United States Β· California (CA) Β· 799 Cities & Towns

California Travel Guide & City Directory

Explore cities and gateway towns across California (California (CA)), including transport access via LAX, SFO & SAN Airports + Amtrak Pacific Surfliner, Coast Starlight & Capitol Corridor, regional American cuisine, best seasons, and city-by-city profiles.

Last reviewed: Β· Prices in US Dollars ($ USD) are approximate and for orientation only.

Overview of California (California (CA))

California (California (CA)) features major hubs at Los Angeles, San Francisco & San Diego. Key sights, National & State Parks, and travel highlights across the state include Golden Gate Bridge & San Francisco, Yosemite, Joshua Tree, Sequoia & Redwood National Parks, Big Sur Pacific Coast Highway, Los Angeles & San Diego.

State / DistrictCalifornia (California (CA))
Major Cities & CapitalLos Angeles, San Francisco & San Diego
Indexed Cities & Towns799
Primary Airport & Rail HubLAX, SFO & SAN Airports + Amtrak Pacific Surfliner, Coast Starlight & Capitol Corridor

How to get to California

Major hubs at LAX, SFO, SAN, OAK, SMF; Amtrak Pacific Surfliner, Coast Starlight & California Zephyr; US-101, Hwy 1 & I-5. Use our Amtrak & USA Rail Pass Calculator ($) and $80 National Parks Pass Calculator to plan your route.

Signature local food in California

When visiting cities and towns across California, look out for these regional American specialties at classic diners, smokehouses, seafood shacks, and farmers markets:

  • Mission-style burritos & Baja-style fish tacos
  • San Francisco sourdough Dungeness crab & cioppino
  • Santa Maria red-oak tri-tip & farm-to-table salads
  • California avocado toast, Coachella dates & Meyer lemon tarts
  • Napa Valley Cabernet, Sonoma Pinot Noir & West Coast IPA

Best time to visit California

Best time to visit California: Year-round (Apr–Oct best for parks & coast).

Click any city below for its individual travel guide, county & elevation facts, nearest airport/Amtrak station, regional food specialties, and neighboring towns:

City / TownCounty & TypePopulationElevationGuide
Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA US City 3,820,914 89 m (292 ft) City guide β†’ Β· Flagship guide
San Diego San Diego, CA US City 1,404,452 20 m (66 ft) City guide β†’
San Jose San Jose, CA US City 997,368 26 m (85 ft) City guide β†’
San Francisco San Francisco, CA US City 827,526 16 m (52 ft) City guide β†’ Β· Flagship guide
Fresno Fresno, CA US City 542,107 94 m (308 ft) City guide β†’
Sacramento Sacramento, CA US City 524,943 9 m (30 ft) City guide β†’
Long Beach Long Beach, CA US City 474,140 9 m (30 ft) City guide β†’
Oakland Oakland, CA US City 419,267 13 m (43 ft) City guide β†’
Bakersfield Bakersfield, CA US City 373,640 123 m (404 ft) City guide β†’
Anaheim Anaheim, CA US City 350,742 48 m (157 ft) City guide β†’
Riverside Riverside, CA US City 317,261 252 m (827 ft) City guide β†’
Santa Ana Santa Ana, CA US City 310,227 35 m (115 ft) City guide β†’
Stockton Stockton, CA US City 305,658 4 m (13 ft) City guide β†’
Chula Vista Chula Vista, CA US City 265,757 21 m (69 ft) City guide β†’
Irvine Irvine, CA US City 256,927 17 m (56 ft) City guide β†’
Fremont Fremont, CA US City 232,206 17 m (56 ft) City guide β†’
San Bernardino San Bernardino, CA US City 216,108 321 m (1053 ft) City guide β†’
Fontana Fontana, CA US City 212,704 377 m (1237 ft) City guide β†’
Modesto Modesto, CA US City 211,266 28 m (92 ft) City guide β†’
Oxnard Oxnard, CA US City 207,254 16 m (52 ft) City guide β†’
Moreno Valley Moreno Valley, CA US City 204,198 497 m (1631 ft) City guide β†’
Huntington Beach Huntington Beach, CA US City 201,899 12 m (39 ft) City guide β†’
Glendale Glendale, CA US City 201,020 159 m (522 ft) City guide β†’
Santa Clarita Santa Clarita, CA US City 182,371 368 m (1207 ft) City guide β†’
Santa Rosa Santa Rosa, CA US City 178,127 50 m (164 ft) City guide β†’
Oceanside Oceanside, CA US City 175,691 20 m (66 ft) City guide β†’
Garden Grove Garden Grove, CA US City 175,393 27 m (89 ft) City guide β†’
Rancho Cucamonga Rancho Cucamonga, CA US City 175,236 368 m (1207 ft) City guide β†’
Ontario Ontario, CA US City 171,214 306 m (1004 ft) City guide β†’
Elk Grove Elk Grove, CA US City 166,913 14 m (46 ft) City guide β†’
Corona Corona, CA US City 164,226 207 m (679 ft) City guide β†’
Lancaster Lancaster, CA US City 161,103 719 m (2359 ft) City guide β†’
Palmdale Palmdale, CA US City 158,351 810 m (2657 ft) City guide β†’
Hayward Hayward, CA US City 158,289 34 m (112 ft) City guide β†’
Salinas Salinas, CA US City 157,380 16 m (52 ft) City guide β†’
Sunnyvale Sunnyvale, CA US City 155,805 39 m (128 ft) City guide β†’
Pomona Pomona, CA US City 153,266 259 m (850 ft) City guide β†’
Escondido Escondido, CA US City 151,038 197 m (646 ft) City guide β†’
Valencia Valencia, CA US City 148,456 310 m (1017 ft) City guide β†’
Torrance Torrance, CA US City 143,592 27 m (89 ft) City guide β†’
Pasadena Pasadena, CA US City 142,250 263 m (863 ft) City guide β†’
Orange Orange, CA US City 140,992 58 m (190 ft) City guide β†’
Fullerton Fullerton, CA US City 140,847 50 m (164 ft) City guide β†’
Roseville Roseville, CA US City 130,269 50 m (164 ft) City guide β†’
Visalia Visalia, CA US City 130,104 101 m (331 ft) City guide β†’
Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, CA US City 129,339 270 m (886 ft) City guide β†’
Concord Concord, CA US City 128,667 23 m (75 ft) City guide β†’
Simi Valley Simi Valley, CA US City 126,788 234 m (768 ft) City guide β†’
East Los Angeles East Los Angeles, CA US City 126,496 61 m (200 ft) City guide β†’
Santa Clara Santa Clara, CA US City 126,215 23 m (75 ft) City guide β†’
Victorville Victorville, CA US City 122,225 832 m (2730 ft) City guide β†’
Vallejo Vallejo, CA US City 121,692 21 m (69 ft) City guide β†’
Chico Chico, CA US City 121,345 60 m (197 ft) City guide β†’
Berkeley Berkeley, CA US City 120,972 52 m (171 ft) City guide β†’
El Monte El Monte, CA US City 116,732 91 m (299 ft) City guide β†’
Carlsbad Carlsbad, CA US City 114,746 16 m (52 ft) City guide β†’
Downey Downey, CA US City 114,219 36 m (118 ft) City guide β†’
Costa Mesa Costa Mesa, CA US City 113,204 30 m (98 ft) City guide β†’
Fairfield Fairfield, CA US City 112,970 4 m (13 ft) City guide β†’
Inglewood Inglewood, CA US City 111,666 40 m (131 ft) City guide β†’
Antioch Antioch, CA US City 110,542 13 m (43 ft) City guide β†’
Temecula Temecula, CA US City 110,003 310 m (1017 ft) City guide β†’
Murrieta Murrieta, CA US City 109,830 334 m (1096 ft) City guide β†’
Richmond Richmond, CA US City 109,708 14 m (46 ft) City guide β†’
West Covina West Covina, CA US City 108,484 117 m (384 ft) City guide β†’
Norwalk Norwalk, CA US City 107,140 28 m (92 ft) City guide β†’
Daly City Daly City, CA US City 106,562 124 m (407 ft) City guide β†’
Burbank Burbank, CA US City 105,319 185 m (607 ft) City guide β†’
Santa Maria Santa Maria, CA US City 105,093 67 m (220 ft) City guide β†’
Clovis Clovis, CA US City 104,180 110 m (361 ft) City guide β†’
El Cajon El Cajon, CA US City 103,679 133 m (436 ft) City guide β†’
San Mateo San Mateo, CA US City 103,536 13 m (43 ft) City guide β†’
Rialto Rialto, CA US City 103,132 383 m (1257 ft) City guide β†’
Vista Vista, CA US City 100,890 100 m (328 ft) City guide β†’
Compton Compton, CA US City 98,462 21 m (69 ft) City guide β†’
Mission Viejo Mission Viejo, CA US City 97,156 121 m (397 ft) City guide β†’
Vacaville Vacaville, CA US City 96,803 53 m (174 ft) City guide β†’
Ventura Ventura, CA US City 96,769 11 m (36 ft) City guide β†’
South Gate South Gate, CA US City 96,401 35 m (115 ft) City guide β†’
Hesperia Hesperia, CA US City 93,295 971 m (3186 ft) City guide β†’
Carson Carson, CA US City 93,281 12 m (39 ft) City guide β†’
Santa Monica Santa Monica, CA US City 93,220 32 m (105 ft) City guide β†’
San Marcos San Marcos, CA US City 92,931 177 m (581 ft) City guide β†’
Arden-Arcade Arden-Arcade, CA US City 92,186 17 m (56 ft) City guide β†’
Westminster Westminster, CA US City 92,114 12 m (39 ft) City guide β†’
Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA US City 91,842 15 m (49 ft) City guide β†’
Redding Redding, CA US City 91,582 172 m (564 ft) City guide β†’
San Leandro San Leandro, CA US City 90,712 15 m (49 ft) City guide β†’
Hawthorne Hawthorne, CA US City 88,451 22 m (72 ft) City guide β†’
Livermore Livermore, CA US City 88,126 150 m (492 ft) City guide β†’
Indio Indio, CA US City 87,533 0 m (0 ft) City guide β†’
Whittier Whittier, CA US City 87,438 112 m (367 ft) City guide β†’
Menifee Menifee, CA US City 87,174 452 m (1483 ft) City guide β†’
Newport Beach Newport Beach, CA US City 87,127 3 m (10 ft) City guide β†’
Tracy Tracy, CA US City 87,075 16 m (52 ft) City guide β†’
Citrus Heights Citrus Heights, CA US City 87,056 50 m (164 ft) City guide β†’
Chino Chino, CA US City 85,595 222 m (728 ft) City guide β†’
Alhambra Alhambra, CA US City 85,551 150 m (492 ft) City guide β†’
Redwood City Redwood City, CA US City 85,288 6 m (20 ft) City guide β†’
Hemet Hemet, CA US City 83,861 486 m (1594 ft) City guide β†’
Buena Park Buena Park, CA US City 83,270 23 m (75 ft) City guide β†’
Lake Forest Lake Forest, CA US City 82,492 148 m (486 ft) City guide β†’
Merced Merced, CA US City 82,436 52 m (171 ft) City guide β†’
Lakewood Lakewood, CA US City 81,611 14 m (46 ft) City guide β†’
Tustin Tustin, CA US City 80,583 43 m (141 ft) City guide β†’
Mountain View Mountain View, CA US City 80,435 32 m (105 ft) City guide β†’
Napa Napa, CA US City 80,434 6 m (20 ft) City guide β†’
Pleasanton Pleasanton, CA US City 79,510 106 m (348 ft) City guide β†’
Alameda Alameda, CA US City 78,630 10 m (33 ft) City guide β†’
Bellflower Bellflower, CA US City 78,441 22 m (72 ft) City guide β†’
Chino Hills Chino Hills, CA US City 78,309 262 m (860 ft) City guide β†’
Milpitas Milpitas, CA US City 77,604 5 m (16 ft) City guide β†’
Baldwin Park Baldwin Park, CA US City 77,071 114 m (374 ft) City guide β†’
Upland Upland, CA US City 76,443 377 m (1237 ft) City guide β†’
Folsom Folsom, CA US City 76,375 67 m (220 ft) City guide β†’
San Ramon San Ramon, CA US City 76,134 148 m (486 ft) City guide β†’
Manteca Manteca, CA US City 75,448 11 m (36 ft) City guide β†’
Perris Perris, CA US City 74,971 443 m (1453 ft) City guide β†’
Union City Union City, CA US City 74,494 21 m (69 ft) City guide β†’
Turlock Turlock, CA US City 72,292 31 m (102 ft) City guide β†’
Apple Valley Apple Valley, CA US City 72,174 898 m (2946 ft) City guide β†’
Lynwood Lynwood, CA US City 71,989 28 m (92 ft) City guide β†’
Redlands Redlands, CA US City 71,035 414 m (1358 ft) City guide β†’
Rancho Cordova Rancho Cordova, CA US City 71,017 27 m (89 ft) City guide β†’
Pittsburg Pittsburg, CA US City 69,424 8 m (26 ft) City guide β†’
Walnut Creek Walnut Creek, CA US City 68,910 52 m (171 ft) City guide β†’
Redondo Beach Redondo Beach, CA US City 68,166 19 m (62 ft) City guide β†’
Yorba Linda Yorba Linda, CA US City 67,973 116 m (381 ft) City guide β†’
Davis Davis, CA US City 67,666 16 m (52 ft) City guide β†’
Camarillo Camarillo, CA US City 67,608 54 m (177 ft) City guide β†’
South San Francisco South San Francisco, CA US City 67,271 4 m (13 ft) City guide β†’
Yuba City Yuba City, CA US City 66,941 18 m (59 ft) City guide β†’
Palo Alto Palo Alto, CA US City 66,853 9 m (30 ft) City guide β†’
Laguna Niguel Laguna Niguel, CA US City 65,806 121 m (397 ft) City guide β†’
San Clemente San Clemente, CA US City 65,526 71 m (233 ft) City guide β†’
Lodi Lodi, CA US City 64,596 15 m (49 ft) City guide β†’
Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA US City 64,220 11 m (36 ft) City guide β†’
Pico Rivera Pico Rivera, CA US City 64,218 50 m (164 ft) City guide β†’
Madera Madera, CA US City 64,208 83 m (272 ft) City guide β†’
Montebello Montebello, CA US City 63,921 61 m (200 ft) City guide β†’
Florence-Graham Florence-Graham, CA US City 63,387 44 m (144 ft) City guide β†’
Encinitas Encinitas, CA US City 62,930 25 m (82 ft) City guide β†’
Tulare Tulare, CA US City 62,315 88 m (289 ft) City guide β†’
La Habra La Habra, CA US City 62,131 91 m (299 ft) City guide β†’
Lake Elsinore Lake Elsinore, CA US City 61,981 395 m (1296 ft) City guide β†’
Carmichael Carmichael, CA US City 61,762 37 m (121 ft) City guide β†’
Monterey Park Monterey Park, CA US City 61,468 117 m (384 ft) City guide β†’
Castro Valley Castro Valley, CA US City 61,388 50 m (164 ft) City guide β†’
Rocklin Rocklin, CA US City 61,213 79 m (259 ft) City guide β†’
National City National City, CA US City 61,060 21 m (69 ft) City guide β†’
Cupertino Cupertino, CA US City 60,572 72 m (236 ft) City guide β†’
Gardena Gardena, CA US City 60,447 15 m (49 ft) City guide β†’
Petaluma Petaluma, CA US City 60,438 9 m (30 ft) City guide β†’
La Mesa La Mesa, CA US City 60,089 161 m (528 ft) City guide β†’
Huntington Park Huntington Park, CA US City 59,430 52 m (171 ft) City guide β†’
San Rafael San Rafael, CA US City 59,162 13 m (43 ft) City guide β†’
Eastvale Eastvale, CA US City 59,039 191 m (627 ft) City guide β†’
Brentwood Brentwood, CA US City 58,968 24 m (79 ft) City guide β†’
Woodland Woodland, CA US City 58,567 21 m (69 ft) City guide β†’
Arcadia Arcadia, CA US City 58,408 147 m (482 ft) City guide β†’
Santee Santee, CA US City 57,787 107 m (351 ft) City guide β†’
Dublin Dublin, CA US City 57,721 112 m (367 ft) City guide β†’
South Whittier South Whittier, CA US City 57,156 54 m (177 ft) City guide β†’
Fountain Valley Fountain Valley, CA US City 56,987 10 m (33 ft) City guide β†’
Diamond Bar Diamond Bar, CA US City 56,897 212 m (696 ft) City guide β†’
Porterville Porterville, CA US City 56,058 140 m (459 ft) City guide β†’
Hanford Hanford, CA US City 55,659 76 m (249 ft) City guide β†’
Novato Novato, CA US City 55,530 9 m (30 ft) City guide β†’
Paramount Paramount, CA US City 55,412 21 m (69 ft) City guide β†’
Rosemead Rosemead, CA US City 54,908 97 m (318 ft) City guide β†’
Highland Highland, CA US City 54,854 399 m (1309 ft) City guide β†’
Colton Colton, CA US City 54,621 306 m (1004 ft) City guide β†’
Hacienda Heights Hacienda Heights, CA US City 54,038 138 m (453 ft) City guide β†’
Cathedral City Cathedral City, CA US City 53,826 100 m (328 ft) City guide β†’
Palm Springs Palm Springs, CA US City 47,371 146 m (479 ft) City guide β†’
Monterey Monterey, CA US City 28,338 8 m (26 ft) City guide β†’
Twentynine Palms Twentynine Palms, CA US City 26,025 606 m (1988 ft) City guide β†’
South Lake Tahoe South Lake Tahoe, CA US City 21,706 1901 m (6237 ft) City guide β†’
Sonoma Sonoma, CA US City 11,037 26 m (85 ft) City guide β†’
Mammoth Lakes Mammoth Lakes, CA US City 7,946 2402 m (7881 ft) City guide β†’
Solvang Solvang, CA US City 5,741 154 m (505 ft) City guide β†’
Williams Williams, CA US City 5,196 25 m (82 ft) City guide β†’
Jackson Jackson, CA US City 4,649 371 m (1217 ft) City guide β†’
Carmel-by-the-Sea Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA US City 3,897 68 m (223 ft) City guide β†’
Avalon Avalon, CA US City 3,799 9 m (30 ft) City guide β†’
Yountville Yountville, CA US City 3,017 30 m (98 ft) City guide β†’
Mariposa Mariposa, CA US City 2,173 594 m (1949 ft) City guide β†’
Camden Camden, CA US City 0 72 m (236 ft) City guide β†’
Cooperstown Cooperstown, CA US City 0 84 m (276 ft) City guide β†’
Deadwood Deadwood, CA US City 0 524 m (1719 ft) City guide β†’
Fredericksburg Fredericksburg, CA US City 0 1546 m (5072 ft) City guide β†’
Homer Homer, CA US City 0 655 m (2149 ft) City guide β†’
Keystone Keystone, CA US City 0 330 m (1083 ft) City guide β†’

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