Road Trips from Los Angeles

Point your wheels in almost any direction from Los Angeles and the landscape shifts fast. Head west and you’ll trace the edge of the Pacific. Drive east and the city gives way to desert silence and wide, open skies. Turn north and granite peaks, redwood forests and cliff-hugging highways take over. Few cities in the United States offer this kind of variety within a single day’s drive.

That’s what makes starting a road trip from Los Angeles so compelling. You don’t need long travel days to feel like you’ve crossed into another world. A long weekend can mean surf towns and sea cliffs. A week unlocks California’s greatest national parks. Two or three weeks? Now you’re talking about red rock canyons, star-filled desert nights and some of the most iconic landscapes in North America.

Renting a campervan in Los Angeles gives you flexibility in a state that rewards spontaneity. Linger when a sunset is too good to leave. Take the scenic byway instead of the freeway. Wake up to ocean air one morning and mountain stillness the next.

If you’re deciding where to go first, these road trips from Los Angeles deliver the biggest payoff – a short coastal reset, a classic 7-day California loop, a 2-week Southwest adventure, and a longer Pacific Northwest journey.

Why Renting a Campervan from Los Angeles is a Great Hire – Expert Advice

Los Angeles – San Diego: Classic Coastal Weekend Escape

Distance: 120 miles one way
Ideal duration: 3-4 days

If you’re short on time but craving a reset, heading south from Los Angeles delivers instant coastal gratification. This is the kind of road trip where the windows stay down, the ocean stays in view, and the only real agenda is deciding which beach to pull over at next.

Leaving LA, the drive along the Pacific Coast Highway quickly sets the tone – salt air, rolling surf and laid-back beach towns. Stop in Laguna Beach for hidden coves and cliffside walking paths, or detour through Dana Point and San Clemente where surfers paddle out at sunrise and taco stands outnumber traffic lights.

By the time you reach San Diego, the vibe shifts fully into holiday mode. This is a city that runs on sunshine, saltwater and seriously good Mexican food. Mornings are for grabbing coffee in North Park or Ocean Beach before heading out to surf breaks at Pacific Beach. Afternoons might mean kayaking the sea caves around La Jolla Cove, watching sea lions sprawl across the rocks, or hiking the coastal bluffs at Torrey Pines with uninterrupted Pacific views.

And then there’s the food. Baja-style fish tacos, fresh ceviche and street-corner burritos are practically a daily ritual here – best enjoyed after a long beach session. As the sun drops, beach bonfires flicker along Mission Beach and the skyline glows pink over the harbor.

Tip: Extend your trip with this Southern California Desert Road Trip, which includes a stop in San Diego.

Los Angeles – Yosemite & Big Sur: The Ultimate 7-Day California Loop

Distance: ~900-1,000 miles loop
Ideal duration: 7 days

If you have a week, this loop blends California’s greatest hits: dramatic coastline, towering forests and world-famous granite peaks.

Heading north from Los Angeles, detour inland to Sequoia National Park, where massive giant sequoias make you feel instantly small. From there, climb into the Sierra Nevada toward Yosemite National Park.

Yosemite is the centerpiece of the trip. Waterfalls crash down sheer cliffs, granite icons like Half Dome dominate the skyline, and meadows glow golden at sunset. Spend at least two nights here to hike, explore scenic drives and avoid feeling rushed.

From Yosemite, head west to the coast before turning south along Big Sur. This stretch of Highway 1 is pure drama: cliffs dropping into turquoise water, redwood groves and the iconic Bixby Creek Bridge.

The final drive back to Los Angeles along the Pacific completes a loop that captures the state’s diversity in just seven days.

Tip: Delve into these Yosemite & Big Sur road trip itineraries for campsite suggestions and driving tips.

Los Angeles – Utah & Arizona National Parks Loop: 14–16 Day Southwest Adventure

Distance: ~1,600-1,800 miles loop
Ideal duration: 14-16 days

For travellers ready to go bigger, this two-week loop through Utah and Arizona delivers some of the most dramatic scenery in North America.

From Los Angeles, cross the Mojave Desert toward Zion National Park, where towering canyon walls glow red at sunrise. Continue to Bryce Canyon National Park, famous for its maze of orange hoodoos.

Further east, Monument Valley’s sandstone buttes rise from the desert floor in cinematic fashion before the journey builds toward the vast scale of Grand Canyon National Park. Spend at least a full day exploring the South Rim, as shifting light transforms the canyon’s colors.

You can loop back via Page and Horseshoe Bend, or include additional Utah parks like Capitol Reef and Arches if time allows.

Tip: Covering a similar route, this Southwest National Parks Road Trip itinerary breaks down daily driving distances and key stops.

Los Angeles – Pacific Northwest: Coastal Highways & Alpine Peaks

Distance: ~2,000–2,500+ miles loop
Ideal duration: 18-21 days

Heading north from Los Angeles feels like watching California gradually change personality. The palm trees fade, the air cools, and the coastline becomes wilder with every mile. Ease into the journey along the Central Coast or Big Sur before continuing toward San Francisco, then push further into the quiet, mist-laced forests of Redwood National and State Parks, where walking beneath the tallest trees on Earth instantly shifts your sense of scale.

Cross into Oregon and the mood turns cinematic. The Oregon Coast delivers sea stacks, wind-sculpted beaches and small harbor towns, with Cannon Beach’s Haystack Rock providing one of the most iconic stops of the trip. Inland, the vivid blue waters of Crater Lake National Park offer a dramatic alpine contrast, especially on clear days when the caldera reflects perfectly in the still water.

Further north, Washington adds even more variety. Olympic National Park combines temperate rainforest, glacier-capped peaks and rugged Pacific beaches within a single park, making it a fitting high point of the journey.

Tip: For a detailed route, campsite ideas and driving breakdowns, follow the full Pacific Northwest Road Trip From Los Angeles itinerary.

Find other popular road trips across Los Angeles

• Check Out LA to Sacramento Road Trip
• Check Out Los Angeles to San Francisco Road Trip
• Check Out Los Angeles to Chicago Route 66 Road Trip
• Check Out Los Angeles to Seattle Road Trip
• Check Out Los Angeles to Big Sur Road Trip
• Check Out Los Angeles to Las Vegas Road Trip
• See all Los Angeles road trips

Get the best rates on campervan rentals across Los Angeles

Los Angeles is full of opportunities for adventure, and there’s no better way to experience them than with your own campervan. A budget campervan rental in Los Angeles ensures you get the best deal while still enjoying all the comforts – and free unlimited miles – you need.

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