The Open Road Travel

A road trip from Las Vegas to San Francisco takes you on a tour of some of America’s greatest natural beauty spots. You’ll journey along the “Majestic Mountain Loop”, a trail containing Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and Yosemite National Parks.

Travelling between two of the greatest cities in the United States, through some of its most popular national parks, this is the perfect journey for anyone who loves the great outdoors.

So, if you like the sound of this expedition and want to ensure you don’t miss out on any of the sights along the way, I highly suggest reading on.

The fastest route for a road trip from Las Vegas to San Francisco covers 570 miles and takes 8 and ½ hours.

This will see you leave Las Vegas on the I-15 going south and take it to its terminus in Barstow, California. You’ll then head west on California State Route 58 until you reach Bowerbank, where you join I-5 north, which takes you the rest of the way to San Francisco.

However, for those looking to enjoy a more scenic road trip from Las Vegas to San Francisco, along the Majestic Mountain Loop, you’re looking at 650 miles and 10 and 1/2 hours.

This route has you start out on US 95 going north, to the town of Beatty, where you’ll exit west onto Nevada State Route 374. This will take you across the California border and into Death Valley National Park.

When the road ends, turn left onto Scotty’s Castle Road, then right onto California State Route 190. Turn left onto Panamint Valley Road and continue following it when it becomes Trona Road. Take a right turn onto Searles Station Cutoff, before briefly going south on US-395.

Make a right turn onto Garlock Road and continue west when it joins Redrock Randsburg Road. Eventually, this will merge with California State Route 14, which you’ll take south, before heading west on California State Route 58.

Upon reaching Bakersfield, head north on US 99 and follow it for 215 miles, to Manteca. You’ll then go west on California State Route 120. When the 120 concludes the I-205 begins, and continues leading you west, before merging with the I-580 itself.

The I-580 will take you all the way to Oakland, where you’ll use exit 19A to join I-80. This will then transport you across the San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge, to your destination in San Francisco.

Located at the geographic centre of California, Fresno is the 5th most populous city in the state.

With an abundance of museums, theatres, and historic buildings, as well as an ever-revolving collection of musical and artistic events and performances, it is a wonderful city with plenty to entertain you.

It is also located within 90 minutes of all three national parks on the majestic mountain loop. This makes it a popular location to set up camp for people who want to explore the parks but don’t want to stay in them.

When you combine its location, collection of attractions, and the fact that it is around the midway point of our route, it becomes the ideal place to stay on a road trip such as this.

The Doubletree By Hilton Fresno Convention Centre offers all the quality and comfort you would expect from such a reputable brand.

The rooms and public areas all feature a stylish, modern décor. Amenities like a flat-screen cable TV, desk, and free toiletries come as standard in each room, while all guests receive free parking and Wi-Fi.

In the communal areas, you will find luxuries like a pool, hot tub, fitness and business centres, plus multiple bars and restaurants. The property is also ideally situated, both for sightseeing and continuing your journey.

When it comes to selecting the best time to take a road trip from Las Vegas to San Francisco, there is no better option than the months of May and June.

For starters, you avoid the heatwave of July and August that, along parts of the route, can become unbearable at points, especially in Death Valley. Travelling in these months can easily limit the enjoyment people have in the national parks, as it can simply become too much to bear.

While the months either side of this feature pleasant temperatures, late Summer and early Fall are a high-risk period for wildfires in this part of the world. This means you can risk parts of your route potentially being closed off if you decide to travel then.

By choosing May and June, you will experience great weather, without it getting too much or you running into a natural disaster. That means you will be able to enjoy every second of your trip, just as you have planned it.

In order to get the most out of a road trip from Las Vegas to San Francisco, it is important to know what you want to see along the way.

In the following section, I will show you all the worthwhile stops along the way. From the Majestic Mountain Loop to western towns big and small, you’ll find everything you need to fill out your itinerary right here.

Beatty is an unincorporated town that is often considered the gateway to Death Valley, which lies just 5 miles away. It boasts a great range of motels, eateries, and RV parks, making it the ideal place to stay when visiting the park.

In addition to its convenient location and abundance of amenities, the town is surrounded by attractions that make it an exciting place to stay.

You have the Goldwell Open Air Museum, an outdoor sculpture park. There is Rhyolite, a ghost town and former mining community.

Those who enjoy unique landscapes will enjoy Yucca Mountain, while Bailey’s Hot Springs and Bathhouses in Oasis Valley are ideal for those looking to relax.

Perhaps the most unique and popular attraction though, is the Nevada Test Site. A former test site for nuclear weapons, visitors can take guided tours around recreated towns and communities, creating a post-apocalyptic experience like nothing else you have likely ever experienced

Covering over 3.4 million acres, Death Valley National Park is the largest national park in the contiguous United States. The park’s Furnace Creek area holds the world-record for highest temperature ever recorded, at 131.4 °F (56.7 °C), back in 1913.

Death Valley is well-known for its vast and iconic wilderness areas, filled with deserts, dunes, and mountains. Despite the temperatures, you will still find an abundance of wildlife, including bighorn sheep, bobcats, coyotes, desert tortoise, mule deer, and over 300 species of birds.

It also features the lowest point in America, Badwater Basin, which is 282 feet below sea level.

The fact that the highest point in the lower 48 states, Mount Whitney, the peak of which sits 14,494 feet above sea level, is less than 100 miles away perfectly demonstrates how dramatic the landscape is.

Whether you want to take hikes off into the desert or enjoy scenic drives from the comfort of your air-conditioned vehicle, Death Valley National Park has numerous vistas that will take your breath away.

A former desert mining town, Ballarat is now essentially a ghost town, with only one permanent resident. It offers a unique experience, as you can explore an abandoned mining town that has its own general store to purchase souvenirs from when you are done.

Red Rock Canyon State Park is a 27,000-acre state park, featuring buttes, canyons, cliffs, and stunning rock formations, in all manner of vivid colours. Over the years, the park has been used as a setting for numerous shows and movies, due to its vibrant scenery.

Activities like camping, hiking, and horse riding are all popular pastimes. Nature lovers will also enjoy a selection of wildlife that includes lizards, mice, squirrels, and a range of unique birds, such as hawks and roadrunners.

Bakersfield is the 9th most populous city in California and an important location for both the energy and agriculture industries. While not known as a tourist destination, the city has plenty of attractions to keep visitors entertained.

For starters, it has a thriving arts and culture scene. There are a great range of museums exhibiting the history of the city, while a number of historic theatres give you chances to experience the local performing arts in iconic surroundings.

The Bakersfield Community Theatre is the oldest live community theatre in all of California. There are then a number of other historic buildings to explore, with locations listed as both California Historical Landmarks and on the National Register Of Historic Places.

Bakersfield is also well-known for its musical influence, with great legacies in genres such as classical, doowop, heavy metal, jazz, and rock. Perhaps the genre it is most synonymous with though is country, where it has even developed its own unique subgenre, Bakersfield Sound.

Numerous live events are held throughout the city, including everything from musical performances to fairs and races. This makes it a great stop even if you have visited before, as there is always something new to discover.

The second oldest national park in America, Sequoia National Park is the southernmost of the parks on the Majestic Mountain Loop. Scenic hiking trails lead off into forests of immensely sized trees, past cliff edges offering stunning vistas.

You’ll find the highest point in the lower 48 states, Mount Whitney, as well as the largest living tree by volume known to exist in the world, The General Sherman.

Other popular attractions include exploring the Crystal Cave, climbing Moro Rock, and driving the General’s Highway and its Log Tunnel.

Wildlife fans will be thrilled by what they encounter, with deer and hundreds of species of birds abundant in the park. Lucky visitors may also be greeted by bears, bighorn sheep, and foxes, which all reside throughout the forests.

The youngest of the three parks of the Majestic Mountain Loop, Kings Canyon is a similar size to Sequoia National Park and neighbours it immediately to the north. This gives them the unique distinction of being the only national parks in the US you can drive between internally.

While the forests continue into Kings Canyon National Park, this park is better known for a landscape that includes cascading rivers and waterfalls, mountains and canyons, complex cave systems, and beautiful lakes surrounded by groves of trees.

With walls reaching up to 8,000 feet high, Kings Canyon is arguably the deepest gorge in America. It also features the second-largest giant Sequoia in the world, the General Grant, which was christened the “Nations Christmas Tree” by former US President Calvin Coolidge.

Black bears are abundant in the park, making Kings Canyon one of the best chances you have of seeing them in the wild anywhere in America. Other animals commonly seen in the park include bighorn sheep, deer, marmots, and more than 200 species of birds.

Sierra National Forest breaks up the national parks of the Majestic Mountain Loop, covering the 1.3 million acres between Kings Canyon and Yosemite.

The forest is filled with hundreds of miles of trails, winding through beautiful lakes, towering peaks, and wilderness areas, while offering magnificent views.

During the warmer months, it is a popular destination for boating, camping, climbing, fishing, and hiking. Then, in the winter, visitors can indulge in a spot of skiing, at the China Peak ski resort.

The 3rd oldest national park in the United States, Yosemite National Park is one of the most popular natural attractions in the world.

It is well-known for its towering waterfalls and mountain peaks, including one of the tallest falls in North America, the 2425-foot Yosemite Falls. Then beneath them you have the incredible Yosemite Valley, filled with galleries, museums, lodges, restaurants, stores, and hotels.

Around it, there are numerous meadows and lakes that are home to a collection of wildlife including bears, bighorn sheep, deer, and over 250 species of birds.

Attractions like the Sugar Pine Railroad and Wawona Pioneer Village will give visitors a glimpse into life in the area in bygone eras. Meanwhile, hikes to Glacier Point and through Mariposa Grove will allow you to enjoy the natural beauty of the area.

Those who prefer to drive as opposed to walk can tour the scenic Tioga Road, as well as Tunnel View overlook, one of the most beautiful and photographed vistas in the world.

The 18th most populous city in the state, Modesto is located roughly in the middle of Fresno, Sacramento, and San Francisco, making it the heart of central California. It is well known for its natural initiatives, which include tree planting and farm to table movements.

Its greatest claim to fame is being the birthplace of the rockabilly music genre, which started with the “Hillbilly Boogie” of the 1930’s.

It is also the hometown of legendary director George Lucas, with George Lucas Plaza featuring a bronze statue that honours him and his movie “American Graffiti”.

Other popular attractions in Modesto include the McHenry Mansion and Museum, Hawk Castle, the Gallo Centre For The Arts, John Thurman Field, and The State Theatre.

There are also a selection of other historic buildings and neighbourhoods, many of which feature in the yearly Architectural Festival.

In recent years, Downtown Modesto has also been completely revitalised. With countless restaurants and nightlife venues, multiple farmers markets each week, and a monthly Art Walk, it is a great stop for anyone looking to experience life in a smaller American city.

Located on the east side of the San Francisco Bay, Oakland is the 8th most populous city in California. While often overlooked, due to its proximity to the more popular San Francisco, it has a great deal to offer tourists.

The city is abundant with arts, culture, and music venues, ensuring its attractions appeal to a range of visitors as diverse as its residents. From museums and theatres to clubs and music venues, Oakland has it all to offer a truly varied destination.

Perhaps the main reason it has seen a greater increase in tourism than any other city in the western United States though, is its affordability. With prices considerably lower than across the bay, it offers people the chance to experience a similar culture, for only a fraction of the price.

A road trip from Las Vegas to San Francisco is a truly wonderous adventure, taking you between two of the most unique, exciting cities in the country.

Travelling along the Majestic Mountain Loop, you will get to experience some of the most stunning national parks America has to offer. With very little space between them, it makes a long journey absolutely fly by, as there is never a time when you don’t have something to explore.

This article should have given you everything you need to plan out your stops, to make sure you get maximum value out of your route. All that’s left is to start getting things booked, so you can look forward to hitting the open road as soon as possible.