California State Route 1, the proverbial Pacific Coast Highway, is the embodiment of a classic road trip. After all, a state that straddles 900 miles of Pacific Ocean coast – a 15 hour drive from the Oregon state line to Tijuana, Mexico – deserves a place in world road trip lore.

Nonetheless, the Golden State is no one-trick road trip pony. So book your rental car, comb through superb hotels in Los Angeles or San Francisco and discover 10 cool California road trips.

Cascade Range Road Trip

The incomparable Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway is a 500 mile-long route that spans both Oregon and California. The All-American Road snakes through the Cascade Range and past remarkable points of interest like Lassen Volcanic National Park, Lake Almanor, McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park, Mount Shasta and Lava Beds National Monument.

Mount Shasta – Photo credit

Escondido High Country and Low Desert Road Trip

People associate San Diego County with sun, surf and sand but the southwest pocket of California has other gems in store. A High Country and Low Desert trip out of Escondido, for one, includes the awesome landscapes of the Palomar Mountains and Anza Borrego Desert State Park.

Anza Borrego Desert State Park – Photo credit

Complete Bay Area Road Trip

While a good Bay Area road trip should start in San Francisco, it should by no stretch of the imagination leave it there. Dash through the multi-cultural ‘hoods of the peerless city, yes, but also make time for the Santa Cruz Mountains, San Jose, Palo Alto, Monterey Bay and the copious roadside farmers markets on the way.

Golden Gate Bridge – Photo credit

U.S. Route 395 Road Trip

U.S. Route 395 in California envelops the best of the best of the state. Awesome Sierra valley vistas, ranchlands, the ghost towns of Bodie State Historic Park, Mono Lake and the dramatic summits of Lone Pine and Mount Whitney.

Lone Pine Peak, Sierra Nevada Range – Photo credit

Route 66 Road Trip

The prototype U.S. road trip route is beyond a shadow of a doubt, Route 66. The California portion of the classic road is not long but nonetheless, offers a slew of distractions on the way to Santa Monica and the Pacific Ocean.

On Route 66, East Amboy, California – Photo credit

Interstate 10 Road Trip

Despite some overlap with Route 66, Interstate 10 is well worth a drive. The California stretch of I-10 is handsomely eclectic, from Palm Desert and Coachella to the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail.

Joshua Tree National Park – Photo credit

San Francisco to Yosemite National Park Road Trip

Any road trip with a UNESCO World Heritage Site at the end of the line is a good road trip. At four hours long, the drive from downtown San Francisco to Yosemite National Park’s El Capitan is just about perfect.

Cathedral Peak, Yosemite National Park – Photo credit

Eureka to Sequoia National Park Road Trip

The North Coast city of Eureka is a wonderful destination in and of itself, with untold natural beauty and cultural points of interest to explore. Take some time to get to know Eureka before you hit the road for Sequoia National Park. The 520 mile journey offers many excellent stops, such as state capital Sacramento, Stockton, Modesto and Fresno.

General Sherman Tree, Sequoia National Park – Photo credit

Inland Empire Road Trip

The Inland Empire of California denotes a loose geographic and urban area that includes Riverside, San Bernardino and Ontario. More than 4 million people call the Inland Empire home and a road trip here should mix in stops at Palm Springs, the Salton Sea and San Bernardino Mountains. Tourists can easily embark on this road trip from Downtown Los Angeles hotels.

Mojave Desert – Photo credit

Sonoma and the North Coast Road Trip

The North Coast is for some California purists, the most handsome segment of the state. Rural, bucolic and with only one city – Santa Rosa – over 100,000 people, the redwood and vineyard rich area is lovely. Do not miss the charms of Sonoma wine country and the majestic Grove of Titans in Jedediah Smith Redwoods Park (whose location within the park is a bit of a mystery).

Sonoma vineyards – Photo credit