This state is more than just Yosemite.
With 9 National Parks, California has the most of any state in the country. From the hottest place in the US (and possibly on Earth) to snow-covered mountains to gargantuan trees, you’ll feel like you’ve traveled to another planet.
At 282 feet below sea level, Badwater Basin is the lowest point in North America.
This was before I had a better camera, we couldn’t even capture the whole tree.
Home to more than just tall trees. Hiking Fern Canyon will lead you all the way to the beach.
What are California’s 9 National Parks? Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Channel Islands, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Redwood, Yosemite, Pinnacles, and Lassen Volcanic.
How much time do I need to see all 9 parks? If you plan to do all 9 in one trip, you’ll want to plan for at least 3 weeks, and even that might feel rushed. There is a lot of ground to cover, and there are a ton of picturesque spots you’ll want to stop and see outside of the parks, so allow some flex time if possible.
What do I need to know about getting in to each of the parks? It’s really important that you keep up with the latest news and information from the parks. You can follow them on social media, go to each park’s direct website, or download the NPS App. You’ll want to know about things like recent fires in the area, road closures, or timed entry requirements. For example, Yosemite recently started requiring a reservation to enter the park between 6am and 4pm. Not all parks have an entrance fee, but for this trip it makes sense to purchase an annual pass.
What about temperatures and packing? You’ll need to be savvy about packing. Temps can range from highs above 100° in Death Valley to lows in the 40’s further north and towards the coast.
Scenes from Jurassic Park were filmed in Fern Canyon in Redwood National Park.
Scenes from Star Wars were filmed in multiple locations in Death Valley National Park.
What you need to know: We crammed a lot in to this itinerary, trying to see as much as we possibly could in 19 days. We haven’t made it to Channel Islands National Park yet, and we actually saw Joshua Tree National Park during another trip, but I indicated below how you could change up the drive to include both on this itinerary. We also veered in to Oregon for a few days to see the coast and do some whitewater rafting, but if I had to do it again I’d spend more time in some of the CA parks and save OR for another trip. We chose to fly in and out of Reno because we wanted to hike Lake Tahoe, but you could also do this itinerary from Las Vegas or even Los Angeles. See below for our full map with icons for hikes, NP visitor centers, picture spots, wineries, and some restaurant options.
A note about us and how we travel: Our goal is to see all of the US National Parks. We love hiking and exploring off the beaten path places. Unfortunately we haven’t mastered the art of camping yet, so we stay in hotels or park lodges. You’ll notice a lot of Hilton properties – we try to stick with one brand to accumulate the points and keep our status, but I won’t recommend a property if it sucked. We’re definitely not foodies, but I included some of our restaurant stops on the itinerary to offer options. Normally we look for something casual and local that has relatively healthy options and a full bar.
JUST WANT A QUICK RUNDOWN?
Note: Follow this backwards if you want to experience the “crown jewel” last. But Pro Tip: If you’re not going during the off-season, save Yosemite for another time and take advantage of the 8 other (much less trafficked but also amazing) parks.
DAY BY DAY BREAKDOWN
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NOTE: If you want to visit Joshua Tree NP and Channel Islands – After Death Valley you could detour south to Joshua Tree, about a 4 hour drive. You really only need a day (or afternoon) there. After that you’d head west to Ventura, about a 3 hour drive. You can take boat transportation from Ventura to Channel Islands. Then you’d head back up to Sequoia NP, about a 4 hour drive.
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Highlights from the National Parks, and a couple of our other favorite photos.
