California
National parks, the official driver handbook, and how far you can realistically reach by car — everything you need to start planning a trip around California.
National parks in California
Alcatraz Island
ALCA
Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail
BUOV
Cabrillo National Monument
CABR
California National Historic Trail
CALI
Castle Mountains National Monument
CAMO
Channel Islands National Park
CHIS
César E. Chávez National Monument
CECH
Death Valley National Park
DEVA
Devils Postpile National Monument
DEPO
Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site
EUON
Fort Point National Historic Site
FOPO
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
GOGA
John Muir National Historic Site
JOMU
Joshua Tree National Park
JOTR
Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
JUBA
Lassen Volcanic National Park
LAVO
Lava Beds National Monument
LABE
Manzanar National Historic Site
MANZ
Mojave National Preserve
MOJA
Muir Woods National Monument
MUWO
Old Spanish National Historic Trail
OLSP
Pinnacles National Park
PINN
Point Reyes National Seashore
PORE
Pony Express National Historic Trail
POEX
Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
POCH
Presidio of San Francisco
PRSF
Redwood National and State Parks
REDW
Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
RORI
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
SAFR
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
SAMO
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
SEKI
Tule Lake National Monument
TULE
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
WHIS
Yosemite National Park
YOSEScenic byways in California
Ancient Bristlecone Scenic Byway (Route 168)
National Scenic Byway — 36 mi
View byway →Angeles Crest Scenic Byway (Route 2)
National Scenic Byway — 57 mi
View byway →Arroyo Seco Historic Parkway - Route 110
National Scenic Byway — 9 mi
View byway →Barrel Springs Back Country Byway
National Scenic Byway — 45 mi
View byway →Bigfoot Scenic Byway
National Scenic Byway — 82 mi
View byway →Bradshaw Trail
National Scenic Byway — 56 mi
View byway →Buckhorn Back Country Byway
National Scenic Byway — 44 mi
View byway →Carson Pass Highway (Route 88)
National Scenic Byway — 58 mi
View byway →Chimney Peak Back Country Byway
National Scenic Byway — 35 mi
View byway →Death Valley Scenic Byway
National Scenic Byway — 86 mi
View byway →Ebbetts Pass Scenic Byway
National Scenic Byway — 63 mi
View byway →Emigrant Trail
National Scenic Byway — 124 mi
View byway →Feather River Scenic Byway
National Scenic Byway — 127 mi
View byway →Historic Route 66
National Scenic Byway — 996 mi
View byway →Jacinto Reyes Scenic Byway (Route 33)
National Scenic Byway — 37 mi
View byway →Kings Canyon Scenic Byway
National Scenic Byway — 49 mi
View byway →Lassen Scenic Byway
National Scenic Byway — 171 mi
View byway →Lee Vining Canyon Scenic Byway
National Scenic Byway — 12 mi
View byway →Modoc Volcanic Scenic Byway
National Scenic Byway — 91 mi
View byway →Outback Scenic Byway
National Scenic Byway — 158 mi
View byway →Pacific Coast Highway - California's Route 1
National Scenic Byway — 795 mi
View byway →Pacific Coast Scenic Byway - Oregon
National Scenic Byway — 345 mi
View byway →Palms to Pines Scenic Byway
National Scenic Byway — 65 mi
View byway →Ramona Expressway
National Scenic Byway — 18 mi
View byway →Rim of the World Scenic Byway
National Scenic Byway — 97 mi
View byway →Route 1 - Big Sur Coast Highway
National Scenic Byway — 75 mi
View byway →Route 1 - San Luis Obispo North Coast Byway
National Scenic Byway — 58 mi
View byway →Route 101--Redwood Highway
National Scenic Byway — 11 mi
View byway →Route 116--Sonoma County
National Scenic Byway — 26 mi
View byway →Route 12--Valley of the Moon Highway
National Scenic Byway — 21 mi
View byway →Route 125--Lemon Grove
National Scenic Byway — 8 mi
View byway →Route 140--Mariposa County
National Scenic Byway — 44 mi
View byway →Route 151--Shasta Dam Boulevard
National Scenic Byway — 7 mi
View byway →Route 152--Pacheco Pass Road
National Scenic Byway — 15 mi
View byway →Route 154--San Marcos Pass Road
National Scenic Byway — 32 mi
View byway →Route 156--Monterey County
National Scenic Byway — 5 mi
View byway →Route 160--River Road
National Scenic Byway — 48 mi
View byway →Route 163--Cabrillo Freeway
National Scenic Byway — 1 mi
View byway →Route 24--Alameda County
National Scenic Byway — 10 mi
View byway →Route 280--Father Junipero Serra Freeway
National Scenic Byway — 22 mi
View byway →Route 35--Skyline Boulevard
National Scenic Byway — 39 mi
View byway →Route 395--Inyo County
National Scenic Byway — 129 mi
View byway →Route 395--Mono County
National Scenic Byway — 120 mi
View byway →Route 50--El Dorado County
National Scenic Byway — 60 mi
View byway →Route 580--MacArthur Freeway
National Scenic Byway — 12 mi
View byway →Route 62--Twentynine Palms Highway
National Scenic Byway — 9 mi
View byway →Route 68--Monterey County
National Scenic Byway — 15 mi
View byway →Route 680--Alameda County
National Scenic Byway — 15 mi
View byway →Route 680--Contra Costa County
National Scenic Byway — 14 mi
View byway →Route 74
National Scenic Byway — 68 mi
View byway →Route 78--Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Road
National Scenic Byway — 140 mi
View byway →Route 9--Saratoga-Los Gatos Road
National Scenic Byway — 10 mi
View byway →Route 91--Riverside Freeway
National Scenic Byway — 10 mi
View byway →Routes 5 & 580--West Side Freeway
National Scenic Byway — 60 mi
View byway →Saline Valley Road Back Country Byway
National Scenic Byway — 94 mi
View byway →Sierra Heritage Scenic Byway (Route 168)
National Scenic Byway — 82 mi
View byway →Sierra Vista Scenic Byway
National Scenic Byway — 80 mi
View byway →Smith River Scenic Byway
National Scenic Byway — 35 mi
View byway →State of Jefferson Scenic Byway
National Scenic Byway — 108 mi
View byway →Sunrise Scenic Byway
National Scenic Byway — 24 mi
View byway →Tioga Road/Big Oak Flat Road
National Scenic Byway — 55 mi
View byway →Trinity Heritage Scenic Byway
National Scenic Byway — 85 mi
View byway →Trinity Scenic Byway
National Scenic Byway — 134 mi
View byway →Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway
National Scenic Byway — 500 mi
View byway →Wild Horse Canyon Scenic Backcountry Byway
National Scenic Byway — 12 mi
View byway →Yuba-Donner Scenic Byway
National Scenic Byway — 153 mi
View byway →Traffic rules
Right turn on red: permitted after a full stop unless a sign prohibits it.
Speed, seat-belt and phone classifications follow the IIHS and GHSA state-law tables; laws change, so confirm the details in California's official source: California DMV. For the full rundown, see our US driving-rules guide.
Driver handbook
Refueling in California
Self-service is standard: pull up to the pump, pay at the pump by card or prepay inside, then fill up yourself. Many stations — especially overnight — won't switch the pump on until you've paid. Fuel is priced per US gallon, and a regular fill is right for almost every rental.
Latest EIA weekly figure in USD per US gallon; some states show their PADD regional average. Compare every state on the fuel-price map, or read the full guide to refueling in the USA.