VideoAmericanGuru
Some roads are transportation; these are destinations. California's best drives cross the full catalog, sea cliffs, granite passes, desert basins, redwood tunnels, and most reward you within a single day. Ranked, with the practical notes that keep them wonderful.
1. Highway 1 through Big Sur, the champion
Ninety miles of cliff hung Pacific between Carmel and San Simeon: Bixby Bridge, McWay Falls, and a pullout every half mile that empties your camera battery. Drive north to south for the ocean side lane; September-November for clear skies; and check Caltrans before every trip, slides close sections regularly. The full plan lives in our Big Sur guide.
2. Tioga Pass (Hwy 120 through Yosemite), the high road
Summer only (typically June-November) and worth planning a trip around: Olmsted Point's granite sea, Tenaya Lake, Tuolumne Meadows, then the 3,000 foot plunge to Mono Lake. The single most scenery dense hour of driving in the state. Park entry rules apply, see the Yosemite guide.
3. Highway 395, Eastern Sierra, the epic
Two hundred miles with the Sierra's tallest wall out one window and volcanic basins out the other: Mono Lake, Mammoth, Bishop, the Alabama Hills under Mt. Whitney. October turns the aspen canyons gold and makes a strong claim for California's best single driving day. Built into a full itinerary in the road trip planner.
4. Avenue of the Giants (Hwy 254), the cathedral
Thirty one miles of old US 101 tunneling through Humboldt Redwoods State Park's old growth, the world's tallest trees close enough to touch from the shoulder. Do it slowly with windows down; the founders' groves' short walks are mandatory stops. Pairs with the North Coast for a weekend.
5. Sonoma & Mendocino Coast (Hwy 1 north), the moody one
The NorCal counterpoint to Big Sur: less traffic, more fog drama, sea stacks from Bodega Bay past Jenner's river mouth to Mendocino. Add Hwy 128's redwood and vineyard approach for the perfect loop.
6. Rim of the World (Hwy 18) & Angeles Crest (Hwy 2): SoCal's altitude
The San Gabriel and San Bernardino ranges' skyline roads: city to pines in an hour, hundred mile desert views, and Big Bear at the end. Sunday morning early is the move; these roads collect crowds and sports cars by noon.
7. Death Valley's Artist's Drive & Badwater Road, the alien one
Winter season desert driving through paint splashed hills and below sea level salt flats, the rare drive where every passenger goes quiet. Details and warnings in the Death Valley guide.
Southern California scenic drives
Southern California has its own catalogue of drives, and they lean mountain and desert rather than coastal.
- Angeles Crest Highway (Highway 2): from La Cañada into the San Gabriel Mountains, climbing from city to pine forest in under an hour, with hundred mile views on clear days. The best drive in Los Angeles County, and empty on weekday mornings.
- Rim of the World (Highway 18): a skyline road along the San Bernardino Mountains to Big Bear Lake, with the desert falling away on one side and the basin on the other.
- Palms to Pines Highway (Highway 74): from Palm Desert to Idyllwild, one of the most dramatic elevation changes in the state, desert floor to alpine forest in about 30 miles.
- Malibu to Point Mugu (Highway 1 south): the SoCal answer to Big Sur, shorter and gentler, with El Matador and Point Dume as the stops.
- Joshua Tree's park road and Keys View: covered in our Joshua Tree guide; the desert equivalent of a coastal drive.
- Mulholland Drive: the famous ridge road above Los Angeles, best at dusk when the basin lights up on one side and the valley on the other.
Making any drive better
Three habits: start at dawn (empty roads, golden light, wildlife), plan by stops not miles (a great drive is six great stops with pavement between), and download offline maps: the best roads and cell coverage are negatively correlated. And the pullout rule: if you're debating stopping, stop. The photo you skip is the one you'll remember.
🐾 Dogs ride shotgun?
Scenic drives are the great dog trip equalizer, the view costs them nothing and the pullout sniff stops are their museum visits. Best dog drive pairings: Hwy 1 north (Doran Beach + headlands walks), Avenue of the Giants (leashed grove strolls), and 395 (forest trailheads all the way). Shade parking discipline at every stop; the dog guide flags which walks welcome paws.
Quick answers
What is the most scenic drive in California?
Highway 1 through Big Sur, by broad agreement. Ninety miles of cliff hung Pacific between Carmel and San Simeon, with a viewpoint every few minutes. Tioga Pass through Yosemite is the summer only contender, and the most scenery dense hour of driving in the state.
What is the scenic highway in California?
California has an official State Scenic Highway System, and dozens of routes carry the designation. In everyday use, "the scenic highway" means Highway 1, the coastal route that runs most of the state's length.
What are the best scenic drives in Southern California?
Angeles Crest Highway for mountains, Rim of the World for the Big Bear run, Palms to Pines for the desert to alpine transition, and Highway 1 through Malibu for the coast. Mulholland Drive is the short one worth doing at dusk.
How long does the Big Sur drive take?
Two hours without stopping, and a full day if you do it properly. Always check Caltrans road conditions first; landslides close sections of Highway 1 regularly.