I’ve driven the California coast more times than I can count, but two trips really stand out. In 2019, I drove from LA to San Francisco on a media trip and finally got to explore the central coast in full.
Then, in 2021, a friend and I headed up from LA with zero plan except to drive Big Sur and see where we ended up. We pulled over at Bixby Creek Bridge because we’d been watching Big Little Lies and recognized it immediately, and we ended up just standing there for way longer than expected. That’s kind of how this stretch of California goes, though. It keeps stopping you (which means you should allow more time to explore it than you think you need).
A Los Angeles to Yosemite road trip is great because you don’t have to choose between the ocean and the mountains — you get both. The coastal route through Pismo Beach, Carmel, and Monterey is my favorite way to do it, and honestly, the route I’d recommend to anyone who has the time.
Tips for a LA to Yosemite Road Trip
Here are a few tips to keep in mind while planning your Los Angeles to Yosemite National Park drive.
What is the distance from Los Angeles to Yosemite?
The direct route from LA to Yosemite is about 279 miles and takes roughly five to six hours without stopping. But if you take the coastal route through Pismo Beach, Carmel, and Monterey, you’re looking at closer to 825 miles. The drive takes longer, but the views make it my favorite way to do it.
Can you take a day trip to Yosemite from Los Angeles?
Technically, yes, but I wouldn’t. Many people do a LA to Joshua Tree National Park drive in a day, but it’s a shorter distance. You’d spend most of the day in the car and barely scratch the surface of the park. Give yourself at least three days: one for the drive up with stops, one or two in the park itself.
What is the best entrance to Yosemite from Los Angeles?
Coming from LA, you’ll use the south entrance via Highway 41 through Fresno. Important: Yosemite now requires timed entry reservations during peak season (typically May through September). Book these well in advance on recreation.gov, as they sell out fast, and you can’t just show up during busy periods.
Make sure to buy your America the Beautiful pass ahead of time so you can easily enter all the national parks for a low price.
Can you drive from Yosemite to Los Angeles in the winter?
Yes, but plan carefully. Similar to a Lake Tahoe road trip, some roads may also be closed during the winter. The Tioga Pass Road (Highway 120) closes every winter due to snow, so you’ll be limited to the south or west entrances. Check road conditions before you go on the park’s website.
What’s the best time to leave LA?
I left around 10 am on a weekday, and traffic was fine (for LA, that is, but I’ve also been in standstill traffic, and this wasn’t it). Avoid Friday afternoons and weekend mornings, or you’ll sit on the freeway before you even get out of the city. Also, budget extra time once you hit the coastal route because the drive takes longer than Google Maps says. Tourists constantly pull over for photos, and you will too.
You might also consider a drive to Palm Springs from Los Angeles.
Los Angeles to Yosemite Road Trip Map
10 Stops on a Los Angeles to Yosemite Road Trip
My preference for a road trip between Los Angeles and Yosemite National Park covers a few more miles than the proverbial crow might fly. My route covers over 825 miles but lets you experience much more of central California.
From the point at which you set out on your drive from LA, these are the ten essential stops you should make.
1. Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara is the perfect first stop out of LA, only about 90 minutes up the 101, and it feels like a completely different world from the city you just left. After flying from Seattle and then sitting in the car, getting out here felt amazing. Seagulls, salty air, Spanish colonial architecture, palm trees — it all hits you at once and immediately slows you down.
I started at the Santa Barbara Mission, which is worth a stop even if you’re not a history person. It’s been standing since 1786, the gardens are beautiful, and it’s free to walk the grounds.
From there, I walked down to Stearns Wharf for lunch. It’s the main pier in Santa Barbara with a handful of seafood spots right on the water. Santa Barbara Shellfish Company is the place to go. Counter service, nothing fancy, but the chowder and lobster bisque are amazing, and you’re eating with the ocean right in front of you.
If you want a quirky dinner stop on your way out of town, Cold Spring Tavern is worth knowing about. It’s an old stagecoach stop in the mountains just outside Santa Barbara, now a restaurant and bar. The food isn’t the point; instead, it’s the atmosphere. There’s an old jail on the property, and the whole place feels frozen in time. Motorcyclists love it, and the vibe is completely unlike anything else on this route.
Make sure to reserve your rental car ahead of time! I love using Discover Cars for my trips.
2. Big Sur
I’ve driven Big Sur twice, and it’s the kind of place that doesn’t get old. The cliffs drop straight into the ocean, and the scale of it doesn’t fully register until you’re actually there.
On my 2021 trip with a friend, we drove north to south and spent the whole day on this stretch alone. We kept pulling over because you can’t not. The most memorable moment was stopping at Bixby Creek Bridge — we’d been watching Big Little Lies and recognized it immediately, and we just stood there for way longer than planned. If you’ve seen the show, you’ll have the same reaction.
A few stops worth planning around: McWay Falls is an 80-foot waterfall that drops directly onto the beach, and it’s one of the most photographed spots on the whole California coast. It’s a short, easy walk from the parking area.
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is worth stopping at if you want to get out of the car and into the redwoods for a bit. And if you’re driving south toward San Simeon, don’t miss the Elephant Seal Vista Point — the seals haul out on the beach year-round, and it’s completely free (but warning, it does smell).
Budget a full day for Big Sur. Anyone who tells you it’s a quick drive hasn’t done it properly.
Another beautiful drive is the Los Angeles to Big Sur road trip.
3. Hearst Castle
Hearst Castle sits in San Simeon, about halfway between Big Sur and Pismo Beach, and while I’m not always into history tours, this one is worth building your whole day around. This is the estate that media mogul William Randolph Hearst built on a hilltop overlooking the Pacific and used to entertain Hollywood celebrities throughout the 1920s and 30s. It has 165 rooms and over 125 acres of gardens and terraces, which gives you a sense of the scale before you even get there.
You take a bus up from the visitor center — it’s a five-mile ride to the top — and then do a guided tour through the property. I did the Grand Rooms Tour, which is the right one to start with if it’s your first visit. It covers the main social rooms of the house and ends at the Neptune Pool, which was stunning. It’s an enormous outdoor pool with a Roman temple facade at one end, marble statues, and views of the California hills rolling down to the ocean. The photos don’t do it justice.
Tours are $35 for adults and last about 70 minutes. Book in advance, as they sell out, especially in summer.
4. Pismo Beach
Pismo Beach was my overnight stop and truly one of my favorite parts of the whole drive. There’s something about arriving at the coast after hours in the car that hits differently. My hotel had ocean views from my room, which made it very hard to leave in the morning.
I walked the beach at sunset, which is exactly as good as it sounds. The light on the water in the fall was incredible, and I took way too many photos. If you’re going to pull over anywhere on this trip for an actual sunset, make it here. It’s such a relaxing vibe in this area.
For food, Pismo Beach is known for its clam chowder, and Splash Cafe is the place to get it. It’s a local place, nothing fancy, and the chowder is worth the line. The pier area has plenty of other options, too, if seafood isn’t your thing. Plan to stay at least one night here. It’s too good just to pass through.
Things to Do
- Walk the tunnel at the Dinosaur Caves Park
- Visit thousands of butterflies at Monarch Butterfly Grove
- Walk the Pismo Beach Walkway & Boardwalk
- Stroll around the Pismo Beach Pier Plaza
Where to Eat
- Oyster Loft, for beautiful views of the pier with your food
- Ada’s Fish House – try the lobster rolls with a fancy cocktail
- Ventana Grill for some Spanish influence in a stunning location
Where to Stay: I stayed at Vespera Resort right on the beach, and it was incredible — oceanfront rooms, fire pits, and a great restaurant on site. It’s a splurge but worth it for a special trip. For a more budget-friendly option, Oxford Suites Pismo Beach gets consistently great reviews, includes free breakfast, and is about a mile from the water.
I’ve been using Roadtrippers for years to help me plan out my trips and find fun stops along the way. Use my code “BTR5QTP” for $5 off when you sign up!
5. Carmel-By-The-Sea
If you watched Big Little Lies, you’ll recognize Carmel immediately. My friend and I were already primed from the Bixby Bridge moment, and pulling into this town felt like walking onto a film set. It’s genuinely that pretty.
The town itself is small and walkable with boutiques and galleries along Ocean Avenue. Don’t rush through it. We went for dinner at Vesuvio, an Italian place right in the center of town, and it was one of those meals where you end up ordering more than you planned because everything sounds good. We were stuffed, but it was exactly what we wanted after a day of driving.
The 17-mile loop drive through Pebble Beach starts here and is worth doing if you have time. There’s a $12.25 toll, but if you spend $35 or more at any of the Pebble Beach Resorts restaurants, the gate fee gets reimbursed — just show your receipt to your server. Good excuse to stop for lunch.
Carmel Beach is also right there and worth a walk if the weather is good. The white sand against the cypress trees looks almost tropical. Similar to a Los Angeles to Grand Canyon road trip, there are tons of photo ops here, so you’ll want to have your camera charged.
Things to Do
- Visit Carmel Beach, and walk the Carmel Path
- See The Carmel Mission, which dates back to the 1700s
- Taste a delicious Carmel Valley wine at one of the many tastings being offered at the local wineries
Where to Eat
- The Grill on Ocean Avenue offers top steak and seafood grill dishes
- For something more formal, try Casanova Restaurant’s Italian and French options
- Traditional English Tea, anyone? The Tuck Box offers scones, sandwiches, and tea, of course
For another fun trip, consider driving from Los Angeles to Sequoia National Park.
6. Monterey
Monterey was one of my favorite stops on this whole drive. My friend and I ended up spending more time here than we planned, which says it all.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is genuinely one of the best aquariums I’ve been to. It’s big, the exhibits are well done, and it focuses on the bay’s local marine life rather than trying to be everything to everyone. Budget at least half a day if you go – ask anyone who’s been, and they’ll tell you it’s non-negotiable.
But the thing that made Monterey unforgettable for me was scuba diving in the kelp forest right off the coast. I went with a local dive operator early in the morning, and it was unlike any dive I’ve done anywhere. The kelp towers above you like an underwater cathedral, and the visibility is incredible. We were surrounded by dozens of jellyfish, which initially scared me, but luckily, they don’t sting. Monterey Bay is one of the best dive sites in North America.
After that, we walked Cannery Row, which has a great energy — lots of restaurants, shops, and a wine-tasting room where we stopped for a glass before dinner. It’s touristy but in a fun way, not an annoying way. There are also plenty of stores nearby to stock up on your road trip packing list for families.
Things to Do
- Visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which focuses on the local marine life of the bay
- Discover Old Fisherman’s Wharf, a historic area with lots of shops and takeout spots
- Take a selfie at the Monterey Moon Tree
- Take a tour of Cannery Row
Where to Eat
- Schooners Monterey – beautiful views and top-rated seafood on Cannery Row
- Estéban Restaurant offers Latin-flavored delights
- Rosine’s Restaurant specializes in Italian cuisine
Monterey is also a great stop, and The Inn at 1252 Monterey is a good option.
7. San Jose
I didn’t stop in San Jose on my drive, but it’s worth knowing about if you want to break up the inland stretch with a city visit. It’s often overlooked in favor of San Francisco, but it has plenty to offer and is way less crowded.
The Winchester Mystery House is the most distinctive attraction in the city, a sprawling Victorian mansion with staircases that lead to nowhere and doors that open onto walls, built by the widow of the rifle manufacturer over 38 years. Tours run daily, and it’s genuinely strange. The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum is another unexpected one, housing the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts on the West Coast.
For food, Santana Row is the central dining and shopping district, with options for every budget.
Things to Do
- Be astounded at the size and mystery of the Winchester Mystery House
- Take in some true history at the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum
- Visit the Japanese American Museum of San Jose with Japanese American art, history, and culture
- See the super-large board at the Monopoly in the Park installation
Where to Eat
- Original Joe’s San Jose is highly rated for burgers and bowls
- Paesano Ristorante Italiano prides itself on traditional dishes
- Smoking Pig BBQ Company for a total BBQ treat in a casual setting
Looking for another drive? You’ll love the scenic LA to SF road trip, or go to the desert on a Los Angeles to Death Valley road trip.
8. Fresno
Fresno doesn’t get much love as a road trip stop, but I have a soft spot for it — a friend of mine lived there, and I stopped in on a long layover through San Francisco in 2022. It was fun to explore a town I might not normally go to.
We got pho at Pho Ever, a well-loved local spot, then walked the trails at Woodward Park. It’s a big 300-acre park in north Fresno with a lake, ponds, and easy walking paths along the San Joaquin River. It wasn’t like some of the hikes I’m used to, but it’s a nice place to stretch your legs before the final push to Yosemite.
Fresno is also worth knowing about from a practical standpoint: it’s your last real city before the park and a good place to top up on gas, groceries, and anything you forgot to pack.
Things to Do
- Find a moment of tranquility in the Shinzen Friendship Garden Inc.
- Storyland is an amusement park, especially great for kids
- Pay your respects at the Veterans Memorial Museum Inc
Where to Eat
- Pismo’s Coastal Grill is not, in fact, in Pismo, but serves American seafood to rival Pismo’s best
- Texas de Brazil – Fresno is an upscale Brazilian restaurant
- For a fine dining, upscale experience, try The Palms
For other trip ideas, check out this Seattle to Crater Lake road trip or Seattle to Los Angeles drive.
9. Yosemite Lakes
Yosemite Lakes sits at the foot of the Sierra Nevada, about 26 miles from the park entrance, and makes a good final stop before you arrive. The area is green and quiet after the long inland drive and is worth a stretch if you need one.
Coarsegold Historic Village is right nearby and worth a quick wander — it’s a small old west town with antique shops and a relaxed vibe. If you want to try your luck, Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino is also just off the highway here.
Practically speaking, this is also a good place to pick up anything you forgot before you lose cell service heading into the park.
Things to Do
- Yosemite Lakes Park Recreation Area
- Coarsegold Historic Village has fun vintage stores and amusements
- Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino
Where to Eat
- Yosemite Grill gets the basics of American burgers and grills right
- The Blue Heron Restaurant & Lounge offers a view over the lake and likewise great food
Leaving from SF? You can head out on a San Francisco to Yosemite road trip instead.
10. Fish Camp
Fish Camp is the last stop before Yosemite’s south entrance and feels like the perfect way to ease into the park. It’s a tiny community, fewer than 200 residents, but it has everything you need for an overnight before heading in.
The main attraction is the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad, a narrow-gauge steam train that runs through the Sierra Nevada forest. It’s a fun hour if you have kids or want something a little different after days of driving.
Mariposa Grove is just minutes from here and is worth visiting before you head deeper into the park. It’s one of the largest giant sequoia groves in the world, and you’ll whip out your camera as soon as you see it.
For accommodation, Tenaya at Yosemite is the nicest option in the area, and it books up fast in summer, so reserve well ahead.
Things to Do
- Adventure on Goat Meadow Trailhead that doubles as a tubing hill in winter
- See Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad
- Visit the California Tunnel Tree
- Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza
Where to Eat
- Jackalope’s Bar and Grill for tasty American fare
- Tenaya at Yosemite resort has multiple dining options
Looking for another California adventure to go on? Check out this road trip from California to Arizona!
3-Day Itinerary for a Los Angeles to Yosemite Drive
This LA to Yosemite itinerary covers the coastal route in three days, which is doable if you want to get to Yosemite without too many overnight stops. That said, if you can add an extra day, I’d strongly recommend spending it in Big Sur. It’s the highlight of the whole drive, and rushing through it in an afternoon doesn’t do it justice.
Want 4 days instead? Split Day 1 into two: spend your first night in Santa Barbara, then dedicate a full second day to Big Sur and Hearst Castle before overnighting in Pismo Beach. Everything else stays the same.
Day 1: Los Angeles to Pismo Beach
Driving time/distance: around 5 hours with stops
Leave LA around 10 am on a weekday to avoid the worst of the city traffic. Your first stop is Santa Barbara, about 90 minutes up the 101. Spend a couple of hours here — walk the Mission, grab lunch at Stearns Wharf, and ease into the trip.
From Santa Barbara, continue north to Big Sur. This is the most scenic stretch of the entire drive, and you’ll want at least 3-4 hours here. Stop at Bixby Creek Bridge, walk to McWay Falls, and pull over wherever the view stops you, because it will.
On your way out of Big Sur, stop at Hearst Castle in San Simeon for the Grand Rooms Tour. Book tickets in advance at ReserveCalifornia.com. Tours are 70 minutes and $35 per adult.
End the day in Pismo Beach. Check into Vespera Resort or Oxford Suites, walk the beach at sunset, and get dinner at Splash Cafe.
Where to Stay: I stayed at Vespera Resort, right on the beach with ocean views, fire pits, and a great restaurant on site. For a more affordable option, Oxford Suites Pismo Beach is a mile from the water, offers free breakfast, and consistently receives great reviews.
Day 2: Pismo Beach to San Jose
Driving time/distance: around 4 hours with stops
This is a shorter day with two of the best stops on the whole route. Head north to Carmel first and spend the morning walking Ocean Avenue, visiting Carmel Beach, and doing the 17-mile drive through Pebble Beach if you have time. You’ll want to stop for plenty of pictures along the way.
Continue to Monterey for lunch on Cannery Row. If you have time, the Monterey Bay Aquarium is worth a few hours. From Monterey, it’s about an hour and a half to San Jose, where you’ll stay overnight.
Where to Stay: Hotel Valencia Santana Row is the best hotel in the area, right on Santana Row with a rooftop wine bar and Spanish-style decor. For a mid-range option in the same neighborhood, Kasa The Row is clean, modern, and walking distance from Santana Row restaurants.
Day 3: San Jose to Fish Camp
Driving time/distance: around 4 hours with stops
The final day takes you inland through the Central Valley to the park. Stop in Fresno for lunch and a walk through Woodward Park, then continue through Yosemite Lakes for a final stretch break before the south entrance.
Overnight in Fish Camp at Tenaya at Yosemite, which puts you two miles from the park gate and ready to go first thing in the morning. Book well ahead in summer.
Where to Stay: Tenaya at Yosemite is the nicest option, two miles from the south entrance with restaurants, spa, and pools on site. For something more affordable with free breakfast included, Narrow Gauge Inn is four miles from the entrance and sits right next to the Sugar Pine Railroad.
You’ll love going on a Los Angeles to Yosemite road trip, whether you’re craving time at the ocean or can’t wait to get to the national park.
