There’s plenty to experience on a 3 day journey in a Volkswagen Campervan in Southern California, and our winter season is the perfect time for a quick get-away. Minus the summer crowds, and without the summer heat in our desert locales makes for a mighty fine road trip.

Need some inspiration? Here’s a wee taste of 3 Day’r…

DAY 1 :: Leave Vintage Surfari Wagons HQ in Costa Mesa and mosey down PCH (HWY 1) as far as it’ll take you until you have to jump back on the 5 FRWY (at the southern end of San Clemente). Exit the 5 FRWY at CA-78 East and head toward Escondido, you’ll want to enter ‘JULIAN’ into your GPS as your final destination and follow the 78 all the way there. This meandering road to Julian is the perfect sort of bus road that we love to travel upon and recommend regularly to our VW Campervan renters.

Julian is an historic Western 1870’s gold rush mountain town set back in time. It’s known for apple pie, apple cider, hiking trails in the pines, camping and comfort food. We recommend a stop at Julian Station, a former apple packing facility, and order up a flight of Julian Hard Cider at the Miners Saloon. Walk the old western board walk in town and pick-up an apple pie at The Julian Pie Company for consumption during your Volkswagen journey. For more information about Julian take a peek here at ‘Visit Julian’.

While you can camp in and around Julian, we opt to camp over the backside of the mountain down in the desert. From Julian continue on HWY CA-78 East down into the Anza Borrego Desert. For a back to nature sort of camping experience camp at Anza Borrego Desert State Park. When booking your campsite here via Reserve California, look for the Borrego Palm Canyon Campground and remember, you’ll be camping in a VW bus, so you can book a tent site, no need for an expensive RV site! In the campsites here you will find picnic tables (with lean-to/shade structures), and fire pits. Water spigots, restrooms and showers are located throughout the campsite for all campers to use. In addition, the Palm Canyon Trailhead leads out of the Palm Canyon Campground and there are 5 other self-guided hiking treks nearby. Be sure to visit the Vistor’s Center at Anza Borrego Desert State Park before embarking on any of your activities in this area so that you don’t miss out.

Something to keep in mind is our desert wildflower bloom. The wildflowers in this area usually start blooming in force in late February or early March and cause quite a commotion – they are not to be missed! Call into a recorded line at 1-760-767-4684 to check in on up-to-date info on the yearly wildflower bloom.

For a more upscale camping experience in this area take a peek at the Palm Canyon Hotel & RV Resort. They have a variety of on-site amenities including swimming pools, an on-site bar and grill, and complimentary Wi-Fi. There’s easy access to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park from here as well. When booking ask for one of their back in sites on a leveled gravel pad located below the vintage trailer row. These sites have 30 AMP hook-ups, picnic table, Wi-Fi, and water connections.

Agua Caliente County Park is another campground that is a terrific camping option. From Julian head East on HWY CA-78 and turn south onto Route S2 – the Great Southern Overland Stage Route of 1849. As the name suggests, you will find hot water here as this campground is best known for its geo-thermally heated springs. Three naturally fed pools provide different ways of enjoying the park's mineral water. Hikers will enjoy miles of trails that meander through the park's canyons and over its hillsides.

In the town of Borrego Springs keep your eyes peeled for red rust, scrap metal sculptures. These remarkable art pieces – sometimes whimsical, sometimes haunting are the one of a kind works of sculptor Ricardo Breceda, whose creations delight and surprise drivers. Know that you can drive right up to them and capture a shot of you in your vintage VW campervan with a gnarly sculpture photobombing your pic.

If you’re hankerin’ for a place to eat breakfast or brunch head over to the Red Ocotillo - simply delish!

Hike the short but exciting Slot Canyon Trail. It’s a beautiful natural formation – a narrow siltstone canyon nestled in the heart of the Anza Borrego State Park. Again, be sure to visit the Vistor’s Center at Anza Borrego Desert State Park before embarking on any of your activities in this area so that you don’t miss out.

DAY 2 :: From Anza Borrego Desert State Park we would recommend a short visit to Slab City and Salvation Mountain. Head out of the park via CA-78 E toward Westmorland with your final destination either Slab City or Salvation Mountain (both locations are close to Niland, CA).

Slab City gets its name from the concrete slabs that remain there from a former military base. It’s now home to off-the-grid snowbirds and artists, some of whom refer to it as “the last free place in America.”

Salvation Mountain, adjacent Slab City, is the years-long work of late artist Leonard Knight, who built a massive, colorful assemblage art sculpture from adobe, straw and repurposed materials.

Drive onward, northwest, via HWY 111 along the Salton Sea to your evening camp spot at the Lake Cahuilla Recreation Area, or alternatively, if you’ve never seen Palm Springs before, stay overnight at the Happy Traveler RV Park and walk into downtown Palm Springs. In the morning find your way to the Palms to Pines Highway, HWY CA-73. It’ll twist and turn up the mountainside offering up spectacular views of the valley floor you’ve left behind.

Once atop the mountain wind your way through the pines and peaks to Idyllwild on HWY 243. Idyllwild is an eclectic mountain town set amidst a mature stand of fir trees within Mount Jacinto State Park. Camp at Idyllwild Park located on the perimeter of Idyllwild and reconnect with nature – you’ll find forested campsites and breathtaking, panoramic views from the 5 hiking trails within the park. Head to town to rent bikes for a leisurely ride, or browse local shops and restaurants. For a rustic Mexican dinner on an outdoor deck, check out La Casita Restaurant.

Located just 5 miles outside of town are Marion Mountain, Fern Creek and Stone Mountain – all stunningly beautiful campgrounds and highly recommended by us!

DAY 3 :: Journey along one of our favorite routes back to Costa Mesa, HWY 74. This mountain to valley, valley to mountain, and mountain to beach trek takes a little longer, but we think it’s well worth the investment of time - so buckle up and get started earlier than later on your final day of #roadtrippin with #vwsurfari ;)