San Francisco Campervan & Motorhome Hire

Day 1: Collect your van from your East Bay depot in Hayward, San Leandro, Newark or Dublin, allowing about an hour for paperwork and the walkthrough. Stock up on groceries, then drive about 30 to 50 miles (50 to 80 km), roughly an hour, to Marin Park in Greenbrae, an RV park about 10 miles (16 km) north of the Golden Gate Bridge. Book two nights.

Day 2: Leave the van at the park and take the Golden Gate Ferry from nearby Larkspur to the Ferry Building. Ride a cable car, walk Fisherman's Wharf and visit Alcatraz Island, booking the ferry from Pier 33 well ahead. Golden Gate Transit buses back to Marin stop at the bridge, so walk out over the span on your way home.

Day 3: Drive about 23 miles (36 km) west to Point Reyes National Seashore, which charges no entrance or parking fees. Walk the short Earthquake Trail near the Bear Valley Visitor Center, then follow the long, winding road about 21 miles (33 km) out to the Point Reyes Lighthouse, where more than 300 steps lead down to the light. Stay near Olema or Point Reyes Station.

Day 4: Stop for fresh oysters on Tomales Bay, then drive about 32 miles (51 km) north to Bodega Bay, the fishing town where Alfred Hitchcock filmed The Birds. Walk the bluffs at Bodega Head and watch for migrating whales offshore in winter and spring. Stay at a Sonoma Coast State Park or regional park campground near the bay.

Day 5: Follow Highway 1 north for about 97 miles (157 km), three to four hours on a narrow, winding road with steep drops to the sea. Stop at Fort Ross State Historic Park, a rebuilt Russian trading post, and at the Point Arena Lighthouse. Check Caltrans for one-way traffic controls on this stretch, and book two nights near Mendocino or Fort Bragg.

Day 6: Walk the clifftop trails of Mendocino Headlands State Park around the historic village, then visit the Point Cabrillo Light Station. Drive 10 miles (16 km) north to Fort Bragg to see the sea-polished pebbles of Glass Beach and the fishing boats in Noyo Harbor. MacKerricher State Park, just north of town, has a campground by the beach.

Day 7: Rather than the twisty coast road north of Westport, take Highway 20 inland to Willits and US 101 north, about 127 miles (204 km) and three and a half hours. Turn onto the Avenue of the Giants through Humboldt Redwoods State Park and walk the Founders Grove loop among some of the tallest trees on Earth. Stay at the park's Burlington Campground.

Day 8: Drive about 33 miles (52 km) north to Ferndale, a village of carefully kept Victorian shopfronts and homes. Continue 20 miles (32 km) to Eureka to walk the Old Town waterfront and admire the ornate Carson Mansion from the street. Restock in Eureka, and stay at an RV park around Eureka or Arcata.

Day 9: Drive about 23 miles (37 km) north to Trinidad and walk the headland trail above its small harbour. Continue to the Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center near Orick, then follow the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway to the Big Tree Wayside. Redwood National and State Parks has no entrance fee, and Elk Prairie Campground costs US$35 a night, booked at least 48 hours ahead.

Day 10: Spend the morning on the Prairie Creek trails among old-growth redwoods and ferns, and look for Roosevelt elk grazing in the meadow by the visitor centre. Stick to paved roads, as some park roads are gravel. In the afternoon, drive about 42 miles (67 km) back south to Arcata for the night, ready for tomorrow's drive inland.

Day 11: Head inland on Highway 299, about 139 miles (224 km) and close to four hours of mountain curves through the Trinity River country. Stop at Whiskeytown Lake for a swim in summer. In Redding, walk across the Sundial Bridge over the Sacramento River at sunset, and stay at an RV park in town, where July days are often well over 35°C.

Day 12: Drive about 64 miles (103 km) north-east to McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park, where a short loop trail leads to the foot of the 129-foot (39 m) falls. Continue south on Highway 89 for about an hour to Manzanita Lake, inside Lassen Volcanic National Park, and book two nights at its campground.

Day 13: Drive the park highway, about 30 miles (48 km) of climbs and switchbacks that is usually snow-free from about June to October, stopping at Lake Helen below Lassen Peak. Walk the trail into Bumpass Hell to see boiling pools and steaming vents from the boardwalks, and stop at the roadside Sulphur Works. Return to Manzanita Lake for a sunset walk.

Day 14: Leave early, cross the park and follow Highway 89 past Lake Almanor and through the mountain towns of Quincy and Truckee to Lake Tahoe. It is a long day of about 185 miles (300 km), five hours or more, so refuel in Chester. Book two nights at a campground or RV park around Tahoe City on the north-west shore.

Day 15: Drive the west shore about 30 miles (48 km) south from Tahoe City to Emerald Bay, where the road narrows and winds high above the water. Walk the steep 1-mile (1.6 km) trail down to Vikingsholm, a 1920s Scandinavian-style mansion on the shore, arriving early as parking fills in summer. Continue to South Lake Tahoe for two nights.

Day 16: Ride the Heavenly gondola above South Lake Tahoe for views over the lake, or hire a kayak or paddleboard from one of the beaches. In the afternoon, drive about 23 miles (37 km) to Sand Harbor on the Nevada shore for granite boulders and clear water. Fill up with fuel and water tonight.

Day 17: Drive about 68 miles (109 km) west on US 50 through Placerville to Coloma. At Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, see where gold was found in 1848, sparking the California Gold Rush, and try panning by the river. Join a rafting trip on the South Fork of the American River in summer, and stay at a campground nearby.

Day 18: Drive about 47 miles (75 km) to Old Sacramento, a riverfront district of wooden boardwalks and gold rush buildings, and visit the California State Railroad Museum. Continue about 59 miles (95 km) west to the Napa Valley, and book three nights at an RV park in Napa or Calistoga.

Day 19: Explore the Napa Valley's wineries along Highway 29 and the quieter Silverado Trail, booking tastings ahead as many need reservations. Use a designated driver or join a winery tour rather than driving the RV between cellar doors, or ride the Napa Valley Wine Train for a relaxed lunch through the vineyards.

Day 20: Drive about 14 miles (23 km) to Sonoma and wander the historic plaza, home to Mission San Francisco Solano, the last of California's 21 missions. Visit Jack London State Historic Park in nearby Glen Ellen, then return for a final evening in wine country. Empty the tanks and tidy the van tonight.

Day 21: Leave early for the drive of about 60 to 80 miles (95 to 130 km) back to your depot, roughly 1.5 to 2 hours in Bay Area traffic. Cruise America takes returns from 9am to 11am, Travellers Autobarn from 9am to 3pm, and El Monte RV and Road Bear RV in the morning. All close on holidays.

Day 1: Collect your van and stock up, then cross the bay and climb over the hills on Highway 92 to Half Moon Bay, about 25 to 37 miles (40 to 60 km) and an hour. Walk the coastal trail along the bluffs, and stay at Half Moon Bay State Beach or near Pillar Point Harbor. This is a one-way hire, so check one-way availability and fees before you book.

Day 2: Follow Highway 1 south for about 48 miles (78 km), past farm stands and the Pigeon Point Light Station, to Santa Cruz. Try the classic rides at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, then drive West Cliff Drive to watch the surfers at Steamer Lane. Stay at a state beach campground such as New Brighton, booked ahead.

Day 3: Drive about 43 miles (69 km) around the bay to Monterey. Spend the morning at the Monterey Bay Aquarium on Cannery Row, then watch sea lions from Fisherman's Wharf and walk or cycle the waterfront recreation trail. Stay at an RV park in or near Monterey.

Day 4: Drive 4 miles (7 km) to Carmel-by-the-Sea, park on the edge of the village and walk to Carmel Beach and the Carmel Mission. Head south on Highway 1 into Big Sur, using the pull-outs for photos of Bixby Creek Bridge. Book two nights at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, about 28 miles (45 km) from Carmel, checking the site length for your RV.

Day 5: Walk the redwood trails in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, then drive 11 miles (18 km) south to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park for the short walk to the McWay Falls overlook, when the trail is open. The narrow road down to Pfeiffer Beach is not suitable for RVs, so skip it. Return to camp for a quiet evening under the redwoods.

Day 6: Drive about 59 miles (95 km) south through Lucia and Gorda, around two hours on one of California's most dramatic coastal roads. Check Caltrans QuickMap for closures or one-way traffic controls before you leave. Stop at Ragged Point, then watch elephant seals on the beach at Piedras Blancas, and stay near San Simeon or Cambria.

Day 7: Take a guided tour of Hearst Castle, the hilltop estate of newspaper owner William Randolph Hearst, booking tickets ahead. Tour buses carry visitors up the hill from the visitor centre beside Highway 1, so the RV stays below. Walk the Moonstone Beach boardwalk in Cambria, then drive about 21 miles (33 km) to Morro Bay State Park.

Day 8: See the volcanic plug of Morro Rock at the harbour mouth, and watch sea otters in the bay. Drive 13 miles (21 km) to San Luis Obispo to visit its mission and the downtown creek walk, then continue 13 miles (21 km) to Pismo Beach for sunset from the pier. Stay at an RV park near Pismo.

Day 9: Drive about 54 miles (87 km) south to Solvang, a town founded by Danish settlers and known for its windmills and bakeries. Spend the afternoon at cellar doors in the Santa Ynez Valley with a designated driver, and stay at a campground near Solvang or Lake Cachuma.

Day 10: Drive about 33 miles (54 km) to Santa Barbara. Visit the Old Mission Santa Barbara, walk out along Stearns Wharf and browse the shops and cafes of State Street. City parking is tight for big vehicles, so arrive early, and stay at Carpinteria State Beach, about 11 miles (18 km) south.

Day 11: Drive about 21 miles (33 km) to Ventura Harbor and learn about Channel Islands National Park at its visitor centre, where boat trips to the islands also leave. Continue south on the Pacific Coast Highway, about 27 miles (43 km), and stay at Leo Carrillo State Park on the Malibu coast, booked ahead.

Day 12: Stop at Malibu beaches such as Zuma or El Matador, then drive about 28 miles (44 km) to Santa Monica. Walk the pier, where a sign marks the end of Route 66, and follow the boardwalk to Venice Beach. Book two nights at an RV park in the Los Angeles area, as street parking for RVs is restricted in many areas.

Day 13: Leave the RV at the park and use rideshare or the Metro to see Los Angeles. Look over the city and the Hollywood Sign from Griffith Observatory, walk the Hollywood Walk of Fame and spend the evening downtown or back by the beach. Empty the tanks and pack tonight.

Day 14: Drop your van at your Los Angeles depot: Cruise America in Carson, about 14 miles (23 km) from LAX, Travellers Autobarn in Inglewood, about 9 miles (14 km) from LAX, El Monte RV in Santa Fe Springs, or El Monte RV and Road Bear RV in Agoura Hills. Check Sunday and holiday hours, and plan your flight around them.

Day 1: Collect your van and stock up for the week, as shops inside Yosemite are small and pricey. Drive about 80 miles (125 km) east into the Central Valley, close to two hours, and stay near Oakdale. If you arrive early, walk across the 1860s covered bridge at nearby Knights Ferry.

Day 2: Climb into the Sierra foothills on Highway 120 through Groveland to the Big Oak Flat Entrance, about 90 miles (145 km) and 2.5 hours. Pay the US$35 vehicle fee plus US$100 per non-US resident aged 16 and over, unless you carry a nonresident annual pass. Stop at Tunnel View, then check in to a Yosemite Valley campground.

Day 3: Leave the RV at camp and ride the free Yosemite Valley shuttle. Walk to the foot of Lower Yosemite Fall, then climb the Mist Trail to the Vernal Fall footbridge or the top of the falls, which run strongest in late spring. Watch the evening light on Half Dome and El Capitan from the valley meadows.

Day 4: Drive about 31 miles (50 km) up Glacier Point Road, usually open from May to November, for views over the valley; only RVs 30 feet (9 m) and shorter may go past Sentinel Dome. Then head south to the Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza and take the shuttle up to the giant sequoias, a day of about 95 miles (153 km).

Day 5: Drive the Tioga Road, usually open from late May or June to November, about 55 miles (88 km) from the valley to Tuolumne Meadows. Stop at Olmsted Point and picnic on the granite shore of Tenaya Lake before returning to the valley. Keep all food out of sight in the closed, hard-sided RV, as black bears live here.

Day 6: Leave on Highway 140, which follows the Merced River canyon about 43 miles (69 km) down to the gold rush town of Mariposa. Browse the main street and the California State Mining and Mineral Museum, then drive about 126 miles (202 km), close to three hours, to an RV park in the Livermore Valley wine region.

Day 7: Empty the tanks and refuel, then drive about 10 to 25 miles (15 to 40 km) to your depot, under 45 minutes in morning traffic. Cruise America takes returns from 9am to 11am, Travellers Autobarn from 9am to 3pm, and El Monte RV and Road Bear RV in the morning. All close on holidays.