Scenic Drives

This short but sweet 34-mile road trip through Owens Valley can be done any time of the year.

You do not have to travel far from the city to enjoy Californias wild landscapes.

scenic drive

This 93-mile loop leaves Cedarville before traveling across the border into Nevada, up towards the Oregon border, and then back into California near Fort Bidwell.

Steeped in legend and mystery, this 89-mile byway is famous for its alleged Bigfoot sightings.

This byway was constructed in 1862 and named after William Bradshaw, a pioneer who made the first crossing across this route in search of gold.

This 31-mile route starts in Ravendale and crosses the California-Nevada border, traveling through Twin Peaks Wild Horse and Burro Management Area, Pine Dunes Research Natural Area, Cottonwood Mountains, and Duck Lake.

Wind your way through the mighty Sierra Nevada Mountain Range while you embark on this 58-mile road trip.

During your drive, you can explore the rugged and unexplored landscapes of the Mojave Desert and Southern Sierra Nevada Mountain Range.

Driving through the hottest and driest place on the continent may not sound like your idea of fun, but this byway is one of those quintessential California road trips that is guaranteed to be a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

Out of all the byways that traverse the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, this one is the most wild and rugged.

This route allows you to explore many of the undeveloped natural forests in Northern California.

From the plummeting waterfalls and flower-filled meadows to the rocky peaks and wooded forests, this scenic byway is like a living art gallery.

Starting from Ojai, this 36.5-mile drive leaves the urban landscape and heads up north to a more rugged and serene region.

The Kings Canyon Scenic Byway is internationally significant for its unique scenic and geologic displays.

If you have a few extra days on your hand, then take a drive down one of the most scenic routes in Northern California.

The contrasting landscapes of glacial lakes and volcanic peaks are on full display when you take this short route through Lee Vining Canyon.

This is an ideal half-day trip for those looking to explore Californias volcanic region.

Ask any Californian about their scenic route and they will likely tell you about this historic highway.

Experience the full array of Californias landscapes when you drive this scenic byway in Southern California.

Following the banks of the Colorado River, this 11-mile road gives you the opportunity to find your own little slice of paradise.

This epic road trip takes you past some of the most scenic areas west of Los Angeles.

As you might have guessed from the name, this route is one of the best drives for seeing massive California redwood trees.

A road trip through California wine country is one of the best ways to spend a free day.

Although it is far too short to be classified as a road trip, this 2-mile trip boasts amazing views of Mount Helix.

This 21-mile section is one of the most scenic routes of this highway in Sonoma County.

This tourist route between El Portal and Mariposa County is a scenic 44 mile journey across this state highway.

This 3-mile section of State Route 151 is the best place to witness the Three Shastas the Shasta Dam, Shasta Lake, and the mighty Mount Shasta itself.

At 1,368-feet in elevation, this mountain pass in the Diablo Range is quite low, especially compared to the other mountain ranges in California.

Skip the busy 101 and take the back roads instead!

Although the main highway runs for 25 miles from Castroville to Hollister, this short 4-mile stretch through the Salinas Valley is particularly scenic.

Chances are you have probably never heard of the California River Delta.

If you have spent any time in San Diego, then you have inevitably have driven on this scenic route.

This 71-mile stretch of road along the Pacific Coast Highway is arguably one of the most beautiful drives in all of California.

The Pacific Coast Highway is an unforgettable journey, especially thanks to this 56-mile section.

Passes attractive residential and commercial areas, with 3,849-foot- high Mt. Diablo as the focus.

This route traces the crack of the San Andreas fault line as it winds up through San Mateo Country towards the city limits of San Francisco.

Experience all the rugged twists and turns of the Bay Area with this short but sweet drive up the San Francisco Peninsula.

Mountainous views are aplenty along this 9-mile journey.

Crossing into the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, this 20-mile section of Route 395 boasts fantastic views of Californias tallest peaks.

This historic route was used by Gold Rush miners and Pony Express messengers, making it one of the most historic routes in the state.

This 12-mile strip of freeway running from the Oakland hills to the entrance of the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge was a masterpiece of its time.

Any traveler making a road trip to Joshua Tree National Park has inevitably driven down this scenic route.

This well-placed freeway features wooded hillsides and valleys.

Make the drive from Walnut Creek to the northern edge of Pleasanton and you will be rewarded with a fascinating view.

Water is abundant on this 16-mile route through Central California.

This route in Southern California extends for 111-miles from Orange County to the Palm Desert, passing through numerous natural sites along the way.

Tick off a couple of must-see destinations in San Diego when you drive along this 13-mile route.

This 19-mile road runs east to west through the heart of the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, the largest state park in California.

As one of the more scenic ways to reach Lake Tahoe, this 66-mile journey from the south has stunning views that show off Californias rich and diverse environments.

This 38-mile section of the larger Route 91 Highway starts near State Route 55 and goes to the city limits of Anaheim.

Although the entire route will only take you roughly 20-minutes to drive, you will get the chance to see a couple of notable sites in this region of Northern California.

This road runs parallel to the Delta-Mendota Canal as it travels from Santa Nella to the northern town of Tracy.

Travel dip into the heart of Death Valley on this rugged journey to Saline Valley.

Connecting the town of Fresno to the Kaiser Wilderness in the Sierra Canyon, this action-packed journey through the Sierra National Forest is a must-do.

As the main road traveling through the Sierra National Forest, you can expect to see flowing rivers, towering mountain peaks, and fascinating rock formations (check out Globe Rock and Fresno Dome) along the 82.7-mile route.

This scenic byway takes you from the coast of California inland and up towards the California-Oregon Border.

This is a beautiful ride from California up to Oregon.

You do not have to embark on a multi-day road trip to enjoy the sights of Southern California.

This is one of the most scenic routes through Yosemite National Park.

Catering to nature lovers and history buffs, this 120-mile journey through Trinity and Siskiyou Counties is guaranteed to delight.

For 360 miles, this scenic byway stretches north to south taking you to some of the most astounding volcanoes on the west coast.

If you are visiting the East Mojave National Scenic Area, then you will want to take part of your day to explore this backcountry byway.

This byway passes through the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range as it travels into the Tahoe National Forest.