The 5 best national parks in California you have to visit

September 15, 2026 Comment this post

5-minute read

As a road trip specialist at Authentik for several years, I must admit I have a soft spot for California. It's my favourite US destination, as for me, it has a touch of magic.

Throughout my USA road trips, I've had the chance to explore several of its national parks. And that's what's fun: every trip holds its own share of surprises!

So, hiking boots on and camera in hand, here are California's 5 most beautiful parks (which, in my opinion, should be on your bucket list), along with my personal favourites and expert tips.

1. Yosemite, California's must-see attraction

Yosemite is a must-see park for your California road trip. — Yosemite is a must-see park for your California road trip

From 2026, if you don't have an America The Beautiful pass, you'll need to pay an additional $100 per person on top of the entrance fee. — From 2026, without an America The Beautiful pass, you'll pay an extra $100 per person

Bridalveil Fall is easily accessible via a short, 30-minute walk. — Bridalveil Fall is just a short 30-minute walk away

Along Tioga Road, be sure to visit Olmsted Point, Mono Lake, Tenaya Lake, and Tuolumne Meadows. — Along Tioga Road, don't miss Olmsted Point, Mono Lake, Tenaya Lake, and Tuolumne Meadows

Take a wander among the majestic giant trees in Mariposa Grove. — Stroll among the giant trees in Mariposa Grove

It's hard to talk about California's parks without starting with Yosemite National Park. Located in the heart of the Sierra Nevada mountains, it's one of the great must-sees on a road trip through the American West.

Here, the landscapes are magnificent, with iconic viewpoints one after another. It's a park where you can easily spend two days exploring.

Why I love Yosemite:

Yosemite is the kind of park where everything is on a grand scale. From granite cliffs and waterfalls to giant sequoias, it's hard not to be impressed!

Among the must-sees are:

Yosemite Valley: the heart of the park, surrounded by iconic sites like El Capitan, Half Dome, and Yosemite Falls.
Tioga Road: this stunning scenic route offers some of the park's most beautiful spots.
Mariposa Grove: perfect for walking among giant sequoias and appreciating the sheer scale of these impressive trees.

My expert tip: When I visited Yosemite, I really wasn't lucky with the weather. There was so much fog that we could barely see a thing! Still, I managed to discover Bridalveil Fall thanks to a short, easy hike of about 15 to 30 minutes. If the weather is uncertain, opt for these shorter hikes; at least you won't have walked for an hour for nothing!

Couple admiring the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco

California Road Trip

4.4 (24 reviews)

from
$3,831 / adult + vehicle

Road Trip
15 days

2. Death Valley, welcome to another world

Death Valley offers some of the most surreal and breathtaking landscapes in the western United States. — Death Valley: breathtaking, otherworldly landscapes in the western USA

Explore the incredible landscape of Badwater Basin, home to vast salt flats. — The incredible landscape of Badwater Basin with its salt flats

Artist's Palette offers an astonishing array of colours. — Artist's Palette: a riot of colour

Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes was famously used as a filming location for the Star Wars saga. — Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes was a filming location for the Star Wars saga

A complete change of scenery awaits you at Death Valley National Park! Here, you'll find desert landscapes, arid mountains, sand dunes, and vast salt flats.

Death Valley lives up to its name; it's one of the hottest and driest places on Earth. But it's this extreme nature that makes the park so fascinating.

Why I love Death Valley:

What I particularly love about Death Valley is the variety of landscapes. You truly move from one scene to another as you drive, and many of the most beautiful spots are easily accessible.

Along the way, several stops are well worth making:

Badwater Basin: a vast salt flat located below sea level. The landscape is quite surreal!
Zabriskie Point: a superb panorama over Death Valley's sculpted and colourful terrain.
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes: sand dunes that almost make you feel like you've travelled to a different continent.
Artist's Palette: a scenic drive through mountains tinted with various colours.

My expert tip: In Death Valley, never underestimate the heat! In summer, temperatures can become extreme, and it's certainly not the time for long hikes. Opt for a visit outside peak season for better weather conditions.

3. Joshua Tree, in the realm of the Joshua trees

The Joshua tree is unique to the American Southwest and serves as the park's emblem. — The Joshua tree is unique to the American Southwest and the park's emblem

The amazing Skull Rock, easily accessible from the road. — The amazing Skull Rock, easily accessible from the road

Keys View offers spectacular vistas of San Jacinto and Gorgonio mountains, two of California's highest peaks. — Keys View offers spectacular vistas of San Jacinto and Gorgonio mountains, two of California's highest peaks

Joshua Tree is the perfect spot for stargazers! You can see the Milky Way with the naked eye. — Joshua Tree is the perfect spot for stargazers! You can see the Milky Way with the naked eye

Welcome to one of California's most recognisable landscapes! At Joshua Tree National Park, two desert ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado, meet, creating a truly unique setting.

But the park's main stars are, of course, the famous Joshua trees, with their sometimes strange shapes that look like they've stepped straight out of a film set.

Why I love Joshua Tree:

The great thing about Joshua Tree is that you don't need to go on a long hike to explore the park. I mostly toured it by car myself, and the Joshua trees are everywhere; you can see them as far as the eye can reach!

To discover the park's different facets, I recommend these few stops:

Skull Rock: an astonishing rock naturally sculpted into the shape of a skull, easily accessible from the road.
Keys View: a panoramic viewpoint offering elevated views of the desert landscapes.
Hidden Valley: a short hike ideal for discovering the park's typical rock formations and vegetation.

My expert tip: If your itinerary is packed, don't rule out Joshua Tree for your road trip! The park can be crossed from northwest to south via a scenic route of about 100 km, so there's no shortage of stops along the way. I have very fond memories of it, even without doing any major hikes.

4. Sequoia & Kings Canyon, in the land of giants

Walk among the giants in Sequoia National Park. — A California road trip isn't complete without seeing the sequoias

It's said to be more than 2,200 years old. — General Sherman is the park's main attraction and the largest living organism on Earth, with a circumference of 31m and a height of 84m

The Kings Canyon Scenic Byway. — With 80km of breathtaking scenery, the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway will not disappoint

This hollowed-out tree trunk is perfect for a photo opportunity! — If you're travelling by car or campervan under 22 feet, venture through Tunnel Log

Head to the Sierra Nevada to explore Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, two neighbouring parks where nature takes on truly incredible proportions.

Giant sequoias are, of course, the main attraction, but the scenery doesn't stop there: mountains, canyons, and scenic roads complete the landscape. Plenty to feast your eyes on even before you start walking!

Why I love Sequoia & Kings Canyon:

It's hard to truly grasp how enormous sequoias are until you stand beneath them. And believe me, next to some of them, you really do feel tiny!

If I had to pick three experiences at Sequoia & Kings Canyon, they would be these:

General Sherman Tree: the park's main attraction, over 2,200 years old and one of the most impressive sequoias to see.
Giant Forest: a forest where many giant sequoias are concentrated, perfect for walking among these extraordinary trees.
Kings Canyon Scenic Byway: a superb scenic route to discover another facet of the park, between canyon, mountains, and river.

My expert tip: The trail to General Sherman is very well maintained, but remember that it's downhill on the way there and uphill on the way back! I recall being a little out of breath on the ascent. Nothing insurmountable, but take your time, especially if you were expecting just a simple stroll.

5. Pinnacles, my more secluded favourite

The park takes its name from the 'pinnacles', numerous volcanic rock spires created 23 million years ago. — The park is named after its numerous volcanic rock spires, formed 23 million years ago

Reach the Bear Gulch reservoir via the Moses Spring Trail, a short 2km round trip hike. — Reach the Bear Gulch reservoir via the Moses Spring Trail, a short 2km round trip hike

The pinnacles, remnants of an extinct volcano, have shifted from their original location on the San Andreas Fault. — The pinnacles, remnants of an extinct volcano, have shifted from their original location on the San Andreas Fault

Look up to the sky and try to spot California condors, an endangered species. — Look up to the sky and try to spot California condors, an endangered species

Don't forget your torch to explore Bear Gulch Cave, and watch out for bats!

To round off this top 5, let's head to Pinnacles National Park, a less well-known park than California's classic big hitters, but one that's truly worth a detour. Located about an hour and twenty minutes from Monterey, it easily fits into a road trip along the California coast.

Rock formations, trails, and reservoirs create a surprising landscape that is very different from the other parks in this selection.

Why I love Pinnacles:

I really loved Pinnacles for the variety of its landscapes. It's a park that's great to explore on foot, without necessarily needing to plan a major hike.

My personal favourite is the Moses Spring Trail to Bear Gulch Reservoir. The trail allows you to discover the park's characteristic rock formations before arriving at the reservoir. The hike isn't too long, and I found it quite easy, making it a great option for a first exploration.

My expert tip: Don't underestimate the heat at Pinnacles! I was there in mid-September, and it was 43 °C, so the hike was quite intense in that heat. If temperatures are soaring, set off early in the morning, bring plenty of water, and choose a hike suitable for the conditions.

As you can tell, national parks are among my must-sees for a road trip in California. And what I love most is that each one offers a completely different experience.

I hope my personal favourites and tips will help you make your choices and plan your next road trip. Now, all that's left is to hit the road!

Which park are you most keen to visit? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!