Why a one-way RV rental is the best way to road trip
If you’re thinking about taking a road trip in the future but worried about time or money, strongly consider using a one-way RV rental. This is because of the freedom afforded to your plans when you book one. If your vacation has a time crunch, or you’re moving cross country, or you just plain don’t want to drive the distance you’ve just cut across, a one-way RV rental is definitely going to save you time, sanity, and money. Plus, when we say freedom of plan, we really mean it in every which way. When you find a place that really calls to you, stay a little longer— you’re not bound to a certain place. Which is really good news, because one of our favorite road trips ever has so many amazing places along its journey that it’ll be impossible not to dwell in a favorite spot. Below is our RV road trip itinerary for a one-way RV rental from Los Angeles to San Francisco.Los Angeles
We begin our road trip in the glitzy City of Angels, a place that needs no introduction. Los Angeles is legendary, with an entire lifetime’s worth of things to do. There’s the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Santa Monica Pier, Griffith Observatory, Rodeo Drive, Hollywood Boulevard, Beverly Hills. . . and that’s barely scratching the surface. Not to mention nearby Malibu. The golden lights from the city glow deep into the night, and the golden sand of Venice Beach is perfect for sunbathing in the day. Try not to get too lost in Los Angeles’ pull, because it’s only the start of our California road trip.
Things to Do in Los Angeles:
Santa Monica Pier | Hollywood Walk of Fame | Runyon Canyon ParkSanta Barbara
The next stop in our one-way RV rental from Los Angeles to San Francisco is in Santa Barbara. Known as the American Riviera, Santa Barbara is famous for its Mediterranean-style white stucco architecture. With its red clay roof tiles, palm trees lining the streets, and the Santa Ynez mountains looming in the distance, it’s easy to feel as if you’ve been transported across the world to a city along the Southern coast of Spain.
Downtown Santa Barbara is a labyrinth of boutique shops and restaurants. Vibrant flowers and vines pop along the stucco buildings of the walking districts. String lights glow at night above the outdoor restaurants. In short, Santa Barbara is a laid back, Mediterranean dream.
Things to Do in Santa Barbara:
Los Padres National Forest | Old Mission Santa Barbara 1786 | Arroyo Burro Beach County ParkPismo Beach
Next, we’ll bring our RV to the quintessential Californian seaside town of Pismo Beach. There’s a sweet and definite nostalgia to Pismo’s downtown strip, with its 60s era surf shops and neon signs. In fact, every year the town hosts an Classic Car show through its main street and along the boardwalk. The real star of Pismo Beach is, of course, the beach itself— all 17 miles of it. As a surfing hub for the San Luis Obispo County region, there’s plenty of space to stretch out among the steady tide and golden sand shore. Further south along the coastline is the vast Rancho Guadalupe Dunes Preserve. Here, miles of towering sand dune slopes meet the ocean, an incredible natural feature that’s a respite from the twill of urban life.
Things to Do in Pismo Beach:
Rancho Guadalupe Dunes Preserve | Dinosaur Caves Park | Pismo PromenadeSilver Peak Wilderness
Further north, the coastal scenery begins to change. The northern extent of Los Padres National Forest is the region of Silver Peak Wilderness. This time, our one-way RV rental from Los Angeles doesn't have one specific city to visit. For this portion of the trip, turn your RV inward for mountain camping. Near the coast, Salmon Creek Falls has a hiking loop that brings travelers to the base of a 120-foot cascade. Along the water are numerous black sand beaches sheltered by steep, rocky cliffs near Ragged Point. And all throughout the region are dozens of hiking trails and RV campgrounds to immerse yourself in for some proper woodland camping. Just along the coast by Redwood Gulch is the Nathaniel Owings Memorial Redwood Grove. A hidden gem in the Rocky Mountains, it is the world’s southernmost Redwood Grove in existence.
Things to Do in Silver Peak Wilderness:
Nathaniel Owings Memorial Redwood Grove | Salmon Creek Falls | Cruickshank TrailBig Sur
The dramatic, jagged coastline of Big Sur is one of America’s most iconic, most breathtaking vistas. The region of Big Sur stretches between San Simeon in the south to Carmel in the north, through miles of the longest undeveloped coast in the US. With its stunning view of the Pacific’s azure waters, it’s no wonder that Big Sur’s section of Highway 1 is regarded as possibly the most scenic drive in the US as well. Most famous within the drive is the crossing at Bixby Creek Bridge. The grand concrete bridge connecting the highway across two mountains is an immensely popular spot to take in the extraordinary beauty of Big Sur. As the region is almost entirely undeveloped except for the occasional village, it remains a camping paradise.
Things to Do in Big Sur:
Pfeiffer Beach | Bixby Canyon Bridge | Garrapata State ParkMonterey Peninsula
The second to last stop on our RV road trip through California is to the Monterey Peninsula. The name is colloquially given to the nestled cities of Carmel-by-the-Sea, Pacific Grove, and Monterey, each one more picturesque than the last. Between the three cities, there are enough delicious seafood restaurants, wildflower beaches, and quaint shopping boutiques to last for an entire vacation. Of particular note to the area is the Monterey Bay Aquarium, renowned for its extensive catalogue of ocean creatures and its ethereal floor-to-ceiling glass exhibits. At the aquarium, you’ll find sea otters, penguins, pacific octopus, green turtles, and sharks. Precisely, the aquarium is home to a dozen species, including leopard sharks, blacktip reef sharks, hammerhead sharks, and even great whites. Also not to be missed are the fairytale homes and shops of Carmel-by-the-Sea, for their heart-melting whimsy straight from the pages of a storybook.
Things to Do in Monterey Peninsula:
Monterey Bay Aquarium | 17 Mile Drive | Cannery RowSan Francisco
Finally, the last stop on our one-way RV rental from Los Angeles— of course, it’s San Francisco. This eclectic city has a little bit of everything to its charm, which is what makes it so popular. Its legendary sights, like the Golden Gate Bridge or the painted ladies of Alamo Square, are simultaneously larger than life and neighborly. A city of lovely contradictions, San Francisco is at once the fast-paced hub of Silicon Valley, and the easygoing cable cars that cut through it. Not by accident, San Francisco also has one of the most expensive real estate markets in the US. Luckily with an RV rental, you can skip the pricey hotels and Airbnbs.