If you’re coming to California for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the San Francisco Bay Area makes a prime home base. Not only can you see the matches played at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, but it’s easy to expand your trip to cover more of the Bay Area and even some of the bucket-list spots in Northern California. Here’s how to enjoy wine country, beaches, national parks, and more within a few hours’ drive of the San Jose area. (Traveling to the games at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles? Explore fun day trips from there too.)
Surf and Hike the Redwoods in Santa Cruz
Distance From San Jose: 40 miles
Combine two classic California experiences—surfing the waves and walking among redwoods—in Santa Cruz, located less than an hour from San Jose. This beach town sits at the shoreline where the Monterey Bay meets the Pacific Ocean: It’s where a Hawaiian prince showed locals how to surf in the late 1800s, and it’s still a prime surf spot. It’s also the home of the University of California, Santa Cruz—whose mascot is the bright-yellow banana slug—giving the area a fun, funky, college-town vibe.
What to Do:
- Watch experts shred the waves off the most famous local surfing spot, Steamer Lane, and check out the small Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, perched on the bluffs.
- Ride the Giant Dipper roller coaster and a 1911 carousel at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.
- Hike redwood-filled state parks such as Big Basin Redwoods, Henry Cowell Redwoods, or Forest of Nisene Marks.
- Cruise a stretch of Highway 1 to explore the San Francisco Peninsula, home of scenic towns such as Half Moon Bay and Pacifica.
Where to Stay and Eat: Sleep near the beach at La Bahia Santa Cruz or the Dream Inn. For dinner, ride the funicular at Shadowbrook in neighboring Capitola.
More Road Trip Inspiration: Innovation, Nostalgia, and Agricultural Bounty
Explore Wine Country: Sonoma County and Napa Valley
Distance From San Jose: 100–150 miles
Napa Valley and Sonoma County put California wine on the map in the 1970s and today is a wonderland for wine lovers—there are literally hundreds of wineries that specialize in Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and many, many more varietals. Head north to Sonoma County to explore the towns of Petaluma, Sebastopol, Sonoma, and Healdsburg; continue northeast to reach beloved Napa Valley towns including Calistoga, St. Helena, Yountville, and Napa.
What to Do:
- Taste your way through Sonoma County wineries and Napa Valley wineries. One special stop: Castello d’Amaroso, a winery set in a medieval-style castle, complete with a moat and torture chamber.
- Take a unique wine tour through the area, like an excursion on the Napa Valley Wine Train.
- For kids and Snoopy fans, stop at the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa, dedicated to the cartoonist who called Sonoma County home for decades.
Where to Stay and Eat: Thanks to the wine and abundant local crops, this area is a haven for foodies, featuring Michelin-starred restaurants such as The French Laundry and Single Thread. Extend your time by checking out places to stay in Sonoma County and Napa Valley luxury lodgings.
Events Worth Checking Out: June brings major events like Country Summer and the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR race.
More Road Trip Inspiration: San Francisco Bay Area Tour
Dive into History: Sacramento and Gold Country
Distance From San Jose: 120 miles
California’s state capital, Sacramento, is rich with history, but offers a deliciously contemporary experience too. After all, one of its nicknames is the Farm-to-Fork Capital of the world, thanks to its mix of nearby farmland and a deep roster of culinary talent. The city is also known for its craft beer and coffee scenes.
What to Do:
- Explore California’s past at the Capitol Museum or in Old Sacramento, which was a hub during the Gold Rush.
- Visit standout museums like the California State Railroad Museum, which showcases carefully restored engines, and the Crocker Art Museum, the oldest art museum west of the Mississippi.
- Dig into more Gold Rush History 45 miles northeast at Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, the spot where the first flecks of gold were found in a river in 1848. Or, head about 90 miles southeast from Sacramento to walk through Columbia State Historic Park, a preserved Gold Rush town, complete with costumed locals.
Where to Stay and Eat: Make your base near the capitol building at hotels such as the Kimpton Sawyer Hotel or the Citizen Hotel, Autograph Collection, then make the most of the Sacramento's local dining scene.
Events Worth Checking Out: Sacramento celebrates Pride Month during June, alongside many other California communities.
More Road Trip Inspiration: Road to Gold
Behold the Majesty of Yosemite National Park
Distance From San Jose: 190 miles
Head east across the Central Valley to reach one of the world’s most iconic national parks. Yosemite spans almost 1,200 square miles and boasts glacially sculpted rocks, groves of giant sequoias, and miles of scenic hiking trails.
What to Do:
- Watch climbers scale 3,523-foot El Capitan, or book a climbing lesson in Curry Village.
- Hike among 500 giant sequoias in Mariposa Grove—the oldest of Yosemite’s sequoia groves—or see more giant trees in Tuolumne Grove and Merced Grove.
- Join the two-hour Yosemite Valley Floor Tour, a narrated trip to see Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, El Capitan, and Bridalveil Fall.
Where to Stay: Explore more of the area by staying overnight in one of Yosemite’s gateway towns.
More Road Trip Inspiration: National Park Adventures
Make a Splash at Lake Tahoe
Distance From San Jose: 200 miles
Lake Tahoe is North America's largest alpine lake—72 miles around—and also one of its most photogenic. Its topaz-blue waters are famously clear (99.994 percent pure), and the surrounding peaks and towns create a playground for hikers, mountain bikers, and paddlers.
What to Do:
- Hike a stretch of the 165-mile Tahoe Rim Trail.
- Visit Emerald Bay State Park, where you can hike the Rubicon Trail and the Eagle Falls trail for panoramic lake views.
- Try assisted climbing at the Tahoe Via Ferrata above Olympic Valley.
- Relax on the shore at Kings Beach State Recreation Area, Kiva Beach, or Emerald Bay Beach.
- Enjoy playing on the water—kayak on the lake or go rafting down the Truckee River.
Where to Stay: Extend your time by booking a stay in South Lake Tahoe or in one of the towns around North Lake Tahoe, such as Tahoe City and Truckee. Staying over also gives you more time to taste your way through the local craft beer scene.
More Road Trip Inspiration: San Francisco to Truckee