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CLAIRE’S TRIP TO CALIFORNIA

12 NIGHTS/6 STOPS 

Californian road trip: from San Francisco to Los Angeles

During Spring Break the family went to California. From San Francisco, they started their RV road trip to Yosemite and along the Pacific coast with the grandparents. They loved the variety of landscapes and activities but most of all the RV experience with their Kids. They did a lot of hiking, climbing, and quad in the dunes. Their budget for the whole trip was around  $ 770 per person for 12 nights (excluded food and activities).
 
12 nights and  6 stops
 $
1800 km
From March to November
Recreational Van (RV) road trip & nature
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Photo @clairecagnol ©
San Francisco
Yosemite Park
Stop over on our way to Joshua Park
Joshua Tree NP
Malibu Beach
Pismo beach
 

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TRIP
San Francisco
Muir Woods National Monument
Beach
Mission district
Alcatraz island
NEW YORK -SAN FRANCISCO
LOS ANGELES – NEW YORK
5,5  hours direct flight
RV
1800 km in 12 days
20 hours on the road – 6 stops
AVERAGE BUDGET PER PERSON
$770 / pp for 12 nights
$160 /pp for 8 nights (without breakfast) + 4 nights stay in family house (for free).
$150 /pp for RV rental
 $460 /pp
 
AIRPORT TO
 SAN FRANCISCO
 

30 km/40 min
San Francisco

San Francisco

City & Family time
4 NIGHTS
SAN FRANCISCO TO
YOSEMITE NP
 

265 km/ 3h
Yosemite

Yosemite

Nature & Hiking
2 NIGHTS
ON OUR WAY TO
JOSHUA TREE NP
 

440 km/4h30
On our way to Joshua Tree

On our way to Joshua Tree

RV drive
1 NIGHT
STOPOVER 3 TO
JOSHUA TREE NP
 

225 km / 2h35
Joshua Tree

Joshua Tree

Cactus & Climbing
1 NIGHT
JOSHUA TREE TO
MALIBU BEACH
 

300 km/3h
Malibu beach

Malibu beach

Seaside & Hollywood
4 NIGHTS
MALIBU BEACH TO
PISMO BEACH
 

480 km/5h ROUNDTRIP
Pismo Beach

Pismo Beach

Quad & Dunes
DAY TRIP



GOOD TO KNOW
 
  • On our day trip to Pismo beach, we would have explored the Guadalupe Dunes Park. Same kind of Dunes as Pismo but only allowed for hiking. We would highly recommend taking the time to visit those dunes as well, only 15 minutes from Pismo. Beware that the park is closing at 5 pm.
  • The Quad in Pismo Beach is accessible for kids from the age of 6. 
  • Free entrance in Yosemite Park during Easter weekend. Beware of heavy traffic in the park.
  • During Easter, some roads are closed. Be aware of it and plan your trip accordingly. Only one entrance possible to access the Yosemite park during April: west side of the park via Mariposa.
  • We had to skip Sequoia Park because of road closure and snowy conditions. 
  • There are campgrounds everywhere along the road. If you have a long route ahead of you, it is easy to stop without reservations. 
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