15 Top Cheap Places To Visit In California

1. Morro Bay

With a variety of free activities, low-cost campgrounds, and affordable beachside hotels, Morro Bay is one of my favorite budget-friendly destinations in California year-round.

Start your trip by hiking or driving to the summit of the Black Hill Trail, which offers incredible views of the Morro Bay coastline. Then go for a stroll along the Morro Rock Beach, where you can see the towering Morro Rock volcanic plug up close and dip your toes in the ocean. After, walk down to the Morro Bay T Pier, where you can observe adorable sea otters playing with their little pups in the marina.

On overnight trips, I usually stay at the Morro Bay State Park Campground, Morro Strand State Beach Campground, or Islay Creek Campground in Los Osos.

If camping is not your thing, here are my favorite budget-friendly hotels in Morro Bay that won’t break the bank:

• Beach Bungalow Inn and Suites
• Hotel La Serena
• The Landing at Morro Bay

Read Next: 20 Best Things To Do In Morro Bay, California

2. Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree is one of the most budget-friendly National Parks to visit in California. My favorite time to visit Joshua Tree is in the fall or spring, when the weather is mild, it’s much less crowded, and it’s easier to book campsites inside the National Park.

It costs $30 to enter Joshua Tree National Park per vehicle, and this pass is good for 7 days. I prefer to purchase the America the Beautiful annual pass, which grants unlimited entry into any US National Park for a year, saving me a lot of money.

I also recommend camping inside the National Park instead of staying in overpriced Airbnbs or hotels. My favorite campground is the Jumbo Rocks Campground, which costs only $30 per night.

This campground is situated in a prime location close to many of the park’s top attractions, including Skull Rock, Ryan Mountain Trail, Barker Dam, Wall Street Mill Trail, and Hidden Valley Nature Trail.

3. Humboldt Redwoods State Park

Humboldt Redwoods is one of the best places to visit big trees in California. Go for a scenic drive along the Avenue Of The Giants (which is free) or stop by the Humboldt Redwoods State Park to see enormous redwood trees up close.

The entrance fee to visit Humboldt Redwoods State Park is only $8 per person. With over 100 miles of hiking trails that travel through ancient redwoods, there is something here to do for everyone!

On my visits, I always stop to do the 0.5-mile-long Founders Grove Nature Trail and the 2.3-mile-long Drury-Chaney Trail. Shrine Drive Thru Tree is a quick and interesting tourist attraction, although there is a $15 fee to drive through this tree.

4. Idyllwild

Idyllwild is one of the best hidden gems in Southern California. This is a charming mountain town and a very affordable destination for family vacations. We visited Idyllwild with our toddler in November for fall colors and loved it!

On our visit, we stayed in a Village Cabin at the Tahquitz Pines Retreat. This is a gorgeous mountain hotel offering a variety of accommodation choices and amazing amenities, including a seasonal outdoor pool, restaurant & bar, outdoor fire pits, basketball court, pickleball court, and so much more.

The local hikes in Idyllwild do require a small parking fee. I hiked the Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail, which requires a $5 parking permit that you can get in downtown Idyllwild at the San Jacinto Ranger Station.

I also hiked the Idyllwild Park Trail, which has a small entrance fee per person that you will need to pay at the Nature Center upon arrival. The visitor fees are $6 per person for adults and $3 for kids ages 2-12.

Read Next: 10 Best Things To Do In Idyllwild, California

5. Death Valley National Park

When it comes to Death Valley, people either love it or find it underwhelming. I personally think this National Park is very underrated, especially if you like visiting unique Mars-like landscapes.

Death Valley is one of the top cheap places to go in California, but visiting this park does require some planning ahead of time. I highly recommend avoiding the summer season when temperatures often spike past 110° F.

Death Valley National Park is located far away from any major cities, so camping will be your best option for an overnight trip. On my visit, I stayed at the Sunset Campground, which costs only $18 per night.

Once you pay the $30 National Park vehicle entrance fee, all of the attractions and trails within the park are included. A few of my favorite natural attractions here include the Badwater Basin Salt Flats, Zabriskie Point, Artists Palette, Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, and Natural Bridge.

6. Sacramento

Sacramento is one of the cheapest ‘big cities’ to visit in California. Once you find the right accommodation, it is easy to keep your expenses to a bare minimum.

Sacramento is the first incorporated city in California, so many of its top attractions focus on museums and historical landmarks. During the week, be sure to take advantage of the free guided tours of the California State Capitol Museum grounds and garden.

Then spend a couple of hours exploring the Old Sacramento Waterfront, where you can roam around cobblestone streets, see historic Gold Rush era buildings, shops, and stop by Willie’s Burgers for a quick (and cheap) bite to eat.

If you have kids, the California State Railroad Museum is a must! There is a small entrance fee of $12 for adults, $6 for kids (6-17), and it is free for kids under 5.

Visitor Tip: I recommend stocking up on food, water, and gas before heading into Death Valley National Park, as amenities here are very limited.

7. Pismo Beach

If you’re looking for an affordable beach vacation, consider visiting Pismo Beach on the Central California Coast. Famous for sand dunes, surfing, beachfront hiking trails, and camping, you can find plenty of wallet-friendly activities here!

Seafood at places like Splash Café is relatively inexpensive, and you can spend the day hanging out on the beach.

During the winter season, be sure to stop by the free Monarch Butterfly Grove when you can see large clusters of monarch butterflies seeking shelter in the fragrant eucalyptus trees.

A few of the best budget-friendly hotels in Pismo Beach include:

• Shell Beach Inn
• Cottage Inn by the Sea
• Tides Oceanview Inn and Cottages

Read More: 20 Top Things To Do On a Weekend Trip To Pismo Beach

8. Palm Springs

Palm Springs can be an affordable destination if you do it right! Plan your trip in the low season, which for desert destinations is the summertime.

Palm Springs is a great place to plan a romantic getaway or go for a wellness break. Book a smaller inn or a motel for overnight stays and pay for a day pool pass at one of the nicer hotels to save on cost. The day pool passes range from $25-$50, depending on the hotel.

If you enjoy visiting museums, the Palm Springs Art Museum offers free admission on Thursday evenings from 5:00-8:00 pm.

The Palm Springs Village Fest is another free and fun event on Thursday nights that features food stalls, live entertainment, and arts & crafts.

9. Sequoia National Forest

If visiting enormous sequoia trees is on your bucket list, Sequoia National Forest is an excellent place to see these giants in person. With low parking fees, inexpensive camping, free trails, and fewer crowds, this is a great alternative to visiting Sequoia National Park.

For first-time visitors, I recommend starting with the Trail of 100 Giants. This trail features over 125 giant sequoias with a diameter of 10 feet, earning it’s fitting name. Note that there is a fee of $12 to park in the designated visitor parking lot near the trailhead.

There are many developed campgrounds within Sequoia National Forest where you can stay for a small fee. National Forests also allow free dispersed camping, so I often stay in my campervan or SUV for free on my visits.

Read Next: 8 Best Day Hikes In Sequoia National Forest

10. San Simeon

If you want to visit the Central California Coast on a budget, I recommend planning a visit to San Simeon. San Simeon offers cheaper accommodations than staying in Cambria or Big Sur while being close to all the main coastal attractions.

While you may need to drive for a bit, there are plenty of free and cheap things to do in the area!

North of San Simeon, I recommend stopping by the Elephant Seal Vista Point, where you can see elephant seals lounging on the shoreline. From here, you can also visit southern Big Sur, including Ragged Point, hike to Salmon Creek Falls, and dip your toes in the water at Sand Dollar Beach.

Just south of San Simeon, you can go for a walk along the scenic Moonstone Beach Boardwalk, hike at Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, or enjoy a picnic at Shamel Park in Cambria.

My favorite option for a budget-friendly hotel in San Simeon: Cavalier Oceanfront Resort!

11. Mount Shasta

Lakes, mountains, waterfalls, and free hiking trails… what is there not to love about Mount Shasta? This region has plenty to do for nature and outdoor lovers on a budget.

Located just outside of Mt Shasta town, Lake Siskiyou offers a relaxing place for swimming, picnicking, hiking, or stretching your legs if you’re on a longer road trip along Highway 5.  There is a small entrance fee of $3 per person to visit Lake Siskiyou for the day.

Heart Lake Trail from Castle Lake is a gorgeous 3-mile-long hike near Mount Shasta that has incredible views of Heart Lake and the stunning Mount Shasta in the background.

There are plenty of accommodation choices in town that fit a variety of budgets and needs. Some of my top choices are:

• Inn At Mount Shasta
• Strawberry Valley Inn
• Shasta Inn

12. Felton

Felton is a historic lodging town near Santa Cruz that I like to visit once a year. Located near redwood forests and serene hiking trails, this is a great destination to visit year-round.

Felton itself is a very small town, so lodging options here are limited. I usually stay at the Fern River Resort, which is a gorgeous budget-friendly hotel surrounded by towering redwood trees.

If you enjoy camping, the Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort offers spacious RV sites, glamping tents, and standard tent campsites set next to the San Lorenzo River. 

One of the top attractions in Felton is the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. Entrance to visit this State Park costs $10 per vehicle. Many people also park along Highway 9 and walk into the park to save on entrance fees. 

A few of my favorite park trails include the 0.8-mile-long Redwood Grove Loop, the 4-mile-long Cathedral Redwoods Trail, and the 3-mile-long hike to Old Lime Kiln Ruins.

13. Ventura

If you’re looking for cheap places to travel in California that are somewhat close to Los Angeles, consider going on a weekend trip to Ventura.

As a Ventura County local, I can vouch that we are pretty lucky here! With a charming downtown, free beaches, promenade, free hiking and biking trails, and affordable dining choices, we truly have it all.

In spring and early summer, I recommend hiking the Ventura Botanical Gardens Trail, which is free on Fridays. On all other days, there is a small entrance fee of $7 per person.

After, stop by Spencer Makenzie’s, which is one of the most iconic (and cheapest) seafood eateries in Ventura.

Most of the hotels and Inns in Ventura are a bit older, so they are rather affordable here. A few of my top choices are:

• Amanzi Hotel, an Ascend Collection Hotel
• Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Ventura Harbor by IHG
• Clocktower Inn Ventura

Read More: 26 Best Things To Do In Ventura, California

14. Running Springs

Running Springs is a cozy little mountain town that’s a great alternative to staying at Lake Arrowhead or Big Bear Lake. Running Springs is located only a 30-minute drive from Big Bear Lake, but here you’ll find cabin rentals for a fraction of the cost.

Within a short drive, you can reach Snow Valley Mountain Resort, which offers skiing and snowboarding in the winter and mountain biking in the summer.

From here, you can easily reach Lake Arrowhead Village, go for a quick hike at Heaps Peak Arboretum Day Use Area, or have some fun at SkyPark at Santa’s Village.

Read Next: 8 Best Things To Do In Running Springs, California

15. Santa Barbara

I know, I know! Santa Barbara is one of the most expensive cities to live in the world. BUT, if you plan your trip right, you can see and do quite a lot here without spending your entire life savings.

For starters, I recommend booking a hotel in the nearby Carpinteria town. Carpinteria is a small, sleepy beach town with cheaper accommodations that go for $100-$150 a night. And it’s just a 20-minute drive from Santa Barbara!

Within Santa Barbara itself, there is plenty to see and do that is cheap or low-cost. Go for a walk down State Street, spend the day lounging on East Beach, and take in the ocean views from Stearns Wharf Pier.

Santa Barbara also has incredible free hiking trails that overlook the ocean. Two of my personal favorites are the 3.5-mile-long Inspiration Point Trail and the 2-mile-long Cold Spring Loop.

What are your favorite cheap places to vacation in California? Let us know in the comment section below!

Looking for more things to do in California? Be sure to check out these popular posts below:

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This post is written by Laura. Hi, I’m a California local and the founder of the California Wanderland travel blog. I currently live in Ventura County and help 50,000 readers a month discover things to do in Central California! Read more about me here.

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