14 days in California Itinerary

Joshua Tree National Park takes its name from the Joshua tree, a twisted, spiky tree with bayonet-shaped leaves at the top that's one of the few plant species hardy enough to thrive in the extreme climate of the Mojave Desert.

Discover out-of-the-way places like High sierra oasis/ route 66 and Arch Rock. Take a break from Joshua Tree National Park with a short trip to General George S. Patton Memorial Museum in Chiriaco Summit, about 40 minutes away. And it doesn't end there: cruise along Geology Tour Road, admire nature's extreme beauty at Cottonwood Spring Oasis, take in the dramatic natural features at Wonderland of Rocks, and take in the awesome beauty at Eureka Peak.

For other places to visit, traveler tips, where to stay, and tourist information, you can read our Joshua Tree National Park attractions planner .

Chicago to Joshua Tree National Park is an approximately 7.5-hour combination of flight and car. You can also drive; or do a combination of train, bus, and taxi. The time zone changes from Central Standard Time to Pacific Standard Time, which is usually a -2 hour difference. Expect somewhat warmer temperatures when traveling from Chicago in August; daily highs in Joshua Tree National Park reach 101°F and lows reach 76°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 31st (Sat) so you can drive to Los Angeles.

Surrounded by mountain ranges, forests, valleys, beaches, and deserts, the metropolitan area of Los Angeles is home to over 17 million people.

Kick off your visit on the 31st (Sat): make a trip to Stahl House, then get outside with Self Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine Temple, then see the world from above with a helicopter tour, and finally partake in some friendly competition at Fantastic Race. Here are some ideas for day two: deepen your understanding at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), then stroll the grounds of Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park, and then make a trip to Hollywood Bowl Overlook.

To see traveler tips, ratings, where to stay, and other tourist information, read Los Angeles online holiday planner .

Drive from Joshua Tree National Park to Los Angeles in 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of taxi and bus; or do a combination of car and bus. Plan for little chillier temperatures traveling from Joshua Tree National Park in August, with highs in Los Angeles at 84°F and lows at 66°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 1st (Sun) to allow time to drive to Death Valley National Park.

Extreme heat and dryness create extreme landscapes in Death Valley National Park.

Kick off your visit on the 2nd (Mon): take some stellar pictures from Father Crowley Vista Point, explore the stunning scenery at Titus Canyon, and then contemplate the long history of Harmony Borax Works. Here are some ideas for day two: take in the awesome beauty at Panamint Range and then take some stellar pictures from Aguereberry Point.

To find more things to do, reviews, other places to visit, and tourist information, use the Death Valley National Park road trip planner .

You can drive from Los Angeles to Death Valley National Park in 4.5 hours. Other options are to do a combination of train, bus, and car; or do a combination of flight and bus. Expect somewhat warmer weather when traveling from Los Angeles in September: highs in Death Valley National Park hover around 91°F, while lows dip to 63°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 3rd (Tue) so you can travel to Yosemite National Park.

Massive granite mountains, towering waterfalls, groves of Giant Sequoia trees, and wilderness as far as the eye can see distinguish the landscape of Yosemite National Park.

On the 4th (Wed), take in the dramatic natural features at Cloud's Rest and then hike along Four Mile Trail.

To find ratings, maps, other places to visit, and other tourist information, you can read our Yosemite National Park online itinerary maker .

Traveling by combination of car and bus from Death Valley National Park to Yosemite National Park takes 6 hours. Expect a bit cooler weather when traveling from Death Valley National Park in September: highs in Yosemite National Park hover around 74°F, while lows dip to 38°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 4th (Wed) early enough to drive to San Francisco.

San Francisco is a top holiday destination featuring scenic beauty and great ethnic and cultural diversity.

On the 5th (Thu), immerse yourself in nature at Angel Island State Park and then take a memorable tour with Tours.

To see ratings, reviews, more things to do, and more tourist information, use the San Francisco road trip planning tool .

Traveling by car from Yosemite National Park to San Francisco takes 4 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of car and flight; or do a combination of bus and flight. Traveling from Yosemite National Park in September, expect a bit warmer with lows of 58°F in San Francisco. On the 6th (Fri), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can travel back home.