A funny thing happens when you drive north on US HWY 101. Once you pass wine country, the traffic dies off, and you have the highway to yourself as you travel north. A road trip up US HWY 101 will expose you to a ton of beautiful nature and quiet small towns, and you can do it all for less than $100! That’s right, these affordable trips in Northern California won’t break the bank but will give you loads to see along the way.

You can find the entire road trip itinerary here. Feel free to switch around stops or add and delete at your leisure!

This itinerary is perfect for those who don’t want to drive long stretches across the country but crave the sightseeing road trip experience.
Google Maps
If you start this trip somewhat early, you can easily pack all these stops into one day. See our guide below for this budget road trip. California is so much more than just Los Angeles and San Francisco. The third largest state in the US by land mass, California has tons of beautiful forests to explore. We’re exploring the most sparsely populated part of California. The northernmost part of California contains less than 5% of the state's total population.
1. Grace Hudson Museum & Sun House - Ukiah
Grace Hudson Museum & Sun House, 431 S Main St, Ukiah, CA 95482, USA
Grace Hudson Museum - Sun House & Wild Gardens Facebook Page
Start driving north on US Highway 101, just north of wine country. Our first stop is the town of Ukiah. Here you’ll visit the Grace Hudson Museum & Sun House. This craftsman-style house hosts rotating art exhibits. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for students and seniors, and $12 for families. Entry is free for Native Americans and for standing military personnel with identification. Admission is free for everyone on the first Friday of the month.
2. Mendocino County Museum - Willits
Mendocino County Museum, 400 E Commercial St, Willits, CA 95490, USA
Thomas Hawk/flickr
Continuing north for about 30 minutes to Willits. This small town is a place you’ll want to stop and stretch your legs. Walk up the northside of main street. Stop in Willits' Enchanted Toy Shoppe, Moon Lady/Moon Man clothing, and Cats Meow gift shop. You’ll definitely want to visit the Mendocino County Museum. With more than 60,000 artifacts and a rotating exhibit, there’s always a lot to discover. Admission is $5 for adults and $10 for families. Admission is free the first Saturday of every month.
3. Drive-Thru Tree Park - Leggett
Drive-Thru Tree Park, 67402 Drive Thru Tree Rd, Leggett, CA 95585, USA
zrfphoto/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
As you leave Willits, grab a coffee or snack for the road because the next stop is about one hour away. A major tourist attraction, the Drive-Thru Tree Park in Leggett lets you drive through a 315-foot redwood tree. Stop and get a picture with your vehicle driving through the tree. This private park has a picnic area and a gift shop so you can stop a while. Admission is $10.

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4. Confusion Hill - Piercy
Confusion Hill, 75001 US-101, Leggett, CA 95585, USA
Pamla J. Eisenberg/flickr
Now that you’re on the Redwood Highway, there are a few other stops you’ll want to make to soak in the incredible nature of this area. Confusion Hill is just up the road. A major tourist attraction since it opened in 1949, Confusion Hill has served as a quirky pit stop full of entertainment. Check out the World Famous Gravity House, Mountain Train Ride, and Ripley’s Believe It or Not "World’s Tallest Free Standing Redwood Chainsaw Carving". Admission to the Gravity House is $5. Admission to the Mountain Train Ride is $10.
5. Avenue of the Giants - Garberville
Avenue of the Giants, California, USA
Redwood Coast/flickr
About 30 minutes north, you’ll exit the highway to take the Avenue of the Giants. Located before Phillipsville and at the end of Garberville, this 31 mile road parallels the highway and is lined with towering redwoods. You’ll pass by many photograph opportunities as well as another drive-thru redwood.
6. Shrine Drive-Thru Tree - Myers Flat
Shrine Drive Thru Tree, 13078 Avenue of the Giants, Myers Flat, CA 95554, USA
exafrica/TripAdvisor
The Shrine Drive-Thru Tree is a naturally split redwood in Myers Flat. It’s $10 to drive through the tree.
7. Founders Tree - Weott
Founders Tree, Weott, CA 95571, USA
davemunroe4/flickr
Stop by Founders Tree in Weott to see the world's tallest tree from 1931 to 1957.
8. Immortal Tree - Redcrest
Immortal Tree, 28101 Avenue of the Giants, Redcrest, CA 95569, USA
sandwich/flickr
Up the road, still on the Avenue of the Giants, you’ll pass by the Immortal Tree. This giant redwood has seen many disasters in its 1,000 years.

As your road trip ends, consider where you want to spend the remainder of your $100. Maybe you stopped at one of the several rock stores along the way to add to your crystal collection. Or perhaps you bought a one-of-a-kind souvenir from a gift shop. If you decide to stay the night, Ferndale– just 20 minutes north, has several beautiful B&Bs. If you want to stay in a chain hotel, just drive north to Eureka, where you’ll find many famous chain hotels.

Have you ever road-tripped up Northern California? What are your must-see affordable vacation spots in NorCal? We’d love to hear from you in the comments section! Also if you have any more affordable road trip suggestions in NorCal, shout those out, too!

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More to Explore

Affordable Trips In Northern California

Megan Todaro | February 09, 2023

What are the best NorCal Road Trips involving natural wonders?

The best NorCal road trips involving natural wonders will take you to:

  • Richardson Grove State Park
  • Shelter Cove, CA
  • Avenue of the Giants
  • Lost Coast Scenic Drive
  • Humboldt Bay
  • Clam and Moonstone Beaches
  • Trinidad State Beach
  • Humboldt Lagoons State Park
  • Fern Canyon
  • Newton Drury Scenic Parkway

 

These natural wonders showcase the best of Northern California in one comprehensive road trip. The best part is that most of these natural attractions happen around Humboldt County, making it easy to tackle in one weekend of outdoor adventure.

What are some of the best road trips in Northern California involving autumn?

The best road trips in Northern California involving autumn include stops in:

  • Lassen Peak, California
  • Shasta Lake
  • Castle Crags State Park
  • Dunsmuir
  • McCloud
  • Burney
  • Dorris and Tulelake
  • Lassen Volcanic National Park
  • Lassen National Forest

 

This nine-hour road trip will take travelers to some of the most beautiful places in Northern California that are changed every year by autumn’s beauty. Take a trek to see the fall foliage in full swing along some of the most beautiful roadways. You can also stop by some of the quaint mountain towns for a real taste of the season.

Are there any hidden gems road trips in Northern California?

Yes, we have a hidden gem road trip in Northern California that takes you to some of the best lesser-known spots throughout the state. These hidden gem attractions include stops along the Sierra Nevada Foothills in the town of Sonora, as well as stops in Mariposa, June Lakes, and more.

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Featured Addresses
431 S Main St, Ukiah, CA 95482, USA
75001 US-101, Piercy, CA 95587, USA
400 E Commercial St, Willits, CA 95490, USA
67402 Drive Thru Tree Rd, Leggett, CA 95585, USA