Hearst Castle

Built by newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst, the Hearst Castle is a fascinating look into the lifestyle of one of early twentieth century America's richest men. It sits atop a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean, with the bigger-than-life main house surrounded by guest quarters that are bigger than most if its visitors' homes. The castle is especially fun to visit during an evening tour (summer only) or when it's decorated for the holiday.

Ready to Go? Use our Hearst Castle Weekend Getaway Planner and you'll be ready in no time.

Hearst Castle is Popular For: Family outings. Architecture-lovers may be interested in its designer Julia Morgan and history nerds may enjoy the summer night tours, which showcase the Castle as it was in Hearst's day.

How Far? Check the map at the beginning of this gallery to see which getaways are closest to your starting point. Most weekend-trippers limit their adventures to about three hours' travel time and most drive there. If you're going by car, Hearst Castle is Within 200 Miles of Bakersfield, Fresno, Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Jose.