spend it with a start/end point of the SF Bay Area:

🚗 2 nights in Death Valley National Park, with a base either at Stovepipe Wells Campground, Furnace Creek Campground, or stay at a hotel in the park like Oasis Hotel ✨ Roughly a 8h drive from the Bay Area. If you leave early morning, you can make it here by sunset to score an extra sunset and make the most out of your time. Places I’d recommend include Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Zabriskie Point, Badwater Basin, and Golden Canyon.

🚗 1 night in Alabama Hills. This is roughly a 2h drive from Death Valley NP. There’s tons of dispersed camping here as this is BLM, but if camping isn’t your thing (or you’re over it from 2 nights camping in Death Valley), you can stay in the town of Lone Pine right outside which has tons of hotel options! While here make sure to check out the iconic Mobius Arch, Lathe Arch, and Movie Road.

🚗 2 nights in Mammoth, which is about 2 hours from Alabama Hills. Mammoth is, hands down, one of the best places to explore in the Eastern Sierras. You’ve got Wild Willy’s Hot Springs and Hot Creek Geologic Site. You can check out June Lake or Mono Lake. There are so many options of how to spend your time while here.

🚗 1 night in Yosemite National Park. This road trip itinerary is created for late spring through early winter months, this is when the drive is short and will take you only about 2h from Mammoth. It will be LONG if the pass is closed so make sure you check before your trip. While you’re in Yosemite, be sure to check out Tunnel View and Valley View, Lower Yosemite Falls, and Vernal Falls. Some options for accommodations if you don’t want to camp in the park or stay at a hotel within include Firefall Ranch and Rushcreek Lodge.

🚗 Driving back to the Bay Area will take you somewhere between 3-4h, meaning you can have quite some time in Yosemite on your last day. There are so many local farmers outside of Yosemite, just East of Modesto, so make sure you keep your eyes peeled for the little stands on the side of the road. Who doesn’t like supporting local business while also only paying $1-2 for a bag of 5 avocados? 🥹🫶