Trip.ovh US Road Trip Planner

Scenic Drives in California

Routes

59

Avg Distance

385 mi

Avg Drive

7h 18m

Destinations

31

These 59 scenic drives in California earned a drive score of 7+ out of 10. The average route covers 291 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 59 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

Grass Valley, CA → San Diego, CA

561.5 mi 10h 37m Score: 7/10

Sutter, CA → San Diego, CA

552.4 mi 10h 24m Score: 7/10

Calistoga, CA → San Diego, CA

545.1 mi 10h 20m Score: 7/10

Ukiah, CA → Riverside, CA

539.1 mi 10h 15m Score: 8/10

San Francisco, CA → Rancho San Diego, CA

511.8 mi 9h 42m Score: 7/10

Live Oak, CA → San Diego, CA

510.4 mi 9h 43m Score: 7/10

Martinez, CA → Chula Vista, CA

502.5 mi 9h 30m 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

Vine Hill, CA → San Diego, CA

492.6 mi 9h 16m 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

San Diego, CA → Alamo, CA

479.8 mi 8h 59m Score: 7/10

Oakley, CA → San Diego, CA

469.6 mi 8h 59m Score: 7/10

Riverside, CA → Cottonwood, CA

465.8 mi 8h 51m Score: 7/10

Bakersfield, CA → Susanville, CA

464.9 mi 9h 13m Score: 9/10

San Diego, CA → Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA

444.7 mi 8h 40m Score: 9/10

Pacific Grove, CA → San Diego, CA

443.9 mi 8h 43m Score: 8/10

Fremont, CA → Carlsbad, CA

443.1 mi 8h 28m Score: 7/10

San Francisco, CA → Fontana, CA

426.6 mi 7h 57m Score: 8/10

Laguna, CA → Riverside, CA

425.2 mi 8h 1m Score: 7/10

Laguna, CA → Newport Beach, CA

417.8 mi 7h 48m Score: 8/10

Oakland, CA → Apple Valley, CA

412.5 mi 7h 48m Score: 9/10

San Bernardino, CA → Alamo, CA

412.5 mi 7h 38m Score: 8/10

Alamo, CA → San Bernardino, CA

411.8 mi 7h 38m Score: 8/10

Riverside, CA → Alamo, CA

410.6 mi 7h 42m Score: 8/10

Alamo, CA → Riverside, CA

410 mi 7h 42m Score: 8/10

Fontana, CA → Alamo, CA

405.2 mi 7h 30m Score: 8/10

Martinez, CA → Anaheim, CA

400.3 mi 7h 29m Score: 8/10

Cudahy, CA → San Francisco, CA

392.8 mi 7h 19m Score: 8/10

Santa Ana, CA → Alamo, CA

391.7 mi 7h 14m Score: 8/10

Cudahy, CA → Laguna, CA

385.6 mi 7h 9m Score: 8/10

East San Gabriel, CA → Laguna, CA

384.1 mi 7h 7m Score: 8/10

Laguna, CA → Los Angeles, CA

373.9 mi 6h 57m Score: 8/10

Burbank, CA → San Francisco, CA

372 mi 6h 52m Score: 8/10

Pleasant Hill, CA → Los Angeles, CA

366.3 mi 6h 47m Score: 8/10

Los Angeles, CA → Alamo, CA

359.5 mi 6h 38m Score: 8/10

Alamo, CA → Los Angeles, CA

358.7 mi 6h 38m Score: 8/10

San Jose, CA → Ladera Heights, CA

342.3 mi 6h 28m Score: 8/10

Los Angeles, CA → San Jose, CA

340.2 mi 6h 25m Score: 8/10

Anza, CA → Fresno, CA

335.1 mi 6h 29m Score: 9/10

Weed, CA → San Jose, CA

312.7 mi 5h 52m Score: 10/10

Bakersfield, CA → Suisun, CA

295.6 mi 5h 31m Score: 8/10

Fresno, CA → Homeland, CA

295.3 mi 5h 38m Score: 9/10

San Diego, CA → Corcoran, CA

295 mi 5h 51m Score: 9/10

Blue Lake, CA → San Francisco, CA

287.1 mi 6h 2m Score: 8/10

Los Osos, CA → Laguna, CA

287 mi 5h 40m Score: 8/10

Bakersfield, CA → Folsom, CA

286 mi 5h 29m Score: 10/10

Bakersfield, CA → San Francisco, CA

283.4 mi 5h 19m Score: 8/10

Sacramento, CA → Atascadero, CA

273.2 mi 5h 12m Score: 8/10

Fresno, CA → Riverside, CA

270 mi 5h 11m Score: 9/10

Greenfield, CA → Los Angeles, CA

268.1 mi 5h 10m Score: 10/10

Alamo, CA → Bakersfield, CA

260.6 mi 4h 50m Score: 8/10

Bakersfield, CA → Alpine, CA

251.1 mi 4h 57m Score: 8/10

Morro Bay, CA → San Francisco, CA

232.1 mi 4h 36m Score: 10/10

San Francisco, CA → Morro Bay, CA

231.6 mi 4h 36m Score: 10/10

Marina del Rey, CA → Fresno, CA

221.8 mi 4h 12m Score: 9/10

Fresno, CA → Marina del Rey, CA

221.3 mi 4h 13m Score: 9/10

Fontana, CA → Corcoran, CA

220.5 mi 4h 22m Score: 9/10

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