Northern California or NorCal is a bit more temperate than SoCal, both in climate and attitude. The parties in Southern California are often extravagant and it goes without saying that places like Hollywood or Santa Barbara get really crazy.īook Your Los Angeles Lodge Here Northern California Road Trip Metropolises, like Los Angeles and San Diego, host huge populations of people who just want to have fun in the sun, do business, and maybe get famous. The region is best known for its easy-going and Epicurean culture. Southern California is by no means small – it hosts millions of residents, leagues of land, several national parks, and a lot of coastlines – but for the sake of brevity, we must condense all of Southern California into a single section. It is distinct from Northern California in many ways and should definitely be discussed in its own section.

Southern California or SoCal is the drier, sunnier part of California, known for its desert landscapes, Latin-influences, beach culture, and urban sprawl. Study them well and decide which ones you like the most for your road trip. Festival of the Dark Arts in Astoria (February)īelow is a list of the best road trip stops on the West Coast.

If you’re into scenic drives, check out Highway 101 and Highway 1 – both offer incredible views!ĭepending on when you’re visiting, you’ll be able to attend some cool festivals. Exploring San Francisco and the Redwoods is a great experience too. If you’re more of an active person, you should check out the hiking trails on the Olympic Peninsula. The best activities are surfing around SoCal, camping in Big Sur and whale watching. You’ll have to plan your activities ahead to enjoy a stress-free adventure. Don’t expect to see each and every highlight on the way, especially when visiting LA where traffic can get hectic to say the least. You’ve only got 10 days on this West Coast Road Trip and it’s definitely not a lot of time for such a massive creation. But even if you don’t spend any nights under the stars, you can rest assured that your money is allowing you to see some of the very best places to visit in the US. While these costs might seem steep, always remember you can always save a TON by camping. Pick 1-2 parks, or invest in an America the Beautiful Pass. You will probably visit several national parks as well and each has a fee. Camping out and cooking for yourself will save you much more money in the long run. Staying in fancy digs and eating out for every meal will obviously drain your funds. not driving 500 miles a day).įood and lodging will cost as much as you’re willing to invest. No fear! You can also save money on a solo trip by camping and staying at hostels, grocery shopping, and taking your time (i.e. Traveling with other people is the best way to save money, but we understand this isn’t always possible! Going on a road trip in the USA with a group is fun, more environmentally friendly, and cheaper. Big Sur views will have just about anyone wanting to plan a West Coast road trip!

East coast road trip planner