Scenic Routes for Memorable Family Road Trips in California

Unforgettable views, fun stopovers, and kid-friendly convenience

Planning your travel route is as important as choosing your campsite. Fortunately, California’s roads offer a front-row seat to some of the most stunning terrain in North America. These scenic drives not only connect families to campgrounds but turn the journey itself into a core memory. With detailed stopovers, rest areas, EV charging locations, hikes, and swimming spots, these are the top routes every family should consider for their next adventure.

A quick and beautiful weekend escape, the route from Los Angeles to Silverwood Lake via Route 138 leads you from the city into the San Bernardino Mountains in just under two hours. This family road trip offers expansive views of the Angeles National Forest, where several viewpoints let you pull over and soak in the natural beauty. Wrightwood village makes a charming stop with its locally owned ice cream parlors and toy shops that offer an ideal place for kids to stretch their legs. Cajon Pass adds another scenic highlight, where dramatic terrain opens up across the horizon, making it a perfect family photo stop. Before reaching the lake, Hesperia is a vital pit stop, offering large grocery stores, pharmacies, and RV service stations. It’s also home to EVgo and ChargePoint charging stations for electric vehicle travelers. Silverwood Lake itself is a family-friendly campground with swimming, fishing, and picnic areas. The Cleghorn Day Use Area at Silverwood Lake is particularly popular for swimming and water play. Families can also explore the Mesa Trail for a short, easy hike with great lake views. Full campground information is available at: https://tinyurl.com/2fxv37b5.

For families looking for a longer Northern California adventure, the drive from San Francisco to Manzanita Lake via I-5 and CA-44 offers the perfect blend of nature, education, and convenience. This family road trip passes through Chico, where Bidwell Park offers expansive green space and splash areas perfect for young children. Redding is a must-stop, particularly for Turtle Bay Exploration Park, home to the famous Sundial Bridge, wildlife exhibits, and botanical gardens. As you near Lassen Volcanic National Park, the Visitor Center provides restrooms, maps, and educational films about the area’s geothermal features. Clean, shaded rest areas like Corning make good rest stops, while grocery stores such as Raley’s in Redding allow for last-minute shopping. EV drivers will find charging stations in Red Bluff, Redding, and near the Lassen park entrance, making this a comfortable and sustainable journey. At Manzanita Lake, families can enjoy safe, shallow swimming near the boat launch area. The Manzanita Lake Loop Trail is an easy 1.8-mile hike perfect for families, with views of Lassen Peak reflected on the lake’s calm surface. Full campground details are at: https://tinyurl.com/2cmr4r24.

Traveling from Las Vegas to Coachland RV Park in Truckee is a scenic journey that offers a rich mix of mountain air, desert vistas, and small-town charm. The route crosses state lines and leads into California’s northern Sierra Nevada. Along the way, families should stop at Lake Tahoe Vista Point for breathtaking lake views. Donner Memorial State Park is a fantastic educational and recreational stop, with exhibits detailing Gold Rush history and family-friendly hiking paths like the China Cove Trail along the lake. Downtown Truckee is a welcoming destination with artisan coffee, cozy bookstores, and snack shops ideal for kids. Smokey’s Kitchen in Truckee serves hearty BBQ meals and has a kid-friendly menu for families arriving hungry after a long day of driving. Rest breaks can be made at Mills Park in Carson City, which offers playgrounds and shaded picnic areas, and the Donner Summit Rest Area along I-80 provides scenic picnic spaces and restroom facilities. EV stations are conveniently located in Truckee, Kings Beach, and Carson City. Families can also enjoy swimming and picnicking at West End Beach on Donner Lake, just a few minutes from downtown Truckee. For full campground information.

Los Angeles is also a launchpad for a variety of quick and memorable nature escapes. This region is ideal for families planning short weekend getaways. Lake Piru, just 1.5 hours away, offers beginner-friendly lakeside camping and a swimming beach. Silverwood Lake, as detailed earlier, is a great two-hour drive for families wanting to swim, hike, and fish. For a unique adventure, take the Catalina Express ferry from Long Beach to Two Harbors on Catalina Island. This car-free island is perfect for snorkeling, hiking, and oceanfront camping. The 1.5-mile Cat Harbor Overlook Trail offers beautiful views and is suitable for families with older children. To avoid traffic, plan to leave Los Angeles early on Friday afternoons. Families should bring snacks and download offline maps, particularly when heading into mountainous areas or traveling by ferry. Essential stops for groceries and fuel include Pasadena, Riverside, and Oxnard, which also host multiple EV charging stations.

Families in the Bay Area can enjoy a wide variety of landscapes from forests to coastlines. A ferry ride from Tiburon brings you to Angel Island, a peaceful escape with hiking trails, ocean views, and quiet campsites. The Perimeter Road on Angel Island is a mostly paved, family-friendly hiking loop offering views of the Bay and access to historic sites. Heading south, Big Sur’s Ventana glamping site offers dramatic coastal scenery and luxury camping. Nearby Pfeiffer Beach is ideal for tide pooling, and the short Buzzard’s Roost Trail gives families access to redwood views without a strenuous climb. Further inland, Lake Cachuma provides lakeside yurt accommodations with kayaking and stargazing opportunities. Swimming is allowed in designated areas, and boat rentals are available for lake exploration. Traffic can be avoided by crossing the Golden Gate or Bay Bridge early in the day. Stops at Half Moon Bay provide tide pooling and beach breaks, while Carmel-by-the-Sea offers a charming coastal town to explore. Essential groceries can be picked up at Trader Joe’s or Safeway locations throughout the region. EV drivers will find chargers in Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo, and Novato. Note that Angel Island has no shops, so all supplies must be brought over on the ferry. Campground info.

Las Vegas families heading into California can make the most of their journey with stops at Hume Lake, Kern River, or Mountain Gate RV Park in Redding. Hume Lake, in Sequoia National Forest, is ideal for kayaking and peaceful hikes like the Hume Lake Loop, a flat and scenic walk around the lake. Swimming is also allowed in designated areas of the lake, and the water is typically calm during summer. Kern River offers rustic, dispersed camping right along the water, great for families seeking a quieter retreat. Tubing and wading are popular in calmer sections of the river, especially near Kernville. Mountain Gate RV Park is a longer 9-10 hour drive but makes a fantastic basecamp for exploring Lassen and Shasta. Break the drive into segments with overnight stays or stops at Barstow Station for restrooms and food, or Tehachapi Loop Overlook to watch historic trains navigate the famous spiral track. Bakersfield and Fresno are the last major cities before heading into more remote areas, and both offer ample shopping, dining, and EV charging options. Portable chargers, road games, and activity books are helpful for keeping young travelers entertained.

Before hitting the road, download your maps using Google Maps or Gaia GPS to ensure you stay on track in areas with spotty reception. California’s diverse topography makes each road trip special, and with these scenic drives, every family road trip becomes a chance to explore, bond, and create lifelong memories together under the sun and stars.

The Parkers