There’s a moment on the Pacific Coast Highway, somewhere south of Carmel, where the road narrows to a thread of asphalt between the Santa Lucia Mountains and the open Pacific. The wind off the water carries kelp and cold salt, and the only reasonable response is to pull over and stand at the edge for a while. California does that. It makes stopping mandatory.
The state has more officially designated scenic byways than anywhere else in the United States — over 60 of them — crossing every landscape the American West can produce: coastal cliffs, granite canyons, redwood corridors, alpine passes, and volcanic desert. What follows is the shortlist: the drives that earn the detour, with practical details so you can plan each one properly before you leave.
1. Highway 1 through Big Sur — the one California drive everyone should do at least once
The Pacific Coast Highway — officially California State Route 1 — runs 656 miles (1,056 km) from Dana Point in Orange County to Leggett in Mendocino County. The full length is a classic multi-day road trip, and we have a dedicated PCH guide here. But the 90-mile (145 km) stretch through Big Sur, between Carmel-by-the-Sea and San Simeon, is the drive that defines this road’s reputation.
Here the Santa Lucia Mountains fall almost vertically into the Pacific, and the highway has no choice but to run along the edge. The ocean is always either below you or just over the guardrail. On clear days in early autumn, when the morning fog has burned off and the light is low and long, there is genuinely nowhere else you’d rather be.
Key stops on the Big Sur stretch
- Bixby Creek Bridge — 15 miles (24 km) south of Carmel; 260 feet (79 m) above the canyon floor. Use the designated roadside pullout rather than stopping on the bridge itself.
- McWay Falls, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park — an 80-foot (24 m) waterfall that drops directly onto an inaccessible beach. A half-mile (0.8 km) round-trip trail leads to the overlook. One of the more improbable views in California.
- Nepenthe Restaurant — an open terrace perched above the cliff, about 30 miles (48 km) south of Carmel. Order something and stay for the view; the burger and the coastline combination is hard to argue with.
- Piedras Blancas elephant seal rookery — just north of San Simeon. During winter pupping season, upward of 15,000 elephant seals haul out here, visible from the roadside. Free to visit, and consistently strange.
Practical notes
Big Sur is prone to landslides and road closures — sections near Pfeiffer Canyon have been closed for months at a time after heavy winter rains. Always check conditions before you drive at Caltrans QuickMap. Mobile signal disappears for long stretches; download your map offline. Fuel up in Carmel to the north or Cambria to the south. Allow a full day for the Big Sur section if you’re stopping.
2. Tioga Road, Yosemite National Park — the high-altitude crossing you plan around the calendar
California State Route 120 is the only road that crosses Yosemite National Park east to west, and the section known as Tioga Road reaches Tioga Pass at 9,945 feet (3,031 m) — the highest paved automobile pass in California. The drive from Lee Vining on the eastern side to the park’s western boundaries covers 74 miles (119 km) and reveals a version of Yosemite that most visitors never see: open granite, subalpine meadows, and views of the Sierra crest rather than the Valley walls.
The eastern approach from Lee Vining is immediately dramatic. The road climbs 3,000 feet (914 m) in about 12 miles (19 km) through Lee Vining Canyon, with Mono Lake — its tufa towers and alkaline blue — visible behind you as you rise. Once through the gate, the landscape opens in a way that feels almost Icelandic: pale rock, clear sky, scattered lakes.
Key stops
- Olmsted Point — a granite outcrop with a direct, unobstructed view down Tenaya Canyon and the north face of Half Dome. Often quieter than the Valley viewpoints and, for our money, more interesting.
- Tenaya Lake — a clear alpine lake at 8,150 feet (2,484 m) with a small beach on its eastern shore. Good for a short walk or to eat lunch in view of the surrounding domes.
- Tuolumne Meadows — the largest subalpine meadow in the Sierra Nevada, ringed by granite formations. The visitor centre has good trail maps and the shop has coffee. This is the natural base for anyone wanting to hike rather than just drive.
Practical notes
Tioga Road closes every winter — typically early November through late May, though exact dates depend on snowfall accumulation. Always verify at the NPS Yosemite road conditions page before you leave. The Yosemite entrance fee is $35 per vehicle (valid for 7 days). During peak summer weekends, the park operates timed-entry reservations for the Valley — check the Yosemite NPS reservation page well in advance.
3. Kings Canyon Scenic Byway — where the road runs out and the wilderness begins
State Route 180 runs 50 miles (80 km) east from Grant Grove Village into Kings Canyon — one of the deepest gorges in North America, reaching 8,200 feet (2,499 m) below the surrounding peaks at its lowest point. The drive is an almost continuous descent through sequoia groves, chaparral, and eventually the granite canyon of the Kings River, ending at Roads End where the tarmac stops and the John Muir Wilderness begins.
The scale shifts dramatically as you descend. Grant Grove, near the park entrance, feels like forest. Roads End feels like the inside of a cathedral built from 3,000-foot (914 m) granite walls. There’s a reason backcountry hikers rate the approaches from here as some of the best in the Sierra Nevada.
Key stops
- General Grant Tree — the second-largest tree on Earth by volume, at 268 feet (82 m) tall and 107 feet (33 m) in circumference. A short loop trail from the parking area. One of those things that doesn’t photograph properly and has to be seen.
- Boyden Cavern — a marble cave on the canyon wall with guided tours; the limestone formations date to approximately 200 million years old. The contrast between the dry chaparral outside and the dripping interior is worth the stop.
- Junction View — a roadside pullout above the confluence of the Middle and South Forks of the Kings River; wide view down the canyon.
- Roads End — the literal end of Highway 180. Even without hiking further, the amphitheatre of canyon walls overhead and the sound of the Kings River below is enough reason to make the full drive.
Practical notes
The byway typically closes from December through late May due to snow and ice — check the NPS Kings Canyon road page before you go. The $35 entrance fee covers both Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park, which is a solid value. The Generals Highway through Sequoia connects naturally to this drive if you want a full day in the parks.
4. Highway 395 — the Eastern Sierra corridor that most California visitors never find
Highway 395 runs 557 miles (897 km) along California’s eastern flank, from the high desert near Victorville to the Nevada border at Topaz Lake. The section that belongs on any scenic list covers roughly 150 miles (241 km) north from Lone Pine through Bishop, Mammoth Lakes, and Lee Vining — the stretch that travels alongside one of the most dramatic mountain escarpments in North America.
The Sierra Nevada rises almost vertically from the valley floor here: a 10,000-foot (3,048 m) wall of granite in under 10 horizontal miles. The Great Basin opens to the east in an expansive plain of sage and volcanic rock. The contrast between the two is the whole point of the drive.
Key stops
- Alabama Hills, near Lone Pine — the rounded granite formations that have served as backdrop for Westerns and science fiction films since the 1920s. Dawn light on the rocks, with Mount Whitney (14,505 ft / 4,421 m) rising behind them, is the quintessential Eastern Sierra photograph. Free to explore; managed by BLM.
- Manzanar National Historic Site — 6 miles (9.7 km) north of Lone Pine. The former World War II Japanese-American internment camp is now an NPS historic site with a substantial, honest visitor centre. Worth a full hour.
- Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve — the prehistoric saline lake north of Lee Vining, with calcium carbonate tufa towers rising from the water. The Mono Lake Committee runs summer walking tours. Entry fee applies for the reserve.
- Bodie State Historic Park (side trip, 13 miles / 21 km off the highway on a partially unpaved road) — a gold-mining ghost town frozen in 1942, with 170 buildings maintained in a state of “arrested decay.” One of the more atmospheric places in California.
Practical notes
Highway 395 is open year-round, though winter conditions between Mammoth Lakes and Lee Vining can close the road temporarily. Snow chains may be required in winter months. Drive southbound in the morning for the best light on the Sierra — the range catches the east-facing light well before midday. Check current conditions at Caltrans QuickMap.
5. Death Valley Scenic Byway — California’s most extreme landscape, driven correctly
Death Valley National Park covers 3.4 million acres (1.4 million hectares) and contains the lowest point in North America. It also contains some of the most visually varied road driving in the American West, which surprises people who expect nothing but flat desert. The trick is to go in the right season: November through March, when daytime temperatures stay below 80°F (27°C) and the desert light turns everything amber and violet in the hour before sunset.
The Death Valley Scenic Byway — California State Route 190 — threads through the centre of the park past Furnace Creek, but it’s the short detours that make the experience. Give yourself a full day minimum; the park is larger than Connecticut.
Key stops
- Zabriskie Point — eroded badlands of golden and ochre sediment above Furnace Creek. Best at sunrise, when the ridges catch colour before the valley below does. Arrive 20 minutes before first light to get a position.
- Artist Drive and Artist’s Palette — a 9-mile (14.5 km) one-way loop off Route 190, south of Furnace Creek. The volcanic hillsides are tinted by mineral deposits: iron oxides produce the reds and yellows, chlorite the greens, manganese the purples. Best in the hour before sunset when the light is raking.
- Dante’s View — a 14-mile (22.5 km) side road climbs to 5,476 feet (1,669 m), directly above Badwater Basin. From the top you can see both the lowest and highest points visible in the continental US simultaneously: Badwater at 282 feet (86 m) below sea level, and Mount Whitney’s peak on the horizon. The road has vehicle size restrictions — check before you drive.
- Badwater Basin — the lowest point in North America at 282 feet (86 m) below sea level. The salt flat surface is formed into hexagonal polygons by expansion and contraction; they stretch for miles.
Practical notes
Fuel up at Furnace Creek — it’s expensive but the nearest alternative is far. The $35 entrance fee covers 7 days. If you’re planning accommodation inside the park, see our guide to where to stay near Death Valley. Tyre pressure fluctuates significantly between cold desert nights and midday heat; check it at each major stop. Never attempt hiking trails between late May and early October.
6. 17-Mile Drive, Monterey Peninsula — the one worth paying for
At 17 miles (27 km), this is the shortest drive on the list and the only one with a toll — currently $12.25 per vehicle, collected at the gate. The road is private, managed by Pebble Beach Company, and whether or not that arrangement feels right to you, the drive is worth making once. The Monterey cypress forests along the coast have been shaped by decades of Pacific wind into silhouettes that look like Japanese woodblock prints translated into living wood.
The road runs from Pacific Grove through the Del Monte Forest and along the coast through Pebble Beach before exiting at Carmel. The famous views are on the coastal section — roughly the middle third of the drive — where the road drops close to the water and the wind-sculpted cypress trees line the bluffs above the Pacific.
Key stops
- Fanshell Overlook — a white sand cove below the road where harbour seals haul out in late spring. From the overlook the colour of the water is a deep, cold green.
- Lone Cypress — a single Monterey cypress on a granite outcrop above the water; the symbol of Pebble Beach and one of the most photographed trees in the world. Viewing from the designated area only; access to the tree itself is fenced.
- Ghost Tree — a bleached, wind-stripped cypress near Pescadero Point that is, objectively, more striking than the Lone Cypress and consistently far less crowded. Worth seeking out.
- Pebble Beach Golf Links 18th green — non-golfers can walk the public path along the beach below the 18th fairway. The green with the bay behind it is as good in person as it looks on television.
Practical notes
Enter via the Pacific Grove Gate (from Sunset Drive, Pacific Grove) or the Carmel Gate (from North San Antonio Avenue, Carmel). Parts of the road are one-way. Allow at least 1.5–2 hours without stopping; longer with. Full route information and gate hours at the 17-Mile Drive official site. The toll receipt gives a discount at Pebble Beach Company restaurants if you want lunch at The Lodge.
7. Avenue of the Giants, Humboldt County — the drive that makes you reconsider scale
The Avenue of the Giants runs 31 miles (50 km) through Humboldt Redwoods State Park in Northern California, parallel to US-101 but separated from it by the trees. It’s free to drive. It passes through the largest remaining old-growth coast redwood forest on Earth — Rockefeller Forest — where some trees are 350 feet (107 m) tall and have been growing for 1,500 years.
In the morning, with fog still sitting in the upper canopy and the light filtering through in shafts, the silence in there operates at a different frequency from ordinary quiet. It’s the kind of place that does something specific to your sense of proportion, and it’s worth driving slowly enough to let it.
Key stops
- Founders Grove — a short, flat nature trail through some of the park’s oldest trees. The fallen Dyerville Giant — once the world’s tallest known tree before it fell in 1991 — gives you the clearest sense of these trees’ scale when you can actually walk alongside its length.
- Rockefeller Forest — accessed via the Mattole Road turnoff, roughly midway along the Avenue. The 10,000-acre (4,047-hectare) old-growth stand is the centrepiece of the drive. The Bull Creek Flats trail through the forest floor is the walk to do if you have time for only one.
- Chimney Tree — a hollow living redwood you can walk inside, on private land near Phillipsville. Small fee; worth the novelty if you’re travelling with children.
- Burlington Campground — the best base for an overnight stay; book through ReserveCalifornia. Waking up in a redwood grove is different from arriving for the day.
Practical notes
The Avenue connects Phillipsville in the north to Garberville in the south. Allow at least half a day — more if you plan to walk into the forest rather than view it from the car. The road itself is narrow in places and sees some logging truck traffic; stay alert. The park is free; some individual parking areas charge a small day-use fee. More at the California State Parks Humboldt Redwoods page.
A few notes before you go
California’s scenic roads span every landscape the western United States can offer, often within a single day’s drive of each other. Some practical reminders that apply across all of them:
- Check road conditions before any mountain or coastal drive at Caltrans QuickMap. Closures happen — particularly on Highway 1, Tioga Road, and Kings Canyon — and the alternative routes are rarely obvious.
- Download offline maps before you leave. Big Sur, Death Valley, the Eastern Sierra, and most of the redwood country have significant gaps in mobile data coverage.
- Carry water in the car at all times. This is non-negotiable in Death Valley and advisable everywhere else.
- National Parks Annual Pass — if you’re driving Yosemite, Kings Canyon, Sequoia, and Death Valley in the same trip, the $80 America the Beautiful annual pass pays for itself immediately. Available at any park entrance or online through USGS.
And give yourself permission to stop when you see something. The schedule is not the drive.
Planning a wider California road trip? See our guide to the most scenic places in California, or browse our full California travel section for accommodation, itineraries, and park guides.