California Dreaming: Yosemite, Death Valley & Coastal Camping
7-day itinerary
A seven-day road trip from the Pacific coast to the Vegas Strip. The route cuts inland from LA for camping in Yosemite before crossing the desert flats of Death Valley.
Think of this as the classic California road trip, minus the logistical nightmare of renting a van and buying all the gear. The route stitches together the big hits: LA's coast, Yosemite's granite walls, Death Valley's surreal landscapes, and the Vegas Strip. It’s a fast-paced week built for anyone who wants a ready-made crew for the drive and is happy to trade hotel beds for a sleeping bag under the stars. You get the national park circuit and the city bookends without burning weeks on planning.
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Book California Dreaming: Yosemite, Death Valley & Coastal Camping by G Adventures.
From $934 USD $1,099 · 7 days · max 13 travelers · campsite accommodation + ground transport + select meals trip code NULNHWPrices in USD. Your local currency is shown on G Adventures.
Each leg of the journey mapped out — where the day takes you, what's actually on the ground, and things to consider when planning this tour.
Day 1 of 7
Los Angeles/Santa Margarita
LA Hits & PCH to Camp
This is a day-one-and-done for LA. The trip starts early with a quick drive-by of the city's greatest hits—Rodeo Drive, the Hollywood sign, Sunset Boulevard—before you leave the sprawl in the rearview. The real agenda is the Pacific Coast Highway. You'll head north, stopping in Santa Barbara for lunch on your own, then continue on to Santa Margarita. The day ends with setting up your tent at a campsite and grabbing a ride into nearby San Luis Obispo for dinner.
From travelers who've been to Los Angeles/Santa Margarita
Santa Barbara, California — by Pexels — James Lee
Hollywood, California — by Pexels — Dumitru B
Santa Barbara, California — by Pexels — Timmossholder
Santa Barbara, California — by Pexels — James Lee
Hollywood, California — by Pexels — Dumitru B
Santa Barbara, California — by Pexels — Timmossholder
Early morning sightseeing tour of Los Angeles highlights
Drive the iconic Pacific Coast Highway
Lunch stop in the coastal city of Santa Barbara
Overnight camping at Santa Margarita KOA
Free evening for dinner in San Luis Obispo
DIY Reality Check: Securing a single coastal California campsite often requires booking six months in advance when reservations open on a rolling daily window. Independently, you'd also need to rent a vehicle large enough for passengers and gear, navigate out of Los Angeles, and then solve the evening's transit puzzle. The campsite is miles from downtown San Luis Obispo, leaving you to coordinate a taxi—at a cost of $35-$45 each way—or wait for a rideshare, where even the app warns of potentially long pickup times. A trip with a private vehicle and driver handles the campsite booking, transport, and dinner shuttle as a single coordinated plan.
Today is all about that classic Highway 1 scenery. You'll drive up the coast to San Simeon to see the elephant seals, a massive colony of them just lounging on the beach. A little further north, you'll hit Ragged Point for a solid hike down to a secluded beach. The afternoon is yours to sort out. You can head back to the coast near Avila to chill on the sand, or rent a bike and find a spot to watch the sun go down over the Pacific. It's a low-key day before heading inland tomorrow.
From travelers who've been to Santa Margarita
San Simeon, California — by Pexels — Yajun Dong
Central California Coast — by Pexels — Filip Filipovic
Central California Coast — by Pexels — Wallace Henry
San Simeon, California — by Pexels — Yajun Dong
Central California Coast — by Pexels — Filip Filipovic
Central California Coast — by Pexels — Wallace Henry
Watch the resident elephant seals sunbathe at San Simeon
Hike to the beach near Ragged Point
Free afternoon for beach time or biking in Avila
Overnight camping at Santa Margarita KOA
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DIY Reality Check: The U.S. Geological Survey identifies the Big Sur coastline as one of the most landslide-prone areas in the western United States. This geological reality gives Highway 1 a long history of sudden, extended closures—sometimes lasting for months or even years. For an independent traveler, a single slide can sever access between the elephant seal rookery and Ragged Point, forcing a multi-hour inland detour that scraps the day's itinerary. A trip with a dedicated vehicle and operator absorbs this logistical risk, handling the real-time road monitoring and any necessary rerouting as part of the service.
Time to trade the coast for the mountains. After packing up camp, it's a long travel day inland toward Yosemite National Park. The drive cuts through California's Central Valley, with a necessary stop in Fresno to grab lunch before finishing the climb into the Sierra Nevada. You'll set up camp in El Portal, just outside the park boundary. The day wraps with your first look at the park itself, driving through the Arch Rock entrance and along the Merced River as the granite walls start to close in around you.
From travelers who've been to Santa Margarita/Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park — by Pexels — Stephane Christiaens
Yosemite National Park — by Pexels — Kinley Lindsey
Fresno, California — by Pexels — Leonard Suarez
Yosemite National Park — by Pexels — Zetong Li
Yosemite National Park — by Pexels — Stephane Christiaens
Yosemite National Park — by Pexels — Kinley Lindsey
Overland journey from the coast to the Sierra Nevada mountains
Lunch stop in Fresno
First views of Yosemite Valley via the Arch Rock entrance
Overnight camping near the park at Indian Flats Campground
Meals: Breakfast
DIY Reality Check: As of 2026, the National Park Service requires non-U.S. residents aged 16 and over to pay a $100 per-person fee to enter Yosemite, in addition to the standard $35 vehicle entrance fee. An international couple arriving independently would face an unexpected $235 charge at the gate, while a group of four adults would owe $435. This policy applies to all 11 of the most-visited national parks, including those on commercial tours. A coordinated trip that incorporates park fees and facilitates this specific non-resident payment sidesteps a significant and surprising budget complication at the park entrance.
