San Francisco, Los Angeles and Yosemite deserve their reputation, but they're also where everyone goes. If you've planned the classic route in our California road trip guide, these are the quieter places that fit along it, grouped by where they sit on the map. We've only included places that turned up in more than one source, and where we couldn't confirm a detail we've said so. Check opening times, fees and road conditions before you go.

Around San Francisco

Black Sand Beach, Marin Headlands. One of the few black sand beaches in California that's easy to reach from San Francisco, just north of the city near Sausalito, according to Suitcase Magazine.

Mount Tamalpais ("Mount Tam"). A hike to the summit gives views over the bay. The peak is 2,500 feet and the walk isn't particularly hard. Go in the early afternoon, when the morning fog is usually thickest.

Armstrong Woods, Guerneville. Redwoods in Sonoma County that are rarely crowded and popular with locals. A good alternative if you won't get to the bigger redwood parks.

Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands, Mendocino County. About 140 miles north of San Francisco, with 1,700 acres of coast to hike, a 115-foot lighthouse you can climb and whale watching, according to Visit California. It's a long detour, so it suits people with extra days.

Between San Francisco and Los Angeles

Capitola. A small coastal town known for the colourful Venetian Court houses, a US Historic District.

Morro Bay. A harbour town beneath Morro Rock, a volcanic plug rising nearly 600 feet from the sea. San Luis Obispo is roughly the halfway point between San Francisco and Los Angeles, which makes this an easy overnight stop.

Pinnacles National Park. Volcanic rock formations, caves, hiking, climbing and bird watching. You may spot a California condor.

Santa Barbara and Solvang. Santa Barbara is an easy base for a day or two. A Santa Barbara trolley tour covers the main sights without the parking stress, and a 2-hour kayak paddle gets you out on the water. Nearby Solvang is a Danish-settled village with a windmill, wine bars and restaurants, an odd but fun stop.

Channel Islands National Park. Five islands off the Southern California coast, with kayaking, snorkelling and hiking. You'll need a boat crossing to get there, so check operators and book ahead.

Around Los Angeles, Palm Springs and San Diego

Big Bear Lake. About 100 miles east of Los Angeles, at 6,700 feet in the San Bernardino Mountains. It's skiing and snowboarding in winter, and hiking, cycling and lake activities in summer. If you'd rather not plan it yourself, there's a snow play adventure in winter and a local-led tour and hike to Bluff Lake for the warmer months.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. About 90 miles northeast of San Diego. It's an International Dark Sky Community, which makes it great for stargazing, and in late winter and early spring the desert wildflowers bloom. Look out for the large metal sculptures of animals around Borrego Springs.

Salvation Mountain and the Salton Sea. The painted desert hill by artist Leonard Knight sits in Slab City, in the Imperial County desert just over an hour from Palm Springs. The nearby Salton Sea, California's biggest lake, is lined with abandoned 1950s and 60s resort buildings. It's not somewhere to swim, as the water is very salty.

If you have more time

  • Kings Canyon National Park: home of the General Grant Tree, and quieter than other California parks
  • Lassen Volcanic National Park: bubbling mud pits at Bumpass Hell, in the far north
  • Bodie State Historic Park: a gold-mining ghost town with more than 100 buildings left standing
  • The Lost Coast: one of the most remote stretches of coastline in the state, with black sand beaches

How to fit them in

You don't need to do them all. Pick one from each part of the route and you'll still have time for the big stops. You'll want a car, since public transport doesn't reach most of these places. We compare prices on DiscoverCars, and our California guide explains the insurance extras.

If you use SafetyWing's Nomad Insurance, remember that the standard plan does not cover treatment in the US, so you'll need the US add-on. You can see SafetyWing's Nomad Insurance here and read the policy wording before you buy.

Planning more? See all our USA guides for UK travellers.

Where this comes from

Prices and rules change, and the sources don't always agree, so this is a snapshot checked on 20 October 2026. These are the sources it draws on: