Road trip guide
14 RV road trips from Los Angeles.
A rental RV turns a weekend into a road trip: beach campsites 45 minutes away, desert national parks in under three hours, and the Sierra in half a day. Drive times are approximate from our pick-up in Northridge without heavy traffic, and every stop includes the RV-specific tip that matters for a 24 ft Mercedes-Benz Sprinter motorhome.
| Destination | Drive | Distance | Best time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malibu & Leo Carrillo State Park | about 45 min | ~30 mi | Year-round; book summer early |
| Santa Barbara & the Gaviota Coast | about 1 hr 45 min | ~95 mi | Year-round |
| Joshua Tree National Park | about 2 hr 45 min | ~160 mi | October – April |
| Big Bear Lake | about 2 hr | ~110 mi | May – October |
| Anza-Borrego Desert State Park | about 3 hr | ~170 mi | November – April (wildflowers Feb – Mar) |
| Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks | about 3 hr 30 min | ~210 mi | May – October |
| Death Valley National Park | about 4 hr | ~250 mi | November – March |
| Yosemite National Park | about 5 hr 30 min | ~300 mi | May – October |
| Big Sur & the Central Coast | about 5 hr | ~280 mi | April – October |
| Zion National Park, Utah | about 6 hr 30 min | ~430 mi | March – May, September – November |
| Grand Canyon (South Rim), Arizona | about 7 hr 30 min | ~490 mi | March – May, September – November |
| Coachella & Stagecoach — Indio | about 2 hr 45 min | ~150 mi | April (festival weekends) |
| EDC — Las Vegas | about 4 hr | ~270 mi | May (festival weekend) |
| Burning Man — Black Rock City, Nevada | about 9 – 10 hr | ~550 mi | Late August – Labor Day |
01
Malibu & Leo Carrillo State Park
The easiest first RV trip from LA: Pacific Coast Highway, tide pools, and falling asleep to the surf without leaving the county.
- Where to stay
- Leo Carrillo State Park, Malibu Beach RV Park, Point Mugu State Park (Thornhill Broome)
- RV tip
- Beach campgrounds fill months ahead on weekends — reserve on ReserveCalifornia as soon as your window opens.
02
Santa Barbara & the Gaviota Coast
Wine country, Spanish-style downtown, and bluff-top state beaches with ocean-view sites just north of town.
- Where to stay
- El Capitan State Beach, Refugio State Beach, Carpinteria State Beach
- RV tip
- The 101 north of Ventura is an easy, flat drive — a great shakedown route before a longer trip.
03
Joshua Tree National Park
Boulder piles, Joshua trees and some of the darkest night skies near LA. Spring wildflowers and mild winter days are the sweet spot.
- Where to stay
- Black Rock, Indian Cove and Jumbo Rocks campgrounds; private RV parks in Twentynine Palms and Joshua Tree
- RV tip
- Most park campgrounds have no hookups — the generator, fresh-water tank and propane make the RV self-sufficient. Check generator hours.
04
Big Bear Lake
Pine forests, lake days and cool mountain air when the valley is baking. Close enough for a long weekend.
- Where to stay
- Serrano Campground (US Forest Service), private RV resorts around the lake
- RV tip
- Mountain roads are steep and winding — take it slow and use lower gears on the way down. Winter storms can require chains; check Caltrans before you go.
05
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
California's largest state park: slot canyons, metal sculptures in Borrego Springs, and a famous spring wildflower bloom.
- Where to stay
- Borrego Palm Canyon Campground
- RV tip
- Stick to paved roads — many canyon routes are sand and off-limits for the RV.
06
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
Walk among the largest trees on Earth, including General Sherman, then drop into the granite walls of Kings Canyon.
- Where to stay
- Lodgepole, Potwisha, Azalea and Sunset campgrounds
- RV tip
- The NPS advises vehicles over 22 ft to avoid the steep, twisting Generals Highway between Potwisha and Giant Forest. At 24 ft, enter via Hwy 180 (Big Stump entrance) instead.
07
Death Valley National Park
Salt flats below sea level, sand dunes and painted canyons — otherworldly in winter, dangerously hot in summer.
- Where to stay
- Furnace Creek, Stovepipe Wells and Sunset campgrounds
- RV tip
- Fill up before you enter — fuel inside the park is limited and expensive. Avoid summer: temperatures regularly top 115 °F.
08
Yosemite National Park
Half Dome, El Capitan and waterfalls from the valley floor. The classic California national-park road trip.
- Where to stay
- Upper Pines, Lower Pines and North Pines campgrounds; Wawona
- RV tip
- Campsites release on Recreation.gov months ahead and sell out in minutes. Peak-season entry may need a separate park reservation — check NPS.gov.
09
Big Sur & the Central Coast
Highway 1's cliffs, redwood canyons and McWay Falls — one of the most famous drives in the world.
- Where to stay
- Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, Kirk Creek (USFS), Morro Bay State Park on the way
- RV tip
- Highway 1 has closures after storms and landslides — check Caltrans QuickMap before you go. Use turnouts to let faster traffic pass.
10
Zion National Park, Utah
Red-rock canyons, the Narrows and Angels Landing — a bucket-list stop on a Southwest loop via Las Vegas.
- Where to stay
- Watchman and South campgrounds; RV parks in Springdale
- RV tip
- Large vehicles need a tunnel permit and escort for the Zion–Mount Carmel Tunnel. Check current size limits on NPS.gov.
11
Grand Canyon (South Rim), Arizona
The view everyone should see once. Pair it with Route 66 and Sedona for a week-long loop.
- Where to stay
- Mather Campground, Trailer Village RV Park
- RV tip
- Budget a full day each way or break the drive in Kingman or Williams.
12
Coachella & Stagecoach — Indio
Two of California's biggest festivals on back-to-back April weekends in the Coachella Valley. An RV means real sleep, a shower and A/C between sets.
- Where to stay
- Your festival's official RV/camping area if your pass includes it, or RV resorts around Indio and Palm Springs
- RV tip
- RV spots and camping passes sell out with the tickets — buy them together, and book the RV the moment you have them.
13
EDC — Las Vegas
Electric Daisy Carnival at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Skip the hotel shuttle chaos and keep your crew together in one rolling basecamp.
- Where to stay
- Festival RV/camping options if offered with your pass, or Las Vegas RV parks
- RV tip
- I-15 to Vegas is busy on festival Fridays — leave early, and fill up in Barstow before the long desert stretch.
14
Burning Man — Black Rock City, Nevada
A week of art and community on the playa. A self-contained RV with A/C, a bed and a shower makes it far more comfortable.
- Where to stay
- Your camp in Black Rock City (a Vehicle Pass is required)
- RV tip
- FamRV RVs are playa-prepped and the post-burn clean is included. Book Burn week as early as possible.
RV trip planning FAQ
What is the best RV trip from Los Angeles for beginners?
Malibu and Leo Carrillo State Park, about 45 minutes away, is the easiest first RV trip from LA: a short, scenic drive on the Pacific Coast Highway with beach campsites. Santa Barbara's state beaches (about 1 hr 45 min) are a close second.
Which national parks can I reach by RV from Los Angeles?
Joshua Tree (about 2 hr 45 min), Sequoia & Kings Canyon (about 3 hr 30 min), Death Valley (about 4 hr) and Yosemite (about 5 hr 30 min) are all within a day's drive of LA. Zion and the Grand Canyon work well on a week-long Southwest loop.
Is a 24 ft RV too big for national park campgrounds?
No. A 24 ft Class C fits most national and state park campsites. A few roads have limits — Sequoia's Generals Highway is not recommended for vehicles over 22 ft between Potwisha and Giant Forest, and Zion's tunnel needs a permit for larger vehicles — so check the park's vehicle guidance before you go.
When should I book campsites for an RV trip in California?
As early as possible. California state parks open reservations on ReserveCalifornia about six months ahead, and popular national park campgrounds on Recreation.gov often sell out within minutes of release, especially for summer weekends.
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