Discover 7 Of Northern California's Most Iconic Views On This Epic 10-Hour Road Trip
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Kate Freeman
Author
Up for a challenge? How about this one-day sightseeing road trip? We’ve visited these places ourselves, picked the best sights, and figured out how you can cram it all into one day. We admit this is a long day, but it’s totally possible to do and not feel overwhelmed. Just follow our itinerary and you can enjoy seven of NorCal’s most iconic views in one fun-filled day.
1. Golden Gate Park
OK, we admit there is a lot to see here and a lot of iconic views. If you love this park and haven’t spent a lot of time here, we recommend you book two nights at a hotel near the park and explore it over a long weekend. But since we’re on a schedule and you’ll be here in the morning to complete this day of sightseeing, we recommend seeing Stow Lake and the Dutch Windmill.
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA, USA
Parking can be tough, but try Ocean Beach Parking or one of the parking garages in the park. We planned 2 hours for this excursion.
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2. Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Brg, San Francisco, CA, USA
This one is easy. As you drive north leaving San Francisco you’ll go over the Golden Gate Bridge. There is a parking lot on the north side of the bridge, but this lot is always full so we suggest you skip it. You’ll get plenty of time to enjoy great views of the bridge from our next stop.
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3. Marin Headlands
Marin Headlands, California, USA
This rugged and mountainous area is where you’ll find some incredible views of San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Pacific Ocean so be sure to bring your camera. You’ll also want to bring a sweatshirt and windbreaker— it gets very chilly and windy up there! This stop is located off exit 442 shortly after you drive over the Golden Gate Bridge. Drive along Bunker Road all the way to Point Bonita Lighthouse. Park where you can find a spot and walk to one of the many lookout points to take in the view. We budgeted about 30 minutes for this stop.
4. Muir Woods National Monument
Established in 1908, this old-growth coastal redwood forest is something you have to see to believe. Most of the trees are more than 200 feet tall and between 600 and 800 years old. The monument spans 554 acres, with trails of varying lengths, from half-hour loops to longer hikes into Mount Tamalpais State Park. We like the Bridge 3 Loop or the Bridge 4 Loop trails, which are 1 mile and 2 miles, respectively.
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Muir Woods National Monument, Mill Valley, CA 94941, USA
You can also buy your entrance fee online, too. We know this sounds like a lot of work but if you’ve never seen Muir Woods, it is absolutely worth it! We’ve budgeted 2 to 3 hours for this excursion.
5. Stinson Beach
Stinson Beach, CA 94970, USA
Located close to Muir Woods, this hidden little surf town provides quintessential California views. Stinson Beach is the name of this community as well as the name of the beach. From the beach you’ll see surfers, people enjoying the sand, plus a small town of charming bohemian beach shops. This would be a great place to have a drone since the aerial views of Stinson Beach are really something else! If you’ve worked up an appetite on your sightseeing tour, stop at one of the restaurants in town for a meal. You can’t go wrong at Parkside Cafe or Breakers Cafe– both are within walking distance of the beach.
6. Point Reyes National Seashore
There are so many iconic sites in Point Reyes National Seashore, but perhaps the most iconic are the lighthouse and the Cypress Tree Tunnel. You’ll arrive at the Cypress Tree Tunnel first– about 40 minutes from Stinson Beach. Then, about 25 minutes from the tree tunnel, you’ll arrive at the lighthouse.
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Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USA
On a clear day, you can get the most incredible beach view from the lighthouse. From the Point Reyes Lighthouse to our last and final iconic viewpoint is about an hour's drive.
7. Tomales Bay
Tomales Bay is a 15-mile-long inlet that is sheltered from the Pacific Ocean and currents by its unique geography. The bay is renowned for its oyster farming, with major producers like Hog Island Oyster Company and Tomales Bay Oyster Company offering sales and picnic grounds along the east shore. Tomales Bay is also popular for water sports including sailing, kayaking, fishing, and motor boating, with a public boat ramp available at Nick's Cove north of Marshall.
Tomales Bay, California, USA
There is not just one iconic viewpoint around this inlet, so feel free to stop as often as you want to explore the area and take in the views. After this long day’s drive, we highly recommend dining at Nick’s Cove and staying the night in one of the bungalows over the water.
Wow, can you even believe how many of NorCal’s iconic views we squeezed into one day?! The total drive time is three hours and fifteen minutes. Once we add in the time to stop, explore, and enjoy the views, this trip takes about 8 to 10 hours. Which one of these places do you think has the most iconic vistas? Tell us in the comments.
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