California is the most visited state in the US and for good reason. I’ve visited California 4 times and have not even come close to seeing all that California has to offer. With beaches, mountains, valleys, deserts, forests and cities, California has it all.

One of my favorite trips in California was a road trip I took with my friend, Sara, around the northern and central regions. In 6 days, we went from San Francisco, to Yosemite, to Monterey and then up to Napa Valley. Each of the four destinations offered very different experiences, which is part of what made the trip so memorable!

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Northern California Road Trip Itinerary:

Day 1: San Francisco

We flew into San Francisco early and rented a car, although we didn’t use it in the actual city. We were only there for 1 full day, so we spent most of our time in the Fishermans Wharf area and got around via cable cars and walking (the hills were a killer). San Francisco is such a fun, laid back, and diverse city. You could easily spend several days there with plenty to do and see. 

We did the audio tour of Alcatraz Island, which is definitely a must when visiting San Francisco. I’m not usually one who enjoys history and museums, but this was a really cool experience. In the 19th century, Alcatraz Island served as a harbor defense fort and a military prison. From 1934 to 1963, it was a federal penitentiary that housed some of America’s most infamous criminals, like Al Capone. The tour was definitely worth it, but tickets do sell out, so make sure you get your tickets online in advance!

We also walked down the famous Lombard St, the “crookedest street in the world.” Seriously, don’t underestimate the hills in this area if you are not accustomed to it. We had to take several breaks on our walk, but after burning all those calories, we rewarded ourselves with a delicious dessert at Ghirardelli Square. This entire block was once the headquarters of the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company from around 1895 to the 1960s. Today, the square contains shops and restaurants including, of course, a Ghirardelli Chocolate shop.

Days 2-3: Yosemite National Park (SF to Yosemite: ~170 miles, 3.5 hrs)

We woke early the next morning to start our drive to Yosemite National Park, and spent the rest of the day exploring the valley and doing some short, scenic hikes. We did the 1 mile hike to the base of the Lower Yosemite Falls. Yosemite Falls is the tallest waterfall in North America, and the fifth tallest in the world at 2,425 feet. We also hiked the short, easy trail to Mirror Lake, which offered views of North Dome and Half Dome.

On our second day in Yosemite, we took a bus tour to Glacier Point. The tour guide talked about the highlights of the valley before bringing us up to Glacier Point. On the way, we stopped at Tunnel View, where you can see El Capitan, Half Dome, Sentinel Dome, Cathedral Rocks, and Bridalveil Falls. This is one of the most photographed and famous viewpoints in Yosemite!

The whole tour is 4 hours, and as of the date of this post, tickets cost $52 round trip. You can also buy a one way ticket and hike back, or you can do the drive yourself. The pros of doing the tour are that you can enjoy the views without having to drive and you will learn about the history and nature of the park from your tour guide. That being said, you can definitely do the drive on your own, save some money, and go on your own time. I probably wouldn’t recommend spending the money on the tour. In fact, next time I go, I’ll probably hike up via the Four Mile Trail! But, no matter how you get there, or how long your visit, Glacier Point is a must when visiting Yosemite.   

After the tour, we headed to Mariposa Grove near the South Entrance. We hiked the easy, yet rewarding, 2.2 mile round trip trail around lower grove to see the Fallen Monarch, the Grizzly Giant and the California Tunnel Tree.

A note on Lodging at Yosemite: For the 2 nights we spent here, we stayed at a Best Western Plus in Mariposa. It was outside the park, and so a decent drive to get anywhere within the park, which was inconvenient, but it was also cheap. Staying inside the park (like many other national parks) is often expensive and/or books up very far in advance.  Be sure to take this into consideration when planning a visit to Yosemite. 

Day 4: Big Sur and Monterey (Yosemite to Big Sur: ~220 miles, 4.5 hours)

While planning this trip, we had heard that we had to go to Big Sur, and so we added it to our map! I remember looking for signs and expecting to get to a specific destination, called ‘Big Sur’. As it turns out, Big Sur is actually a section of California’s coast with no formal boundaries.

Big Sur is not about a specific place or destination, it’s about the journey and state of mind. Between Monterey and San Simeon, Route 1 is a windy highway with a lot of turns and seaside cliffs. On the one side you’ll see the beautiful Pacific coastline and on the other, Saint Lucia Mountains. You’ll cross the Bixby Bay Bridge, one of California’s most photographed bridges. We only went as far south as Pfeiffer State Park, but the ride was absolutely beautiful and the beach was well worth the stop.

We then headed back north to Monterey where we stayed for the night at the Hyatt Regency Monterey. We did the 17-mile scenic drive, which costs $10 per car and in my opinion, is not really worth it, especially after the beautiful (and free) drive along Route 1. Afterwards, we hung out at Cannery Row, did some shopping and had a nice dinner overlooking the water.

Day 6-7:  Napa Valley (Monterey to Napa Valley: ~160 miles, 2.75 hours)

For our last two days, we headed north to Napa Valley. We took our time getting there, taking in views of the Golden Gate Bridge from the other side and stopping in Sausalito. Once you are over the Golden Gate Bridge and heading towards Napa, the landscape quickly changes from city and coastline to rolling hills and valleys. 

We stayed at the Napa Valley Marriott Hotel and Spa for the night and got up bright and early the next morning to take a hot air balloon ride during sunrise. We did the balloon and brunch tour with Balloons Above the Valley and this was definitely a trip highlight. We enjoyed coffee and pastries and got to watch the crew inflate the balloon which was already a cool experience. Once in the balloon, floating over the rolling hills of Napa Valley watching the sunrise was absolutely breathtaking. And after the ride, we enjoyed a really great champagne brunch.

We were a little nervous and really didn’t know what to expect, but it was not scary at all. It actually feels like you’re floating! Landing can be a little bumpy, but at least you’re on the ground, right?! It’s also interesting because you have no idea where you are going to end up. The balloon goes wherever the wind takes it, so you could land in someone’s driveway or next to abandoned train tracks.  But that’s part of what makes it so fun! This is an experience you’ll definitely want to add to your bucket list!

Before making our way to a few wineries and vineyards, we stopped at the Old Faithful Geyser of California, not to be confused with THE Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park. To be honest, this was pretty underwhelming and cost an unnecessary amount of money ($15) to see. Here is a picture so you can say you saw it and move on. 

We are not big drinkers, so we chose two beautiful vineyards where wine wasn’t the sole focus. We went to Castello di Amarosa, where we went on a tour of the medieval inspired Tuscan castle and had Belgian chocolates with our wine tasting. The chocolate was fantastic and of course, my favorite part! Next, we went to Sterling Vineyards. Here, you take an aerial tram to the hilltop and are rewarded with sweeping views of the surrounding hills and valleys. The views and atmosphere from the terrace make it difficult to leave. 

On our way back to San Francisco, we made one last stop at Muir Woods National Monument to walk among the old-growth redwood trees. Some of the trees are as old as 800 years and up to 250 feet tall. This is definitely worth the stop, even if just as a quick day trip from San Francisco.

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