A Local’s Guide to Planning a California Vacation

This isn’t some retrospective blog post, though.

You’re here because you’re planning a California vacation and need help to make it fun, efficient, and a trip that meets the highest expectations.

I’ve got you covered.

Use this California travel guide to plan your next trip to the state, whether it’s a coastal California road trip or a city break to some of the best cities in the country.

How to Plan a Trip to California

When planning a trip to California, start by deciding on travel dates and budget. Research the stops you’d like to make while you’re here.

You should start planning your California vacation as soon as you decide that you’re going. If you’re flexible, you’ll save some money on flights and accommodations by watching potential price drops.

If you’re traveling from within the United States, try to plan at least three to six months out.

Here are a few more things you should know before visiting California:

• If you’re planning a California road trip itinerary, you’ll need a car.
• California is expensive, from gas prices to groceries. You will pay for shopping bags, by the way.
• Visiting Los Angeles? It takes a good 40 minutes to get pretty much anywhere thanks to the traffic. You may be able to get to Santa Monica in half an hour if you go in the middle of the night. Deal with it.
• Northern California weather is very different from Southern California weather. Don’t make assumptions. Check your weather apps.
• Plan your visit to avoid big music festivals and events, unless you’re attending them. Prices jump on everything during those times.
• California is one of the most beautiful places you’ll ever visit. Embrace the quirks and enjoy the ride.

How Much Time You Need for Your California Trip

Seven days is a decent amount of time for a California road trip. You’ll be able to see some highlights from Southern California all the way up to the Bay Area in that amount of time.

With more time, you can take a deeper dive into California’s best cities. San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco all make for great long weekends in California.

Best Times to Go to California

There really isn’t a bad month to go to California, but it depends on where you’re going in the state. If you’re looking to avoid the bulk of the tourists, don’t travel during school breaks, including the summer.

Check out more detailed information on the seasons below:

• Spring: Temperatures are starting to warm up at this time of year. Depending on how wet of a winter the state experienced, you could be in for some beautiful wildflower blooms in the desert areas.
• Summer: Expect crowds in the major cities and packed beaches. San Francisco’s marine climate offers a respite from the hot weather, but prices will be at their peak. Temperatures remain in the 70s up there.
• Fall: This is generally my ideal time for California travel. As it’s shoulder season, you should have better luck with deals. Just be aware that this is also fire season, which may affect travel throughout the state.
• Winter: Temperatures in Southern California at this time remain in the 60s. Avoid the holidays if you’re looking for a budget trip. This is the best time to visit desert parks like Death Valley National Park.

Fun fact: If you’re interested in a ski break, Lake Tahoe and Mammoth Lakes offer plentiful snow at this time of year, and often well into the spring months.

How to Get to California

California has a number of options for incoming flights. The most popular and busiest California airports are Los Angeles International (LAX), San Francisco International (SFO), and San Diego International (SAN).

If you’re coming from outside of the United States, target those airports above for the best chance at budget-friendly flights. For those already in the U.S., you may prefer to fly into regional hubs throughout the state, depending on your itinerary.

From any of the major airports, you’ll be able to connect to regional hubs, too.

How to Get Around California

California is the third-largest state in the United States. If you have limited time and want to see both Northern and Southern California, it’s best to fly between the two. Southwest Airlines has frequent fare deals for regional travel within California.

If you have more time for long-distance travel, Greyhound and Amtrak offer long-distance bus and rail options, respectively, for budget-savvy travelers.

Once you’re in the state, California is very car-centric. If you’d like to have more options available to you for getting from Point A to Point B, it’s easiest to rent a car. The major airports will have all of the big car rental agencies.

Note: Most of the major cities you’ll visit in California have some form of public transportation. Expect buses, subways, trolleys, and light rail systems.

Metrolink is a commuter rail system available to travelers within Southern California. Caltrain is a commuter rail line in the San Francisco and Silicon Valley region. Shuttles are available in the big national parks.

It’s just that getting to all of these places is much more efficient when you have a ride.

How much does a California vacation cost?

The cost of a California vacation varies widely depending on factors like your travel style, duration, and where you’re going in the state.

Domestic flights are certainly cheaper than traveling from abroad, and hotel prices depend on location, season, and level of luxury. Renting a car adds to those costs.

A week-long trip for two could cost around $3,000 depending on the choices you make. California isn’t a cheap destination, but you can make it more budget-friendly by booking in the off-season and keeping dining budget-friendly.

The cheapest way to get around California is to use local bus systems, but you’ll be paying in other ways if you go that route. California is more well-connected than most other states, but public transit still isn’t an efficient mode of transport on California trips.

If you’re visiting California from Europe, you won’t be impressed. That’s all I have to say about that.

Top Places to Visit in California

Yosemite National Park, San Diego, and a road trip along California 1 are all top attractions you shouldn’t miss in California.

The thing is, this state is huge. If you only have a weekend or even a long weekend, focus on one region of the state. Discover California as best as you can and plan the follow-up trip while you’re there. You know you’ll want to!

California 1

Start from the south in San Diego and end in the north in San Francisco…or vice versa.

A road trip along California State Route 1, which includes the well-known Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), is one of the most scenic road trips you’ll take.

It’s also the best way to experience California if it’s your first time here.

You’ll need about a week to do it justice and that’s without any real time in Los Angeles or the other big cities you’ll pass.

You’re here for the vistas. I’m talking about Big Sur, the state and national parks featuring those impressively tall redwoods, and some of the wine regions you’ll cruise through along the way. These are miles you’ll want to remember.

READ MORE: Love the idea of a road trip? Check out my guide to driving from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

Lake Tahoe

The California side of Lake Tahoe is one of the most scenic areas of the state.

Note: Once you get over to the Nevada side you get a little bit of those Las Vegas vibes. I don’t need a casino in the middle of my nature retreat, people.

Plan hikes that take you up to vistas over the lake and to the shores below. Dip your feet in if you’re traveling in the summer months. I haven’t visited in the winter as I’m no ski bunny, but those snowy images suggest good ski cabin times.

Lake Tahoe is best explored on your feet. Hit the trails to escape the crowds.

San Diego

They don’t call it “America’s Finest City” because it’s mediocre, and I didn’t pay that sun tax for seven years because I was flush with cash. San Diego defines vacation destination.

Its beaches and sunsets are what most picture when they think of a vacation in California.

Dig a little deeper and you’ll find a city that has a thriving culinary identity beyond fish tacos and opportunities for all kinds of outdoor adventure.

READ MORE: If I’ve sold you on San Diego, don’t miss my itinerary for first-time visitors.

San Francisco

San Francisco is more than its Golden Gate Bridge, although, yes, it’s an engineering marvel and a beautiful sight to behold. The city is constantly reinventing itself and sets trends felt across the world in food, technology, and art.

My own affection for it is helped along by its proximity to some of the best wineries in the world.

San Francisco is a California gateway, and deservedly so. If it’s a choice between the Bay Area and Los Angeles, another tourist hub, it’s going to be San Francisco all day.

San Francisco is easily explored using the city’s available public transportation or with your own rental car if you’re traveling outside of the city limits.

Yosemite National Park

California is spoiled with national parks, from Death Valley to Sequoia, Joshua Tree National Park to Pinnacles.

Yosemite National Park is its jewel, though. As one of the most popular national parks in the United States, many Americans would agree with that statement.

See El Capitan, the meadows along the Tuolumne River, the views from Glacier Point, and Yosemite Falls. Gaze upon the summit of Half Dome, if only from afar, and wonder where those climbers get their nerve.

Hike one of my favorite hikes in the country if you’re able: Vernal and Nevada Falls via the Mist Trail.

Yes, you will get wet.

Yosemite is easy to accomplish on a self-guided tour, but if you’d be more comfortable with some help, here are some great options:

More Places to Visit in California

We lived in California for seven years and I still have things on my list to return to when it inevitably happens.

Here are a few more California destinations we’ve been to that I’d highly recommend in your trip planning:

• Cambria: This jewel of San Luis Obispo County is an easy stop if you’re driving California 1, but I want to highlight it here so you don’t miss the Central Coast. The beaches here are so atmospheric and perfect for a relaxing stay.
• Los Angeles: Maybe it’s blasphemous to have not included this one in my top destinations. Don’t get me wrong. I’ve already had a great time in L.A. It can be a trip of its own, though. It’s a good base for trips to Palm Springs, too.
• Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks: You didn’t travel all this way to miss out on some enormous trees. I have a detailed guide to three full days in the adjacent parks if you’re here to hike.
• Solvang: I love Santa Barbara, but Solvang is so charming and easy to add on to your trip if you’re already in the area. Check out my guide to all of our favorite stops on a day in Solvang.
• Sonoma Valley: Napa’s a great time, but Sonoma will always have the edge for me if you want to make time for wine country. It feels a tiny bit more casual with the same great wine culture and delicious restaurants.

California Travel Itineraries

One week in California will only scratch the surface of what’s possible in the state, but that just means you may have to come back for more.

California’s big cities are the best options if you’d like to stay in one place for the week. You want a base with enough to do while you’re in the city itself and day trip possibilities.

San Diego offers excellent day trips to places to Temecula, the mountain town of Julian, and even Mexico. Santa Barbara, Solvang, and the Santa Ynez Valley are easy from Los Angeles.

If you stay in San Francisco, you could visit nearby redwood forests, San Jose, and Santa Cruz.

Here are a few more ideas for a full week’s worth of activities:

Option 1: California 1 Adventure

• Day 1: Arrive in San Francisco.
• Day 2: Explore San Francisco.
• Day 3: Drive to Carmel-by-the-Sea with stops in San Jose and Monterey.
• Day 4: Drive to Cambria with stops throughout Big Sur.
• Day 5: Drive to Santa Barbara with stops along the Central Coast.
• Day 6: Explore Santa Barbara or Solvang.
• Day 7: Arrive in Los Angeles.

Option 2: Southern California Sampler

• Day 1: Arrive in San Diego.
• Day 2: Explore San Diego.
• Day 3: Explore San Diego.
• Day 4: Drive to Los Angeles.
• Day 4: Explore Los Angeles.
• Day 5: Explore Los Angeles.
• Day 6: Take a day trip to Santa Barbara, Solvang, or Palm Springs.
• Day 7: Depart via Los Angeles.

Option 3: California National Parks

• Day 1: Arrive in San Francisco and drive to Yosemite National Park.
• Day 2: Explore Yosemite National Park.
• Day 3: Explore Yosemite National Park.
• Day 4: Drive to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.
• Day 5: Explore Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.
• Day 6: Explore Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.
• Day 7: Depart via Fresno.

Unusual Facts About California

California is incredibly diverse, which makes it one of the most intriguing states if we’re talking fun facts. Here are a few of my favorites:

1. It isn’t the Golden Gate Bridge that makes California the Golden State. It’s the discovery of gold there in 1848 that made this state Gold Country. During the California Gold Rush, over 300,000 people came to claim their fortunes.
2. Despite the very fuzzy grizzly on the state flag, there are no grizzly bears in California. That doesn’t mean they never roamed the state. The last grizzly bear in California was killed in 1922.
3. The first fortune cookies were made in Benkyodo, a San Francisco bakery.
4. The world’s largest tree, measured by volume, has a name. It’s General Sherman, a giant sequoia in Sequoia National Park.
5. While California has seen a population decrease over the last decade, if it was an independent nation, it would be the 34th most populated in the world.

What to Pack to California

What you pack to California will depend on the kind of experience you’re after. Your packing list will look different if you’re taking a beach vacation vs. a hiking trip vs. a ski break.

Fun fact: Yes, you can have all three on a visit to the sunshine state.

Check out some ideas below on more general things you may need on your next trip to California:

• Flip-flops: A good pair of flip-flops will be an essential California travel item as you hit the state’s best beaches, so pack a pair if you’re looking to blend in. I’m all about the Havaianas and Brian loves Rainbows.
• Hiking shoes: Bring along a sturdy pair of hiking shoes that you’ve broken in for the occasion if California national parks are in your plans. This state has some magical things to show you once you get off the beaten path.
• Rain jacket: Southern California doesn’t get as much precipitation as Northern California, but times are changing, even in a state that suffers from drought. Pack something lightweight that you can throw on if you encounter inclement weather.
• Sundresses: Southern California is very casual. If you’re headed there in the summertime or into mid-fall, you’ll likely be met with some warm temperatures that call for some adorable sundresses. Pack a few that won’t get too wrinkled.
• Sun hat: If you’re heading out to California in the summer or Southern California at any time in the year, bring along something to cover your face. No one will take you seriously when you’re at happy hour later looking like a freshly caught lobster.

Famous Foods in California

California is famous for the following foods:

• Avocadoes
• California burritos
• California rolls
• Chicken and waffles
• Cioppino
• Clam chowder
• Cobb salad
• Fish tacos
• In-N-Out*
• Sourdough bread

*A Californian’s favorite cheat meal is at the burger chain In-N-Out. They have a “secret” menu of legend. To start, try a double-double animal style with the fries well done.

Special Dates & Events in California

If you’re planning a trip to California during a specific time of year, consider whether there are any festivals occurring. You may want to avoid them for cost savings or attend them for fun purposes.

Here are a few notable California events:

• Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival: Break out your flower headbands and moccasins for this one. Coachella is a music festival held over two weekends in Indio that typically features some of the biggest names in the music industry.
• Los Angeles Times Festival of Books: This is a celebration of all things bookish. General admission is free, but there are special speakers and presentations that may require a separate ticket.
• BottleRock Napa Valley: This three-day festival that bills itself as “the first taste of summer.” The festival celebrates music, food, beer, and wine in California’s premier wine country, Napa Valley.
• U.S. Open of Surfing: This is a week-long surfing competition in Huntington Beach. You can see the best surfers in the world compete for some of the biggest prizes in the surfing industry.
• Hardly Strictly Bluegrass: Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, at one point known as Strictly Bluegrass, is an annual music festival held in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. The event is free!

Where to Stay in California

I know you’re looking for specific travel tips here, but where to stay in California depends on where you’re going, and costs vary from city to city.

When we lived in San Diego, we’d stay in a mix of hotels and short-term rentals for travel throughout the state. Our decisions were based on things like available parking and how close the accommodations were to what we were doing at that time.

Browse Booking.com or Hotels.com for your options based on your itinerary. Vrbo is my Airbnb alternative if you want something with more amenities.

California is my favorite state in the U.S.

I have my reasons, namely that it offers something no matter what I’m after, has an excellent food and wine scene, and boasts some of the best hiking in the country.

It’s also the ultimate road trip destination. We’ve been on countless drives throughout the state, so we know how impressive it is to hit the road in California.

If it wasn’t so expensive to live in, we’d consider returning someday. I won’t rule it out, but I know we’ll be back for lots of visits regardless.