Pacific Southwest Road Trips

The granddaddy of SoCal desert resorts, Palm Springs has been attracting road-tripping, sunshine-seeking Los Angelenos since the 1920s. And the city's enticing, modern-day combo of swank hotels, tony shopping, fine dining and golf courses galore means it's as popular as ever. On this adventure you'll also behold the stark beauty of Joshua Tree National Park.

From SR 210, four-lane SR 18 (Waterman Avenue) heads north before angling east as a two-lane road. Heed the posted speed limit on this winding route, and stop at pull-outs along the way to marvel at sweeping vistas of the San Bernardino Valley below. Stretch your legs at pretty Big Bear Lake, where plenty of hiking trails offer water views with a backdrop of mountains.

From Mt. Shasta, SR 89 steadily gains elevation through pine woodlands as it heads toward Lassen Volcanic National Park. The park features volcanic wonders like Bumpass Hell's boiling mudpots and steam-emitting fumaroles.

Palms to Pines Scenic Byway twists and winds through San Bernardino National Forest, offering beautiful views of the surrounding mountains in the distance. It switches between two and four lanes. Sandy desert views give way to rocky mountainsides and lusher forests.

Begin your journey amid low-lying desert sagebrush before ascending 4,000 feet through increasingly tall conifers to sub-alpine aspen forest. The forest here is home to the bristlecone pine, the world’s longest-living tree. An overlook offers a view of Wheeler Peak, the highest in Nevada. The Wheeler Peak Glacier is visible at the bottom of the rock face.

Trailheads, overlooks, campgrounds, lakeside resorts and California State SNO-PARKS line the Carson Pass Scenic Highway, providing countless opportunities for recreation and sightseeing in the beautiful Sierra Nevada. The route follows the shorelines of lovely Silver and Caples lakes before reaching its highest point at Carson Pass, site of a small information station.

The Sierra Nevada mountains dominate the horizon on the Carson Valley Scenic Drive (SR 206), which also features fenced-in ranches and sprawling, expansive open land. In the charming town of Genoa—Nevada’s first permanent settlement—two historic attractions stand feet from the byway: Courthouse Museum Genoa and Mormon Station State Historic Park directly across the street.

Built in the 1920s, Mulholland Scenic Drive meanders through the Santa Monica Mountains, passing state parks, trails to overlooks, historic ranches and Hollywood movie sets on its way to Pacific beaches. Sage scrub and chaparral with occasional stands of live oak line the route, which at times curves back and forth so much, one section has been famously dubbed “The Snake.”

The dazzling sights of the Las Vegas Strip are best enjoyed at night. This 4-mile stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard encompasses everything from modern luxury resorts to quirky, old-fashioned themed casinos. Amid the lights, shopping, dining and entertainment options abound.

California's SR 1, also called the Pacific Coast Highway, is one of the most scenic drives in the nation. Stunning ocean vistas all but define this coastal route. Don't drive SR 1 if you're in a hurry (that's what I-5 is for). Most of this nearly 656-mile-long roadway is two lanes, narrow and winding, which means you'll want to slow down and admire the many gorgeous views.

Generals Highway (SR 198) accesses Sequoia National Park and Giant Sequoia National Monument. At the midpoint is Giant Forest Sequoia Grove. A half-mile hiking trail leads down to the massive, 275-foot-tall General Sherman Tree. On the way to the river meadows around Three Rivers, the route switchbacks frequently. Winter snowstorms may temporarily close the road.

Joshua trees and creosote bushes give way to juniper and pinyon pine-covered slopes, then sub-alpine forest as the Spring Mountains Scenic Drive climbs toward the base of Mount Charleston. Aspens adorn evergreen forests with gold leaves in the fall. Snow melts into rushing rivers and waterfalls in late spring. Summer brings wild horses, burros and elk out to play.