•2 min read•from travel
Planning a California trip — would love some advice 🙏
Our take
Planning an epic California trip? 🏄♀️✨ You’re in for a fantastic adventure! With two weeks to explore, your itinerary from San Francisco to Los Angeles, and back through Yosemite is packed with exciting stops. From the vibrant streets of SF to the stunning coastal views along Big Sur, you'll create unforgettable memories. As you seek advice from seasoned travelers, consider questions about your route, must-see spots, and the perfect amount of time in LA.
So, me and my husband are planning a 2 week trip to the US, flying in and out of San Francisco and we will have a car for the whole trip. Ideally, I want a mix of cities, scenic drives, and 1 week based in LA (not rushed). We came up with this plan and wanted some actual experienced people to maybe give their advice. So here's the plan:
Days 1–3: San Francisco
- Day 1: Arrival, Embarcadero, Ferry Building, easy dinner
- Day 2: Golden Gate Bridge, Palace of Fine Arts, Presidio, Marina
- Day 3: Alcatraz (morning), Mission District, Dolores Park, Twin Peaks sunset
Day 4: Drive SF → Monterey / Carmel
- Stops: Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz, 17-Mile Drive
- Overnight in Carmel or Monterey
Day 5: Big Sur → Santa Barbara
- Bixby Bridge, scenic Big Sur stops
- Overnight in Santa Barbara
Days 6–12: Los Angeles (7 nights, likely West Hollywood base)
Day 13: LA → Palm Springs / Joshua Tree
- Drive to Palm Springs (~2h), optional Joshua Tree sunset
- Overnight in Palm Springs
Day 14: Drive back via Yosemite → San Francisco
- Very early start
- Quick Yosemite Valley stops
- Continue to SF for departure
Main questions:
- Is Day 14 (Palm Springs → Yosemite → SF) too unrealistic?
- Would you break that into 2 days? If yes, where’s the best stop?
- Any must-stop places along the coast I’m missing?
- Is 7 nights in LA too much / too little?
- Any areas you’d change for staying in LA?
- Any place I'm missing on the way?
- Generally, any improvement to this plan would be welcome.
Open to all suggestions — especially from people who’ve done a similar loop 🙌
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Tagged with
#scenic escapes#travel content#California#San Francisco#Los Angeles#Big Sur#Palm Springs#Yosemite#Carmel#Monterey#coast#scenic drives#Ferry Building#Golden Gate Bridge#Alcatraz#Joshua Tree#Bixby Bridge#Mission District#Dolores Park#Twin Peaks