Los Angeles Circular 15 – A beautiful trip in Central California that includes the three national parks of the Sierra Nevada Mountains – Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, in addition to Route 1 and a visit to San Francisco and Los Angeles. During extreme weather (in the beginning of spring or the end of autumn) carrying chains may be required.
Day 1 – Land in Los Angeles and spend a few hours in Venice Beach and Santa Monica
Lodging location: Santa Monica or Venice Beach
Day 2 – Spend the morning in Los Angeles and in the afternoon drive north towards Sequoia National Park, 3 hours drive
Lodging location: Three Rivers (or Visalia which has more lodging options)
Day 3 – Enter Sequoia National Park via route 198 (not suitable for RVs) and travel in the park, 1-2 hours drive depending on the lodging location
Lodging location: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park
Day 4 – Continue traveling in Sequoia National Park and in the adjacent Kings Canyon National Park
Lodging location: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park
Day 5 – Continue traveling in Sequoia National Park and in the adjacent Kings Canyon National Park and drive north towards Yosemite, 2-3 hours drive depending on the lodging location in the previous day
Lodging location: Oakhurst (or Fresno which is closer to Sequoia and Kings National Parks)
Day 6 – Visit south Yosemite National Park (Glacier Point and Mariposa Grove) and drive to Yosemite’s Valley, 2 hours drive
Lodging location: near Yosemite Valley
Day 7 – Travel and hike in Yosemite Valley, short drive
Lodging location: near Yosemite Valley
Day 8 – Enjoy one more day in the Yosemite Valley (or drive back and forth in the Tioga Road, open in the summer/autumn only)
Lodging location: near Yosemite Valley
Day 9 – Drive to San Francisco and enjoy the afternoon in the city, 4 hours drive
(on the way you may go on a rafting trip here)
Lodging location: San Francisco
Day 10 – Spend the day in San Francisco
Lodging location: San Francisco
Day 11 – Enjoy one more day in San Francisco
Lodging location: San Francisco
Day 12 – Drive to Monterey through HWY 1 and the coastal towns of Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz (which has a unique amusement park) and Capitola, 3 hours drive
Lodging location: Monterey
Day 13 – Spend the day in beautiful Monterey
Lodging location: Monterey
Day 14 – Enjoy the day in Monterey’s surroundings (17 Mile Drive and Point Lobos State Park), less than hour drive in each direction
Lodging location: Monterey
Day 15 – Travel south along the most famous portion of HWY 1, 3 hours drive
Lodging location: Cambria or Morro Bay
Day 16 – Drive to Los Angeles and visit sites along the way, 4 hours drive
Lodging location: Hollywood or Santa Monica or Venice Beach
Day 17 – Spend the day in Los Angeles or visit Universal Studios
Lodging location: Hollywood or Santa Monica or Venice Beach
Day 18 – Fly home
– In order to fill this route with content – see our California destinations pages, where you can find articles that include suggestions what to do in various locations along this route.
