California from Sea to Yosemite: The Southern Central Valley
Southern Central Valley, California
Start / End
Los Angeles, California
States Covered
National Parks
Yosemite National Park, Sequoia National Park, Kings Canyon National Park
Total Distance
660 miles (1,062 km)
Suggested Days
11-14
Suggested Seasons
Year-round
#ThisIsMyRoute
Preparation
California’s temperate climate means this route can be stunning and full of adventure any time of year. Keep in mind that regardless of season, elevation gains bring cooler weather, sun and elevation require sunscreen, and that it never hurts to carry extra snacks and a map. California’s Central Valley has a great blend of small communities and big cities with all the amenities, so be sure to explore and connect with each of these stops because they’ll all be unique!
Local tip: Not sure when you want to visit? Plan around the growing season of your favorite crop!
Itinerary
ARRIVE IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY
This route connects with at least four airports, so you can start and end your Southern Central Valley itinerary at the location most convenient for you. This also means drive times and mileage may differ from the calculations below (be sure to have a map and/or navigation app with you). This itinerary will start in Los Angeles and LAX airport, but you can hop on at the Fresno Yosemite International Airport, San Francisco Airport, or Sacramento Airport, too! If your entry into the Central Valley is LAX, below are a few experiences we recommend before you head north to Bakersfield.
When you head out of the LA Basin driving north on US 5 and over the Grapevine, stop to stretch your legs at the Tejon Retail Outlets, your gateway to the Central Valley.
More ideas:
Visit California’s Central Valley
BAKERSFIELD
2 HOURS – 116 MILES/187 KM
Turn your Spotify to the Dwight Yoakam channel for a sampling of Bakersfield country music and drive a couple hours northeast to Bakersfield. You’ll find a wide variety of experiences waiting for you, so we recommend spending a couple days here. Start with the roots of Bakersfield and head out to Murray Family Farms, where you can learn about farming tradition, pick your own fruit, pet farm animals, and much more. Then make another connection to the foundations of Bakersfield by grabbing a meal at Wool Growers Restaurant, one of many Basque eateries in the community.
Between getting your fill of Bakersfield flavors, there’s lots of fun to be found, whether it’s watching vintage drag racing at the Auto Club Famoso Raceway or watching the Kern River meander through town.
We like spending the night in Bakersfield at Padre Hotel, where history meets luxury in the perfect cap to your day of unique stops here.