The Best 7 Day California Road Trip Itinerary

Before moving to California, I had never even visited the state. So building a 7 day California road trip itinerary for our summer vacation was like working with a completely blank slate.

The problem with California, or the beauty of it depending on how you look at it, is that it is truly massive. I personally didn’t truly understand how gigantic the state was until I told a girlfriend we’d visit her for the weekend in San Francisco. After that particular drive from Southern California, I realized most Californians simply fly between the major cities. Fair enough. 

So if you only have a week and want to do a 7 day California road trip, you won’t be able to see the whole state, unfortunately. This CA road trip itinerary lets you see some of the very best of the state but will definitely leave you wanting more.

This is a California road trip itinerary from San Francisco, where you’ll start and rent a car and fly out of the Los Angeles area. You could technically do it vice versa, but many people will tell you that driving south on the Pacific Coast Highway will be much better for your coastal views than driving north.

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Ultimate 7 Day California Road Trip Itinerary

Day 1: Land in the San Francisco Bay Area in the morning and pick up your rental car. Depending on where you’re coming from, flying into any of the Bay Area’s three international airports will be fine (SFO, SJC, or OAK). Pick up your rental car from an airport kiosk, and then you’re headed north to the redwoods!

The California Redwoods are some of the tallest trees in the world and can reach heights of over 250 feet and live for more than 2,000 years. I could write a 10-page love letter to the redwoods; they are absolutely majestic. Driving or walking through the forests feels like you’re walking where dinosaurs have been (the species is from the Jurassic age, after all). In my opinion, they’re a must on a California road trip itinerary.

From San Francisco, you’ll drive north to Shelter Cove, a small town on the Lost Coast of California that will situate you perfectly to explore the redwoods. The drive will take you about 4.5 hours. Shelter Cove is a remote location, and you’ll have to drive over a mountain to get there, but you’ll be rewarded with an unspoiled coast full of beautiful views of the towering pines and rugged coast.

On your drive, stop in Redway to grab some groceries for the trip. I always like to grab the fixings for sandwiches and other road trip snack essentials. As I detail in my Shelter Cove CA Lodging guide, staying in a place with a kitchen can also help you really stick to your trip budget.

In the last hour of the drive, you’ll start to drive through groves of redwood trees. The bulk of your exploring will be the following day, but let your eyes enjoy feasting on the magnificent trees.

Once you arrive at your destination, check out my list of things to do in Shelter Cove CA. Whether it’s just the two of you or you and the kids, you’ll enjoy feeling like you’re at the edge of the world with only a small handful of other people.

Day 2 – Redwood Forest: Avenue of Giants

On Day 2 of your 7 day California road trip itinerary, you’re going to fully explore the redwoods. Head back over the mountain to Humboldt Redwoods State Park, which is home to the Avenue of Giants.

The Avenue of the Giants is a scenic highway that runs through Humboldt Redwoods State Park, located about an hour from Shelter Cove with the winding roads. This 31-mile stretch of road winds through one of the most impressive stands of old-growth coastal redwoods. You’ll have breathtaking views of these towering trees at each stop as the road provides a decent number of pullouts and trails to explore the forest and mighty trees up close.

If driving through a tree is on your bucket list (and your rental car is not too large), the Shine Drive-Thru Tree is located off the Avenue of Giants. It claims to be one of America’s first roadside attractions, and true to form, entrance to the small park is $15 a car. It was admittedly on our bucket list, so we forked over the $15 and drove through a 3,000-year-old tree. No regrets.

The state park has a full calendar of events for visitors, which can be found here. If it’s a really hot day, join the locals down at the waterfront on the South Fork Eel River, where the gentle and shallow river waters will cool you down. There are several parking places which involve just a short walk to the water.

Once you’ve explored these giants to your heart’s content, head back to Shelter Cove and grab a pint at the Gyppo Ale Mill.

Note: to make this a 5 day California road trip itinerary, cut out the first two days in the redwoods and start here.

Day 3 – San Francisco

You’ll leave your Shelter Cove accommodation and head back down to San Francisco. If you’ve already been to San Francisco, you could instead divert down to Napa. Trying to stay on a budget in wine country? I have a guide to inexpensive wine tastings in Napa.

Otherwise, you’re heading to the Bay! Your drive will be retracing the 4.5 hours you trekked up to the redwoods and will put you in San Francisco around lunchtime. Hopefully, you miss the worst of rush hour traffic, but you’ll likely run into some gridlock at any time of day, I’m sorry to say.

In San Francisco, explore to your heart’s content. I recommend following Day 1 of my 2 Day San Francisco itinerary. Going to Golden Gate Bridge Park and trying to sneak a view of the bridge is a must. Karl, the local’s affectionate name for the fog, might make that difficult, but it’s still worth a try.

While in San Francisco, I definitely recommend cruising the Bay and visiting the famous prison island, Alcatraz. This tour is one of the most popular in the area because it lets you do both of those things for a super reasonable price.

Otherwise, I would customize your time in San Fran to suit your interests. Are you a bit of a foodie? Take this Chinatown Culinary Walking Tour and indulge your taste buds.

Do you have an absolute sweet tooth? Visit Ghirardelli Square, a historic landmark and popular destination located in the Fisherman’s Wharf area. It was the site of the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company’s factory; it has been transformed into a shopping and dining complex that includes the Ghirardelli Chocolate and Ice Cream Shop, where you can enjoy sundaes and chocolates (prices are pretty steep and not necessarily Basic Economy B approved, but the sundaes were delicious).

Day 4 – Monterey

On Day 4 of your 7 day California road trip itinerary, you’re headed out of the city and back to the coast. You can drive directly inland from San Fran to Monterey Bay, which is about 2.5 hours, or you can take Highway 1 down the coast, which is about 3 hours. Totally up to you, you’ll have more coast time the rest of the day and the following day.

Monterey Bay is renowned for its stunning natural beauty and rich marine life. The area is home to the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium, which showcases the diverse marine ecosystems of the Pacific Ocean. We had our pup with us, so we didn’t get the chance to visit, but my sister rated it an honest-to-goodness 20/10. Monterey Bay is also known for world-class whale watching, and a whale-watching tour is a great option as well.

But the crown jewel of the area is the scenic 17-Mile Drive, which offers breathtaking coastal views and access to charming towns like Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea. You can either drive the scenic 17-Mile Drive or take an e-bike tour on the same path. Either way, you’ll be delighted by the scenery and your glimpses of adorable otters and seals at multiple stops.

You can spend the night in either Monterey or Carmel-by-the-Sea. We stayed in Carmel and enjoyed getting to walk through the picturesque town that looks straight out of a fairytale.

Day 5 – Pacific Coast Highway

Driving down the Pacific Coast Highway is another bucket list item for many, and today’s the day for you! Hopefully. Before you set out for the day, make sure you check the California state website to ensure there are no closures to PCH (Highway 1). Landslides have become increasingly more common, and other repairs are often necessary.

PCH is unlike any other. There are also no roads that run perpendicular to it that would allow you to get on and off the highway and go around road closures. When we were there, the road near Big Sur was closed, so we had to take the highway through rural CA instead of along the coast. It was faster, but that was about the only pro.

Big Sur is the most well-known stop on the PCH. It’s known for its breathtaking cliffs, rugged coastline, and sweeping ocean views. Stretching from the Carmel River to San Simeon, it features iconic landmarks such as Bixby Creek Bridge and McWay Falls, offering stunning landscapes and a serene escape into nature. Pull over where it suits you or hike along some of the pristine trails.

By the afternoon, you’ll reach Santa Barbara, where you’ll stop for the night. All in all, it will be about 6 hours of driving.

Santa Barbara, often referred to as the “American Riviera,” is a picturesque coastal city known for its perfect Mediterranean climate, stunning beaches, and charming Spanish colonial architecture. Explore the bustling downtown or enjoy walks along any of the piers. You can also book your stay in any of the smaller towns surrounding Santa Barbara, depending on your interests and budget.

Day 6: Los Angeles

The last leg of your 7 day California road trip is driving the remaining 2 hours to Los Angeles. I’d enjoy your morning in Santa Barbara and let some of the rush hour traffic die down before you try to reach the City of Angels.

When in Los Angeles, the world is your oyster. You can head to Griffith Observatory and hike to the Hollywood sign (bring water if you do; it gets HOT). Or you can head to the Getty Villa, a free museum dedicated to the art and culture of ancient Greece, Rome, and Etruria. Or you can head to Warner Brothers Studio and do a behind-the-scenes studio tour.

I enjoyed the Hollywood Walk of Stars on a rainy day with my parents, but you don’t need to plan to dedicate a ton of time to it. In that area is also Hollywood TCL Chinese Theatre, famous for its celebrity handprints and footprints, and the Hollywood Museum, which showcases memorabilia from film history. The Dolby Theatre, home to the Academy Awards, is also close by.

As is the LA Hard Rock Cafe, in case anyone was wondering (8/10 in terms of HRCs).

Day 7: Los Angeles and Fly Home

Depending on what time your flight is, you can enjoy any of the nearby beaches in the morning. Santa Monica Beach is widely considered the best beach that is close to LA. The Santa Monica Pier contains a small amusement park and concession stands and is a fun way to kill a couple of hours before returning your rental car and heading out.

If your flight is really late on Day 7 of your 7 day California road trip itinerary, drive south an hour to beautiful Orange County and check out my list of exciting things to do in Newport Beach. Or explore nearby Huntington Beach. I wouldn’t go further south than Newport, like say Laguna Beach, as traffic can really build and you do not want to get stuck when you’re supposed to be at LAX.*

*Unless your return flight is leaving from John Wayne Airport in Orange County. When you’re booking flights, the SNA airport is a great option because of how small it is and easy to get to compared to the behemoth that is LAX. It’s usually a little bit more expensive but could potentially save you multiple new gray hairs.

California Road Trip Safety Notes:

There are certain areas in both Los Angeles and San Francisco where you want to be careful about parking your car, especially if it is full of all of your stuff between accommodations. In San Francisco, avoid: Mission District, Tenderloin District, and poorly lit parking garages. We had a cop see that we had our bags in our car in Mission District, and she advised us that it would likely be broken into even at 11am on a Sunday morning. We moved it several blocks away and were fine. In Los Angeles: Hollywood, Downtown Los Angeles, and Venice Beach can all be hotspots for vehicle break ins.

Best Time of Year for a California Road Trip:

The summer months in California are unmatched in my opinion, especially July or August. They’re going to be the most crowded, but that’s the case with most places in the US in the summer. You’ll have slightly cooler temperatures in September or October, but those would also be excellent months to visit.

If you visit between April, May, or June, you’ll likely have fewer crowds and cooler weather, but you’ll run into “June Gloom,” which is how the locals refer to the low layer of clouds that are found in the mornings into the afternoon in the coastal area. It is also called “Gray-pril and Gray May.”

And there you have it—a 7 day California road trip itinerary packed with towering redwoods, stunning coastal drives, and vibrant city life. From the majestic trees of the north to the sun-soaked beaches of LA, this trip is a whirlwind of unforgettable sights and experiences. Sure, you might not cover the entire state, but you’ll get a fantastic taste of California’s diverse beauty. So, pack your bags, load up the car, and get ready for an epic adventure. Just remember to enjoy the ride, stay safe, and keep your camera ready—you’re about to make some amazing memories!

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More of California from Basic Economy B:

• The Perfect Day Trip to Temecula from San Diego – Insider Guide
• Your San Francisco 2 Day Itinerary: Best of the Bay
• Ultimate Guide to Dog-Friendly Redwoods Hikes
• The Best Dog Friendly Wineries in Napa
• The Best 7 Day California Road Trip Itinerary