17 days in California & Crater Lake National Park Itinerary

Kick off your visit on the 21st (Fri): admire the striking features of Santa Barbara County Courthouse, steep yourself in history at Old Mission Santa Barbara, then take a stroll through State Street Underpass, then observe the fascinating underwater world at Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center, and finally take a leisurely stroll along Stearns Wharf.

To see other places to visit, more things to do, reviews, and more tourist information, read our Santa Barbara trip planner.

Columbus to Santa Barbara is an approximately 8-hour flight. You can also drive; or take a bus. The time zone changes from Eastern Standard Time (EST) to Pacific Standard Time (PST), which is usually a -3 hour difference. Prepare for a bit cooler weather when traveling from Columbus in July: high temperatures in Santa Barbara hover around 75°F and lows are around 60°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 22nd (Sat) to allow enough time to travel to Channel Islands National Park.

Kick off your visit on the 22nd (Sat): step off the mainland to explore Anacapa Island, explore the fascinating underground world of The Sea Caves, and then step off the mainland to explore Santa Cruz Island.

To find maps, where to stay, and other tourist information, read Channel Islands National Park day trip planning site.

Use the Route module to find suitable travel options from Santa Barbara to Channel Islands National Park. July in Channel Islands National Park sees daily highs of 75°F and lows of 60°F at night. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 23rd (Sun) so you can travel to Ventura.

Change things up with a short trip to El Matador State Beach in Malibu (about 40 minutes away).

To find where to stay, maps, photos, and tourist information, use the Ventura road trip planner.

Explore your travel options from Channel Islands National Park to Ventura with the Route module. In July in Ventura, expect temperatures between 73°F during the day and 62°F at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 25th (Tue) to allow time to drive to Joshua Tree National Park.

Kick off your visit on the 26th (Wed): take in nature's colorful creations at Cholla Cactus Garden, take in the dramatic natural features at Skull Rock, and then admire the verdant scenery at Hidden Valley Nature Trail.

To see where to stay, reviews, ratings, and other tourist information, you can read our Joshua Tree National Park online holiday planner.

Drive from Ventura to Joshua Tree National Park in 4 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of bus and flight; or do a combination of bus and car. While traveling from Ventura, expect much hotter days and somewhat warmer nights in Joshua Tree National Park, ranging from highs of 103°F to lows of 78°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 26th (Wed) to allow enough time to travel to Death Valley National Park.

On the 27th (Thu), get great views at Father Crowley Vista Point, take some stellar pictures from Dante's View, steep yourself in history at Harmony Borax Works, take in the dramatic natural features at Zabriskie Point, then take in the dramatic natural features at Devil's Golf Course, and finally contemplate the waterfront views at Badwater Basin.

For other places to visit, maps, where to stay, and tourist information, go to the Death Valley National Park trip itinerary maker tool.

You can drive from Joshua Tree National Park to Death Valley National Park in 5 hours. Other options are to drive; or do a combination of car and flight. Traveling from Joshua Tree National Park in July, plan for a bit cooler nights in Death Valley National Park, with lows around 73°F. On the 28th (Fri), you'll have the morning to explore before heading off to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park.

Kick off your visit on the 29th (Sat): get a dose of the wild on Sequoia Sightseeing Tours, then explore the striking landscape at Moro Rock Trail, and then delve into the lush surroundings at Giant Forest.

To see where to stay, more things to do, ratings, and more tourist information, read Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park trip tool.

Traveling by car from Death Valley National Park to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park takes 7.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive. Traveling from Death Valley National Park in July, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park is a bit cooler at night with lows of 66°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 29th (Sat) to allow enough time to drive to Paicines.

Start off your visit on the 30th (Sun): explore the wealth of natural beauty at Pinnacles National Park.

You can plan Paicines trip in no time by asking Klarna Trips to help create your itinerary.

Drive from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park to Paicines in 4.5 hours. Prepare for a bit cooler weather when traveling from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park in July: high temperatures in Paicines hover around 82°F and lows are around 55°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 30th (Sun) early enough to travel to Sacramento.

Kick off your visit on the 31st (Mon): get to know the resident critters at Sacramento Zoo, explore the landscape on two wheels at American River Bicycle Trail, and then examine the collection at California State Railroad Museum.

Before you visit Sacramento, use our trip planner to discover what you can do and see there.

Drive from Paicines to Sacramento in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can drive. Plan for a bit warmer temperatures traveling from Paicines in July, with highs in Sacramento at 93°F and lows at 61°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 31st (Mon) so you can go by car to Lassen Volcanic National Park.

Plan a trip to Lassen Volcanic National Park easily and quickly by telling Klarna Trips to suggest an itinerary.

You can drive from Sacramento to Lassen Volcanic National Park in 3.5 hours. Expect a bit warmer temperatures when traveling from Sacramento in July; daily highs in Lassen Volcanic National Park reach 101°F and lows reach 68°F. On the 1st (Tue), you're off to Redwood National Park.

Start off your visit on the 1st (Tue): delve into the lush surroundings at Tall Trees Grove. On your second day here, explore the striking landscape of Redwood National Park.

To see traveler tips, maps, reviews, and other tourist information, you can read our Redwood National Park travel route planner.

Traveling by car from Lassen Volcanic National Park to Redwood National Park takes 5.5 hours. Expect much colder weather when traveling from Lassen Volcanic National Park in August: highs in Redwood National Park hover around 64°F, while lows dip to 52°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 3rd (Thu) so you can travel to Crater Lake National Park.

Spend the 4th (Fri) exploring nature at Crater Lake National Park. There's much more to do: cruise along Rim Dr, look for all kinds of wild species at Rogue River Gorge Viewpoint, steep yourself in history at Rim Village Visitor Center, and take in the dramatic scenery at Vidae Falls.

To see traveler tips, maps, reviews, and more tourist information, use the Crater Lake National Park road trip planning tool.

Explore your travel options from Redwood National Park to Crater Lake National Park with the Route module. Traveling from Redwood National Park in August, you will find days in Crater Lake National Park are much warmer (93°F), and nights are somewhat warmer (60°F). You'll have a few hours on the 6th (Sun) to wrap things up before traveling home.