Itinerary
- Day 1
San Francisco
After picking up your rental car at the airport, head into downtown San Francisco and start on Market Street. You'll catch one of the historic cable cars up to Union Square, then continue on to see the twisty sections of Lombard Street. Later, drive out to take in the Golden Gate Bridge from various viewpoints around the city. Plan for about 4-5 hours exploring, with time for parking and walking between spots.
Optional Activities
- Cable car ride on Powell-Hyde line (payable locally)
- Golden Gate boat tour
Landmarks Market Street Union Square Lombard Street Golden Gate Bridge Powell-Hyde Cable Car Line 
- Day 2
San Francisco
Start your morning at Fisherman's Wharf and work your way along the waterfront. Walk out on Aquatic Park Pier where you can see Alcatraz across the water, then pass by the Maritime National Historical Park. Head to Pier 39 to catch the free sea lion show and browse shops. From there, walk over to the Ghirardelli chocolate factory to check out their factory store and grab hot chocolate. You'll spend most of the day walking the waterfront, so wear comfortable shoes.
Optional Activities
- Maritime National Historical Park visit (admission payable on site)
- Boat trip through the Bay & visit to Alcatraz
Landmarks Fisherman's Wharf Aquatic Park Pier Alcatraz Maritime National Historical Park Pier 39 Ghirardelli Square - Day 3
San Francisco
Spend your day in Chinatown, the oldest and largest community of its kind outside Asia. Enter through the iconic Dragon Gate and wander through narrow streets filled with shops selling lanterns, souvenirs, and traditional goods. Find your way to Good Mong Kok Bakery and try their dim sum and bao buns while enjoying views of the skyline. This area gets busy, so arriving early helps you see everything without huge crowds.
Landmarks Dragon Gate Chinatown Good Mong Kok Bakery - Day 4
Los Angeles
Drive down to Los Angeles and start exploring the city's landmarks. Head to Beverly Hills and spend time driving through those tree-lined streets, then take Mulholland Drive for its scenic views across the city. Work your way down to Hollywood Walk of Fame and check out the famous pink stars along the street. By evening, get yourself to Griffith Observatory where you'll have great views of the Hollywood Sign and catch the sunset from up there. The observatory gets crowded in late afternoon, so consider going earlier or later for a better experience.
Optional Activities
- Hollywood Sign hike
- With the open-top bus through Hollywood
Landmarks Beverly Hills Mulholland Drive Walk of Fame Hollywood Sign Griffith Observatory - Day 5
Los Angeles
Head to Santa Monica and start at the pier to see the colorful Ferris wheel and roller coaster. Spend a couple hours there if you want to ride or just walk around. Then drive over to Venice Beach and spend the rest of your day on Ocean Front Walk where you'll see muscle heads at Muscle Beach, street performers, and get a real feel for the California beach lifestyle. Grab lunch or dinner near the boardwalk and plan to stay until evening for the best atmosphere.
Optional Activities
- Day bike rental in Santa Monica
Landmarks Santa Monica Pier Venice Beach Ocean Front Walk Muscle Beach - Day 6
Los Angeles
You can split this day a couple ways depending on your mood. If you want beach time, head back to either Venice Beach or drive up the coast to Malibu Beach. If you'd rather stay in the city, check out downtown Los Angeles and see the striking Disney Concert Hall and historic Union Station (which has been used in tons of movies). Either direction gives you a nice change of pace from the previous days of exploring.
Landmarks Venice Beach Malibu Beach Disney Concert Hall Union Station - Day 7
Las Vegas
Drive northeast toward Las Vegas, which takes about 4-5 hours from LA. Check into your hotel and spend the afternoon cooling off at the pool. Once the sun starts setting, head out to explore the Strip. Find the famous 'Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas' sign for photos, then walk along the Strip to catch the free fountain shows at Bellagio and the volcano show at Mirage. These free attractions keep running throughout the evening, so you can time your walk whenever it works best.
Included Activities
- Bellagio fountain show
- Mirage volcano show
Optional Activities
- Stratosphere Tower visit (payable locally)
- High Roller Ferris wheel (payable locally)
- Grand Canyon West Beach & Hoover Dam
Landmarks Las Vegas Strip Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign Stratosphere Tower High Roller Ferris Wheel Bellagio Hotel Mirage Hotel 
- Day 8
Las Vegas
Explore the themed resort hotels along the Strip and check out their unique designs. Walk through the Venetian to see its indoor canals, step into Luxor to experience the ancient Egypt theme, and browse Paris Las Vegas with its recreation of famous landmarks. Later, head to the Neon Museum which has over 200 original neon signs from the old Vegas era. Many are lit up and spotlit, creating a really cool atmosphere especially after dark. Give yourself 3-4 hours to walk through and appreciate all the vintage signage.
Optional Activities
- Neon Museum visit (admission extra)
Landmarks The Venetian Luxor Paris Las Vegas Neon Museum - Day 9
Las Vegas
Spend your morning and early afternoon relaxing by the hotel pool with sunscreen and smoothies. When evening hits, head downtown to Fremont Street Vegas where you'll find neon lights, live DJs, and free light shows that run from 6pm onward. The vibe here is different from the Strip, more retro and laid back. If you're up for a day trip, you can drive out to the Grand Canyon (about 4 hours) and be back for dinner, though that's pretty ambitious in one day.
Optional Activities
- Tour through Bryce & Zion National Parks
- Grand Canyon day trip
Landmarks Fremont Street Golden Gate Hotel Golden Nugget Grand Canyon - Day 10
San Diego
Drive south to San Diego, passing through palm tree-lined streets and taking in the sunset skyline as you arrive. Head into the Gaslamp Quarter where you'll find neon lights, rooftop bars, and live music venues. If that's not your speed, head to Seaport Village instead where you can grab a burrito and watch the sunset over the water. Both options give you a nice evening vibe to settle into San Diego.
Landmarks Gaslamp Quarter Seaport Village - Day 11
San Diego
Drive out to La Jolla early in the day and check out the turquoise water and sea lions hanging out on the rocks. Walk across warm sand to reach La Jolla Cove where the water is perfect for swimming. If kayaking interests you, you can book a tour to paddle through hidden sea caves along the coast. Afterward, grab tacos and coffee at Shore Rider to refuel. Then head north to Torrey Pines for hiking trails with views of the Pacific Ocean. This day involves a lot of driving between spots, so grab lunch while you're down in La Jolla.
Optional Activities
- Kayak through hidden sea caves at La Jolla Cove (payable on site)
Landmarks La Jolla La Jolla Cove Shore Rider Torrey Pines - Day 12
San Diego
Spend the day in Balboa Park checking out the Spanish colonial architecture and tropical gardens with palm trees everywhere. You'll hear guitar music and see dancers performing throughout the park. Stop by Liberty Public Market and try empanadas, dumplings, or donuts, then find a sunny spot to eat and enjoy street musicians in the background. Between the museums, gardens, and market, you can easily spend 4-6 hours here depending on how much you want to see.
Landmarks Balboa Park Liberty Public Market - Day 13
Departure from San Diego
On your last morning in San Diego, take time to collect final memories before heading to the airport. Grab one last coffee with a view, snap a few more photos of places you loved, or just walk around a neighborhood you particularly enjoyed. After that, return your rental car at the airport and head out for your flight home with all those California road trip experiences fresh in your mind.
- Day 14
Arrival Home
You arrive back home with your suitcases and a head full of memories from your California road trip. Spend time unpacking and reflecting on everything you saw, from San Francisco's hills to LA's icons to San Diego's beaches and desert landscapes. You'll be ready to share all your stories and photos with friends and family.
