California Coastal Loop: LA to Yosemite
CreatorJarvis Interns
DateApr 26, 2026
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Day 1
May 16
- Final overnight stop #1: San Luis Obispo
- Drive Los Angeles → San Luis Obispo, keeping the first day comfortable rather than rushed
- Best scenic break options on the way are Pismo Pier or Morro Rock
- After arrival, add an easy downtown stroll through Gum Alley and around Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa
- Keep the evening relaxed with dinner in central SLO and an early night for the prettier coast drive tomorrow
Day 2
May 17
- Final overnight stop #2: Monterey / Pacific Grove
- Drive San Luis Obispo north with your main sightseeing on this leg
- Use the Big Sur stretch properly: pick 2-3 main stops from Hearst Castle, Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery, McWay Falls, and Bixby Creek Bridge
- Around arrival, choose one softer evening stop at Carmel-by-the-Sea, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, or Cannery Row
- Overnight around Monterey / Pacific Grove for better value than Carmel proper
Day 3
May 18
- Final overnight stop #3: Bay Area base for 3 nights, ideally Palo Alto / Peninsula rather than downtown San Francisco
- Drive Monterey / Pacific Grove → Bay Area base and keep this mostly a transfer-and-settle day
- If you arrive with energy, do one local stop around Stanford University or the gardens at Filoli Historic House & World-Class Garden
- If you prefer heading straight into the city, keep it light with Ferry Building and an easy waterfront wander
- This base still gives you cleaner access for San Francisco day, Point Reyes day, and the Yosemite transfer
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Day 4
May 19
- Full San Francisco day from your Bay base
- Start around Palace of Fine Arts, then walk through Presidio of San Francisco
- Add the most photogenic shoreline stops at Crissy Field and Baker Beach
- If you still want one more scenic finish, add Lands End Lookout before heading back south
- Second overnight in your Bay base
Day 5
May 20
- Marin / coast day from the same Bay base
- Cross Golden Gate Bridge early and make Point Reyes National Seashore the main event
- Add the best supporting stops at Point Reyes Lighthouse, Cypress Tree Tunnel, and Limantour Beach
- Keep meals simple and leave some buffer for weather, since Point Reyes days work best when not overpacked
- Third and final overnight in your Bay base
Day 6
May 21
- Final overnight stop #4: Yosemite west-side gateway, ideally Oakhurst or El Portal depending on price
- Drive Bay base → Yosemite gateway and keep this primarily a logistics day
- If you reach the gateway early enough, use one soft nature stop like Bass Lake Recreation Area
- Use the rest of the day to rest, stock snacks, and get an early night so Yosemite starts smoothly the next morning
- Overnight near the west entry for the best next-day park access
Day 7
May 22
- Yosemite day, then final overnight stop #5: Bakersfield / Tehachapi area
- Start very early and keep the core valley sequence efficient: Tunnel View, Yosemite Valley Visitor Center, Lower Yosemite Falls Trailhead, and Bridalveil Fall
- If the valley feels crowded, keep moving rather than forcing extra stops
- Once you have the main highlights, exit and push farther south/east if energy is still good
- Aim for Bakersfield / Tehachapi so Las Vegas is easy enough the following day
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Day 8
May 23
- Final overnight stop #6: Las Vegas
- Drive Bakersfield / Tehachapi area → Las Vegas, then give yourselves time to reset at the hotel
- For a light first Vegas evening, do the easy classics: Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign and Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens
- If you still have daylight and energy, keep Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area as the optional scenic add-on
- Keep the rest of the night flexible rather than overplanning arrival day
Day 9
May 24
- Extra Las Vegas night #2
- Make this your main off-Strip sightseeing day
- Best full-day shape: scenic desert time at Valley of Fire State Park, then return for evening energy around Fremont Street Experience
- If you want a quicker photo stop instead of a full state-park day, swap in Seven Magic Mountains
- Overnight again in Las Vegas
Day 10
May 25
- Extra Las Vegas night #3
- Use this as your flexible city-and-engineering day
- Best core pairing is Hoover Dam in the day, then The Neon Museum Las Vegas or a relaxed final Strip evening after dark
- If you skipped Fremont the night before, you can move it here instead without making the day too heavy
- Final overnight in Las Vegas before the drive home
Day 11
May 26
- Return day: drive Las Vegas → Los Angeles and aim to be back by the night of May 26
- Keep the route simple and avoid adding major detours on the final day
- If you want one short last stop only, do the quickest easy option and get back on the road early
- Build in meal and fuel buffers so the final arrival does not feel rushed
- End of trip
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