15 Most Scenic Drives In California (By a Local)

1. Highway 1 In Big Sur

• Route Length: 90 miles
• Main Attractions: Elephant Seal Vista Point, Bixby Creek Bridge, McWay Falls
• Best Time To Drive It: This is a great drive to do year-round. Summers are the busiest times, so I prefer fall or spring when it’s less crowded.

Highway 1 in Big Sur is, without a doubt, one of the most breathtaking drives in all of California. I’ve done this drive many times over the years, and it still leaves me in awe every time!

The Big Sur route stretches for about 90 miles along a rugged, windy coastline. The drive starts in San Simeon on the south and ends at Carmel-by-the-Sea in the north.

Big Sur is one of the least developed coastal areas in California, packed full of nature, waterfalls, coastal hikes, and remote beaches. For first-time visitors, some of the must-see attractions include Elephant Seal Vista Point, Bixby Creek Bridge, McWay Falls, and Pfeiffer Beach, among many others.

Visitor Tips: Sections of Highway 1 are often closed because of landslides, road damage, and construction. There is limited reception in this area, and there are very few gas stations. It’s best to fill up on gas before entering Big Sur. 

Before heading into Big Sur, I recommend getting this self-driving audio tour that covers all of the best stops!

2. Avenue Of The Giants

• Route Length: 31 miles
• Main Attractions: Humboldt Redwoods State Park, Shrine Drive Thru Tree, and Founders Tree
• Best Time To Drive It: The weather is best in this area from spring to fall.

Avenue Of The Giants is the perfect drive to take if you love enormous trees. This 31-mile highway passes through a dense forest with California Coastal redwoods that are over 350 feet tall and thousands of years old! 

I always take the opportunity to drive along this route when traveling from California to Oregon. Avenue of the Giants travels next to Highway 101, so it’s very easy to drive it and then hop back onto Highway 101.

Along this highway, you can visit Humboldt Redwoods State Park, Shrine Drive Thru Tree, Founders Tree, and The Immortal Tree. While you can drive this route in a couple of hours, I recommend setting aside a full day to explore some of its main attractions.

Read Next: 16 Amazing Places To See Big Trees In California

3. Highway 395 In Eastern Sierra

• Route Length: 630 miles in California from Hesperia to Oregon border
• Main Attractions: Alabama Hills, Mammoth Lakes, Mono Lake
• Best Time To Drive It: Summer, fall

Highway 395 spans about 630 miles along the eastern California border before it crosses into Oregon. In this post, I’ll focus on the section that travels through the Eastern Sierra from Lone Pine to Lee Vining.

I love to do this drive in the fall season when you can see stunning fall colors in this entire region. Many people make this into a multi-day trip, stopping in Mammoth Lakes and driving the June Lake Loop as well.  

Many places along this route, like Alabama Hills, Convict Lake, and Mono Lake, can be enjoyed with just a quick turn-off from Highway 395. Other destinations like Bristlecone Pine Forest and Hot Creek Geologic Site require a short hike to see them.

Love hot springs? This area is known for having multiple outdoor springs that are free and open to visitors. Hilltop Hot Springs, Wild Willy’s Hot Springs, and The Rock Tub Hot Springs are a few of the favorites that can be reached within a quick detour.

Visitor Tip: To preserve these natural springs, please pack out any trash and follow leave-no-trace practices.

4. Kings Canyon Scenic Byway

• Route Length: 50 miles long
• Main Attractions: Grant Grove, Grizzly Falls, Roaring River Falls, Zumwalt Meadow
• Best Time To Drive It: Summer

Kings Canyon Scenic Byway is one of the most underrated drives in California. In general, Kings Canyon National Park is not well known compared to Yosemite or Sequoia National Parks. But this region offers jaw-dropping scenery nonetheless!

Along this route, you can enjoy views of a glacier-carved canyon, towering granite peaks, soaring waterfalls, enormous sequoia trees, and lush meadows.

The drive starts at Grant Grove Village and ends at Bubbs Creek and Rae Lakes Loop Trailhead. Along the way, you can stop at different viewpoints of the canyon or hike to several waterfalls. 

For shorter day hikes, I recommend General Grant Loop, Zumwalt Meadow, and Roaring River Falls. For a longer day adventure, Mist Falls Trail is my personal favorite!

5. Rock Creek Road

• Route Length: 10.5 miles long
• Main Attractions: Rock Creek Lake, Rock Creek Lakes Resort, Little Lakes Valley Trail
• Best Time To Drive It: Fall

Rock Creek Road is a hidden little gem in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This is one of the highest paved roads in California, which is especially great for fall road trips!

Along this highway, you can experience gorgeous mountain views, serene lakes, and remote hiking trails. This area is home to lots of aspen trees that turn into a sea of gold in the fall months.

Rock Creek Road ends at a parking lot that is the starting point for the Little Lakes Valley Trail. This is a gorgeous wilderness hike that travels to 8 different alpine lakes.

While exploring this area, be sure to stop by Rock Creek Lakes Resort, which serves some of the best BBQ and pie that I’ve ever had!

6. Yosemite Valley Loop

• Route Length: 12 miles long
• Main Attractions: Bridalveil Falls, Lower Yosemite Falls, El Capitan
• Best Time To Drive It: Spring or Fall. Summer is a very busy time in Yosemite that requires advanced entrance reservations.

Yosemite Valley Loop is one of the most gorgeous drives in California. People travel from all over the world to enjoy the beauty of Yosemite National Park!

This scenic drive loops around the entire Yosemite Valley, passing some of the park’s main attractions like Bridalveil Falls, Yosemite Valley Chapel, Lower Yosemite Falls, and El Capitan rock formation. Along the way, you can enjoy views of lush meadows, scenic boardwalks, meandering rivers, and soaring waterfalls.

There are plenty of places where you can pull over to take photos, go on hikes, or just enjoy a leisurely picnic by the river.

Be sure to stop for a walk through Cook’s Meadow, where you can often spot wild deer munching on grass during sunset.

Read Next: Guide To Visiting Yosemite National Park In Fall

7. Central California Coast

• Route Length: 163 miles from Ventura to San Simeon
• Main Attractions: Santa Barbara, Solvang, Pismo Beach, Morro Bay, Cambria
• Best Time To Drive It: Year-round

As a Ventura County local, I have done the drive up the Central California Coast countless times. Whenever I’m looking for a fun weekend adventure, this is my go-to option!

Dotted with cozy cities and charming small towns, the Central Coast is a great route that offers endless adventures to be had.

Start the trip by doing a bit of wine tasting in Santa Barbara. Then head up to Solvang to roam through this unique Danish-style town. Be sure to stop by the nearby OstrichLand USA, where you can hand-feed big birds, including emus and ostriches.

Continue the trip to Pismo Beach. Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area by Pismo Beach is the only place in California that allows cars to drive onto the shoreline. From there, head to SLO and spend a night at the quirky Madonna Inn.

The next stop is Morro Bay, where you can see the towering Morro Rock volcanic plug. Walk down to Morro Bay T Pier to observe adorable sea otters playing in the marina.

Up north, Cambria is a must-see, especially the beloved Moonstone Beach Boardwalk. Finish the trip by taking a tour of the world-famous Hearst Castle in San Simeon.

Read Next: 12 Best Beach Towns On Central California Coast

8. Generals Highway At Sequoia National Park

• Route Length: 47 miles from South Entrance to Grant Grove Village
• Main Attractions: Giant Forest Museum, General Sherman Tree, Big Trees Trail
• Best Time To Drive It: Year-round (check for road closures in the winter months)

Generals Highway is the perfect route to drive if you love National Parks and enormous sequoia trees.

This highway starts at Sequoia National Park’s entrance in Three Rivers and ends at Grant Grove Village within Kings Canyon National Park. You can also continue the drive along Highway 180 into Kings Canyon Scenic Byway and combine two spectacular drives on the same trip.

Along this drive, stop by the Giant Forest Museum, where you can learn more about ancient sequoia trees that can live for more than 3000 years! The Big Trees Trail is a short and easy loop off Generals Highway where you can see the giant sequoia trees up close.

Up next is the General Sherman Tree, a must-see within this National Park. This is the largest tree in the world by its trunk volume – quite the sight to see in person!

The Congress Trail is a great place to stretch your legs and see some of the largest sequoia groves within the park. Tokopah Falls Trail is another one of my favorites that leads to a 1,200-foot-tall waterfall.

Read Next: 10 Best Winter Hikes In Sequoia National Park

9. Lake Tahoe Loop

• Route Length: 72-mile long loop around Lake Tahoe
• Main Attractions: Eagle Rock Trail, Emerald Bay State Park, Sand Harbor State Park
• Best Time To Drive It: Summer

Lake Tahoe’s scenic drive is a 72-mile-long loop that goes around the entire lake. Part of this route travels in California, and part of it goes through Nevada. Both sides have stunning destinations that are well worth mentioning if you’re considering this drive.

Eagle Rock Trail is a short hike on the west shore of the lake. This trail is only 0.7 miles long, yet it leads to breathtaking panoramic views of the entire lake.

Traveling south, Emerald Bay State Park is a must-see. Inspiration Point offers excellent views of the bay and the famous Fannette Island.

On the east shore, Sand Harbor State Park is a popular place for swimming and enjoying views of the pristine lake water. I recommend going on a Clear Kayak Paddle Tour at Sand Harbor to enjoy views of Lake Tahoe from a whole new perspective!

10. Tioga Road

• Route Length: 47 miles long
• Main Attractions: Tuolumne Meadows, Olmsted Point, Tenaya Lake
• Best Time To Drive It: Summer through early fall. This road closes in the winter months.

Tioga Road offers the quickest way to travel from Mammoth to Yosemite National Park. If you’re looking for an epic route, combine a Highway 395 road trip with a side trip to Yosemite!

This mountain pass provides a peek into a different part of Yosemite National Park, passing meadows, scenic viewpoints, and alpine lakes.

Tioga Road is only open from June to October, so it’s best to do this drive in the summer or early fall. Fall is a great time to drive along the Tioga Pass when you can enjoy beautiful fall foliage high up in the mountains.

A few of the must-see stops include Olmsted Point, Tenaya Lake, and Tuolumne Meadows. From this highway, you can also go on incredible wilderness trails in Yosemite. The North Dome Trail and Cathedral Lakes Trail are some of my favorites!

11. 17-Mile Drive

• Route Length: 17 miles long
• Main Attractions: Bird Rock Vista Point, Lone Cypress Tree, Pescadero Point
• Best Time To Drive It: Year-round

The 17-Mile Drive is a picturesque road that loops around the Monterey Peninsula. While most coastal routes in California are free, note that this is a gated, paid route. You can start this drive at the Pacific Grove Gate and end it at Highway 1 Gate (or vice versa).

Visitor Tip: It costs $12 per vehicle to enter the 17-Mile Drive. This fee can be reimbursed if you spend more than $35 at the local Pebble Beach Resorts restaurants.

There are lots of pullout areas along the road where you can stop to enjoy the scenic ocean views. The Lone Cypress tree is one of the most popular stops along this route. Here you can see and take photos of a 250-year-old cypress tree that grows alone on the rocky shoreline.

A few other must-see stops include Spanish Bay Vista Point, Bird Rock Vista Point, and Pescadero Point.

12. Rim Of The World Highway

• Route Length: 110 miles long
• Main Attractions: Lake Arrowhead, Running Springs, Big Bear Lake
• Best Time To Drive It: Summer

Rim Of The World Highway is a beautiful mountain drive in Southern California. It weaves through the San Bernardino mountains providing access to remote mountain towns including Lake Arrowhead, Running Springs, and Big Bear Lake.

I’ve done this drive countless times while traveling to Big Bear for mountain biking in the summer and snowboarding in the winter. This is a windy road with many pullout spots where you can enjoy views of the surrounding mountains and the valley.

Some of the main attractions right off this highway include SkyPark at Santa’s Village, Heaps Peak Arboretum Day Use Area, and Boulder Bay.

For hiking Little Green Valley Trail is a great little hidden gem near Running Springs. Castle Rock Trail 1W03 is another excellent hiking option that offers views of Big Bear Lake from its summit.

13. Artists Drive At Death Valley National Park

• Route Length: 9 miles long
• Main Attractions: Artists Palette
• Best Time To Drive It: Fall, winter, spring. Avoid visiting Death Valley in the summer when temperatures often reach up to 120°F.  

Death Valley National Park is home to Mars-like landscapes, unlike anything else in California. While visiting this National Park, the 9-mile-long Artists Drive is a must-do!

This unique road leads to Artists Palette, a viewing area with hiking trails that pass through pastel-colored hills. These hills are made of pink, turquoise, green, and purple hues from different minerals that can be found here.

I recommend visiting Artists Palette early in the morning so you can enjoy walking around these colorful hills before the crowds arrive.

14. June Lake Loop

• Route Length: 16 miles long loop
• Main Attractions: June Lake, Gull Lake, Silver Lake, Grant Lake
• Best Time To Drive It: Summer, fall

June Lake Loop is one of the best drives to do if you love the mountains and alpine lakes. This is an especially great place to visit in the fall season when you can enjoy views of golden aspen trees that line this highway.

This 16-mile-long loop passes several lakes, including June Lake, Gull Lake, Silver Lake, and Grant Lake. I usually visit June Lake Beach, which has an easily accessible shoreline.

During your time in June Lake, be sure to stop by June Lake Brewing, that’s a fun little brewery in the mountains!

15. Highway 9

• Route Length: 36 miles
• Main Attractions: Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Big Basin Redwoods State Park
• Best Time To Drive It: Year-round

Highway 9 is a narrow, winding road that travels through the coastal redwoods in California. This route starts in Santa Cruz and goes north, passing small historic towns along the way. 

Although the drive is very narrow and a bit nerve-wracking, the road is paved all the way. There are lots of blind corners in a dense redwood forest, so Highway 9 is best driven at a slow pace.

Some of the main stops include Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Felton, Boulder Creek, and Big Basin Redwoods State Park. There are lots of short hikes to explore in this area that travel through serene redwoods, along with scenic resorts and campgrounds.

Read Next: Review Of Fern River Resort In Felton

I hope this post has helped you discover a few new scenic roads in California to add to your bucket list! Have you done any of these drives? Let us know in the comments below!

Looking for more things to do in California? Here are a few other popular posts that you may like:

• 15 Best Hikes On The California Central Coast
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• 20 Best Waterfalls In Central California
• 15 Best Places To Go Camping On Central California Coast
• 15 Dog-Friendly Things To Do In Big Sur, California

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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