Top 5 Driving Roads to Experience in CA
Top 5 Driving Roads To Experience in CA
All over the world are beautiful driving roads for the canyon carver. With Atlantic Road in Norway to Ring Road in Iceland to the famous Nurburgring in Germany, the thrill of finding a new road with curves that keep you glued to the seat and views that are unparalleled is a sensation like no other. Whether it be a Porsche 911 GT3 or a Mazda Miata, driving out and enjoying the roads on a crisp Spring morning is something most automotive enthusiasts can agree on. Luckily for us in California, we have hundreds of scenic routes you can take to get out and enjoy nature with the car of your choice. From the Pacific coast all the way to the Redwoods and even crossing over to Lake Tahoe, you are sure to find a road for any skill level. Here are 5 scenic drives that we enjoy here at GT Auto Lounge, and we hope you can experience them someday soon with us as well!
4. Palomar Mountain Road
Who said that California is all about sea-level, coastal drives? One time around the loop that surrounds Palomar Mountain, and you’ll be itching for reasons to return to the area. Like so many of the best roads in California, Palomar Mountain Road -- and its adjacent Grade roads -- are hardly easy to access. Skip the 5 and the 15 on your way between L.A. and San Diego, and follow signs to Palomar Mountain, known for its on-site observatory and telescope. Take caution around the blind, suddenly descending radius curves, and you’ll enjoy everything about this fast-moving skyway.
3. Mulholland Highway
If you’re close to the San Fernando Valley and want to enjoy a local yet rural road with plenty of turns and straightaways alike to show off your Porsche, then Mulholland Highway is a great route to explore. The weather around the area is clear and sunny about 95% of the time year-round, but it gets really hot in the summer months, so springtime is an ideal season to traverse this highway. Then again, there’s nothing quite like a warm summer night’s drive through Mulholland. Extend your drive by linking right up to Malibu Canyon, and you’ll be at the coast to cool off in no time.
2. Highway 1 – Pacific Coast Highway
Highway 1, also known as Pacific Coast Highway, is one of the most scenic and historic routes to take while driving on the coast of California. If you’re heading North in your Porsche, the most remarkable area is certainly the 90 miles of cliff-hugging highway that goes through Big Sur. The ocean views, which only get more vast as you climb the highway a few thousand feet, are unmatched and reason enough to skip the freeway. Towards Southern California, you’ll find even more twists and turns near Los Angeles for as long as you could wish. Whether you’re near Oregon, near the central Coast, or by Los Angeles, Highway 1 – Pacific Coast Highway – will always satisfy all of your driving needs.
1. Angeles Crest Highway – Big Tujunga Canyon
The world’s most formidable public proving ground is located just 20 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles, but the first time you hit Angeles Crest Highway, it feels as though you might as well be in another world entirely. The two-lane stretch winds through the national forest of the same name, with mountains on one side and a deep valley on the other. Make the pilgrimage to The Crest in the winter, and you might even encounter snow along the way, as the road climbs thousands of feet in elevation. It’s not often that the view is as worthwhile as
the journey up the road, but on Angeles Crest, you get both.
Bonus for our locals in Sacramento: Salmon Falls
Salmon Falls located near Folsom Lake has everything a driving enthusiast could ask for. From smooth twisty pavement, the changes in elevation, and on and off camber turns with a couple of short straightaways for passing. One of the best parts is halfway through, you’ll encounter a fast ‘S’ turn where the road just drops out in front, your car begins to feel real light in the middle of the turn and then back up and a flick to the right. This is an excellent road to test yourself and your vehicle of choice. It can be challenging to really master this course but it sure is rewarding.
We hope you enjoy these roads! We always appreciate seeing you out there so send us your photos and share your experience with us. Look for us in the future for private drives and events we will hold for our followers.
GT Auto Lounge
Published 04/10/2020