When you’ve bought a new car, it’s natural that you want to put it through its paces and take it for a proper drive. Here in California, we are blessed with some of the most stunning scenery and dream destinations for even the most discerning motorist. Take a look below at five of the best fall season road trip destinations in southern California.
- Angeles Crest Highway
At just 30 miles from Los Angeles, this trip is the perfect choice for those who are on a strict time budget. This amazing short stretch starts in La Canada and runs across the stunning, rugged terrain of the San Gabriel mountains. It gets up to 10,000 feet at its highest point. Don’t look down! If you’re after top views on a road trip you can organize and execute inside of a day, then this is the one for you.
- Highway 126 Heritage Valley
State Route 126 connects Interstate 5 in Santa Clarita to US Route 101 in Ventura. Head just 70 miles from Los Angeles and you’ll get to Piru, Fillmore, Santa Paula and the national landmark of the Spanish Rancho Camulos. The countryside is exploding with the sights and smells of citrus and avocado orchards, so you can even pick up a few key ingredients for dinner on your way.
- Oak Glen San Bernardino Mountains
Do you like apples? Oak Glen is where you need to be. These amazing scenic views are just 90 miles from Los Angeles in Oak Glen, where you can stop at one of the many local orchards that offer family-friendly apple picking. Gather up a nice bushel and then take it home to enjoy! The trip will be worth it, believe us.
- The Temecula Valley
Southern California’s wine country is in the throngs of its annual harvest, and the fall is the perfect time to head down there, enjoy some good grape and spend time with the people you care about. Temecula is just 90 minutes outside of LA, and the area is full of travel gems for you to enjoy. The Temcula Creek Inn on Rainbow Canyon Road offers balcony views of the area, and they will even let you bring the dog! Check out the incredible wineries, too, like Fazeli Cellars which infuses Persian designs into its buildings, as well as Avensole Winery and Cougar Vineyard.
- Joshua Tree National Park
It’s 140 miles away from LA but well worth a visit if you want to take a longer drive in your new car. Joshua Tree is right on the border of Riverside and San Bernardino counties and covers nearly 800,000 acres. You can make this visit a single day trip if that’s all you have time for, but it’s best to take your time and stay overnight. The national park is also a short distance from Palm Springs, so you could make it part of any trip there too.
See California at its best, and give your new car the best test drive it ever had! For the car of your dreams head to DCH Chrysler Dodge Jeep, where they will help you decide the right car for your needs.
