Travel Shop
Merch
Travel Tips
Photography
Points & Miles
Credit Cards
California is home to nine national parks – more than any other state in the U.S. All of these parks have resorts and hotels in or near them, but home rentals give you the extra space you want during a national park trip. So I’ve rounded up the best vacation homes near California’s National Parks.
Check out my 2-Week California National Parks Road Trip!
California’s national parks have an adventure for everyone, so I’ve found the dreamiest vacation homes for you. Pro Tip: booking vacation homes is one of my top ways to save money on a California trip.
Here are the best vacation homes near California’s National Parks!
Aerial Ascent Yosemite
Wawona, California
10 guests3 bedrooms7 beds2 baths
This chalet is located inside Yosemite National Park just seven miles from Badger Pass and 16 miles from Yosemite Valley. You’ll also be close to Glacier Point Road, one of my favorite scenic drives in the park!
Mountain Home Inside Sequoia National Park
Three Rivers, California
10 guests2 bedrooms4 beds3 baths
From this home inside Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, you’ll have spectacular views of the Western Sierra Nevadas. You’ll also be just a short drive from the Foothills Visitor Center and Generals Highway, the main road that runs through the parks.
Chalone Pinnacles House
Soledad, California
14 guests bedrooms beds baths
This estate is surrounded by Chalone Vineyards, and you’ll be just a short drive from several wineries. The views from the deck, patio, pool, jacuzzi, and nearly every room are stunning. You’ll also be just a five-minute drive from the western entrance to Pinnacles National Park.
North Coast Sanctuary
Trinidad, California
6 guests2 beds bath
Get ready to fall in love with this home’s architecture, views, and hot tub! Perched on four acres above the Pacific Ocean near the seaside village of Trinidad, this retreat is close to the Redwood National and State Parks. The interior design combines wood, glass, and slate to create a peaceful setting for you to reconnect with nature.
Glamping Tent
4 guests bed1 bath
This lux yurt is part of The Castle House Estate, a medieval-themed campground that blends indoor and outdoor living. You’ll be just minutes from Joshua Tree National Park, and your yurt will have a plush bed, private fire pit, and you’ll share the outdoor showers and bathhouse.
Designer’s Cottage
Santa Barbara, California
4 guests bedrooms4 beds baths
Channel Islands National Park is one of the Best Stops Along The Pacific Coast Highway. You’ll need to catch a boat from the Santa Barbara Visitor Center to get to the Channel Islands. So this chic Santa Barbara home – with its hot tub, fire pit, luxurious patio, bikes, and proximity to one of the city’s best beaches – is the perfect home base for exploring the area.
Cozy Mountain Cabin
Shingletown, California
7 guests bedrooms4 beds baths
Lassen Volcanic National Park is one of the least visited national parks in the U.S. But this park is gorgeous, and it’s never crowded. This two-story log cabin – with its creek, deck, fire pit, BBQ, garage, and WiFi – is the perfect accommodation for exploring Lassen Volcanic and the surrounding area.
Recommended National Park Tours
Shop My National Park Essentials
What are your favorite vacation homes near California’s national parks? Please share with us in the comments!
Plan The Rest Of Your Trip
-
Incredible Vacation Homes Near California’s National Parks
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a trip to California cost?
Expected daily costs for a trip to California:
Budget: Under $100/day per person
Lower End: $150/day per person
Midrange: $250/day per person
Higher End: $350+/day per person
What do I need to pack for a California road trip?
California packing essentials:
1. Long and short-sleeved shirts.
2. Jeans, hiking pants, nicer/dress pants, shorts.
3. Shorts.
4. Rainjacket.
5. Swimsuits.
6. Phone mount.
7. Rolling cooler.
8. Roadside emergency kit.
9. Car charger.
10. Camera and/or GoPro.
What do I need to pack for a trip to California in January?
Western California has relatively mild winters (daily highs average in the mid-60s), and these are the wettest months of the year. So bring your rain gear and layers.
The Central and Northern inland areas of the state can have below-freezing temperatures and snow. Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon National Parks are only partially accessible in January. So bring warm and waterproof clothes.
In the Southeastern region, January is a dry month that’s perfect for exploring the deserts. Bring layers, hiking shoes, and your swimsuit for mild days or heated pools.
What do I need to pack for a trip to California in May?
May is one of the best months to visit California. Daytime temperatures will average in the 70s across the state. Yosemite, Sequoia, Death Valley, The Redwoods, and the other national parks will be accessible, and the tourist hordes won’t have descended yet.
This is still the shoulder season for Big Sur, San Francisco, Sonoma, and Napa in the north and LA, San Diego, and Palm Springs in the south. May is also the perfect month for a Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip.
So bring shorts, hiking pants and boots, long and short-sleeved shirts, swimsuits, some nice/dressier clothes, sunglasses, rain gear, and your sense of adventure!
How do I plan a trip to California wine country?
Napa and Sonoma are two of the best wine regions in the country and the world. Both regions have a wide range of hotels and vacation homes for every preference and price range. Sonoma is usually less expensive and less crowded than Napa.
Summer and Fall are the busiest and most expensive times of the year to visit these regions. So you can save some money and avoid the crowds by visiting in the Spring or Winter.
In addition to wine tastings and winery visits, these regions have an incredible food scene and outdoor activities.
How do I plan a trip to Los Angeles, California?
Los Angeles is one of the most-visited cities in the county and the world, so planning a trip here can be expensive. Start by determining your overall trip budget because your money goes fast in LA.
Choose a vacation home, hostel, campsite, or hotel that fits your budget and is centrally located to the majority of things you want to do. Staying near the places you want to visit will help you save money on transportation.
Eat out for lunch instead of dinner to save some money, and cook or pack out your own meals.
Do free activities: self-guided walking tours, visit public beaches, go hiking, etc.
How do I plan a California road trip?
California is one of my favorite states to explore by car. So here’s how to plan an epic California road trip!
1. Determine if you’re going to rent a car or RV or bring your own vehicle, then make any reservations early.
2. Map out your route. You’ll need to map out your driving route and know your expected driving times and distances for each day, but always make time to stop at places you’ll discover along the way.
3. When you’re camping or in an RV, make sure you have an accommodation plan for each night of your trip. Read all of my RV Tips and Tricks!
4. Download maps, apps, and playlists before you start driving. There’s no guarantee you’ll always have service. Plus, you don’t want to use up all your data.
5. Book popular activities and accommodations ahead of time.
6. Have a roadside emergency kit with you. Car troubles happen, so you need to make sure you’re prepared for this possibility.
7. Schedule one relaxation day for every four days of your road trip. Take a rest from driving and scheduled activities and just enjoy wherever you are.
8. Have buffer days build into your itinerary. More than likely, your plans will change at least a couple of times because of weather, traffic, delays, etc. So to avoid having to cancel things or skip places, plan some buffer days into your road trip plan.
9. If you’re going to drive through a larger city, make sure you time your trip to avoid rush hour traffic.
10. Don’t wait to fill up on gas. Never risk running out of gas because sometimes gas stations can be few and far between.
What is the best road trip in California?
The best road trips in California are:
1. The Pacific Coast Highway. Make sure you stop at these places along the PCH: San Francisco, Point Reyes National Seashore, Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur, Hearst Castle, Morro Rock, Santa Barbara, Channel Islands National Park, Santa Monica, and Venice Beach.
2. California’s National Parks: three nights in Death Valley, three nights in Sequoia and Kings Canyon, three nights in Yosemite, two nights in Lassen Volcanic, and two nights in the Redwood National and State Parks.
YOUR TRAVEL CHECKLIST
PIN THESE PROPERTIES!
This article about the best vacation homes near California’s national parks is not a sponsored post, and the thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own. Some of the links in this post about the best vacation homes near California’s national parks are affiliate links, and, at no cost to you, I may earn a small commission.
