travelling wilburys 2023

                         THE WILBURYS BAND

            DEDICATION     EXPERTISE   PASSION

THE WILBURYS PERFORM A VERY UNIQUE SHOW THAT KEEPS THE SPIRIT OF THE GRAMMY AWARD WINNING TRAVELING WILBURYS ALIVE.  THE BAND TAKES GREAT EFFORT TO REMAIN TRUE TO THE MEGA TALENTED ORIGINAL ARTISTS - GEORGE HARRISON - TOM PETTY - ROY ORBISON - JEFF LYNNE AND BOB DYLAN, EACH TITANS IN THEIR OWN RIGHT.  THE WILBURYS HAVE A POWERFUL SYNERGY WITH THEIR VAST MUSICAL BACKGROUNDS AND UNIQUE VOCAL ABILITIES GIVING THEN THE ABILITY TO RECREATE HIT SONGS BY THE ORIGINAL GROUP AS WELL AS THE INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS THEMSELVES THAT ARE IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZABLE WITH A BROAD APPEAL.

Traveling Wilburys Revue – A tribute to the greatest band to never play live! @ Sutter Creek Theatre

• https://www.suttercreektheater.com/home/event/traveling-wilburys-revue-a-tribute-to-the-greatest-band-that-never-played-live/

Doors at 6:30, show at 7 pm. Open seating, beer and wine available. $22 Advance / $26 Day of Show.

GEORGE HARRISON, TOM PETTY, ROY ORBISON, BOB DYLAN, JEFF LYNNE … THE TRAVELING WILBURYS. The super-group that never performed live the music they created out of that brief moment at the invitation of George Harrison to ‘get together and write some songs’. Hits like Handle With Care, End Of The Line, Last Night……

THE TRAVELING WILBURYS REVUE brings that music of the WILBURYS and the hits from each of these individual artists to every show. Here Comes The Sun, Won’t Back Down, Pretty Woman, Like A Rolling Stone, Don’t Bring Me Down, and more that everyone knows and loves. Now fans can finally see and hear these great songs at every performance of THE TRAVELING WILBURYS REVUE.

Band Members:

Tom Finch (as George Harrison) Tom is a California native guitarist and Gulf Coast Music Hall of Fame inductee, has toured throughout the U.S., Europe, Japan and Canada playing with artists such as Big Brother & the Holding Co., Jefferson Starship, Joan Baez and many others.

Mark Burgess (as Tom Petty) Mark started playing guitar when he was 9 years old. He attended The Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University as a jazz performance major. Employed by Warner Bros as a music engraver. Toured Japan, and worked with Robert Fripp, Kevin Eubanks “Tonight Show”, Sally Struthers, Tom Scott, Don Rickles and more.

Chris Sanborn (as Roy Orbison) Chris uses his classical training to sound like Roy Orbison from when he was studying voice in Vienna and performing with jazz vocal groups throughout Europe and with the Austrian National Radio Choir.

Jeff Kaplan (as Bob Dylan) Jeff hails from Asbury Park, NJ. He was a founding member of Zasu Pitts Memorial Orchestra, scored a #1 hit on alternative radio as guitarist in the 700 Club, and done stints playing 5-string banjo in many bluegrass bands.

Steve Love (as Jeff Lynne) Steve was the lead guitar/lead singer for the #1 Sixty’s tribute band, Back Pages, in Northern California.

Chris Lockheed (as Jim Keltner) Chris has been a studio musician for years. Played, toured with NRPS, THE TUBES, LIGHTNIN’ HOPKINS, VAN MORRISON, BLUE CHEER and others. National tours with Rusty Evans & Ring Of Fire, #1 Johnny Cash tribute. Arizona Musicians Hall Of Fame with Goose Creek Symphony, Capitol Records.

The award winning historic Sutter Creek Theatre is an intimate 215 former silent film theatre with superb sound. Voted Best Indie Theatre multiple times (KCRA A-List).

GEORGE HARRISON, TOM PETTY, ROY ORBISON, BOB DYLAN, JEFF LYNNE THE TRAVELING WILBURYS The super-group that never performed live the music they created out of that brief moment at the invitation of George Harrison to ‘get together and write some songs’. Hits like Handle With Care, End Of The Line, Last Night……

THE TRAVELING WILBURYS REVUE brings that music of the WILBURYS and the hits from each of these individual artists to every show. Here Comes The Sun, Won’t Back Down, Pretty Woman, Like A Rolling Stone, Don’t Bring Me Down, and more that everyone knows and loves. Now fans can finally see and hear these great songs at every performance of THE TRAVELING WILBURYS REVUE

GEORGE HARRISON, TOM PETTY, ROY ORBISON, BOB DYLAN, JEFF LYNNE THE TRAVELING WILBURYS The super-group that never performed live  the music they created out of that brief moment  at the invitation of George Harrison to ‘get together and write some songs’.  Hits like Handle With Care, End Of The Line, Last Night……

THE TRAVELING WILBURYS REVUE brings that music of the WILBURYS  and the hits from each of these individual artists to every show.  Here Comes The Sun, Won’t Back Down, Pretty Woman,  Like A Rolling Stone, Don’t Bring Me Down, and more that everyone knows and loves.  Now fans can finally see and hear these great songs at every performance of THE TRAVELING WILBURYS REVUE.

facebook.com/travelingwilburysrevue instagram.com/travelingwilburysrevue

wed 05 jun 6:30 pm wed 8:30 pm Shady Grove Concert Series - Denver, CO 6:30p-8:30p • Four Mile Historic Park, 4846 E Exposition Ave, Glendale, CO 80246

Event Details

Four Mile Historic Park 4846 E Exposition Ave, Glendale, CO 80246 6:30pm-8:30pm

thu 06 jun 7:00 pm thu 9:00 pm Avogadro's Number - Fort Collins, CO 7:00PM-9:00PM • 605 S. Mason St, Fort Collins, CO 80524

605 S. Mason St, Fort Collins, CO 80524 (970) 493-5555 http://www.avogadros.com

fri 07 jun 8:00 pm fri 11:00 pm Nissi’s Entertainment Center - Denver, CO 8:00p-11:00p • 1455 Coal Creek Dr. , Unit T, Lafayette, CO 80026

1455 Coal Creek Dr. , Unit T Lafayette, CO 80026 (720) 535-7113 https://nissis.com/shows

thu 13 jun 8:00 pm thu 10:00 pm Eldorado County Fair - Placerville, CA 8:00p-10:00p • 100 Placerville Dr, Placerville, CA

100 Placerville Dr, Placerville, CA 95667 (530) 621-5860 https://eldoradocountyfair.org 8PM

sat 15 jun 7:00 pm sat 9:00 pm Rancho Nicasio - Nicasio, CA 8:00p-10:00p • 1 Old Rancheria Rd, Nicasio, CA

1 Old Rancheria Rd, Nicasio, CA 94946 8:00pm – 10:00pm

thu 27 jun 6:30 pm thu 8:00 pm Concord Music Series 6:30 PM • Todos Santos Plaza 2175 Willow Pass Rd., Concord

Todos Santos Plaza 2175 Willow Pass Rd., Concord, CA https://www.contracostalive.com/event

thu 04 jul 12:30 pm thu 2:30 pm CalVets July 4th Celebration - Yountville, CA 12:30p-2:30p • 60 California Drive, Yountville, CA 94599

60 California Drive, Yountville, CA 94599 www.calvet.ca.gov 12:30pm-2:30pm

thu 11 jul 6:30 pm thu 8:30 pm Calistoga Concerts In The Park - Calistoga, CA 6:00p-8:00p • Pioneer Park 1320 Cedar Street, Calistoga, CA 94515

Pioneer Park 1320 Cedar Street, Calistoga, CA 94515 6:00pm-8:00pm

sun 14 jul 6:00 pm sun 8:00 pm Caughlin Ranch - Reno, NV 6:00p-8:00p • Caughlin Ranch, 4785 Village Green Parkway, Reno, NV

Caughlin Ranch 4785 Village Green Parkway, Reno, NV 6pm-8pm www.artown.org https://facebook.com/VillageGreenConcerts

thu 18 jul 3:00 pm thu 5:00 pm California State Fair - Sacramento, CA 3:00p-5:00p • 1600 Exposition Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95815

California State Fair

1600 Exposition Blvd, Sacramento ,   CA   95815 https://calexpostatefair.com/event/california-state-fair

fri 26 jul 7:00 pm fri 9:00 pm Raven Theater - Healdsburg, CA 7:00p • 115 North Street - Healdsburg, CA 95448

115 North Street – Healdsburg, CA 95448 707-433-6335 https://raventheater.org/events/list/

august 2024

thu 08 aug 6:30 pm thu 8:30 pm Moraga Summer Music Series - Moraga, CA 6:30p-8:30p • Hacienda de las Flores Park, 2100 Donald Drive, Moraga, CA 

Hacienda de las Flores Park 2100 Donald Drive, Moraga, CA 94556 https://www.moraga.ca.us/423/Summer-Concert-Series

Hacienda de las Flores Park 2100 Donald Drive, Moraga ,  CA   94556 https://www.moraga.ca.us/423/Summer-Concert-Series

sat 17 aug 8:00 pm sat 10:00 pm Westside Theater - Newman, CA 8:00p-10:00p • 1331 Main Street, Newman, CA

Westside Theater Newman 8pm – 10pm

wed 21 aug 5:30 pm wed 7:30 pm Redwood City Music In The Park 5:30pm - 7:30pm • Stafford Park- 2100 Hopkins Avenue and King St

Stafford Park- 2100 Hopkins Avenue and King St Redwood City, CA Show: 5:30pm – 7:30pm

fri 23 aug 8:00 pm fri 10:00 pm Powerhouse Pub - Folsom, CA 8p-10p • 614 Sutter St # D, Folsom, CA 95630

Events 614 Sutter St # D,

614 Sutter St # D, Folsom, CA 95630

sun 25 aug 5:00 pm sun 7:00 pm Veterans Memorial Park Amphitheater - Yountville, CA 5:00p-7:00p • 6465 Washington St Yountville , CA

6465 Washington St Yountville , CA https://www.townofyountville.com/371/Eventswww.calvet.ca.gov 5:00pm-7:00pm

september 2024

sat 14 sep 12:00 pm sat 3:00 pm Seven Feathers Casino - Canyonville, OR 12:00p-3:00p • 146 Chief Miwaleta Ln, Canyonville, OR

146 Chief Miwaleta Ln, Canyonville, OR Events

october 2024

sat 12 oct 8:00 pm sat 10:00 pm Schauer Arts Center - Hartford, WI 8:00PM • 147 N Rural St, Hartford, WI 53027

147 N Rural St, Hartford, WI 53027 https://www.schauercenter.org 8:00PM – 10:00PM

sat 01 jul 8:00 pm sat 10:00 pm The River Theater - Guerneville, CA 8-10 pm • 16135 Main St Guerneville, CA 95446

Jerry Knight’s River Theater 16135 Main St Guerneville, CA 95446 (707) 869-8022 https://www.facebook.com/JerryKnightsRiverTheater Show: 8pm – 10pm

sat 15 jul 9:00 pm sat 11:30 pm Mac's/19 Broadway - Fairfax, CA 19 Broadway

19 Broadway, Fairfax, CA 9:00pm – 11:30pm

sun 16 jul 4:30 pm sun 6:00 pm Private Event

wed 19 jul 6:00 pm wed 8:00 pm Redwood City Music In The Park 6pm - 8pm • Stafford Park- 2100 Hopkins Avenue and King St

Stafford Park- 2100 Hopkins Avenue and King St Redwood City, CA Show: 6pm – 8pm

sat 22 jul 6:00 pm sat 8:30 pm San Anselmo Summer Creek Series 249 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo

249 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo 6:00pm – 8:30pm

sun 23 jul 5:00 pm sun 7:00 pm Los Gatos Music In The Park 5 - 7 pm • Los Gatos Civic Center, 110 East Main St.

Los Gatos Civic Center Lawn 110 East Main St., Los Gatos, CA https://www.losgatosca.gov/350/Music-in-the-Park Show: 5pm – 7pm

wed 26 jul 8:00 pm wed 11:00 pm The Garages - Portland, OR 17880 SW McEwan Rd, Lake Oswego, OR 97035

17880 SW McEwan Rd, Lake Oswego, OR 97035 https://atthegarages.net/events/

thu 27 jul 8:00 pm thu 10:30 pm High Dive - Seattle 513 N 36th Suite G, Seattle, WA 98103

513 N 36th Suite G, Seattle, WA 98103 https://www.facebook.com/events/484136683841886 https://www.tixr.com/groups/highdive/events/traveling-wilburys-revue-68923

fri 28 jul 1:00 pm fri 2:30 pm Chehalis Music in the Park 1225 SW Williams Ave, Chehalis, WA

1225 SW Williams Ave, Chehalis, WA https://www.facebook.com/chehalismip

sat 29 jul 8:00 pm sat 10:30 pm WOW Hall - Eugene, OR - SOLD OUT 291 W 8th Ave, Eugene, OR 97401

291 W 8th Ave, Eugene, OR 97401 tickets: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/traveling-wilburys-revue-wow-hall-tickets/13197858 http://www.wowhall.org/

sun 30 jul 8:00 pm sun 10:30 pm Tacoma Spanish Ballroom 565 Broadway Tacoma, WA, 98402

565 Broadway, Tacoma, WA 98402 (253) 300-8790 https://www.mcmenamins.com/events/243309-traveling-wilburys-revue

august 2023

sat 05 aug 8:00 pm sat 10:00 pm Westside Theater - Newman, CA 1331 Main Street

sun 20 aug 12:00 pm sun 3:00 am Cornerstone - Sonoma, CA 12-3pm • 23570 ARNOLD DRIVE

23570 Arnold Drive, Sonoma, CA 12:00pm – 3:00pm

september 2023

sat 02 sep 12:00 pm sat 3:00 am Cornerstone - Sonoma, CA 12-3pm • 23570 ARNOLD DRIVE

sat 30 sep 12:00 pm sat 3:00 am Cornerstone - Sonoma, CA 12-3pm • 23570 ARNOLD DRIVE

november 2023

sat 11 nov 7:00 pm sat 9:00 pm Rancho Nicasio (SOLD OUT) 1 Old Rancheria Rd, Nicasio

1 Old Rancheria Rd, Nicasio, CA 94946 7:00pm – 9:00pm

december 2023

thu 14 dec 8:00 pm thu 10:30 pm Sweetwater Music Hall 8 pm • Sweetwater Music Hall • 19 Corte Madera Ave, Mill Valley, CA

Sweetwater Music Hall 19 Corte Madera Ave, Mill Valley, CA 94941 https://sweetwatermusichall.com/events/?view=month Show: 8pm

january 2024

sat 13 jan All Day Private Event

sat 20 jan 7:00 pm sat 9:00 pm Rancho Nicasio - SOLD OUT 1 Old Rancheria Rd, Nicasio

february 2024

sat 03 feb 8:00 pm sat 10:00 am Sutter Creek Theater - SOLD OUT 44 Main Street, Sutter Creek, CA

Sutter Creek Theater 44 Main Street, Sutter Creek, CA https://www.suttercreektheater.com/home/venue/sutter-creek-theater/ 8pm

fri 23 feb 8:00 pm fri 11:00 pm Hopmonk - Novato 224 Vintage Way, Novato, CA 94945

224 Vintage Way, Novato, CA 94945 8:00pm – 11:00pm

fri 01 mar 7:00 pm fri 9:00 pm Arcata Theater Lounge - Arcata, CA 7 PM • 1036 G St, Arcata CA 95521

1036 G St, Arcata CA 95521 (707) 613-3030 https://www.arcatatheatre.com/calendar

sat 02 mar 8:00 pm sat 10:00 pm Axiom Repertory Theater - Redding, CA - SOLD OUT 8PM - Axiom Repertory Theater, 2613 Bechelli Lane, Redding, CA

2613 Bechelli Lane, Redding, CA 96002 (530) 605-0500 https://www.axreptheatre.com/all-shows 8PM

fri 29 mar 7:30 pm fri 10:00 pm The Big Easy - Petaluma, CA - SOLD OUT 7:30p-10:00p • 128 American Alley, Petaluma, CA

128 American Alley, Petaluma, CA 94952 (707) 776-7163 https://bigeasypetaluma.com

sun 07 apr 6:30 pm sun 8:30 pm Blue Note - Napa, CA - SOLD OUT 6:30p-9:00p • 1030 Main Street, Napa, CA

1030 Main Street, Napa, CA 6:30pm – 9:00pm Shows

1030 Main Street, Napa, CA 6:30pm – 9:00pm

sat 13 apr 7:30 pm sat 10:00 pm Bal Theater 7:30p - 10:00p • 14808 E. 14TH St. San Leandro, CA 94578 • 510-614-7700

14808 E. 14TH St. San Leandro, CA 94578 510-614-7700

fri 26 apr 8:00 pm fri 10:30 pm WOW Hall - Eugene, OR 8:00p - 10:30p • 291 W 8th Ave, Eugene, OR 97401

291 W 8th Ave, Eugene, OR 97401 8:00p – 10:30p tickets: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/traveling-wilburys-revue-wow-hall-tickets/13197858 http://www.wowhall.org/

sat 27 apr 1:00 pm sat 9:00 pm Chico Spring Jam - EVENT CANCELLED 1:00p-3:00p • Patrick Ranch Museum, 10381 Midway, Durham, CA

Patrick Ranch Museum 10381 Midway, Durham, CA 1:00pm-3:00pm https://www.blueskyfestivalsandevents.com

Handle with Care End of the Line Tweeter & The Monkey Man Last Night Inside Out The Devil’s Been Busy You Got It Rattled Where Were You Last Night Dirty World Poor House The Wilbury Twist She’s My Baby

GEORGE HARRISON Got My Mind Set On You What Is Life While My Guitar Gently Weeps Here Comes the Sun Heading For The Light

TOM PETTY I Won’t Back Down Runnin’ Down a Dream Free Fallin’ Last Dance With Maryjane

JEFF LYNNE Do Ya Don’t Bring Me Down Roll Over Beethoven

ROY ORBISON Pretty Woman Not Alone Anymore

BOB DYLAN Like A Rolling Stone

(George Harrison)

A California native guitarist and Gulf Coast Music Hall of Fame inductee, Tom has toured throughout the U.S., Europe, Japan and Canada playing with artists such as Big Brother & the Holding Co., Jefferson Starship, Joan Baez and many others.

Mark Burgess

(Tom Petty)

Mark started playing guitar when he was 9 years old. He attended The Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University as a jazz performance major. Employed by Warner Bros as a music engraver. Toured Japan, and worked with Robert Fripp, Kevin Eubanks “Tonight Show”, Sally Struthers, Tom Scott, Don Rickles and more.

Chris Sanborn

(Roy Orbison)

Chris uses his classical training to sound like Roy Orbison from when he was studying voice in Vienna and performing with jazz vocal groups throughout Europe and with the Austrian National Radio Choir.

(Jeff Lynne)

Steve was the lead guitar/lead singer for the #1 Sixty’s tribute band, Back Pages, in Northern California.

Jeff Kaplan

(Bob Dylan)

Jeff hails from Asbury Park, NJ. He was a founding member of Zasu Pitts Memorial Orchestra, scored a #1 hit on alternative radio as guitarist in the 80’s alt-band 700 Club, and done stints playing 5-string banjo in many bluegrass bands.

Chris Lockheed

A studio musician for years, Chris played, toured with NRPS, THE TUBES, LIGHTNIN’ HOPKINS, VAN MORRISON, BLUE CHEER and others. National tours with Rusty Evans & Ring Of Fire, #1 Johnny Cash tribute. Arizona Musicians Hall Of Fame with Goose Creek Symphony, Capitol Records.

Band photos courtesy of Bruce Forrester

CHRIS LOCKHEED [email protected] (415) 596-7353

THE TRAVELING WILBURYS

The official home of The Traveling Wilburys: George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty and Roy Orbison.

The Birth of the Traveling Wilburys

Introduction by mo ostin.

The birth of the Traveling Wilburys was a happy accident. Warner Bros. Records’ International Department had asked that George Harrison come up with a B-side for “This Is Love,” a single from his Cloud Nine album. At the time it was customary to couple an A-side with a never-before-heard track, giving the single extra sales value.

This was mid-1988. Cloud Nine was just out. George, along with cowriter Jeff Lynne and their friends Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, and Roy Orbison, had been hanging out in Dylan’s studio. I suppose George figured that as long as his pals were on hand, why not use them to knock off this flipside?

The Wilbury Timeline

Explore the story of The Traveling Wilburys through our interactive timeline, featuring videos, music, key dates, release dates and much more.

Featured video

End of the line.

End Of The Line – released 1989 © 2007 T. Wilbury Limited

Album Essentials: Traveling Wilburys - "Vol. 1"

By Dave Swanson - Summit FM Contributor

The term 'super group' probably traces back to Cream, the power trio comprised of bassist Jack Bruce, guitarist Eric Clapton, and drummer Ginger Baker. As they made their entrance onto the music scene of 1966, all heads and ears turned their way, at first, simply because their reputations preceded them. Clapton had been a shining star in the Yardbirds, and then John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, while both Bruce and Baker had established themselves as powerhouse players while in the Graham Bond Organization, one of the more respected blues groups on the UK scene at the time.  Once Cream established themselves apart from their pedigree, they had become one of the biggest and most respected bands in the world. They lasted slightly over two years before imploding, but would set a standard for any amalgamation of top shelf players who thought it a good plan to band together.

There were others along the way, from Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, to Blind Faith and Emerson, Lake and Palmer, up through Asia and Damn Yankees. The word ‘super’ being somewhat flexible in many cases, but the concept remained to have an all-star team of sorts. Many were hugely successful, others more of a curiosity. The formation of the Traveling Wilburys, in 1988, moved the goal post to higher ground, as any band that could withhold a Beatle, an early rock and roll pioneer, two superstars of the 1970s, and one Bob Dylan, had a lot to answer for.

Once their debut album, ' Vol. 1 ' was released in October of 1988, there was zero doubt that they would live up to the challenge and then some. The album catches all these key figures in rock and roll having fun, making a record with friends, and nary an ego in sight. George Harrison had been working his comeback album, ' Cloud 9 ,' in 1987, with ELO's Jeff Lynne acting as producer, and it was during those sessions that the idea for the Wilburys was born. As the concept grew it basically became a case of "well let me ask Bob" and "I bet Tom would be up for this" and so on. Much chatter at the time was about how Harrison, Petty, Lynne and Dylan were thrilled to be playing with Roy Orbison, while at the same time, Orbison was thrilled to be a part of this as well. All cards on the table and all egos checked at the door ended up making for a true classic that so easily could have failed.

Aside from their attitudes being a saving grace, how about the songs?! All involved brought songs into the band. "It was a lot of fun writing the songs cause you didn't always know who was going to sing it," said Petty in a 1988 interview. "We're all fans of each other,' added Orbison. ' Handle With Care ,' the album's first single, pretty much tells the tale musically, all stars align and shine bright as each voice is heard in this ultra-catchy pop song. It ended up being a hit. ' End Of The Line ,' and ' Tweeter and The Monkey Man ' proved FM radio staples as well.

The album became a surprise hit, hitting number three in the Billboard charts and selling over two million copies in the first six months. Eventually, their debut would go on to be certified triple platinum. Not bad for a loose concept based on a passing idea. Each member took on a new persona based around the Wilbury legend: Petty became Charlie T. Wilbury, Lynne was Otis, Harrison was Nelson, Dylan became Lucky, and Orbison was Lefty. This all played into the spirit intended by these Rock and Roll Hall of famers. Produced by Otis and Nelson, aka Lynne and Harrison, the recordings have that classic to some, annoying to others, sound that Lynne so often angled in at. It suits the material and fans and radio loved it.

Sadly, the band was short on time as Roy Orbison passed away in December of '88. A second album, cheekily titled ' Vol. 3 ,' was recorded in the summer of 1990 as a four piece, and released that fall. There had been talk of inviting Del Shannon in to replace Roy, but it never came to be. It's sad to note that there are only two Wilburys left alive, as time has marked the passing of Harrison and Petty along with Orbison. That first album, in particular, had something very special about it. Something that you really can’t define as it all came about in such an organic way. The spirit lives, as do the songs, which is why we have cast it here as one of the Essentials.

In Other News

Join our newsletter

Starring LINDSAY FIELD, SAM SEE & GLYN MASON

In the late 80s the fresh, fun sound of the traveling wilburys came bursting out of our radios. their instant, world-wide success was no fluke and no surprise, as this mysterious band of ‘unknowns’ was in fact a supergroup formed by some of the world’s most-beloved musicians. instigated by george harrison and jeff lynne and joined by bob dylan, tom petty, and roy orbison, the traveling wilburys left their deep mark on pop music history. , though the wilburys never played live, their debut album won the 1990 grammy for best rock performance. now, the wilbury legends show is coming to the memo and traces the careers of these five superstars who united almost by accident to remind the world of the roots of rock ’n’ roll. the show features wilburys’ songs and many hits by its illustrious individual members..

MORE SHOWS AT MEMO

Related Gigs

This is the only gig for The Wilbury Legends – Celebrating the Traveling Wilburys, better be quick!

subscribe to newsletter

Paul Hopkins'

Please find details of our scheduled tour dates below. We are really looking forward to getting back on the road again.  Please check with the individual theatres for their booking policies. New dates are being added frequently. Thank you xx

        ​​2024

Saturday 13th                           Littlecote House, Warners

Saturday 20th                            The Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen

Thursday 25th                            Darlington Hippodrome

Saturday 27th                            The Castle Theatre, Wellingborough

Friday 2nd                                   The Haymarket, Basingstoke

  BOOK HERE    

Saturday 3rd                              The Alban Arena

BOOK HERE  

Friday 16th                                  The Watersmeet Theatre, Rickmansworth

Saturday 24th                           Wakefield Theatre Royal

Friday 1st                                  South Mill Theatre, Bishop Stortford

BOOK HERE              

Saturday 9th                             Warners Hayling Island

Friday 15th                                The Spotlight Theatre, Hoddeston  

  BOOK HERE  

Saturday 16th                            The Barn, Ring wood

Friday 22nd                                The Princess Theatre, Hunstanton

Saturday 1 3th                          Havershill Arts Centre  

BOOK HERE                  

Friday 19th                                The Customs House, South Shields

Friday 26th                                The Malvern Forum

Sunday 16th                               Weymouth Pavilion

Friday 21st                                  The Stables, Milton Keynes

Saturday 22nd                            The White Rock Hastings

Sunday 7th                                   The Mill, Sonning

Monday 26th                                Beatle Week, Liverpool

Saturday 7th                                 Middleton Arena, Manchester

Friday 20th                                    The Regal, Evesham

Saturday 21st                              Queens Hall Barnstaple

Friday 27th                                    The Radlett Centre

Saturday 5th                                  The Hazlitt, Maidstone

Tuesday 15th                                  Buxton Opera House

Friday 18th                                      The Memo, Barry Island

Friday 25th                                      Alexandria Auditorium, Yarm

Friday 1st                                        Queens Hall, Peterborough

Saturday 2nd                                   Gorleston Pavilion

Saturday 16th                                  The Royal, Bacup

Saturday 23rd                                 Alnwick Playhouse

• Advanced Search
• Most Popular
• Enhanced Performances
• Largest tours
• Theatre Vouchers
• Panto/Christmas Shows
• UKTW News/Reviews
• Newsletters
• Latest Information
• About/Contact
• Sell your tickets
• Embed Listings

Roy Orbison and the Travelling Wilburys Experience

Tour synopsis, cast & creatives.

Tour details for Roy Orbison and the Travelling Wilburys Experience 2023 to 2024

Dates for roy orbison and the travelling wilburys experience (concert) tour, qr/qtix links.

Embed Information

Tellme notifications.

User Reviews

Add a review.

Nearly 40 Savannah-area musicians team to salute the Traveling Wilburys at Victory North

Looking for a unique musical event to start your Thanksgiving weekend? In the immortal words of Roy Orbison, “You Got It.”

The “Traveling Wilburys: A Savannah Salute” at Victory North is set for Nov. 22, and the show’s co-producers Jim Reed and Ray Lundy are planning a slate of great music for those in attendance.

“This show is 100 percent about the songs themselves, and that's our sole focus,” Reed explained. “The musicians and vocalists on stage…will not be dressed up like the members of the Traveling Wilburys, nor will they be intentionally trying to impersonate those superstar's voices or mannerisms.

“It's designed [instead] to showcase the breadth of amazing talent found across the greater Savannah area music scene,” he added, “by learning and performing these words and music in our own way, to the best of our abilities.”

“What makes this show special is the high degree of love and gratitude that each one of us is giving to this, a beautiful labor of love and devotion,” noted Lundy.

The Traveling Wilburys were a supergroup comprised principally of solo artists Tom Petty, Roy Orbison and Bob Dylan, as well as Jeff Lynne of Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) and The Beatles’ George Harrison. Their first record, Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1, was met with high acclaim, winning a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group in 1990.

“I purchased the first Traveling Wilburys album on vinyl on the very first day it was released in 1988, at the old Turtle's Records and Tapes store on Victory Drive,” Reed related. “The whole record really blew my mind….because the cumulative result of Dylan, Petty and Orbison, in tandem with a member of the Beatles and the leader of ELO, sounded nothing like what I would have expected. Although, in retrospect, I am not sure what on earth I did expect from such an odd lineup.”

Unfortunately, shortly after its release, Roy Orbison tragically died of a heart attack at just 52 years old. Plans for a series of concerts were ultimately scrapped and, while the band would go on to release a second album (inexplicably titled ‘Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3’) two years after their debut, the songs were never performed live by all five core members.

A house band of 38 Savannah-area musicians

For the local event, however, the music will finally find its way to the stage, and in a big way: Including the ‘house band,’ an incredible 38 musicians will take the stage at some point during the evening.

“No one in this show is playing the part of any famous musician,” Reed reiterated. “We are all just working together as a big team to try and come up with our own respectful renditions of all of these songs, some of which go all the way back to the Beatles' early years (the ones George Harrison wrote), and all the way back to 1960 (for one of the Roy Orbison tunes we'll be playing).”

“Almost every member of the house band for this show will sing lead at some point during the concert, and we also have 18 guest vocalists who will be jumping up on stage for a song or two,” he went on to say. “For example, over the course of the show I think we'll have four different people singing Orbison tunes and four different people singing Dylan songs. Whoever we think can do a great job on a given song is who gets to perform it. The same with guest guitarists, keyboardists, bassists [and] drummers.”

Amongst those in the house band is local guitarist and singer Ben Keiser, who’ll be playing lead and slide guitar parts throughout the show. Keiser has become a fixture in the local music scene, and jumped at the chance to join the all-star lineup Reed and Lundy put together for the event, even though he initially had no idea what he was signing up for.

“Jim and I were playing a show a couple of months ago, and he said he had a secretive project that he was putting together, but that he couldn’t give me a lot of details,” he said with a chuckle. “It was top secret at first.”

After Lundy called him a couple of weeks later to give him the details, Keiser began exploring the Wilburys catalogue, which taught him to appreciate the supergroup in a way he never had before.

“It’s one of those things where…you just know it’s amazing, [but] I’d never done a deep dive,” he said. “I’d heard the songs that were their singles. Now I’m all into it. The b-sides are where you can really hear the ‘stuff.’”

“It’s a perfect lineup, just as far as their vocal ranges, they were all so complementary,” he continued. “And the George Harrison stuff, he’s the master at finding the little perfect riff to put in between breaks in the song.”

Alongside Keiser, Reed, and Lundy, the house band is made up of Craig Johansen (the Magic Rocks, the 8-Tracks, Hot Pink Interior, the Myth) and Matt Eckstine (The Accomplices) on guitars, plus drummer Josh Safer (Bottles and Cans, GAM), bassists Jon Willis (the Myth, Jon Lee & The Apparitions) and Eric Dunn (the Train Wrecks, Velvet Caravan), and keyboardist Phillip Price (An Albatross, The Sw!ms, COEDS). Add in the scheduled guests, which includes folks like Basik Lee (real name Steven Baumgardner), Josephine Johnson, Jason Bible, and Ray Tomasino, and you’ve got what amounts to local supergroup, the Savannah version of what the Traveling Wilbury’s were globally.

“Every single one of these players and singers are at or near the top of their fields in this area, and so it's probably accurate to call this a ‘dream team’ of a backing band that's capable of tackling most any kind of rock, blues, soul, country or pop music you throw at them,” opined Reed. “Which is why they're perfect to handle learning the unusually varied songs of the Traveling Wilburys and that band's individual members.”

“As musicians, we're standing on the shoulders of giants,” Lundy added. “This is one way to show our gratitude to those that blazed the trails.”

If You Go >>

What: “Traveling Wilburys: A Savannah Salute”

When: Doors open at 6:30 p.m., music begins at 7:30 p.m., Nov. 22

Where: Victory North, 2603 Whitaker St.

Tickets: $25-$60

Info: victorynorthsavannah.com

Rock and Roll Globe

Real writing about real music.

Handle With Care: The Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 at 35

A loose salute to the debut album from classic rock’s greatest supergroup

It was 35 years ago today when the Traveling Wilburys joined forces and released their debut album Vol. 1 to an unsuspecting audience of classic rock fans.

The quintet – comprised of George Harrison (Nelson), Jeff Lynne (Otis), Bob Dylan (Lucky), Roy Orbison (Lefty) and Tom Petty (Charlie T. Jr.), all working under aliases with the common surname of Wilbury – cut this record in about two weeks at Eurythmic Dave Stewart’s home studio in Los Angeles, CA.  

They even came up with a whole folklore behind the brotherly bond, originally inscribed on the inside sleeve of the original LP, written by one Hugh Jampton, E.F. Norti-Bitz Reader in Applied Jacket from the “University of Krakatoa (East of Java),” who was in actuality Monty Python’s Michael Palin.

“A remarkable sophisticated musical culture developed, considering there were no managers or agents, and the further the Wilburys traveled the more adventurous their music became,” the inscription stated. “And the more it was revered by the elders of the tribe who believed it had the power to stave off madness, turn brunettes into blondes and increase the size of their ears.”

But silliness aside, what these five men recorded alongside such longtime friends as saxophonist Jim Horn and drummer Jim Keltner was an album of collaborative kismet that remains the template for the rock supergroup to this day.

VIDEO: The Traveling Wilburys “Handle With Care”

“We would arrive about twelve or one o’clock and have some coffee,” Lynne told Rolling Stone in 1989. “Somebody would say, ‘What about this?’ and start on a riff. Then we’d all join in, and it’d turn into something. We’d finish around midnight and just sit for a bit while Roy would tell us fabulous stories about Sun Records or hanging out with Elvis. Then we’d come back the next day to work on another one. That’s why the songs are so good and fresh — because they haven’t been second-guessed and dissected and replaced. It’s so tempting to add stuff to a song when you’ve got unlimited time.”

But where tracks like the album’s bookending hit singles “Handle With Care” and “End of the Line” showcased the Wilburys altogether as one entity, there’s enough individualized moments where one player takes the wheel, like Dylan’s Springsteen send-up “Tweeter and the Monkey Man” and Orbison’s yearning “Not Alone Any More,” to let you know exactly who is at the table. Then there’s a song like “Heading For The Light,” a co-write between Harrison and Lynne that feels like a seamless extension of their work together on Harrison’s Cloud Nine LP, while Petty and Orbison team up for the cheeky “Last Night.” 

VIDEO: The Traveling Wilburys “End of the Line”

Orbison, sadly, would pass away from a sudden heart attack on December 6th at the age of 52, only a month-and-a-half after Vol. 1 was released. For Keltner, talking to Billboard in 2018, Roy proved to be the true glue that made the Traveling Wilburys evolve from a one-off B-side jam into a full-fledged entity.

“Roy was the absolute reason why they even came together in the first place,” he admits. “They all loved George and would have certainly come together for him. But with Roy, it was a no-brainer. The first album had this magic to it, and that was all Roy. They were all icons in their own way, but it was Roy who kept them having fun and knowing they were doing something special.”

And 35 years later, Vol. 1 remains a testament to this legendary union and the brilliance that emerges from loose fun with good pals. 

• Recent Posts

• Redd Kross Return with Double LP, North American Tour - April 29, 2024
• Drive On: Johnny Cash’s American Recordings Turns 30 - April 26, 2024
• New Johnny Cash Album, Songwriter, Out June 28th - April 24, 2024

 You May Also Like

• ← Dead Or Alive: Johnny Thunders’ So Alone at 45
• The Sprawl: Sonic Youth’s Daydream Nation Turns 35 →

Ron Hart is the Editor-in-Chief of Rock and Roll Globe. Reach him on X @MisterTribune .

One thought on “ Handle With Care: The Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 at 35 ”

SUCH a great album — worth the price of admission just to hear Roy croon, “I’m so tired of being lonely / I still have some love to give” but there are golden moments aplenty for each Wilbury.

Who might today’s Wilburys be? 🤔

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Gold's More Music Drive Home 4pm - 7pm

Now Playing

It's Only Rock 'N Roll (But I Like It) The Rolling Stones Download 'It's Only Rock 'N Roll (But I Like It)' on iTunes

Traveling Wilburys: How did the all-star supergroup get together?

28 April 2023, 13:40 | Updated: 12 April 2024, 10:15

By Thomas Curtis-Horsfall

Listen to this article

Everyone loves a collaboration between major music icons.

And the idea of a supergroup whet's the appetite even more - a melting pot of styles and influences from beloved stars from across the music spectrum.

But during the 1980s a supergroup came into being which was more extraordinary than anyone could've imagined. The band? Well, the Traveling Wilburys of course.

The creative components of the band were so stellar, that Electric Light Orchestra's Jeff Lynne and Tom Petty were considered to be the junior members.

Given that Roy Orbison , Bob Dylan , and a bonafide Beatle in George Harrison made up the rest of the group, you can understand why.

• Roy Orbison's 10 greatest songs, ranked
• Harrisongs! George Harrison's 22 Beatles songs, ranked
• QUIZ: How well do you know Bob Dylan's lyrics?

Getting a band of music icons together in the same room at the same time sounds like a stretch of the imagination in itself.

There's scheduling conflicts, clashing egos to contend with, and that's before even knowing if there's a creative chemistry worth pursuing.

But the story of how the Traveling Wilburys came together was in fact quite organic, or cosmic if that's your perspective. But if anything, it was a stroke of dumb luck.

Before they all got in a room together, each member of the Traveling Wilburys were friends or at least connected in some varying degree of separation.

They've all achieved stardom and cultural significance on some levels, so had crossed paths previously and attended each other's shows.

But it was George Harrison who acted as the catalyst for their unique coming together, having been working on the follow-up album to Cloud Nine which re-ignited his solo career.

The former member of the Fab Four had already been working with Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne in the studio on each other's projects, but having handed his new record to the label, they required one more B-side to complete the album.

During a dinner with Lynne and Orbison he invited them both to contribute to a new song he was working on the off chance they'd agree. They did, and recorded in Bob Dylan 's garage studio as it was too short notice to book a major studio.

The song was later dubbed 'Handle With Care', named after a label he saw in a box in Dylan's garage, and the record label went mad for it.

In fact, they thought the song was too good, so encouraged Harrison to continue recording with Roy and Jeff, who had also invited Tom Petty into the mix to workshop the track.

The Traveling Wilburys - Handle With Care (Official Video)

The opportunity to continue recording with fellow rock legends and peers wasn't wasted on George, who was incredibly eager to get Bob Dylan involved, who at the time was enduring his lowest point both creatively and commercially.

Though everyone was in awe of Dylan and his prestige, with Tom Petty later recalling that Harrison needed to clear the air on the first day of writing.

"We know that you're Bob Dylan and everything, but we're going to just treat you and talk to you like we would anybody else" Harrison said in front of the soon-to-be supergroup.

Dylan replied: "Well, great. Believe it or not, I'm in awe of you guys, and it's the same for me" and the mutual respect was vital to their chemistry.

They also bonded over their love 1950s rock 'n' roll and skiffle bands which inspired the name, Traveling Wilburys.

What particular enamoured Roy Orbison to George Harrison however, was his knack for impersonations, being able to reel off Monty Python skits at the drop of a hat, as George was friends with the British comedy troupe and even funded The Life Of Brian .

Led by the excitement about 'Handle With Care', the Traveling Wilburys were formed and recorded their first album together: Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 .

Recording sessions took place at the home studio of Eurythmics' Dave Stewart, who could've been a Wilbury himself had he not been focusing on writing the electronic duo's album We Too Are One .

The sessions went better than any of them expected, all contributing in equal measure and drawing inspiration from each artist's process of songwriting and recording.

Because it was George that brought the band together, he was appointed de facto bandleader and manager, saying: "From my point of view, I just tried to preserve our relationship."

"I worked so hard to make sure that all the guys who were in that band, and consequently on record and film, that their friendship wasn't abused. Just to preserve our friendship – that was the underlying contribution, I think, that I was trying to do."

Not only was in a pleasant creative experience amongst friends, it was a miraculous creative venture that later rejuvenated the careers of both Bob Dylan and Tom Petty.

Unexpectedly to the rest of the group, Roy Orbison was ecstatic with the results which gave him his first hit record in some years.

The Traveling Wilburys - End Of The Line (Official Video)

Sadly they never toured as George Harrison wanted to avoid the trappings of a rock 'n' roll tour, despite warming to the idea at first.

Not long after the supergroup's album was released, Roy Orbison died of a heart attack at the age of 52 on 6th December 1988.

It left the remaining band members heartbroken, but relieved in so far as their friend and idol went out on a creative high point.

Jeff Lynne recalled: "I was devastated for ages ... Me and Roy had had plans to do much more together, and his voice was in really good shape. It was just so sad for that to happen."

Harrison, Dylan, Petty, and Lynne did reunite for a second album, Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3 , two years later which bagged the supergroup a Grammy Award .

But they failed to reach the unmatched chemistry and camaraderie they achieved on their debut album together now they were one man down.

Despite not coming together again, the Wilburys look back on their time together fondly. They were a strange phenomenon given that acid house and hip-hop were the trending genres of the time, with author Alan Clayson later likening its release to "a Viking longship docking in a hovercraft terminal".

That was the beauty of the Traveling Wilburys though - they were just a group of mates having a good time. They just so happened to be music legends.

Last Played Songs

Latest music news, bill haley facts: the songs, life and death of the comets leader and rock and roll pioneer.

Hall Of Fame

The Rolling Stones kick off their first album tour without Charlie Watts

The Rolling Stones

Johnny Cash's 15 greatest songs, ranked

Why did bill wyman leave the rolling stones bassist reveals all, herman's hermits peter noone admits he's "invisible" in england, more from gold, ringo starr is reunited with john lennon's long-lost 12-string help guitar.

The Beatles

Mike Pinder, founding member of The Moody Blues, dies aged 82

The heartbreaking reason why elvis presley turned down barbra streisand's 'a star is born'.

Elvis Presley

13 massive hit singles that were originally B-sides

Pink floyd's david gilmour announces his first album of new songs in nearly a decade, when the beach boys went rock ‘n’ roll with crazed cover of chuck berry’s 'johnny b goode'.

The Beach Boys

• Latest News

Top 10 Chicago Blues Artists

‘soul & inspiration’ album: righteous brothers find ‘the heart of the song’, ‘junk culture’: the catchiest album omd ever made, ‘red rose speedway’: paul mccartney and wings at full throttle, free jazz: a short history of the jazz sub-genre, shining brightly: richard and linda thompson’s folk-rock beacon, ‘black coffee’: peggy lee’s darker exploration of love, billie eilish announces ‘hit me hard and soft’ world tour, blink-182 returns to north america for final leg of stadium and arena tour, terri clark reimagines ‘now that i found you’ as duet with ben rector, luis fonsi shares new laura pausini collaboration ‘roma’, mickey guyton shares new song ‘scary love,’ announces u.s. tour, karol g and feid win big at latin american music awards, ringo starr offers up ‘gonna need someone’ music video, who were the traveling wilburys the billion dollar quintet.

Lucky, Lefty, Nelson, Otis and Charlie T, Jr – together, they were known as The Traveling Wilburys, but who was really behind the curly hair and shades?

Published on

Lucky, Lefty, Nelson, Otis and Charlie T, Jr – together, they were known as The Traveling Wilburys, but who was really behind the curly hair and shades? One obfuscating legend claimed they were “the only known surviving members of this once great tribe of wandering musicians,” with an ancestry that “goes back so far that their exact origins have become extremely difficult to… separate from the legends and myths that have grown around them.”

The irony was that this was just one of many myths that surrounded the musicians who, individually, had been the subject of many a rock’n’roll rumor before they joined forces as The Traveling Wilburys. By the time Bob Dylan, George Harrison , Roy Orbison , Tom Petty , and Jeff Lynne convened in 1988, they’d individually been the subject of many an article – and, in some cases, book – that invariably raised more questions than they answered. That said, the fact that the group existed at all seems to have been augured by the fates. Turns out the Wilburys had been crisscrossing each other’s paths for decades.

Listen to The Traveling Wilburys Collection on Apple Music and Spotify .

‘Fever To Tell’: Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Genre-Defying Debut Album

‘mardi gras’: over and out from creedence clearwater revival.

Roy Orbison, for instance, had toured with The Beatles at the height of Beatlemania, establishing himself as a massive star in the UK. Shortly after, Dylan and Harrison became life-long friends – and professional rivals – as he and The Beatles pushed rock music to ever greater heights during the 60s. As the 70s dawned, Dylan was guest of honor at the Concert For Bangladesh – a rare appearance during that period in his career, and something only Harrison could have conjured.

A magnet for creative talent, Harrison enlisted Jeff Lynne to produce his 1987 solo album, Cloud Nine . That same year, Dylan was touring with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers as his backing band, and it wouldn’t be long before Lynne was manning the boards for solo albums by Tom Petty ( Full Moon Fever ) and Roy Orbison ( Mystery Girl ).

Despite the self-created myth that surrounded “Lucky,” “Lefty,” “Nelson,” “Otis” and “Charlie T, Jr,” the Wilburys’ creation story is actually pretty well known: Harrison needed a B-side for his Cloud Nine single “This Is Love,” fortuitously had three of the others on hand to pitch in, and brought Petty into the fold when he swung by the erstwhile Heartbreaker’s house to retrieve his guitar. The result, “Handle With Care,” was too good to hide away on a single flip… so while these multi-millionaire rock stars were enjoying making music with no egos or no pressure – playing and recording just for the fun of it – they thought they’d knock out a whole album.

They chose their Traveling Wilburys moniker after the nickname that Lynne and Harrison had for spooky goings on with studio equipment – and, as Petty put it, because they “didn’t want it to sound like Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, like a bunch of lawyers.” In the studio they captured magic: a whole history of rock’n’roll, country, and pop, making the Wilburys a perfectly formed supergroup that embodied the very essence of Americana.

With a nod to Orbison’s Sun labelmates, the famed Million Dollar Quartet – Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash , Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins – the individual Wilburys can comfortably claim to be the Billion Dollar Quintet. Come with us behind the shades as we pin these traveling troubadours down…

Bob Dylan (aka Lucky Wilbury)

In the early 60s, Bob Dylan emerged as an astonishingly prolific folk singer who doffed his flat cap to Woody Guthrie; with songs such as “Blowin’ In The Wind” he quickly established himself as a pioneering protest singer. Fast outstripping that scene, however, Dylan altered the face of rock music with his “thin, wild mercury sound,” as captured on Blonde On Blonde , and elevated lyric-writing to the level of poetry with epochal songs the likes of “Mr Tambourine Man” and “Like A Rolling Stone.” “Tangled Up In Blue” remains a masterpiece from his mid-70s “break-up album,” Blood On The Tracks , while “Hurricane” saw him return to the protest themes that he initially made his name with.

Traveling Wilburys highlights: “Tweeter And The Monkey Man,” “Dirty World,” and “7 Deadly Sins”

Listen to the Lucky Wilbury playlist on Spotify .

George Harrison (aka Nelson Wilbury)

As one of The Beatles, George Harrison blazed a trail through pop music like no other guitarist of his generation. He is almost single-handedly responsible for introducing Eastern music into mainstream Western rock and pop, while, as the 60s progressed, he became that rarest of beasts: a lead guitarist with impeccable songwriting skills. “Here Comes The Sun,” “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” and “Something” remain some of The Beatles’ most-loved songs; after the group split, Harrison burst forth with an almost unstoppable creative flow, penning classics such as “My Sweet Lord” and “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth),” while also recording the definitive version of the Rudy Clark-penned “Got My Mind Set On You.” Though he succumbed to cancer in 2001, his posthumous album, Brainwashed , released in 2002, contained “Stuck Inside A Cloud,” which proved that Harrison’s creativity remained undimmed right until the very end.

Traveling Wilburys highlights: “Handle With Care,” “Heading For The Light,” and “Maxine”

Listen to the Nelson Wilbury playlist on Spotify .

Roy Orbison (aka Lefty Wilbury)

The one Wilbury with roots to Sun Records and the birth of rock’n’roll in the 50s, Roy Orbison brought a special gravitas to the group. With songs such as “In Dreams” and “Only The Lonely,” Orbison patented a strain of emotive songwriting that continues to send chills down the spine, while “Oh, Pretty Woman” showed that he could knock out a transatlantic pop No.1 with ease. A late-period resurgence led to him working with Jeff Lynne on sessions that produced the classic “You Got It,” while “I Drove All Night” (posthumously issued as a single in 1992, but recorded in 1987) took Orbison back into the US Top 10 for the first time in 25 years, and proved that his expressive vocals had lost none of their power over their time. Orbison died of a heart attack in 1988, between Wilburys albums, but his spirit very much pervades the group’s second – and final – album.

Traveling Wilburys highlights: “Not Alone Any More,” “Last Night,” and “Handle With Care”

Listen to the Lefty Wilbury playlist on Spotify .

Tom Petty (aka Charlie T, Jr, Wilbury)

As both a solo artist and leader of The Heartbreakers, Tom Petty has embodied heartland rock like no other artist. The Heartbreakers might have emerged at the height of punk, yet songs such as “American Girl” established the group as a raw roots-rock outfit that could more than hold their own among the political firebrands. As a solo artist, Petty raced to the upper echelons of the charts with the likes of “Free Fallin’” and “I Won’t Back Down.” He has since settled into the role of roots-rock custodian, issuing acclaimed albums at his own pace, while presenting his own radio show, Buried Treasure , on Sirius Satellite Radio.

Traveling Wilburys highlights: “Last Night,” “Cool Dry Place,” and “You Took My Breath Away”

Listen to the Charlie, T, Jr, Wilbury playlist on Spotify .

Jeff Lynne (aka Otis Wilbury)

A leader of Electric Light Orchestra, Jeff Lynne established his group as the 70s’ answer to The Beatles, working up increasingly ambitious pop-rock masterpieces such as “Livin’ Thing” and “Mr. Blue Sky,” which have gone on to define the decade. It’s fitting, then, that in the wake of ELO’s split, Lynne would go on to co-produce George Harrison’s latter-day solo material, and eventually worked with The Beatles themselves when he helped them complete “Free As A Bird” and “Real Love” from unfinished John Lennon demos for the Anthology project in the mid-90s. Though Lynne’s own solo albums have been few and far between, “Every Little Thing” and “She” remain highlights in a hugely varied back catalogue.

Traveling Wilburys Highlights: “Rattled,” “Poor House,” and “Runaway”

Listen to the Otis Wilbury playlist on Spotify .

17 Comments

June 10, 2016 at 9:08 pm

Very informative piece. However, it lists the “Million Dollar Quartet” as Elvis, Jerry Lee, Cash and “The Big O himself”, meaning Roy Orbison. Roy was with Sun Records but was not the fourth member of the “Quartet. That was Carl Perkins.

June 11, 2016 at 1:23 am

Absolutely right, it was Carl (Blue Suede Shoes) Perkins in the famous photo of the million dollar quartet, not Roy. The picture can be seen on the Sun Studios website.

Mick DeLeon

June 15, 2016 at 5:48 pm

And, had he been alive, I’ve no doubt that Carl Perkins would’ve been a Wilbury. He and George were good friends, and Carl was arguably George’s biggest influence.

Wesley Scott

June 11, 2016 at 12:11 am

I Hate to be that guy but, Harrison didn’t pen “Got my mind set on you” it was a cover.

MojoSpindles

October 5, 2017 at 8:12 am

It does read, ‘ while also recording the definitive version of the Rudy Clark-penned ‘Got My Mind Set On You’.

June 11, 2016 at 12:40 am

So, you tease with some mystery about the I.D. of Otis Wilbury. Where’s the intrigue? I see no surprising information, etc.

eljingoslin

June 11, 2016 at 12:56 am

You left out Buster Sidebury, AKA Jim Keltner

Jeffrey Ellis

October 27, 2019 at 6:36 am

Glad you made that point. Jim K was (and still us) a superstar in his own right.

June 11, 2016 at 1:20 am

So sad this world lost such a bright light as Roy Orbison so soon. Not only was he a walking Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame singer, author, performer, he was a source of musical imagination that comes along once in a lifetime. Tom Petty, George Harrison, and Bob Dylan were, and are, stellar musical luminaries in their own right, and together they made a special impact on the world of recording that ended far too soon. Rest well, Lefty and Nelson. Your Stars still shine brightly.

June 11, 2016 at 2:35 am

I’m 59 years old, and I’ve been a Roy Orbison fan as far back as I can remember; listening to my mother’s Mercury LPs. I got to see him in a touring Grand Ole Opry show, probably in the late 60s. On my 32nd birthday, I lost my job because of an accident at work. So I’m unemployed, stitches in my face with a diabetic wife, AND ROY ORBISON HAD DIED! I tell you, it was tough to go on. Earlier this year, I drove to nearby Vernon, Texas, his birthplace, wearing a Roy Orbison t-shirt. There’s a park there named after him. I had gone to a birthday party for him, but I was a day early and missed it. Maybe next year.

June 11, 2016 at 3:30 am

Well, Harrison had cancer that derived from smoking,but it was a brain tumor that finally took him.

June 11, 2016 at 4:46 am

the last of the supergroups – no one else will ever come close

June 11, 2016 at 7:22 pm

Kevin Wlbury

June 11, 2016 at 8:20 pm

George Harrison didn’t write Got My Mind Set On You. Rudy Clark wrote it and it was first released in 1962. George wanted it to be recorded by the Beatles in ’63/’64.

October 5, 2017 at 8:13 am

‘while also recording the definitive version of the Rudy Clark-penned ‘Got My Mind Set On You’.

jasondraper

June 13, 2016 at 12:23 pm

Thanks to everyone who commented – particularly those who spotted some mistakes. The man who wrote this shall hereafter be known as “Chancer Wilbury” and is being forced to travel from here to John O’Groats with no shoes on!

Bill Royaloak

December 13, 2021 at 2:08 am

…And then there were 3; RIP Charlie Jr.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• About The Band
• Upcoming Shows
• Videos & Sound Clips

Celebrating THE TRAVELING WILBURYS

The Unravelling Wilburys are   a bunch of good ol’ boys who turn their skills to replicating the sound and songs of the late 1980s super-group  The Traveling Wilburys , where five of the greatest names in rock music history,   George Harrison , Roy Orbison , Tom Petty , Bob Dylan and Jeff Lynne ,  came together to record the two Wilbury albums, Volume One and Volume Three.

  VIDEOS &  SOUND CLIPS

  contact us.

Ultimate California Road Trip Itinerary: From the Pacific to the Redwoods!

Are you looking for the best California road trip itinerary to explore the most beautiful places in the Golden State? Our 10 days in California itinerary will take you from the rugged coast and beautiful beaches to the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevadas. Hike the Mojave desert, sleep underneath a yucca tree, and visit the lowest place on the continent while you road trip in California. Read our 10 day California Road Trip guide now. You may also like our post on 20 Best Road Trips in the USA .

Welcome to our ultimate California road trip planner!

We created this planner to help you plan the perfect road trip around California and it contains all the essential information you need to plan your trip today including budget and costs, what to eat, where to stay, etc.

Here you will find recommendations for a variety of California itineraries as well as get more information on California road trip must-see attractions including the Golden Gate Bridge, Big Sur, Yosemite, and Los Angeles.

Our mission? To make sure you have a blast in California!

Also Read: Portland to San Francisco Road Trip Itinerary California To Texas road trip planner Best Things to do in Washington State

California is our favorite destination ever.

I have been enamored with California long before I visited it.

California, San Jose, and the West coast are randomly thrown around in conversations in India – because everyone knows someone working in Silicon Valley – and you can’t help but know about this slice of America.

Growing up, I knew more about Cisco, Apple, Google, and Yahoo (remember when everyone used Yahoo?!) than San Francisco, Yosemite, and Big Sur.

And Disney – because everyone knows Disney!

California has such a unique history.

The oldest, tallest, and widest trees live here and guess what, they have been around since prehistoric times – yes, even dinosaurs lived among the redwood trees!

One of the lowest, aridest, and hottest places on earth is right here in California in Badwater Basin.

And as for scenic places: California has so many of them!

We love Big Sur and its rocky coast, the wildflower super blooms, blue Lake Tahoe, Mono Lake and its tufas, unique shapes of Joshua trees!

There are so many things to see in California road trip that the list just goes on!

Also Read: 24 Best Places to Visit in California in winter

Dotted Globe contains affiliate links. If you click one of them, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read my full  Disclosure  here. Thank you!

And that’s why in our California road trip itinerary of 10 days, we take you around all these unique and beautiful places in the Golden State.

Our California 10 day road trip itinerary is perfect for driving around dreamy landscapes of yellow poppies, orange orchards, purple foliage, and lush green vineyards.

We have divided this California roadtrip itinerary into 4 essential stretches as per the geographic features of the state – yepp, we are that geeky – and you can customize it as you want. 

Best waterproof walking shoes for California beaches

If you are a beach person like me, then extend the Pacific Coast Highway Itinerary to 10 days.

If you are a mountain lover like my hubby, then take a 10 day road trip from San Francisco to Yosemite.

Pick your favorite area and stay there as long as you want. Or follow our California in 10 days itinerary exactly as described!

As always, we have also included suggestions for if you have more or less time.

Whatever you chose, you are going to have the time of your lives – because this is California!

“Every time I come, I’m still amazed at the breadth California has. Big Sur, Yosemite, the desert… I love it.” – Theo James, the English actor

Best of California Road Trip 10 Days Itinerary

We, like most people, have seen California in bits and pieces rather than in one go.

We first visited California almost a decade ago and did San Francisco, Los Angeles, and the theme parks.

Second time around, we visited Death Valley National Park on a road trip from Vegas.

Then I lived and worked in the Bay area in tech (oh, the irony!) and that’s when we explored the California National Parks, North Coast, and the Sierra Nevada side of the state.

Our most popular posts: 22 Best City Breaks in the USA The Best Things to do in New York on your first visit Ultimate List of Best Places to visit in the USA

Most recently, we did the San Francisco to Los Angeles road trip along the gorgeous Pacific Coast Highway – oh and also road-tripped Southern California and Disney with the kids.

On our next trip – we plan to do the North Coast and Redwoods Scenic Highway AGAIN.

Yeah – that’s how much we love California – have been to many destinations several times and still can’t have enough.

The best way to tour California is obviously by driving. The state is beautiful but huge and it’s not easy planning California trip that covers all the major attractions with limited time in hand.

And planning a California road trip with kids is even more difficult – how do you prioritize between theme parks and natural attractions?

And that’s where we rush in – your knights in shining armor – delivering the ultimate 10 day California road trip itinerary. 

Our California trip planner is more like going on a series of best California road trips – each more gorgeous than the previous.

Also, we follow this road trip along two of California’s most popular routes: south on the SR1 or Pacific Coast Highway and then back north along the scenic SR 395 through Eastern California .

That’s what makes our itinerary the absolute best California driving trip planner!

You can also call it the California National Parks road trip because we will be visiting the most popular of them on an epic road trip.

We hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Stretch 1: Down The Pacific Coast – 4 Days

Often enough, when someone talks about a California driving holiday, this stretch along the Pacific Coast Highway is the one they actually mean.

Constantly ranked among the top scenic drives in the world, the coastal drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles is the best of both worlds.

It combines the urban getaways of California’s two largest cities with the natural panoramas of Big Sur and the Pacific. 

If you have limited time, we would recommend spending 3 to 4 days along this route.

If you want to focus only on this coastal road trip, then just drive south on a road trip from San Francisco on SR1.

Take your own time to enjoy roadside stops like Carmel-By-The-Sea, Morro Bay, and the stunning Big Sur.

Hike or camp and explore nature.

Here’s our suggestion for this stretch of 10 day California itinerary planner.

San Francisco – 1 Day

Start with our San Francisco road trip planner.

San Francisco is our favorite city to start a 10 day California trip.

The city is quite easy to fly into; the 3 airports of San Francisco, San Jose, and Oakland are located close by and many airlines have deals to the Bay area.

We would recommend spending a minimum of one day in San Francisco before picking up your rental car and driving south.

Or you can rent a car before, see SF, and then drive the PCH.

You can also start your 10 day road trip from Los Angeles, in that case, adjust your plans accordingly.

Read this now! Whatever you do – don’t casually park your car at an empty garage in San Francisco. Car Break-ins in San Francisco are very common, as we discovered to our ill-fortune . On our latest trip to San Francisco, we had parked in a garage two blocks away from Pier 39 and came back to find the rear glass broken and both our children’s suitcases gone!  We had to spend quite some time to sort the issue and it left a sad memory on an otherwise awesome road trip around California in 10 days. We would recommend parking at your hotel while taking a cab or the tram to explore the city. 

San Francisco has many names – SF, San Fran, Fog City, the City by the Bay, Frisco (though don’t say that in front of locals) or simply, the City – going back to the days of the Wild West when there was nothing much in Northern California but the city.

San Francisco is colorful, vibrant, and bohemian.

It’s amongst our favorite US cities – right there at the top along with New York , Chicago , and New Orleans.

There are quite a few things to do in San Francisco: unsurprisingly most of them begin at or near the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco’s gigantic urban park.

Begin your visit at the Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center near the southern end of the bridge.

Learn interesting facts and see construction relics from the building of the Golden Gate Bridge before visiting the bridge itself.

Next walk across all 1.7 miles of this engineering marvel and icon of America.

The views of the bay from the bridge are beautiful and you feel an indescribable thrill while walking across it.

Definitely the highlight of your California travel itinerary!

Up for more adventure?

Bike the Golden Gate!

We have done it twice – most recently with our 3 yrs and 6 months old kids – it is a superb experience.

We love biking across to Sausalito, exploring the quaint town, and taking the ferry back to San Francisco.

You can also bike to the redwoods if you have more time.

Read our ultimate guide to biking the bridge here.

If not biking, then use the rest of your day to explore San Francisco’s highlights: Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39, Lombard Street, and Ghirardelli Square.

If you want to spend more time in San Francisco, see the Painted Ladies – those famous SF houses shown in Full House!

You can also check out the city from the Twin Peaks.

The Golden Gate Park is perfect for a stroll.

Ride the cable car to Chinatown and have some dumplings and noodles for lunch.

Spend an afternoon admiring the beautiful architecture of the Palace of Fine Arts or visit the prison of Alcatraz Island.

Visit the beautiful redwood trees at Muir Woods National Monument or whale watch and hike at Point Reyes.

San Francisco is a beautiful city and you can easily spend a couple of days there as a part of your 10 day trip to California.

Read our San Francisco posts now to plan this part of the trip: San Francisco 3 to 5-day itinerary ideas 17 Best Things to do in San Francisco on your first visit

The area around San Francisco is also full of activities and tourist attractions.

Here are some suggestions if you want to spend a few more days exploring around the Bay Area during your California itinerary of 10 days:

Napa & Sonoma 

Take a day trip from San Francisco to Napa Valley along the Silverado Trail.

Sonoma County is also a great place to visit for wine lovers.

You can tour the many vineyards, taste local wines, dine at Michelin starred restaurants, and visit famous tasting rooms.

If you happen to visit in the fall, you will see beautiful fall colors in the vineyards and be able to attend grape stomping. 

San Jose is popular with millennials and those working in Silicon Valley.

You will find plenty of trendy nightclubs and bars in San Jose.

If you enjoy shopping, check out the high fashion brands on Santana Row.

For outdoor lovers, a hike to Mission Peak is a must while families will love the Winchester Mystery House.

Silicon Valley

If you love tech then you need to visit Silicon Valley.

It boasts the largest concentration of geeks and nerds – and as a fellow geek, I say it quite fondly!

Start your visit at the Computer History Museum to know everything about the machine that changed our lives.

Then see Google’s Android lawn sculptures in Mountain View or the garage where Hewlett Packard began in Palo Alto.

Visit Stanford University’s sprawling campus as well as Facebook and Apple!

Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip – 2 Days

On to the next part of the 10 day road trip in California.

After seeing San Francisco, drive south along the SR1 or Pacific Coast Highway.

Over the next 2 days, you will follow the coastal route to Los Angeles while making plenty of stops along the way.

Check the coastal communities of Half Moon Bay and Davenport before reaching Santa Cruz.

If you have kids, spend some time at the Santa Cruz Beach and Boardwalk.

Next visit Monterey and Carmel by the Sea. Hike in Point Lobos or walk the coastal bluffs at Garrapata State Park.

On the way, you will see secret beaches, hidden coves, and beautiful views. 

As you begin driving PCH1 while following our 10 days in California itinerary, you understand why artists settle here, photographers and writers both wax lyrical about this region, and why the drive is called the most beautiful in the world.

We recommend staying somewhere in the vicinity of Carmel Highlands for the night.

The next day, rise early for the star attraction of the drive: the 90-mile long rugged, wild Big Sur.

Big Sur is 6 hours from Los Angeles and you have a big day ahead.

It is really hard to describe Big Sur.

Rocky cliffs, foaming waves, spring wildflowers, lighthouses, migrating whales, turquoise water, redwood trees: Big Sur has everything.

It is gorgeous in a wild way.

In Big Sur, you will find amazing state parks, some of California’s best hiking trails, iconic beaches, and tons of marine life, including otters, elephant seals, and dolphins.

Some areas of Big Sur can be closed at any given time of the year due to floods or landslides – so we recommend checking out the PCH status before your 10 days road trip California.

Read more about all the attractions including the beautiful McWay Falls in our post One day in Big Sur . 

Other attractions of the Pacific Coast Highway drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles include Monterey’s famous 17-mile drive, the seaside towns of Pismo Beach and Morro Bay, the famous Hearst Castle, Santa Barbara, and the beaches of Malibu.

For the purposes of this California Itinerary of 10 days, we would suggest 2 to 3 days on PCH.

However, if you have more time then the PCH is easily a 4 day to week-long road trip in itself.

To read more about all the awesome stops on PCH and planning a detailed itinerary, check out our article on Planning a road trip along the Pacific Coast Highway . 

Also Read: Top 10 Convertible drives in the USA

Los Angeles – 1 Day

While San Francisco and Silicon Valley are for tech lovers, Los Angeles is for Hollywood fans.

How long to stay in Los Angeles is a tricky question.

If you only have one day in Los Angeles, start by seeing the famous Hollywood sign and then visit the Hollywood Walk of Fame to take selfies with your favorite stars.

Also, see the Kodak Theatre (now Dolby Theatre) which hosts the Oscars and tour the movie star homes on Rodeo Drive.

If you have more time to explore Los Angeles, we suggest starting with lunch at the Santa Monica Pier.

Then visit the Griffith Observatory and see Los Angeles from above.

Or you can take a behind the scenes VIP studio tour at one of your favorite studios: pick from Warner Brothers, Paramount Pictures or Sony!

You can also check out the beautiful exhibits at the Getty Center or the beautiful modern art at the Broad.

LA also has many other top museums and a large number of attractions – read our post on Best Things to do in Los Angeles for more ideas.

For more help in planning your day, read our Los Angeles itinerary for first-time visitors .

Here are some suggestions to explore the area beyond Downtown Los Angeles:

No California family road trip is complete without a trip to Disney.

Both of California’s Disney Parks are located close to Los Angeles in Anaheim.

On the best California vacation itinerary, you have to meet Mickey, Goofy and other beloved cartoon characters!

Kids also get to meet Disney’s princesses in full attire at the parks.

To plan a California family vacation itinerary including a trip to Disney, read our Disney posts .

Universal Studios

To understand all about movie-making, see movie sets, and enjoy thrilling rides visit Universal Studios.

This theme park has really cool attractions and the Studio Tour will take you through sets based on Shutter Island, Jaws, King Kong, and more.

Harry Potter fans will love visiting Hogwarts and taking thrilling rides based on the books and movies – and is a must-visit if you are spending 10 days in California.

Channel Islands National Park

For a unique experience, customize our itinerary for California 10 days and visit the remote Channel Islands.

Comprised of 5 islands, the park has excellent wildlife, sea caves, and lots of natural beauty.

You can take a ferry to the park from Ventura.

Optional: San Diego – 1 Day

From Los Angeles, you can venture on the next part of California 10 day itinerary or extend your trip down the coast by visiting San Diego.

Not many people know that San Diego is the oldest city on the West Coast.

It has beautiful Spanish Colonial architecture and lots of history. 

Read our post 22 Best Things to do in San Diego now to know more about this beautiful city.

If you have one day, you can visit the Historic Old Town and understand the Mexican and Wild West roots of the city.

Next, visit the famous Balboa Park with its beautiful architecture, renowned museums, and the San Diego Zoo.

Round off your time in the city by exploring the historic Gaslamp Quarter and its Victorian architecture and trendy eateries, hotels, and pubs.

This area is perfect for ending the day with dinner and drinks.

If you have more than a day, visit the famous San Diego Sea World and see the dolphins in action.

San Diego is home to many beautiful beaches; the Mission Beach boardwalk is very popular.

Other things to see include Mission San Diego, Sunset Cliffs Park, and the bustling waterfront area of Seaport Village.

If you have more time on 10 day itinerary California, check out the dramatic sculptures in the desert city of Borrego Springs.

Related: For more California road trip ideas, check out our post on 12 Best California road trips

Stretch 2: Through The Arid Californian Desert – 2 Days

Continue on the California road trip route planner through deserts of southern California.

While most people associate California primarily with the coast and then with the dense redwood forests, the state is also renowned for its unique desert landscapes.

Most of these parts of southern California have a desolate beauty.

It is full of desert cities like Palm Springs which offer unique tourist attractions for visitors.

In this post, we focus our California 10 days itinerary on exploring two of the region’s national parks: Joshua Tree National Park and Death Valley National Park.

Joshua Tree National Park – 1 Day

Located partly over the Colorado desert and the Mojave desert, Joshua Tree National Park is named after the iconic Joshua tree.

This is a type of Yucca tree that is twisted, scraggly, and found only in the Mojave desert of California.

The easily recognizable tree looks even more dramatic in the desert landscape and bare rock formations of Joshua Tree National Park.

The national park is one of the most underrated California road trip destinations.

Its unique vistas have drawn photographers and artists to the park for decades.

Read our post on One Day in Joshua Tree to plan your trip.

There are many things to do in Joshua Tree and its otherworldly landscape.

One of the best ways to see Joshua Tree is by driving around the paved road in the park.

Campsites in Joshua Tree are spectacular and hikes through Yucca trees and cacti adventurous.

The Hidden Valley Trail is a short mile-long trail that offers great desert landscape views.

The park has many popular geological rock formations that are used for rock climbing.

The park also has a dark night sky and is good for stargazers, astronomy enthusiasts, and night sky photographers.

Wildlife and birding opportunities around the park are also numerous.

Read more in our post 24 Best Things to do in Joshua Tree National Park .

While deciding how to plan a trip to California, we recommend keeping more time aside to explore the many attractions surrounding Joshua Tree.

You can easily include them on a South California road trip from San Diego to Joshua Tree in this order: San Diego – Anza Borrego – Galleta Meadows – Salton Sea – Palm Springs – Joshua Tree.

Here’s some more information about these desert experiences that are worth adding to your itinerary if you have the time.

Salton Sea 

The Salton Sea is an inland lake created by flooding from an irrigation canal of the Colorado River that carries water to the Imperial Valley in 1905.

Several resort communities were built along the new lake.

However, the lake has no discharge and as a result, the water became unusually saline causing the death of marine life.

As a result, the communities were abandoned and are extremely popular with ruin photographers.

If you have teens, then definitely include Bombay Beach ruins in your California vacation itinerary – they will love to see random objects lying on the beach.

Today, the Salton Sea shoreline is filled with deteriorating structures and RV communities.

The Salton Sea is also located directly on top of the San Andreas fault and geothermal activity including mud pools are present along the coast.

The Salton Sea State Recreation Area is popular for birding, boating, picnicking, and camping. 

Palm Springs

Palm Springs, located in the Colorado desert region, is one of the biggest Californian desert cities.

If you want a relaxing vacation, then Palm Springs is one of the best California ideas.

One of its main attractions is the Palm Springs aerial tramway which takes you up Mount San Jacinto and offers great views of the surrounding area.

Palm Springs also has many great museums, boutique stores, restaurants, and resorts.

It is one of the most popular winter vacation destinations in the USA.

If you plan to visit Palm Springs, then check out our post on 30 Best Things to do in Palm Springs, California.

Anza Borrego and Galleta Meadows Sculptures in Borrego Springs

While California has many beautiful state parks, few know about its largest – Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

This park is at its most beautiful in the spring when the cacti flower and the desert landscape comes alive with colors.

Anza Borrego Desert State Park is just two hours away from San Diego and can be seen on a San Diego Joshua Valley road trip.

In nearby Borrego Springs, you can see the unusual Galleta Meadows Estate sculptures.

These sculptures created by artist Ricardo Breceda are free to visit and beautiful works of art.

By driving all over the land you can spot dragons, serpents, wooly mammoths, and other fantastic creatures.  

Also, read our post on Planning the ultimate Southern California itinerary.

Coachella Valley Preserve 

Coachella’s Thousand Palms Oasis is a unique chance to see the oasis environment in the middle of the desert.

The oases directly sit on fault lines and the water seeping through the faults has given life to California Fan Palms and other big palms in the arid desert.

Wildlife including sheep, goats, bobcats, etc, also can be spotted at the oasis.

Entry to the reserve is free and it has many hiking trails plus offers excellent wildlife viewing opportunities.

There are also other hiking areas close to Coachella Valley Preserve including Indian Canyons where you can hike through slot canyons. 

Death Valley National Park – 1 Day

Comprising of areas of the Mojave desert and the Great Basin desert, Death Valley is vastly different than Joshua Tree National Park.

For the most part, Death Valley is devoid of vegetation and is home to a variety of geological formations including the badlands, sand dunes, and the famous salt flats.

Death Valley also has the distinction of being the lowest point in North America and is also one of the hottest and driest places in the country.

No trip to Death Valley National Park is complete without visiting the Badwater Basin salt flats.

The salt flats, at 282 feet below sea level, are the lowest place in North America.

Death Valley National Park has many scenic drives that are perfect for exploring around the park.

Mesquite Flats Sand Dunes are good for taking a stroll, exploring the desert plants, viewing animal tracks, and sunrise/sunset photography.

The park has many interesting geological formations.

Death Valley also has a dark night sky and is great for stargazing and photographing the Milky Way.

Read our post on 14 Best Things to do in Death Valley National Park for more information.

We know you are planning to roadtrip California, but we can’t talk about Death Valley without mentioning Las Vegas.

Las Vegas is also a great city to begin your road trip to California.

The distance between Vegas and Death Valley is just over 2 hours and the route is quite scenic.

In fact, it is one of our favorite road trips from Las Vegas.

You can see the Sin City and then go on a road trip through California – an epic Las Vegas Los Angeles San Francisco trip, if you will!

Or you can also go on a memorable Las Vegas Grand Canyon road trip from California.

For Las Vegas travel inspiration, read our post on 52 Best Things to do in Las Vegas .

Stretch 3: Up Through The Sierra Nevada – 4 Days

After seeing Death Valley, take a road trip on California’s Scenic Highway 395.

This road trip is scenic whether you do it from north to south or like we recommend here, from south to north.

The best time to see the aspens turn yellow here is in fall.

The total distance from Death Valley to your final destination of Yosemite is 4 hours when the Lee Vining road to Yosemite is open in the summer.

However, we recommend keeping aside 4 days for this road trip as it has some of the most underrated road trip destinations in California including the Manzanar National Historic Site, Alabama Hills, Ancient Bristlecone pine forest, Bodie Ghost Town, etc.

For more information on these Route 395 stops, see this article .

For the purposes of this itinerary, we focus on the popular attractions of Mammoth Lakes, Yosemite, and Lake Tahoe. 

Route 395 will take you high up into the Sierra Nevada mountains, known for their spectacular beauty.

The Sierra Nevadas are home to many national and state parks including the mighty Yosemite and crystal clear high mountain lakes.

For the rest of your Californian road trip, you will be exploring the High Sierras and its many breathtaking attractions.

This is a welcome respite after the desert landscapes of Death Valley and Joshua Tree and depending on when you visit you will be able to see beautiful meadows, wildflowers, fall foliage, and even snow!

Mammoth Lakes And Mono Lake – 1 Day

Contrary to their name, Mammoth Lakes is not a lake but a winter ski town in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Mammoth Mountain is the main winter skiing area with a variety of ski runs.

In summer, it is a favorite with mountain bikers and hikers.

The town does have several beautiful lakes that are accessible only in the summer but none of them are named Mammoth.

The area has beautiful alpine meadows with wildflowers in spring and natural hot springs for some R&R.

In one day, we recommend taking the roughly one hour drive around the Lakes Basin and visiting all the lakes.

You can hike, picnic, kayak, and fish in whichever lake you like.

Or maybe just hang up a hammock and read a book by the lake.

Nearby Mono Lake is a saltwater lake surrounded by unique towering limestone formations called the tufa.

The lake visitor center has great information about the formation of the lake and the tufa while the short South Tufa trail is great for exploring the surrounding area.

The trail takes you along the lakeshore and among the tufas.

We suggest stopping here for an hour or so; Mono Lake accepts National Park Pass for entry.

On the way from Mammoth Lakes to Mono Lake, you will pass by June Lake and Devils Postpile Monument.

June Lake Loop Road is a great place to see the fall colors while the Devils Postpile National Monument is a unique geological formation of basalt columns.

Rainbow Falls, a 31m plunging waterfall, is another popular attraction of the monument.

Past Mono Lake, take the Lee Vining Road into Yosemite.

The official name of the road is Tioga Pass Road and it is closed in winter and spring (usually November to May) due to snow.

In that case, you can’t really visit Yosemite from the eastern side.

To know alternative routes in winter, check here . 

Yosemite National Park – 2 Days

Best known for its giant sequoia trees, bald granite cliffs, and spectacular waterfalls, Yosemite National Park is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Yosemite along with Yellowstone National Park and Grand Canyon National Park is known as the ‘Big Three’ and receives over 4 million visitors each year.

Yosemite is a must-stop on any Ca road trip itinerary.

The best time to visit Yosemite National Park is from the summer to fall when Tioga Pass Road is open.

We suggest spending 2 days in Yosemite National Park to hike, drive along scenic roads, and see the major attractions. 

On your first day, start by taking a Yosemite Valley Tour.

The Yosemite Valley is surrounded by the bald granite cliffs of El Capitan and Half Dome.

Most of the waterfalls including Yosemite Falls are also located in the valley.

The Valley is also where most of the park services including accommodations, shuttle buses, etc are located.

The Valley has hiking trails for all difficulty levels that lead to stunning views of Yosemite.

Lower Yosemite Falls hike is a short and easy trail that goes to the base of the falls.

Touring the Yosemite Valley via the free shuttle bus is the easiest way to see the national park.

However, if you are visiting in summer (especially long weekends) it can get very crowded – so plan to start early in the morning.

The Valley Visitor Center has great information and exhibits about the history and geology of Yosemite, plus it is a good place to get souvenirs, postcards, and magnets.

The aptly-named Mirror Lake reflects Half Dome peak and is beautiful to visit.

However, it dries up towards the end of summer and is best seen in spring/summer. 

Another must in the Valley if you’re visiting in summer is Glacier Point.

Located along the valley rim, it can be reached only by car or private tour.

The views from Glacier Point are stellar. It is also the base for many of Yosemite’s rim hikes.

We suggest spending one day exploring the valley. Yosemite also offers paid guided tours if you prefer them.

On the next day, you can go up the Tioga Pass road if it is clear of snow.

This is your chance to experience Yosemite devoid of the crowds.

The shuttle bus will take you up the Tioga Pass road to Tuolumne Meadows.

To see Yosemite’s giant sequoia trees, visit the Mariposa Grove.

This area is also accessible by the park shuttle.

End your day by visiting Ansel Adams Gallery in Yosemite Village.

Photographer Ansel Adams’s stunning black and white photos of Yosemite are a great reminder of how Yosemite looked over half a century ago.

Lake Tahoe And Emerald Bay – 1 Day

If you continue along Route 395 from Yosemite, you will reach lake Tahoe.

Note: Route 395 itself does not reach Lake Tahoe, so you will be following 207 from the Nevada side. 

The deep blue water of Lake Tahoe surrounded by snow-clad mountain peaks of the Sierra Nevadas is one of California’s iconic images.

Located on the California-Nevada border, Lake Tahoe is a popular travel destination for Californians throughout the year.

In winter it is popular for snowshoeing, skiing, and sledding.

Summer in Lake Tahoe is made for biking and camping.

In fall, the area around Lake Tahoe comes alive with spectacular fall foliage and is one of the top fall drives in the country .

South Lake Tahoe or the California side is best for enjoying the outdoors and nature with family while the Nevada side has lots of casinos and is more touristy.

Crystal clear waters of Lake Tahoe (CC 2.0 – Christian Abend )

The drive around Lake Tahoe is 72 miles long and takes about three hours.

It is highly scenic and one of the best road trips in California.

Much of the shoreline of Lake Tahoe is public and the views of the lake from the drive are stunning.

The lake looks a pretty shade of blue during the day and taking a beautiful picture of the water is a highlight of your visit.

An essential stop along the drive is the Emerald Bay State Park.

The drive here is spectacular and the views of the turquoise lake are lovely.

There are many other ways to enjoy Lake Tahoe.

You can take a helicopter tour or enjoy watersports on the lake.

The Sierra Nevada mountain ranges are an absolute delight for outdoor and nature lovers.

What you will see in these 4 days is just the tip of the iceberg.

The High Sierras have many beautiful alpine valleys, lakes, ghost towns, waterfalls, and hiking trails worth exploring.

If you can spend more time in the Sierra Nevada, then here are some other must attractions:

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks 

These are the two other national parks located in the High Sierras.

The giant sequoias surround you as you drive the park roads creating a surreal and unique experience.

The twisting and turning roads here are not for the faint-hearted (hint: carry some Dramamine!).

Both national parks have great hiking trails and lots of wildlife.

John Muir Trail

While it is not possible to hike in a short time, John Muir Trail deserves a special mention.

This is a long-distance trail in the Sierra Nevada and passes through Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon National Parks.

It is as renowned as the Appalachian or the Pacific Crest Trail. 

Bodie Ghost Town

The old mining ghost town of Bodie is an hour away from Mammoth Lakes.

Preserved as a state park, the town is full of historic saloons and deserted buildings.

While Sacramento is not in the Sierra Nevada mountain ranges, the city is on the way while returning to San Francisco from Lake Tahoe and makes for a great addition to our California road trip itinerary recommendations.

One of the top attractions in Sacramento is the California State Railroad Museum.

Stretch 4: Along The Wild North Coast

There are many things to do in Northern California including national parks, scenic drives, beautiful coastal towns, and more.

You will need another 5 days minimum to fully explore the Northern part of the state.

Hence, we do not recommend covering the North Coast if you are following this California Road Trip Itinerary for 10 Days – you simply won’t have time.

The best way to explore this region is to plan a separate road trip in the northern part of the state, the details of which you can read here in our post, Ultimate Northern California road trip itinerary .

California’s North Coast is less visited, unspoiled, and partially unexplored compared to the famous central Coast and the crowded southern coast.

The prehistoric coastal redwood trees grow in groves along the road all the way up to Oregon.

Hwy 1 ends at Leggett where it joins Hwy 101.

While the road follows the coast, for the most part, it turns inward in the area of the Lost Coast.

The remote Lost Coast as the name suggests is devoid of major highways and remains the ultimate adventure for a 10 day trip to California.

However, the coast is not the only unique thing about Northern California.

The northern part of the state is also home to geothermal activity.

You can climb lava tunnels at Lava Beds National Monument and see volcanic craters, domes, mud pools, etc at Lassen Volcanic National Park.

Here are a few attractions of the region:

Redwoods National and State Park

The Redwoods National and State Parks were created to preserve the old-growth redwood forests.

The Redwoods are the tallest living trees on Earth and also among the oldest.

The National Park and state parks are also home to a number of endangered animals including spotted owl, species of sea lions, etc.

The unique environment of the dense redwood forests by the coast has resulted in the park being designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Seeing the Redwoods covered in fog during winter or spring is a surreal experience.

Point Reyes

Point Reyes National Seashore, located in Marin County, preserves a large swath of northern California’s coastal wilderness.

Most popular attractions at Point Reyes include Alamere Falls on Wildcat Beach and Point Reyes Lighthouse.

Other attractions include the endangered tule elk herd that can be seen around Tomales Point, Native American redwood houses, earthquake trail, and dramatic cliffside beaches.

Avenue of the Giants

Avenue of the Giants is an over 30 miles long scenic highway that passes through the Humboldt Redwoods State Park and its mighty coastal redwood trees.

Roadside attractions include tunnels cut into redwood trees, giant groves, and unique roadside attractions like a house created from a single redwood log and a Redwood RV.

We suggest hiking in the Redwood groves to experience the truly gigantic trees.

The quaint seaside town of Mendocino is quite different from the coastal towns on the Central Coast.

It reminded me of Maine and the coastal upper East coast due to its Victorian mansions painted in pretty pastel colors.

The town is a historical landmark and very pretty to wander and explore.

Nearby Mendocino Headlands State Park and Russian Gulch State Park are worth a visit.

Nearby Fort Bragg is no fort but a lumber town on the North Coast.

The famous ‘Glass Beach’ of which I’m sure you have seen pics floating around on social media is in Fort Bragg.

The beach is a part of MacKerricher State Park, a state park with amazing views of the undeveloped headlands, beaches, and tide pools.

Another popular attraction in Fort Bragg is the Skunk Train – a railroad built to haul timber logs from the redwood forests.

Other attractions on the North Coast include the pretty Victorian towns of Ferndale and Eureka, Del Norte Redwood State Park, and the seaport community of Crescent City.

More 10 Day California itinerary ideas for slow travelers

You can use our California road trip planner to customize your itinerary based on your interests. 

If you can only spend 10 days in California, then seeing all the above attractions can be overwhelming; here are a few suggestions for those who like slow travel.

California coast road trip itinerary

One great option is to go on a 10 day pacific coast highway trip or 10 day west coast road trip.

That way you can spend more time in the cities of San Francisco and Los Angeles while seeing Big Sur at a leisurely pace. 

On this San Francisco to Los Angeles road trip in 10 days, you can tour the lighthouses, hike the trails, picnic on the beach, visit the wineries of the Central Coast, and enjoy nature – seriously the best road trip in California. 

You can even do the San Francisco to San Diego road trip in 10 days.

In that case, we would recommend keeping aside 2 days each for the 3 major cities and spending the rest of the time in the Big Sur region. 

This San Francisco 10 days trip lets you enjoy the beauty of the coast while visiting the Sierra Nevadas and the desert later.

California National Parks itinerary

California has 9 national parks – all of them are unique and make for an exciting California National park road trip. 

You can visit either the most popular ones or all of them, depending on how much time you want to spend in each park. 

We would suggest starting from Los Angeles, then seeing Joshua Tree and Death Valley before visiting Kings Canyon and Sequoia. 

Then see the beautiful Yosemite Valley. From Yosemite, head north to Lassen and then finally see Redwoods parks before returning to San Francisco. 

You can also see Pinnacles and Channel Islands if you have the time, to complete the national parks in California road trip. 

You can also use this route for creating your own California RV trip itinerary, since most national parks have RV campgrounds. 

Northern California road trip itinerary

Another great option for those who like slow travel is to plan a Northern California itinerary for 10 days. 

Start your road trip from San Francisco and drive along the less visited North Coast and see the majestic redwood trees. 

Drive along the Redwoods Scenic Byway before turning towards the mountains and exploring the caves at Lava Tubes National Monument. 

Visit Mount Shasta on your way to Lassen Volcanic National Park and end your trip in Sacramento, a couple of hours away from San Francisco. 

For more information on how to plan a California road trip focusing on the northern part of the state, read our in-depth post on Northern California road trip .

If you have less time: California itinerary 7 days

If you can’t spare 10 days, then we also have suggestions for 7 day California road trip routes. 

With only 7 days in california, we would recommend focusing on one region and exploring it at a leisurely pace. 

Of course, you can opt for a 7 day southern California itinerary or a 7 day California coast road trip along the PCH, but you can also consider some unique road trip ideas in California which explore its most popular attractions. 

Here are our favorites if you want to see the best of California in a week:

7 day road trip from San Francisco to Yosemite

If you are wondering how to spend a week in California but still see the most popular attractions, then this itinerary is for you. 

Start your road trip in San Francisco, see the Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown, Mission District, Fisherman’s Wharf etc in two days. 

Then spend a day in Napa Valley and nearby Calistoga before seeing Sacramento.

In Sacramento, see the state capitol and the railroad museum then make your way to Yosemite National Park. 

Take a tour of the Yosemite Valley and see the famous El Capitan as well as the many waterfalls.

Enjoy the panoramic view from the Tunnel View Outlook. 

Then depending on the season, visit the Tuolumne Meadows area.

Return to San Francisco to complete 7 day road trip in California.

North California coast road trip

This California 1 week itinerary is perfect for slow travel. 

Land in San Francisco and take a day or two to explore it’s many attractions.

Then rent a car and drive north. 

Part of this road trip is on the Pacific Coast Highway 1 till Legett, after which you will be driving along the famous Redwood scenic byway. 

For your first stop, explore the beautiful Point Reyes.

See the lighthouse and the shipwreck, then eat oysters in Tomales Bay. 

Drive along the Avenue of the Giants and pass through the Redwood tunnels. 

Hike in the prehistoric Fern Canyon and visit the glass beach at Fort Bragg, then last stop at Eureka or Crescent City to finish the California coast 7 day itinerary.

7 Day Southern California trip itinerary

For this ca road trip planner, begin your trip with a day or two in San Diego or Los Angeles and then wind your way around Southern California’s desert attractions. 

See famous Joshua Tree and Palm Springs.

Enjoy the fantastic landscape of the Mojave desert and drink a delicious date shake.

See the sculptures in Borrego Springs. 

Then visit Anaheim and enjoy the theme parks.

There are also many things to do in Anaheim besides Disney. 

7 Day California Coast Road Trip

This is one of the most popular california driving holidays itineraries.

Follow this California road trip itinerary 7 days along the world famous Pacific Coast Highway. 

See the major cities of San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Explore the charming mountain side towns of Pismo Beach and Morro Bay. Learn to surf and spot the elephant seals. 

Spend some time hiking and enjoying the wild, rugged vibe of Big Sur.

Take a tour of the Point Sur Lighthouse and hike down to Keyhole Rock. Go whale watching. 

If you have more time: California road trip itinerary 14 days

This two week california driving itinerary is perfect for long summer vacations, when most parts of the state including the High Sierras are completely accessible. 

Just use our main California trip planner, but add in all optional ideas including San Diego and the beautiful northern coast. 

Then see the Lassen Volcanic National Park area and visit the beautiful Burney Falls from Redding.

Spend some time in Mount Shasta and head back to San Francisco to complete California 2 week itinerary.

We hope you liked our California road trip blog.

Now you have everything ready to plan your perfect California trip itinerary, so make the most of it.

Did we miss any hidden gems in the Golden State?

Which part of the road trip did you enjoy the most? Let us know in the comments!

1 thought on “Ultimate California Road Trip Itinerary: From the Pacific to the Redwoods!”

It’s really a cool and helpful piece of information. Thanks for share.

Comments are closed.