Travel Spotlight: California

The sunshine state offers a variety of attractions to suit all RV holidaymakers. California is ideal for anyone who’s visiting the US for the first time. With world-famous national parks, scenic highways, sun-drenched beaches, snowy mountain peaks and UNESCO forests on offer, it’s hard to know where to start. Don’t worry: we’ve got you covered with a little bit of everything on this list of our top Californian picks.

Joshua Tree National Park

A fantastic foray into California, the tall spiky trees and otherworldly rock formations will make you feel like you’re in a Flintstones movie. Visit the Cholla Cactus Garden and wander through the trail, do some world class star-gazing at night or marvel at the eerie rock formation known as ‘Skull Rock’. Joshua Tree offers some amazing motorhome campgrounds where you can park your campervan up under giant orange rocks. We recommend staying at Joshua Tree Lake RV and Campground, which is at the southern edge of the Mojave Desert. You’ll discover panoramic views of the North face of Joshua Tree National Park, exceptional desert vistas, and spectacular night skies.

Pacific Coast Highway

Cruise along this two-day road trip from San Diego to San Francisco (or vice versa) and savour 900 kilometres of legendary coastline. Discover everything that is quintessential California - from surfing villages, farm-grown food and local wine to roadside kitsch, Hollywood glitz and bohemian meccas. Pick up your vehicle in either city and take your time cruising from one end of the state to the other. It’s about 10 hours drive in total, but you’ll love the cruisey vibe this road trip offers. Head to some significant spots along the way including Big Sur, Morro Bay, Santa Barbara and more on your way to either city. You’ll encounter plenty of top Californian attractions along this route.

Lake Tahoe

There are few spots on earth which rival the majestic beauty of Lake Tahoe. This untouched area couldn’t be more welcoming to motorhome travellers with incredible camping facilities, safe freshwater swimming, pristine bordering mountains, ski resorts and the legendary Tahoe Rim Trail. Sand Harbour is one of the top beaches at Lake Tahoe, which is ideal for swimming and water sports. Tahoe Valley Campground is the largest RV campground open year-round with 439 sites and full hookups. This is the perfect destination for those who want to experience the raw beauty of nature.

Balboa Park

Have you got kids? Young at heart? Great, add Balboa Park to the itinerary. This park in San Diego combines culture, science, nature, walking trails, theatres, museums and San Diego Zoo all into one fascinating, fun-filled destination of mind-boggling goodness. Start at the Balboa Visitor Centre and work your way along from there.

Sequoia National Park

If you want a woodland escape, pick up your rental in Los Angeles and check out Giant Forest in Sequoia National Park. There is so much to see and do here for motorhome travellers including hiking, biking, horseback riding and the long tree-lined roads provide a lush oasis to cruise through. If you want to feel like a blip on the earth’s radar, visit the giant General Sherman Tree, the tallest standing tree in the world. When it’s time to park up, the Tuolumne Meadows Campground is a top-rated place to stay while visiting the area.

Mount Shasta

Nestled within the wilderness of Shasta-Trinity National Forest and part of the Cascade Range Mount Shasta is a rugged and popular spot in the backcountry. Passionate about skiing and snowboarding? Mount Shasta provides incredible snow sporting opportunities to those on a winter escape wanting some icy thrills. Fresh mountain lakes and hiking opportunities await those taking a summer holiday. Take the Panther Meadow Hike, which is a short, easy trail high on Mount Shasta that shows off some of the best features of hiking on the mountain. This hike is a great introductory trail to California’s best peak. You’ll find Everitt Memorial Highway Camp at Panther Meadows offers a relaxing space to park up and camp for the night.

Disneyland

We can’t leave Disneyland off this list - it’s a classic, and if you’re travelling with kids, it’s a no-brainer. Choose between different theme parks and spend a day or three with Mickey Mouse, depending on how much time you have. A new drawcard is the Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge theme park. Guests can take part in interactive adventures (and take home some epic merchandise too). There’s even a space to park your motorhome at Anaheim Resort RV Park which is one of the closest RV campgrounds to Disneyland.

From coastal cities like San Francisco to the jagged peaks of the Sierra Nevada mountains, there’s no other US state brimming with so much diversity for campervan travellers. With plenty of locations to pick up your RV in California, including Sacramento and Calabasas, you’re bound to find the perfect destination for beginning your campervan adventure in the United States.

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