• Updated with new information since originally published.
  • Please support our journalism through affiliate links. Affiliate Disclosure
  • Our editors recommend these diverse local experiences.

1. Andrew Molera State Park ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Category: Weekend Activities & Fun Outdoors
© rolf_52/stock.adobe.com

2. Anza Borrego Desert State Park ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Category: Weekend Activities & Fun Outdoors
© InnaPoka/stock.adobe.com

3. Bothe-Napa Valley State Park

Category: Weekend Activities & Fun Outdoors
© Matthew Benoit/stock.adobe.com

4. Calaveras Big Trees State Park

Category: Weekend Activities & Fun Outdoors
© ingusk/stock.adobe.com

5. Coast Dairies State Park

Category: Weekend Activities & Fun Outdoors
© RobertU/stock.adobe.com

6. Cuyamaca Rancho State Park

Category: Weekend Activities & Fun Outdoors
© Autumn Sky/stock.adobe.com

7. Death Valley National Park

Category: Weekend Activities & Fun Outdoors
© Alexey/stock.adobe.com

8. Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park

Category: Weekend Activities & Fun Outdoors
© cucumber images/stock.adobe.com

9. Donner Memorial State Park

Category: Weekend Activities & Fun Outdoors
© Zack Frank/stock.adobe.com

10. Garrapata State Park

Category: Weekend Activities & Fun Outdoors
© Tupungato/stock.adobe.com

11. Hearst San Simeon State Park

Category: Weekend Activities & Fun Outdoors
© liquid studios/stock.adobe.com

12. Humboldt Redwoods State Park

Category: Weekend Activities & Fun Outdoors
© jkraft5/stock.adobe.com

13. Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

Category: Weekend Activities & Fun Outdoors
© Scottiebumich/stock.adobe.com

14. Joshua Tree National Park

Category: Weekend Activities & Fun Outdoors
© Doug/stock.adobe.com

15. Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

Category: Weekend Activities & Fun Outdoors
© Lukas/stock.adobe.com

16. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

Category: Weekend Activities & Fun Outdoors
© Simon Dannhauer/stock.adobe.com

17. Limekiln State Park

Category: Weekend Activities & Fun Outdoors
© Tomasz Kawka/stock.adobe.com

18. Mount San Jacinto State Park

Category: Weekend Activities & Fun Outdoors
© Rosemarie/stock.adobe.com

19. Palomar Mountain State Park

Category: Weekend Activities & Fun Outdoors
© Aleksandr Matveev/stock.adobe.com

20. Pinnacles National Park

Category: Weekend Activities & Fun Outdoors
© stellamc/stock.adobe.com

21. Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

Category: Weekend Activities & Fun Outdoors
© Under Pressure Photo/stock.adobe.com

22. Red Rock Canyon State Park

Category: Weekend Activities & Fun Outdoors
© aragami/stock.adobe.com

23. Salt Point State Park

Category: Weekend Activities & Fun Outdoors
© Charlie/stock.adobe.com

24. Sonoma Coast State Park

Category: Weekend Activities & Fun Outdoors
© AlessandraRC/stock.adobe.com

25. Yosemite National Park

Category: Weekend Activities & Fun Outdoors
© EastVillageImages/stock.adobe.com

Summary and Frequenly Asked Questions:

California is home to some to some of the most beautiful and diverse national and state parks in the United States. You can choose to spend your leisure time surrounded by the magnificence of the desert, the awesome majesty of ancient towering redwoods or the rugged and beautiful Pacific coastline.

Map:


Plan Your Trip

Get Ready to Go!

Need some more help?


Go to travel reservations.