If you’re craving the raw beauty of Northern California but only have a week to spare, this tightly packed road trip itinerary covers dramatic coastlines, iconic national parks, scenic drives, and charming towns — all without camping. Perfect for working professionals looking to recharge through nature, luxury stays, and day hikes.
🧳 Trip Dates: November 8–14
🚗 Route: San Jose → Monterey → Big Sur → Sequoia & Kings Canyon → Yosemite → San Francisco
🛏️ Accommodation Style: Comfortable hotels (no camping!)
🥾 Hiking Focus: Short scenic day hikes
📸 Photos coming soon
🗺️ Quick Trip Overview
| Day | Destination | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose / Monterey Arrival | Stargazing |
| 2 | Monterey & Carmel | Aquarium, 17-Mile Drive |
| 3 | Big Sur Coastal Drive | McWay Falls, Bixby Bridge |
| 4 | Sequoia NP | General Sherman, Moro Rock |
| 5 | To Yosemite | Mist Trail, Tunnel View |
| 6 | Yosemite Valley | Taft Point, Yosemite Falls |
| 7 | San Francisco | Alcatraz, Sausalito, Golden Gate |
📆 Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: San Jose → Monterey
- ✈️ Arrive at SJC Airport (11 PM)
- 🚗 Pick up car rental (SFO)
- 🏨 Hotel: Best Western Monterey Inn
- 🌌 Optional: Stargazing at Del Monte Beach
📸 Suggested Photo: Del Monte Beach under the stars
Add photo: IMG_001.jpg
Day 2: Monterey & Carmel
- 🥐 Breakfast: Stationæry (Carmel)
- 🐠 Visit: Monterey Bay Aquarium
- 🚗 Scenic Drive: 17-Mile Drive (sunset at Lone Cypress)
- 🏙️ Explore Carmel-by-the-Sea
📸 Suggested Photos:
- Monterey Bay Aquarium jellyfish tank – IMG_002.jpg
- Lone Cypress at sunset – IMG_003.jpg
Day 3: Big Sur Coastal Drive
- 🌉 Bixby Creek Bridge
- 🏖️ Pfeiffer Beach
- 🌊 McWay Falls Viewpoint
- 🥾 Hike: Point Lobos trails (Sea Lion Point, Cypress Grove)
📸 Suggested Photos:
- McWay Falls panorama – IMG_004.jpg
- Pfeiffer Beach purple sand – IMG_005.jpg
Day 4: Fresno → Sequoia NP
- 🌲 General Sherman Tree
- 🧗♀️ Climb: Moro Rock
- 🚗 Drive: Tunnel Log
- 🥾 Trail: Big Trees Loop (easy 1.2 miles)
📸 Suggested Photos:
- General Sherman with person for scale – IMG_006.jpg
- View from top of Moro Rock – IMG_007.jpg
Day 5: Sequoia → Yosemite
- 🗺️ Tunnel View outlook
- 🥾 Mist Trail to Vernal Falls (2-3 hrs)
- 🏞️ Glacier Point (if open)
📸 Suggested Photos:
- Mist Trail granite steps – IMG_008.jpg
- Glacier Point overlook – IMG_009.jpg
Day 6: Yosemite Valley
- 🌄 Sunrise at Taft Point
- 💦 Lower Yosemite Falls
- 🌾 Sentinel Meadow Loop (easy 2 mi)
📸 Suggested Photos:
- Couple at Taft Point – IMG_010.jpg
- Reflection in Sentinel Meadow – IMG_011.jpg
Day 7: San Francisco
- 🛥️ Alcatraz Tour (book here)
- 🌉 Explore Sausalito + Heath Ceramics
- 🖼️ Painted Ladies + Lombard Street
📸 Suggested Photos:
- Alcatraz ferry ride – IMG_012.jpg
- Golden Gate Bridge from Marin Headlands – IMG_013.jpg
We decided to carve out one intense week in November to explore as much of Northern California as we could — no tents, no wasted hours, just scenic beauty, and nonstop adventure.
We landed in San Jose late at night, picked up our rental car, and hit the road straight for Monterey. That set the tone: we were going to squeeze every minute out of this trip.
🐚 Day 1: Late Night Landing → Monterey Under the Stars
We arrived at SJC around 11 PM and drove 90 minutes straight to Monterey. It was cold, quiet, and dark — but the ocean air was the perfect welcome. We checked into a simple hotel and, despite the hour, couldn’t resist sneaking out to Del Monte Beach for some stargazing.
🐠 Day 2: Monterey Magic & Sunset Along the 17-Mile Drive
We started the day with breakfast at Stationæry (get the ricotta pancakes), then spent hours mesmerized by jellyfish and sea otters at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. From there, we cruised down the 17-Mile Drive, hitting Carmel-by-the-Sea and timing it just right for a pastel-hued sunset at Lone Cypress.
📸 Favorite moment: watching the waves crash beneath Bixby Bridge as the sun dipped low.
🌊 Day 3: Big Sur’s Wild Coast
This day was all about dramatic ocean views. We hit Bixby Bridge early before the traffic, then made our way to Pfeiffer Beach — yes, the one with purple sand! McWay Falls looked just like the postcards, and we wrapped it all up with a short hike in Point Lobos. It felt like nature kept one-upping itself all day.
🌲 Day 4: Giants of Sequoia
After a quick detour through Pinnacles, we headed into Sequoia National Park — and wow. The trees here aren’t just tall, they’re ancient and humbling. We stood in silence at the base of General Sherman, clambered up Moro Rock for a 360° view, and drove through Tunnel Log like giddy kids.
🏞️ Day 5: From Sequoia to Yosemite
This was a heavy driving day, but Tunnel View made every mile worth it. That first glimpse into Yosemite Valley — granite cliffs, waterfalls, misty air — it hit us hard. We squeezed in the Mist Trail up to Vernal Falls, which was short but steep and 100% worth it.
🌄 Day 6: Golden Light & Granite Vistas
We woke up early to catch sunrise at Taft Point (bring gloves!), then hiked to Lower Yosemite Falls and took it slow through Sentinel Meadow. After days of fast-paced travel, this felt like a breath. Stillness, pine scent, soft trails. It’s probably the moment I’ll remember most.
🌉 Day 7: San Francisco & Saying Goodbye
On our final day, we made our way to San Francisco. We left our bags at the hotel and crossed off a few must-sees: Alcatraz (surprisingly moving), Sausalito and Heath Ceramics (perfect for gifts), and wrapped it all up at the Golden Gate Bridge.
It was a blur — a beautiful, whirlwind blur.
🧭 Would I Do It Again?
Absolutely. It was a trip built for people who can’t sit still, who want a little luxury after a long hike, and who believe you don’t need three weeks to see the best of California — just a good plan and a pair of comfortable shoes.
We’re already dreaming about a spring version of this same route.
If you want the exact map we used, hotel links, and a printable itinerary — I’ve bundled it all here for download. Or drop your email below and I’ll send you the version we used offline.
More photos and travel tips coming soon.