Roadtrip with RVshare San Jose to Kingman

A San Jose to Kingman road trip is a fantastic opportunity to explore America’s Southwest. As you roll over the mountains and through the Central Valley, you will discover just how beautiful California truly is. As you make your way through the desert, you will find great state parks and preserves to explore. Finally, you will cross the state line and enter red rock country. Make the most of this marvelous trip by spending time exploring national and state parks along with visiting attractions along the way. 

Nearby National Parks

Kings Canyon National Park  

Easily reach Kings Canyon National Park near Three Rivers on your San Jose to Kingman RV road trip by going east at Gilroy. While at the park, hike into the canyon and marvel at the size of the trees in Grant Grove. When you see the General Grant tree, you will understand why it's often referred to as "the nation’s Christmas tree." Redwood Canyon contains the largest grove of remaining Sequoia trees in the world, making this a fantastic place to go camping. Azalea Campground sits among tall evergreen trees, and it is usually open throughout the year. 

Sequoia National Park  

The Generals Highway connects Sequoia National Park to Kings Canyon National Park. Many of the turnouts along this highway lead to marvelous trails for hiking. When you get to Sequoia National Park, consider hiking up Mt. Whitney, which is the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States. The easiest path summits the mountain from the east side. Part of Inyo National Forest lies within Sequoia National Forest and offers other great hiking opportunities. If you love solitude, consider visiting the Golden Trout Wilderness. The Kern River runs through this area, and it is home to the endangered Little Kern golden trout. If you enter this national park at the main entrance, Moro Rock looms straight ahead of you. Climb the 350 stairs up its side to see amazing views of the entire area. 

Death Valley National Park  

When you get to Tehachapi, California, turn north and drive about two hours to reach Death Valley National Park. You will want to visit Furnace Creek to see the museum and visitor center. Take the short stroll to see the Harmony Borax Works and learn how borax was mined at this site by Frank Smith and his team. Take the scenic drive through Twenty Mule Team Canyon, named after the 20 mule teams that were used to haul the borax out of the area. If the weather is cooler, go hiking in Desolation Canyon, where crews filmed several Star Wars scenes. The different rock colors created over thousands of years by different sediments settling at this location are amazing. If you plan on camping at the Furnace Creek Campground, then make your reservations early. While there are other campgrounds in the area, this is the only option at Furnace Creek operated by the National Park Service. 

Joshua Tree National Park  

The Mojave and the Colorado Deserts meet at Joshua Tree National Park near Twentynine Palms, California. More than 550,000 acres of Joshua Tree National Park are designated as wilderness. This park has many backcountry trails that are great for exploring on longer trips, but you may want to consider shorter ones on your road trip from San Jose to Kingman. The Keys View Loop, which is 0.3 miles long, provides outstanding panoramic views of the entire area. Consider heading out on the 0.5-mile Arch Rock trail to see large boulders that make natural arches. This park is a fantastic place to go camping, and there are nine campgrounds in the park. If you love to see Joshua trees and go hiking, consider staying at the Black Rock Campground. If you are a rock climber, consider staying at Hidden Valley Campground as it is close to the Wonderland of Rocks. This 12-square-mile area contains a massive number of granite rocks that are wonderful places to go climbing. 

Grand Canyon National Park  

You can find an incredible array of things to do at Grand Canyon National Park. If you are looking for a hiking challenge, consider following the 9.5-mile Bright Angel Trail from the canyon’s rim to the Colorado River at the foot of the canyon. Spend a night tent camping and hike back up to your RV the next day. Another great hiking option is to follow the Plateau Point Trail, which begins at Indian Garden. The end of this awe-inspiring trail overlooks Granite Gorge, with the canyon’s south rim rising above you. Other activities at this park include kayaking on the Colorado River, joining a mule train to the bottom of the canyon, and driving along scenic roads.

Nearby State Parks

Caswell Memorial State Park  

Explore a riparian oak woodland by including a stop at Caswell Memorial State Park on your San Jose to Kingman road trip itinerary. You can explore the woodland on the 3.7-mile River Bend-Majestic Oaks Trail, where you are likely to see buckeyes, willows, and elderberries. The relatively flat 1.2-mile loop running through the riparian woodland is a fun place to go bird-watching. This park near Ripon, California, is a terrific place to go fishing in the slow-moving oxbows and the sandy main channel of the Stanislaus River for bass, catfish, and crappie. There are also several beaches and places to go swimming along the river. 

Red Rock Canyon State Park  

The Sierra Nevada Range's southernmost tip converges with the El Paso Range at Red Rock Canyon State Park. This park has a rich history as part of the Native American trading route, and it later served as a watering stop for early settlers. Watch for petroglyphs as you hike the trails in this park near Cantil, California. 

Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland State Park  

If you want to go on a short nature walk to see Joshua trees and junipers in a solitary location, visit Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland State Park in the Antelope Valley near Lancaster, California. The 0.3-mile Nature Trail allows you to see many plants in this woodland environment. The one-mile Rare Juniper Trail first passes through a grove of juniper trees before reaching a grove of Joshua trees, some of which are over 20-feet tall. Both trails are dog-friendly. 

Saddleback Butte State Park  

Saddleback Butte State Park is on the western edge of the Mojave Desert near Lancaster. Follow the Dic Dowen Nature Trail to learn more about the park’s history and ecology by reading the interpretative panels. As you hike or enjoy a picnic lunch, watch for coyotes and kit foxes, desert tortoises, jackrabbits, cottontail rabbits, and ground squirrels. This park is a lovely place to visit in the springtime when the wildflowers are in bloom. 

Along the Way

Forestiere Underground Gardens  

Forestiere Underground Gardens in Fresno, California, was named a California State Landmark. Using only hand tools, Sicilian immigrant Baldassare Forestiere created this underground labyrinth of tunnels and rooms to grow crops. Some of the trees seen on the 60-minute tour are over 90 years old. 

California Area Living Museum  

Stop in Bakersfield to visit the California Area Living Museum. This 14-acre facility is a great place to see native plants, animals, and artifacts. All of the animals at this facility have previously been injured, so it would be harmful to release them into the wild. 

Mojave Nature Preserve  

The Mojave Nature Preserve near Kelso, California, contains woodland, rugged mountains, and canyons. The 60-minute scenic drive is an excellent introduction to this park. There are also fantastic hiking trails, especially in the Kelso Dunes area, along with great trails for horseback riding. Part of the preserve is open for hunting.

Main Cities You Will Pass Through

Bakersfield, California  

Bakersfield is the southern gateway to California’s Central Valley, and you can find many things to do there, including attending concerts, exploring art galleries, and shopping at boutiques and farmers markets. While the area offers several long-term campgrounds, if you are looking for a place to stay short-term at a Bakersfield campground, consider Orange Grove RV Park, Bakersfield Travel Park, or Bakersfield RV Resort, which are all close to many attractions. You can find RV dump stations in Bakersfield at many long-term campgrounds, including A Country RV Park, Bakersfield River Run RV Park, and Indian Hill Ranch Campground. 

Barstow, California  

There are terrific museums to explore in Barstow, including the Route 66 Mother Road Museum, Mojave River Valley Museum, and the Western America Railroad Museum, so plan to spend a night or two at a Barstow campground. Options include Shady Lane RV Camp with its old-fashioned charm. You may also want to consider Calico Ghost Town Campground due to the nearby attractions. RV dump stations in Barstow are available at B & B Plumbing and R.V. Center, Calico Ghost Town Campground, and Barstow / Calico KOA Campground. 

Lake Havasu City, Arizona  

If you love water sports and fishing, you will not want to miss visiting Lake Havasu City, Arizona. Many Lake Havasu City campgrounds are near the water. Options include Crazy Horse Campground, Campbell Cove RV Resort, and Islander RV Resort. It is quick and easy to use the Lake Havasu City RV dump stations at Cattail Cove State Park, Lake Havasu State Park, and Buckskin Mountain State Park. 

Find Adventure from San Jose to Kingman

Find your One-Way Rental

When you follow this road trip itinerary from San Jose to Kingman, you will enjoy historic locations and beautiful scenery along the way. If you want to travel in comfort and style, consider an RV rental from RVshare. From large motorhomes to compact campervans, there is a rig that will meet your travel and budget needs. Once you hit the road, you are protected by our renter guarantee and 24/7 roadside assistance. Find the perfect vehicle for your travel needs in San Jose or Kingman.