I Traveled Across Small-Town California To Visit 13 Donut Shops (And Found 6 That Totally Blew Me Away)

I spent three weeks driving through California with one mission: to find the best donuts hiding in the small towns most people speed past without a second glance.

Armed with a cooler, a questionable playlist, and absolutely zero self-control, I hit thirteen donut shops scattered from the misty northern mountains to the sunny southern coast.

Every stop had its own personality—tiny mom-and-pop counters, retro diners, and hipster bakeries tucked between surf shops. Some donuts were solid, some forgettable, but six completely stopped me in my tracks with flavors, textures, and hometown vibes I’m still dreaming about weeks later.

1. Dank Donuts — Big Bear Lake (BLEW ME AWAY)

Perched at 6,750 feet, this shop doesn’t just serve donuts—it serves an experience wrapped in sprinkles and mountain air. The moment I walked in, I knew I’d found something special: walls lined with wild flavor combos like maple bacon and fruity pebbles that actually taste like Saturday morning cartoons.

They roast their own coffee, which pairs perfectly with whatever sugar bomb you choose. Even your pup gets in on the fun with doggie donuts made from peanut butter and oats.

The vibe is pure Big Bear: laid-back, friendly, and unapologetically creative. I left with a box, a latte, and the kind of sugar high that makes you want to hike just to justify a second round.

2. OJ’s Donuts House — Big Bear Lake

Since 1979, OJ’s has been the locals’ secret—the kind of place where regulars know the counter staff by name and tourists stumble in by happy accident. Forget fancy; this is where you go for honest-to-goodness classic bars, twists, and glazed rounds that remind you why donuts became America’s favorite breakfast.

They open early and stay open late, which saved me more than once during odd-hour sugar cravings. The shop feels like stepping into your grandma’s kitchen, if your grandma happened to fry dough for a living.

Nothing here will win a beauty contest, but everything tastes like home. Sometimes that’s exactly what you need.

3. Hing’s Donuts — Bishop (BLEW ME AWAY)

Driving Highway 395 without stopping at Hing’s is like visiting Paris and skipping the Eiffel Tower—technically possible, but why would you? This roadside gem has been fueling Eastern Sierra adventures since forever, and one bite explains why it’s survived every food trend that’s come and gone.

The display case looks like it hasn’t changed in decades, which is exactly the point. Fresh, pillowy classics arrive before dawn, and by mid-morning, the best ones are gone.

I grabbed a chocolate old fashioned and a bear claw, both still warm. Standing in the parking lot at 6 a.m., watching the sun hit the mountains, I understood why road-trippers plan their routes around this place.

4. The Donut Hole — Ojai (Meiners Oaks)

Tucked in Meiners Oaks just outside Ojai proper, The Donut Hole is so small you might miss it if you blink. But the steady stream of locals lining up before sunrise tells you everything you need to know about what’s inside.

This is the kind of shop where the owner knows your order before you say it, and the donuts taste like someone actually cares. They open early—really early—which matters when you’re trying to beat the valley heat or catch the morning light at Meditation Mount.

Nothing fancy, nothing Instagram-worthy, just reliable sweetness that starts your day right. In a town full of yoga studios and organic cafes, sometimes a simple glazed donut is the most honest thing you can find.

5. Dunk ‘n’ Run Donuts — Auburn

Auburn sits in the heart of Gold Country, where history runs deep and breakfast runs even deeper. Dunk ‘n’ Run gets the assignment: fuel up the locals, the hikers, and the highway escapees with donuts and a side of whatever breakfast-y extras you need to survive the day.

They post their hours online like responsible adults, which I appreciated after one too many wild goose chases at other shops. The donuts themselves are solid—not groundbreaking, but dependable in the way a good flannel shirt is dependable.

If you’re heading to the American River or exploring old mining trails, this is your carb-loading headquarters. Grab a maple bar, a coffee, and hit the road feeling like a modern-day prospector.

6. Daily Donut — Grass Valley (BLEW ME AWAY)

Walk into Daily Donut on a Saturday morning and you’ll understand why this place owns Grass Valley’s heart. The line snakes out the door, the cases empty fast, and if you sleep in, you’re out of luck—literally.

What makes it special isn’t just the donuts (though they’re ridiculous), it’s the way the whole town treats this shop like the living room they all share. Everyone knows everyone, and if you’re new, they’ll make you feel like a regular by your second visit.

I snagged a buttermilk bar and a cinnamon twist before the rush hit. Both were cloud-light and dangerously addictive. This is the kind of shop that makes you consider moving to a small town just for easier donut access.

7. Donut Factory — Placerville

Placerville used to be called Hangtown, which is a whole vibe, but these days the only thing getting executed is your diet. Donut Factory keeps it simple and family-run, churning out the greatest hits: fritters the size of your head, old fashioneds with that perfect crackly glaze, and bars that taste like childhood.

There’s no pretense here, no artisan nonsense, just good people making good donuts the way they’ve always been made. The apple fritter alone is worth the detour off Highway 50.

I ate mine in the car because I couldn’t wait, and regretted nothing. Sometimes the best food comes from places that don’t try too hard.

8. Sunshine Donuts & Cafe — Placerville

Over on Pleasant Valley Road, Sunshine lives up to its name with a cheerful counter and cases crammed with every classic you grew up craving. This is the kind of neighborhood spot where the coffee’s always hot, the donuts are always fresh, and the locals treat it like their personal breakfast club.

Small-town reviews don’t lie, and Sunshine’s are glowing for a reason. Everything here tastes like it was made by someone who actually eats donuts, not just someone following a recipe.

I tried a glazed twist and a chocolate cake, both spot-on. Nothing revolutionary, but sometimes you don’t need a revolution—you just need a really good donut and a smile from the person handing it to you.

9. Dolly’s Donuts — Morro Bay

Right on Kennedy Way, a few blocks from the iconic Morro Rock, sits Dolly’s—a seaside institution that opens early enough to catch fishermen, surfers, and anyone else chasing the dawn. The salty air mixes with the smell of frying dough, and suddenly you’re in heaven.

Their fritters are legendary, and the cronuts (yes, cronuts in a small town!) draw praise from even the pickiest pastry snobs. I grabbed both, ate them on a bench overlooking the bay, and watched pelicans dive-bomb the water.

Dolly’s proves that great donuts and great views aren’t mutually exclusive. If you’re in Morro Bay and skip this place, you’re doing the entire Central Coast dirty.

10. Sunrise Donuts — Atascadero

Atascadero doesn’t mess around, and neither does Sunrise. This is a no-frills, get-in-get-out kind of shop that opens absurdly early and delivers exactly what you came for: donuts that taste good and won’t make you late for work.

There’s no Instagram wall, no quirky flavors, no backstory about artisan flour sourced from a single farm in France. Just solid, dependable donuts made by people who’ve been doing this long enough to know what works.

I stopped here at 5:30 a.m. on my way north and grabbed a glazed and a chocolate. Both were fresh, both were delicious, and both were gone before I hit the next town. Sometimes that’s all you need.

11. Templeton Donuts Plus — Templeton

Templeton is wine country, which means most people roll through thinking about Pinot Noir and vineyard views. But locals know the real treasure is this tiny shop on Main Street, where the donuts are dependable and the counter crew treats you like family.

The hours are posted and respected, which is rarer than you’d think in small-town California. Whether you’re a farmworker starting your shift or a tourist starting your wine tour, Templeton Donuts Plus has you covered.

I went with a classic raised and a cinnamon sugar, both perfectly executed. Nothing fancy, nothing wild, just the kind of donut that makes you nod in approval and think, “Yeah, this is good.”

12. SLO Donut Co. (SloDoCo) — Paso Robles (BLEW ME AWAY)

When SloDoCo opened its Paso Robles outpost, North County collectively lost its mind—and for good reason. This isn’t your grandma’s donut shop; this is a full-blown flavor laboratory with over 100 styles in rotation, from bourbon maple to matcha madness to things I can’t even pronounce.

Every visit is different because the menu never stops evolving. One day it’s s’mores overload, the next it’s lemon lavender with edible flowers. The creativity is off the charts, and somehow, it all works.

I tried four different donuts and regretted none of them. This is the kind of place that makes you rethink what a donut can be, then makes you come back tomorrow to rethink it again.

13. Drover’s Doughnuts — Solvang (BLEW ME AWAY)

Solvang is already a fairy tale, with its windmills and half-timbered buildings, so of course it has a donut shop that looks like it belongs in a Copenhagen dream. Drover’s Doughnuts brings boutique pastry vibes to the Santa Ynez Valley, and the result is pure magic.

These aren’t just donuts—they’re edible art. Each one is carefully crafted, beautifully topped, and tastes like someone actually cared about your happiness. The flavors are sophisticated without being snobby, playful without being gimmicky.

I had a salted caramel number that nearly made me cry, and a lavender vanilla that tasted like springtime. If you’re in wine country and skip Drover’s, you’re missing the sweetest part of the trip.