5 Best Road Trips from Los Angeles

From the sunny coastline and white sandy beaches to rugged desert mountains and the jagged High Sierra peaks, California has a lot to offer. Thankfully, Los Angeles is located close to many highlights, and with a large international airport, it’s a great starting point for any road trip.

And there’s no better way to road trip than in an Escape Camper Van! Nothing could be easier with a convenient pickup location right in Los Angeles! So now you just have to decide which of these road trips from Los Angeles strikes your interest most!

Pacific Coast Highway 1 to San Francisco

Total Driving Time: 10 hours

How Many Days? 3 – 6 days

Driving the Pacific Coast Highway 1 from Los Angeles to San Francisco is one of California’s crown jewel road trips. It’s hard to drive this route without stopping every few miles to take in the striking vistas. And there are many towns and cities along the route offering different opportunities for exploring.

With so much to see and explore this is one of the best road trips from Los Angeles. It’s possible to drive the coast in a long day but there’s no way you’ll want to do that; spend at least a few days to a week camping along the coast to enjoy the highlights and beyond.

*Road closures occasionally occur along Route 1 due to rockfall and road repairs. Check online for road updates before your trip in case you have to detour around a section. Some detours add a few hours of driving.

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is a perfect first stop as you drive the Pacific Coast Highway 1 from Los Angeles to San Francisco. Known for its Spanish influences, pristine coastline, chill lifestyle, and comfortable weather this is a scenic city to stop in.

Santa Barbara Highlights

Downtown Santa Barbara: Explore art, culture, museums, and historic Spanish architecture in this vibrant city. Dine on local bites and enjoy a wine tasting. Stroll the streets to shop at boutiques, grab a coffee at a local roastery, or attend a lively event; they occur regularly throughout the year! 

Old Mission Santa Barbara: Old Mission Santa Barbara is one of the most photographed landmarks in the city. Found by the Spanish Franciscans in 1786, it’s considered the “Queen of Missions”. The church and grounds sit on 15 acres overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Stearns Wharf: Head to Stearns Wharf for some of the best views in the city while dining on some of the tastiest food. Shops, restaurants, and a small aquarium are located on the wharf.

Santa Barbara Camping

Carpinteria State Beach Campground: Carpinteria State Beach has 4 campground loops. Sites are open year-round with fire grates, picnic tables, water, and toilets. Reserve a spot up to 6 months in advance. During the slow season, the remaining sites are available the day of.

Gaviota State Park Beach & Campground: This is a seasonal campground from April to October. Sites are located near the sandy Gaviota Beach. Sites have water, toilets, fire grates, and picnic tables.

San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo is another California city founded by Spanish missionaries. The quaint downtown is full of boutiques and restaurants. The city is surrounded by famous beaches and beautiful sites. It’s worth spending a night here to dive in and enjoy the coastline, wine, and dining.

San Luis Obispo Highlights

Pismo Beach: Seafood, sandy beaches, wineries, and monarch butterflies lure many to Pismo Beach. It’s actually considered the clam capital of the world!

Morro Rock Beach: Morro Bay is famously known for the gigantic Morro Rock rising 576 feet above the Pacific Ocean. It’s the perfect place to watch the sunset.

Downtown SLO (San Luis Obispo): Enjoy art, dining, shopping, and local events in Downtown SLO. And don’t miss the famous Downtown SLO Farmers’ Market every Thursday from 6 – 9 pm.

San Luis Obispo Camping

Morro Strand State Beach Campground: Morro Strand Campground has 70 campsites, each with fire rings, tables, water, and flushing toilets. The campground is located right on Highway 1, 15 miles west of San Luis Obispo.

Morro Bay State Park Campground: Morro Bay State Park Campground is located right on Highway 1, 13 miles west of San Luis Obispo. It has 140 campsites with fire rings, tables, water, flushing toilets, and token-operated showers.

Islay Creek Campground: Located right in Montaña de Oro State Park, Islay Creek Campground offers beautiful coastal views at this primitive campground. Sites have tables, fire rings, water, and toilets nearby.

North Beach Campground: North Beach Campground is located at Pismo State Beach along the Oceano Lagoon. It has 103 campsites with fire rings, tables, water, bathrooms, and showers available for pay.

Big Sur

The famous coastline of Big Sur is one of the most iconic spots along the California Pacific Coast Highway and makes this one of the best road trips from Los Angeles. The dramatic coast has steep cliffs, waterfalls, and towering Redwoods, all in one!

Big Sur Highlights

McWay Falls: Mcway Falls is an 80-foot waterfall that drops right into the ocean off the coast of Big Sur in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. It flows year-round and with the white sandy beach, turquoise-blue water, and a rocky coast it’s a site you don’t want to miss!

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park: Located just inland from Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, primarily on the east side of Highway 1. The park is home to dense forests filled with redwoods, oaks, sycamores, conifers, cottonwoods, alders, maples, and willows.

Bixby Creek Bridge: Bixby Bridge is a concrete open-spandrel arch bridge. It’s famously photographed thanks to its aesthetic design blending in with the striking coastline. It’s one of the highest bridges of this kind and rises 260 feet above the canyon carved by Bixby Creek.

Big Sur Camping

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park Campground: There are 189 sites at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. Sites are open year-round with fire pits, picnic tables, water, toilets, and hot showers. It’s a very popular campground so book as far in advance as possible.

Kirk Creek Campground: Kirk Creek Campground is a national forest campground located just south of Big Sur. It’s a busy campsite open year-round so book campsites as far in advance as possible.

Monterey

Famous for its plentiful wildlife, delicious seafood, rugged coastline, gift shops, and factories converted into bars, Monterey offers plenty to check out on your road trip from Los Angeles to San Francisco.

Monterey Highlights

Point Lobos Natural Reserve: Point Lobos is a beautiful nature preserve located on the Pacific Ocean. It’s a popular spot to see wildlife including sea lions and seals, or spot an occasional whale spout. It’s a nice area for hiking with stunning views.

Carmel-By-The-Sea: If you want to go shopping in a quaint town and enjoy a nice lunch, shopping, or game of golf then Carmel-By-The-Sea is a great place to spend your day.

Monterey Bay Aquarium: The Monterey Bay Aquarium is a world-famous research institute. There are over 200 marine exhibits with more than 80,000 species of animals.

17-Mile Drive: Drive alongside the Pacific Ocean on 17-Mile Drive running from Monterey Bay to Pebble Beach and Carmel-By-The-Sea.

Monterey Camping

Saddle Mountain Ranch: Camp among pines, oaks, and redwoods at Saddle Mountain Ranch just a few miles inland from Highway 1. The campground has bathrooms with free hot showers, a gazebo with a fire pit, horseshoe pits, ping pong and badminton games, and more!

Sunset State Beach: Sunset State Beach is a busy campground year-round. It’s located alongside the Pacific Ocean surrounded by sand dunes and pine trees. The campground has toilets, water, fire rings, and tables.

Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is famously known for its surfing, beaches, historic landmarks, and laid-back vibe. From exploring beaches and the tall Redwood trees to dining on fresh seafood at the wharf and grabbing a beer in town, this vibrant coastal city should not be skipped!

Santa Cruz Highlights

Downtown Santa Cruz: Downtown Santa Cruz is the perfect place for dining, shopping, and live music and events. The wharf, boardwalk, and main center provide hours of enjoyment.

Whale Watching: Whale watching is a must when visiting California’s coast and Santa Cruz offers plenty of tour options! Depending on the time of year you have the chance to see whales, sharks, dolphins, sea lions, otters, birds, and more.

Big Basin Redwoods State Park: Walk among some of the tallest trees in the world at Big Basin Redwoods State Park. It’s located just north of Santa Cruz and is home to many hiking trails.

Santa Cruz Camping

New Brighton State Beach Campground: New Brighton State Beach has 100 campsites with bluff and ocean views, just 15 minutes from San Cruz. It’s a popular campground open year-round so reserve your site early. 

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground: Just inland from Santa Cruz is a redwood grove in Henry Cowell Park. The campground there has 107 reservable campsites in a shaded oak and pine forest. The campground has flushing toilets, potable water, picnic tables, and fire pits.

San Francisco

Finish off one of the best road trips from Los Angeles in the colorful, lively city of San Francisco. From iconic landmarks and rugged coastal walks to rich culture and city life you’ll surely want to spend a couple of days exploring around San Francisco!

*Due to the high prevalence of break-ins it’s recommended to return your Escape Camper Van at the San Francisco location before spending the night in the city to avoid any issues with vehicle safety.

**There is a $150 fee to return your camper van to a different city.

San Francisco Highlights

Golden Gate Bridge: The Golden Gate Bridge is definitely one of the most iconic landmarks in California and driving your Escape Camper Van across the bridge that connects San Francisco to the Marin Headlands is an experience you don’t want to miss!

Sausalito: Once you get across the Golden Gate Bridge you’ll pass through the area of Sausalito. It’s a beautiful town famously known for its houseboats. The cute town has many shops, cafes, ice cream parlors, and restaurants all looking out at the majestic San Francisco bay and skyline.

Lands End: Lands End is a large park area located in Golden Gate National Recreation Area at the northwest most point of San Francisco. Here you can enjoy views of the Golden Gate Bridge, go on a hike through the Cypress Trees, or check out the historic Sutro Baths next to the Pacific Ocean.

Big Bear, Palm Springs, & Joshua Tree National Park

Total Driving Time: 9 hours

How Many Days? 4 – 5 days

Explore the highlights of Southern California on one of the best road trips from Los Angeles while visiting Big Bear, Palm Springs, and Joshua Tree. This road trip will give you a taste of the mountains, the desert, and a vibey and luxurious city. Both water and mountain activities are on the itinerary paired with a bit of dining and culture.

Big Bear Lake

Your first stop on your southern California highlight road trip is Big Bear! It’s a small city surrounding Big Bear Lake which is home to hiking and mountain biking trails in the summer and Southern California’s largest ski resort in the winter.

There are plenty of restaurants, gift shops, boutiques, and cafes to check out as well as the stunning nature of San Bernardino National Forest.

Big Bear Highlights

Big Bear Lake: Swimming, hiking, mountain biking, boating, fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and more! There are countless ways to enjoy your time at Big Bear Lake and it’s less than a 3-hour drive from Escape Camper Vans in Los Angeles. 

Big Bear Mountain Resort: Get your skis and snowboards ready for winter and hit up the slopes at Big Bear Mountain Resort.

Lake Arrowhead: Lake Arrowhead is about 45 minutes west of Big Bear. It’s another great area to go boating, fishing, swimming, and paddling.

Big Bear Camping

Serrano Campground: Serrano Campground is a national forest campground located right next to Big Bear Lake. It’s open from mid-March through November. It has over 100 campsites and offers close access to hiking, mountain biking, boating, and fishing.

Pineknot Campground: Pineknot Campground is another national forest campground located next to Big Bear Lake. It’s open seasonally from late April to mid-October. Sites have drinking water, flushing toilets, and picnic tables.

Hanna Flat Campground: Hanna Flat Campground is just north of Big Bear Lake. It’s a national forest campground open from April to September. The campground has toilets, drinking water, and picnic tables.

Palm Springs

Known for its shopping, dining, arts, golf, and spas you can’t go wrong with a visit to Palm Springs. With so much to do this city attracts visitors year-round to enjoy the nature, culture, and activities of this lively California desert city.

Palm Springs Highlights

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway: Hop on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway for impressive views of the Palm Springs Area including Mount San Jacinto, the San Bernardino Mountains, and the Coachella Valley.

Downtown Palm Springs: Palm Springs is known for its upscale dining, luxury and boutique shopping, wellness spas, and art scene from sculpture gardens and galleries to museums and performing arts centers. Head downtown to immerse yourself in the lively Palm Springs culture.

Golfing: The Greater Palm Springs area is well known for its gold scene. From beginners to professionals it attracts golfers from all around. The city itself is home to 9 golf courses and the Greater Palm Springs area has more than 130 golf courses.

Palm Springs Camping

Palm Springs / Joshua Tree KOA: This KOA is about 20 minutes from Downtown Palm Springs and the closest camping option to the city. The campground has a pool, hot tub/sauna, mini golf, a pavilion, and other comfortable amenities.

Stone Creek Campground: Stone Creek Campground is located in Mt. San Jacinto State Park, about 45 minutes from Palm Springs. The campground has 44 sites open from spring to fall. Located at 5,411 feet, it’s a little cooler at Stone Creek Campground than in Palm Springs during the summer.

Black Rock Canyon Campground: Black Rock Campground is a 99-site campground located in the northwest part of Joshua Tree National Park, just a 45-minute drive from Downtown Palm Springs. It has flushing toilets, water, tables, and fire grates.

Joshua Tree National Park

Home to the namesake Joshua trees, gigantic granite boulders, plentiful cacti, desert wildlife, and more, Joshua Tree National Park is a must-visit road trip from Los Angeles.

The park is only about 45 minutes from Palm Springs so it works perfectly with the itinerary of Big Bear, Palm Springs, and Joshua Tree!

Joshua Tree National Park Highlights

Hidden Valley Nature Trail: Walk among giant boulders, alongside Joshua trees, and look out for other desert flora and occasional fauna on the Hidden Valley Nature Trail. The 1-mile loop trail showcases some of the best Joshua Tree National Park has to offer!

Skull Rock: Skull Rock is one of the most iconic rock formations in the park and you guessed it – it looks like a skull! The two eye sockets were formed by erosion. Skull Rock is located just off Park Boulevard and is easily accessible from the parking area.

Keys View: Enjoy the park with a bird’s eye view from Keys View. At 5,185 feet high you’ll enjoy panoramic vistas of the park up there. And it’s a drivable viewpoint!

Cholla Cactus Garden: The Cholla Cactus Garden is a can’t miss in Joshua Tree. Teddy bear cholla covers the landscape until they meet the rugged mountains. A 0.25-mile walk is the perfect way to enjoy them, and even better at sunset!

Joshua Tree National Park Camping

Hidden Valley Campground: Hidden Valley Campground is a year-round, 44-site, first-come, first-served campground. This basic campground has pit toilets, tables, and fire grates but no water. It’s located centrally in the park near the Hidden Valley Nature Trail.

Jumbo Rocks Campground: Jumbo Rocks Campground is a 124-site, year-round campground. Reservations are required year-round. It has pit toilets, fire grates, and tables, but no water. It’s located centrally in the park.

Indian Cove Campground: Indian Cove Campground is a 101 site campground open year-round. It’s located among giant boulders but it is only accessible from 29 Palms Highway and is not connected to roads inside the park. The campground has pit toilets, tables, and fire grates. It does not have water.

Eastern Sierra to Mammoth Lakes

Total Driving Time: 11 hours

How Many Days? 4 – 6 days

Cruising Highway 395 through the high desert alongside the Eastern Sierra is one of the best road trips from Los Angeles. The dramatic landscapes are jaw-dropping with peaks rising 10,000 feet above the highway!

Along the drive, you’ll pass through the desert and up into the forest and alpine. This trip offers plentiful opportunities for hiking and swimming in the summer and skiing and snowboarding in the winter.

Lone Pine

Lone Pine is known for its Wild West movie history and as the last town before hiking up Mount Whitney. The cute town has a few shops and restaurants but is best known for its hiking access.

Lone Pine Highlights

Alabama Hills National Recreation Area: Scramble around large granite boulders with the stunning backdrop of Mount Whitney and other High Sierra peaks at Alabama Hills National Recreation Area. Drive the dirt, Old Movie Road to see where many famous wild west films took place.

Whitney Portal: Mount Whitney is the highest point in the US outside of Alaska. The peak rises 14,505 feet tall. While it’s not possible to drive to the top you can drive to Whitney Portal sitting at about 8,600 feet. As you drive up Whitney Portal Road you’ll enjoy striking views of Mount Whitney and look down on the Owens Valley and the town of Lone Pine.

If you’re an avid hiker ready for a tough adventure then look into hiking Mount Whitney!

Museum of Western Film History: Lone Pine is the backdrop for many Wild West movies with many scenes shot right off Old Movie Road in Alabama Hills. Learn about the history and filmmaking at the Museum of Western Film History.

Lone Pine Camping

Turtle Creek Campground: Turtle Creek Campground is a year-round, first-come, first-served BLM campground in Lone Pine. It’s located close to town and has fire pits, toilets, picnic tables, and water seasonally.

Portuguese Joe Campground: Making your way up Whitney Portal Road you’ll come across Portuguese Joe Campground. It’s a simple campground with vault toilets, potable water, fire grates, and picnic tables.

Bishop

About an hour north of Lone Pine is Bishop. It’s well known for its rock climbing scene but also has a simple downtown with plenty of dining options and is located near many hiking trails accessing the High Sierra.

Bishop Highlights

Lake Sabrina: Lake Sarina is a reservoir located around 9,000 feet, just about a 30 minute drive from Bishop. The lake has a cafe and dock and it’s the starting point for many hiking trails.

Keough’s Hot Springs: Keough’s Hot Springs is one of the few established hot springs along California’s 395. This means it is easily accessible and has amenities like a swimming pool and stunning views!

Rock Creek: On your way from Bishop up to Mammoth you’ll pass Rock Creek Road which leads up Rock Creek Canyon. It’s a great spot to hike among High Sierra peaks and alongside pristine alpine lakes.

Erick Schat’s Bakery: Schat’s is a famous bakery, well known on the East Side for its breads, sandwiches, pastries, and more. The line will wrap around the building by mid-day so grab your treats early!

Bishop Camping

Pleasant Valley Campground: Pleasant Valley Campground is a basic campground located off Highway 395, north of Bishop. It has 75 sites with potable water, picnic tables, vault toilets, and fire rings. Sites are first come, first served from June to October. Reservations are available from November to May.

Horton Creek Campground: Horton Creek is a 49-site BLM campground just outside of Bishop. The campground is open seasonally from May to October with first-come, first-served sites.

Brown’s Town Campground: Brown’s Town is a privately owned campground right in Bishop. It has 150 sites with hot showers, shade, coin-op laundry, water, a camp store, and a cafe. The campground is open year-round and requires reservations from April through October.

Mammoth Lakes

Mammoth Lakes is home to many pristine alpine lakes lying among the dense coniferous forests with the High Sierra peaks as a backdrop. It’s a must visit destination as one of the best road trips from Los Angeles.

From hiking and swimming in lakes in the summer to skiing and snowboarding in the winter there are plenty of ways to enjoy this amazing town.

Mammoth Lakes Highlights

Mammoth Mountain: Mammoth Mountain is the perfect place to visit in the winter for skiing or snowboarding. It’s the highest ski resort in California and is open as late as July during a big snow year!

Lakes Basin: There’s a reason the town is called Mammoth Lakes – and you guessed it! It’s surrounded by lakes! There are 5 lakes all with road access just a 10-minute drive from the main part of town. In the summer walk or bike along the Lakes Basin Path or cross-country ski or snowshoe it in the winter.

Devils Postpile National Monument: Take a short hike to the 60-foot volcanic basalt columns at Devils Postpile National Monument. Continue along the trail to Rainbow Falls, which drops 101 feet.

Convict Lake: Convict Lake is a turquoise blue lake surrounded by the high peaks of the Sierra. It’s a picturesque spot only 20 minutes south of Mammoth. Drive to the edge of the lake or walk the 2.5-mile trail around the lake. Convict Lake is also a popular spot for fishing and pontoon boat rentals.

Mono Lake: Mono Lake is a saline lake with its famously photographed calcium-limestone tufa columns and High Sierra horizon. It’s one of the most impressive spots on the east side of the Sierra.

Mammoth Lakes Camping

Lake Mary Campground: Camp right alongside Lake Mary for stunning views in the Lakes Basin. Campsites are basic with flushing toilets, picnic tables, and water.

Twin Lakes Campground: Twin Lakes Campground is located next to Twin Lakes and just a short walk from other lakes in the basin. Sites have potable water, toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings. It’s open when it’s clear of snow.

Mammoth Mountain RV Park: Located right when you enter town, Mammoth Mountain RV Park & Campground is within walking distance of restaurants and shops. Sites have picnic tables, fire grates, water, and bathrooms with showers.

San Diego & Anza Borrego Desert State Park

Total Driving Time: 6 hours

How Many Days? 3 – 4 days

From a striking coastline and vibrant city to the rugged desert landscape, a San Diego and Anza Borrego Desert State Park trip is one of the best road trips from Los Angeles. Visit this region on a long weekend trip or give yourself a couple extra days to explore the area extensively.

Anza Borrego Desert State Park

Anza Borrego Desert State Park is a hidden gem in Southern California. It’s the perfect place to detour on a road trip from Los Angeles to San Diego. Walk through badlands and among the rugged desert landscape. Visit in the spring to see wildflowers blooming and make sure you catch a sunrise or sunset here – that’s when the landscape comes to life.

Anza Borrego Desert State Park Highlights

Borrego Palm Canyon: Explore the Borrego Palm Canyon on a 3-mile loop trail. Wander among the palms through the third-largest palm oasis in California.

Borrego Badlands: Borrego Badlands are a large span of colorful badlands in the park. They are a beautiful spot to watch sunrise or sunset. 

Fonts Point: Fonts Point offers the most expansive view in Anza Borrego Desert State Park looking out on the badlands and beyond.

Anza Borrego Desert State Park Camping

Borrego Palm Canyon Campground: This campground is located right in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. It has 120 sites with water, toilets, picnic tables, and fire grates. It offers close access to hiking trails. Sites are open year round with reservations available from October 1 – April 30.

Tamarisk Grove Campground: Tamarisk Grove Campground is also located right in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. It has showers, picnic tables, water, and fire grates.

San Diego

Considered to have some of the best weather in the US year-round and home to many museums, gardens, art galleries, stunning coastlines, native wildlife, and excellent surfing, San Diego is one of the best road trips from Los Angeles. Explore the city for a weekend or stay for a week to see everything the city and surrounding area has to offer!

San Diego Highlights

Balboa Park: Balboa Park covers 1,200 acres in the heart of San Diego and is home to 18 art, science, and history museums, stunning gardens, historic landmarks, and the famous San Diego Zoo.

Sunset Cliffs Natural Park: Sunset Cliffs stretch along the coast and are home to sea caves, bluffs, and arches. It’s a popular spot for whale watching.

La Jolla Cove: Whether you enjoy swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, or walks with stunning views, La Jolla Cove is the spot. Sometimes the water is as clear as 30 feet deep and many marine wildlife frequent the area.

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve: Walk along the rugged cliffs of San Diego and explore the beaches and lagoon home to many plants, seabirds, and marine wildlife.

San Diego Camping

San Diego Metro KOA Resort: Camping isn’t always easy in a big city but this KOA makes it possible. It’s open year round and has many comfortable amenities including a hot tub and sauna, a pool, a pavilion and more.

Sweetwater Regional Park: Sweetwater Regional Park is located on the outskirts of San Diego and offers 112 year-round campsites. It has a large pavilion with kitchen facilities, coin-operated showers, a splash park, an exercise course and more.

Kumeyaay Lake Campground: Kumeyaay Lake Campground in Mission Trails Regional Park offers camping on Friday and Saturday nights on a first-come, first-served basis. There are 46 sites with close access to many hiking trails.

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks

Total Driving Time: 10 hours

How Many Days? 3 – 4 days

There is no place like Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Seeing Giant sequoias towering above you is an awe-inspiring sight. The parks are home to the largest trees in the world in terms of cubic volume and they are a bucket list destination to explore and one of the best road trips from Los Angeles.

While it’s possible to explore both Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks in a couple of days, it’s best to spend a few days. If you love hiking you could easily spend a week exploring the High Sierra here.

Sequoia National Park

Start your journey to the Giant sequoias in Sequoia National Park. The southern entrance is about a three and a half hour drive from Los Angeles. From short hikes lasting an hour to long hikes lasting a day there is plenty of beautiful nature to explore here.

Sequoia National Park Highlights

General Sherman Tree: General Sherman Tree is the largest tree in the world in terms of cubic volume. This Giant sequoia stands 275 feet tall and has a circumference of 102 feet at ground level. Hike to the tree via the 1.2-mile round-trip hike via the General Sherman Tree Trail.

Tunnel Log: Tunnel Log is a Giant Sequoia that fell on the road in 1937 and has since had a tunnel carved in it so visitors can drive through it!

*Escape Camper Vans are a bit too tall to drive through the 8-foot tunnel but you can drive around it and take photos of other cars driving through.

Moro Rock: Hike up 350 steep stairs to the panoramic vista atop Moro Rock. From the top, you’ll look out at the High Sierra peaks, the surrounding national forests, and the foothills. The hike is steep and exposed but short and worth it for the views.

Tokopah Falls: To see some classic Sierra waterfalls flowing across the smooth granite then visit Tokopah Falls! It’s a 1.7-mile out-and-back trail with a gradual incline. Tokopah Falls reach 1,200 feet high and flow at their highest during the early summer when snowmelt is at its peak.

Sequoia National Park Camping

Potwisha Campground: Potwisha Campground is located in the foothills on your way into Sequoia National Park. It’s one of the first national park campgrounds you reach when driving from Los Angeles. It has 42 sites and is usually snow-free year-round. Potwisha has potable water, fire grates, bathrooms, and picnic tables.

Lodgepole Campground: Heading further and higher up into the park is Lodgepole Campground. It’s a seasonal campground usually open from late April to late November. There are 214 reservation-only campsites with potable water, flushing toilets, picnic tables, and fire grates. A camp store is nearby in Lodgepole Village.

Kings Canyon National Park

Continue your road trip from Los Angeles to Kings Canyon National Park. Kings Canyon and Sequoia are connected park units so you can just continue along Generals Highway into Kings Canyon. Here you’ll continue to enjoy Giant sequoia groves as well as more High Sierra peaks.

Kings Canyon National Park Highlights

General Grant Tree: Visit the second-largest tree in the world in terms of cubic volume, General Grant Tree. This tree is in Kings Canyon National Park and rises 267 feet tall and is nearly 3,000 years old. The walk to General Grant Tree is about 0.3 miles round trip. It’s a shorter and flatter hiking option than the General Sherman Tree.

Panoramic Point: Stop by Panoramic Point Overlook for expansive vistas looking out over Kings Canyon National Park.

Giant Forest Museum: Learn more about the Giant sequoias and their home at the GIant Forest Museum. There you can chat with a ranger and join a tour or walk the self-guided interpretive trail to learn more about the park and its environmental history.

Kings Canyon Scenic Byway: Drive the 50-mile road of Kings Canyon Scenic Byway to explore the beautiful sites of Kings Canyon National Park. The byway is open when clear of snow from late spring to early summer through late fall.

Kings Canyon National Park Camping

Azalea Campground: Azalea Campground sits among the Giant sequoias and has 110 sites throughout the summer and 20 sites in the winter. The campground has toilets, picnic tables, fire grates, and running water from spring to fall. Reserve sites during the busy season from mid-May to November. In the winter sites are first-come, first-served.

Sunset Campground: Sunset Campground is a 158 site campground conveniently located near Grant Grove Village. It has sites with flushing toilets, water, fire grates, and picnic tables. It’s a reservation only campground and is open when snow free, usually from late May to early September.