US Trip Planner

Scenic Drives in California

Routes

47

Avg Distance

788 mi

Avg Drive

14h 52m

Destinations

28

These 47 scenic drives in California earned a drive score of 7+ out of 10. The average route covers 788 miles through the state's most varied and visually interesting terrain.

Climate through the year: California

California peaks at around 77°F in Aug and cools to 66°F / 50°F in Feb. Wettest month is Feb at ~3 in of rain.

Month	High °F	Low °F	Rain in
Jan	66	49	2.9
Feb	66	50	3
Mar	66	52	1.7
Apr	68	54	0.6
May	70	58	0.3
Jun	72	61	0.1
Jul	75	64	0
Aug	77	65	0
Sep	77	64	0.1
Oct	74	60	0.5
Nov	71	54	0.8
Dec	66	49	2.2

Source: NOAA NCEI Monthly Climate Normals, 1991–2020 reference period. Sampled at the major-airport station for CA — microclimates along specific routes can vary significantly.

Traveler signals

Upvotes

1

helpful marks from readers

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 47 routes listed here all score 7 or higher.

Drive times and distances come from OSRM routing over real OpenStreetMap road networks. Fuel costs use weekly US Energy Information Administration state-level gas prices. Drive scores factor in elevation profile, road variety, and terrain. EV charging data is sourced from NREL. Climate normals come from NOAA NCEI (1991–2020 reference period). Hazard data comes from FEMA and USGS public feeds.

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

Ukiah, CA → South Lebanon, PA

2831.3 mi 50h 19m Score: 8/10 ~$693 fuel

Through: Donner Lake → Las Vegas → Minneapolis +3 more

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Fallbrook, CA → Chesterton, IN

2064.8 mi 36h 23m Score: 7/10 ~$505 fuel

Through: Denver → Minneapolis → Kansas City +1 more

Los Angeles, CA → San Antonio, TX

1353.9 mi 22h 57m Score: 8/10 ~$338 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Blue Lake, CA → San Diego, CA

796 mi 14h 56m Score: 8/10 ~$195 fuel

Through: Santa Ana → Broadway → Riverside

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Irvine, CA → Crescent City, CA

771.7 mi 15h 3m Score: 8/10 ~$189 fuel

Through: San Francisco → Sacramento → Concord +3 more

5 tricky spots High drive quality

San Diego, CA → Bayside, CA

770.2 mi 14h 56m Score: 8/10 ~$188 fuel

Through: San Francisco → Sacramento → Concord +3 more

5 tricky spots High drive quality

San Diego, CA → Eureka, CA

763.7 mi 14h 45m Score: 8/10 ~$187 fuel

Through: San Francisco → Sacramento → Concord +3 more

5 tricky spots High drive quality

San Diego, CA → Willow Creek, CA

763.6 mi 14h 16m Score: 7/10 ~$187 fuel

Through: Susanville → Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

Yreka, CA → San Diego, CA

760.2 mi 14h 7m Score: 7/10 ~$186 fuel

Through: Santa Ana → Broadway → Riverside

Fortuna, CA → Chula Vista, CA

754.9 mi 14h 35m Score: 8/10 ~$185 fuel

Through: Oakland → Hayward → Stockton +5 more

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Anaheim, CA → Crescent City, CA

753.4 mi 14h 44m Score: 8/10 ~$184 fuel

Through: San Francisco → Sacramento → Concord +3 more

5 tricky spots High drive quality

San Diego, CA → Hydesville, CA

745.6 mi 14h 21m Score: 8/10 ~$182 fuel

Through: San Francisco → Sacramento → Concord +3 more

5 tricky spots High drive quality

McKinleyville, CA → San Bernardino, CA

736.2 mi 13h 45m Score: 7/10 ~$180 fuel

Through: Ventura

McCloud, CA → San Diego, CA

731.2 mi 13h 37m Score: 7/10 ~$179 fuel

Through: Santa Ana → Broadway → Riverside

McKinleyville, CA → Fontana, CA

728.9 mi 13h 36m Score: 7/10 ~$178 fuel

Through: Ventura

Los Angeles, CA → Crescent City, CA

727.6 mi 14h 15m Score: 8/10 ~$178 fuel

Through: San Francisco → Sacramento → Concord +3 more

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Alturas, CA → San Diego, CA

726.6 mi 14h 31m Score: 8/10 ~$178 fuel

Through: Los Angeles → Indio

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Long Beach, CA → McKinleyville, CA

707.3 mi 13h 12m Score: 7/10 ~$173 fuel

Through: Susanville → Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

Blue Lake, CA → Anaheim, CA

701 mi 13h 3m Score: 8/10 ~$172 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Redway, CA → San Diego, CA

700.6 mi 13h 32m Score: 7/10 ~$171 fuel

Through: Oakland → Hayward → Stockton +5 more

San Bernardino, CA → Murray Field, CA

698.9 mi 13h 29m Score: 8/10 ~$171 fuel

Through: San Francisco → Sacramento → Concord +3 more

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Fontana, CA → Arcata, CA

696.7 mi 13h 28m Score: 8/10 ~$171 fuel

Through: San Francisco → Sacramento → Concord +3 more

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Irvine, CA → Arcata, CA

695.1 mi 13h 25m Score: 8/10 ~$170 fuel

Through: San Francisco → Sacramento → Concord +3 more

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Riverside, CA → Cutten, CA

694.8 mi 13h 28m Score: 8/10 ~$170 fuel

Through: San Francisco → Sacramento → Concord +3 more

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Murray Field, CA → Fontana, CA

692.1 mi 13h 22m Score: 8/10 ~$169 fuel

Through: Oakland → Hayward → Stockton +3 more

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Riverside, CA → Humboldt Hill, CA

691.1 mi 13h 25m Score: 8/10 ~$169 fuel

Through: San Francisco → Sacramento → Concord +3 more

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Los Angeles, CA → McKinleyville, CA

683.6 mi 12h 45m Score: 7/10 ~$171 fuel

Through: Susanville → Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

Santa Ana, CA → Bayside, CA

682.1 mi 13h 11m Score: 8/10 ~$167 fuel

Through: San Francisco → Sacramento → Concord +3 more

5 tricky spots High drive quality

San Bernardino, CA → Fortuna, CA

679.2 mi 13h 2m Score: 8/10 ~$166 fuel

Through: San Francisco → Sacramento → Concord +3 more

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Myrtletown, CA → Santa Ana, CA

677.6 mi 13h 5m Score: 8/10 ~$166 fuel

Through: Oakland → Hayward → Stockton +2 more

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Anaheim, CA → Myrtletown, CA

670.8 mi 12h 58m Score: 8/10 ~$164 fuel

Through: San Francisco → Sacramento → Concord +3 more

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Irvine, CA → Fortuna, CA

670.4 mi 12h 51m Score: 8/10 ~$164 fuel

Through: San Francisco → Sacramento → Concord +3 more

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Anaheim, CA → Eureka, CA

669.3 mi 12h 53m Score: 8/10 ~$164 fuel

Through: San Francisco → Sacramento → Concord +3 more

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Anaheim, CA → Willow Creek, CA

669.1 mi 12h 25m Score: 7/10 ~$164 fuel

Through: Susanville → Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

Pine Hills, CA → Long Beach, CA

667.2 mi 12h 50m Score: 8/10 ~$163 fuel

Through: Oakland → Hayward → Stockton +2 more

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Long Beach, CA → Willow Creek, CA

667.1 mi 12h 23m Score: 7/10 ~$163 fuel

Through: Susanville → Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

Anaheim, CA → Yreka, CA

665.4 mi 12h 14m Score: 8/10 ~$163 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Long Beach, CA → Bayview, CA

665.1 mi 12h 47m Score: 8/10 ~$163 fuel

Through: San Francisco → Sacramento → Concord +3 more

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Alturas, CA → Long Beach, CA

663.2 mi 13h 16m Score: 8/10 ~$162 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Long Beach, CA → Montague, CA

660.3 mi 12h 13m Score: 8/10 ~$162 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Anaheim, CA → Ferndale, CA

659.2 mi 12h 43m Score: 8/10 ~$161 fuel

Through: San Francisco → Sacramento → Concord +3 more

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Anaheim, CA → Alturas, CA

657.6 mi 13h 18m Score: 8/10 ~$161 fuel

Through: Bishop → Dayton → Fallon

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Riverside, CA → Mount Shasta, CA

654 mi 12h 8m Score: 7/10 ~$160 fuel

Laytonville, CA → San Diego, CA

653.3 mi 12h 28m Score: 7/10 ~$160 fuel

Through: Oakland → Hayward → Stockton +5 more

Anaheim, CA → Hydesville, CA

651.1 mi 12h 30m Score: 8/10 ~$159 fuel

Through: San Francisco → Sacramento → Concord +3 more

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Los Angeles, CA → Arcata, CA

651 mi 12h 36m Score: 8/10 ~$159 fuel

Through: San Francisco → Sacramento → Concord +3 more

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Long Beach, CA → Fortuna, CA

650 mi 12h 30m Score: 8/10 ~$159 fuel

Through: San Francisco → Sacramento → Concord +3 more

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Explore More

California Trips