US Trip Planner

Scenic Drives in California

Routes

57

Avg Distance

600 mi

Avg Drive

11h 15m

Destinations

49

These 57 scenic drives in California earned a drive score of 7+ out of 10. The average route covers 600 miles through the state's most varied and visually interesting terrain.

Fuel snapshot for this state

Regular

$5.97/gal

Diesel: $5.35/gal

Typical trip cost

$124–$321

One-way, ~600 mi avg @ 25.4 MPG

CO₂ per trip

~210 kg

ICE vehicle, one-way average

Source: US Energy Information Administration • week of 2026-06-01

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 57 routes listed here all score 7 or higher.

Current regular gas averages $5.97/gallon in California (week of 2026-06-01). Diesel: $5.35/gallon. A typical one-way trip on these routes costs between $124 and $321. Source: US Energy Information Administration.

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

Los Angeles, CA → San Antonio, TX

1353.9 mi 22h 57m Score: 8/10 ~$321 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

San Diego, CA → Willow Creek, CA

763.6 mi 14h 16m Score: 7/10 ~$179 fuel

Through: Susanville → Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

McKinleyville, CA → San Bernardino, CA

736.2 mi 13h 45m Score: 7/10 ~$175 fuel

Through: Ventura

San Bernardino, CA → Murray Field, CA

698.9 mi 13h 29m Score: 8/10 ~$164 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 ~$163 fuel

Through: Oakland → Hayward → Stockton +3 more

5 tricky spots High drive quality

San Bernardino, CA → Fortuna, CA

679.2 mi 13h 2m Score: 8/10 ~$160 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 ~$159 fuel

Through: Susanville → Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

Long Beach, CA → Willow Creek, CA

667.1 mi 12h 23m Score: 7/10 ~$158 fuel

Through: Susanville → Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

Anaheim, CA → Alturas, CA

657.6 mi 13h 18m Score: 8/10 ~$156 fuel

Through: Bishop → Dayton → Fallon

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Riverside, CA → Mount Shasta, CA

654 mi 12h 8m Score: 7/10 ~$154 fuel

Anaheim, CA → Hydesville, CA

651.1 mi 12h 30m Score: 8/10 ~$153 fuel

Through: San Francisco → Sacramento → Concord +3 more

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Chula Vista, CA → Susanville, CA

646.3 mi 13h Score: 8/10 ~$153 fuel

Through: Barstow → Bishop → Dayton +1 more

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Anaheim, CA → Weed, CA

637.2 mi 11h 43m Score: 7/10 ~$150 fuel

Anaheim, CA → McCloud, CA

635.7 mi 11h 43m Score: 7/10 ~$151 fuel

Anaheim, CA → Hayfork, CA

630.7 mi 11h 45m Score: 7/10 ~$148 fuel

Through: Susanville → Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

Irvine, CA → Susanville, CA

614.9 mi 11h 50m Score: 7/10 ~$146 fuel

Through: Marysville → Oroville → Chester

Big River, CA → Sacramento, CA

612.2 mi 11h 36m Score: 8/10 ~$144 fuel

Through: Avenue 7

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Oakland, CA → Big River, CA

607.1 mi 11h 23m Score: 8/10 ~$144 fuel

Through: Stockdale Highway → Blythe

5 tricky spots High drive quality

San Diego, CA → Truckee, CA

604.8 mi 11h 20m Score: 7/10 ~$142 fuel

Through: Lake Tahoe → Broadway → Fresno

Blythe, CA → Sacramento, CA

604.7 mi 11h 6m Score: 8/10 ~$144 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Calexico, CA → Sacramento, CA

603.7 mi 11h 12m Score: 7/10 ~$143 fuel

San Bernardino, CA → Shasta Lake, CA

603.5 mi 11h 5m Score: 7/10 ~$142 fuel

Chula Vista, CA → Willows, CA

594.4 mi 11h 4m Score: 7/10 ~$140 fuel

San Diego, CA → Magalia, CA

593.5 mi 11h 17m Score: 7/10 ~$139 fuel

Through: Marysville → Oroville

Laguna, CA → Heber, CA

592.2 mi 11h 4m Score: 7/10 ~$139 fuel

Through: Ventura → Los Angeles → San Bernardino +4 more

San Diego, CA → Kelseyville, CA

586.9 mi 11h 18m Score: 7/10 ~$138 fuel

Through: San Francisco → Sacramento → Concord +3 more

Chula Vista, CA → Cloverdale, CA

586 mi 11h 5m Score: 7/10 ~$138 fuel

Through: San Francisco → Sacramento → Concord +3 more

Sacramento, CA → Brawley, CA

580.9 mi 10h 47m Score: 8/10 ~$136 fuel

Through: Ventura → Los Angeles → San Bernardino +3 more

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Chula Vista, CA → Colusa, CA

577.8 mi 10h 49m Score: 7/10 ~$137 fuel

Long Beach, CA → Shasta, CA

573.8 mi 10h 33m Score: 8/10 ~$135 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Chula Vista, CA → Gridley, CA

567.2 mi 10h 43m Score: 7/10 ~$133 fuel

Through: Marysville

Blythe, CA → San Jose, CA

560.8 mi 10h 27m Score: 8/10 ~$133 fuel

Through: Hollister

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Santa Ana, CA → Cottonwood, CA

559.9 mi 10h 15m Score: 8/10 ~$133 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Chula Vista, CA → Marysville, CA

551 mi 10h 19m Score: 7/10 ~$131 fuel

San Diego, CA → Santa Rosa, CA

548.1 mi 10h 21m Score: 7/10 ~$130 fuel

Through: San Francisco → San Rafael

Chula Vista, CA → North Auburn, CA

547 mi 10h 16m Score: 7/10 ~$128 fuel

Through: Lake Tahoe → Broadway → Fresno

San Diego, CA → Yuba City, CA

544.9 mi 10h 13m Score: 7/10 ~$128 fuel

Through: Marysville

San Diego, CA → Marysville, CA

544.1 mi 10h 10m Score: 7/10 ~$128 fuel

San Diego, CA → Sheridan, CA

543.3 mi 10h 10m Score: 7/10 ~$129 fuel

Through: Lake Tahoe → Broadway → Fresno

Chula Vista, CA → Winters, CA

542.6 mi 10h 13m Score: 7/10 ~$127 fuel

Through: San Francisco → Sacramento → Concord +1 more

San Diego, CA → Deer Park, CA

540.4 mi 10h 12m Score: 7/10 ~$128 fuel

Through: San Francisco → Sacramento → Concord +3 more

Sacramento, CA → Pine Valley, CA

537.7 mi 10h 5m Score: 7/10 ~$128 fuel

Through: Santa Ana → Broadway → Riverside

Chula Vista, CA → Granite Bay, CA

535.7 mi 10h 4m Score: 7/10 ~$126 fuel

Through: Lake Tahoe → Broadway

San Diego, CA → Winters, CA

535.7 mi 10h 4m Score: 7/10 ~$127 fuel

Through: San Francisco → Sacramento → Concord +1 more

Los Angeles, CA → Portola, CA

532.2 mi 10h 2m Score: 7/10 ~$125 fuel

Through: Lake Tahoe → Broadway → Fresno +2 more

Chula Vista, CA → Roseville, CA

530.6 mi 9h 57m Score: 7/10 ~$125 fuel

Chula Vista, CA → El Dorado Hills, CA

529.3 mi 10h 3m Score: 7/10 ~$124 fuel

Chula Vista, CA → Novato, CA

528.9 mi 10h Score: 7/10 ~$126 fuel

Through: San Francisco

Irvine, CA → Truckee, CA

528.6 mi 9h 48m Score: 7/10 ~$124 fuel

Through: Lake Tahoe → Broadway → Fresno

Chula Vista, CA → Citrus Heights, CA

527.2 mi 9h 52m Score: 7/10 ~$124 fuel

San Diego, CA → Rocklin, CA

526.1 mi 9h 50m Score: 7/10 ~$124 fuel

Anaheim, CA → Dollar Point, CA

525.8 mi 9h 54m Score: 7/10 ~$123 fuel

Through: Lake Tahoe → Broadway → Fresno

Chula Vista, CA → Belvedere Tiburon, CA

524.6 mi 9h 58m Score: 7/10 ~$125 fuel

Through: San Francisco

San Bernardino, CA → Chico, CA

524.5 mi 9h 49m Score: 7/10 ~$123 fuel

Through: Marysville → Oroville

Anaheim, CA → Kings Beach, CA

523.3 mi 9h 47m Score: 7/10 ~$123 fuel

Through: Lake Tahoe → Broadway → Fresno

Long Beach, CA → Tahoe Vista, CA

522.1 mi 9h 47m Score: 7/10 ~$124 fuel

Through: Lake Tahoe → Broadway → Fresno

Chula Vista, CA → Carmichael, CA

521.9 mi 9h 49m Score: 7/10 ~$124 fuel

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California Trips