california travel map

Visit California

California Attractions Map

Click a marker to discover a destination or attraction.  You can then click on “Details” to get more information on the attraction.

With the California Attractions Map it’s easy to plan the perfect California vacation or weekend getaway.  To get your planning going, you’ll find all the best attractions and fun ideas to get you off to a good start.

California has it all. There are mountains, deserts, forests, lakes, oceans and Hollywood! If the only things you can think of are Disneyland or the beach, study our map to pick out other great ideas. California is the third largest state in the U.S., and every part of it has something to do.

There are so many great attractions in California. Maybe you’ve already decided to visit northern California ,  the San Francisco Bay Area and the Napa-Sonoma Wine Country? Or are you trying to decide which Southern California area would be best for your family vacation? You can find suggested itineraries for all of these destinations under the Itineraries menu selection of our site.

Most Popular Posts

Discounts on California Theme Parks and Attractions

A little planning can save a lot of money.  Don’t pay gate prices for California theme park tickets. Whether you’re visiting Disneyland®, LEGOLAND®, Universal Studios Hollywood™, the San Diego Zoo, or any of the…

Southern California Itinerary – Best Things to See in One Week

Everyone wants to visit the big cities of southern California like Los Angeles and San Diego.  But besides these big cities what are the other not to miss attractions in Southern California?  To start,…

One Week Itinerary from San Francisco to Sonoma and Napa

If you have one week for a vacation in California, consider the drive from San Francisco to Sonoma and Napa. Sonoma and Napa feature world-class wines, delicious farm-to-fork food, charming small towns, stunning scenery…

California State Maps: Attractions and Sights

Betsy Malloy Photography

You probably got here by searching for a map of California. Now that you have arrived, you might be wondering why should you stay here looking at these maps.

That's understandable. Most California maps you find just want to show you the geography: where the towns are and the highways that connect them.

That's fine for some things, but those simple-minded maps aren't the best for planning a trip to California, especially if you want to visit more than one place. 

Each of thee maps is the kind of map that a professional travel writer might create for their own trips, to help them understand what's where and start to get organized.

The map above shows just the most-visited places. Take a look. You may discover that Palm Springs is closer to San Diego than you thought - or that Lake Tahoe isn't close at all.

Why These California State Maps Are Different

The California state maps presented below cover the entire state. If you're looking for a map of a single location, scroll to the bottom of the page for a list.

All of these maps are custom made starting with Google maps but edited with visitors in mind, with the information presented in ways that a regular GPS or mapping app doesn't.

If you're an old school traveler, you may want your map on paper. Before there were online maps, the Thomas Guide series was the gold standard of California maps. They are very detailed, but some people find their page and grid system confusing and hard to work with. CSAA (AAA) members can pick up a California state map at their local office.

Map of California's Major Highways

This map doesn't show all the highways in California; that's what Google maps are for. This map was created to help you in planning your travels across the state.

It shows all the big, major highways but without all the confusing details. You might find it helpful if you're planning a big road trip and need to sketch out a route. It will help you to know that California is about 800 miles from north to south and 200 miles wide, east to west.

From the map, it's also easy to see how the two mountain ranges that run north/south through California slice the state into three parts with few ways to get from one to the other. That means that the drive from Fresno to Mammoth Lakes is almost 400 miles, even though they are 100 miles apart on the map.

To get more information about getting around California,  go to the California Highway Map Page .

California Regions Map

It's impossible to show everything to do in a state that covers more than 160,000 miles on a single map. This map breaks the state down into regions.

To drill down to easy-to-read lists of places to visit in each area, click on over to Californa areas guide .

Map of the California Coast

Many California visitors never get away from the coast. This map of the California coast was created just with them in mind.

It shows all the most popular places along the Pacific Coast, from Mexico to Oregon. To get tips for driving along the coast and a big list of things you can do along the way,  use the map guide to the California coast .

California Lighthouse Map

Quite a few beautiful coastal lighthouses are still standing along the California coast. 

This map shows all of them that you can visit. It is part of the guide to touring California's lighthouses .

California Missions Map

The early Spanish priests built 21 missions in California, and all of them survive until today. This map shows where all of them are located. 

If you want more information about each of them,  use the California missions map and guide . 

More California Maps

More california state maps.

These California maps at Google are available to anyone who wants to use them:

• California Relief Map : This map is especially helpful for understanding California. Not only its highs and lows but how the mountains divide the state — and why it can sometimes be so far to travel from place to place, even though they look close together.
• Driving the San Andreas Fault : Every place you can see the famous geological feature from south to north, including big cracks in the earth, fences torn apart by earthquakes and mountains that have moved hundreds of miles.
• Route 66 in California : How to follow the iconic highway from the California border, across the desert to the end of the road in Santa Monica, with every sight still worth seeing along the Mother Road.
• Frank Lloyd Wright in California : This map shows every surviving house and building in California that was designed by the famous architect. Some of them are in places that may surprise you.

Maps of California Places

• Disneyland Resort
• Napa and Sonoma Wine Country
• San Francisco Tourist Maps
• Yosemite Area Lodging
• Southern California

California Road Map

8 Best Things to Do in Pacific Grove, California

California Mileage Markers

Los Angeles to San Francisco on US Highway 101

10 Great Things to Do in Big Sur

Scenic California Drives: 7 Routes That Will Make You Swoon

Driving California's Pacific Coast Highway in the Los Angeles Area

15 Los Angeles-Area Road Trips and Getaways

November in California: Weather, What to Pack, and What to See

Best of the West: Top Tourist Destinations

Summer in California: Weather, What to Pack, and What to See

August in California: Weather, What to Pack, and What to See

Camping Road Trip: California's Central Coast

April in California: Weather, What to Pack, and What to See

San Gabriel Mission

World Map » USA » State » California » California Travel Map

California Travel Map

You may download, print or use the above map for educational, personal and non-commercial purposes. Attribution is required. For any website, blog, scientific research or e-book, you must place a hyperlink (to this page) with an attribution next to the image used.

• State Capitals
• National Parks

Cities of USA

• New York City
• Los Angeles
• San Francisco
• Washington D.C.
• Philadelphia
• New Orleans
• ALL U.S. CITIES

States of USA

• Massachusetts
• North Carolina
• Pennsylvania
• South Carolina
• ALL U.S. STATES
• North America Map
• South America Map
• Oceania Map

Popular Maps

• Australia Map
• Germany Map
• Singapore Map
• United Arab Emirates Map
• United Kingdom Map
• United States Map
• New York City Map
• Los Angeles Map

U.S. States

• California Map
• Colorado Map
• Florida Map
• Georgia Map
• Illinois Map
• New York Map
• North Carolina Map
• Virginia Map

Official California Travel Guides

The 2024 California Visitor’s Guide: The Best of California is a testament to the Golden State’s playful spirit, featuring “58 Reasons Why California Is the Ultimate Playground” and scores of travel tips from passionate locals. Tourism industry businesses and DMOs are invited to  view online or order print publications at no cost .

In an exclusive interview with Zoey Deschanel, the actor, musician and mother of two recalls some of her fondest memories of growing up in California, while sharing insights about the state’s creative energy and reminiscing about the landscapes that still inspire her. The Golden State is also a wonderful place to visit for travelers of all interests, ages and abilities, as readers will discover in the guide’s diverse features. Highlights include:

"On Trend: California Aperitifs,” which features refreshing pre-dinner cocktails made with local produce  “Next-Level Glamping,” inviting readers to ditch the tent in exchange for soft-adventure getaways  “8 New Trails to Explore,” showcasing freshly constructed paths in California’s parks  “Sustainable Sips,” a guide to some of California’s eco-friendly wineries “Plan-Ahead Travel Guide,” where readers can learn how to score a spot at the state’s most coveted attractions  “6 Fabulous Film Locations,” a jet-setting guide from movie scout Lori Balton “Deep Thoughts at Séc-he,” highlighting the luxe pampering and cultural insights found in Palm Springs "Meet 9 California Ski Insiders,” featuring some of the snow experts who work at California’s iconic ski resorts "California Shopping: A to Z Guide,” a comprehensive guide to shopping throughout the Golden State

The 2024 California Visitor’s Guide: The Best of California also includes detailed information about the state’s 12 travel regions, including maps, listings, and four “Splurge vs. Save” charts that highlight experiences for every budget.

The free 500,000-circulation publication is available at California Welcome Centers, regional tourism offices, and online at VisitCalifornia.com/travel-guides . It will also be distributed in March with three Dotdash Meredith publications: Travel + Leisure, Food & Wine, and Real Simple.

Road Trips Guide & Map Bundled with the new Visitor's guide are two publications that inspire visitors to explore the state and extend their stays. Visitors looking to explore California’s open roads can also pick up the most recent California Road Trips Guide. The magazine features celebrated performer Jennifer Hudson, who shares her favorite getaways around the Golden State. You’ll also find 8 fun-filled itineraries that start and end at different airports, making it super easy to focus your adventure in any region of the state.

The California Official State Map is yet another valuable resource for those looking to travel within the state. The foldout map is infused with editorial insights about noteworthy drives throughout the state and also lists mileage information, car rental options and California Welcome Center locations.

Order and view today.