One of California's most celebrated scenic drives, this adventure circles the spectacular Sierra Nevada mountain range. You want soaring craggy peaks, alpine lakes, mountain streams, thundering waterfalls and Yosemite National Park? Famed nature photographer Ansel Adams knew it didn't get much better than the Sierra. And you'll be hard-pressed to disagree.
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222.2 miles: 3 hours, 34 minutes
Chances are excellent you won't do a lot of Facebook boasting on the long, uneventful drive from L.A. to Fresno. However, as you zoom past the arid Central Valley farmlands, don't overlook Bakersfield and its handful of historical attractions. Once you reach the Fresno area, follow the Fresno County Fruit Trail to buy farm-fresh produce direct from local growers.
170.6 miles: 4 hours, 23 minutes
Yosemite National Park is the highlight of this leg, which takes you from the Fresno foothills to the lofty, Eastern Sierra town of Lee Vining (where you can grab some well-deserved shut-eye). At the height of summer tourist season, the Yosemite Valley sees epic crowds taking in one of the country's most iconic, awe-inspiring landscapes.
133.7 miles: 2 hours, 17 minutes
The surreal limestone formations of Mono Lake kick off this drive leg skirting the majestic Eastern Sierra. Did you pack a fishing pole? Rainbow trout can't wait to bite your bait at several lakes along the way. A must-stop, Mammoth Lakes touts gorgeous scenery, plus geologic anomaly Devils Postpile National Monument, impressive Rainbow Falls and skiing in winter.
235.3 miles: 4 hours, 4 minutes
Towering west of Lone Pine, Mount Whitney's 14,494-foot summit makes it the highest peak in the lower 48. Don't have a spare day to conquer Whitney? Relive scenes from your favorite Hollywood Westerns in Lone Pine's rugged Alabama Hills—a filming location for everything from “Bonanza” to “Joe Kidd.” Speaking of Tinseltown, you'll be back in L.A. within 3.5 hours.