Northern California Road Trip Ideas: 11 Best Road Trips + Itinerary

Northern California has some of the most stunning natural scenery in the USA and even the entire planet. The Humboldt Redwoods State Park, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Point Reyes National Seashore, and the whole Northern California Coast all the way up to Oregon are all bucket list destinations that would have a solid place in any Northern California road trip itinerary. The road trips presented here will guide you to exploring the very best Northern California has to offer. Pack up the car and hit the road to the 11 best road trips in Northern California!

1-Day Road Trip in Northern California

Joe Parks/Flickr

• Route: Point Reyes National Seashore > Muir Woods National Monument > Coit Tower > Twin Peaks > Pacifica State Beach
• Distance: 64 miles
• Trip Time: 2.5 hours driving time

If you only have one day and want to pack as much natural sightseeing into a short time as possible, this fantastic road trip will take you to some of the most stunning sights along the Pacific coast. Take in the Pacific Ocean in all its splendor atop the cliffs at Point Reyes, get a panoramic view of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge at Coit Tower, take in the majestic redwoods in an old-growth forest in Muir woods, the Sonoma County wine region, and more. This is one of those day trips that will remain etched in your memory.

3-Day Weekend Road Trip in Northern California

Thomas Shahan/Flickr

• Route: Ahjumawi Lava Springs State Park > Castle Crags State Park > Humboldt Lagoons State Park > Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park > Empire Mine State Historic Park > Plumas-Eureka State Park > Emerald Bay State Park > Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park
• Distance: 867 miles
• Trip Time: 17.75 hours driving time

If you like long scenic drives through gorgeous natural areas, this 3-day road trip will take you through various redwood national and state parks to see majestic redwood forests, breathtaking vistas, coastal towns on the Pacific Coast Highway, and much more. At the end of each leg, pitch a tent in one of the bucolic Californian campgrounds and make s’mores under the stars! This will be a getaway that the whole family will treasure for years to come.

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Highway 101 Road Trip

Crescent City/Google

• Route: Crescent City > Eureka > Healdsburg Museum . Buena Vista Gardens > San Louis Obispo > Ventura
• Distance: 718 miles
• Trip Time: 12 hours driving time

Highway 101 will take you through some of the most scenic parts of Northern California traversing the highway from Crescent City at the northern tip of the state down parts of the west coast, through the Bay Area and Oakland, to old Spanish missions, and into the heart of Ventura. You’ll see some of the most iconic places in the state like Battery Point Lighthouse, the historic Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, and stunning Ventura beaches that are perfect for swimming, surfing, kayaking, and more. Get an Airbnb in Ventura and stay a couple more days!

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Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip

Loren Chipman/Flickr

• Route: Morro Bay > Cambria > Nepenthe > Carmel-by-the-Sea
• Distance: 121 miles
• Trip Time: 3 hours driving time

Highway 1 has long been an iconic drive in Northern California and the setting of countless books and movies. It’s a traveler’s bucket list destination that offers endless awe-inspiring ocean views as you drive along the bluffs and meander through the lush forests in Big Sur. It starts in bucolic Morro Bay and ends up in gorgeous Carmel-by-the-Sea which is surrounded by wonderful wine country and right next to Monterey with the Old Fisherman’s Wharf. If you’re lucky, you may get to see sea lions playing on the shore along this unforgettable road trip.

Best Northern California Road Trip For Spring

BDFri2012/Flickr

• Route: Lion Slide Falls > Burney Falls > Lower McCloud Falls > Middle McCloud Falls > Upper McCloud Falls > Hedge Creek Falls
• Distance: 178 miles
• Trip Time: 3.5 hours driving time

When springtime comes, one of the best things to do is visit Northern California’s impressive waterfalls as they rush with the melting of the winter snow and ice. It’s the time of year when the falls are at their most powerful and their sound is so soothing. This waterfall road trip will take you to six lovely waterfalls including the iconic Burney Falls which is something everyone should see in their lifetime. Make sure to take some time to stop and savor each one.

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Best Summer Road Trip in Northern California

Antara Roy/Google

• Route: Founder's Grove in Humboldt Redwoods State Park > Glass Beach in Fort Bragg > Pine Mountain Lookout > Petrified Forest in Calistoga > Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco
• Distance: 322 miles
• Trip Time: 8.25 hours driving time

Summertime is when you want to pack as much sightseeing and adventure into your days as possible. This adventurous road trip will take you through eye-popping sights like Founder’s Grove where the redwoods tower above you to the intriguing Glass Beach with its multicolored pebbles and sand to an overlook you won’t believe as well as the world-famous Petrified forest. You’ll end up in charming San Francisco in Golden Gate Park with the most famous bridge in the world. How’s that for a summer adventure?

Best Northern California Road Trip For Fall

Susan Sienstra/Flickr

• Route: Shasta Lake > Dunsmuir > McCloud > Mt. Shasta > Anderson > Chester > Lassen Volcanic National Park > Adin > Dorris > Weed
• Distance: 531 miles
• Trip Time: 9.25 hours driving time

Fall is when the trees are alive with vibrant colors and you know you have to hop in the car at least once each season to take in their stunning beauty. This fall foliage road trip will carry you to some of the most scenic and pastoral areas where you’ll see the best of Northern California’s fall colors. Achingly beautiful locales like Shasta Lake, Dunsmuir, and majestic Mt. Shasta itself await you on the road trip of a lifetime. Bring a good camera, because you’ll want to take tons of pictures!

Best Winter Road Trip in Northern California

El Dorado Hills Town Center/Facebook

• Route: El Dorado Hills > Loomis > Auburn > Grass Valley > Nevada City > Truckee
• Distance: 108 miles
• Trip Time: 2.25 hours driving time

In wintertime, the holiday season approaches, and every town is stringing up glittering lights and creating multicolored displays for all to see. Why not take a holiday lights road trip and see some of the best for yourself? You’ll get to see how each small town puts its own twist on holiday decorating and can stop to take part in local festivities with scrumptious treats, live entertainment, and endless merriment! It’s a great reason to get out of the house during the winter and have some fun.

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Family-Friendly Northern California Road Trip

Tatsuro Ogata (llcheesell)/Google

• Route: Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park > Jelly Belly Tours in Fairfield > Sonoma TrainTown Railroad > American Made Miniatures in Petaluma > The Walt Disney Museum > Urban Putt in San Francisco
• Distance: 170 miles
• Trip Time: 3.5 hours driving time

Gather up your partner and kids and hop in the car for a fun family adventure that will delight every one of you! You’ll get to interact with history at the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, sample your favorite flavors of Jelly Belly candies on a tour, hop on a fun train ride, pet miniature horses and zebras in Petaluma, explore the wonderful world created by Walt Disney, and enjoy a lovely round of miniature golf. The smiles on the kids’ faces will make it all worth it.

Road Trip to Northern California Landmarks & Natural Wonders

Kirt Edblom/Flickr

• Route: Richardson Grove State Park > Shelter Cove > Avenue of the Giants > Lost Coast > Humboldt Bay > Clam Beach > Trinidad State Beach > Humboldt Lagoons State Park > Fern Canyon > Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway
• Distance: 234 miles
• Trip Time: 6.5 hours driving time

Ready your cameras and prepare for some of the most breathtaking sights you will see in your entire life. This natural wonders road trip will make it hard to keep your eyes on the road, so make sure to stop frequently to take it all in. The redwoods stretching into the sky along the Avenue of the Giants, the serene expanse of the Lost Coast, the offshore rocks at Trinidad State Beach, and the otherworldly lush foliage at Fern Canyon which Steven Spielberg used in Jurassic Park are just some of the sights that you’ll see. Make sure to take a stroll on one of the verdant hiking trails you’ll encounter.

Road Trip to Best Small Towns in Northern California

Rafael “El CHANGO” Ventura/Google

• Route: Weaverville > Chester > Quincy > Graegle > Downieville > Nevada City > Grass Valley > Auburn > Coloma > Placerville
• Distance: 333 miles
• Trip Time: 7.5 hours driving time

There’s nothing like a leisurely cruise through Northern California’s charming small towns. Quaint little towns like Weaverville, Chester, Graegle, Auburn, and others bring us back to simpler times and give us some respite from the noise and hustle and bustle of big cities. Take some time to peruse the shops with local crafts and produce and drive slowly enough to enjoy the old-fashioned buildings. Converse with the locals and breathe in the clean air. You won’t regret a moment of it.

If you’ve been to any of the locations on these road trips, you already know you’re in for a treat. If they’re new to you, it’s well worth it to experience these magical and awe-inspiring places that can only be found in Northern California. Try out Napa Valley, where you’ll find top-notch wineries and can do a bit of wine tasting (with a designated driver, of course). If you’d like to explore even more, this collection of day trips will take you to waterfalls, the best taco shops, majestic lighthouses, and so much more. For road trip planning and packing tips, check out OnlyInYourState’s Ultimate Road Trip Packing List. Whether you’re leaving for a single day or a week-long road trip, you can’t forget the snacks: here are 50 on-the-go snack ideas perfect for traveling. Now, get out of the house and on the road!