SACRAMENTO, Calif. (May 19, 2025) - Just ahead of summer and peak travel season, the 2025 California Road Trips guide is available to order at VisitCalifornia.com. The edition, the first of its kind, features unique narratives from influencers, experts and notable figures sharing their perspectives on Golden State road trips from firsthand experience.

The release also comes just days ahead of National Road Trips day, May 23, and follows Visit California's new campaign, Playful Journeys. With nine routes, the guide illustrates the allure of the open road and freedom that a California road trip brings.

“There is no better way than a road trip to experience the unparalleled natural beauty, abundance of offerings and free-spirited attitude that make up the Golden State,” said Caroline Beteta, president and CEO of Visit California. “These road trip adventures, personally shared through the eyes of travelers from all walks of life, prove there is a road trip for everyone in California.”

Cover star, actress and longtime Los Angeles resident Kristen Bell also celebrates California's freedom to live any lifestyle.

“California is what you make of it,” she said. “We have an RV that we drive around every summer. Now we are California-getting-on-the-road people.”

Kristen notes some of her favorite destinations and experiences including camping in El Capitan State Beach just outside of Santa Barbara, off-roading in Glamis, hiking in Los Angeles's Griffith Park or rejuvenating in Calistoga. Regardless of destination, every road trip is a culinary adventure for her and her family. 

Some highlights of influencers and other contributors' firsthand experiences in the guide include:

• Cory Lee (Curb Free with Cory Lee) highlights wheelchair-accessible attractions throughout San Francisco, Napa Valley, Tuolumne County and Yosemite National Park, offering an inclusive perspective on travel.
• Jeremy Austin, a luxury travel expert, delves into high-end retailers, hotels and experiences in Carmel, Monterey and Mendocino.
• Anthony and Marlie Love (Traveling While Black) uncover the rich historical narratives of Gold Country on their journey through Sacramento, El Dorado County and Calaveras County.
• Harish Kumar, a Pacific Northwest photographer, showcases California's natural beauty in imagery from his travels across the Shasta Cascade and North Coast regions.
• Ann Marie Brown, a prolific California guidebook author, shares insider tips for exploring all nine national parks, making it a must-read for outdoor enthusiasts.

Other perspectives include a culinary tour from Los Angeles through the Central Valley, a family-friendly theme park adventure in Southern California, a creative journey across Route 66 through the eyes of an illustrator, and family snowboarding in Lake Tahoe and Mammoth Lakes.

The free 2025 California Road Trips guide is now available at VisitCalifornia.com/travel-guides and at California Welcome Centers. The publication will also be distributed in summer issues of Travel + Leisure, Real Simple and Food & Wine.

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ABOUT VISIT CALIFORNIA:

Visit California is a nonprofit organization with a mission to develop and maintain marketing programs – in partnership with the state's travel industry – that keep California top-of-mind as a premier travel destination. For more information about Visit California and for a free California Official State Visitor's Guide, go to visitcalifornia.com. For story ideas, media information, downloadable images, video and more, go to media.visitcalifornia.com.