California
Travelers come for the Pacific coast, giant sequoias, Yosemite's granite domes and desert parks, with big cities along the way.
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California is a large state on the Pacific coast of the Western United States, bordered by Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, Mexico's Baja California and the Pacific Ocean. Sacramento is the capital, and Los Angeles is the most populous city. Visitors most often base a trip in Greater Los Angeles or the San Francisco Bay Area, and many travelers split the state into Northern California and Southern California. Redwood and Douglas fir forests cover the northwest, the Sierra Nevada holds Yosemite Valley and Mount Whitney, and the Mojave Desert fills the southeast.
The state suits a road trip that links the coast, the mountains and the desert, or a city base with day trips in each direction. Most of California has a Mediterranean climate, with summer fog on the coast, so the shoreline stays cooler than inland areas. Spring and fall are the easiest seasons for most routes. Summer is extremely hot in the southeast deserts, and the high mountains have snow in winter. Two weeks gives you one region at an easy pace, and a coast-to-desert route needs longer.
California in five
- Get an ESTA before you flyTravelers from Visa Waiver countries need an approved ESTA before boarding a flight to the US, and most other nationals need a visa. Apply only on the official CBP site, not through a paid reseller.Visas and entry
- Set up an eSIM before you landPhone coverage drops in Big Sur, the Sierra Nevada and the deserts. Download offline maps for those areas before you leave the cities.Phones and eSIM
- Rent a car for the coast and parksTransit works in central San Francisco and Los Angeles, but Big Sur, Yosemite and Death Valley have few buses. A car is the practical way to reach them.Getting around
- Learn the earthquake drillThe San Andreas Fault runs through the state, and about 37,000 earthquakes are recorded each year, most too small to feel. Learn drop, cover and hold on, and note the exits in every building you sleep in.
- Pack for desert heat and mountain coldBadwater Basin in Death Valley sits 282 feet below sea level, and the valley recorded 134 °F on July 10, 1913. The high Sierra gets snow in winter, so pack layers for both extremes.Death Valley National Park
Neighborhoods
Where to stay in California, the full guide
San Francisco
- Price band: $$$
Los Angeles
- Price band: $$$
Lake Tahoe
- Price band: $$
Monterey
- Price band: $$
Need to know
- Currency
- US dollar (USD)
- Entry
- ESTA for Visa Waiver nationals; visa for most others Read more
- Emergency
- 911 police, fire and ambulance
- Tipping
- Expected: 15 to 20% in restaurants and taxis
- Time
- UTC-8 Pacific, UTC-7 in summer (daylight saving)
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryRain, Sierra snow
- FebruaryRainy, ski season
- MarchGreen hills
- AprilWildflowers
- MayMild, wildflowers
- JuneCoastal fog
- JulyHot, crowded
- AugustPeak crowds
- SeptemberWarm, fewer crowds
- OctoberAutumn color
- NovemberMild, rain returns
- DecemberHoliday lights
Right now in California
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
14
- Feels like
- 11°
- Humidity
- 50%
- Wind
- 6 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 1%
California
09:03 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today20°6°1%Monday: Cloudy. High 20°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 1%.
- Tue21°8°35%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 35%.
- Wed21°10°0%Wednesday: Fog. High 21°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu23°10°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 23°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri24°10°0%Friday: Cloudy. High 24°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat26°11°0%Saturday: Clear. High 26°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun26°12°0%Sunday: Partly cloudy. High 26°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 0%.
Updated 05:53 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.119 USD
Rates from Nov 3, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Yosemite Valleyabout 4 hours by car from San FranciscoGlacially carved granite domes and waterfalls in the Sierra Nevada.Read the guide
- Big Surabout 1 to 2 hours by car from MontereyA cliff-edge coast road with redwood valleys and lookouts over the Pacific.Read the guide
- Death Valleyabout 4.5 to 5 hours by car from Los AngelesBadwater Basin, the lowest and hottest place in North America, with dunes and salt flats.Read the guide
Before you go to California
Rules for California, checked
- Visa Waiver travelers need an approved ESTA before boarding; most other nationals need a visa, so check travel.state.gov and the CBP ESTA site.Source
- The legal drinking age is 21, and bars, shops and some restaurants check photo ID; carry your passport or driver's license.Source
- Yosemite, Sequoia, Death Valley and Joshua Tree charge entry fees and may use reservations; check nps.gov before you drive in.Source
- Declare fresh food, plants and meat on arrival; agricultural inspectors can confiscate them, so check the CBP declaration rules first.Source
All California guides
Head to headSan Diego or Los Angeles: which California city fits your trip?ItinerarySan Diego in 3 days: Balboa Park, the harbor and the coastWhere to stayWhere to stay in San Diego: downtown, Coronado, La Jolla or the beach
When to goBest time to visit Joshua Tree: heat, crowds and the cool monthsThings to doThings to do in Joshua Tree: boulders, cactus gardens, night skies
When to goBest time to visit Death Valley: month by month and why not summerItineraryJoshua Tree in 2 days: West entrance to CottonwoodThings to doThings to do in Death Valley: the stops worth your timeItineraryDeath Valley day trip from Las Vegas: route, timing and toursPlan around California
ESTA, visa rules and what to declare at the border
Read the guideGetting aroundRental cars, city transit and coast drives
Read the guideMoney and costsCards, cash and typical prices in the main cities
Read the guideSan FranciscoGolden Gate Bridge, the Bay Area and day trips
Read the guideLos AngelesHollywood, the beaches and the driving distances
Read the guideYosemite National ParkGranite domes, waterfalls and Sierra Nevada trails
Read the guideCalifornia FAQ
How many days do you need in California?
Pick one region for a week: the Bay Area and the coast, Los Angeles and Southern California, or the Sierra and the parks. Covering the whole state in two weeks means long drives between regions.
Do you need a car in California?
For the coast, the parks and the deserts, yes. San Francisco has transit and cable cars, but Los Angeles sights are spread out, so most visitors drive there.
Is Northern or Southern California better?
The north has redwoods, the Bay Area and Yosemite. The south has Los Angeles, San Diego and the desert parks. Choose the half that matches your interests.
When is the best time to visit California?
May, September and October are the most reliable months. Summer brings coastal fog and busy parks, and Death Valley is extremely hot.
Is California safe for tourists?
Most visits are trouble-free, but the state faces earthquakes and wildfires. Learn the drop, cover and hold on routine, and check official fire alerts for your area when fire season is active.
Where should you stay in California?
San Francisco or Los Angeles for city trips, Monterey for the coast, and Lake Tahoe or Yosemite for mountains.
What language is spoken in California?
English is the official language under a 1986 voter measure, and Spanish is the most spoken language after English.