The West Coast's best road trip awaits
Enjoy the open road and discover the West’s best road trip when you travel across the state of California from beautiful South Lake Tahoe to the beaches and coves of the Monterey Peninsula. Whether traveling by car or RV, you’ll enjoy a leisurely trip which also includes a stay in Yosemite National Park.
Three amazing destinations in seven days
- Zephyr Cove (Days 1-2): Start your trip on the shores of Lake Tahoe, enjoy cozy accommodations and incredible scenery.
- Yosemite (Days 3-5): Incomparable vistas and legendary American icons. Spend 3 days exploring the natural wonder of Yosemite National Park.
- Asilomar (Days 6-7): Celebrated as Monterey Peninsula's "Refuge by the Sea" breathtakingly gorgeous & ecologically diverse beachfront resort.
Start your vacation on the shoreline of Lake Tahoe, which also straddles the state line between Nevada and California. Check in to a cozy cabin at Zephyr Cove Resort to begin your adventure!
Day One: Once you’ve arrived at Zephyr Cove Resort and have checked in, take in the scenery of beautiful Lake Tahoe with a walk on the beach. Seasonal activities on the private beach include powerboat rentals, parasailing, wakeboarding and more. Looking to wind down after an afternoon of exploration? Enjoy a sunset dinner cruise and raise a glass to the week of adventures ahead!
Day Two: Begin your day with a hearty breakfast from Zephyr Cove Restaurant. Depending upon the season, you may wish to explore the area via a hike, horseback ride or even a snowmobile! If your inner shutterbug hasn’t yet been satisfied, take in a daytime sightseeing cruise to Lake Tahoe’s Emerald Bay. End your tour of South Lake Tahoe by stopping into some of the area’s casinos, which offer live entertainment as well as fun gaming action.
Yosemite National Park offers multiple hotel and campground options. Choose from 5-star accommodations at The Majestic Yosemite Hotel, or perhaps you would rather enjoy an experience more akin to camping at Half Dome Village. There are also other hotel options, such as Big Trees Lodge or Yosemite Valley Lodge in the park.
Day Three: Travel time from Lake Tahoe to Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park is about 5 hours via CA 88W. Plan to leave after breakfast at Zephyr Cove Restaurant and you’ll arrive early afternoon. Be sure to stop at the Tunnel View as you enter into Yosemite Valley to enjoy the iconic views and to take a few photos. Once you’ve taken some time to check into your Yosemite lodging, go to any Tour & Activity desk to make reservations for some of the popular interpretive programs. Complete your orientation by visiting the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center for an overview of the history and geology of the park. Finish your day with dinner and cocktails at The Mountain Room.
Day Four: Today you’ll begin your day with a Glacier Point Tour. Starting at 8:30 am at Yosemite Valley Lodge, you’ll see El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, Tunnel View and Glacier Point. Once your tour is complete, lunch at Degnan’s Kitchen or 
Degnan’s Loft where you may choose from artisan pizzas, salads, sandwiches and more. After lunch, head over to the bike rental locations at either Yosemite Valley Lodge or Half Dome Village. The valley floor is flat and you may explore over 12 miles of trails. Return your bike late afternoon and head back to your room to freshen up as you’ll enjoy fine dining at its best at The Majestic Hotel Dining Room this evening.
Day Five: You’ll check out of your room this morning, but you’ll still have time to explore more of the park before leaving for the coast. Consider pushing your limits with a climbing class with Yosemite Mountaineering School. Alternatively, enjoy a half-day guided group hike which is available for hikers of all experience levels. It’s about a 4-hour drive to the Monterey peninsula via CA-140W and CA-152W, where you’ll check in to Asilomar Conference Grounds in charming Pacific Grove.
Learn More about Yosemite National Park
Cap off your trip from the mountains to the coast by staying on the beach at Asilomar Hotel & Conference Grounds. This historic and architecturally significant property began as a YWCA camp in the early 20th century.
Day Six: Start your morning with a quiet walk on the beach boardwalk, you’ll likely spot plenty of surfers and seabirds and you might be lucky enough to spot one of the many Asilomar deer. Enjoy breakfast, family style at the Crocker Dining Hall. Make time to take a complimentary ranger-guided tour where you’ll learn about the natural, cultural and architectural history of this location. After your tour, pick up lunch to go from Phoebe’s Café and enjoy exploring the greater Monterey area by cruising 17-mile Drive. This famous scenic drive runs through Pacific Grove to Pebble Beach, don’t miss a photo stop at the Lone Cypress. Journey back to Asilomar in time for a healthy and scrumptious dinner at the historic Crocker Dining Hall. End your evening by the fire pit with a tasty s’more.
Day Seven: Fuel up with a café latte and pastry from Phoebe’s Café (insider’s tip – our favorite coffee sipping spot is by the roaring fireplace in the Hearst Social Hall.) Today, choose from a plethora of activities in the Monterey area which include Hearst Castle, the Monarch Grove Sanctuary or the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium. Looking for adventure on the water? Choose from a deep-sea fishing, whale watching or kayaking excursion.
