California National Parks Road Trip Itinerary

In October 2023, we embarked on an epic road trip from San Francisco to Las Vegas, hitting 5 4 national parks along the way. We ran into some hiccups and had to pivot in a few places, but it was still an epic trip. Don’t come at me for our food choices 😂 we eat like toddlers and we’re okay with that!

Day 1-2 - san jose/san francisco

We’re not big city people, so we didn’t spend a ton of time in San Francisco proper. We stayed outside of San Jose to be near family so we only did about a half day in San Fran just to get a quick taste.

  • Golden Gate Bridge (Baker Beach)

  • Fisherman’s Wharf / Pier 39

  • Lombard Street

  • Oracle Park

  • Stanford

  • Downtown San Jose

  • Sunday Night Football at Levi Stadium - absolutely amazing atomosphere!

    Where we stayed: Best Western Los Gatos
    What we ate: Dio Deka, Willow Street (amazing pizza!), Salt & Straw (whacky ice cream flavors), Underdogs Cantina

Day 3 - Pinnacles National Park

  • Condor Gulch to High Peaks to Moses Spring to Bear Gulch Cave - great trail to get the full Pinnacles experience!

    Where we stayed: Comfort Inn Sequoia/Kings Canyon
    What we ate: Sandwiches from Pinnacles’ visitor’s center, Pizza Factory

Day 4 - Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks

  • Tunnel Log

  • General Sherman Tree & Congress Trail

  • Tokopah Falls

  • General Grant Tree

  • Scenic Byway (Closed due to damage from last winter’s storm)

    Where we stayed: Scenic Wonders Yosemite Condos
    What we ate: Sandwiches from KC visitor’s center, Tenaya Lodge Restaurant

Day 5&6 - Yosemite national park

  • Mist Trail (Closed due to construction) John Muir Trail to Nevada Falls

  • Sunset at Glacier Point

  • Sunrise at Tunnel View

  • Cooks Meadow Loop + Lower Yosemite Falls

  • Tioga Pass to Bishop

    • Olmsted Point

    • Tenaya Lake

    • Obsidian Dome - wouldn’t recommend, unpaved road to get there and not much to see once you’re there.

    • Devil’s Postpile National Monument (road was closed)

    • Hot Springs (too tired!)

    • Crowley Lake Columns (didn’t think our car would make it)

    Where we stayed: Scenic Wonders Yosemite Condos, Cielo Hotel Bishop
    What we ate: Pizza from Curry Village, 1903 Taphouse & Co.

Day 7&8 - Death Valley (Closed due to flooding) Vegas

  • Big Pines Lake Hike (Too tired!)

  • Manzanar Concentration Camp

  • Alabama Hills

    • Mobius & Heart Arches

  • Whitney Portal Road

  • Randsburg General Store (Closed, also very sketchy town!)

  • Explore the Strip

    • Bellagio

    • Caesar’s Palace

    • Urban Necessities

    • Venetian

    • MGM Grand

  • Tom’s Watch Party for College Football

  • Where we stayed: Park MGM
    What we ate: Erik Schak Bakery (huge selection, delicious!), Sbarro, Panda Express, Subway

katie fladung