- Plan at least 7–14 days to see California’s national parks comfortably, with longer trips allowing fewer rushed travel days.
- Visit mountain parks in summer and desert parks in winter; September and October offer the best all-around access.
- Start in San Francisco for a central route covering Redwood, Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and Lassen Volcanic.
- Buy an America the Beautiful annual pass to save money if visiting three or more national parks.
- Book lodging and required permits early, especially for Yosemite, Channel Islands ferries, and peak summer travel.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Why Explore California’s National Parks?
- Road Trip Overview & Route Map
- Day‑by‑Day Itineraries
- Logistics & Accommodations
- Food, Permits & Park Fees
- Packing List & Safety Tips
- Frequently Asked Questions
Why Explore California’s National Parks?
Diverse Landscapes & Iconic Sights
Imagine the tallest trees on earth, the majesty of the Sierra Nevada, the extremeness of Death Valley, and the whimsy of Joshua trees, all in one state!
California’s landscape shifts dramatically everywhere you turn.
From rugged coastlines to soaring mountains, open deserts, and towering forests, California’s national parks capture it all.
A road trip through the Golden State’s parks is like a highlight reel of America’s most stunning natural beauty.
Best Time to Visit & Seasonal Tips
California is a giant, and covers land from over 200 feet below sea level to well over 14,000 feet above.
So the best time to visit depends on where you’re planning to go.
Summer is the most accessible time to visit the mountainous parks, such as:
- Yosemite
- Kings Canyon
- Sequoia
- Lassen Volcanic
...but winter is a far more comfortable time to visit the desert parks of Death Valley and Joshua Tree.
The remote Redwood is rainy year-round, but is best visited outside of winter.
Your best all-around bet could be the shoulder seasons of Fall and Spring, especially September and October.
Check when your planned parks typically see openings in the spring or closures in the fall.
You might luck out and be able to access everything, while also avoiding the extreme temperatures of summer and winter.
Road Trip Overview & Route Map
Suggested Trip Durations (7, 10, 14 days)
So the big question is…how long do you have to explore California’s national parks? Are you trying to hit up all of them, or just one section?
Let’s talk about 7-day, 10-day, and 14-day itineraries.
You’re going to start things off in San Francisco, which is centrally located in California and a handy place to start a trip.
In 7 days, you’ll check off:
- Redwood
- Lassen Volcanic
- Yosemite
- Kings Canyon, and
- Sequoia National Park
If you can extend to 10 days, then add Death Valley and Joshua Tree.
And if you’ve got a full 14 days to explore California, then add Channel Islands and Pinnacles National Parks to complete the circuit.
Day‑by‑Day Itineraries
7-Day Classic California National Parks Loop
Day 1 — San Francisco → Redwood NP
Day 1, you’ve got a 6-hour drive on Highway 101 to Redwood State and National Parks.
This place is unique in that a series of state parks, as well as the national park, are all administered together to protect the redwood trees.
You won’t have much time here today, so to keep things simple, stick to the southern portion of the park and close to Highway 101.
Newton B. Drury / Chris Babcock
Check out the best Redwood groves along Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway.
It’s just a mile out and back through old-growth redwoods to Trillium Falls. And stand among giants in the Lady Bird Johnson grove.
Day 2 — Full Day in Redwood NP
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There’s so much more to Redwood State and National Parks than redwoods—there’s also a tremendous and wild coastline.
With Shaka Guide’s Redwood National and State Parks Tour, you can hike through the lush Fern Canyon, explore the 1-mile Yurok Loop Trail, and breathe in the salty sea air at Crescent Beach, all at your own pace.
But we’ll return to the redwoods in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.
There, you’ll drive the rugged Howland Hill Road to see the magnificent Grove of Titans and Stout Grove.
Day 3 — Redwood → Lassen Volcanic NP
Lassen Volcanic / Robin Montgomery
It’s a long, mountainous drive to Lassen Volcanic National Park, about 5 hours from Redwood.
Fortunately, Lassen Volcanic is simple to navigate, and with Shaka Guide’s Lassen Volcanic National Park Tour, it only takes about an hour to drive through the whole thing at your own pace.
It’s located in an unusual geographical crossroads, so it conveniently has features similar to both Yellowstone and Yosemite.
Starting from the north end of the park, catch a breather in the Manzanita Lake visitor area before crossing through the park to the south.
Be sure to stop at the foot of Lassen Peak, at Lake Helen, and especially at Bumpass Hell.
The geothermal features of Bumpass Hell feel like a small portion of Yellowstone National Park was plucked and relocated to California’s Sierra Nevada mountains.
Day 4 — Lassen → Yosemite
What’s a road trip without a lot of driving? It’s about 7 hours from Lassen Volcanic to the heart of Yosemite National Park in Yosemite Valley.
Let’s call this a travel day.
If there’s something you missed in Lassen Volcanic yesterday that you wanted to check out before you left, you have a couple hours in the morning if you wake up early.
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Or if you want to make good time and arrive in Yosemite to see something before dark, then leave early and arrive in Yosemite by late afternoon.
That’s enough time to loop around Yosemite Valley and see a couple of easy highlights, such as Bridalveil Falls, Yosemite Falls, or El Capitan.
Day 5 — Full Day in Yosemite Valley
Are you ready for a breather? Keep out of the car for a while and enjoy using Yosemite’s shuttle service.
Check out any of the highlights from yesterday’s itinerary that you missed with Shaka Guide’s Yosemite National Park Tour guiding the way. Explore Yosemite Village’s amenities.
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Try a hike out to Mirror Lake, or the Mist Trail to Vernal Falls.
Not interested in the shuttle? Then rent some bikes, and give your feet a break by pedaling around Yosemite Valley at your own pace.
Day 6 — Yosemite to Kings Canyon
You’ll spend another day exploring Yosemite, driving up to Glacier Point for the epic, panoramic view of Yosemite Valley from above.
Then check out the sequoias of Mariposa Grove as you make your way south out of the park, towards Kings Canyon.
Mariposa Grove / Shutterstock Image
From the south entrance of Yosemite, it’s only about 2.5 hours to the entrance to Kings Canyon National Park.
After the long drives to start the road trip, that sounds manageable, right?
There aren’t many accommodations in Kings Canyon, so if you’re not camping, you can stay in Fresno instead.
From there, head out early in the morning and make Kings Canyon your first stop of the day.
Day 7 — Kings Canyon & Sequoia
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It’s the last day of the 7-day itinerary! Either from your campground or your hotel in Fresno, start the day early with a walk through Kings Canyon’s Grant Grove with Shaka Guide’s Sequoia and Kings Canyon Bundle guiding the way.
There, you’ll see General Grant, the second-largest sequoia tree in the world.
Then drive Generals Highway out of Kings Canyon and into Sequoia National Park, where you’ll see the largest sequoia, General Sherman.
Keep exploring the trail from General Grant on the Congress Trail for even more sequoias.
And explore the Crescent Meadow area’s trails for a grand finale to your national park experience, and your time in the Sierra Nevada mountain range.
10–14 Day Extended Route with Southern Gems
Add Joshua Tree & Death Valley
Do you have three more days to make it an even 10? Then let’s hit the desert parks of Death Valley and Joshua Tree.
Day 8 — The Long Desert Drive
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On Day 8, you’ve got to go around the Sierra Nevada to get from Sequoia to Death Valley.
It’s an over 6-hour drive to Death Valley’s Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America.
On the way, make a stop at the park’s Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. It’s been a long day, so treat yourself by staying inside the park.
Day 9 — Death Valley to Joshua Tree
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On Day 9, don’t miss out on Zabriskie Point and the outstanding look of Death Valley from above at Dante’s View, with Shaka Guide’s Death Valley Tour leading the way.
Then you’ll head out of Death Valley National Park and make the 5-hour drive south to Joshua Tree National Park.
Once you arrive, keep things simple with just a short hike in Hidden Valley.
Day 10 — Joshua Tree Finale
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Lastly, on Day 10, explore more of Joshua Tree. Check out the trail to Barker Dam, and enjoy the whimsical rock formations at Skull Rock and Arch Rock.
Just in case you want to end on a high note, Shaka Guide’s Joshua Tree National Park Tour will lead you to an epic finale—either hiking Ryan Mountain or driving up to Keys View at your own pace.
Okay, but are you the sort of person to devote two full weeks to exploring California’s national parks?
Then let’s knock out the final two: Channel Islands and Pinnacles.
Day 11 — Drive to Channel Islands
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On Day 11, from Joshua Tree, you’ll drive to Oxnard, about 175 miles away.
That’s where you’ll find the Robert J. Lagomarsino Visitor Center for Channel Islands National Park, and where you can pick up a ferry to the islands.
This drive will be through the Los Angeles area, so this could take up to 5 hours.
That means you may not arrive in time to take a ferry ride, unless there’s a sunset tour.
Therefore, take your time in the morning, and arrive in time to enjoy the beach. Save Channel Islands for the next day.
Day 12 — Channel Islands Adventure
On Day 12, devote the day to Channel Islands, taking a small hike on Santa Cruz Island, a sea kayaking tour, or a wildlife watching cruise.
See what marine mammals are migrating–you could be there in time to see the gray whale migration!
Day 13 — Channel Islands to Pinnacles
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Take another short morning cruise on Day 13 if you’d like, or get started on the 4-hour drive up to Pinnacles National Park.
Once you’re there, enjoy the hike around Bear Gulch and the rare talus caves.
Day 14 — Condors and Coastline
Then lastly, on Day 14, catch a glimpse of a soaring California Condor up on Pinnacles’ High Peaks Trail.
End the day and the journey by treating yourself to a seafood feast in nearby Monterey.
Congratulations! You’ve visited every national park in California, and you’re back near the Bay Area and San Francisco.
Alternate ending: Palm Springs or Los Angeles
If you don’t need to return to San Francisco and prefer to end your journey in Southern California, make Joshua Tree your final stop.
Finish your national park tour in Palm Springs, where you’ll find plenty of resorts and a convenient airport for departure.
Or Los Angeles is nearby, with several airports, and the Channel Islands National Park.
If you still wanted to hit every national park, then you could hit Pinnacles, which is south of San Francisco, first, and then proceed to Redwood.
Logistics & Accommodations
Choosing the Right Rental Car
Renting a car in California is easy, especially from an airport. You may want something that is good for accelerating up mountains.
And keep in mind that during the winter months, you will likely need to have some tire chains. In fact, some parks, such as Yosemite, require them.
Where to Stay Near the Parks
Ahwahnee Hotel / Shuttershock Image
The only park with substantial lodging within is Yosemite, though it’s pricey. Death Valley also has some options, but again: pricey.
Everywhere else, you’re looking at small lodges, campgrounds, or staying in a gateway town nearby.
Redwood, Yosemite, and Joshua Tree all have plentiful options in towns nearby.
RV & Van Camping Tips
DAPA
Tackling this road trip in a van or RV is a smart and convenient choice.
It lets you stay inside the park without backtracking to gateway town hotels or paying for pricey national park lodges.
Of the two, a van would be the better option; some roads in national parks have vehicle length limits that RVs often surpass.
If you take an RV, you may find you’ll need to take an alternative way, or skip some stops altogether.
Food, Permits & Park Fees
Which Park Pass Should You Buy?
National parks typically charge a pass that is good for seven days. If you’re going to visit several national parks, or even at least three, it’d be good to buy the National Park annual pass.
How to Save on Food
Dining is often expensive within national parks. Stock up on groceries when you hit a gateway town and picnic your way through California.
Budget some time for some splurges, such as the breakfast buffet in Yosemite’s Ahwahnee Hotel.
Death Valley’s food options are especially expensive (eat at Stovepipe Wells instead of Furnace Creek. Your wallet will thank us).
Some Parks Require Reservations
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As you plan your trip, check if the national parks you plan to visit require any entry permits or reservations.
Sometimes, popular areas require a permit that you may not be able to reserve on the same day.
And, sometimes parks require a reservation in addition to your paid pass to enter the park.
This has been the case for Yosemite off and on for the last several years.
Packing List & Safety Tips
Clothing & Seasonal Gear
Didn’t you see the itinerary? Depending on the season and the park, you might need a parka, or you might need sunscreen and a gallon of water a day.
Make sure you’re prepared for your trip, and you check the weather forecast.
Even the deserts get chilly in the winter, and the coasts stay temperate year-round, so a light jacket is never a bad thing to pack for California.
Hiking Essentials & Bear Safety
It’s a good rule of thumb to avoid hiking alone. And, in bear and mountain lion territory, it’s wise to keep little ones close by.
If you do see a bear or a mountain lion, give it lots of space to move away.
On the unlikely chance that it approaches you, make lots of noise, act big and scary, and it’ll likely go away.
And if that doesn’t work, don’t play dead. Fight back!
Additionally, make sure food is properly stored, whether it’s in your car or in the campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How many days do I need to see every national park in California?
You need at least two weeks to visit all of California’s national parks. This includes travel time and enough flexibility to see key highlights at a comfortable pace. Fully exploring each park would require more time.
What national parks should I prioritize?
If you're short on time, prioritize Yosemite, Redwood, and Joshua Tree National Parks. These parks offer the best variety of landscapes—mountains, forests, and desert—making them the most rewarding highlights of California’s national parks.
Which parks require reservations?
Yosemite typically requires a reservation as well as a park pass. This is typically announced early in the year, around winter or springtime.
You will also need a ferry ticket to visit the Channel Islands. This is not a reservation per se, and you could show up and purchase a ticket, but it’d be a good idea to purchase your tickets ahead of time.
What’s the best time of year to see every national park?
Summer is the only season when everything is accessible. Just be prepared for extreme heat, crowds in some cases, and higher prices for hotels for the high season.
Shoulder months like September or October might be the best time to squeeze in a trip, with fewer crowds and accessibility still open. Temperatures may still be hot in some places.
Explore California with Shaka Guide
Shaka Guide offers self-guided driving tours of every single one of these parks, minus Channel Islands. Our turn-by-turn directions, trip planning, and storytelling take the burden off your shoulders and allow you to enjoy your experience at your own pace.
Matt Caracciolo is a travel writer based in Ohio and author of the Shaka Guide tour for Yosemite. Born and raised in Columbus, Matt fell into travel writing while teaching English abroad in South Korea.
He has written two travel books, including the Moon Ohio guidebook, and enjoys writing and editing tours for Shaka Guide. Matt follows Mark Twain’s belief that “travel is fatal,” embracing travel as a way to learn more about the world and ourselves.
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