13 This California Thanksgiving Road Map Hits Coastal And Mountain Views Worth The Drive

Late November in California feels like the state exhaling. I’ve taken drives that start in cool morning fog and end in warm gold light that hits the hillsides just right.

The roads calm down after the holiday rush, and the landscapes suddenly feel generous, cliffs opening into long ocean views, pines lifting into crisp mountain air, granite catching the sun like it has all the time in the world.

I’ve learned to pack layers, leave earlier than seems necessary, and let the day stretch however it wants. Thanksgiving weekend is when California reveals its quieter corners, the ones you only find when you stop chasing the big names. This route follows the detours that made me linger longer than planned.

1. Carmel By The Sea

Morning air arrives cool and salt-clean, and the white sweep of Carmel Beach glows under soft sun. Late November brings fewer day trippers, so Ocean Avenue feels walkable and the cypress silhouettes seem to lean closer. The village folds into hills that catch that cinematic golden hour.

Stroll Scenic Road for cliff-edge vistas, then angle south to Carmel River State Beach where the lagoon draws shorebirds. The mission’s sandstone warms in the slanting light, and Point Lobos State Natural Reserve sits minutes away with sea otters in sheltered coves. Tide patterns are gentle, but swells can pound rocks.

Base in town and arrive early for Point Lobos parking; lots often fill by late morning. Layers matter: breezes are brisk, evenings cool quickly, and sunrise rewards come easy. Book timed entry if offered.

2. Monterey

Harbor boats clink softly while sea lions bark below the pier, and the air smells faintly of kelp. In late November, the Aquarium runs regular hours and Cannery Row is steady but manageable, especially earlier in the day. Low sun turns the bay into layered blues that mirror migrating birds overhead.

Walk the Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail from Fisherman’s Wharf to Pacific Grove for tide-sparked rock pools and distant spouts from gray whales beginning migration. Look for Brandt’s cormorants nesting on offshore rocks near Point Pinos. Evenings bring cool fog fingers but clearer afternoons are common.

Park near Custom House Plaza and rent bikes for an easy trail glide. Reserve Aquarium tickets in advance for holiday timing. Dress for chilly breezes; windbreakers beat bulkier coats here.

3. Big Sur

Cliffs lift straight from turquoise water, and the light feels carved and clean after fall storms wash the air. Late November often means cooler, clearer days with early sunsets that paint Bixby Bridge in copper tones. Traffic is lighter than summer yet still steady near pullouts.

Expect sweeping stops at Garrapata State Park, Hurricane Point, and Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park for McWay Falls viewing from the officially open overlook. Trails can close after heavy rain, so check conditions. Coastal scrub smells of sage and chaparral when the wind shifts.

Carry a full tank and confirm Highway 1 status around slide-prone zones before leaving Monterey. Cell service is patchy, restrooms cluster at state parks, and daylight runs short, so plan turnaround times. I linger for twilight at Hurricane Point.

4. Cambria

Moonstone Beach boardwalk creaks softly under quick steps as waves shuffle polished stones. Thanksgiving weekend in Cambria tends to feel unhurried, with open inns and easy parking along Moonstone Beach Drive. Afternoons warm just enough for a slow stroll in a fleece.

Sweep north toward Fiscalini Ranch Preserve where bluff trails deliver sweeping ocean looks and bobbing kelp beds. Elephant seals at Piedras Blancas haul out nearby, visible from signed viewing areas. Sunsets are low-slung and colorful, lighting offshore reefs like stained glass.

Stay near West Village for walkability and drive Highway 1 early to dodge holiday clogs. Bring binoculars for seals and wintering shorebirds. Tide awareness helps: high water can splash boardwalk edges after storms.

5. Mendocino

Fog drifts like folded silk across headlands and then lifts to reveal clean horizons and whitewater drama. Late November thins crowds on Highway 1 north of Point Arena, making the village feel sleepy and picturesque. Cedar smoke from fireplaces sometimes edges the air.

Headlands State Park wraps the town with clifftop trails carved above sea caves and arches. To the east, Navarro River Redwoods State Park lines Highway 128 with glowing big-leaf maples in the season’s tail end. Surf pounds harder after storms, and sunsets turn saturated.

Lodging books up for holiday weekends, so reserve early. Daylight is brief; plan loop drives with fuel stops in Fort Bragg or Albion. I time walks for midafternoon when wind eases and colors deepen.

6. Point Reyes Station And Point Reyes National Seashore

Morning chill settles over dairy pastures while hawks kite above fencelines. Around Thanksgiving, Point Reyes sees steady day use but feels calmer than summer, with elk visible on Tomales Point’s ridges. Mist can linger, then burn to blue.

Explore Limantour Beach for mirrored shallows and shorebird flocks, or drive to Drakes Beach’s white cliffs. The lighthouse stairs may close for maintenance or high wind, so check alerts. Tule elk are often easier to spot in cool weather along the trail or from Pierce Point Road.

Base in Point Reyes Station for coffee, picnic supplies, and trail maps at the Bear Valley Visitor Center. Roads are narrow and slow; allow time between trailheads. Dress in layers and prepare for gusty, shifting forecasts.

7. Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park

Granite walls glow pale pink at sunrise while the valley floor exhales frost. Late November often brings open roads into Yosemite Valley, though tire chains can be required after storms. Crowds thin compared to summer, especially early and late in the day.

Bridalveil Fall may run light, but recent rain can revive cascades and mirror pools near Sentinel Bridge. El Capitan meadows host quiet deer browsing and clear views of the Nose. Short days mean fast-moving shadows that sharpen texture on Half Dome.

Reserve park entry if reservations are reinstated; otherwise, arrive early for parking. Check NOAA and NPS for chain controls and possible Tioga Road closure, typical by this time. I carry microspikes for icy morning paths.

8. Sequoia National Park And Three Rivers Gateway

Cool, resin-scented air hangs under colossal trunks where light filters in slow amber bands. By Thanksgiving, General Sherman Tree trails are open unless fresh snow falls, and shuttle service may be paused for the season. The approach from Three Rivers climbs quickly into winter chill.

Walk the Congress Trail to feel the scale of giant sequoias, then check views over the foothills from Beetle Rock. Moro Rock’s stairs can ice up and may close after storms, so watch current conditions. Wildlife is quieter, yet Steller’s jays still flash cobalt among needles.

Carry layers, traction if forecasts suggest icy patches, and extra water at elevation. Fuel up in Three Rivers before the grade. Parking fills midday; start early for open spaces near Sherman.

9. South Lake Tahoe

Cold air sparkles over the lake while early-season snow frosts the peaks. Around late November, ski areas may open limited terrain depending on storms and temps, and shoulder-season calm still lingers in town. Roads are plowed quickly but chain controls pop up after snow.

Drive to Emerald Bay State Park for the classic overlook, best under morning light when the water reads deep cobalt. Hike lower-elevation trails like Cascade Falls if conditions allow, watching for icy steps. Afternoons tilt windy, sharpening the lake’s color bands.

Check Caltrans road conditions and carry chains even in AWD. Parking at Emerald Bay is tight; arrive early or plan the Vikingsholm lot. I bring a thermos and watch the alpenglow slide down Tallac.

10. Mammoth Lakes

Steam rises from earth-warmed flats near Hot Creek while the Sherwins wear a thin sugar coat. Late November can swing from dry trail days to wintery snaps, with Mammoth Mountain often spinning some lifts by the holiday. Nights bite; days shine bright and clear.

Loop the Mammoth Scenic Loop for lodgepole quiet, then stop at the Earthquake Fault fissure if roads are clear. Sunrise paints the Minarets from Minaret Vista with orange edges, and basalt at Devils Postpile usually closes for the season by then. The sky feels enormous.

Check Mono County and USFS updates for road closures and avalanche advisories. Pack traction and warm layers. Fuel and groceries are easy in town; remote pullouts can be icy, so park straight and careful.

11. Ojai

Late-day light slips between valley walls and makes the “pink moment” feel like a private show. Thanksgiving timing is mellow, with farm stands open and trailheads less crowded than high summer. Mornings are cool, afternoons mild, and the scent of sage rides the breeze.

Stroll the Shelf Road Trail for orange grove views, then drive Highway 150 for curves and wide lookouts toward Topatopa. Rose Valley Falls may have a trickle after early storms, and the oak woodlands turn russet. Town stays compact and leafy.

Park along Gridley or Shelf Road early to avoid tight spaces. Check Los Padres Forest notices for any fire-related closures. I grab citrus at a roadside stand and chase the pink glow from the Valley View turnout.

12. Santa Barbara

Palms flicker against a bright, forgiving sky while the Channel Islands sit clean on the horizon. Late November delivers mild days and cool nights, with beaches quieter than summer and steady open hours at the Mission and museums. Morning fog clears to silver-blue afternoons.

Walk the Douglas Family Preserve for cliff-top dog-friendly paths, or climb Inspiration Point for city-and-sea panoramas. Shorebirds cruise Leadbetter’s tideline, and harbor seals sometimes lounge on offshore buoys. Sunsets pour warm color across sandstone bluffs.

Park near Arroyo Burro for easy access to bluffs and restrooms. Holiday weekends fill waterfront lots, so go early or angle for neighborhood parking where signed. Pack layers; sea breezes can turn sharp after 3 pm.

13. Joshua Tree National Park And Nearby Joshua Tree Town

Granite boulders warm under clear sun while yuccas cast long, spiky shadows. Late November is prime here: cool days, cold nights, and trailheads that fill but thin by late afternoon. Skies turn indigo fast after sunset.

Wander Hidden Valley’s loop for classic rock gardens, then drive to Keys View for Coachella Valley panoramas and San Jacinto’s snowy crown when storms allow. Cholla Cactus Garden glows at golden hour, needles lit like lanterns. Dirt roads may be washboarded but passable.

Enter early from the West Entrance to beat lines, and carry extra water despite cool temps. Campgrounds book months ahead; check day-use lots and overflow parking guidance. I stay for the rising stars, then exit slowly to keep night vision.