{"id":6386,"date":"2018-12-03T22:56:55","date_gmt":"2018-12-03T22:56:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/escapecampusa.wpenginepowered.com\/?post_type=itineraries&#038;p=6386"},"modified":"2024-08-15T20:31:18","modified_gmt":"2024-08-15T20:31:18","slug":"california-dreaming","status":"publish","type":"itineraries","link":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/de\/itineraries\/california-dreaming\/","title":{"rendered":"California Dreaming"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"featured_media":6389,"parent":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-6386","itineraries","type-itineraries","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":{"title":"","background_image":{"ID":11433,"id":11433,"title":"california-road-trip-hero","filename":"california-road-trip-hero.jpg","filesize":41026,"url":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/california-road-trip-hero.jpg","link":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/de\/itineraries\/california-dreaming\/california-road-trip-hero-2\/","alt":"","author":"53","description":"","caption":"","name":"california-road-trip-hero-2","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":6386,"date":"2018-12-03 23:10:46","modified":"2018-12-03 23:10:46","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":3600,"height":540,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/california-road-trip-hero-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/california-road-trip-hero-300x45.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":45,"medium_large":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/california-road-trip-hero-768x115.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":115,"large":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/california-road-trip-hero-1024x154.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":154,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/california-road-trip-hero.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":230,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/california-road-trip-hero.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":307,"blog-preview":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/california-road-trip-hero-600x353.jpg","blog-preview-width":600,"blog-preview-height":353,"post-thumbnail":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/california-road-trip-hero-1200x180.jpg","post-thumbnail-width":1200,"post-thumbnail-height":180,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/california-road-trip-hero.jpg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":300,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":45,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/california-road-trip-hero.jpg","gform-image-choice-md-width":400,"gform-image-choice-md-height":60,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/california-road-trip-hero.jpg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":600,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":90}},"title_color":"dark","add_overlay":[],"content_sections":[{"acf_fc_layout":"text","text":"<h2>Start California Dreaming with these Cali Road Trip Ideas<\/h2>\n<p>Whether it\u2019s the coastal pullouts along Highway 1, the grandeur of the Sierra Nevada, or the barren beauty of Death Valley, California road trips will never leave you with nothing to do. With over 120 National and State Parks to choose from, you can easily spend weeks checking out coastal redwoods, bagging mountain peaks, rafting raging rivers, or just chillin\u2019 outside your campervan watching the sun crash-land every night into the Pacific Ocean. These classic road-tripping routes soak in enough epic scenery to make each deliciously slow, winding mile of your detour worthwhile.<\/p>\n<p>California has so much to offer in fact, that we\u2019re just going to name a few of our favorite spots in this rundown and leave it to Sunset Magazine and Roadtrippers.com to do all the heavy lifting for us. We\u2019ve split our California road trip itinerary into two routes\u2013western and eastern\u2013with optional side trips included along the way. Experience it all in an\u00a0<a href=\"\/campervans\/\">Escape campervan<\/a>.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"google_map","map_embed_code":true,"map_map":false,"map_map_embed_code":"<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/embed?mid=1hnwl7gUnz3mt_-7t9WvsX1AMkCE\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"><\/iframe>","map_directions_tips":"<p><strong>Distance:<\/strong>\u00a01,500+ miles (2,415+ km)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Time:<\/strong>\u00a02+ weeks<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"quote_button","route_start":[{"ID":10912,"post_author":"53","post_date":"2018-10-30 20:35:35","post_date_gmt":"2018-10-30 20:35:35","post_content":"","post_title":"Los Angeles, CA","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"draft","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"los-angeles-ca","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 18:41:37","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-12 18:41:37","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/escapecampusa.wpenginepowered.com\/locations\/los-angeles-ca\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"locations","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"route_end":[{"ID":4424,"post_author":"53","post_date":"2022-09-02 16:00:17","post_date_gmt":"2022-09-02 16:00:17","post_content":"","post_title":"Las Vegas, NV","post_excerpt":"Our Las Vegas camper van rentals offer the perfect starting point for visiting Death Valley, the Grand Canyon, and everything in between.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"las-vegas-nevada","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-11 22:32:30","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-11 22:32:30","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/escapecampusa.wpenginepowered.com\/?post_type=locations&#038;p=4424","menu_order":0,"post_type":"locations","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"trip_length":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"text","text":"<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_2 et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_text_align_left\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<h3>California Road Trip &#8211; Western Route<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_3 et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_text_align_left\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<h4>Jedediah Smith Redwoods National Park<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_4 et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_text_align_left\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<p>An hour north of Redwoods National Park near Crescent City is our all-time favorite area of redwoods. All redwoods are magnificent, but this place doesn\u2019t have the crowds like the better-known National Park versions. It\u2019s worth the extra drive, we swear! Better yet, there\u2019s killer camping right there in the park.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_5 et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_text_align_left\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<h4>Redwood National Park<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":11435,"id":11435,"title":"Redwood National Park California campervan","filename":"redwood-national-park-california-campervan.jpg","filesize":241859,"url":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/redwood-national-park-california-campervan.jpg","link":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/de\/itineraries\/california-dreaming\/processed-with-vsco-with-a6-preset-3-2\/","alt":"","author":"53","description":"","caption":"","name":"processed-with-vsco-with-a6-preset-3-2","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":6386,"date":"2018-12-03 23:16:54","modified":"2018-12-03 23:16:54","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":938,"height":650,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/redwood-national-park-california-campervan-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/redwood-national-park-california-campervan-300x208.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":208,"medium_large":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/redwood-national-park-california-campervan-768x532.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":532,"large":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/redwood-national-park-california-campervan-1024x710.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":710,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/redwood-national-park-california-campervan.jpg","1536x1536-width":938,"1536x1536-height":650,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/redwood-national-park-california-campervan.jpg","2048x2048-width":938,"2048x2048-height":650,"blog-preview":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/redwood-national-park-california-campervan-600x353.jpg","blog-preview-width":600,"blog-preview-height":353,"post-thumbnail":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/redwood-national-park-california-campervan-1200x832.jpg","post-thumbnail-width":1200,"post-thumbnail-height":832,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/redwood-national-park-california-campervan.jpg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":300,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":208,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/redwood-national-park-california-campervan.jpg","gform-image-choice-md-width":400,"gform-image-choice-md-height":277,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/redwood-national-park-california-campervan.jpg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":600,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":416}},"image_link":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"text","text":"<p>Up north near the border of Oregon is the not-so-crowded Redwood National Park. You can consult your guidebooks for the ins-and-outs of what to do, but here are some of our favorite things to check out:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Fern Canyon \u2013 short hike, big surprises<\/li>\n<li>James Irvine Trail \u2013 this popular trail actually takes you to Fern Canyon but is a longer and cooler way to get there<\/li>\n<li>Gold Bluffs Beach \u2013 the quintessential Northern California beach<\/li>\n<li>Newton B. Drury Parkway \u2013 this scenic byway is worth the side trip!<\/li>\n<li>Trees Of Mystery \u2013 just north of the town of Klamath (on Highway 101). With a name like that, how can you not check it out?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"escape_tip","tip_tip_title":"Warning","tip_tip_text":"<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_blurb et_pb_blurb_0 et_pb_bg_layout_dark et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_blurb_position_left\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_blurb_content\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_blurb_container\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_blurb_description\">\n<p>Do not try to drive your\u00a0Escape campervan through a redwood! They don\u2019t fit and you are not covered by insurance when you get stuck. Guess how we know they don\u2019t fit?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"text","text":"<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_7 et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_text_align_left\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<h5>Best Camping<\/h5>\n<p>There is plenty of camping throughout the park. Elk Prairie (open 365 days of the year) is an Escape favorite. Gold Bluffs Beach is another favorite, but it\u2019s only open during the summer months.<\/p>\n<h5>Best Eats\/Drinks<\/h5>\n<p>We usually employ the Escape Campervan kitchen when traveling through this area. Stolen off the internet: <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.google.com\/site\/palmcafemotel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Palm Caf\u00e9<\/a> in Orrick looks cool. So does <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/moonstonegrill\/\">Moonstone Grill<\/a> in Trinidad. Let us know what you find out so we can notify future Escapees!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_8 et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_text_align_left\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<h4>Eureka<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_9 et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_text_align_left\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<p>Heading north along Highway 1, you\u2019ll come across Eureka. There\u2019s an excellent brewery here, and many folks rent sea kayaks to check out the local wildlife.<\/p>\n<h5>Best Side Trip<\/h5>\n<p>Head east an hour or so and check out Shasta Trinity National Forest. This is hands down the most spectacular mountain range in California according to us. It\u2019s also National Forest Land so car camping is designated as FREE! Shasta Trinity makes a great jumping off point for area hikes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_10 et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_text_align_left\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<h4>Avenue of the Giants<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_11 et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_text_align_left\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<p>Just off Highway 101 in the community of Garberville is the world-famous Avenue of the Giants. This road actually used to be part of Highway 101 back in the day and is still an interesting drive by any standard.\u00a0<i>No matter how tempting it is, DO NOT try to drive through a redwood no matter how big the hole looks.<\/i><\/p>\n<h4>Elk &amp; Mendocino<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":11436,"id":11436,"title":"Mendocino California Coast","filename":"mendocino-california-coast.jpg","filesize":90111,"url":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/mendocino-california-coast.jpg","link":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/de\/itineraries\/california-dreaming\/mendocino-california-coast-2\/","alt":"","author":"53","description":"","caption":"","name":"mendocino-california-coast-2","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":6386,"date":"2018-12-03 23:19:55","modified":"2018-12-03 23:19:55","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":775,"height":650,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/mendocino-california-coast-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/mendocino-california-coast-300x252.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":252,"medium_large":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/mendocino-california-coast-768x644.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":644,"large":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/mendocino-california-coast-1024x859.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":859,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/mendocino-california-coast.jpg","1536x1536-width":775,"1536x1536-height":650,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/mendocino-california-coast.jpg","2048x2048-width":775,"2048x2048-height":650,"blog-preview":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/mendocino-california-coast-600x353.jpg","blog-preview-width":600,"blog-preview-height":353,"post-thumbnail":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/mendocino-california-coast-1200x1006.jpg","post-thumbnail-width":1200,"post-thumbnail-height":1006,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/mendocino-california-coast.jpg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":300,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":252,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/mendocino-california-coast.jpg","gform-image-choice-md-width":400,"gform-image-choice-md-height":335,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/mendocino-california-coast.jpg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":600,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":503}},"image_link":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"text","text":"<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_13 et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_text_align_left\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<p>As you cruise up Highway 1, most people drive right through Elk. That\u2019s a mistake. This little community of 250 brave souls is worth checking out. Do a beach hike and wander the streets but don\u2019t expect gasoline because there isn\u2019t a station. Just up the road is the more touristy town of Mendocino. We like both spots but Elk definitely won us over a long time ago.<\/p>\n<h5>Best Camping<\/h5>\n<p>There are tons of campgrounds along this stretch of coast\u2014and inland\u2014outside Mendocino. Russian Gulch State Park is an Escape favorite, though.<\/p>\n<h5>Best Eats\/Drinks<\/h5>\n<p>Head into <a href=\"https:\/\/queeniesroadhousecafe.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Queenie\u2019s Roadhouse Caf\u00e9<\/a> for a blackberry tart.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_14 et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_text_align_left\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<h4>Montgomery Woods State Reserve<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_15 et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_text_align_left\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<p>If you\u2019re heading north on Highway 101, hang a left in the town of Ukiah on Orr Springs Road and do the side trip to Montgomery Woods. It\u2019s a couple-mile, moderately difficult hike to get to the \u2018big trees,\u2019 but that same hike keeps out crowds and will leave you with a pretty desolate (Desolate = no crowds. No crowds = jump-for-joy.) experience in the majestic Redwoods. It\u2019s a worthy trip.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"escape_tip","tip_tip_title":"Escape Tip","tip_tip_text":"<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_blurb et_pb_blurb_1 et_pb_bg_layout_dark et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_blurb_position_left\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_blurb_content\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_blurb_container\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_blurb_description\">\n<p>Just up the road from Montgomery Woods is the locally famous Orr Hot Springs. Park it here in the demur parking lot, pay whatever they ask, and bask in the natural hot springs for an hour\u2026or a day. You may end up staying here for a while.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"text","text":"<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_16 et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_text_align_left\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<h4>Jenner and Guerneville<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_17 et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_text_align_left\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<p>An hour or so north of Point Reyes is the microscopic community of Jenner. Pull over here and grab lunch while watching the panorama before you. Then, 30 minutes inland on Highway 116 is one of the most interesting communities we know of. Guerneville is a tourist hotspot with a definite local feel. As this is the jumping off point to canoe the Russian River, there are plenty of campgrounds just outside of town. Rent a canoe and join the floating party along this stretch of the river and you\u2019ll have a blast drifting along, talking to everyone around you while enjoying a few cold ones.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_18 et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_text_align_left\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<h4>Point Reyes National Seashore<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_19 et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_text_align_left\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<p>Just an hour north east-ish of San Francisco is a point of land jutting far out into the Pacific. This windswept area makes a great stopover for anyone just starting to get their driving legs under them after heading over the Golden Gate Bridge. There are two ways to get there:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Head west on Highway 1, or<\/li>\n<li>Go north 20 miles or so (about 32 km) to Sir Francis Drake Boulevard and hang a left.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Our favorite thing about this area is the food. If you\u2019re a true \u201cfoodie,\u201d definitely check this area out for the local fare. Also, between the months of December and April, do the hike out to Point Reyes Station. There\u2019s sure to be whales cruising by.<\/p>\n<h5>Best Camping<\/h5>\n<p>Our hands-down go-to place to escape the San Francisco crowds is Samuel P Taylor State Park. Located west of the town of Lagunitas (get some local beers at Lagunitas Brewing\u2014you won\u2019t be sorry). Point Reyes Campground is also an acceptable alternative, but it\u2019s not as exciting in our opinion.<\/p>\n<h5>Best Eats\/Drinks<\/h5>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cowgirlcreamery.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cowgirl Creamery<\/a> in the town of Point Reyes has the best cheese in all of California. Don\u2019t take our word for it, do a tour and find out for yourself.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomalesbayoystercompany.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tomales Bay Oyster Company<\/a> \u2013 just north of the town of Point Reyes is prime oyster farming country. There are several farms to choose from, actually, and you can\u2019t go wrong with any of them. Drakes Bay and Hog Island are all worthy, but Tomales Bay has a warm spot in our heart for some reason.<\/li>\n<li>Lastly, make sure you stop off at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bovinebakeryptreyes.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bovine Bakery<\/a> before you leave town. Their pastries are simply the best around\u2013except in the town of Elk.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_20 et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_text_align_left\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<h4>Big Sur<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":11410,"id":11410,"title":"mcway-falls-big-sur-california","filename":"mcway-falls-big-sur-california.jpg","filesize":70891,"url":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/mcway-falls-big-sur-california.jpg","link":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/de\/itineraries\/national-parks-tour\/mcway-falls-big-sur-california-2\/","alt":"McWay Falls San Francisco to Big Sur California road trip","author":"53","description":"","caption":"","name":"mcway-falls-big-sur-california-2","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":6329,"date":"2018-12-03 19:43:19","modified":"2023-09-19 17:04:54","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":521,"height":650,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/mcway-falls-big-sur-california-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/mcway-falls-big-sur-california-240x300.jpg","medium-width":240,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/mcway-falls-big-sur-california-768x959.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":959,"large":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/mcway-falls-big-sur-california-820x1024.jpg","large-width":820,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/mcway-falls-big-sur-california.jpg","1536x1536-width":521,"1536x1536-height":650,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/mcway-falls-big-sur-california.jpg","2048x2048-width":521,"2048x2048-height":650,"blog-preview":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/mcway-falls-big-sur-california-600x353.jpg","blog-preview-width":600,"blog-preview-height":353,"post-thumbnail":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/mcway-falls-big-sur-california.jpg","post-thumbnail-width":521,"post-thumbnail-height":650,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/mcway-falls-big-sur-california.jpg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":240,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":300,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/mcway-falls-big-sur-california.jpg","gform-image-choice-md-width":321,"gform-image-choice-md-height":400,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/mcway-falls-big-sur-california.jpg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":481,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":600}},"image_link":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"text","text":"<p>Big Sur isn\u2019t so much a place as a state of mind. Just a couple hours south of San Francisco\u2014 along the famous Highway 1\u2014you get to witness where the continent of North America crashes abruptly into the Pacific Ocean. Once you get south of Santa Cruz, (or north of Morro Bay) tap the brakes regularly as you meander because there\u2019s plenty to check out and a lot of people miss it.<\/p>\n<h5>Rules of the Road: Highway 1 to Big Sur<\/h5>\n<ul>\n<li>Fill your gas tank BEFORE you head into Big Sur<\/li>\n<li>If you\u2019re prone to car sickness, be prepared for some windy roads<\/li>\n<li>Bring warm clothes \u2014 it does get cold in California!<\/li>\n<li>Watch out for bikers \u2014 some stretches attract lots of cyclists<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_21 et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_text_align_left\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<h5>Highlights<\/h5>\n<ul>\n<li>A\u00f1o Nuevo State Park and their resident Elephant Seals (best in Dec-March)<\/li>\n<li>Point Lobo State Park: an Escape favorite, you can\u2019t go wrong paying the $10 fee to check out the otters, seals, Condor, and whatever else happens to be cruising by.<\/li>\n<li>Nepenthe Restaurant: just south of Big Sur, Nepenthe is hands down the best place for a sunset over a glass of wine or a cold one<\/li>\n<li>Pfeiffer Beach: the \u2018other\u2019 best place to catch a sunset while in Big Sur<\/li>\n<li>Keep an eye toward the ocean as this is also a big tourist destination for both humpback and gray whales.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h5>Best Camping<\/h5>\n<p>Escape favorites include Pfeiffer Big Sur State Campground, Fernwood, Riverside and Kirk Creek. You really can\u2019t go wrong with any of them.<\/p>\n<h5>Best Hike<\/h5>\n<p>Ewoldsen Trail<\/p>\n<h5>Best Side Trip<\/h5>\n<p>Hearst Castle \u2014 It took 28 years to complete William Randolph Hearst\u2019s lavish estate, which includes 165 rooms on 125 acres. There are a variety of tours available.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Location:<\/strong>\u00a0You can\u2019t miss the entrance on the right up Highway 1 outside the town of San Simeon.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_22 et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_text_align_left\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<h4>Pinnacles National Park<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_23 et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_text_align_left\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<p>Want to tack one more breathtaking side trip onto your Big Sur adventure? As one of America\u2019s newest National Parks, Pinnacles has yet to gain the attention it deserves. The giant rock needles and vertical canyons are all that remains of an ancient volcano that was literally sheared in two by tectonic plates (have we captured your interest yet?). This area attracts hikers, rock climbers, and a whole lot of bats. There\u2019s also a small rookery of endangered California Condors that make Pinnacles home.<\/p>\n<h5>Best Camping<\/h5>\n<p>Pinnacles Campground<\/p>\n<h5>Best Hike<\/h5>\n<p>Old Pinnacles Trail Loop<\/p>\n<h5>Best Side Trip<\/h5>\n<p>Bear Gulch Day Use Area<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"divider"},{"acf_fc_layout":"text","text":"<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_24 et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_text_align_left\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<h3>California Road Trip &#8211; Eastern Route<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_25 et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_text_align_left\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<h4>Lassen Volcanic National Park<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_26 et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_text_align_left\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<p>Tucked in the northeast part of California east of the town of Redding is the geothermal wonderland of Lassen. This place is like a mini Yellowstone and is worth touring if you\u2019re near the area. Lassen is best visited in the summer months as much of the park is closed during winter. Be bear aware. Interestingly, a gray wolf wandered into Lassen from Oregon a few years ago. It was the first wolf spotted in California in something like a hundred years.<\/p>\n<h5>Best Hike<\/h5>\n<p>Bagging Lassen Peak is a great way to get the blood pumping. Ridge Lakes is pretty respectable in its own right.<\/p>\n<h5>Best Camping<\/h5>\n<p>There are plenty of good camping spots in and around Lassen. The area is surrounded by National Forest land, so boondocking it is perfectly acceptable.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_27 et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_text_align_left\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<h4>Lake Tahoe<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_28 et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_text_align_left\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<p>You can check out travel blogs and Tripadvisor for a full rundown on this outdoor paradise. We\u2019ll leave you with the recommendation that Escapees typically enjoy the western and northern areas around the lake to the far more crowded and touristy southern end.<\/p>\n<h5>Favorite Towns<\/h5>\n<p>Tahoe City, Kings Beach, Truckee, and Homewood are all interesting communities to hit the brakes and wander the streets for a while.<\/p>\n<h5>Best Camping<\/h5>\n<p>Tahoe camping isn\u2019t easy or cheap, but it\u2019s worth it to fight the crowds and claim your spot. DL Bliss Campground is a favorite (although it\u2019s a favorite of a LOT of people). Book ahead at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reservecalifornia.com\/CaliforniaWebHome\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">reservecalifornia.com<\/a>\u00a0or call (530) 525-7232 to get your beachside spot. Sugar Pine Campground and Tahoe State Park are perfectly good fallbacks.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_29 et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_text_align_left\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<h4>Highway 395<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":11437,"id":11437,"title":"alabama-hills-california-mountains","filename":"alabama-hills-california-mountains.jpg","filesize":110295,"url":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/alabama-hills-california-mountains.jpg","link":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/de\/itineraries\/california-dreaming\/alabama-hills-california-mountains-2\/","alt":"","author":"53","description":"","caption":"","name":"alabama-hills-california-mountains-2","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":6386,"date":"2018-12-03 23:32:31","modified":"2018-12-03 23:32:31","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":974,"height":650,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/alabama-hills-california-mountains-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/alabama-hills-california-mountains-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/alabama-hills-california-mountains-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/alabama-hills-california-mountains-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/alabama-hills-california-mountains.jpg","1536x1536-width":974,"1536x1536-height":650,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/alabama-hills-california-mountains.jpg","2048x2048-width":974,"2048x2048-height":650,"blog-preview":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/alabama-hills-california-mountains-600x353.jpg","blog-preview-width":600,"blog-preview-height":353,"post-thumbnail":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/alabama-hills-california-mountains-1200x801.jpg","post-thumbnail-width":1200,"post-thumbnail-height":801,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/alabama-hills-california-mountains.jpg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":300,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":200,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/alabama-hills-california-mountains.jpg","gform-image-choice-md-width":400,"gform-image-choice-md-height":267,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/alabama-hills-california-mountains.jpg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":600,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":400}},"image_link":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"text","text":"<p>Highway 395 along the eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada mountain range is a destination in its own right. Heading South outside of Lake Tahoe, you\u2019ll almost continually be surrounded by National Forest Land (National Forest = free camping!) and although much of this stretch looks like high desert, there\u2019s still plenty to check out. Be sure to stop by Big Meadow Brewing in Bridgeport.<\/p>\n<h5>Highlights<\/h5>\n<p><strong>Bodie Ghost Town<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>About 20 miles (32 km) north of the town of Lee Vining, look for a sign signaling the road to Bodie (County Road 270, also known as Bodie Road to locals).\u00a0This abandoned city is the most pristine ghost town in North America\u2026maybe the world. During its heyday, Bodie was one of the largest communities in California. However, when the gold ran out in the mid-1890s, all residents seemed to pack up in a single afternoon, leaving all their worldly goods behind. Today, Bodie is in a state of what the Rangers call \u201cArrested Decay.\u201d It\u2019s fascinating to wander the overgrown streets of this ghost town.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"escape_tip","tip_tip_title":"Escape Tip","tip_tip_text":"<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_blurb et_pb_blurb_2 et_pb_bg_layout_dark et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_blurb_position_left\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_blurb_content\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_blurb_container\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_blurb_description\">\n<p>Bodie is a State Park and they keep regular park hours. Summer months (April to September) they\u2019re open from 9 am to 6 pm. Winter months they\u2019re open 9 am to 4 pm.<\/p>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_blurb et_pb_blurb_3 et_pb_bg_layout_dark et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_blurb_position_left\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_blurb_content\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_blurb_container\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_blurb_description\">\n<p>This is a maintained dirt road\u2013but sometimes it ain\u2019t so well maintained. Take it easy during this stretch of the drive. Remember, driving on unpaved roads (excluding state- and county- maintained roads), dirt roads, restricted areas, and \u2018off road\u2019 areas is not in compliance with Escape Camper Vans insurance and other vehicle warranties. If you get stuck, you are responsible for any expenses related to getting the van back to paved roads.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"text","text":"<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_31 et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_text_align_left\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<h5>Lee Vining<\/h5>\n<p>Just up from the shores of Mono Lake, Lee Vining is the jump off point to head into the Sierras and Yosemite via Highway 120. Park it for a while as this is the last chance to gear up before you head east. Best Eats: Just to your left as you turn onto Highway 120, you\u2019ll find the Tioga Gas Mart, better known to everyone else as the Whoa Nellie Deli. Pull over here and grab a fish taco or a burger and have a picnic on the grassy area out front. During the summer months, you might even catch a live band playing for your enjoyment.<\/p>\n<h5>Mono Lake<\/h5>\n<p>If you haven\u2019t noticed, there\u2019s a gigantic lake below you to the west. It\u2019s worth doing a pit stop at one, or more, of Mono Lake\u2019s many scenic overlooks. DO NOT try to camp here because this area is patrolled. It\u2019s best to head up Highway 120 for the better campsites.<\/p>\n<h5>Yosemite Camping Highway 120 East<\/h5>\n<p>If you\u2019re getting a late start (after lunchtime or so) heading into Yosemite, Escape recommends grabbing a campsite just outside the park for a night and wading into the madness early the next morning. You\u2019re now back in the high country, so campgrounds are plentiful and the weather will be perfect for car camping during the summer months. There\u2019s a ton of worthy campgrounds just outside the entrance gates and you can\u2019t really go wrong with any of them. While it is possible to boondock it along the many pullouts along this stretch of 120, we recommend you spend a few bucks, get a site, build a campfire, and enjoy a beer or two before heading into Yosemite and the inevitable gridlock tomorrow.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Best Camping 120 East of Yosemite:<\/strong>\u00a0Big Bend and Big Springs are pretty cool. Down the hill and a few miles south of Lee Vining is June Lakes Loop, which has more campsites than we can count. We LOVE this area. See our Yosemite Camping Overview for more details.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_32 et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_text_align_left\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<h5>Bishop<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_33 et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_text_align_left\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<p>Head northwest out of Death Valley National Park along Highway 395 and you\u2019ll come to the high desert town of Bishop\u2013one of the premier rock climbing meccas on the planet. Check out the many outfitters and climbing schools along Main Street if you\u2019re interested in getting on some rocks.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Best Eats\/Drinks<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>You can\u2019t go wrong with Schat\u2019s Bakery just off Main Street.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_34 et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_text_align_left\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<h4>Death Valley National Park<\/h4>\n<p>See our <a href=\"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/de\/itineraries\/death-valley-national-park\/\">Death Valley itinerary<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h4>Joshua Tree National Park<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":9628,"id":9628,"title":"Joshua Tree National Park California Campervan Girl","filename":"joshua-tree-national-park-california-campervan-girl.jpg","filesize":107223,"url":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/joshua-tree-national-park-california-campervan-girl.jpg","link":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/de\/processed-with-vsco-with-kp3-preset\/","alt":"","author":"53","description":"","caption":"","name":"processed-with-vsco-with-kp3-preset","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":0,"date":"2018-11-29 17:47:24","modified":"2018-11-29 17:47:24","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1133,"height":850,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/joshua-tree-national-park-california-campervan-girl-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/joshua-tree-national-park-california-campervan-girl-300x225.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/joshua-tree-national-park-california-campervan-girl-768x576.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":576,"large":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/joshua-tree-national-park-california-campervan-girl-1024x768.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":768,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/joshua-tree-national-park-california-campervan-girl.jpg","1536x1536-width":1133,"1536x1536-height":850,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/joshua-tree-national-park-california-campervan-girl.jpg","2048x2048-width":1133,"2048x2048-height":850,"blog-preview":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/joshua-tree-national-park-california-campervan-girl-600x353.jpg","blog-preview-width":600,"blog-preview-height":353,"post-thumbnail":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/joshua-tree-national-park-california-campervan-girl-1200x900.jpg","post-thumbnail-width":1200,"post-thumbnail-height":900,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/joshua-tree-national-park-california-campervan-girl.jpg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":300,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":225,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/joshua-tree-national-park-california-campervan-girl.jpg","gform-image-choice-md-width":400,"gform-image-choice-md-height":300,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/joshua-tree-national-park-california-campervan-girl.jpg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":600,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":450}},"image_link":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"text","text":"<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_38 et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_text_align_left\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<p>Two distinct desert ecosystems come together in Joshua National Park to make this a paradise just a couple hours east of Los Angeles. A fascinating place by any standard, Joshua Tree has made many an Escapee tap the brakes for a couple of days to stargaze, climb among the gigantic boulders, and catch just one more sunset before getting back on the road.<\/p>\n<h5>Best Campsite<\/h5>\n<p>Jumbo Rocks is an Escape favorite, but you can\u2019t go wrong with any of them. This place fills up every weekend so try to get there early.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_39 et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_text_align_left\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<h3>Side Trips<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_40 et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_text_align_left\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<h4>Crater Lake, Oregon<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_41 et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_text_align_left\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<p>We know, we know, this isn\u2019t in California but you\u2019re soooo close that you have to make the drive to this incredible lake destination. It\u2019s known for its namesake Crater Lake, formed by the now-collapsed volcano, Mount Mazama. You\u2019re only 3 hours shy of Crater Lake from the Jedediah Smith Redwoods\u2026go for it!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_42 et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_text_align_left\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<h4>Kings Canyon \/ Sequoia National Park<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":11365,"id":11365,"title":"Sequoia-National-Park-Campervan-Cooking-Kitchen","filename":"Sequoia-National-Park-Campervan-Cooking-Kitchen.jpg","filesize":273428,"url":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Sequoia-National-Park-Campervan-Cooking-Kitchen.jpg","link":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/de\/itineraries\/california-dreaming\/sequoia-national-park-campervan-cooking-kitchen-2\/","alt":"","author":"53","description":"","caption":"","name":"sequoia-national-park-campervan-cooking-kitchen-2","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":6386,"date":"2018-11-29 18:22:28","modified":"2018-11-29 18:22:28","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1612,"height":850,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Sequoia-National-Park-Campervan-Cooking-Kitchen-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Sequoia-National-Park-Campervan-Cooking-Kitchen-300x158.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":158,"medium_large":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Sequoia-National-Park-Campervan-Cooking-Kitchen-768x405.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":405,"large":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Sequoia-National-Park-Campervan-Cooking-Kitchen-1024x540.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":540,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Sequoia-National-Park-Campervan-Cooking-Kitchen.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":810,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Sequoia-National-Park-Campervan-Cooking-Kitchen.jpg","2048x2048-width":1612,"2048x2048-height":850,"blog-preview":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Sequoia-National-Park-Campervan-Cooking-Kitchen-600x353.jpg","blog-preview-width":600,"blog-preview-height":353,"post-thumbnail":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Sequoia-National-Park-Campervan-Cooking-Kitchen-1200x633.jpg","post-thumbnail-width":1200,"post-thumbnail-height":633,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Sequoia-National-Park-Campervan-Cooking-Kitchen.jpg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":300,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":158,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Sequoia-National-Park-Campervan-Cooking-Kitchen.jpg","gform-image-choice-md-width":400,"gform-image-choice-md-height":211,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Sequoia-National-Park-Campervan-Cooking-Kitchen.jpg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":600,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":316}},"image_link":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"text","text":"<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_43 et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_text_align_left\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<p>Two for the price of one\u2013how can you beat that? Just a couple hours south of Yosemite and a full day drive from Death Valley, Kings Canyon is Yosemite without the crowds. That said, this place still fills up quickly during the summer months.<\/p>\n<h5>Best Camping<\/h5>\n<p>Campsites in this park are easier to come by than in Yosemite or the Grand Canyon, but they\u2019re most likely full on weekends. Just outside the park on Highway 198 are some spectacular pullouts that offer FREE camping in National Forest Land. Check with the Information Center Rangers and ask their best boondocking tips if you can\u2019t find a campsite within the park. You may need to secure a wilderness permit if you\u2019re going this route (they\u2019re free).<\/p>\n<h5>Best Hike<\/h5>\n<p>The best way to see these two parks up close is to get out of the Campervan for a couple days. Big Trees Trail, Congress Trail, and Big Stump are all worthy of your attention. If you\u2019re looking to do an overnight, there\u2019s no better 1-2 day hike than the Bubb\u2019s Creek Trail at Road\u2019s End in Kings Canyon.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_44 et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_text_align_left\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<p>&gt; Read our blog on the best places to see wildlife in Big Sur\u00a0<a href=\"\/blog\/best-places-to-see-wildlife-in-big-sur\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_45 et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_text_align_left\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<p>Looking for the best surf spots on Highway 1? Check out this\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lushpalm.com\/highway-1-road-trip\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Highway 1 Road Trip<\/a>\u00a0itinerary in an Escape campervan from our friends at LushPalm!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"featured_blog_posts","posts_posts_tag":"alberta","posts_posts":[{"ID":7594,"post_author":"53","post_date":"2017-12-07 16:33:23","post_date_gmt":"2017-12-07 16:33:23","post_content":"","post_title":"Coachella Valley Road Trip Guide for Your Camper Van Getaway","post_excerpt":"A road trip through Coachella Valley, including Joshua Tree National Park, Palm Springs, Salvation Mountain, Slab City, and the International Banana Museum!","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"coachella-valley-road-trip-guide","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2021-04-23 15:10:07","post_modified_gmt":"2021-04-23 15:10:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/escapecampusa.wpenginepowered.com\/?p=7594","menu_order":275,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7455,"post_author":"53","post_date":"2018-01-03 21:22:30","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-03 21:22:30","post_content":"","post_title":"Hidden Gems of Northern California","post_excerpt":"Northern California is an outdoor mecca! Be sure to experience these unique hidden gems in California and the Pacific Northwest.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"northern-california","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2021-02-24 15:53:51","post_modified_gmt":"2021-02-24 15:53:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/escapecampusa.wpenginepowered.com\/?p=7455","menu_order":270,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7258,"post_author":"53","post_date":"2018-03-05 23:48:17","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-05 23:48:17","post_content":"","post_title":"Renter Interview: Solo Female Road Trip up the California Coast","post_excerpt":"When we heard about Diane's story of her solo female road trip up the California coast, we couldn't help but share! Read her inspirational interview.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"solo-female-road-trip","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-15 12:32:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-15 12:32:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/escapecampusa.wpenginepowered.com\/?p=7258","menu_order":254,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"7","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7740,"post_author":"53","post_date":"2017-10-24 19:58:48","post_date_gmt":"2017-10-24 19:58:48","post_content":"","post_title":"Top 3 Winter Road Trips to Escape the Cold","post_excerpt":"Winter is coming, but the campervan adventures continue! Escape the cold on these winter road trips in Southern California, Arizona, and Florida.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"winter-road-trips","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-15 12:21:39","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-15 12:21:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/escapecampusa.wpenginepowered.com\/?p=7740","menu_order":285,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"1","filter":"raw"}]}],"sub_title":"","title_tag":false,"group_data_trip":{"pickup_location":[{"value":"lasvegas","label":"Las Vegas"},{"value":"losangeles","label":"Los Angeles"}],"trip_days":"14","trip_type":[{"value":"beaches","label":"Beaches"},{"value":"mountains","label":"Mountains"},{"value":"desert","label":"Desert"},{"value":"nationalparks","label":"National parks"},{"value":"one-waytrips","label":"One-way trips"}],"rating":"","season":false,"dropoff_location":[]}},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.2 (Yoast SEO v25.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>California Road Trips - Escape Camper Vans<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"From coastal pullouts along Highway 1 to the barren beauty of Death Valley, use this itinerary to plan any of your California road trips.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/itineraries\/california-dreaming\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"de_DE\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"California Dreaming\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"From coastal pullouts along Highway 1 to the barren beauty of Death Valley, use this itinerary to plan any of your California road trips.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/itineraries\/california-dreaming\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Escape Camper Vans\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/facebook.com\/EscapeCampervansUSA\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-08-15T20:31:18+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/california-road-trip.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"975\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"650\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"15 Minuten\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/itineraries\/california-dreaming\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/itineraries\/california-dreaming\/\",\"name\":\"California Road Trips - Escape Camper Vans\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/itineraries\/california-dreaming\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/itineraries\/california-dreaming\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/california-road-trip.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2018-12-03T22:56:55+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-08-15T20:31:18+00:00\",\"description\":\"From coastal pullouts along Highway 1 to the barren beauty of Death Valley, use this itinerary to plan any of your California road trips.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/itineraries\/california-dreaming\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"de-DE\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/itineraries\/california-dreaming\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"de-DE\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/itineraries\/california-dreaming\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/california-road-trip.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/california-road-trip.jpg\",\"width\":975,\"height\":650,\"caption\":\"California road trip\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/itineraries\/california-dreaming\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/home\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Itineraries\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/itineraries\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"California Dreaming\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/\",\"name\":\"Escape Camper Vans\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"de-DE\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Escape Camper Vans\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"de-DE\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Escape-Logo_Vertical01-FullColor.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Escape-Logo_Vertical01-FullColor.png\",\"width\":800,\"height\":300,\"caption\":\"Escape Camper Vans\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/facebook.com\/EscapeCampervansUSA\/\",\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/escapecampervans\/\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/escapecampervans\/\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"California Road Trips - Escape Camper Vans","description":"From coastal pullouts along Highway 1 to the barren beauty of Death Valley, use this itinerary to plan any of your California road trips.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/itineraries\/california-dreaming\/","og_locale":"de_DE","og_type":"article","og_title":"California Dreaming","og_description":"From coastal pullouts along Highway 1 to the barren beauty of Death Valley, use this itinerary to plan any of your California road trips.","og_url":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/itineraries\/california-dreaming\/","og_site_name":"Escape Camper Vans","article_publisher":"https:\/\/facebook.com\/EscapeCampervansUSA\/","article_modified_time":"2024-08-15T20:31:18+00:00","og_image":[{"width":975,"height":650,"url":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/california-road-trip.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"15 Minuten"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/itineraries\/california-dreaming\/","url":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/itineraries\/california-dreaming\/","name":"California Road Trips - Escape Camper Vans","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/itineraries\/california-dreaming\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/itineraries\/california-dreaming\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/california-road-trip.jpg","datePublished":"2018-12-03T22:56:55+00:00","dateModified":"2024-08-15T20:31:18+00:00","description":"From coastal pullouts along Highway 1 to the barren beauty of Death Valley, use this itinerary to plan any of your California road trips.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/itineraries\/california-dreaming\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"de-DE","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/itineraries\/california-dreaming\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"de-DE","@id":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/itineraries\/california-dreaming\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/california-road-trip.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/california-road-trip.jpg","width":975,"height":650,"caption":"California road trip"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/itineraries\/california-dreaming\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/home\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Itineraries","item":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/itineraries\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"California Dreaming"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/","name":"Escape Camper Vans","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"de-DE"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/#organization","name":"Escape Camper Vans","url":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"de-DE","@id":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Escape-Logo_Vertical01-FullColor.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Escape-Logo_Vertical01-FullColor.png","width":800,"height":300,"caption":"Escape Camper Vans"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/facebook.com\/EscapeCampervansUSA\/","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/escapecampervans\/","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/escapecampervans\/"]}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/itineraries\/6386","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/itineraries"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/itineraries"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/itineraries\/6386\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6389"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6386"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}