From the Rockies to the Coast: The Ultimate Mountains-to-Ocean Camping Itinerary
In 2021, we packed up the car, grabbed Ziggy, and set out on our very first West Coast road trip. With a budget of $4,000and about 17 to 20 days on the clock, we planned a spontaneous, unforgettable loop from the Rocky Mountains out to the Pacific and back. We camped under the stars, occasionally crashed in our car, ate plenty of just-add-water meals to stretch our dollars, and made memories to last a lifetime.
Here is exactly how our wild, beautiful itinerary shook out.
Our Itinerary!
Leg 1: The Peaks & Flats of Utah
Our journey started with a straight shot into Utah, where we checked out Park City and Salt Lake City before heading into the wide-open desert.
The Bonneville Salt Flats: This was an absolute highlight. Driving the car right out onto the vast, blinding white salt crust made for some incredible, otherworldly photo ops.
Our first night camping!
Leg 2: Alpine Lakes & Family Time
From Utah, we pressed onward to the breathtaking waters of South Lake Tahoe.
Mountain Wildlife & Paddleboarding: We scored a campsite overlooking the stunning blue lake. While there, we got to see a mama bear and her cubs from a safe distance, and Ziggy even joined us out on the water, balancing like a pro on the front of the paddleboard!
Budget Fuel: To keep our $4k budget intact, this is where we leaned heavily on dehydrated camping meals. Just add hot water, stir, and eat—it wasn't glamorous, but it kept us moving!
Sacramento: We detoured slightly to visit family in Sacramento to rest up, swap stories, and enjoy some quality downtime before hitting the coast.
Leg 3: San Francisco Highs and Lows
The drive from Sacramento to San Francisco was a wild shock to the system—the temperature plummeted from a scorching 98°F to a brisk 76°F in just thirty minutes!
San Francisco gave us a mix of amazing culture and classic big-city street smarts lessons:
The Sightseeing: We checked off the classics—driving across the Golden Gate Bridge, exploring the historic Haight-Ashbury intersection, and admiring the Painted Ladies.
Chinatown Delights: We stopped by the legendary Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory and had an incredible meal at Z&Y Restaurant.
A Minor Mishap: While visiting Fisherman's Wharf, we unfortunately had our back window broken into, and a ukulele was stolen. It was a bummer, but we didn't let it ruin the trip!
Sausalito: We crossed the bay to Sausalito and fell in love with the quirky, artistic vibe of the local houseboats.
Leg 4: The Rugged Central Coast (Santa Cruz & Monterey)
Heading south, we stopped in Boulder Creek to visit a buddy before diving headfirst into the quintessential California beach experience.
Santa Cruz: We spent a thrilling day riding the vintage roller coasters at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. To save cash, we roughed it and slept in the car right on the coast. Waking up to a spectacular Pacific sunrise made the cramped legroom entirely worth it. We spent the next day picnicking on the shore and exploring the vibrant tidepools and ocean wildlife.
Monterey & The 17-Mile Drive: We found a brilliant campsite right in the middle of Monterey. Falling asleep and waking up to the sounds of seagulls and distant seals barking in the night was magical. The next morning, we cruised the iconic 17-Mile Drive, stopping at every pull-off to snap photos of the dramatic cliffs and cypress trees
Leg 5: Castles, Ostriches, & Danish Culture
Continuing down Highway 1, the landscape kept changing, offering up fresh surprises around every bend.
Road Trip Tip: Keep your eyes peeled for coastal wildlife and roadside quirky stops—Central California is full of them!
Hearst Castle: We passed by the sprawling, historic Hearst Castle estate tucked up in the hills. We set up camp nearby just in time to catch one of the most vibrant, fiery ocean sunsets of the entire trip.
Solvang: We detoured into this charming, historic Danish village. It felt like stepping straight into Europe, complete with windmills, pastries, and a memorable stop at a local ostrich farm!
Leg 6: Santa Barbara to the LA Hills
Next up was beautiful, breezy Santa Barbara. Ziggy got to run wild and burn off some energy on the sandy beaches, while Mattie bravely tried fresh sea urchin for the very first time.
From there, we rolled into the bustling energy of Los Angeles:
We drove through Beverly Hills, caught views of the Hollywood Sign, and wound our way through the Hollywood Hills.
We hit up the famous Sunset Strip and grabbed comfort food at a couple of classic, vintage diners.
Leg 7: Splurging in Vegas & The Final Stretch
After weeks of roughing it, camping, and sleeping in our car, we decided it was time to spend the remainder of our budget on a little luxury. We headed inland to Las Vegas and checked into the Bellagio.
A Dog's Life: Vegas treats its pups right! The Bellagio staff brought Ziggy his own special dog treats, and he absolutely loved strutting his stuff through the casino and lounging near the spectacular pools.
The AAA Rescue
After a few days of living large, we pointed the car toward home. We were so deeply caught up in reminiscing and talking about the incredible journey we'd just had that we completely lost track of our fuel gauge. Deep in the remote stretches about an hour outside of Grand Junction, we ran completely out of gas—forgetting just how sparse gas stations can be out there!
Thankfully, AAA came to our rescue with a fuel delivery. Capitalized and filled up, we finally crossed back into the familiar, beautiful peaks of the Rockies, arriving home just a few hours later.
This spontaneous, wild, and beautiful road trip proved that you don't need a massive budget to have the adventure of a lifetime—just a car, a tent, a great co-pilot (and a very good dog), and a willingness to see where the road takes you.
Ziggy walking through Bellagio like he owns it!
