The 8 Best Places to Elope in California
When putting together this list of the best places to elope in California, I thought about all of the epic places I had photographed couples on their wedding day, as well as all of the amazing locations I’d traveled to and thought, “Wow, someone should get married here!” California is a huge state with so many diverse landscapes to offer: expansive deserts, monumental mountains, rugged coastlines, and magical forests. And each of those categories has variety within them — the coastlines in Big Sur look wildly different than the coastlines of Northern California, the coastal redwoods are vastly different from the alpine forests in the Sierra Nevada mountains, and the desert in Joshua Tree sharply contrasts the Mojave.
Born and raised in California, I’ve lived in both Southern California and Northern California, and have road-tripped all over this beautiful state. It was so much fun coming up with this list of locations! While this list feels extensive in my mind, please know there are still so many more gorgeous places in California to explore and celebrate your wedding, so don’t let this list limit you. With that being said, please enjoy the highlights below! You’ll see for each location on my list, I’ve included general information, photos, and tips. I hope this list inspires you to find a gorgeous California location for your elopement!
The 8 best places to elope in California:
Yosemite National Park
Joshua Tree National Park
California Redwoods
Big Sur
Alabama Hills and Mammoth Lakes
Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada Mountains
Point Reyes National Seashore
Sonoma Coast and Mendocino
Keep scrolling for details and photos for each location!
Also, if you’re broadening your search, check out this epic list of all the best places to elope!
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
Yosemite National Park is hands down the most iconic location on this list. With its massive granite cliffs, including the instantly recognizable profiles of Half Dome and El Capitan, towering waterfalls, tranquil meadows, groves of giant sequoias, alpine lakes, and more back country than you could explore in a year, it’s no wonder Yosemite has captivated explorers and artists alike.
If you’ve never been to Yosemite before, you want a minimum of three full days to explore everything: one day for Yosemite Valley, one day for the Glacier Point side, and one day for the Tuolumne Meadows side. Since I’ve been to Yosemite quite a few times myself, I usually avoid the busy Yosemite Valley and opt to enjoy the quieter parts of the park instead, often hiking to more remote locations. There’s definitely a lot to see and do here so give yourself plenty of time to take it all in.
Popular areas in Yosemite: Tunnel View, Valley View Yosemite, Bridalveil Falls, Yosemite Falls, Glacier Point, Vernal Falls
Some of my favorite spots: Tuolumne Meadows, Olmsted Point, Lembert Dome, Tenaya Lake, Taft Point, Nevada Fall
Location: Three hours east of the San Francisco Bay Area
Traditional Territory of: the Ahwahneechee (Central Sierra Miwok) Tribe
Fees: $35 per vehicle or you can use your national park annual pass
When To Visit: Summer in Yosemite is an extremely popular time to visit so if you want to avoid the crowds, I would recommend visiting in late Spring or early Fall, or avoiding the Valley entirely, for a better experience. Winter will limit your activities and access to the Valley only, but snow in the Valley can be a magical experience.
Tips: Camping in the Valley fills up super quickly and can be crowded. For a better camping experience, dispersed camping on the Tuolumne Meadows side can’t be beat; you can even find areas that overlook Half Dome and the Valley and have the view all to yourself. The Ahwahnee is a gorgeous hotel in the Valley and there are also Airbnbs within the park available to rent. Lodging outside the park will generally be less expensive, but you should factor in the additional drive time into your experience. For a unique overnight stay, check out Autocamp: a collection of luxuriously renovated and customized Airstreams.
Best reason to elope in Yosemite: You love this iconic California landscape and don’t mind potential crowds
JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK
Joshua Tree National Park has to be one of the coolest places on the planet. An unreal landscape filled with beautiful rock formations, weird looking trees and other cool native plants, all in the sun-kissed desert — absolutely a favorite place of mine! I’ve been here many times and I’m always finding cool new spots to explore. Camping here is super fun because the night sky is unreal! Also one of the best places for sunrises and sunsets. So gorgeous and magical.
Popular areas in Joshua Tree: Keys View, Hidden Valley Nature Trail, Skull Rock, Barker Dam, Cholla Cactus Garden
Some of my favorite spots: Arch Rock, Intersection Rock, Jumbo Rocks, Split Rock
Also nearby and worth a look: Mt San Jacinto, Pioneertown
Location: Two hours east of Los Angeles
Traditional Territory of: the Serrano and the Cahuilla Tribes
Fees: $30 per vehicle or you can use your national park annual pass
When To Visit: Not for the faint of heart in deep summer or winter. Daytime temperatures in the summer can easily reach over 100 degrees and winter nights can be in the 30s and sometimes lower. Fall or spring are the best months to visit, though keep in mind March and April can be the windiest.
Tips: Camping in Joshua Tree is first-come first-served. Plan to arrive at the campground’s checkout time to snag your spot, but be prepared to camp outside the park if the campgrounds are full.
Best reason to elope in Joshua Tree: You love desert magic, cool rock formations, and epic night skies
CALIFORNIA REDWOODS
Redwood trees are often synonymous with California and for good reason — redwood trees LOVE the California climate and have enjoyed living here for millions of years. There are so many different places in California to enjoy redwood groves; some are major national and state parks, and others can be found in the middle of the city. Fun fact: there are redwood groves in the Bay Area cities of San Francisco, Oakland, and Mill Valley.
Whether you’re strolling under redwoods, or their cousin sequoia, you’ll instantly feel dwarfed by what some call “nature’s skyscrapers.” It’s a totally unique experience to be surrounded by these beautiful giants. Because of their extreme height and preference for foggy coastlines, most redwood groves are shady and cool year round. Magical things can happen (at least photographically) when the sunbeams finds their way through the trunks of the trees and shine on you.
Popular areas to find redwood trees in California (there’s a lot!!): Redwood National and State Parks, Yosemite National Park, Sequoia National Park, Muir Woods National Monument, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve, Hendy Woods State Park, Calaveras Big Trees State Park
My favorite spots: Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park, Humboldt Redwoods State Park, Jedidiah Smith Redwoods State Park, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Armstrong Redwoods
Locations: Redwood trees love the California coast, starting from Big Sur all the way up and across the Oregon border. Sequoias can be found a little more inland and at higher elevations, typically along the Sierra Nevada mountains in central California.
Fees: Vary from park to park.
When To Visit: Because redwoods grow close to the coast, they can usually be enjoyed any time of the year. Sequoias grow further inland in the mountains where there’s snow in the winter time, which, while super magical and cool to see in person, can cause some accessibility challenges.
Tips: Redwood groves are often shady and cool even in summertime, especially since they grow near the coast. In some areas, like Muir Woods north of San Francisco, the trees grow so densely on the hillsides that it can get dark much earlier in the day than sundown; something to keep in mind when considering the best lighting for photographs.
Best reason to elope in the redwoods: You love being surrounded by epically tall and magical forests
BIG SUR
Big Sur is famous for its spectacular scenic coastline which stretches about ninety miles along Highway 1. One of my favorite things about Big Sur is how remote and quiet the area is. While you’re not all that far from civilization, there are no major cities in the immediate area which gives you the perfect opportunity to take in the uninterrupted beauty of nature.
Best viewed by car, Big Sur is a road-trippers dream, with lots of great spots to get out, explore, and take in the views. There are lots of opportunities for hiking, either down to the numerous and gorgeous beaches or heading inland through the redwood forests. Any direction you choose, you will not be disappointed.
Popular areas in Big Sur: McWay Falls, Andrew Molera State Park, Bixby Creek Bridge, Henry Miller Memorial Library, Point Sur Lighthouse
Some of my favorite spots: Partington Cove, Sand Dollar Beach, the River Path or sitting in the Adirondack chairs at Big Sur River Inn, Big Sur Bakery (the pastries are unreal!)
Also nearby and not to be missed: Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
Location: About three hours south of San Francisco, or five and a half hours north of Los Angeles
Traditional Territory of: the Rumsen and Ohlone Tribes
Fees: None for the general area, but State Parks will have fees
When To Visit: There’ll be less chance of rain April through October, with September being the warmest, but really can be enjoyed year round.
Tips: Big Sur is accessed by the very twisty Highway 1; be sure to take breaks (you’ll have plenty of opportunities) to avoid feeling carsick. Your passenger will have the best view when heading South, so it’s a good idea to take turns driving to give everyone a chance to enjoy the views as you drive along. Kirk Creek Campground probably has the best views of any public campsite in California. It’s a popular campground, but there are a few hiker and biker sites that are first-come first-served. With four state parks in the area, there are plenty of camping options to choose from; if Kirk Creek is full, check out Limekiln or Plaskett Creek. There are also many hike-in campsites that have gorgeous views and more privacy like Prewitt Ridge.
Best reason to elope in Big Sur: You love scenic road trips along the coast
ALABAMA HILLS AND MAMMOTH LAKES
If you’ve never driven on Highway 395, you are missing out on some of the most stunning scenery in California. Coming out of the high desert and into the mountains, there’s so much natural beauty in this geologically active area: hot springs, unique rock structures, the world’s most ancient living trees, and some of California’s tallest summits.
Alabama Hills is such a gem — beautiful rock formations, miles of undisturbed scenery, and a perfect view of Mount Whitney and the Sierra Nevadas. All that, and pretty much untouched. The best part is the Alabama Hills are all on BLM land so camping is free!
The Mammoth Lakes area sits at a higher elevation and has incredible mountain views, dreamy lakes, and alpine meadows, as well as access to incredible areas for snow sports during the winter.
Popular spots in the Alabama Hills and Mammoth Lakes area: Miss Alabama, Boot Arch, Movie Road, Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, Reds Meadow, Convict Lake, Devils Postpile, Minaret Summit Vista
Some of my favorite places: Mobius Arch, Mono Lake South Tufa, Hot Creek, Silver Lake, June Lake, Buttermilk Boulders, Inyo National Forest
Location: The Alabama Hills are roughly three hours north of Los Angeles; Mammoth Lakes is about an hour and a half north of the Alabama Hills
Traditional Territory of: the Northern Paiute, Eastern and Western Mono/Monache, and Newe (Western Shoshone) Tribes
Fees: None
When To Visit: Alabama Hills is ideal in the spring so you can still see some snow on the mountains, and fall will have great temperatures. Mammoth Lakes would be best late spring through early fall, or if you prefer a snowy elopement, then winter is beautiful, too.
Tips: This is a super fun area to explore so give yourself lots of time to road trip around and enjoy whatever interests you most. It’s a lot less crowded than other parts of California so this is a great option if you’re looking to have space all to yourself. I always look forward to spending more time here, especially camping in the Alabama Hills and hiking in the Inyo National Forest.
Best reason to elope in Alabama Hills or Mammoth Lakes: You’re looking to avoid the crowds and you love epic scenery with a mountain backdrop
LAKE TAHOE AND THE SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAINS
Lake Tahoe is one of those places that is awesome in every season. For folks who love the outdoors, each season offers a different activity, from paddle sports on the lakes in summer to every type of snow activity you can think of come winter. There’s so much natural beauty to explore in this area, with endless trails of gorgeous hiking (including parts of the Pacific Crest Trail); you can easily find those less traveled paths that give you the serene solitude to enjoy your surroundings.
Popular areas around Lake Tahoe: Kings Beach, Emerald Cove State Park, Eagles Falls, Vikingsholm, Cave Rock, D. L. Bliss State Park
Some of my favorite spots: Eagle Rock, Secret Beach, Donner Lake, Donner Summit, Crooked Lakes
Location: About three and a half hours northeast of San Francisco, or an hour south of Reno
Traditional Territory of: the Washoe Tribe
Fees: No fees to drive into the area, but certain State Parks and trailheads require a fee.
When To Visit: Lake Tahoe is beautiful in any season with year round activities to entice you to visit. For winter visits, remember that the snow can affect the driving conditions and road closures can occur from time to time.
Tips: Tahoe is a popular weekend destination for the Bay Area residents, so to avoid the crowds and beat the traffic, it’s best to visit during the week. Lake Tahoe proper can be busy; consider Donner Lake for a quieter place to stay.
Best reason to elope in Lake Tahoe or the Sierra Nevadas: You love the mountains in any season.
POINT REYES NATIONAL SEASHORE
Point Reyes is one of the main reasons I love living in San Francisco. Growing up in Los Angeles, I was surrounded by a seemingly endless urban sprawl, but in the Bay Area, there is beautiful preserved nature all around the city limits. About an hour north of San Francisco, the wide open spaces of Point Reyes await you: miles of coastlines, windswept bluffs, gorgeous hikes, seasonal waterfalls, protected wildlife (tule elk and harbor seals!), expansive beaches, and inspiring views.
Popular areas in Point Reyes: Point Reyes Lighthouse, Drakes Beach, Cypress Tree Tunnel, Tomales Point, Alamere Falls, Point Reyes Shipwrecks, Elk Reserve
Some of my favorite spots: Chimney Rock, Tomales Bay, Limantour Beach, Sculptured Beach, Abbots Lagoon
Location: An hour north of San Francisco
Traditional Territory of: the Graton Rancheria and Coast Miwok Tribes
Fees: None
When to Visit: Year round. September is often the sunniest and warmest month, with fog common in the summer.
Tips: Point Reyes is right on the ocean and exposed to fast changing weather; be prepared for potential wind and fog showing up unexpectedly. During peak whale watching season, from December through April, shuttles are often used on the weekends for the Lighthouse and Chimney Rock areas since parking is limited there. Your best chance for seeing and hearing the tule elk is to hike Tomales Point.
Best reason to elope in Point Reyes: You love being close to the ocean and away from the crowds and buzz of the big city.
SONOMA COAST AND MENDOCINO
California has no shortage of beautiful coastlines, but there’s something very different about the northern coast: it’s more wild and untamed than the coast further to the south. Don’t get me wrong, coasts to the south are beautiful, too — no one who’s seen Big Sur or Malibu will argue — there’s just something more rugged and free about the coastlines in the north.
Stretching from just above Point Reyes National Seashore all the way past Fort Bragg, this stretch of coastline has so much to offer. It’s a great area to explore at your leisure, checking out all the cute coastal towns and farms along the way, and finding your own favorite secret spots. There are endless little coves and beaches that you will often have all to yourself.
Popular areas around the Sonoma Coast and Mendocino: Mendocino Headlands State Park, Big River Beach, Glass Beach, Russian Gulch, Goat Rock Beach, Gualala Point
Some of my favorite spots: Jug Handle State Natural Reserve, Bodega Bay, Duncans Point, the Russian River, Stump Cove, Shell Beach, Pelican Bluffs
Also close by and worth exploring: Guerneville, Boonville
Location: One to three hours north of San Francisco, depending on where you’re headed
Traditional Territory of: the Kashaya, Central and Northern Pomo Tribes
Fees: None for the general area
When To Visit: Year round. The spectacular coastline is really the big draw to this area, so keep in mind the cooler temperatures, wind, and fog that can occur here.
Tips: If you have the time, driving up the coast along Highway 1 is well worth it. Timber Cove Resort is a fabulous place to stay — and it’s dog friendly! Sea Ranch is another great area to stay in with lots of great Airbnbs.
Related: Beautiful farm wedding in Mendocino.
Best reason to elope on the Sonoma Coast or Mendocino: You love uninterrupted epic coastlines and want to get away from it all.
So there you have it! The top eight locations to elope in beautiful California. I hope you have found this list to be helpful; just remember there are plenty more gorgeous locations out there so don’t let this list limit you. Be sure to check out my list of Bay Area engagement locations, too!