Do you want to take a break from everything and head somewhere beautiful and relaxing this summer? There are so many destinations that you can drive to from the Bay Area. Relax and enjoy these warm summer destinations and come back home feeling rejuvenated.
Here are a few useful reminders when booking cabins or taking trips in the summer.
- Ensure that the cabin has good ventilation or air conditioning since many places experience high temperatures in the summer.
- Carry bug spray, moth traps etc. since summers also mean many mosquitoes and bugs around.
- If you plan on cooking your own food, ensure access to refrigeration since foods perish sooner in summer.
- Exercise caution in water bodies since many lakes do not have any life guards on duty.
- Carry a hat, sunscreen and lots of water to prevent exhaustion from dehydration.
Now let’s get to some amazing summer cabin getaway destinations around the Bay Area.
1. Mt. Shasta
Nestled in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Mount Shasta and its surrounding area is such a perfect place for a summer getaway. There are beautiful cabins, lakes, waterfalls and several acres of forests to explore. You can also look for cabins in Dunsmuir and Redding.
Drive Time: 4 to 4.5 hours drive up North from San Jose
Things to do in Shasta
- Visit some of the breathtaking waterfalls in Shasta – McCloud, Mossbrae, Burney Falls etc.
- Do some hiking around Castle Lake (Castle Lake to Heart Lake hike), Castle Crags State Park and even on Mt. Shasta itself. There are a few mild hikes and the adventure of a life time for those attempting to summit Mt. Shasta which is at 14,180 ft.
- Panther Meadows is a beautiful summer hike with lots of wildflowers. This place also offers camping grounds.
- Check out the local shops, cafes and restaurants in Downtown Mount Shasta.
- Spend some time and relax in the quiet stillness of Lake Siskiyou.
2. Mendocino and Fort Bragg
Feel like visiting a charming coastal town with some of the most incredible ocean views that’s also only a few hours from San Francisco? Have a pet? You should visit Mendocino! While in Mendocino, Fort Bragg and Little River are nearby areas with a lot of things to do as well.
Drive Time: 4 hours drive up North from San Jose
Things to do in Mendocino
I have an entire blog post written on this, which you can read at Weekend Getaway in Mendocino – Ultimate Guide.
3. South Lake Tahoe
Tahoe is super commercialized at this point which also makes it very convenient because there’s tons of restaurants, shops, kid-friendly activities, trails, water activities and so much more. And it is a pretty easy drive from Bay Area. Even the official website points to numerous cabin rentals in the area.
Drive Time: 4 hours from San Jose
Things to do in South Lake Tahoe
- The charming Heavenly Village is a great place to visit during all seasons. Enjoy the gondola ride to the tallest mountain in the area, do zip lining or even alpine coaster rides etc.
- Go hiking or mountain biking along the beautiful trails in Tahoe or even Emerald Bay if you have more time. Some of the most popular trails in Tahoe are Mount Tallac, Eagle Falls, Cascade Falls and Bayview.
- You must kayak or paddle board in alpine Lake Tahoe since the water is the clearest that its ever been in decades.
- Relax in Baldwin or Pope beach with a book and some music.
- There are so many restaurants and cafes to enjoy some really good food while you are here.
4. Twain Harte
Twain Harte is a charming little mountain town that’s close to Yosemite. This place is great year round, being at 4000 ft above sea level. Do you know that the town is named after the two famous authors Mark Twain and Brett Harte?
Drive Time: 2.5 to 3 hours from San Jose
Things to do in Twain Harte
- Head to Pinecrest or Twain Harte Lake and relax with some water activities.
- There are many beautiful hiking trails to check out in Twain Harte since it offers easy access to Stanislaus National Forest. Usually National Forests are more dog-friendly than National Parks which is great news for dog owners!
- Drive along the California Alps Scenic Highway 4 for stunning views.
- Catch the long wildflower season here between March and September.
- If you have more time, you can also head to Yosemite from here which is only an hour away.
5. Cobb/ Clearlake area
If you haven’t heard of it, Cobb mountain is the tallest mountain in the Mayacamas Mountain Range. With beautiful mountain and lake views, Cobb is perfect for a weekend cabin getaway.
Drive Time: 2.5 to 3 hours from San Jose
Things to do in Cobb
- There are so many hiking trails in the area, including the one going to the peak, the Cobb mountain trail.
- Soak in the clothing optional Harbin Hot Springs.
- Cool down in Clearlake this summer. This is the largest natural freshwater lake that is completely within California. It’s perfect for swimming.
- For Wine lovers, the place has a lot of cozy wineries.
- Russian River is only an hour away and can be a great addition to the trip.
6. Arnold
Need an escape into the mountains without much crowds? We stayed here with a big group of friends last summer and had the time of our life! The cabins here are huge and affordable for large groups. This place was pretty hot in the summer so check the weather and plan your visit accordingly.
Drive Time: 2.5 hours from San Jose
Things to do in Arnold
- Check out gigantic Sequoias in Calaveras Big Trees State Park.
- Feeling adventurous? Go white rafting along Stanislaus river or zip lining in Moaning Caverns.
- Picnic in White Pines Lake.
- For those looking for a fitness test, Arnold Rim trail is a scenic 17 mi hike.
- Explore Mt. Baldy and cool off under the 70ft San Antonio Creek Falls.
7. Healdsburg
This is a perfect getaway for Wine lovers because Healdsburg is a fairy-tale Wine Country in Sonoma! CNN Travel even named it as the nation’s six “Most Romantic Small Towns”. Want to surprise your partner with a relaxing and romantic weekend cabin getaway? You know where to go!
Drive Time: 2 hours from San Jose
Things to do in Healdsburg
- Go Wine tasting in the best Wineries of Healdsburg. Castello Di Amarosa is only a short trip from Healdsburg.
- Take a relaxing tour of an organic farm. This type of farming is very popular in Sonoma and there are a lot of restaurants serving fresh farm to table food.
- Head to one of the Russian River beaches for a day of kayaking, swimming, tubing or just floating.
- Go for a nice hike in Healdsburg Ridge Open Space Preserve.
- If you love art, check out the Healdsburg Center for the Arts.
8. Grass Valley/ Nevada City
This was the most popular area for Gold mining once upon a time in California. It is a great weekend destination and there is no shortage of cabins and Airbnbs in Grass Valley/ Nevada City area.
Drive Time: 3 hours from San Jose
Things to do in Grass Valley/ Nevada City
- Being super close to Tahoe Forest, there are lots of hiking trails here – about 600 miles of them! In fact, Independence Trail is the first wheelchair-accessible wilderness trail in the US.
- Enjoy various water activities on Scotts Flat Lake.
- Learn about the history of Gold Mining in the area.
- Visit the Bourn Cottage at Empire Mine State Historic Park.
Hope you enjoyed this extensive list of Summer Weekend Cabin Getaways from Bay Area. Plan a trip soon this summer and have loads of fun! Let me know your thoughts in the comments 🙂
