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California Vacation Time Calculator

This calculator will help you get divide your time and decide how much you can really see. It's easy to use, so you can try different combinations of places and create the plan that's best for you.

Be sure to click on the links for more information.

California Vacation Calculator

days
 


How many days will you be traveling in California?
Do not include travel time to get here or get home.
Your Plans
Enter the time you want to spend in each place in days or parts
of days (0.25 equals one-fourth of a day or two hours)

days

Coast Highway Los Angeles to San Francisco
1 long day (9 to 10 hours with few stops)
2 days is better
See more about Hearst Castle and Monterey below

days

Coast Highway San Francisco to Oregon Border
1 very long day, but 2 is better

days

Death Valley: 1 day and night

days

Disneyland
Disneyland Park: 1.5 to 2 days
California Adventure 0.5 to 1 day

days

Hearst Castle: 0.5 day

days

Hollywood
Hollywood Boulevard and area: 1 day
Universal Studios: 1 day

days

Lake Tahoe: 1 to 2 days

days

Las Vegas Side Trip
Driving time each way from Los Angeles: 0.5 day
Driving time each way from San Diego: 0.6 day
Driving time each way from San Francisco: 1 day
Time in Las Vegas: 1 day minimum, 2 is better

days

Los Angeles (not including Disneyland, Hollywood)
Rodeo Drive and Beverly Hills: 0.5 day
Venice Beach, Santa Monica: 0.5 to 1 day
Redondo, Hermosa, Manhattan Beach: 0.5 to 1 day
Knott's Berry Farm, Magic Mountain: 1 day each
Pasadena: 0.5 day
Museum lovers add at least 1 day
days Monterey, Carmel and Big Sur: 1 to 2 days
days Palm Springs: 1 to 2 days

days

San Diego
Sea World, San Diego Zoo, Wild Animal Park or
Legoland: 1 day each
Tijuana: 0.5 to 1 day
Other sights: 1 to 2 days

days

San Francisco
Alcatraz: 0.5 day
Other sights: 1.5 to 2 days
Wine Country or Monterey side trip: 1 day each

days

Santa Barbara: 0.5 to 1 day

days

Wine Country: 1 day

days

Yosemite: 1 full day minimum, 2 is better
Driving time from San Francisco: 4 hours each way

days

Other Plans
This is where you account for anything from a day at Aunt Tillie's to a day at the spa or an afternoon nap. We recommend one day "doing nothing" for any trip over 10 days long.
Driving Times
California may be bigger than you think. Enter driving time between your major stops here. Consult the driving distances page if you need more information.
days Driving time
days Driving time
days Driving time
 


days left

Got Enough Time?
If you find a minus (-) sign here, you plan to do
too much.

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The script used to generate this California Vacation calculator is courtesy of Stephen Chapman, who hosts About.com's Javascript site.

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