10 West Coast Road Trips to Take in Your Lifetime
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The best road trips are fueled by a mix of inspiring selections and natural beauty, and the West Coast delivers in spades. The region serves up a ridiculous diversity of landscapes and experiences with coastal vistas, scenic countryside, and culturally rich city centers around every turn. Even the coast itself varies dramatically along the way, from Southern California’s surf and palm tree-filled beaches to the moody, nature-filled shores of the Pacific Northwest. And when it comes to the food, which spans farm stands brimming with fresh goodies to Michelin-starred dining, you certainly won’t be disappointed. We've rounded up the best road trip routes to see it all, as well as notable spots to rest and recharge along the way. We’ve also included ways to extend your excursion beyond US borders with must-stop locations in Canada and Mexico.
Like any region, West Coast weather and road conditions are often in flux, so check current statuses before venturing out.
This gallery has been updated since its original publish date. Additional reporting by Paul Rubio.
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Highway 49 in California Gold Country
Skirting the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, Highway 49 dips in and out of movie-worthy Gold Rush towns that are booming anew. It stretches through 500-plus miles of Central and Northern California in its entirety, but you’ll find the region’s most noteworthy highlights between Nevada City and Groveland—the latter of which offers a quick detour into Yosemite National Park. Along the way, you’ll enjoy endless pastoral scenery punctuated by leafy vineyards, wondrous caverns, and crystalline swimming holes. Plus, the scenery shifts with the seasons, so expect fields of vivid wildflowers in spring and, come autumn, fall color that rivals New England.
Where to stop: In Nevada City, Kitkitdizzi displays an impressive sampling of locally made home goods, artwork, and beauty products, while just outside of town, dreamy swimming holes along the South Fork of the Yuba River offer a refreshing dip. Head about two hours south to Sutter Creek where the wooden sidewalks and Old West facades make for excellent window shopping, with stops at the frozen-in-time Monteverde Store Museum and Yorba Wines for a taste of the surrounding California Shenandoah Valley AVA. Head further south to the village of Murphys, near which you’ll find Moaning Caverns, just one of the area’s many underground wonders with the largest cave chamber in the state.
Where to eat: The always bustling Lola in Nevada City serves contemporary crowd pleasers such as oysters and porterhouse pork chops in the dazzlingly restored 1856 National Exchange Hotel. Thirty miles away in Auburn, Ikeda’s is a perennial road trip favorite thanks to fruit from the owners’ farm (look for prized Redhaven peaches in summer), homemade pies, and classic short-order fare. Pabito’s Basecamp is Murphy Village’s taco truck par excellence with quesatacos, hulking burritos, and a smattering of picnic tables.
Where to stay: Kick up your heels in Amador City, California’s smallest incorporated town, at the 1879 Imperial Hotel with stylishly minimal rooms and cottages and an atmospheric dining room with refined dishes befitting a cosmopolitan city. Fifteen miles from Yosemite National Park, Firefall Ranch has Eichler-esque cabins that peer out over a vast meadowland and pond.
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San Francisco to Los Angeles
Highway 1 isn’t the fastest route from San Francisco to Los Angeles, but it’s without a doubt the most enjoyable. The iconic journey down the Pacific Coast Highway serves as California’s veritable greatest hits with a spin through the Golden State’s legendary scenery and hot spots. There are plenty of big coastal views, quaint farm stands, and redwood groves from San Francisco to Santa Cruz and the Monterey Peninsula. Further south, enjoy the aptly named SLO county of San Luis Obispo, which offers a more relaxed vibe and a handful of under-the-radar finds. By the time you make your way down to Santa Barbara, you’ll be perfectly poised to relax on the palm tree-lined beaches from there through Santa Monica.
To make the most of your trip, there are a few potential detours to note. While Big Sur’s sky-high ocean vistas and wooded splendor are absolute highlights of the trip, frequent road closures along Highway 1 may prevent you from driving through its entirety (check highway conditions for the latest status). Also, consider popping over to Highway 101 for Paso Robles’ wine country, and again at Pismo Beach so as not to bypass the darling tiny towns of Los Alamos and Los Olivos.
Where to stop: You’ll get a good glimpse of Monterey Peninsula’s famously scenic coastline from the road, but nothing compares to the front-row views at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. In Morro Bay, comb for sand dollars at Morro Strand State Beach, an underrated gem with six miles of sandy shoreline adjoining the town’s 581-foot centerpiece, Morro Rock. Just save time to explore the stunning, over-the-top gardens of the late Ganna Walksa’s former estate at Lotusland in Santa Barbara (advance reservations required).
Where to eat: Steps from its namesake surf break in Santa Cruz, the take-away Steamer Lane Supply draws a line for fresh fish tacos, kimchi quesadillas, and freshly baked pastries. For dinner, score a table at Carmel’s Chez Noir whose glammed-out dining room hums with the energy of a buzzy dinner party. Plenty of Bell offers an excuse to pull over in Los Alamos with comfort food faves like bacon breakfast sammies and turkey Reubens. In Santa Barbara, the menu at La Paloma Cafe is a nod to early California—the oak-grilled tri-tip with horseradish cream is a must—served on a lush, palm tree-shrouded patio.
Where to stay: A giant neon “Motel” sign marks River Lodge, a reimagined mid-century property in Paso Robles with a happening, bar-equipped pool deck (heads up, it’s 21+) and exceedingly dog-friendly accommodations. Inn at Mattei’s Tavern offers cushy digs in Santa Ynez wine country hot spot, Los Olivos, while Waypoint Ventura has tricked-out vintage travel trailers that are walking distance from the beach.
Planning to only do half the drive? Consult this San Francisco to Paso Robles itinerary.
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San Diego to Valle de Guadalupe
This road trip is a foodie's paradise—Southern Californians in the know have been taking a trip down Mexico's 1D toll road on long weekends for years. Looping through the northernmost part of Baja, California, there are four main food-and-drink-focused stops: Tijuana for taco carts and craft breweries (including the woman-owned Cervecería Mexica); Rosarito and Ensenada for some no-frills regional seafood; and Valle de Guadalupe with its multiple newly-awarded Michelin-starred restaurants—and over 50 wineries. Throughout it all, the views change from panoramas of the Pacific to sweeping desert landscapes.
Where to stop: In Tijuana, the Museo del Taco does for tacos what the Museum of Ice Cream did for the frozen treat, with vibrant, immersive exhibits and an actual taco bar designed for splashy photo-ops. For more refined design, pop into Object boutique, which pulls together furniture, clothing, and home goods from artisans across the country. Afterward, detour at KM 84 for the Mirador Salsipuedes observation deck, between Tijuana and Ensenada, which has the best ocean views of the trip.
Where to eat: For a quick refuel, don't miss seafood tostadas at the Bourdain-approved La Guerrerense cart in Ensenada (the scallops are a highlight). If luck strikes and your dates line up, join a dinner at star chef Javier Plascencia’s seasonal Animalón, set under a 200-year-old oak tree in the Valle de Guadalupe.
Where to stay: The apartment-sized modern villas at Banyan Tree Veya Valle de Guadalupe feature private plunge pools and expansive outdoor living spaces that overlook the valley’s surrounding hills and vineyards. The Bruma de Guadalupe vineyards are another retreat right in the middle of the desert (pair those organic reds with in-room massages and a meal at farm-to-table Fauna).
Following this route? We planned your entire three-day road trip.
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Highway 101 in the Olympic Peninsula
In its northernmost reaches, Highway 101 loops some 330 miles around Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula, showcasing vast swathes of temperate rainforest in Olympic National Park, mist-shrouded emerald lakes, cascading waterfalls, rocky coastline, and dozens of quaint, small towns with populations under 1,000. (Even better? The loop itself is just a couple hours' drive from the city of Seattle, making it easy to reach.)
Where to stop: See what an American rainforest looks like at Hoh Rainforest, where towering spruce and western hemlock trees dominate and black bears and bobcats roam. Don't miss the Dungeness Spit, one of the world's largest sand spits (somewhat like a natural jetty) and a national wildlife refuge.
Where to eat: Sample the seasonal “garden-to-plate” items at Nourish in Sequim, where all ingredients are local and organic.
Where to stay: Get back to nature in Olympic National Park at the rustic Kalaloch Lodge, which sits between evergreen forests and the Pacific Ocean.
- ShoppingA New Season of The White Lotus Just Dropped, Along With a Ton of CollaborationsParis Wilson
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Highway 101 on Oregon's Coast
Down the snaking shoreline from Washington State to the California Redwoods, Oregon's Highway 101 puts on a show, from broad Cannon Beach to dozens of outstanding state parks with even better names (see: Devils Punchbowl, Cape Perpetua). Each detour is distinctive, and the drive is—dare we say it—as lovely as California's Highway 1.
Where to stop: Thanks to its appearance at the end of the 1985 kidventure flick The Goonies, Haystack Rock is forever known as "Goonies Rock." The sea stack rises 235 feet above sea level, and is a visible beacon calling you to Cannon Beach.
Where to eat: Pelican Pub and Brewery in surfers' cove Pacific City lets you drink a locally brewed porter with your toes in the sand.
Where to stay: Built in the early 1890s, the iconic Heceta Head Lighthouse—just five miles from Cape Perpetua—has an adjacent light keeper’s house that's now a plush bed and breakfast (with a memorable multi-course meal in the morning). If you're the sporting type, Bandon Dunes golf resort is nationally renowned and a great place to stay for a day or two.
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Yosemite to Death Valley
Eastern California is blessed with prolific and diverse national parklands. Start in Yosemite National Park with North America’s highest waterfall, Yosemite Falls, and the 3,000-foot tall granite monolith, El Capitan, then head south to contiguous national parks Kings Canyon and Sequoia, underscored by larger-than-life, centuries-old Sequoia trees within virgin forests. Finish the park tour exploring the ethereal sand dunes and canyons of Death Valley National Park by way of the Death Valley Scenic Byway.
Where to stop: In Yosemite, make sure to pull over at Tunnel View on your way out for a sweeping look at the entire park. Put size into perspective with a picture of the largest tree on earth, the 275-foot-tall General Sherman sequoia tree, in Sequoia National Park.
Where to eat: Splurge on dinner at the Majestic Yosemite Dining Room, a formal, candle-lit space that maintains its 1920s grandeur with candelabra chandeliers, fine china, and modern takes on classics like oysters Rockefeller and French onion soup.
Where to stay: Unpack at The Majestic Yosemite Hotel (formerly Ahwahnee Hotel), a Gilbert Stanley Underwood-designed, Y-shaped lodge in the heart of Yosemite National Park—and the first-ever luxury hotel in America’s national parklands (it opened in 1927). If you're up for camping, the lower campgrounds at Yosemite are the spot to do it—you'll wake up to a world-class view, with amenities at an arm's reach.
- ShoppingA New Season of The White Lotus Just Dropped, Along With a Ton of CollaborationsParis Wilson
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The Alaskan Highway
The 1,390-mile Alaska Highway has a legendary name—the Alcan—and views to match. Starting in Seattle, it crosses the Canadian border into Vancouver, and then on to Anchorage, where you'll see the best of the Northwest, super-sized. "Mountains are wide and widely spaced, and massive lakes are electric blue," writes Allison Williams for Seattle Met magazine. Bears and moose will keep you company along the way. (Editor's note: The U.S.-Canada border is currently closed.)
Where to stop: Vancouver, always, for a walk through Stanley Park and amazing meals to fortify you on the long road. Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory is one of the few landmark towns on the Alcan, and a great place to overnight.
Where to eat: Join the line at Vancouver Indian institution Vij’s for lamb popsicles and spicy goat curry. In Whitehorse, try Antoinette's, which serves up Caribbean dishes like spiced ribs and curried stews, or Burnt Toast Cafe for classics like burgers and beer.
Where to stay: Lodging is a little sparse on this road trip, but the Summit Lake Lodge outside Moose Pass, and Northern Lights Resort and Spa in the Yukon, are reliable options. Plus, the Northern Lights Resort lives up to its name.
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Historic Columbia River Highway
The 75-mile Columbia River Highway connects Troutdale, Oregon, with The Dalles, for a short drive that is jam-packed with scenery: expect to see towering waterfalls, moss-covered bridges, and lush greenery throughout the entire drive. Plus, you can pick up the drive just thirty minutes east of Portland (to really stretch things out, combine it with a longer trip up or down the Oregon coast).
Where to stop: The 610-foot Multnomah Falls are a must-see, and visible from the road, but they tend to draw a crowd. Consider making your way to Oneonta Falls, just off the highway, for a short hike with equally impressive views (if you’re feeling especially adventurous, wade through the Oneonta gorge).
Where to eat: Snack at the fresh berry stands along the route, or stop at one of the wineries in Hood River. Hiyu Wine Farm, which produces nearly everything it serves, from biodynamics wine to hearty steaks, is a favorite.
Where to stay: With Portland right near the west end of the highway, it’s easy to use the city as your home base. The Hoxton and Ace Hotel both have outposts in the city, right in downtown—perfect for gliding on and off the highway.
- ShoppingA New Season of The White Lotus Just Dropped, Along With a Ton of CollaborationsParis Wilson
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Mendocino to Sonoma
While Napa Valley enjoys a more prominent profile, the Wine Country regions of Sonoma and Mendocino counties make for a better road trip. Exceptional wine and vineyard-filled countrysides are a given, especially when starting in Healdsburg where tasting rooms are packed along its bustling plaza and rural westside. Continue onto Highway 128 which twists and turns through hilly backcountry into the verdant farmlands and vineyards of the Anderson Valley, and you’ll double down on the pastoral beauty. Follow the highway further as it meanders through redwood forests along the Navarro River, and you’ll arrive at the rugged splendor of the Mendocino Coast. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more spectacular, epicurean-themed road trip in California.
Where to stop: Stretch your legs on a quick loop trail through the 300-foot redwoods at Hendy Woods State Park. At the adjacent Philo Apple Farm, load up on seasonal fruit, juices, and homemade preserves at its impossibly charming farm stand. For wineries, consider The Donum Estate in Sonoma, whose 200 acres are dotted with over 50 sculptures from artists such as Yayoi Kusama, Keith Haring, and Louise Bourgeois. In Anderson Valley, Navarro Vineyards is a cult-fave that primarily sells direct to customers—the Gewürztraminer and Pinot Noir go quickly—and has first come, first serve picnic tables set amidst rows of vineyards.
Where to eat: Fuel up for the road at Healdsburg’s Drewish Deli with an assortment of bagels, schmears, and house-cured lox. In between Sonoma and Mendocino, you’ll find Boonville, where the tasting room at Pennyroyal Farm offers tasty bites alongside wine and fresh and aged goat cheeses produced on-site. Ask them to whip up a charcuterie board, and dig in on the patio, surrounded by sweeping views of the picturesque grounds. For a Michelin-starred splurge, Harbor House Inn plates a multi-course dinner that pulls from its immediate surroundings—local abalone, candy cap mushrooms, sea vegetables—in an intimate dining room peering out over the Pacific.
Where to stay: Set amidst a hilltop garden, The Madrona is a design-lover's dream—its lush interiors blend modern furnishings with the original architectural details of a revamped 1881 mansion. The boutique Boonville Hotel embodies Anderson Valley’s laid-back sophistication, with rustic-chic cottages set in a trellised garden and a convivial restaurant offering nightly set menus (including an alfresco paella party each Sunday).
Extend your trip by following the Russian River to the Pacific Coast Highway, before looping back down to San Francisco. We've plotted it out for you.
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Los Angeles to Palm Springs
Many Angelenos are under the impression that Los Angeles is a desert. And while that’s not actually the case, it doesn’t take long to get to one—just head east and you’ll hit Palm Springs in under two hours (depending on traffic, that is). From there? It’s just another 45 minutes to Joshua Tree and surrounding small towns like Twentynine Palms, making for the perfect weekend away from the big city, replete with art, great food, and that dry desert heat.
Where to stop: Design lovers should beeline for the Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center, or swing by Sunnylands, a family estate that embodies the mid-century modern design the area is known for, and offers tours.
Where to eat: Counter Reformation, inside the Parker Palm Springs, is a wine bar serving charcuterie and great bottles a cut above its competition; Rooster and the Pig, known for contemporary Vietnamese-American cuisine, also pulls a crowd with dishes like pork belly fried rice, and signature cocktails.
Where to stay: The Ace Hotel & Swim Club is a Modernist haven, filled with lazing hammocks and local art right at home in the desert—and a pool for when you desperately need to cool off. The dreamy Joshua Tree House, available on Airbnb, is a well-appointed two-bed, two-bath house right outside the park.