California road trips
Best Road Trips in California
20 popular California drives with distance, driving time, EV-friendliness and gas cost at the state's estimated $4.65/gal.
Editor's picks
Top California Drives Right Now
Curated short-distance California routes — the most popular, lowest-cost picks.
Sacramento, CA → San Francisco, CA
89 mi · 1.4 h · ~$15 gas
Monterey, CA → San Francisco, CA
101 mi · 1.6 h · ~$17 gas
Oakland, CA → San Francisco, CA
10 mi · 0.2 h · ~$2 gas
Fresno, CA → San Francisco, CA
190 mi · 3.1 h · ~$32 gas
Monterey, CA → Sacramento, CA
163 mi · 2.6 h · ~$27 gas
Palm Springs, CA → Santa Barbara, CA
218 mi · 3.5 h · ~$36 gas
Our California road trip ranking method
Routes are ranked by traveler popularity between California metros and major destinations, with distance, driving time and current $4.65/gal fuel cost calculated for every drive.
- Distance: city-center to city-center with a 1.18× road-curvature factor.
- Fuel cost: 28 MPG baseline × $4.65/gal California regular.
- Popularity: traveler-intent signals between major California origins and destinations.
- EV practicality: regional DC fast-charging coverage flagged per route.
Bismarck → Los Angeles
The headline California road trip — 1496 miles, about 24.1 hours of driving and roughly $248 in gas at $4.65/gal.
More top California drives (19)
Lincoln → Los Angeles
1495 mi · ~24.1 h · ~$248 gas
Open tripBismarck → San Francisco
1492 mi · ~24.1 h · ~$248 gas
Open tripDallas → Los Angeles
1460 mi · ~23.5 h · ~$242 gas
Open tripDallas → Long Beach
1458 mi · ~23.5 h · ~$242 gas
Open tripWaco → Los Angeles
1457 mi · ~23.5 h · ~$242 gas
Open tripAustin → Los Angeles
1445 mi · ~23.3 h · ~$240 gas
Open tripFort Worth → Los Angeles
1425 mi · ~23.0 h · ~$237 gas
Open tripSan Antonio → Los Angeles
1417 mi · ~22.9 h · ~$235 gas
Open tripWichita → Los Angeles
1409 mi · ~22.7 h · ~$234 gas
Open tripLubbock → San Francisco
1401 mi · ~22.6 h · ~$233 gas
Open tripDallas → San Diego
1394 mi · ~22.5 h · ~$232 gas
Open tripAmarillo → San Francisco
1363 mi · ~22.0 h · ~$226 gas
Open tripDallas → Palm Springs
1346 mi · ~21.7 h · ~$224 gas
Open tripEl Paso → San Francisco
1172 mi · ~18.9 h · ~$195 gas
Open tripLubbock → Los Angeles
1109 mi · ~17.9 h · ~$184 gas
Open tripAmarillo → Los Angeles
1104 mi · ~17.8 h · ~$183 gas
Open tripEl Paso → Los Angeles
825 mi · ~13.3 h · ~$137 gas
Open tripEl Paso → San Diego
740 mi · ~11.9 h · ~$123 gas
Open tripEl Paso → Palm Springs
709 mi · ~11.4 h · ~$118 gas
Open tripBest driving cost routes in California
Top California road trips with gas, distance and driving time at the state's estimated $4.65/gal.
Cheapest California road trips
Short, low-fuel-cost drives — great for a weekend trip from California.
Long-distance road trips from California
500+ mile drives for cross-country and multi-day road trip planning.
Drives in neighboring states
Cross-state routes near California — Nevada, Arizona, Utah.
Gas prices in California
Estimated regular at $4.65/gal · premium $5.15 · diesel $5.05.
Best vehicles for California drivers
- Best hybridToyota Prius57 MPG
- Best EVLucid Air134 MPGe
- Best SUVNissan Rogue33 MPG
- Best truckFord Maverick26 MPG
Commute cost in California
Daily driving cost estimates for major California-area cities.
EV vs gas in California
Compare driving cost of an EV vs a gas car for California trips and commutes.
Neighboring state road trip hubs
FAQ
What's the best time of year for a California road trip?
Spring and fall typically offer the most comfortable driving weather across most of California. Coastal and southern routes are pleasant year-round; mountain routes are best between late spring and early fall.
How much does a California road trip cost in fuel?
At California's estimated $4.65/gal and 28 MPG, expect roughly $16.61 per 100 miles. Each route below includes a detailed estimate.
Is California EV-friendly for road trips?
Yes — most popular California routes have solid DC fast-charging coverage. Check our EV-friendly routes collection for the strongest picks.
How accurate are these distances?
Distances are calculated from city centers using a road-curvature factor of about 1.18 over straight-line distance. Real-world mileage varies by route choice and traffic.