With mesmerising beauty all over, the US West Coast offers some of the best road trips across the globe.
The West Coast in the United States has a wide variety of landscapes and experiences, including scenic countryside, coastal towns and city centres. From Southern California’s palm tree-filled beaches to Pacific shores, it has everything for everyone. So, if you are planning to take a road trip across the West Coast, here’s a list of the 7 best of them and we assure that you will not be disappointed at all:
Highway 49 takes you to the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, and covers the stretch of 500-plus miles of Central and Northern California, including Nevada City and Groveland. Along the way, you can see vineyards, caverns, and swimming holes. The scenery also makes a shift with the seasons.
Highway 1 might not be the fastest route from San Francisco to Los Angeles, but it’s the most beautiful as you take a journey down the Pacific Coast Highway. From coastal views, to redwood groves, you can find it all. And when you reach Santa Barbara, you’ll be perfectly mesmerised to see the palm tree-lined beaches through Santa Monica.
Covering the shoreline from Washington State to the California Redwoods, Highway 101 covers several outstanding state parks, and the route is as fabulous as California's Highway 1.
If you wish to explore Eastern California, you will get to witness diverse national parklands. You can start with Yosemite National Park, Yosemite Falls, and the 3,000-foot tall granite monolith, El Capitan. Next, head south towards the Kings Canyon and Sequoia, and wrap the tour by witnessing the sand dunes and canyons of Death Valley National Park.
The 75-mile Columbia River Highway offers a connection between Troutdale, Oregon, with The Dalles. The stunning route has waterfalls, bridges, and lush greenery. You can either go on a drive for just thirty minutes east of Portland or take a longer route through the Oregon coast.
The Wine Country regions of Sonoma and Mendocino counties can be explored through Highway 128, as you explore the route full of redwood forests along the Navarro River. Once you reach the Mendocino Coast, you will be thrilled about your road trip in California.
While most people think that Los Angeles is a desert, you can just head East from there to see the Palm Springs in under two hours. You can also visit the Twentynine Palms, which makes for a perfect weekend away from the big city.
