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Scenic Drives in California

Routes

58

Avg Distance

533 mi

Avg Drive

10h 2m

Destinations

17

These 58 scenic drives in California earned a drive score of 7+ out of 10. The average route covers 533 miles through the state's most varied and visually interesting terrain.

Planning Tips

Scenic routes often have fewer gas stations and services. Top off your tank before heading into mountainous or rural stretches.
Budget extra time for scenic drives — pulling over for views, photos, and short hikes is half the point.
Check weather conditions for mountain passes and high-elevation stretches, especially in shoulder seasons.

Frequently Asked Questions

We rate routes on a 1-10 drive score based on elevation changes, road variety, and terrain diversity. The 58 routes listed here all score 7 or higher.

Drive times and distances come from actual road network data via OSRM. Fuel costs use current state-level gas prices. Drive scores factor in elevation profile, road variety, and terrain. All data is recalculated regularly.

Yes. Click any route to see its full trip page with turn-by-turn directions, fuel cost estimates, elevation profile, stop suggestions, weather conditions, and more.

Top Scenic Routes

Los Angeles, CA → San Antonio, TX

1353.9 mi 22h 57m Score: 8/10

Truckee, CA → San Diego, CA

605.3 mi 11h 23m Score: 7/10

Colusa, CA → San Diego, CA

571.7 mi 10h 43m Score: 7/10

Guerneville, CA → San Diego, CA

563 mi 10h 46m Score: 7/10

Grass Valley, CA → San Diego, CA

561.5 mi 10h 37m Score: 7/10

Blythe, CA → San Jose, CA

560.8 mi 10h 27m Score: 8/10

Niland, CA → Laguna, CA

557.2 mi 10h 40m Score: 7/10

Alta Sierra, CA → San Diego, CA

557 mi 10h 32m Score: 7/10

Sutter, CA → San Diego, CA

552.4 mi 10h 24m Score: 7/10

Pollock Pines, CA → San Diego, CA

551.3 mi 10h 30m Score: 7/10

Arbuckle, CA → San Diego, CA

551.2 mi 10h 17m Score: 7/10

Shasta, CA → Los Angeles, CA

549.6 mi 10h 4m Score: 8/10

Calistoga, CA → San Diego, CA

545.1 mi 10h 20m Score: 7/10

Fort Bragg, CA → Los Angeles, CA

544.1 mi 10h 31m Score: 7/10

Willits, CA → Santa Ana, CA

541.8 mi 10h 17m Score: 7/10

Esparto, CA → San Diego, CA

539.2 mi 10h 10m Score: 7/10

Ukiah, CA → Riverside, CA

539.1 mi 10h 15m Score: 8/10

Bakersfield, CA → Willow Creek, CA

537.4 mi 10h 7m Score: 9/10

Lincoln, CA → San Diego, CA

534.5 mi 10h 2m Score: 7/10

Petaluma, CA → San Diego, CA

533.1 mi 10h 5m Score: 7/10

Boyes Hot Springs, CA → San Diego, CA

529.5 mi 10h 9m Score: 7/10

South Lake Tahoe, CA → San Diego, CA

529.4 mi 10h 52m Score: 8/10

Pioneer, CA → San Diego, CA

516.6 mi 10h 2m Score: 7/10

Fairfield, CA → San Diego, CA

514.3 mi 9h 43m Score: 7/10

Larkspur, CA → San Diego, CA

513.3 mi 9h 44m Score: 7/10

Corte Madera, CA → San Diego, CA

512.8 mi 9h 42m Score: 7/10

Alpine, CA → Laguna, CA

512.8 mi 9h 40m Score: 7/10

Rancho San Diego, CA → San Francisco, CA

511.7 mi 9h 41m Score: 7/10

Fair Oaks, CA → San Diego, CA

511.5 mi 9h 43m Score: 7/10

Gold River, CA → San Diego, CA

511 mi 9h 44m Score: 7/10

La Quinta, CA → Sacramento, CA

510.7 mi 9h 30m Score: 7/10

Live Oak, CA → San Diego, CA

510.4 mi 9h 43m Score: 7/10

Daly City, CA → San Diego, CA

508 mi 9h 36m Score: 7/10

Plymouth, CA → San Diego, CA

506.1 mi 9h 43m Score: 7/10

Coachella, CA → Laguna, CA

505.3 mi 9h 22m Score: 7/10

Rancho San Diego, CA → Laguna, CA

504.5 mi 9h 31m Score: 7/10

Vallejo, CA → San Diego, CA

504.4 mi 9h 31m Score: 7/10

Richmond, CA → San Diego, CA

502.3 mi 9h 27m Score: 7/10

San Diego, CA → San Francisco, CA

502.1 mi 9h 27m Score: 7/10

Chula Vista, CA → Laguna, CA

501.9 mi 9h 26m Score: 7/10

Chula Vista, CA → Berkeley, CA

501.6 mi 9h 30m Score: 7/10

Chula Vista, CA → Martinez, CA

501.5 mi 9h 27m Score: 7/10

Laguna, CA → Spring Valley, CA

501.4 mi 9h 29m Score: 7/10

Indio, CA → Laguna, CA

500 mi 9h 17m Score: 7/10

Santee, CA → Laguna, CA

498.4 mi 9h 22m Score: 7/10

Kings Beach, CA → Los Angeles, CA

497.3 mi 9h 18m Score: 7/10

Half Moon Bay, CA → San Diego, CA

497.2 mi 9h 34m Score: 7/10

Nevada City, CA → Riverside, CA

495.6 mi 9h 23m Score: 7/10

Martinez, CA → San Diego, CA

495.3 mi 9h 21m Score: 7/10

Vine Hill, CA → San Diego, CA

492.6 mi 9h 16m Score: 7/10

Chula Vista, CA → Bay Point, CA

488.8 mi 9h 19m Score: 7/10

Cathedral City, CA → Laguna, CA

488.3 mi 9h 6m Score: 7/10

Alamo, CA → Chula Vista, CA

486.8 mi 9h 10m Score: 7/10

Valley Center, CA → Laguna, CA

484.6 mi 9h 5m Score: 7/10

Cloverdale, CA → Long Beach, CA

483.3 mi 9h 4m Score: 7/10

Morongo Valley, CA → Laguna, CA

482.8 mi 8h 57m Score: 7/10

San Diego, CA → Alamo, CA

479.8 mi 8h 59m Score: 7/10

Alamo, CA → San Diego, CA

479.7 mi 9h 1m Score: 7/10

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