7-Day California Road Trip Itinerary

California is one of the best places in the U.S. for a road trip, with dramatic coastlines, desert landscapes, and iconic national parks all within a week’s drive.

This 7-day California road trip itinerary is perfect for travelers who want a mix of scenic drives, camping, and must-see stops—without feeling over planned.

Vista Point on Generals Hwy

Road Trip Overview

• Duration: 7 days

• Start: Phoenix, AZ

• End: Yosemite National Park

• Best time: April–October

• Ideal for: Camping, camper vans, first-time California road trips

• Route: Phoenix → Sequoia → Big Sur → San Francisco → Ukiah → Yosemite → Phoenix

• Dates: July 11–18, 2025

Day 1–2: Phoenix → Sequoia National Park

Our road trip began in Phoenix, Arizona, with my boyfriend and me hitting the road early. The drive to our first destination—Sequoia National Park—took approximately 10 –11 hours straight through.

Tip: There is a difference between Sequoia National Park and Sequoia National Forest, so I highly recommend doing a bit of research beforehand to make the most of your visit.

Where We Stayed

• Potwisha Campground — 2 nights

Falling asleep to the sound of the flowing stream next to our campsite was seriously so peaceful.

Hikes & Stops

• Vista Point – short stop with a stunning view

• General Sherman Tree Trailhead

  • The Congress Trail (highly recommend)

Stops We Missed (But Recommend)

• Moro Rock – sunrise or sunset (≈40 min hike)

• Tunnel Log – short but iconic stop

  
  

Day 3: Sequoia National Park → Big Sur

After two days in Sequoia, we made our way to the coast—about a 4–5 hour drive. Unfortunately, the scenic coastal route we originally planned wasn’t possible. US Highway 1 (Pacific Coast Highway) through Big Sur is currently closed and projected to reopen in March 2026, so be sure to check road conditions before planning this leg.

Where We Stayed

• Monterey Bay Surf Inn — 1 night

Cute, affordable, and available last minute. Great for a reset after driving long hours.

Hikes & Stops

• Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

• Garrapata State Park

• Bixby Creek Bridge

Day 4: Big Sur → San Francisco → Point Reyes → Ukiah

This was a jam-packed travel day. If possible, I recommend splitting this into two days and spending a night in San Francisco.

San Francisco:

Drive time from Monterey Bay area: ~2.5 hours. Spent only a few hours here!

Before crossing the Golden Gate Bridge:

• Stop at Warming Hut Park Store for souvenirs

• Walk the Battery E Trail to the Golden Gate Picnic Spot

• Visit Golden Gate Bridge Vista Point (North Side)

Drive time from San Francisco to Point Reyes: ~1.5 hours.

Point Reyes National Seashore:

South Beach Overlook at Point Reyes National Seashore

Fun fact: A movie called The Fog was filmed here—and once you visit on a foggy day, you’ll understand why.

Best time to visit: September–October for warmer, sunnier weather. Unfortunately, it was extremely foggy when we arrived and we couldn’t make it to the stops below.

Stops We Missed in San Fran & Point Reyes (But Recommend)

• Battery Spencer

• Exit 442 – short walk from parking (North Side)

• South Beach Overlook

• Point Reyes Lighthouse

• Cypress Tree Tunnel

• Chimney Rock Trail

  
  

After a short adventure at Point Reyes National Seashore we made our way North towards Redwoods National Forest and decided to set up camp for 2 days at Kyen Campground in Ukiah CA.

Day 4-5: Ukiah, CA

Where We Stayed

• Kyen Campground — 2 nights

We spent our days fishing and lounging, and our nights sitting by the fire overlooking the lake and stargazing (we even saw a couple of shooting stars).

Bonus: Clean, warm showers—perfect for refreshing before the next leg of the trip!

Day 6–7: Ukiah → Yosemite National Park

At this point, we had to decide: continue north to Redwood National Park or spend two nights in Yosemite. We chose Yosemite—and we wish we could've stayed longer.

If you do go the Redwoods route instead:

Stops We Missed (But Recommend)

• Humboldt Redwoods State Park

• Shrine Drive-Thru Tree

• Dyerville Giant (2,000 year old now fallen tree)

• Avenue of the Giants

Ukiah → Yosemite

Drive time from Ukiah to Yosemite: ~5 hours. We booked our campsite last minute, which limited our options and the campground was about a 40 min drive to Yosemite Village. If possible, I highly recommend booking in advance and camping in Yosemite Village.

Where We Stayed

• Tamarack Flat Campground (≈40 min from Yosemite Village) - 2 nights

Hikes & Stops

• El Capitan Meadow (sit and watch rock climbers in the morning)

• Mist Trail → Nevada Fall → John Muir Trail

  • Favorite hike we did on the whole trip

  • We hiked the Mist Trail to Nevada Fall, brought sandwiches and Gatorade, and took a well-earned nap at the top before descending via the John Muir Trail.

  • The Mist Trail to Nevada Falls is mostly an incline — be prepared!

• Tenaya Lake (open June - October, can see it on the way out of Yosemite going towards Phoenix)

Nevada Falls - Mist Trail Hike in Yosemite

Important Yosemite Planning Notes

• Book campsites well in advance if possible

• No running water at Tamarack Flat Campground

• Driving in and out of the village daily can be exhausting, try to stay in Yosemite village

• Yosemite’s shuttle system is incredibly helpful. A brochure will be given when you enter the park, so you can plan your routes around the Village!

Stops We Missed (But Recommend)

• Taft Point

• Yosemite Falls

• Tunnel View (offers the most iconic view of Yosemite Valley)

• Glacier Point (sunset views + Half Dome)

• River tubing through Yosemite Valley (2-3 miles short run, park at curry village and walk to stoneman bridge for river access and float until you get to sentinel beach picnic area, take the shuttle back) 

• Biking around Yosemite Village (can rent for the day and explore trails and village)

Overall tips and recommendations for this 7 day road trip:

• Try to stay inside national parks for at least 3 nights if possible—you’ll see more without feeling rushed.

• Cell service is VERY limited in mostly all areas of CA especially national parks. Download maps and hiking info ahead of time.

Conclusion

This road trip was the perfect reminder of just how diverse and breathtaking California is—from towering sequoias and misty coastlines to iconic city views and granite peaks that stop you in your tracks. While we didn’t make it to every stop on our list, each detour, foggy overlook, and last-minute decision became part of the adventure.

If there’s one takeaway from this trip, it’s this: don’t stress about seeing everything!! Some of our favorite moments came from slowing down—listening to a river beside our campsite, watching climbers inch their way up El Capitan, or simply sitting in silence surrounded by nature. Whether you follow this itinerary exactly or use it as inspiration to create your own, this journey proves that the best trips aren’t about perfection—they’re about the memories you make along the way. Just pack snacks, download your maps, stay flexible, and hit the road!