Virginia to California drive
Virginia to California road trip planner
Here's a sample itinerary for a drive from Virginia to California. If you're planning a road trip to California, you can research locations to stop along the way. Make sure you check road conditions to double check the weather. Traveling with a dog or cat? Find pet-friendly stops. Camping along the way? Search for RV campgrounds. Find the best hotels, restaurants, and attractions based on the most talked about places recommended by Trippy members.
11:00 am start at Virginia
drive for about 6 hours
4:58 pm Knoxville
stay overnight and leave the next day around 8:00 am
day 1 driving ≈ 6 hours
find more stops
8:00 am leave from Knoxville
drive for about 3 hours
10:51 am Nashville
stay for about 4 hours
and leave at 2:51 pm
drive for about 6.5 hours
9:22 pm Pinnacle Mountain State Park
stay overnight and leave the next day around 11:00 am
day 2 driving ≈ 9.5 hours
11:00 am leave from Pinnacle Mountain State Park
drive for about 5.5 hours
4:38 pm Oklahoma City
stay overnight at The Skirvin Hilton Oklahoma City
leave the next day around 11:00 am
day 3 driving ≈ 5.5 hours
11:00 am leave from The Skirvin Hilton Oklahoma City
drive for about 4 hours
2:58 pm Amarillo
stay overnight and leave the next day around 9:00 am
day 4 driving ≈ 4 hours
9:00 am leave from Amarillo
drive for about 4 hours
1:07 pm Albuquerque
stay for about 3 hours
and leave at 4:07 pm
drive for about 5.5 hours
9:31 pm Sedona
stay overnight at Enchantment Resort
leave the next day around 10:00 am
day 5 driving ≈ 9.5 hours
10:00 am leave from Enchantment Resort
drive for about 7.5 hours
5:31 pm Bakersfield
stay overnight and leave the next day around 8:00 am
day 6 driving ≈ 7.5 hours
8:00 am leave from Bakersfield
drive for about 40 hours
12:06 am (past midnight) arrive at California
day 7 driving ≈ 40 hours
Where should I stop along the way?
Knoxville (47 answers)
questions about Knoxville:
New Years in Knoxville reccomendations
Pet friendly lodging near Knoxville, TN
Nashville (233 answers)
Grand Ole Opry (8 mentions)
Country Music Hall of Fame (6 mentions)
Ryman Auditorium (6 mentions)
Centennial Park (6 mentions)
The Parthenon (5 mentions)
restaurants around Nashville:
Bluebird Cafe
Opryland Hotel
Pancake Pantry
Hattie B's Hot Chicken - 19th Ave
Peg Leg Porker BBQ
questions about Nashville:
What's the best neighborhood in Nashville for a first time visitor?
Nearby small towns or outdoor areas?
Top of the line hotels in Nashville?
What are some must sees in Nashville during the weekend
Best Location to Stay
Pinnacle Mountain State Park (6 mentions)
Oklahoma City (60 answers)
Boathouse District (4 mentions)
Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum (3 mentions)
AT&T Bricktown Ballpark (2 mentions)
Science Museum Oklahoma (2 mentions)
Stockyards City Main Street (2 mentions)
restaurants around Oklahoma City:
Kitchen No. 324
Big Truck Tacos
Waffle Champion
Cheever's Cafe
Museum Cafe
hotels around Oklahoma City:
The Skirvin Hilton Oklahoma City
questions about Oklahoma City:
What's the best neighborhood in Oklahoma City for a first time visitor?
Breakfast Restaurant in OKC
What sort of hands-on things can I experience in OKC?
Amarillo (43 answers)
questions about Amarillo:
THING TO SEE
Hotels
Albuquerque (131 answers)
Old Town Albuquerque (3 mentions)
New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science (2 mentions)
Explora! (2 mentions)
Nob Hill (2 mentions)
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (2 mentions)
restaurants around Albuquerque:
Frontier Restaurant
Standard Diner
Frontier Restaurant
questions about Albuquerque:
What is your favorite restaurant in Albuquerque?
Affordable hotel in Albuquerque for the International Balloon Fiesta?
Temporary home!
Where to stay
Sedona (95 answers)
Chapel of the Holy Cross (4 mentions)
Slide Rock State Park (4 mentions)
Oak Creek Canyon (3 mentions)
Bell Rock Trail (3 mentions)
Devils Bridge (3 mentions)
restaurants around Sedona:
Elote Cafe
hotels around Sedona:
Enchantment Resort
questions about Sedona:
Best things to do in Sedona besides hiking?
Nature Lover in Sedona
Vortex Hike/ Sound healing
Best hikes and natural swimming holes
Going on a roadtrip to Sedona, AZ. Is taking I-10 better route?
Bakersfield (23 answers)
questions about Bakersfield:
Best free things to do in Bakersfield?
What are some things to do in California?
This section could be endless, so rather than trying to suggest every local activity or attraction, we'll leave it open-ended.
Of course, Trippy is the perfect place to ask questions because there's an entire community of travelers talking to each other and sharing tips and advice. Trippy is where you can get answers personalized for your tastes, budgets, trip dates & more!
For example, here are some questions people have asked about California. Click on any question to see answers from the community!
Brooke from Florida asked:
Any "must see" places to go to while staying in California? (6 answers)
Hope from Virginia asked:
14 days to travel in CA...need advice on an itinerary please (4 answers)
Michael from asked:
Pacific Coast HWY Hotels (4 answers)
Tom from San Diego asked:
Places to see in Northern California (4 answers)
Derek from San Francisco asked:
Where are the weirdest places to visit in California? (4 answers)
Click the button below to explore more questions and answers related to California.
Do I really have to go back home?
Yes, even this step is optional, because if you're on vacation who wants the trip to end? It's okay, you can start planning your next trip!
Want to plan the trip back? Get the reverse directions for a California to Virginia drive, or go to the main page to plan a new road trip.
Looking for ideas for more destinations within driving distance of Virginia? Try searching for places within 3 hours of Virginia.
You can also compare the travel time if you're flying or driving by calculating the distance from Virginia to California. Or get a full Virginia to California flight plan.
Don't forget about exploring your own hometown with a staycation. You can also find some cool day trips or get away for a weekend. Maybe try typing in a faraway location like London, Hong Kong, or Sydney, and get inspired for your dream trip around the world.
And if you know Virginia well, please help your fellow travelers and answer their questions about Virginia!
total driving distance is 146 miles
driving time of 2 hours, 50 minutes
47 Knoxville travel answers
233 Nashville travel answers
60 Oklahoma City travel answers
43 Amarillo travel answers
131 Albuquerque travel answers
95 Sedona travel answers
23 Bakersfield travel answers
164 California travel answers
More info on this route: