Romantic California Summer Getaways by RV
When it comes to road trips, California is hard to top. The land of fair weather always seems to deliver that carefree, top-down road trip experience. And due to its size — California is the third-largest U.S. state — there's plenty of terrain to explore. You can start at the ocean and end up in the mountains, or spend an entire weekend exploring the California deserts. Whatever your geographic preference, remember to choose someplace romantic for just the two of you to get away to and enjoy the best of the best in California. Here are our suggestions.
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Northern California Wine Country:
Sure, you can do a one-day road trip from San Francisco to Napa Valley, but where's the fun in that? To really experience Northern California's wine country, you'll want to find a great home base. We recommend the Skyline Wilderness Park where you can relax and rest after a long day of driving. Skyline Wilderness Park lies nestled at the foothills of Napa Valley. Here, a network of trails are open to hikers, bikers and equestrians seven days a week. At this campground, full and partial hookups are offered by reservation or walk-up. This park is just minutes from some of the most popular wineries of Napa. Overall, this makes it a perfect choice for those who want to experience the most popular region of California wine country.
To get started from San Francisco, head northeast, making a quick stop at Domaine Carneros to grab a flute of bubbly before continuing to the town of Napa. Here, plan to stop at the nearby William Hill Estate Winery for a tasting and tour of the sprawling estate. When you need more sustenance than wine and nibbles, stop by Oxbow Public Market for a hearty meal. After a night of rest, make your way to Castello di Amorosa, a 13th-century-style castle built using medieval methods and antique bricks. Here, you can sample wine and explore the castle grounds. To top off the trip, book a romantic meal and tasting at Sequoia Grove, a family-owned winery situated in a grove of sequoia trees.
For other options for RV camping, you could choose to stay at the:
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Calistoga RV Park - located just four blocks from downtown Calistoga and open year-round. This campground offers both full and partial hookup sites and is located beside a nine-hole golf course. Calistoga is a unique area located along the north side of wine country. With close proximity to the Palisades Range and numerous hot springs resorts, it offers something for everyone.
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Consumnes River Farm: East of Calistoga lies the fertile area of Lodi, California. Just outside of Lodi lies Consumnes River Farm, where Harvest Host members can stay year-round. Here, they bottle and produce a variety of wines, olive oils, and vinegars on site. Guests are invited to stay in a designated, shaded area nearby the tasting room.
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Bothe-Napa Valley State Park (Calistoga, CA)
Located just north of Napa, this California state park has a beautiful campground for RV sites and tent campers. There are no hookups, but a dump station and water fill area are available. Yurts and cabins are also available for rent. In addition, there are over ten miles of hikeable trails, complete with coastal redwoods, Douglas fir trees, and a variety of wildlife. This is the perfect place to stay for those who are looking to visit wineries and experience nature.
Before heading back to the city, check out the naturally carbonated hot waters of Vichy Springs Resort, a historic hot springs resort established in 1854, or hike through the Springs' 700 private acres.
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Beach Lovers Road Trip:
This itinerary includes San Diego to Dana Point to Long Beach to Malibu.
This route will take you along the coast to some of Southern California’s most popular and romantic beaches. With short drives in between each destination, you’ll have more time for relaxing in the sun. Also, staying in these destinations you will be close to major metropolitan areas as well as other popular beaches for shorter day trips. You can always add in a romantic Mexican dinner in San Diego or a sunset walk along Long Beach or Malibu to add some more romance to this itinerary. Here are some suggestions for great places to park your RV in these areas.
Some Popular RV Parks & Campgrounds:
Some of the top beaches on this route include: La Jolla Cove, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Hermosa Beach, Venice Beach, Santa Monica State Beach, and Zuma Beach.
If you want to take part in some of the area’s top activities or attractions, don’t miss these: The San Diego Zoo, Coronado Island, Sea World, Legoland, Universal Studios, Aquarium of the Pacific, Santa Monica Pier, Hollywood Boulevard, Beverly Hills, Naples Canals, Disneyland, Griffith Observatory, whale watching, surfing, hiking in Malibu.
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Outdoor Enthusiasts Road Trip:
This itinerary takes you through Joshua Tree National Park, Sequoia National Park, Yosemite National Park and Lake Tahoe. If you love outdoor activities and hanging out in national parks, this route is for you.
Some Popular RV Parks & Campgrounds:
Upper Pines, Wawona, North Pines, Hodgdon Meadows & Tuolumne Meadows Campgrounds in Yosemite National Park
Zephyr Cove Resort, Tahoe Valley RV Resort, Campground By the Lake in South Lake Tahoe, CA
With more national parks than any other state, California is a very romantic and incredibly scenic place! This route alone will take you to 4 of the state’s 9 national parks (Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks share a border so you can cross both off your list at once!). If you are outdoor enthusiasts, pack your hiking gear, kayak, bike, action cam and get out there!
Some of the top sights and attractions to see include: Arch Rock, Cholla Cactus Garden, Ryan Mountain, Skull Rock, Keys View, General Sherman, Mount Whitney, Giant Forest, Moro Rock, Tunnel Log, Half Dome, Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point, Yosemite Falls, Tunnel View, El Capitan, Bridal Veil Falls, Emerald Bay State Park, Sand Harbor, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, and Commons Beach.
Wherever you decide to venture to for your romantic California summer getaway, be sure to check in with your El Monte RV Rental location for the exact right RV for your travels.