The problem with California is population density and accessibility. The Sierra Nevadas are the premiere /out/ location in the state, but they’re a stones-throw away from several cities. In the southern part of the state you have gorgeous desert landscapes, but that’s close to LA, with its 8 million people.
California isn’t just heavily populated, it’s densely populated (11th most dense in the US). That’s saying a lot considering it’s size. So even if you where to drive for several hours, you’re still just an hour from a large population of people. It’s inescapable.
Oregon and Washington don’t really have that problem. Both have only a single large city. The rest of the states have a few smaller cities and towns, but it’s nothing like CA.
