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The 15 best day trips from Los Angeles

Experience everything that SoCal has to offer with these day trip from Los Angeles to stunning nearby beaches, wineries and small towns

L.A. is great and all, but sometimes you need a change of scenery. If you only have one day to spare, consider one of these quick day trips from Los Angeles to some amazing nearby destinations. Luckily, living in L.A. means it’s an easy (well, depending on traffic) and often  scenic drive  to SoCal’s best beaches , small towns, wineries and gorgeous desert landscapes—all within three hours of the city. Oddly enough, taking advantage of the ease with which you can get  out of L.A. is easily one of the best things to do  in L.A.

From wine tasting in Santa Barbara and  vintage hunting in Palm Springs to  camping  in Joshua Tree or feeling the sand between your toes in San Diego, you’re sure to find a short trip (as opposed to a longer road trip ) worth taking on this list. 

RECOMMENDED: The best weekend getaways from L.A.

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Top day trips from Los Angeles

1.  Coronado

2 hrs by car There’s a reason Coronado has topped lists of the country’s best beaches: Its wide shores never feel overcrowded, the soft, fine-grained sand is easily walkable and the weather is practically perfect. Just a quick ferry ride or bridge drive from San Diego, this wealthy peninsula has the feel of a resort town with the amenities that come from being near a major city.

The beachfront grounds of the regal, red-roofed Hotel del Coronado  are a must-visit, even if you can’t foot its pricey room reservations. Back in town, stop into hole-in-the-wall diner Clayton’s Coffee Shop for a quick meal or MooTime Creamery for frozen treats. Coronado is also home to a sizable naval base, and while you can’t exactly visit, you can spot fighter jets coming in for landings and submarines surfacing off the coast.  —Michael Juliano

2.  Ojai

1 hr 20 mins by car Ojai is a not-so-hidden gem close enough to L.A. for a day trip, but with a unique, relaxed feel that’s worlds away from busy city life. Start early with a decadent, hearty breakfast at Bonnie Lu’s , then stroll the town’s quaint main street; the antique shopping is great here, but relatively new school shops like Summer Camp are also worth a stop.

Tour an olive farm or a citrus grove, then grab an organic lunch at Farmer & the Cook . Alternatively, grab a a bite to go and explore the nearby trails in Los Padres National Forest , just north of town. If the weather is right, swimming holes abound along the Sespe Creek.

Back in civilization, check out Bart’s Books , an outdoor bookstore housed in an actual house (sans roof), or head up to Meditation Mount   (reservations required)  for incredible views, especially the famed “pink moment” at sunset.

Swing back to the center of town to explore its many wine tasting rooms, or grab a beer and a bite at Ojai Beverage Company . Chief’s Peak, the bar at Ojai Rancho Inn (where you should stay if your trip runs long), is a hip spot for an after-dinner drink; you’ll find more old-timers—and regular live music—at Deer Lodge down the road.  —Kate Wertheimer

Discover the best things to do in Ojai

3.  Santa Barbara

1 hr 50 mins by car Santa Barbara is a scenic and worthy vacation destination regardless of your starting point, but we’re fortunate enough to have relatively easy access (granted that the L.A. traffic gods are working in our favor).

Stearns Wharf is a go-to spot to see the Pacific, and nearby is State Street, filled with tons of shops and people-watching opportunities. And the Wharf isn’t the only place to see the water: Butterfly Beach, a relatively private spot, is situated next to the Four Seasons Biltmore Hotel and faces west for ideal sunset-watching views.

Grab lunch at La Super-Rica Taqueria —famous for being one of Julia Child’s favorite eateries. The lines tend to be on the ridiculous side, but it’s worth the wait for novelty’s sake alone.

If you’re traveling with family, spend a few hours at the Santa Barbara Zoo   (reservations required) . Otherwise, grab a glass of Pinot Noir at one of the many tasting rooms along the Urban Wine Trail   (hours and status vary by winery) ; the spots are located in downtown Santa Barbara, steps from the Amtrak station, and source grapes from local vineyards.  —Seth Kelley

Discover the best things to do in Santa Barbara

4.  Laguna Beach

1 hr by car Forget what you know from a certain unfortunate MTV reality show: Laguna Beach is an easygoing oceanfront city graced with lush vegetation, tidepools and a picturesque rocky coastline.

Main Beach is the spot of choice for downtown sunbathing, but you’ll find pristine, less crowded beaches at tide pool-filled Treasure Island, camper-friendly Crystal Cove or hidden Victoria Beach with its weathered, castle-like turret.

Walk the city’s downtown area to find a mix of shops, galleries and restaurants; many eateries cater to the well heeled, so we suggest bringing a picnic lunch to enjoy on a bench at the hilltop Heisler Park. Do, however, follow the smell of fresh waffle cones onto the enchanting Peppertree Lane for a scoop from Gelato Paradiso .

It’s not just about the beach here; you can explore the reservation-only Hortense Miller Garden  or thousands of acres of hillsides and canyons to find hiking trails, nature centers and the Pacific Marine Mammal Center   (closed through fall 2024) , a sea lion rescue. Summertime typically sees the arrival of two festival favorites: Pageant of the Masters , a live stage interpretation of classical paintings, and Sawdust Art Festival , an open-air artisan market that transforms into a Christmas village in late fall. There’s only one road in and out from the 5, so bring some patience during rush hour—alternatively, take the scenic route and follow Coast Highway through Newport Beach.  —Michael Juliano

5.  Solvang

2 hrs by car After Danish immigrants grew tired of Midwestern winters, they began to make their way west and eventually settled in the pastoral Santa Ynez Valley. Though you won’t find many Danes in Solvang anymore, you will find wooden windmills, rural houses and a replica of Copenhagen’s Round Tower. The post-WWII structures are as touristy as they are charming; walk around town to find an assortment of Christmas shops, Hans Christian Andersen and Little Mermaid keepsakes, and sort-of-Danish bakeries.

Solvang’s downtown area is dotted with breweries and pancake cottages, including local standbys Solvang Brewing Company   and Paula’s Pancake House —and an increasingly impressive new culinary scene . For a bit of history on the area, make sure to stop by the humble Elverhøj Museum .

For a more offbeat adventure, head to the outskirts of town to  OstrichLand , which feels like the Jurassic Park of the ostrich and emu world. If you’re visiting in early January, make sure to schedule your trip around the annual Christmas tree bonfire . —Michael Juliano

6.  Balboa Island

1 hr by car, 5 min ferry

Visitors to Balboa Island in Newport Beach can enter the man-made island by driving onto it via Marine Avenue, but it’s far easier—and more fun—to park your car on the Balboa Peninsula and take the Balboa Island Ferry for a quick and scenic five-minute trip across the water.

The first order of business: getting your hands on one of the island’s famed frozen bananas (make the Bluth family proud). Choose from rivals Sugar N Spice or Dad’s Donut & Bakery Shop; both claim to be the originators of the chocolate-covered frozen treat.

Take a jaunt around the 1.6-mile boardwalk surrounding the island, passing by multi-million dollar homes and streets named after gems, before strolling down Marine Avenue, the island’s main artery. Here you’ll find plenty of restaurants ( Wilma’s Patio is a staple), boutique shops, art galleries and the Balboa Island Museum and Historical Society .

Of course, there’s plenty to do out on the water, too: kayaking, parasailing, paddle boarding and the like. If you’ve got kiddos tagging along, the Balboa Fun Zone on the peninsula hosts a Ferris wheel and plenty of arcade games.  —Erin Kuschner

Discover the best things to do in Newport Beach

7.  Los Alamos

2 hrs 20 mins by car Once a major stagecoach stop, this small, easy-to-miss town looks stuck in the past with its Old West style—but behind the facade are trendy treasures waiting to be discovered. Inside Bob’s Well Bread Bakery is a hip, stylish setup serving artisan breads—including gluten free options—croissants, sandwiches and more. Exploring antique shops and art galleries can easily fill a day here, just be sure to call ahead, as some places are only open on weekends.

A big draw of the Los Alamos area is its wine tasting—this is Santa Barbara County, after all—which can be done at Bedford Winery  and other local tasting rooms. Before you leave town, make a pit stop at  1880 Union , an event space with an authentic stagecoach saloon, or spend the night at the Victorian Mansion Bed and Breakfast . For being a single stoplight town (we haven’t actually counted, but you get it), there’s a bevy of delicious places to eat, such as  Full of Life Flatbread (known for its occasional A-list diners) and the destination-worthy Bell’s .  —Stephanie Morino

8.  San Juan Capistrano

1 hr 30 min by car, 1 hr 25 min by train A piece of California history and a quaint old town make San Juan Capistrano an off-the-beaten-path day trip with a lot of charm and a little learning. If you take Amtrak there, the train will drop you off right where you want to be—just a couple of blocks from a good cup of coffee at Hidden House Coffee .

From there, you can tour Mission San Juan Capistrano , founded in 1776 and arguably one of the mission chain’s prettiest links. The mission used to be known as a migratory destination for swallows in February, but the famous birds have been spotty in recent years. If you have your heart set on getting up close with some animals, check out Zoomars   (reservations recommended) , a petting zoo for kids of all ages (read: adults love it, too). It’s a historic ranch where you can also pan for gold like the California miners did. You’re also near Los Rios Historic District , which has some historic homes and museums that are perfect for a walking tour.

When you get hungry, you have several options: Heritage Barbecue serves remarkable Texas-style smoked meats,  Ramos House is a romantic spot known for great food and huge Bloody Marys on the weekends and  Five Vines is a nearby wine bar with snacks and sandwiches. If you want to catch a later train, head over to Swallow’s Inn , the local dive bar, where bras hang from the ceiling and bands play late into the night. You’re still within stumbling distance of the train station.  —Sara Fay

9.  Oak Glen

1 hr 30 mins by car

Though you can visit Oak Glen year-round, the best time to head to this picturesque town to the east is September through November. The five-mile loop of orchards, ranches, shops and restaurants is a necessity for any New England transplant looking for fall foliage, and the town’s most popular activity— apple picking —is a nice alternative to canvassing L.A.’s farmers’ markets.

Many of the orchards, like Willowbrook Apple Farm  (opens Labor Day weekend), offer a cider press to make your own cider, which you can pair with a cinnamon roll or apple dumpling from Apple Annie’s Restaurant & Bakery . Stop by the Turquoise Pueblo  on your way back to L.A. for some beautiful handmade Native American jewelry.  —Erin Kuschner

10.  Solana Beach

2 hrs by car, or 2 hrs by train

If you want to spend a day in San Diego, you can either try to go big (the San Diego Zoo! Balboa Park!  Padres game! All in one day!) or go small-town and spend a chill day in a cool oceanfront neighborhood. The beach towns north of San Diego—no, we’re not talking about Pacific Beach—are the stuff of the Beach Boys lyrics.

In Solana Beach, you’ll find laid-back vibes and beaches that aren’t completely overrun. It’s easy to get there from L.A. via Amtrak, and it’s a perfect way to day-trip because all the spots you’ll want to hit are within walking distance of the station.

Start at  the Naked Cafe for a beach-y brunch, then, either head down to the beach at Fletcher Cove or cruise along the Cedros Design District for window shopping, brewery hopping and people watching. There’s also a mix of cute boutiques, surf shops, restaurants, taco spots and bars along South Coast Highway. If it’s racing season, the Del Mar Racetrack  isn’t far—it would be either a long walk or a short car ride.

Before you catch the train back up to L.A., you have several good options for dinner near the tracks: Station Sushi is a solid locals’ spot for classic and creative rolls, Bangkok Bay  has some of the best Thai food we’ve ever eaten and Pizza Port is known for being a last-slice-and-beer-before-Amtrak place. It’s directly across a pedestrian crosswalk from the train station, and has been slinging pies and pouring pints for three decades.  —Sara Fay

If the San Diego Zoo caught your eye, book a ticket and spend a day with the animals.

11.  Temecula

When hoofing it to Napa and Sonoma isn’t an option, Temecula is your next best destination for a day of wine tasting. Before sampling the grapes, stop by quaint Old Town Temecula, where you can pay a visit to the Temecula Valley Museum  for a historical walking tour.

Then it’s down to business; the heart of Temecula’s Wine Country includes more than 30 wineries, which you can bounce between at your own leisure (don’t drink and drive, folks!) or take a guided tour from one of the many wine tour companies in the area. Taste your way through the 70-acre Wilson Creek Winery and the red-focused Monte De Oro Winery   before heading to Maurice Car’rie Vineyard  for an educated tasting and a loaf of the vineyard’s famous sourdough bread, oozing with brie.

Just down the road, Magical Adventure Balloon Rides encapsulates another popular Temecula activity: riding in a hot air balloon. We can’t think of a better way to end your day in Temecula than by sailing over the town’s vineyards at sunset with a glass of Champagne in hand. —Erin Kuschner

12.  Palm Springs

2 hrs by car Known for its ultra-fancy resorts and legacy of celebrity residents, Palm Springs is worth at least a weekend, if you can afford the time. Still, if you’re limited to 24 hours, make the desert city a choose-your-own-adventure day trip.

Start with brunch at Cheeky’s , and trust us that it’s worth the wait. If you’re in the mood to exercise, check out Indian Canyons , made up of three separate canyons (Palm, Murray and Andreas) that each offer hiking trails and fantastic views of the diverse landscape. Another of the best ways to see Palm Springs is on the Aerial Tramway , which helps visitors escape the heat of the desert with a scenic ride to the top of the San Jacinto Mountains.

If relaxation is your goal, shop at the outlets in Cabazon, or just get a massage and sit by the pool. The Palm Springs Art Museum  is small but displays works from incredible artists including Picasso and Warhol. For dinner, try reservations at Sandfish  for superb sushi and Japanese whiskey.  —Seth Kelley

Discover the best  things to do in Palm Springs

13.  Big Bear

2 hrs by car; access may be limited during the winter This mountain town is home to some of L.A.’s closest ski slopes in winter, but don’t discount a summertime trip, when a dip in a mountain lake is the best way to keep cool. Rent a kayak or paddleboard to tour the water, and keep an eye out for the white-domed Big Bear Solar Observatory perched at the water’s edge on the north shore. The hiking here is also plentiful and offers some amazing views.

If you’re a bit more adventurous, stop by Bear Valley Bikes and rent a mountain bike; there are fire roads for beginners and lots of technical, downhill single track for more seasoned riders.

Back in town, check out the Bowling Barn  and the Alpine Slide , both of which are a blast with or without kids in tow. For a drink with the locals, head to karaoke night (which is pretty much every night) at Murray’s Saloon , the town’s self-proclaimed “five star hole in the wall.”  —Kate Wertheimer

Discover the best things to do in Big Bear

14.  Joshua Tree

2 hrs 15 mins by car You’ll find Joshua Tree National Park on our shortlist for perfect day trips, road trips and weekend getaways from L.A. That’s for good reason: the magical desert spot—with its gnarled, ancient namesake trees, picturesque cacti and giant boulders—should be on every traveler’s bucket list, no matter how much time they have to spare.

Watch rock climbers scale mini-mountains at  Hidden Valley campground (first-come, first-served) or try some scrambling yourself at Jumbo Rocks . If you visit in spring, head south to Pinto Basin for a chance to see colorful wildflowers in bloom.

On the drive out, plan for a pit stop at the Cabazon exit, where you can explore the famed dinosaur park from Pee Wee’s Big Adventure (and even, for a fee, climb inside the three-story T. Rex for a photo op in his mouth). Shop for cacti at multiple roadside marts on Twentynine Palms Highway, or hang a left at Pioneertown Road for a stop at Pappy & Harriet’s , which boasts a ghost town, small inn and great live music.

Another worthwhile detour is Landers, home of countless alien sightings and new-age sound baths at the  Integratron   (reservations required) . In the town of Joshua Tree, take your pick from a few tasty restaurants, including Crossroads Cafe   to rub elbows with locals. There are some good thrift shops around here, as well as the kind of quirky public art; be sure to check out the World Famous Crochet Museum , as well as prolific artist Andrea Zittel’s A-Z West tour.  —Kate Wertheimer

Discover the best things to do in Joshua Tree .

15.  Salton Sea and Slab City

3 hrs by car This day trip isn’t for everyone; but if you’re a fan of things decrepit, forgotten and way off the beaten path, head south to Bombay Beach at the Salton Sea. A popular vacation spot in the ’50s and ’60s, these days all that’s left of the once-booming seaside town are photo-worthy ruins and a lot of dead fish.

The Ski Inn remains; stop by for a drink or a greasy bite and decorate a dollar bill to hang on the wall or ceiling. Continue on to Niland, made famous by artist Leonard Knight’s Salvation Mountain , a giant folk art monument made from adobe, straw and thousands of gallons of paint (you may remember it from Into the Wild ). Beyond is Slab City, a former marine training base that now exists as a squat for campers, transients and desert dwellers who’ve created a community complete with a library, skate park and live music stage, “the Range.” If you’re respectful and friendly, folks may share their hot spring and swimming hole secrets, so bring a bathing suit—or do as the locals do and go in your birthday suit.  —Kate Wertheimer

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The 9 Best Day Trips From Los Angeles

By Krista Simmons and Maxwell Williams

The largest city in California, Los Angeles is a world-class tourist destination for its glamorous industries, idyllic weather, cultural attractions , shopping, and dining scenes. But as a popular draw year-round, visitors are bound to explore beyond the city proper. Luckily, there are several nearby day trips that can scratch whatever exploratory itch you have: vineyards and valleys, mountains, desert escapes, and artists' communities. We've pulled together some of the best day trips from Los Angeles to help you plan with all the details on where to go and what to do. Should you fall in love with any of these spots—as we have—we've included where to stay, too, just in case you need more time.

Read our complete Los Angeles city guide here .

This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.

JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK

Known for its quirky cacti and metaphysical flare, J-Tree has drawn an out-there crowd for many years. The National Park is a must-see for any nature lover, especially those who love bouldering, but the surrounding town is worth visiting in its own right. Watch a world-class music act at the iconic honky tonk Pappy & Harriets, cruise Pioneertown to see the set of many Westerns, indulge in a sound bath, and come home with a new collection of crystals. Hey, when in Joshua Tree...

Pappy & Harriets Arrow

Have you even been to Joshua Tree if you haven't stepped foot in Pioneertown? We think not. It's the true spirit of the desert, and not to be missed. Pappy and Harriets is a honky tonk in a dusty, abandoned desert town that looks like it could be the set of a spaghetti Western, but it draws big name acts to come and perform practically in the middle of nowhere.

Joshua Tree Saloon Arrow

This dusty dive bar is like the gateway to Joshua Tree National Park. It's the perfect spot for a bite and a beer when you first arrive into town; the low-key vibes will surely slow you down to J-Tree pace. You'll find plenty hikers and climbers from out of town, posting up for a hearty meal after a long day on the trails, as well as Marines from the nearby Twenty Nine Palms base. Don't expect any froo froo cocktails; just a solid list of classic domestic beers (plus a few craft offerings) and staple spirits. There are also burgers, jalapeño poppers, fish and chips, and a solid basket of ribs. But a saloon like this wouldn't be complete without a cast of characters that staff the bar; sidle up for good humor and plenty of stories from these attentive lifers.

Pioneertown Motel Arrow

Full credit goes to the folks who decided to restore this totally hip Western property. It's truly a gem and a slice of SoCal history. Vaulted ceilings with exposed beams make the cozy rooms, which are adorned with adorable Western elements such as cowhide rugs, Pendleton throw pillows, and Mexican blankets, seem more spacious. The proximity to the stellar music at Pappy & Harriets and the desertscape alone are worth it, but if that doesn't seal the deal, it's the quiet time amongst the landscape, and the epic sunsets, that will.

Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner

Madison Flager

Ramsey Qubein

Elissaveta M. Brandon

The Integratron Arrow

This is the ultimate in woo woo—a geodesic dome sound bath in the middle of the Mojave Desert . It's all about the metaphysical energy. Prepare to tap into your inner hippie. Anyone who's looking to explore the idea of meditation or the metaphysical is welcome, and it's a mixed bag. There are guides of sorts who lead the sound bath. They're pros at playing various sorts of instruments from Buddhist prayer bowls to gongs and quartz crystal bowls. Whether you come to some sort of heightened state depends on the person, but it's something you can experience in very few other places in the country, or the world, and worth exploring.

Joshua Tree National Park Arrow

One of the desert gems of America’s parks, Joshua Tree National Park spans nearly 800,000 acres within Southern California’s portion of the Mojave Desert. There’s no wrong way to behold the beauty, whether you’re drawn to rock formations, particular plants, seasonal fauna, or outdoor activities. One sure bet is to head toward the park’s center for a picnic and/or walkabout at mighty Cap Rock, or around Jumbo Rocks where you can check out the giant skeletal Skull Rock. Get acquainted with flora along the Cholla Cactus Garden Nature Trail, a flat loop through 10 acres of cacti and bushes where something colorful is usually blooming any time of the year. Nature lovers, and especially desert fans, may end up loving Joshua Tree more than any other preserve. If time is tight, the park is fine for a driving tour, though traffic may slow you down during peak summer and holiday weeks. But if you’ve wisely reserved ample time (at least one full day is best), take your pick of activities to engage with the landscape, be it camping (reserve ahead of time), climbing, horseback riding, birding, biking, wildflower viewing, or geology touring.

BKB Ceramics Arrow

This small, boutique ceramics shop embodies the industrious yet free spirited ethos of the tiny yet close knit desert community of Joshua Tree. You'll find earthy textures and unique geometric designs baked into beautiful, one-of-a-kind hand thrown pieces. Fellow shoppers are often design geeks and savvy Airbnb owners looking to accessorize their stylish abodes. If we had unlimited space in our suitcase (and plenty of scratch), we'd take a whole set of their turquoise colored mugs.

This sleepy mountain town is one of SoCal's less-frequented weekender road trip destinations, which is a shame, because in spring when the wildflowers are in bloom, the drive along the Rim of the World is breathtaking. Pack your bags for great hiking, unobstructed views of Big Bear Lake, quality antiquing, and down home hospitality.

Noon Lodge Arrow

Considering it's just a hop skip and a jump from L.A. in the San Bernadino Mountains, why aren't you there right now? Windows down, you inhale the ponderosa pine-laden air as you pull up to this unassuming, campy property. Rolling in your luggage there's an imminent quiet, and it's everything you've craved driving in from the city. Huddled around the campfire at nights, you roast s'mores with fellow guests and share like you were bunkmates. It's a pretty bare bones lodge, but it's the best boutique-ish stay in town. What it lacks in luxury it'll make up for in kitschy charm.

Tropicali Arrow

This sunny little snack shack will immediately remind you of the aloha vibes at roadside stands in Hawaii . You may stand in line with a family taking their kids out for a healthy breakfast, or local business owners stopping by for one of their killer island iced coffees with fresh coconut milk on their way to work. This is the perfect fuel for a day of hiking in Big Bear: super clean, sustainably sourced poke bowls with flavor combos, like a take on Tahitian poisson cru with coconut milk, sashimi grade tuna, sweet peppers, lime, and cucumbers. If you're there for breakfast, you'll definitely want to try one of their acai bowls, including the classic Brazil bowl topped with organic granola, bananas, coconut chips, cacao nibs, strawberry pearls, and a peanut butter drizzle.

Big Bear Lake Brewing Company Arrow

Like most breweries worth one's malt, the crowd is super chilled, friendly, and outdoorsy—much more prone to wearing puffers than Prada. Brews are done in the classic California style—in other words, get ready for some hops. The food menu is solid and includes burgers, salads, fish and chips, and tacos. Staff are beyond accommodating and friendly and very well versed in the various selections available on tap. The brewery is awesome for a group gathering, or to toast the end of a day adventuring with friends.

Rim of the World Scenic Byway Arrow

The 110-mile-long Rim of the World Scenic Byway, with its steep climb and sweeping cliffside views of the San Bernardino Mountains, is one of the most under-trafficked road trips in SoCal . Since you rarely hear about The Rim of the World, it gets neither the love nor the visitors of Highway 1. It's especially beautiful if you happen to be there in wildflower season, when the roadsides are paved in mustard yellow flowers. 

Saucy Mama's Pizzeria Arrow

This is the perfect carb-filled way to cap off a day of hiking and adventuring. The place is very family friendly and is filled with local regulars. Expect to find a wait on weekend nights—it might not be New York , but as far as the region is concerned, these are some of the best slices around, and it's worth it. There are classic pies like the meat lover's made with sausage, pepperoni, Canadian bacon, and meatballs, or wackier choices like the Austin's Red Hot Kickin Chicken, made with spicy hot wing sauce, onions and chicken breast—a buffalo wing lover's dream. Staff is down home and friendly, just the type you'd want for a casual neighborhood joint.

Action ZipLine Tours Arrow

If you're an outdoor adventurer at heart, this tour is for you. You can choose from zip lining or tree climbing, giving you a unique view of the San Bernardino Mountains and it's stunning pines. During the wintertime, they also offer snowshoeing treks, a real treat for every level of outdoors person. The retired war vehicles that take you up to the top of the zipline course make you feel even more badass for choosing to fly above the tree line. This is a great way to dip your toe into some high adrenaline activities. You're not so high above the canopy that you can't see the ground, making it ideal for first timers. 

Known for its tightly knit artist community and boho flare, Ojai is one of those places that locals yearn to keep weird. As such, you won't find any giant hotel chains or neon signs. Instead, indulge in a relaxing weekend sampling from local breweries and organic winemakers, or unwinding with treatments at the sprawling, oak-tree-lined Ojai Valley Inn and Spa. 

Ojai Valley Inn Arrow

Time seems to slow down as you pull up to this sprawling Spanish revival hotel. Birds chirp from atop the towering oak trees, and the peacefully running fountains set the tone for a zen like serenity that'll carry through your weekend. The Fireplace Shangri-la room is your own personal retreat, complete with an oversized soaking tub and separate shower. Hand-painted Spanish tile, gold-auburn granite, and cobalt blue accents give this room a modern Mediterranean look. But the real highlight is the stucco fireplace with seating, a perfect spot to tuck into a book and indulge in the rejuvenating spirit of Ojai. If that's not enough for you, the pools here are worth the visit alone—attentive staff, killer views, and plenty of space to hop around to keep the scenery fresh. 

Farmer and the Cook Arrow

The shabby chic farmhouse style here makes this just the type of quirky spot you'd expect in a creative community like Ojai. It has a crowd of conscious, chilled-out food loving locals, and whether you're just looking to grab a smoothie and snacks for a day of adventuring around Ojai, or want to have a more intimate sit-down dinner, this is a great option. If the Hungarian-style stuffed cabbage is on the menu, order it. And the pizzas are always a big hit. There are plenty of raw and vegan options, too, which is a nice addition. Come for one of their casual weeknight pizza dinners, or for a low key celebration.

Ojai Valley Brewery Arrow

It's a laid back, cafe style patio and bar area dedicated to drinkers with a penchant for hoppy beers. While there are some nice wines on the menu, you're here for the beer. Try the White Pixie made with Ojai tangerine zest and orchard blossoms, or the barrel aged barley wine made with locally foraged pink peppercorns. They also sell growlers if you want to take some to go. Azu, the restaurant in which the taproom is housed, makes some killer kebabs and burgers, as well as more polished dishes like paella or pan roasted salmon.

The Mob Shop: Bicycle Tour Arrow

It's an organized bike tour, but with that personal homespun and local feel that makes Ojai so special. The crowd is made up of totally geeked out bike people who are really into sharing their local culture via cycling. It's great for someone who wants to be active while exploring the local flora and fauna, and burn off all that awesome food and beer Ojai has to offer. The scent of riding through the pixie orchards in bloom is one you'll want to bottle for years to come.

Chief's Peak at Ojai Rancho Inn Arrow

This place is a great spot to catch some live entertainment on the first Sunday of the month, and to mix and mingle with Ojai folks over simple, well-crafted drinks. The poolside bar space is basically a SoCal summer camp for adults. There's a hearty selection of local wines and beers, as well as seasonal cocktails well-suited for the pool. The crowd is a mixed bag of locals and hotel guests with sunny smiles, all equally part of the creative set.

Casa Barranca Organic Winery & Tasting Room Arrow

It's a cozy, down home tasting room in downtown Ojai, with welcoming warm wood and Spanish revival architectural accents. You'll be in the company of mostly oeno-curious travelers looking to do an afternoon tasting, with a few locals showing friends around. The winery sources organic grapes from around California and brings them to their winemaking facility, where they make a variety of blends. While they may not score as high as some of the cult cabs from Napa , they're still well worth a swirl. This is a great place to get a buzz on before an afternoon of craft shopping.

LAGUNA BEACH & NEWPORT BEACH

The beach communities in Newport and Laguna developed a certain reputation in the mid '00s thanks to the fictional and mostly fictional shows The O.C. and Laguna Beach . But they're so much more than their television portrayals. From excellent surfing, to ocean paddling, to high-end shopping, to nowhere-but-here landmarks like the Victoria Beach Pirate Tower, Newport and Laguna have everything you want in a beach city. 

Duffy Electric Boat Rentals Arrow

This boat rental shop has a laid back beach vibe, which caters to locals and out-of-towners alike. Duffy Electric Boat Rentals is home base if you want to live a yachting lifestyl e but have zero clue how to commandeer a ship. These electric boats make the seafaring life simple, affordable, and easy to navigate. Make sure to pack an A+ picnic (translation: cheese and rosé) to enjoy out on the water. You'll find SoCal natives looking for any excuse to escape the heat and get out on the water—for engagements, birthday parties, and everything in between. Since the Duffy Boats fit 10 people, it's definitely a scene, but it's also fun for couples looking for a different sort of date excursion, too.

Bear Flag Fish Co. Arrow

This delightfully nautical modern fish shack is the fast casual concept every beach town should have. It's a mix of families enjoying an after school special, surfers grinding after a paddle out, and beachcombers looking for a taste of chef-fisherman Thomas Carson's catch of the day. This is definitely some of the best poke on the mainland. Don't skip the ahi or salmon. They have some excellent margs on menu too, making for the perfect pairing for your fish taco or burrito.

Victoria Beach Pirate Tower Arrow

For travelers seeking the esoteric, this lighthouse is a must. It looks like it could be in some remote area of the Azores , and it's walls are studded with pieces of buried coins and treasure. While the name would suggest otherwise, it's simply the staircase to the mansion above, but still is a fun visit, especially for kids. The feeling of being there is one of nerdish curiosity, and if you're looking for a quirky beach walk, this is a great way to end it. It'll make you giddy to know that not all of Newport's residents have lost their sense of whimsy.

A'maree's Arrow

If you want to feel like you're living in an episode of "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous," a stop here is a must. Originally opened in 1976, this boutique overlooks the yachts docked in the Newport Harbor and features high end designers from around the globe, as well as interior design items. Stock up on chic espadrilles and hats that'll have you beach ready no matter your next destination, whether it be Monaco or Portofino . If you can, make an appointment for a private styling session with one of the three sisters and prepare to be wowed.

CATALINA ISLAND

Hop on the Catalina Express for the one hour 15 minute ride from the port in San Pedro out to Catalina Island and escape all that LA traffic. If you're looking to go out and back the same day there's nowhere better to go diving or paddling. If you venture out to the far side of the island you might even get to spot some of Catalina's wild bison herd.

Casino Point Dive Park Arrow

The 2.5 acre land-entry dive site was the first public, non-profit dive site in the country, and showcases some of the best sea life California has to offer. There's something for every level of certified diver, from beginner to expert, including the region’s most famed species—giant kelp—and its numerous inhabitants, including massive lobsters, octopus, and moray eels. Don't forget to have your dive master take you to wave to the resident eel, Fang, who tends to hang out around the 40 feet marker.

Catalina Express Arrow

With quick and affordable trips to-and-from Catalina's two main ports—Avalon and Two Harbors—this is the most affordable way to get to Catalina (and the most efficient unless you want to charter a private yacht). This no-frills ferry will remind you of the commuter boats in Greece that shuttle tourists from island to island, but no matter, it's a quick and easy way to get out of the city for the day, and potentially do some wildlife spotting along the way, especially if its whale migration season, which peaks from early summer to early fall. A trip out to Catalina is definitely one of those experiences that makes even locals wonder why it took them so long to explore the natural aquarium right in their own backyard.

Catalina Island Conservancy Arrow

It's worthwhile exploring the more wild side of the island near the Two Harbors area, and there's no better way to do it than on a 4x4 as part of an eco tour at the conservancy. You don't want to miss the bison, originally brought to the island and left to run feral. Seeing these massive, beautiful animals against the California/Mediterranean landscape is absolutely breathtaking. The private non-profit organization is dedicated to rehabilitating and restoring the island, so you can rest assured the money from your excursion is going to a great place.

Descanso Beach Ocean Sports: Kayak Catalina Arrow

There's no better way to see Santa Catalina than by kayak. These guided two-hour tours show you everything from the geology and rock formations to the lion fish and leopard sharks. Think of it as an ocean safari. You'll see kelp forests, coral, curious harbor seals, and more while paddling along the rugged coastline in a modern sit-on-top kayak. No matter which tour you opt for, you'll be blown away by the wildlife and biodiversity perched on your kayak. 

The small town of Los Alamos (a population of about 1800) is the cool kid of California wine towns. Lots of young winemakers are doing interesting things here and chances are good some of them will have time to chat with you all about it. Take a walk up Bell Street, the main drag, and stop in at tasting rooms and at Bob's Well Bread for otherworldly bread and pastries when you're done.

Lo-Fi Wines Arrow

Walking into Lo-Fi, you're greeted by the sweet sound of needle meeting vinyl, and a tasting room staff that's as down home as they come. Los Alamos locals rub elbows with young winemakers and wine-savvy Angelenos. Natural wine has become a bit of a buzz word in the industry, but Lo Fi is the real deal. Using neutral barrels, native yeasts, little to no sulfur additions, and no adjustment of pH, they embrace a nothing added, nothing taken away approach that makes for some really interesting wine reflective of the region. Don’t miss out on their Coquelicot Cab Franc or the Chenin Blanc.

Bob's Well Bread Bakery Arrow

If you've ever dreamed of fleeing the big city for country living, Bob and Jane Oswaks' lifestyle will be major #goals. The Hollywood exec (Bob) left the bright lights to become a beacon of small batch baking in Los Alamos and never looked back. Our bellies are all the better for it. If you're missing a proper Paris baguette , this is definitely a place you'll want to stop. Grab a boule to go with your wine country picnic, or better yet, sit on the patio and enjoy pastries, tartines, and sandwiches. You really can't order wrong.

Bell's Arrow

Bell's is the indie rock, wine country version of your favorite neighborhood restaurant —unpretentious, warm, and welcoming with an undeniable air of cool that comes from just doing you. The room, decorated by kilims and mismatched vintage furniture works the boho vibe just right. Bell's draws serious food lovers from around SoCal looking to get a taste of what they call "Franch" fare—a portmanteau combining French and ranch, referring to the Santa Barbara rancho style of cooking in the region, and a nod to the owners' playful sense of humor. Bell's is the perfect mix of high-low, where dishes like layered crepes topped with local Santa Barbara uni and caviar, and a banging rendition of moulles frites make sense next to Spanish sardines with homemade saltines. This is the type of spot you can rock into any night of the week and be happy, whether you're dining solo or celebrating a landmark birthday with family.

Los Alamos Depot Mall: Antiques & Pub Arrow

For fans of thrifting and antiquing, this collection of jewelry, clothing, home decor, and Americana will be worth dedicating at least an hour to sifting through. It's a roving treasure trove, but if you have some money to spend, keep your eye out for old world walnut furniture and larger pieces that you'll get for a song compared to LA establishments. If you're on a budget, peep the costume jewelry, and be sure to pick up some lemon oil to keep your wooden pieces at home well-conditioned. On a weekend, you'll find road trippers and locals grazing the aisles in between wine tastings, looking to do some retail therapy.

IDYLLWILD, CALIFORNIA

Idyllwild is home to quaint, blissfully uncrowded mountaintop adventures—it’s so far off the beaten tourist trail, it’s actually an unincorporated community. But the townsfolk do have an elected official. You can catch a glimpse of Mayor Max III—a golden retriever pup—while wandering downtown. That’s just the tip of the quirk quotient that comes with an Idyllwild stay. Long a haven for rugged, artsy Californians, Idyllwild is a true hidden gem, full of gorgeous hiking spots, charming bed and breakfasts, and best of all, cool air even in the summer months. Originally a haven for the Cahuilla Indians, Idyllwild has been a summer getaway for millennia.

Idyllwild Nature Center

There are more mountainous hikes around Idyllwild with jaw-dropping views of Strawberry Valley—check out the hike up to Suicide Rock—but the Idyllwild Nature Center is a good intro to the area. There’s a little museum with displays of the local fauna, but the hiking path is the draw here. Surrounded by Manzanitas and pines, the path is shaded and perfect for a 45-minute stroll. In the winter, the Idyllwild Nature Center is one of the few places in Southern California where it’s possible to get into a snowball fight.

The Grand Idyllwild Lodge

This Craftsman-style hotel is exactly what you’d expect out of a mountaintop lodge: cozy, quiet, and close to nature. Of course, viewing decks and fireplaces are necessary amenities at this altitude, and the Grand Idyllwild doesn’t disappoint. Nestled among the Ponderosa pines and Manzanitas, the Grand Idyllwild is as equally close to town as it is popular hiking and climbing spots. With just 11 rooms, make sure to plan ahead.

Merkaba Tea

Crisp mountain air and tea go together perfectly, and Merkaba is a serious teashop. Set in a townhouse painted amethyst purple, you can’t miss Merkaba, nor will you want to. They keep a stock of black and green teas from around the world—think Pai Mu Tan from Fujian Province in China and Purple Leaf tea from Kenya’s Nandi Highlands—as well as their own blends of camellia and other herbal teas alongside a full stock of crystals, local crafts, and teaware.

Gastrognome

The pine-dense forests of Idyllwild are the perfect setting for gnomish activity. Which is why the gnome-themed Gastrognome feels right at home. They offer a menu that could be the answer to the question, “What do gnomes eat?” Apparently, hearty no-nonsense comfort food: Angus ribeye steak, blackened salmon, a classic burger on a brioche bun, and the Gnome Dip, which is Gastrognome’s version of a French dip sandwich, popular amongst woodland creatures and humans alike.

SOLVANG & BUELLTON

Ever since the 2004 film Sideways , which was filmed around town and in the surrounding areas, Solvang has taken on the role of being a serious wine destination. But it wasn’t always that way: at the beginning of the 20th century, a group of Danish-Americans looking to escape the frigid Midwestern winters settled in the Santa Ynez Valley in Santa Barbara. The town became an uncanny Danish village, complete with windmills and half-timbered style architecture, and that was the attraction for a while. Nowadays, the Danish echo acts as a backdrop for the nearly two dozen tasting rooms all over town, and over 120 wineries in the Santa Ynez Valley.

First & Oak

Tucked into the boutique Mirabelle Inn, First & Oak may look like a rustic French dining experience, but make no mistake; they’re definitely not old school. For one, the tasting menu is choose-your-own-adventure, allowing diners to select from each section, and they accommodate to taste and dietary restrictions. Chef Steven Snook—a protégé of Gordon Ramsay—crafts seasonal menus with an eye towards keeping things close to home. It’s not unusual to be served foraged mushrooms or poached local sea bass served along with mussels and summer squash.

Solvang Vintage Motorcycle Museum

The Solvang Vintage Motorcycle Museum isn’t just for hog-heads. Housed in an old Brooks Brothers store, it’s packed to gills with over 100 unique and often beguiling motorcycles rotated in from owner Dr. Virgil Eilings’s vast collection. Some of the bikes are exceedingly rare, like the 1922 Megola front-wheel drive motorcycle that was featured on Jay Leno’s Garage or any of the bikes from early 20 th century British manufacturer MJS. And there’s no shortage of Ducatis and Moto Guzzis for those with the need for speed.

The Landsby Arrow

While Solvang was built in the retro visage of 16th-century-style architecture, the Landsby takes a more modern, comfortably convivial, minimal, cozy Danish approach. Or hygge for short. It makes for a pleasant, serene stay while also being in the epicenter of town. Even more convenient is Mad & Vin, the Landsby’s Danish-cum-Californian cuisine that checks every box: locally sourced, fresh, seasonal ingredients on an inventive menu in a pleasant dining room.

Ostrichland USA Arrow

Fast facts: ostriches can run over 40 miles per hour, and are the biggest bird on earth. You can find 80 of the flightless birds (and 20 emus) in the nearby Buellton at a peculiar ranch called OstrichLand USA . You’ll be able to carefully feed the fascinating creatures alfalfa pellets or simply watch their habits, which include a strange mating ritual dance involving feather ruffling and gentle swaying. It has to be seen to be believed. Afterward, peruse the gift shop for feather dusters and other ostrich-related gifts, as well as eggs—the largest bird eggs on earth—which you can take home and eat.

The River Course at the Alisal

If a day on the links is what you’re craving, there’s no place better to spend it than on the River Course , where you’ll follow the roaming Santa Ynez River as you try not to slice into the oak, native sycamore, and elderberry trees that line the fairway. As you tee up on the elevated tees, you’ll see breathtaking panoramic views of the foothills and valley. The course is a tough one, but don’t worry, the mild California climate will calm your nerves. It’s all set on a dude ranch, so when you’ve handed in your scorecard, you can hit up the property’s wrangler workshops, rodeos, and horseback riding, and you can even participate in a hog washing (if that sounds like something you’d want to do).

SANTA BARBARA & MONTECITO

Even if it’s just a hop-skip north of L.A. via the 101, Santa Barbara feels like a different planet. It’s slower for one thing—you’re mostly strolling on the sandy beaches, shopping, eating, or thinking about the next place to eat. Between the oceanfront hotels, the fine dining, and the access to wine country, it’s no wonder they call Santa Barbara “the American Riviera.” The surrounding towns have much to offer as well, particularly tony Montecito, home to celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Larry David, and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Caruso's

Set on the grand campus of the 5-star Rosewood Miramar Beach hotel, Caruso’s pulls its weight as one of the finest dining options in one of the toniest towns in America. Chef Massimo Falsini’s food is a divine treasure trove of locally sourced ingredients, meaning you might find halibut fished off the Channel Islands paired with white asparagus and green garlic in a sweet burro fuso sourced from Napa Valley. Or spring lamb from Sonoma served alongside apricots and carrots in a pool of berry shrub jus. The vegetables come from Caruso’s garden, and even the honey is produced by an in-house apiary. At sunset, the view out over the water is almost as gorgeous as the dining experience. You’ll want to dress up for this one as it’s definitely a linen tablecloth experience.

Widely thought of as one of the most outstanding botanical gardens on Earth, Lotusland was built over a period of 40 years by world-famous Polish opera singer Ganna Walska. Opened to the public after her passing in 1993, the 37-acre ground features a butterfly garden, a cactus garden, a fern garden, a citrus orchard, and even a garden dedicated to plants with blue foliage. That’s not even the half of it. Be forewarned: you must make a reservation in advance, and the visits are restricted to two hours.

Butterfly Beach

Santa Barbara County is known for its beaches, and none is better than Butterfly Beach in Montecito. The sand is pillowy, the water is warm, and the views are majestic. Bring a picnic and lay out on the beach all day, or bicycle on the Cabrillo Bike Path up to Santa Barbara. Make sure to visit close to sunset, as Butterfly Beach faces out to the west.

Hotel Californian Arrow

If you do decide to stay over, the Hotel Californian is the spot to crash. The Moroccan-inspired, 121-room hotel’s interiors were designed by Martyn Lawrence Bullard from the Bravo series Million Dollar Decorators, and it shows: it’s decadent and seductive, but timeless and flowing. In addition to seaside rooms looking out over Santa Barbara’s gorgeous beaches, the Californian offers several dining options, including Goat Tree, which merges Californian and Mediterranean influences, and Tan Tan for when you don’t want to leave the pool area.

The Funk Zone

The Funk Zone is not one establishment, but a whole neighborhood of exciting options to shop, eat, and drink. It’s exploded more recently, with graffiti murals providing a backdrop for boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, and tasting rooms. Check out Jules by the Sea, a boutique with owner Jules Kramer’s handcrafted jewelry; Spanish restaurant Loquita Santa Barbara; breezy clothing boutique Loveworn; or take the 3-hour Eat This, Shoot That! restaurant and wine-tasting tour.

Long heralded as a surf destination, Oceanside is just as well known as a nexus point in Southern California. Located in between L.A. and San Diego, Oceanside is accessible to family-friendly adventures like Disneyland and the San Diego Zoo, while having enough charisma to stand alone as a beachside vacation spot. Ready to finally take those surf lessons? One of the best places to learn to catch a wave. Want to spend a day on the links? There are several golf courses. Prefer a day out on the water watching for whales? No problem. And of course, there’s fresh seafood around every corner, and ample space to relax on the beach.

Learn to Rip Surf Lessons

Surfing is part of the draw of Oceanside, so it might be high time to dip your toes into the proverbial water when you visit Oceanside. For those who’ve always stood on the beach and admired the surfers riding the waves, but never took the step, Learn to Rip Surf Lessons is perfect. There’s no better place to learn than in surfing mecca Oceanside, where there’s great surf year-round. Learn safety, how to pop up, and how to maintain balance with one-on-one or group lessons.

California Surf Museum

Founded in 1986, the California Surf Museum is a testament to Oceanside’s place in the world of wave riding. With special exhibitions, film screenings, and a collection of noteworthy surfboards and historical photographs, the museum is a cool stop for those with even a casual interest in the sport.

Sea Hive Marketplace

Something between an antique mall and a maker market, Sea Hive is a one-stop shop featuring local artisans, vintage clothing booths, a botanical shop, a florist, booksellers, vinyl record shops, and much more.

333 Pacific

Home to the best surf and turf in Oceanside, 333 Pacific never fails to draw a crowd. It’s an unfussy menu—steak or seafood in a variety of different styles and cuts and manners. The only other choice is to decide whether to eat in the inviting dining room or on the patio looking out onto the beach.

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27 Best Day Trips from Los Angeles, CA – From a Local

What are the best day trips from Los Angeles? After living in LA for the past 16 years and exploring the surrounding areas, we can confidently say these are the best day trips from Los Angeles.

One of the many reasons we love living in Southern California is that wherever you are, you can drive an hour or two in one direction and land in a different landscape, vibe, charm, and culture.

Go West, and you’ll hit the beaches.

Go East, and you’ll find the desert.

Go North and see the snow.

Go South, and hit some wineries.

There are many things to do around and near Los Angeles, with only a 1-3 hour drive from DTLA . Start your day trip early morning and drive back after dinnertime.

With some of the most beautiful coastal beach communities in Southern California, there is no reason why you should not be heading out on day trips to explore them.

Sometimes, it’s possible to take early flights out of Los Angeles to destinations that are only an hour or so plane ride away. We once flew out early morning to Las Vegas to meet my best friend and were back home by midnight.

By all means, any of these day trips can also be turned into great weekend getaways. Book a hotel the morning of and stay overnight. Everyone needs to enjoy a quick getaway now and then.

Day trips have always been our preference because we like returning home to our dogs. Sometimes dog sitters can be difficult to schedule, and my dogs don’t travel.

Having these day trips helps quench our wanderlust until our next big vacation. They are vital and allow us to breathe. Plus, getting out and exploring what’s in your backyard is important. Day trips are an excellent way.

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we earn a commission at no extra cost. Please refer to our  full disclosure  for details.

In this article, we share some of the best day trips from Los Angeles we have taken over the years. We hope it will inspire you to get out and explore what Southern California offers.

When we started writing out this list of day trips from Los Angeles, we didn’t realize we’d experienced so much in the 16 years of living in Los Angeles. There is still so much of Southern California we have yet to experience and discover. We can’t wait to get in the car and take more day trips.

Note that a few of these destinations are technically in Los Angeles County. However, if you live in Los Angeles, you know it takes about 1 hour or 2 to get anywhere outside and into the city of Los Angeles. So if you are staying in Marina del Rey and are planning to visit Pasadena, you know that’s a day trip.

We also included the driving time to these destinations from Downtown Los Angeles.

Table of Contents

Best Day Trips From Los Angeles

1. santa barbara, ca.

Drive Time: 1 hour 50 minutes

Branded as the American Riviera, Santa Barbara, a Central California coastal city, is a great day trip for any time of year. Its spectacular surroundings of the Santa Ynez mountains and the pacific ocean will tempt you to stay longer.

It’s one of our favorite coastal cities, and we try to take a day trip to Santa Barbara once a year.

We love to explore State Street, the city’s main thoroughfare, and enjoy the Spanish, Victoria, and Art Deco architecture you’ll find throughout. We’ll then head down to Fisherman’s Wharf and continue towards the harbor, where we’ll sometimes spot seals.

On your day in Santa Barbara, there are multiple things you can do in addition to what we mentioned above:

• Visit the Funk Zone, a trendy neighborhood known for its wine-tasting rooms and craft breweries.
• Visit old Mission Santa Barbara and the Santa Barbara County Courthouse.
• Take photos at the Moreton Bay Fig Tree, the largest in America.
• Head over to its historic pier, Stearns Wharf, and watch the sunset over the harbor.
• Go on an electric-bike tour in Santa Barbara Wine Country.

Top Foodie Pick: Love Tacos? Stop by Julia Child’s favorite taco stand, La Super-Rica Taqueria .

Santa Barbara, CA | Google Map It

2. Solvang, CA

Drive Time: 2 hours 30 mins

This popular Danish village is a must-visit and one of the best day trips from Los Angeles. Whenever we have company from out of state, we bring them here so they can experience something different outside of Hollywood Blvd.

Danish-style architecture is always great fun. This picturesque town will make you feel like you’re suddenly transported into another country.

While some people’s favorite thing to do is go wine tasting, we like to visit all the bakeries and stop at Solvang’s Restaurant for aebleskivers.

• Spot the windmills in town and take photos.
• Shop the boutiques and check out some of the wooden shoes.
• Pick up some butter cookies and pastries from one of their local bakeries to take home with you.
• Don’t miss trying aebleskivers at Solvang’s Restaurant; it’s a great little treat for everyone.
• Plan to visit the wine-tasting rooms as you explore through town or visit San Ynez Valley wine country.

Read more about what to do in Solvang, CA .

Top Foodie Pick: The aebleskivers are a must.

Solvang, CA | Google Map It

3. Oak Glen

Drive Time: 1 hour 37 minutes

A day in Oak Glen, California, is one of our fall and winter favorite day trips . Only an hour or so drive from Los Angeles, you will find beautiful vistas, fall foliage, and apple orchards. In the winter, you will find snow.

While Oak Glen is a popular fall destination, you can visit year-round to enjoy the different seasons. There are always different activities and festivals throughout the year. Riley’s Farm has historical events and other dinner shows.

We love to go there for all the yummy treats and to enjoy all the local activities and festivals, including stocking up on jams and treats at Mom’s Orchards.

• Go apple picking and raspberry picking.
• Try the different ciders and wines offered at the other orchards.
• Participate in kid-friendly activities like train rides, petting zoos, and more at Oak Tree Village.

Read more on the things to do in Oak Glen, CA .

Top Foodie Pick: Mini Cider Donuts at Snow-Line Orchards and pizza at Wilshire’s Apple Shed ; available throughout the year.

Oak Glen, CA | Google Map It

4. Ojai, CA

Drive Time: 1 hour 40 minutes

Looking for a relaxing Los Angeles day trip? Ojai, California, is known for its beautiful scenery, laid-back atmosphere, and spiritual energy, making it a popular destination for those seeking relaxation and rejuvenation. 

Just a few hours from Los Angeles, in Ventura County, this charming city is the perfect place to escape it all.

We visited just before the holidays, and it was our peaceful escape. Driving in and passing all the citrus tree farms, wineries, and beautiful landscapes will make you feel ten times better. We particularly enjoyed visiting the nearby olive farm.

• Explore the art galleries and boutiques in charming downtown Ojai.
• Take an easy hike at Meadows Preserve.
• Go wine tasting.
• Visit Ojai Olive Farm .
• Check out the Ojai Valley Museum to learn about the area’s history and culture.

Start here to plan a day in Ojai and end your night with pizza under the stars.

Top Foodie Pick: Crazy about pizza? Start lining up at Bocalli’s Pizza & Pasta early.

Ojai, CA | Google Map It

5. Big Bear Lake, CA

Drive Time: 2 hours 10 minutes

Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains is a popular destination here in Southern California. This is where locals go to see and enjoy the snow. It is known for its four seasons. You can experience Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter activities at designated times of the year.

Plan your day to Big Bear accordingly. If you’re chasing fall colors, Ocotober-November would be the best time to visit.

If you want to see snow and go skiing for the day, you’ll want to watch the local weather reports during the winter to ensure there will be snow. In 2023, there was plenty of it.

Then in the Spring and Summer, you’ll find Big Bear Lake is a popular destination for outdoor activities such as hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and boating.

Big Bear Lake is a great day trip or weekend trip for the family. The drive alone is worth the trip. The scenic drive along the Rim of the World Highway offers breathtaking views of the San Bernardino Mountains. You will feel like you were transported out of Los Angeles and into another world full of evergreens.

• Take the scenic route.
• Visit Big Bear Lake Village.
• Plan a private hike tour .
• Rent a bike or bring your own to go bike riding.

Top Foodie Pick : Don’t miss Pickle’s Pie Shop in Big Bear Lake for pie lovers.

Big Bear Lake, CA | Google Map It

6. Lake Arrowhead, CA

If you’re looking for a day trip from Los Angeles that feels like a world away, Lake Arrowhead is the perfect destination. Nestled in the San Bernardino Mountains, this beautiful lake is often compared to ‘the Alps’ of Southern California.

Visitors can take a scenic drive around the lake, enjoy the stunning mountain views, or take a boat tour to learn more about the area’s history and wildlife. The lake is private property, so public access is limited. Booking a boat tour is the best way to see it in close proximity. If you decide to book a rental for the weekend, we suggest finding something with lake access.

The town also has a charming village area with cute shops and restaurants, making it a great place to explore and relax.

We’d say a day or an overnight in Lake Arrowhead is enough, as it is a quieter town.

• Explore and shop at Lake Arrowhead Village.
• Tour the lake with Lake Arrowhead Queen Boat Tour.
• Enjoy the activities at Sky Park Santa’s Village.
• Hike the Will Abell Memorial Trail for beautiful views of Lake Arrowhead.

Lake Arrowhead, CA | Google Map It

7. Temecula, CA

Temecula, Southern California’s wine country, is a great day trip from Los Angeles. In Riverside County, Temecula has many wineries offering wine tastings, vineyard tours, and more. This is a huge destination for tourists and winos alike, and we recommend booking a nice weekend stay at a romantic resort or hotel.

However, it can be done as a day trip. There are plenty of things to do and see in Temecula, and you’ll want to sample some local wines. So whether you’re looking for a romantic getaway or just a day trip to try some new wines, Temecula is the perfect destination.

Whether you go as a couple, with family, or solo, this is a fun day trip. We went as a family with our nieces a while back and had a fantastic time in Old Town Temecula.

• Go on a Wine Tasting Tour and visit the many wineries of wine country .
• Explore Old Town Temecula.
• Book a spa treatment at a winery.
• For the kids… visit Pennypickles Workshop .
• Stop by the Pachanga Resort & Casino for a quick game of blackjack.

Temecula is also popular for its sunrise hot air balloon rides . It’s been on our list, and we haven’t crossed it off yet.

Top Foodie Pick: Check out E.A.T. Marketplace .

Temecula, CA | Google Map It

8. Long Beach, CA

Drive Time: 30 minutes

Long Beach is located in Los Angeles County, California, but you’re lucky to get there on a good day in 30 minutes. Long Beach is best known for its port, the second largest in the United States. It’s where The Queen Mary ship resides, and cruisers set sail from on Carvinal cruise ships.

We love Long Beach beach day trips because we almost always end up at our favorite Greek restaurant in the city and love exploring the charming neighborhood of Naples Island.

You can easily make multiple day trips throughout the year to enjoy everything it offers. You also want to watch for local annual festivals so you can plan as several take place throughout the year.

Some of the things you can do on your day trip there are:

• Visit and take a self-guided tour of The Queen Mary ship.
• See the marine life at the Aquarium of the Pacific .
• Take a stroll and picnic at Bluff Park.
• Book a Gondola Ride through the Gateway of Naples Island

Top Foodie Pick: We love the lamb chops from George’s Greek Cafe .

Long Beach, CA | Google Map It

9. Disneyland in Anaheim, CA

Drive Time: 45 minutes

One of the best reasons to visit Anaheim is Disneyland Park. We used to be regular-season pass holders who made the trip to the Disneyland theme park 1-2 times a month. It is a great day trip for everyone.

You don’t need passes to enjoy Disney, though. The best part about this theme park is that it can be done in a day or less. It’s not as overwhelmingly huge as Disney World in Florida.

Alternatively, a day trip to Downtown Disney can be just as fun as there is sometimes live music and other activities. Visit the Lego store, pick up special Disney treats at Marceline’s Confectionary, and make dinner reservations at one of their many restaurants.

Top Foodie Pick: Beignets at Ralph Brennan’s Jazz’s Kitchen (outside the theme park) or at Port Orleans French Quarter (inside Disneyland) [ side note: you can read about the real New Orleans French Quarter here ]. For dinner reservations at Steakhouse 55 (outside the theme park) or Carthay Circle (inside California Adventure)

You can check out my Instagram Disneyland Highlights here .

Disneyland, CA | 1313 Disneyland Dr, Anaheim | Google Map It

– Don’t Miss: 9 Fun Amusement Parks and Theme Parks in Los Angeles, CA –

10. Huntington Beach, CA

Huntington Beach is one of the most popular beach cities in Southern California, known as Surf City USA, with 10 miles of coastline. The city is in Orange County, known for its surfing culture and waves. The downtown area has a lively atmosphere with restaurants, bars, and shops.

The Huntington Beach Pier is great for walking, relaxing, and taking photos. There are also bike trails that run along the beach. And, if you have kids, there’s a small amusement park called Pirates Cove.

Planning a day trip with your dog? While California is extremely dog-friendly, Huntington Beach is one of the best coastal cities to take your canine companion to, as it has a dog beach. We took our first dog here ( may she RIP ) for the day with friends; she had a blast, and so did we.

• Visit downtown Huntington Beach.
• Plan to take surfing lessons .
• If you love surfing, visit Huntington Beach International Surf Museum .
• Explore Old World Village, a charming German village with fun events around Oktoberfest.
• Enjoy the trails at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve.

Huntington Beach, CA | Google Map It

11. Newport Beach, CA

Drive Time: 50 minutes

One of the most popular day trips from Los Angeles is to visit Newport Beach. It’s only about a 1-hour drive, and it’s worth it. Newport Beach is known for its amazing beaches, perfect waves for surfing, and beautiful homes. It is one of our favorite coastal cities in Southern California.

We spend many weekend days in Newport Beach throughout the year. Our favorite is early mornings at the beach before the crowds arrive. It’s the best time to sit by the shore and enjoy the peacefulness and salty air.

The Balboa Peninsula is the main area of Newport Beach and is a great place to walk around, take in the ocean views, have a picnic, and enjoy some people-watching. Plenty of boat rentals and fishing charters are available if you want to get out on the water. And if you’re looking for a romantic evening, consider having dinner at one of the many waterfront restaurants.

You can also spend the afternoon at the Balboa Fun Zone in the Balboa Peninsula. The Balboa Fun Zone is one of the main attractions on the island and is home to various amusement park rides, arcades, and restaurants.

• Stroll the boardwalk.
• Pack a picnic and start an early day at the beach.
• Plan a whale-watching tour .
• Rent a Duffy boat for the day and cruise around Newport Harbor.
• Visit Balboa Fun Zone for the afternoon and ride the Ferris Wheel.
• Visit the Sherman Library & Gardens .

Top Foodie Pick: On the way, stop by Shirley’s Bagels.

Newport Beach, CA | Google Map It

Read more: Best Things to Do in Orange County, CA

12. Balboa Island

Balboa Island is a small, charming island located in Newport Beach. It is a popular spot for locals and visitors. This is a day trip on its own because you can visit this charming seaside neighborhood full of beautiful beaches, homes, shops, and dining. We just love walking around and

The fun part is driving your car onto a ferry from the Balboa Peninsula to Balboa Island. You can also take a long way around and drive over the Marine Avenue Bridge to Balboa Island.

Cons: Parking can be difficult. And Starbucks has the only bathroom in town where you can easily buy something small and use their restroom. We always plan to eat at one of the restaurants on Balboa Island and use the restroom there.

• Explore the Balboa Island neighborhood.
• Walk the grand canal.
• Take the Balboa Island ferry.
• Optional: You can rent bikes, paddle boards, and kayaks at a local shop.

Top Foodie Pick: Try a local favorite: a frozen banana ice cream or a Balboa Bar.

Balboa Island, CA | Google Map It

13. Laguna Beach, CA

Drive Time: 1 hour

Laguna Beach is about an hour’s drive from Los Angeles, but it feels like a world away. The small city is charming with its unique character and vibe.

The famous small coastal city Laguna Beach is the next stopover off the Pacific Coast Highway, only 20 minutes from Newport Beach. If you have time after Newport Beach, you may want to ride to Laguna Beach or save it for another day trip.

There are many things to do in Laguna Beach, depending on what you want to do for the day. The best way to spend a day in Laguna Beach is to walk around downtown, which is full of shops, art galleries, and restaurants.

We love to walk around town, grab lunch and then head over to Heisler Park. But there is much more to be discovered in Laguna.

Did you know Victoria Beach in Laguna has old ruins called The Pirate Tower?

• Head down to one of their many beaches.
• Explore downtown Laguna Beach.
• Walk to Heisler Park from the main town for some of the best ocean views and sunset.
• You may be able to spot some sea lions.

Top Foodie Pick: We love to eat at Alessa’s Little Italy .

Laguna Beach, CA | Google Map It

14. Crystal Cove State Park

Crystal Cove State Park is located in Laguna Beach and is a favorite destination for locals and visitors. You can plan a day in Crystal Cove State Park to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. The park is a 3.2-mile stretch of beachfront property in Orange County, California.

• Start your day with a hike. The trails here s offer stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and the surrounding hills.
• Relax on the beach or also rent a stand-up paddleboard or kayak and explore the coastline from the water.
• Explore the historic district of vintage beach cottages.
• Stay long enough to watch a stunning sunset, as it’s the perfect way to end a day.

Foodie Pick: It’s tradition to hit up Crystal Cove’s Shake Shack for burgers.

15. Irvine, CA

Irvine is a family-friendly city in Orange County filled with activities that will keep everyone entertained all day long just by visiting the Irvine Spectrum Center. When my nieces lived nearby, we drove down many times because there was always something to do in Irvine.

California loves its outdoor shopping malls, and the one in Irvine does not disappoint. The Irvine Spectrum Center is more than a shopping center. It features a Ferris wheel, a kiddie train ride, and a carousel. This is a great spot to visit to get some steps in, do a little shopping, keep the kids entertained, and have dinner.

But a shopping mall that doubles as a quasi-amusement park is not all that Irvine offers. You can plan and mix and match multiple activities in a day:

• You can visit Orange Country Great Park .
• Plan to take a hike at the Bommer Canyon Trail .
• Take your kids to the Pretend City Children’s Museum.
• Go go-kart riding at K1 Speed Irvine .

Irvine, CA | Google Map It

16. La Jolla, CA

Drive Time: 2 hours

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La Jolla is a coastal town in San Diego, about 2 hours from Los Angeles. The town is known for its gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean, rugged coastline, and sea lions that can sometimes be heard as you drive along the coast.

We love spending long weekends here but have also driven the 2 hours just for a day trip to see the sea lions. We also love to walk the La Jolla Coast Walk Trail and meander around downtown.

Where to see the sea lions in La Jolla? La Jolla Cove is one of the easiest spots to see sea lions. You can also spot them at Shell Beach, Boomer Beach, and Children’s Pool.

• Visit the sea lions.
• Spend the day at one of the La Jolla Beaches.
• Explore downtown La Jolla.
• Take a stroll along the La Jolla Coast Walk Trail .
• Go on a kayak tour of the La Jolla Sea Caves.

Top Foodie Pick: Have brunch at The Cottage for some stuffed French toast.

La Jolla, CA | Google Map It

17. Cabazon, CA

What is there to see between Palm Springs and Los Angeles? The world’s biggest dinosaur roadside attraction in Cabazon.

Cabazon, California, is one of those fun pit stops you must make on a day trip or on your way to Palm Springs. You’ll see from the 10 freeway, and the curiosity will kick it. You will want to stop for some pictures when you see the dinosaurs from your car window.

No matter the age, everyone will get a kick out of it. This is one of those trips that you’ll do once and always remember.

This attraction was featured in Pee-Wee Herman’s Big Adventure .

Yes, we are that old.

“Be sure and tell ’em Large Marge sent you.”

Morongo Resort and Casino are nearby if you want to drop in and see if you’re lucky.

Top Foodie Pick: Date Shake at Hadley Fruit Orchard .

Cabazon, CA | Google Map It

18. Palm Springs, CA

Palm Springs is a desert oasis located in Riverside County of Southern California. The city is known for its hot weather, mid-century modern architecture, and resorts. It is one of the most popular destinations for Angelenos to escape and enjoy a nice desert getaway. They’ll rent an Airbnb with a pool and spend a few days there.

That said, a Los Angeles day trip to Palm is doable. We like to make the day trip now and then. We get our fill of delicious dates (yes, the fruit) that you’ll find in Palm Springs and then head back home at the end of the day.

Now, you’ll know you’re in Palm Springs when you start seeing all the windmills in the middle of the desert. They greet you as you make your way in.

With only a day in Palm Springs, you can:

• Take a ride on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway for stunning views of the Coachella Valley.
• Palm Springs is known for its spas. You can book some spa time to unwind and relax. Although with a two-hour drive back to LA, it may be a wash.
• Walk along Palm Canyon Drive downtown and check out Palm Spring’s Walk of Stars. Many galleries, boutiques, and shops also sell dates and date shakes.
• Take a picture with Lucille Ball’s life-like bronze park bench.
• Visit the Palms Springs Art Museum and don’t miss the 25 ft Forever Marilyn Monroe statue outside.

Top Foodie Pick : Date and walnut shake from Great Shakes .

Palm Springs, CA | Google Map It

19. Joshua Tree National Park

A day trip to Joshua Tree National Park is a perfect way to experience the beauty of the desert landscape in Southern California. The park is about 135 miles east of Los Angeles and about 35 miles northwest of Palm Springs, making it an easy day trip destination for those visiting the area.

Starting early in the morning is recommended to make the most of your day trip. As you enter the park, you’ll be greeted by the iconic Joshua trees, a type of yucca plant. The park is divided into two distinct desert ecosystems, the Mojave Desert and the Colorado Desert, offering unique scenic landscapes.

One of the most popular spots in the park is the Jumbo Rocks area, which features massive granite boulders that are perfect for rock climbing or scrambling. This area has several short hikes, including the Skull Rock Trail, a 1.7-mile loop that takes you through a unique rock formation that looks like a skull.

Another must-see spot is Keys View , which offers panoramic views of the Coachella Valley and the San Andreas Fault. This viewpoint is located at the top of a 5,185-foot peak and is accessible by car.

Top tips for planning a day trip to Joshua Tree National Park:

• Get your electronic pass to the park in advance.
• Download your map of Joshua Tree National Park before you arrive.
• Review and plan your Joshua Tree hikes .
• Stop by one of Joshua Tree’s Visitor Centers .
• Looking for more fun? Visit the infamous Pioneertown nearby.

Top Foodie Pick: Burgers and fries at Joshua Tree Saloon .

Joshua Tree Visitor Center | Google Map It

20. Dana Point, CA

Dana Point is a beach community in Southern Orange County. It is a great spot to explore some beaches, find great eateries, and watch whale. Perfect for a day for the family to enjoy together.

We were in Dana Point Harbor last year and loved the marina filled with boats ready to go on adventures for the day. Fact: Dana Point Harbor is the dolphin and whale-watching capital.

• Explore one of their many beaches. Pack a picnic.
• Book a water activity or a whale-watching tour .
• Go sports fishing.
• Plan a sailing trip for the family.
• Visit the Ocean Institute .

Dana Point, CA | Google Map It

Foods From California Not to Miss

When you think of California, what foods come to mind? Probably not garlic ice cream. This list has 15 foods from California that you should have on your foodie bucket list. Some are probably already served at your local dining establishments or sold at your local market.

21. San Juan Capistrano, CA

Not far from Dana Point in Orange County, you’ll find the lovely city of San Juan Capistrano in Orange County. This city is known to be the home to the “Jewel of the California Missions.”

This is a perfect Los Angeles day trip because this charming city has it all, history, delicious food, antique shops, and even a petting zoo for ideas.

One of the highlights is Mission San Juan Capistrano, founded in 1776. The ruins of the Great Old Church still stand today, and it’s a fantastic site to experience filled with history. The grounds are so lovely to enjoy a beautiful Spring day when the flowers are beginning. Our favorite is the lemon trees you find by the courtyard entrance.

Rios Historic District is another highlight that can’t be missed. It’s the oldest residential neighborhood in California, with quaint shops and restaurants that will leave you bedazzled.

Here are some things you can do in a day:

• Explore downtown San Juan Capistrano and Los Rios Historic District.
• Plan high tea at the Tea House on Los Rios (reservations recommended).
• Stop by for coffee at the charming Hidden House Coffee and sit outside their outdoor patio.
• Visit the historic landmark Mission San Juan Capistrano .
• Take the kids to Zoomars Petting Zoo .

Read more on the things to do in San Juan Capistrano, CA .

Top Foodie Pick: There are so many delicious places to eat here. We love to eat lunch at Trevor on the Tracks and then dinner Ciao Pasta Trattoria for some great Italian cuisine.

San Juan Capistrano, CA | Google Map It

22. Explore Carlsbad, CA

Drive Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

A couple of hour drive South, you can take a day trip to Carlsbad, California, known as “The Village by the Sea.” The small town in North San Diego has a quaint downtown area filled with shops, restaurants, and plenty of activities.

You can plan an entire day with the family. Depending on the time of year, attractions like The Flower Fields are more popular than others and are only open in the Spring.

• Take a stroll along the Carlsbad Sea Wall Trail .
• Visit The Flower Fields , where visitors can see acres of vibrant flowers in bloom.
• Families with young children will enjoy a visit to Legoland.
• Go strawberry picking a Carlsbad Strawberry Company and check out their sunflower maze.
• Go shopping at the Carlsbad Premium Outlets.

Carlsbad, CA | Google Map It

23. The Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve in Lancaster

Another great day trip in Los Angeles during the Spring is Antelope Valley in Lancaster. Poppies and wildflowers sprout across the hills and fields, making it a beautiful scenic drive.

You can plan to visit the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve in the Spring, especially if there is a super bloom. It’s a great way to spend the day with friends and family. Get your comfy shoes ready to hike trails and get your fill of the poppy season.

And every year, towards the end of the poppy season, Lancaster has a Poppy Festival filled with many fun activities, food stands, artistry, and other entertainment. It’s a fun way to spend a day.

Antelope Valley, CA | Google Map It

24. Santa Catalina Island, CA

Ferry: 1 hour 30 minutes

Santa Catalina Island is one of California’s channel islands. A quick day trip to Catalina Island is possible with little planning. You won’t get to do or see everything, but you have an exciting day taking ferry rides and exploring some of the island’s offerings.

It’s the closest escape to what will remind you of a Mediterranean village, only on the Pacific coast.

Book a round-trip ticket ferry ride to Avalon from the closest port to you. Book the earliest ferry ride as your departure and the last ferry ride on your return.

Once you arrive…

• You can explore Avalon .
• Spend the day at the beach or rent a cabana at the beach club.
• Go scuba diving.
• Rent a bike or golf cart.
• Take a submarine tour .
• Book a zip-lining adventure.

25. San Francisco

Flight: 1 hour 15 minutes

We mentioned earlier that a day trip to San Francisco in Northern California is possible. It would be a tight schedule, depending on what you plan to do for the day.

You can book the first flight out in the morning and the latest return flight. Or you can stay overnight if you want to do a full 24 hours and take a morning flight out the next day.

Our friends woke up one morning and decided to take a 6-hour road trip to San Francisco to see the Golden Gate Bridge. Then they drove back to LA on the same day. This is one of those times that the saying, “the journey is part of the adventure,” applies.

We recommend flying in to get the most out of your day. Prioritize what you’d like to do the most and plan your day. We couldn’t wait to see the Golden Gate Bridge and Fisherman’s Wharf, eat ice cream at Ghiradelli’s, and explore San Francisco’s architecture.

Here are some of the things you can do in San Francisco:

• See and-or walk the Golden Gate Bridge.
• Explore Fisherman’s Wharf and Ghiradelli’s Square.
• Consider booking a tour of Alcatraz.
• Visit the Painted Ladies.
• Eat your way through Little Italy and Chinatown.

Foodie Pick: Sear’s Fine Food for breakfast or brunch. They have the best Swedish mini pancakes and corn beef hash.

26. Pasadena

Drive Time: 20 minutes

While technically in Los Angeles County and a 20-minute ride from Downtown (on a good traffic day), Pasadena is a city in the San Gabriel Mountains. It is a perfect day trip that doesn’t require you to spend hours driving to get to, and it’s filled with plenty to see and do in the City of Roses . You can even make it in time to enjoy brunch in Pasadena .

While we have resided in Pasadena for 8 years now, we continue to make discoveries and enjoy all the foodie eats this city offers.

Everyone usually visits and starts their day in Old Town Pasadena shopping, grabbing a matcha tea at Coffee + Plants , authentic churros at Amara’s Cafe , or brunch at Russell’s – a few of our favorite spots. There is more in this city beyond Old Pasadena that can fulfill not only a day but a series of days of activities.

Here are some ideas of what to do in Pasadena, mix and match to plan your day:

• Plan an Eaton Canyon Falls hike – our local waterfall.
• Explore one of several botanical gardens in Pasadena , including Descanso Gardens , which has holiday events like Carved and Enchanted.
• Spend some time at the Simon Norton Museum .
• Book a walking tour and get to know our local history.
• Visit Dot’s Cafe for cupcakes.
• See the Colorado Street Bridge from Desiderio Neighborhood Park.
• Come for the Rose Bowl Flea Market on the 2nd Sunday of every month.

Top Foodie Pick: There are many fantastic restaurants in Pasadena .

Pasadena, CA | Google Map It

27. Monrovia

Drive Time: 35 minutes

Monrovia is a great city in San Gabriel Valley, not far from Pasadena. Myrtle Avenue in Old Town is so picturesque with mountains as it’s a backdrop and quaint tree-lined street we call it Mayberry USA.

What adds to Monrovia’s charm is the year-round, family-friendly activities and events, from foodie festivals, classic car shows, breakfast with Santa, and much more. Keep up to date with events here . They also have a Friday Street Fair, where families come for a safe family fun night.

What do to with a day in Monrovia?

• Explore Old Town Monrovia and stroll down Myrtle Ave.
• Have a Cuban pastry at Merengues or a Mexican brunch at Cafe de Olla .
• Check out their family street fair and farmer’s market on Friday nights.
• Get a taste of local craft beer at Over Town Brewing Co .

Read more about the fun things to do in Monrovia .

Top Foodie Pick: The Diplomat for some excellent Mediterranean food and cocktails. Check out our list of places to eat in Monrovia .

Monrovia, CA | Google Map It

Los Angeles Day Trips FAQs

Do you need a car to take Los Angeles day trips?

It depends on where you’re going. Some day trips from Los Angeles can be made without a car, such as taking the Amtrak to destinations like Santa Barbara or San Diego. However, having a car can provide more flexibility and allow you to explore more remote areas or take scenic drives.

If you plan to visit multiple attractions in one day, a car can save time and be more convenient.

We highly recommend tourists visiting Los Angeles and looking to make some day trips to rent a car. You’ll need it for day trips and just to get around LA.

What are the must-do day trips from Los Angeles?

If we only had to narrow it down to a few destinations from this list of day trips from Los Angeles, we’d take day trips to Santa Barbara, Newport Beach, La Jolla, and Disneyland.

What island is one hour away from LA?

Catalina Island is a 45-minute ferry ride away from Los Angeles. Many visitors take day trips from Los Angeles to Catalina Island year around.

What city is 3 hours away from Los Angeles?

While not on this list, San Luis Obispo is a popular destination 3 hours from Los Angeles.

What are your favorite day trips from Los Angeles, CA?

If you enjoyed this list, check out some of these related articles:

Best Things to Do in Los Angeles, CA

Fun Theme Parks in Los Angeles, CA

What to See and Do in Downtown LA

Los Angeles in a Day

Meet Kathy Ava, a food, travel, and cruise writer based in Los Angeles/Pasadena, and the owner and main writer of Tasty Itinerary. With over 20 years of experience planning trips and logistics at her full-time job and for herself, she's become a pro at crafting unforgettable tasty itineraries. She's always on the hunt for delicious, fun travel destinations and cruise itineraries. She firmly believes that life is short and we must make the most of it, so always say yes to dessert.

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Loved this. There are so many options to ground on any day. Especially many of these locations can be visited on a trip with kids.

Yes! So many family-friendly activities and day trips. I do believe there is something for everyone here or nearby.

THE 10 BEST Day Trips from Los Angeles

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16. Catalina Island Trip with Zipline Eco Tour and Hotel Transfers

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25. Luxury Small-Group Private Tour For Up To 7 Passengers

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20+ Best Day Trips from Los Angeles, CA (National Parks, Gardens, Beaches and More!)

Looking for ideas for day trips from Los Angeles?

The City of Angels has tons of fun things to do, but if you feel like you want to escape the concrete jungle for a day, you’ll find charming beach towns, lovely lakes, wine country destinations, and dramatic deserts all within day trip distance of LA.

So whether you are looking to laze on a sandy beach, hike a hilltop trail, go rock climbing or birdwatching, savor local wine and food, or enjoy water activities, you can find day trips from LA to suit.

Ready to head out for a day of fun? Here are some epic day trips from Los Angeles to consider!

Joshua Tree National Park

Driving Distance: 131 miles Best Time of Year to Visit: Fall through spring

Arguably the most unique of California’s national parks, Joshua Tree National Park sits on two deserts: the Colorado and the Mojave.

A mecca for outdoor enthusiasts, the park is known for its gigantic masses of boulders and Seussian Joshua trees.

With three beautiful fan palm oases, dark skies made for stargazing, and a number of historical sites harking back to early cattle ranching and mining days in the region, Joshua Tree has something to offer every visitor.

Some links on this page may be affiliate links. If you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. For more details, refer to our disclosure .

There are many exciting things to do in Joshua Tree !

On a first-time day trip, do the scenic drive through the park, plus a few short Joshua Tree hikes (our favorite is the one-mile Hidden Valley Nature Trail , which lets you get up close to the boulders and Joshua trees).

Enjoy a guided tour of Keys Ranch or a visit to Barker Dam , and take in the sunset panoramas from Keys View. Stroll the picturesque Cholla Cactus Garden.

If you have visited before, perhaps you’ll want to do some guided rock climbing, photograph some of Joshua Tree’s epic landscapes, or go mountain biking on dirt roads in the park.

Or try one or two of the more challenging trails in the park, such as the Ryan Mountain hike for impressive panoramic views, or the Lost Horse Mine trail to see what’s left of one of the richest producers in the region.

Pack your cooler with lots of water, snacks, and lunch fixings: food and drinks are not available for purchase inside Joshua Tree National Park.

There are eateries in the towns of Twentynine Palms and Joshua Tree, north of the park.

REad Next The Best Joshua Tree Day Hikes

The huntington botanical gardens.

Driving Distance: 12 miles Best Time to Visit: Any time of year

Enjoy strolling through gorgeous gardens? Just a scant few miles from downtown Los Angeles, you can lose yourself for the day in the beauty of the Huntington botanical gardens in San Marino.

A complex that includes a library and an art museum, The Huntington showcases more than a dozen themed gardens with over 15,000 varieties of plants as well as living collections such as bonsai and orchids, scattered through the grounds.

A must-visit is the Desert Garden, which features one of the world’s biggest collections of cacti and other succulents in an outdoor space. We visit the Desert Garden every time we are at The Huntington, because the collection is so stunning.

Other impressive gardens in the complex include the Japanese Garden with its moon bridge and teahouse, the Chinese Garden with its lake and lovely pavilions, the Shakespeare Garden, where you can look for plants from his plays and sonnets, and, if you visit during bloom, the Rose Garden, which features well over 1,000 varieties.

The Corpse Flower has bloomed at The Huntington several times in the last few years, so if you read about this rare occurrence, plan a visit to see the enormous (albeit stinky) flower!

Picnics and food are not allowed on the grounds, but there are several eateries in the complex , including a Tea Room at the Rose Garden, where you can have afternoon tea (at any time of day).

Big Bear Lake

Driving Distance: 97 miles Best Time to Visit: Any time of year

You’ll find recreational opportunities at Big Bear Lake year round, and the mountain lake, one of the most beautiful lakes in California , is a super popular Southern California resort getaway.

With beautiful leaf color in the fall, wildflowers in the spring, lots of water activities on the lake in the summer, and snow sports in the winter, Big Bear Lake is enticing in every season.

Hiking and mountain biking are popular in the summer. You can pick from a variety of trails of varying length and difficulty. Many trails are scenic and family friendly, and a couple are accessible as well.

And more seasoned hikers will find intermediate and difficult trails like Castle Rock Trail, which features a waterfall in the spring and beautiful leaf colors in the fall.

Get out onto the water in the summer! You can rent a variety of water craft at Big Bear Lake, from pedal boats and kayaks to pontoon boats.

Go stand-up paddleboarding or jet ski! Take a cruise, fish, wakeboard or waterski. There are swim areas at Big Bear Lake as well.

In the winter, Big Bear turns into a snowy wonderland. Go skiing, snowboarding, or snowtubing, or put on snowshoes and go for hikes through the forest. The alpine lake looks beautiful surrounded by snow clad trees.

There are numerous restaurants at Big Bear Lake.

Driving Distance: 120 miles Best Time to Visit: Any time of year

If you have a plan of action and you are willing to focus on two or three things to do, San Diego can make for an exciting day trip from Los Angeles.

Our perfect day out in San Diego consists of a morning spent at Cabrillo National Monument enjoying the beautiful views and doing a bit of tidepooling, afternoon strolls through the gardens at Balboa Park and perhaps a museum or two, and dinner and an evening walk in Little Italy or the Gaslamp Quarter.

You could spend the whole day at Balboa Park: with over a dozen museums and a number of themed gardens (as well as the San Diego Zoo, which could be a day trip by itself), you won’t run out of things to do.

The Botanical Building (and other Balboa Park gardens ) are a must-visit, and strolling the park to admire the beautiful architecture is fun.

The San Diego Harbor is another fabulous place to spend a morning or afternoon.

Do a harbor cruise , visit the fabulous USS Midway Museum (the aircraft carrier is our favorite museum in the city), admire the Star of India at the Maritime Museum of San Diego, and just stroll the waterfront.

Want to experience some of California’s early history? Visit the San Diego Mission, the first ever built by the Spanish missionaries, or visit Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, where you can learn about life as it existed here in the 19th century.

Crystal Cove State Park

Driving Distance: 50 miles Best Time to Visit: Any Time of Year

With more than three miles of beautiful Pacific coastline, more than 2,000 acres of wilderness, and a large offshore underwater area, Crystal Cove State Park is a fabulous destination for a day out from LA.

Moro Beach is a stunning beach where you can walk by the water, take a kayak out, or go bodyboarding or stand-up paddleboarding.

Or take the short trail at Reef Point down to Scotchman’s Cove. Or walk the Pelican Point coastal bluff trail: enjoy the water views and look for wildlife.

There are swim and dive areas at Crystal Cove: Moro Beach and Muddy Creek are excellent swim spots. You will find several tidepooling spots at Crystal Cove as well.

Or bring your wetsuit and go snorkeling or scuba diving in the protected underwater area.

The wilderness at Crystal Cove State Park contains 18 miles of hiking trails, ranging from easy to strenuous. The lower elevation trails wind through woodlands and along the seasonal Moro Creek. If you enjoy birding, bring your binoculars!

The higher elevation hikes offer a great workout. You will be treated to beautiful ocean views and expansive views of the surrounding hills. Enjoy wildflowers in the spring and look for birds and wildlife.

You can also go mountain biking or horseback riding in Crystal Cove State Park.

Pack a picnic lunch to eat on the beach, or eat at The Beachcomber Café in the Historic District.

Temecula Valley

Driving Distance: 85 miles Best Time to Visit: Any time of year

While you will definitely want to go wine tasting at the beautiful vineyards in Temecula Valley, you can enjoy a day out in Temecula even if you aren’t a wine lover.

Visit the beautiful Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve or Vail Lake, where you can hike and look for wildlife and birds. You can also go biking or horseback riding, and, if you arrive before sunrise, you can go ballooning over the valley.

Up for an epic (nearly all day) hiking adventure? Try the Dripping Springs Trail through the Agua Tibia wilderness. The trail is 13.2 miles long, with close to 3,000 feet of elevation gain. Hike it in the spring for wildflowers and in the fall for leaf color.

If you visit on a Saturday, stop by the Old Town Temecula farmers’ market to pick up some goodies: along with fresh fruit, flowers, and veggies, you’ll also find vendors selling prepared foods.

If you visit in the summer, pick up some strawberries to snack on: California farmers’ market strawberries are a truly delectable treat.

Stroll Old Town Temecula. With its beautiful old time decor and ambience, Temecula’s shopping district is a joy to stroll even if you do not want to shop.

Plus, this is the place to have lunch: you will be spoiled for choice here when it comes to great eateries.

If you want some pamper-me time, book an appointment at a spa to close out your day in Temecula.

Spa Pechanga is a luxury spa in a beautiful location offering a range of pampering treatments. GrapeSeed Spa, set in the midst of vineyards, has a heated outdoor saltwater pool…heaven!

Castaic Lake State Recreation Area

Driving Distance: 41 miles Best Time to Visit: Any time of year

One of the largest water reservoirs in the Golden State, Castaic Lake is also a sought-after recreation spot, with lots of activities to enjoy both in and out of the water.

The Upper Lake at Castaic offers two boat ramps. Sailboats are power boats are permitted at the Upper Lake, and you can rent boats. You can also wakeboard or jet ski on the lake. The Lower Lake allows non-motorized boats, kayaks, and canoes.

Fishing is a popular activity at Castaic Lake: it is stocked with trout, catfish, and bass, and you will find a tackle bait shop at the lake. Swim beaches are open at the Lower Lake in the summer. Picnic areas are also available along the shore.

On land, go hiking, horseback riding, or biking on one of the many trails around the lake. Some trails offer fabulous views of the lake from above.

If you enjoy birding, you will definitely want to bring your binoculars: there are several dozen species you can see at Castaic Lake.

Pack a cooler with drinks, snacks, and a picnic lunch and have a fun day at Castaic Lake!

Coronado Island

Driving Distance: 126 miles Best Time to Visit: Any time of year

Set directly across the water from downtown San Diego, Coronado Island is a great day trip choice for quality beach time, with the option to throw in a few other fun activities. I love the drive over the stunning Coronado Bridge!

Coronado Central Beach is known for its gorgeous silver sand and its location close to the historic Hotel Del Coronado. After your time at the beach, snap some photos of the Victorian facade of the hotel and then relax with a drink at the hotel.

Stroll downtown Coronado to view the historic homes: one of the homes you will see belonged to L. Frank Baum, who wrote The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Bayview Park, with its views of the water and the San Diego skyline, is another great place for a stroll.

Take a kayak out onto the water, or go for a bike ride around the island: you’ll find rentals near the ferry landing or in downtown Coronado.

There are many great eateries in Coronado, many featuring fresh seafood. And don’t forget to have ice cream at Moo Creamery before you leave!

Channel Islands National Park

Driving Distance (to Oxnard for ferry): 62 miles Best Time to Visit: Any time of year

One of the lesser visited national parks in California , Channel Islands National Park is known for its rich diversity of flora and fauna, and the opportunity to be in an unspoiled marine environment close to the mainland.

It’s perfect for a day trip from the mainland!

Of course, a visit to Channel Islands National Park requires some advance planning.

You can only get to the islands by ferry from Oxnard or Ventura (Anacapa and Santa Cruz can be visited year round, and Santa Rosa, Santa Barbara, and San Miguel have varying schedules). You can also fly from Camarillo to Santa Rosa Island.

Each island offers unique experiences, and which one you choose depends on your interests. Wildflower viewing, birding, hiking, wildlife viewing, kayaking, snorkeling, and swimming are some of the many activities on offer at Channel Islands.

Hiking is the best way to enjoy the spectacular views the islands offer, along with close looks at the beautiful local flora and fauna.

Hikes range from easy to strenuous, so research what you are comfortable doing before you sign up for a specific island.

There are no services on any of the islands, and a limited supply on the ferry boats. Bring adequate food and drinking water.

Laguna Beach

Driving Distance: 58 miles Best Time to Visit: Any time of year

With seven pristine miles of coastline, Laguna Beach makes for a wonderful beach getaway, but it also offers other opportunities for outdoor exploration.

So if you love a day out in nature, head to Laguna Beach!

Laguna Beach has more than two dozen beaches and coves from which to choose, so you can find the perfect beach for swimming, surfing, snorkeling, diving, stand-up paddleboarding, or tidepooling.

With names like Thousand Steps and Treasure Island, the beaches of Laguna Beach invite exploration and play.

Hiking trails abound in Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, ranging from easy to strenuous. The 3.6-mile round trip Laurel Canyon hike, which leads to a seasonal waterfall, is popular. Enjoy wildflowers in the spring, and look for wildlife!

At the Alta Laguna Park, try one of the trails that start at the Top of the World parking lot, from where you get beautiful water views. If you enjoy mountain biking, there are lots of off-road tracks to explore.

And if you love street art, you will love wandering around the town of Laguna Beach to admire the more than 100 public art installations ranging from murals to sculptures to signs.

Santa Barbara

Driving Distance: 95 miles Best Time to Visit: Any time of year

With its stunning Mediterranean red roofs, beautiful beaches, and great gastronomy scene, Santa Barbara is a popular getaway destination on the Pacific Coast.

You’ll be spoiled for choice on things to do in Santa Barbara on your day trip from LA. Take the elevator to the top of the Clock Tower at the County Courthouse for amazing views in every direction. The interior of the courthouse is beautiful and worth exploring.

Visit the beautiful Santa Barbara Mission, known as the Queen of the Missions because of its beauty.

Walk (or bike) Cabrillo Boulevard, the waterfront boulevard with the super tall palm trees. We walked a bit of it at sunrise: it was a wonderful experience.

Stroll State Street, with its numerous boutiques, cafes, and restaurants. It’s a great place for lunch: we love the pizza at Olio Pizzeria. And of course you must stop for ice cream at McConnell’s.

Paseo Nuovo is a must-visit for a photo on the colorful Spanish steps.

Drive to nearby Montecito and tour the stunning Lotusland gardens (reserve your spot ahead of time). It’s one of the best botanical gardens in California !

Head to Butterfly Beach for some quality beach time to close out your day: sunset is an especially beautiful time to be at this stunning beach.

Have 2 or 3 days to spend in Santa Barbara? Check out our ultimate Santa Barbara weekend itinerary !

Don’t want to drive? Check out this day trip to Santa Barbara from LA by Amtrak train ! You’ll ride the Coast Starlight, enjoying the beautiful scenery en route: the Cascade Mountains, forests, and valleys offer endless vistas.

Union Station in LA is beautiful, a sight in itself.

In Santa Barbara, you’ll visit major sights such as the Santa Barbara Mission, the harbor, and the County Courthouse.

Check price and availability for this Amtrak day trip from LA to Santa Barbara now!

Catalina Island

Driving Distance (to Long Beach for ferry): 24 miles Best Time to Visit: Any time of year

If an island getaway sounds appealing, plan a day trip to Catalina Island!

Lying just over 20 miles off the coast of Southern California, the town of Avalon on Catalina Island can be accessed via an hour-long ferry trip from Long Beach.

On the ferry ride, keep your eyes peeled for whales or dolphins.

Near the ferry landing spot in Avalon, catch the trolley up to the Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden. Or you can rent bikes or a golf cart, or walk up the hill.

The island once belonged to William Wrigley Jr., of chewing gum fame, and the memorial is the centerpiece of the garden.

From the Wrigley Memorial, you get fabulous views of the water. The garden, with its focus on plants endemic to California islands, is a joy to stroll.

Tour the Catalina Casino, which is not a gambling arena but “a gathering place.” Housing a movie theater and a gigantic ballroom, the beautiful Art Deco/Mediterranean Revival building is the most recognizable structure on Catalina Island.

If you enjoy hiking, there are several trails on the island from which to choose. To see the wild buffalo that roam free in the more remote parts of the island, take a helicopter tour.

And of course, you can choose from loads of water activities: go kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding, or take a tour in a semi-submersible.

Mount San Jacinto State Park

Driving Distance: 109 miles Best Time to Visit: Any time of year

Mount San Jacinto is the highest peak in the San Jacinto Mountains. Located in the namesake park, the peak provides a challenge for avid hikers.

The park itself is one of the most spectacular state parks in California and a fabulous day trip destination.

You can arrive at Mount San Jacinto Park by road via the town of Idyllwild, or you can take the aerial tramway from Palm Springs . From the top, you get spectacular panoramic views on clear days.

The high country wilderness area contains a network of trails ranging from easy to strenuous, and you can walk around to enjoy the beautiful scenery all around you.

Look for birds and wildlife, stare in awe at the granite faces of the mountains around you, and enjoy wildflowers in the spring and summer.

For a moderately strenuous uphill hike that allows for stunning views of high country meadows and wildflowers in season, try the 4.3-mile Round Valley Loop.

Hiking permits are required and can be obtained without charge at the ranger station near the tram terminal.

You can hike shorter scenic trails at the top as well. In the winter, you can go snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, and take in the winter wonderland views in the park.

The aerial tram mountain station features a snack bar and a restaurant, but you can also bring a picnic lunch to enjoy at a scenic overlook or one of the picnic areas at the top.

Driving Distance: 112 miles Best Time to Visit: Any time of year

The serene town of Ojai and the surrounding wilderness make for an attractive day trip from LA. Just driving through the Ojai Valley, with its acres of olive trees and citrus orchards, is a lovely experience.

Visit the Ojai Olive Oil Company, to taste the three types of olive oil made from the local trees, along with other olive oils and balsamic vinegars.

If you visit between March and May, taste the ultra-sweet Ojai Pixie, the local tangerine that has its own month: April.

Downtown Ojai is very strollworthy, with cute one-of-a-kind shops. Don’t miss Bart’s Books, which features book cases on its exterior facade.

And you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to picking a place for lunch. For dessert, opt for the strawberry shortcake at Boccali’s!

With the Matilija Wilderness, the Sespe Wilderness, and Lake Casitas all nearby, outdoor recreational opportunities abound. Hike, bike, fish, and enjoy water activities at the lake.

Driving Distance: 33 miles Best Time to Visit: Any time of year

Malibu’s beaches are the stuff of picture postcards…and there are so many from which to choose!

Start early on your day trip to Malibu if you plan to visit during whale migration: early in the day, you are more likely to see them from shore. Plus, watch for dolphins!

If it’s your first visit to Malibu, check out the super popular Zuma Beach, where you can swim and laze on the sand. To explore caves and arches and rocks, head to El Matador State Beach. Point Dume is a popular whale watching spot in season.

Given its plethora of beaches, Malibu is a mecca for all things water sports. Take a surfing lesson, snorkel or scuba dive, go stand-up paddleboarding, or enjoy a whale watching excursion.

Most evenings, you will have the opportunity to photograph blazing skies over the water at sunset.

On land, you’ll find a variety of hiking trails to enjoy. The Solstice Canyon hike is 6 miles round trip, but scenic and shaded.

Along with fabulous water views, you’ll see a small waterfall, and the remains of the oldest stone building in Malibu. Need a more challenging hike? Try the Mishe Mokwa trail to Sandstone Peak.

For a meal to remember, splurge on lunch with a view at Nobu! Want something casual? Try fish and chips at Malibu Seafood!

Santa Ynez Valley

Driving Distance (to Solvang): 128 miles Best Time to Visit: Any time of year

The rolling hills of the Santa Ynez Valley make for a beautiful drive, and the dozens of vineyards in the area offer tastings in an intimate, congenial setting.

With loads to do in the small communities, the Santa Ynez Valley is a fun day trip from LA any time of year.

In Solvang , stroll the streets to gawk at the giant windmills and Danish architecture. Visit the Old Mission, established by Spanish missionaries in 1804. Stop in at one of the many Danish bakeries for some sweet treats.

In Buellton, visit the Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden and taste Andersen’s famous split pea soup. Buellton is also famous for its moonshine!

In Ballard, snap a photo of the Little Red Schoolhouse, in daily use since 1883! Santa Ynez , Los Alamos, and Los Olivos offer excellent wine tasting and great eateries.

Lake Cachuma offers the opportunity for boating and fishing.

Go horseback riding, join a bike tour, or hike one of the many beautiful trails in the area. The Santa Ynez Falls trail is a 2.5-mile out and back trail that leads to a beautiful waterfall. In spring and early summer, you’ll see lots of wildflowers.

The Santa Ynez Valley boasts a number of lauded eateries featuring local in-season ingredients.

Palm Springs

Driving Distance: 107 miles Best Time to Visit: Fall through spring

Long a getaway to Hollywood stars and celebs, Palm Springs is still a great desert day trip destination.

With a multitude of resorts, spas, and golf courses, Palm Springs is the place to go for a relaxing day out, but it also offers lots of choices for an active break.

If you are a first-time visitor to the city, tour its mid-century modern architectural gems. You can obtain a map at the visitor center to do a self-guided tour.

Love desert gardens? The Moorten Botanical Garden features lots of cacti and other succulents.

Stroll Palm Canyon Boulevard, with its many shops, art galleries, and restaurants. Check out the Walk of Stars, where you’ll find golden palm stars honoring a number of luminaries. The Museum of Modern Art houses an impressive collection.

If you enjoy hiking, head to Indian Canyons: the Murray Canyon trail is 3.7 miles out and back, and leads to a lovely waterfall.

The 2-mile Andreas Canyon trail is also beautiful: it follows a stream and features wildflowers in season. A little ways out of the city, the Coachella Valley Preserve offers a number of hiking trails.

Lounging by the pool is de rigueur when you visit Palm Springs. Get a vacation rental with pool access, or pick one of the many resorts in the area.

Planning more than one day in palm Springs? Check out our itinerary for 3 days in Palm Springs !

Torrey Pines State Reserve And La Jolla

Driving Distance: 105 miles Best Time to Visit: Any time of year

La Jolla and Torrey Pines State Reserve make for a wonderful day trip from LA, with stunning scenery, great eateries, lots of fun shops, and beautiful beaches.

Stroll La Jolla Village Square, with its many boutique stores and art galleries. Walk the cliffs above La Jolla Cove to watch the sea lions and seals. You’ll see lots of sea birds on the cliffs as well. The cove is a great place to swim, scuba dive, or snorkel.

The stunningly beautiful Torrey Pines State Reserve protects the Torrey pine tree, an endangered and rare species of pine that only grows in this reserve and on Santa Rosa Island off the coast of California.

The Reserve features eight miles of trails of varying lengths and difficulty. The Razor Point Trail, about 1.7 miles round trip, offers stunning views of badlands, and ends at a lookout with fabulous water views.

Be sure to hike the easy Guy Fleming Trail, a 0.7 mile loop that offers spectacular water views. Enjoy wildflowers in the spring and possible whale sightings in season. Bring your binoculars and look for birds!

Anza-Borrego State Park

Driving Distance: 151 miles Best Time to Visit: Fall through spring

One of our favorite California state parks, Anza-Borrego State Park features dramatic desert vistas, very cool slot canyons, and lots of interesting flora and fauna.

If it’s your first time, start your visit in Borrego Springs, a town that is completely surrounded by the park.

At the Borrego Springs Visitor Center, you can walk an interpretive trail through the desert garden to familiarize yourself with local plants.

Don’t miss the sculpture of the Aiolornis incredibilis , an extinct bird (found here among other places) that was 4 feet in height!

There are over 100 miles of trails at Anza-Borrego , so you have a wide choice when it comes to hiking.

The Palm Canyon Trail, which starts near Borrego Springs, is the most popular hiking route in the park. Keep your eyes peeled for bighorn sheep and check out the pupfish pond at the start of the trail.

There are scenic driving routes through the park, some through unpaved roads, and you can also go biking. If you enjoy photography, you will want to seek out the enormous metal sculptures of prehistoric creatures by Ricardo Breceda.

Spring is an especially popular time to visit Anza-Borrego, because of wildflower bloom. If the preceding winter was wet, expect carpets of pink, purple, white, and yellow: it’s a spectacle you will not soon forget!

The Getty Villa

Driving Distance: 21 miles Best Time to Visit: Any time of year

If you are looking to spend your day out in the midst of fabulous art, architecture, and gardens, head to the Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades!

The Getty Villa was built to look exactly like the Villa dei Papiri, a noble residence from the first century A.D.

The original villa stood in the ill-fated town of Herculaneum, buried by the eruption of Vesuvius. You will be awed by the beautiful facade, with its graceful white columns, and the rich detail inside.

Tour the fabulous art collection in the villa: its emphasis is on Greek and Roman antiquities from the Stone Age until the fall of the Roman Empire, and you’ll see sculptures, glass, and jewelry.

The gardens at the Getty Villa are my favorite reason to visit. If you enjoy plants and gardens, you can spend hours admiring the gardens here.

With several hundred varieties of Mediterranean plants, an herb garden, sculptures, frescoes, and water features, the gardens are a joy to stroll.

You can wander the gardens on your own, but you can also take a guided tour to learn as you walk. Don’t miss the little East Garden with its exquisite fountains and tranquil ambience.

There is a cafe on-site that serves Mediterranean fare. You can also enjoy afternoon tea, inspired by the fruits, vegetables, and herbs grown in the villa gardens.

San Gabriel Mountains National Monument and Angeles National Forest

Driving Distance: 51 miles Best Time to Visit: Any time of year

Encompassing all kinds of terrain from mountains to forest, the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument and Angeles National Forest offer a huge natural playground for outdoor enthusiasts.

Drive the Angeles Crest Scenic Byway, a 60+ mile drive offering superb vistas of mountains, valleys, and forests. It’s one of the most scenic drives in California ! On weekends, you can take a guided tour of the historic Mount Wilson Observatory.

You can also drive to Mt. Baldy, the 10,064-foot peak that looms over the landscape. In the winter, the Mount Baldy Resort offers skiing and snow play.

In the summer, you can take the ski lift to the top and hike the epic 6.6 mile round trip trail to the summit.

There are numerous hiking trails in the Angeles National Forest, of varying lengths and difficulty levels. The epic Pacific Crest Trail passes through the forest. You can also go biking or horse riding.

Jackson Lake, near Wrightwood, offers fishing opportunities. You can also take a canoe or kayak out onto the water. Picnic spots are available, and you can hike around the lake as well.

Pack a cooler with food, snacks, and drinks: there are lots of picnic sites perfect for a meal in nature.

Huntington Beach

It goes without saying that Surf City USA is where you’d want to go if you love to surf. The almost 10-mile long sandy beach at Huntington Beach is a super popular surfing destination.

But there are other fun things to do in Huntington Beach besides surfing. The Huntington Beach Pier, one of the longest on the West Coast at 1,850 feet, is a must-visit, especially if you enjoy sunset photography.

If you enjoy birding, a visit to the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve should definitely be part of your day trip itinerary for Huntington Beach: more than 200 species have been spotted here.

Walk the trails through the reserve and be sure to bring your binoculars.

Shipley Nature Center, inside Huntington Central Park, is another awesome place to explore if you love plants and nature. With redwood trees, wetlands, meadows, and themed gardens, the 18-acre oasis is a great place to spot wildlife and birds.

Did you know you can go for a sunset gondola ride in Huntington Beach? Cruise the calm canals and inlets in Huntington Harbor in an authentic Venetian gondola piloted by an experienced gondolier. You bring the wine or champagne, they provide blankets, ice, and glasses!

Stroll Old World Village, with its cobblestone streets and myriad boutique shops and restaurants. Downtown Huntington Beach is another great option if you enjoy retail therapy.

Did you find this article informative? Pin it for later reference!

Dhara loves to explore her home state of California. With her husband Kishore, she has done numerous road trips in the state in every season. She hopes to share her love of the Golden State with you, and help you find your own exciting experiences here.

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30 Best Day Trips From Los Angeles

If you live in Los Angeles or just visiting the City of Angels and want to get out of the city, there are a lot of amazing day trip options.

Just so we're on the same page, we're not counting LA neighborhoods as day trips out. Santa Monica, Venice Beach , Culver City and Pasadena are great places to go but don't quite achieve the objective of getting out of the city, so we'll focus on actual day trips from Los Angeles.

If you're after a longer trip that might cover a weekend, a week or even longer, check out our list of the best road trips from Los Angeles instead.

Given the sprawl of L.A., it was somewhat of a challenge to define exactly where we're counting the starting point to be and to make things simple I've gone for the City Hall. If you're in different parts of Los Angeles, some of the timings and distances can be quite different.

Our day trips include some of California's finest beaches, historic towns, drives into the desert and up mountains, kid-friendly trips and theme parks - we hope you find something you like!

We've put together our list of the 30 best day trips from Los Angeles ordered by the time it will take you to get there.

1. Spend the day at Knott's Berry Farm

30 minutes from Los Angeles (22 miles)

Knott's Berry Farm is only about 30 minutes from Los Angeles in Buena Park. What started as a small roadside berry stand along State Route 39 in the 1920s.

From there it slowly developed to add a restaurant, visitor entertainment, cafe, rides and before you know it, there's 4 million visitors a year and 40 spectacular rides making it one of the most popular theme parks in the United States.

While there are a few roller coasters, Knott's Berry Farm is family friendly with lots of attractions for all ages including classics like a swinging pirate ship and a 100-year old carousel as well as Camp Snoopy which is an entire area with children's rides.

If you are a thrill seeker, there are some amazing rides here. Montezuma's Revenge is the only remaining Schwarzkopf Shuttle Loop coaster in North America and one of only 5 left in the world (interestingly exactly 1 exists on every continent except Australia).

This coaster launches at 60 mph and passes through a loop before stalling at the top of a tall vertical section before heading back in reverse through the same loop.

2. Discover the magic of Disneyland Park in Anaheim

35 minutes from Los Angeles (26 miles)

If you are in L.A. and you haven't visited Disneyland, the obvious question is why not?

If you have kids, you absolutely have to go to the original Disneyland that came before Florida Paris and the other parks built around the world. If you don't have kids, I bet you still want to go and you should!

The rides may not be as exhilarating as Knott's Berry Farm or Magic Mountain (above and below in this list), but the atmosphere, Disney characters all over the park and the original Sleeping Beauty Castle are something you've got to see at least once in your life.

California's Disneyland can get busy, especially during the summer and at weekends. It's a good idea to book your tickets online before you come and drive down early before the rush hour starts. The park opens at 10 a.m. on most days although sometimes only opens its doors at 9 - check the schedule before you head over.

There are some great cafes and restaurants where you can pick up breakfast and you save a lot of time not having to queue.

Make sure you stay late and grab dinner in Disneyland. The evenings have amazing shows and fireworks at 9 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. - the last one usually a sign it's time to head for the exit if you've made it that far into the night!

3. Get an adrenaline rush at Six Flags Magic Mountain

45 minutes from Los Angeles (35 miles)

To close off our inadvertent theme park section, the Santa Clarita edition of the Six Flags is the Magic Mountain and if you are a thrill seeker, this is the place to come.

There are 19 roller coasters in the park as well as other kinds of rides, activities, places to eat and stroll. This is more than any other theme park in the world which is some feat.

Although some of the older coasters are gradually making way, they keep adding new ones with the West Coast Racers coaster being added in January 2020. It's one of only a handful in the world that has a Möbius loop section.

If it takes you just 20 minutes to walk to, queue up, go on the ride and get off it, it will take you 6 and a half hours just to ride each roller coaster once - should be more than enough for a day trip!

Tickets can be pretty reasonable if you book online in advance with rates below $50 per person, although expect to pay double if you pay on the day. Season tickets bough early are a great option if you're going to be going at least twice.

4. Go to Surf City at Huntington Beach

50 minutes from Los Angeles (36 miles)

Huntington Beach is just south of Los Angeles and not far from Laguna Beach a few miles further south down the coast (#6 below) and the towns of San Juan Capistrano (#10) and San Clemente (#12).

If you want to have a busy day, you can pack all 4 in, but I'd split them up into separate trips and make the most of a lazy day watching the waves roll in.

Huntington Beach trademarked its moniker of Surf City USA after a legal battle with Santa Cruz in Northern California. Hence, if you're into surfing or just enjoy the ocean waves, this might just be the right place to come!

Huntington Beach is simpler and less fancy than its Laguna Beach neighbor - you get 10 miles of perfect sand, a long pier that stretches into the sea and a few places to eat and relax.

If you're after art galleries, posing for photos or celebrity spotting in nice restaurants, then keep on driving south for another 10 minutes.

5. Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park

50 minutes from Los Angeles (44 miles)

Vasquez Rocks is the place to come if you want to get out into nature without straying too far from Los Angeles or if you're a serious movie buff and want to see the famous location.

Vasquez Rocks is a short drive north from L.A., past Santa Clarita and is on the edge of Angeles National Forest and Antelope Valley.

The Rocks are not the biggest, but the formation has such a unique look, that Hollywood producers have used it in some of the biggest movies of all time. We're talking Star Trek, Planet of the Apes, Zorro, The Flintstones and the A-Team TV series.

If you look hard enough, the rocks have made cameo appearances in a crazy number of other movies where you might struggle to remember the scene. Jingle All The Way, Austin Powers and John Carter are just some of the dozens of movies that filmed here.

If you're a fan of TV series, I think it's pretty hard to name one that didn't film here. Lassie? Yep. 24? Of course! It's near L.A.! C.S.I, The Lone Ranger and even Power Rangers all used it (I think you can probably remember some of them)!

A visitor center will tell you a bit about the local area, the way the rocks were formed to look like everything from Tibet to other planets and give you an insight into the hundreds if not thousands of adverts that continue using the location all the time.

6. Visit the iconic Laguna Beach in Orange County

1 hour from Los Angeles (50 miles)

Laguna Beach is one of the most famous beaches in California. In fact, it's not just one beach but a long stretch of the coast that has different kind of beaches from white sand to rocky coves for you to explore.

Laguna Main Beach is known for being a lot more than just a beach. The arts scene has become a big deal here and there are a number of art galleries and shops where you can look at and purchase pieces by local artists.

Be careful though - as the reputation has grown, there are a number of crazy priced places in town making the most of the price insensitive visitors. You can still find the great local craftsmen, but you'll need to look around.

Even if you're not into art, a walk through the downtown area is great - it's a relaxed small town with pretty buildings and you can sip a drink sitting in the sun at one of the cafes watching the world go by.

Make sure you do find the tide pools in the rocky coves as well as relaxing on the wide sand beaches. Treasure Island (in the picture) is the best place to see some sea creatures, but remember not to touch them or move them - these are delicate coastal ecosystems so leave them be.

Please check our comprehensive guide out to learn more:

READ MORE - Our Guide to Laguna Main Beach

7. Hike in the Santa Monica Mountains

1 hour from Los Angeles (34 miles)

Santa Monica Mountains sit along the coast of California roughly covering the area north of the Malibu coastline.

If you are in L.A. and want to go on a hike, this is the closest option and there are hiking routes for all levels that can take anything from 20 minutes to more than you can cover in a day.

Although the mountains are only just over 30 miles from downtown Los Angeles, it will take you about an hour on average to break through the traffic and get out of the city, but once you get here, it will feel very different to the busy highways!

There is plenty of parking available and even on busier days, you shouldn't have a problem finding a spot and going for a stroll. Bring your dog with you if you have one - you'll notice that at least half of the people you'll come across do so.

As you go higher up, views across the mountains open up and you'll see the Pacific ocean stretching to the horizon.

There are over 500 miles of trails in the mountains and although you are highly unlikely to actually see any animals, the mountains are home to coyotes, bobcats and even mountain lions so keep your eyes peeled and you might be lucky to see one.

8. San Gabriel Mountains National Monument in the Angeles National Forest

1 hour 5 minutes from Los Angeles (50 miles)

The San Gabriel Mountains are hard to miss if you are in Los Angeles - they are the big mountain peaks that provide the backdrop to the city and can be seen from most neighborhoods.

Thse mountains don't only provide the natural boundary to the metro area but also supply drinking water for the city and are a perfect place to go hiking.

The Mountains were declared a National Monument by President Obama in 2014 to protect the city from expanding into and beyond the mountains, protecting its plants and the natural habitat for many different animal species.

The mountains reportedly have over 300 plant species that are endemic to the area and grow nowhere else in the world.

The San Gabriel Mountains have a few sights worth seeing on your day trip. If you are a hardy hiker, you can go find the Bridge To Nowhere in the Sheep Mountain Wilderness. The bridge was built as part of a road construction project in the 30s that was abandoned 2 years later and mysteriously leads to precisely nowhere at all.

Mount San Antonio, also known as Mount Baldy is the tallest peak in the range and there is a choice of different hiking routes that can take you to the top including the well known Devils Backbone.

For those who like to cheat to get their views, a ski lift can take you up to the Top of the Notch Restaurant, which at 7,300 feet is still almost 3,000 feet below Mt. San Antonio's peak. Although you cut the hike considerably, it's still over 6 miles to get up there, but the views from Top of the Notch are... top notch enough.

9. Relax on the beaches of Malibu

1 hour 10 minutes from Los Angeles (33 miles)

Malibu is a long stretch of some of the best beaches you will see anywhere in the world along the Pacific Coast Highway starting shortly after you pass Santa Monica and the Pacific Palisades.

Malibu is often associated with the seaside villas of the rich and famous, but there is a lot more to this place than that.

The beaches are varied and although Malibu is very popular with Angelenos at weekends, if you drive another 10 to 20 minutes along the coast, you'll find plenty of spots with far fewer people.

Head for the El Matador State Beach to find secluded coves that are far enough away to be surprisingly empty and perfect for spending the day.

If you want to do something other than lying on the beach, the Santa Monica Mountains are right behind you and offer unlimited hiking opportunities (see #7 above).

Alternatively, you can go visit one of the local wineries. Malibu is one of a small number of places in the world with the Mild Mediterranean climate type which apparently is perfect for vineyards, so although this is not Napa or Sonoma, you may be surprised by what you find.

10. See Southern California's history at San Juan Capistrano

1 hour 10 minutes from Los Angeles (55 miles)

The Mission of San Juan Capistrano is south of Los Angeles, just over an hour along the I-5. Dating back to 1776, many of the Mission's buildings date back to the 18th and early 19th centuries making it an amazing day trip from L.A.

Most of the buildings belonging to the Mission are open to visitors including the chapel, the Mission Basilica and a special museum.

Make sure you check out the small town around the Mission as well. It grew at roughly the same time and the Los Rios Historic District has a few homes and shops that date back to the 1700s!

To make more of the day, you can visit San Juan Capistrano in the morning and then go to Laguna Beach (#6 above) to grab some lunch and spend the afternoon watching the waves roll in or exploring the tide pools at Treasure Island.

Another option is to head a few minutes further south to San Clemente (#12 below) and grab a bite to eat right by the pier.

11. Make time go slow on Balboa Island in Newport Beach

1 hour 10 minutes from Los Angeles (45 miles)

A short drive south from Los Angeles is the city of Newport Beach and in the Newport Bay there is a small man-made island called Balboa.

After you get to Newport Beach you can explore the famous beach here before traveling to Balboa Island.

Instead of getting your car onto the island via the small bridge or the 3-car ferry, park up and catch the ferry ride on foot instead to save time, money and make it a lot easier once you are on the island.

The boardwalk around the perimeter of the island is about 2 miles long and great for gentle stroll. Then head to Marine Avenue (where the bridge from Newport meets the island) and have lunch at one of the many amazing restaurants.

With the houses having a classic feel to them, the eerily perfect street layout, quaint shops and restaurants, Balboa Island has a certain Truman Show vibe about it - you'll know what I mean when you get there!

If you get here early, you might not want to spend the whole day on Balboa Island. The good news is that Laguna Beach (#6 above) and Huntington Beach (#4) are both great options for an afternoon by the sea to complete the perfect day trip.

12. Spend the day by the ocean in San Clemente

1 hour 15 minutes from Los Angeles (62 miles)

Just when you thought we like our beaches a little too much, we thought we'd add another option to the list. Don't worry though - this is the last of the beaches on our list, but beaches really are one of the best road trip options from L.A. so here we go.

San Clemente is a relaxed seaside town further down the coast from Laguna Beach and just after you pass the turning to San Juan Capistrano (#10 above) at Dana Point.

In fact, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano go hand in hand if you want to combine the two trips - my tip is to head to the Mission and Historic District in the morning before the tourist crowds get there and then head to the beach to relax in the afternoon.

Unlike Huntington and Laguna Beach, San Clemente is a little more relaxed and less busy. It's far enough from Los Angeles and San Diego that city dwellers getting out to lie on the sand go for closer options.

The The San Clemente Pier is the main attraction and the beach near it is the best place to relax. The Fisherman's Restaurant right by the pier is very good and you can enjoy some fish overlooking it - one of the better ways to do lunch!

If you want to do something other than lazing around, there is a culture and local history museum a little up the hill called Casa Romantica. You get decent views when you get up there and the gardens around the museum are included in the ticket price.

13. Learn about California's history at the Fort Tejon State Historic Park

1 hour 15 minutes from Los Angeles (75 miles)

Fort Tejon is a historic military fort in the Grapevine Canyon that was established in 1854 as a defence hub and garrison protecting the new California settlements from Indian raids.

Although the fort was only occupied for 10 years, it has recently been restored to show what life in the fort and this part of California in general was like in the 1850s and 1860s.

The fort has actors that aim to help you explore the history in a more interactive way. You'll find U.S. Army soldiers, a carpenter, blacksmith, servants and laborers who will try to make you feel like you have stepped back in time.

Although there is a lot to see here, you'll notice there are relatively few visitors to the fort. Tickets only cost a nominal fee of $6 per vehicle before discounts.

Although it's a bit of a detour, the Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park is a good stop on the way up to or back from Fort Tejon to make more of the day.

You can head east from the Fort and drive down through the Antelope Valley (see #14 below) - Vasquez Rocks will be right on the way back to Los Angeles from there.

14. Walk through the California Poppy hills in Antelope Valley

1 hour 20 minutes from Los Angeles (79 miles)

Antelope Valley sits on the western edge of the Mojave desert to the north of San Gabriel Mountains.

The valley is best known for the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve which is a relatively short drive out of the city and if you're planning a day trip from Los Angeles in March or April, this should be top of your list.

The bright orange poppies and other wild flowers come into bloom in early March and stay bright through to late April and sometimes into the first week of May.

The reserve has 3.3 mile South and North Loop trails that take you across the hills that are completely covered in the wildflowers.

Because of the narrow window when visitors flock here for the flowers, expect it to be relatively busy, especially at weekends.

Make sure you stick to the trails and don't pick the flowers. Not only is it illegal in California to pick wildflowers on State property, the Mojave green rattlesnakes live in the undergrowth so keep your hands away!

15. Visit the small town of Oxnard

1 hour 25 minutes from Los Angeles (62 miles)

Many people won't think of Oxnard as a good day trip option from Los Angeles and drive straight through on their way to Ventura and the Channel Islands (see #29 below), Santa Barbara (#19) or further afield.

But Oxnard is a great place to come for the day - it's less than 90 minutes from downtown L.A. and you can stop off en route anywhere along the Malibu beaches as a bonus.

There is not 1 but 4 main reasons to visit Oxnard: Classic cars, local wine, watching whales and other sea creatures and the Strawberry Festival.

For those who like their cars to be older than themselves, Oxnard has two amazing classic car museums. The Mullin Automotive Museum has some spectacular cars from the 1920s, 30s and 40s. The world's most expensive car, the 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic is in the museum as one of only 3 surviving models from 4 that were ever made!

For the muscle car fans, the Murphy Auto Museum has some of the best Detroit had to offer in the 60s and 70s, but the museum is only open at weekends so plan your day trip accordingly.

Oxnard is also home to 3 wineries including the world's largest Kosher winery which also serves up a great lunch - the Herzog Wine Cellars. You might want to opt for staying over or pick straws for who will be the designated driver!

The Strawberry Festival happens over a weekend in the middle of May and is one of the largest festivals in Southern California. There are dozens of food booths, endless arts and crafts stalls, fairground rides and every kind of strawberry food and drink for you to try.

16. Relive your childhood at Legoland in Carlsbad

1 hour 30 minutes from Los Angeles (90 miles)

Legoland in Carlsbad was the first to open outside Europe and has been in California for over 20 years.

It's the perfect place to come as a family with younger kids - there are endless Lego-based things to do and activities and a selection of amazing things built out of Lego including some of the world's most famous landmarks and cities.

Coming in the summer is best as the park's water rides are one of the best features although there are over 60 rides in the theme park offering something for everyone and a lot more value than just the Lego entertainment.

The hours vary day to day and across seasons, so be careful to check before coming to make sure you don't arrive 2 hours before it opens!

Don't miss the Sea Life Aquarium which is located inside. There are a lot of sea creatures and large tanks that come complete with Lego-themed touches and figures.

After your visit, spend an hour or two in Carlsbad itself. The town is often overlooked, but it's worth taking a walk through the streets and grabbing a coffee before heading back to Los Angeles.

17. See the Cabazon Dinosaurs

1 hour 30 minutes from Los Angeles (91 miles)

While we're on the kids entertainment theme, let's mention the Cabazon Dinosaurs.

You probably have never heard of them, but these life-sized dinosaurs stand just off the I-10 on the way to Palm Springs and pretty hard to miss from the highway.

It's easy to come off the Interstate and park up and coming up and close to the dinosaurs is free. There's a few fast food outlets where you can make your children's day even more perfect.

Don't forget that you can climb up inside two of the dinosaurs to have a look around and visit a gift shop to get a t-shirt or a T-Rex toy!

Given you're driving this far and the fact that you won't want to spend much longer than an hour taking a look at the dinosaurs, you can combine the trip with either Palm Springs (20 minutes further down the road - #20 below) or a hike in the San Gorgonio Wilderness (#25) to make more of the drive.

18. Wine tasting in Temecula Valley

1 hour 30 minutes from Los Angeles (85 miles)

When people think of Californian wine, the northern regions of Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino and White River will usually first come to mind. But these are a good 7 hours' drive from Los Angeles.

Luckily enough, the Temecula Valley is much closer, relatively unknown and has a surprisingly large variety of very good vineyards so if you want to do some wine tasting and bring some bottles home, head to Temecula Valley, about 90 minutes southeast of L.A.

There are over 40 wineries in the region with spectacular locations complete with mountain backdrops to the neat rows of grape vines.

To make the most of it, you might want to stay the night and enjoy the wine tasting without having to have a designated driver. Old Town Temecula is well worth a visit too - there's a lot of local boutique shops, places you can buy local wine or drink it while listening to live music.

19. Escape to Santa Barbara & Montecito

1 hour 40 minutes from Los Angeles (95 miles)

Under 2 hours up the coast from Los Angeles is the city of Santa Barbara. The busy highways running through Los Angeles and the downtown skyscrapers are swapped for a relaxed cafe culture and red roof tiles.

Santa Barbara is famous as an amazing place to live - the coastal weather is near-perfect, the charming streets and local focus on the outdoors and health has brought many of Hollywood's rich and famous to make Santa Barbara their home.

If you want to a cultural sight on your way around, Mission Santa Barbara is a Franciscan mission dating back to 1786 that is open to visitors.

Montecito is a small town just outside Santa Barbara right on the edge of the towering mountains of the Los Padres National Forest. Where Santa Barbara attracts the wealthy, Montecito is where the super wealthy, the likes of Oprah and Brad Pitt, call home.

If you want to get a feel for what it's like to live here, the Casa del Herrero is an open house museum in town.

20. Palm Springs - the oasis in the middle of a desert

1 hour 45 minutes from Los Angeles (107 miles)

Palm Springs is somewhat of an anomaly. The town with lush green lawns, golf courses, water features, ponds and palm trees sits right in the middle of a hot and inhospitable desert with the mountains of Mt. San Jacinto State Park on one side and Joshua Tree National Park on the other.

If you want to spend a day relaxing in a spa, playing a round of golf (not in the summer!) or going up to the peak of Mt. San Jacinto in a rotating gondola of the Aerial Tramway, then Palm Springs is where you should be headed.

Remember that summer in the desert is hot. I'm talking average daily highs in the 100s (over 40 °C) so you won't want to spend too much time outside and jump from one air-conditioned environment and into another.

A lot of the architecture of Palm Springs goes back to the time it rose to prominence as a place to party in the 50s and 60s. The modernist houses with sharp square angles give the city its unique look and a feel of retro chic.

21. Spend the day at a retreat in Ojai

1 hour 45 minutes from Los Angeles (81 miles)

The Ojai Valley is between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, tucked away below the mountains north of Ventura.

It has become increasingly popular with L.A. residents in the know as the place to escape the city at the weekend for some downtime, relaxing stone massages and walking through fruit orchards.

The town of Ojai has adopted the health and wellness trend and the restaurants here will have a great selection for any diet whether you're vegan, on a paleo, keto or any other diet.

The hotels in Ojai can be pretty expensive even if you're going for the lower end of the spectrum so a day trip to unwind and recharge your batteries is a good way to experience it on a budget.

If you do stay over though, make sure you try a local wine and pop into town to see quirky little shops selling home decorations and vintage clothing. There's a definite hipster vibe about the place!

22. Unwind for the day on Santa Catalina Island

2 hours from Los Angeles (24 miles to San Pedro + a ferry)

Getting to Santa Catalina Island from L.A. is reasonably straight-forward. You'll need to drive to either Long Beach or San Pedro to catch one of the fast ferries over to the island. You'll need to leave your car behind - you won't need it on the island!

The drive down will take an hour, the ferry usually takes a bit over an hour and you'll need to account for the time to park up, get your ticket and board the ferry. Although it's a 2 hour journey, you'll be relaxing for most of it and not sat behind the steering wheel.

Santa Catalina Island is all about walking and seeing the beautiful nature. Surrounded by rocky cliffs, there are a few shipwrecks you can explore and spot flying fish, seals and sea lions.

The island also has its own herd of bison that roam around the island. 14 of them were brought here for a movie shoot in 1924 and then abandoned on the island to save cost.

The bison scene was cut from the final movie, but now you get the pleasure of watching the magnificent animals in their adopted home.

The port of Avalon where the ferry comes and goes from is the perfect place to get some lunch and enjoy views of the marina, surrounded by the island's hills. Time your visit so that you eat there when you arrive or just before boarding!

23. Head for Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear Lake

2 hours from Los Angeles (100 miles)

Lake Arrowhead and the Big Bear Lake are a 2 hour drive east from Los Angeles into the San Bernardino National Forest.

The two lakes are only 15 miles apart, but the mountainous twisty roads mean it'll take you an hour to drive from one to the other. And that's assuming you're not going in the winter!

Big Bear Lake is the further of the two and is all about staying active. You can spend the day kayaking, paddling or boating on the lake during the summer or go skiing in Snow Mountain and Bear Mountain ski resorts during the cold winter months.

Lake Arrowhead is very different - almost the entire shoreline of the lake is privately owned and the Lake Arrowhead Village has a more upscale feel than the resort type vibe of Big Bear Lake.

Lake Arrowhead is also lower down which means it is not as snowy and cold in the winter. If you want to go to a retreat in a pine forest, enjoy a few hours in a spa and have a fancy dinner to end the day, Lake Arrowhead is the place to go.

24. San Diego and La Jolla

2 hours from Los Angeles (120 miles)

The other big city in Southern California is only 2 hours down the coast so you can easily explore the main sights and walk through some of the neighborhoods on a day trip from L.A.

As it is known for having one of the least seasonal climates in the United States, San Diego is perfect to visit all year round .

The heart of San Diego is the Gaslamp neighborhood - this is where you can sit in the restaurants, bars and cafes in the evening catching the relaxing sea breeze.

La Jolla is a neighborhood just to the north of downtown San Diego. It's known for its wealthy residents and fancy restaurants, but also for the sea lions who have made La Jolla Cove their home and can be seen there most of the time.

Other than the famous San Diego Zoo, I wouldn't spend too much time visiting museums and staying indoors. Two of the best activities are riding the traditional red trolleys and trying the fish taco street food - the zesty salad and avocado are worth skipping lunch for!

25. Oak Glen and the San Gorgonio Wilderness

2 hours from Los Angeles (98 miles)

Oak Glen is a small village about 90 minutes from downtown L.A. that is known for being mad about apples.

Naturally enough, the best time to visit is during the apple harvest season in September and October. The fall season in California may not be full of golden and red leaves but this is a great place to come to get that autumnal feeling.

You can buy a U-pick bag for the day and walk through the apple orchards picking your apples or head straight to the Oak Tree Village which is full of shops, entertainment and all things apple-themed right down to cider!

After you've picked your apples, you can drive another half an hour to the San Gorgonio Wilderness. This mountainous protected area is on the edge of the San Bernardino National Forest around the San Gorgonio Mountain peak.

You'll need to get a free wilderness permit before coming - you can get them online from the National Forest management.

Most of the wilderness is located at above 7,000 feet (2,100 m) and there are two small rivers (creeks to those from outside California) so make sure you come wearing layers as it can get cool up there!

The area has recently been designated as the Sand to Snow National Monument and there are lots of marked hiking trails to follow if you drive over to Forest Falls from Oak Glen to park and find the trail starting points.

26. Joshua Tree National Park

2 hours 20 minutes from Los Angeles (130 miles)

Joshua Tree is the closest National Park to Los Angeles and named after the Joshua tree that grows in southern California and Nevada.

The park is one big desert with lots of hiking trails, over 300 different places you can camp and a few interesting rock formations.

Take care if you plan to visit Joshua Tree in the summer - daily highs average 100 °F (38 °C) and there is little in the way of facilities anywhere in or near the park so bring plenty of drinking water and key necessities with you.

Many of the most popular rocks and trails in Joshua Tree are at the end closes to L.A. The Intersection Rock and Arch Rock formations are only a few miles apart and Skull Rock is in-between.

There are some easy trails in the area - the popular Hidden Valley Trail is only about a mile long starting at Intersection Rock and you can drive up to Keys View which is the highest point in the park offering views of the mountains and Coachella Valley.

27. Explore the Danish village of Solvang, California

Solvang is a village that was originally founded by a group of Danish settlers and it has remained so incredibly Danish, it's well worth the 2 hour drive from Los Angeles.

The village has traditional Danish-style houses which look distinctly European, 4 windmills and classic Danish shops.

You can go on a tour around Solvang in a tram or one of the horse-drawn carriages. Not that you'll have to go far - the town is pretty small and very walkable.

Aside from seeing the Danish village, Solvang is also home to the Mission Santa Ynez which dates back to 1804 and worth visiting. The Santa Ynez valley has some great wineries as well in case you want to stock up straight from the vineyard before heading back to L.A.

The quirky Danish village has grown in popularity over time which means it can be a little on the touristy end. You might want to spend the morning here if you set off early and then spend the afternoon either driving around the scenic Los Padres National Forest (#30 below) or stop at Santa Barbara and Montecito (#19) or Oxnard (#15) to break up the journey.

28. Go to the place time forgot at Salton Sea

2 hours 30 minutes from Los Angeles (164 miles)

People disagree as to whether Salton Sea is a lake, a kind of inland sea or a man-made reservoir. Bizarrely, it was created accidentally in 1905 when engineers miscalculated their minor diversion of the Colorado River for a local irrigation project.

As the land here was a desert that at one point was covered by seawater, the huge amounts of salt in the ground meant that the lake's water is far from fresh. In fact it has almost twice as much salt as the Pacific Ocean and the salinity is increasing at a rate of 3% per year.

A popular tourist destination in the 1950s, Salton Sea declined sharply in the following decades and today it is fascinating to visit to see the old signs, small ghost towns and abandoned buildings.

If you have time to drive around the lake, one of the sights is the Salvation Mountain - a big mound built by a local resident with large transcriptions of verses from the Bible.

The Borrego Springs Sculptures are a few miles west of Salton Sea and worth the diversion. Just when you thought the place couldn't get any more weird, you'll find giant statues made of metal of things like serpents, flying dinosaurs and elephants in the middle of the desert.

29. Ventura, California and the Channel Islands National Park

2 hours 30 minutes from Los Angeles (68 miles to Ventura + a ferry)

The Channel Islands National Park is just off the coast of California sitting on a chain of 5 major and several smaller islands about 20 miles from Ventura.

The difficulty in getting there means that the Channel Islands hold are the least visited National Park in the United States, but this is a hugely undeserved title and is actually a great reason to visit.

Ventura is about two thirds of the way to Santa Barbara from Los Angeles along the coast and it should take you a little over an hour to get there. From Ventura, you'll need to get on a ferry to the Channel Islands. The nearest group of islands are the Anacapa Islands and it takes about an hour to get there, 2 to get to the much bigger Santa Cruz Island and 3 hours to go all the way to Santa Rosa.

There's not a great deal to see on Anacapa - the small and narrow islands offer great views of the rest of the range from the top of the ridge (in the photo above), but to really explore the area, it's worth getting to Santa Cruz.

Here you'll be able to trek around the island, discover hidden coves and rocky caves where dolphins, flying fish, seals and whales can be spotted in the water and condors and bald eagles roam the skies.

If you're lucky, you might catch a glimpse of the Island Fox which is native to and only lives on the islands.

Be careful to catch the last ferry back to the mainland. There are are limited comforts for staying overnight. There are no hotels or lodging of any kind, no shops and very limited facilities available so be there at boarding time to avoid sleeping in the wind under the stars.

30. Drive up Figueroa Mountain in Los Padres National Forest

3 hours from Los Angeles (143 miles)

Ok. A 3 hour drive from Los Angeles one-way is stretching the definition of a day trip slightly, but there's one good reason why a drive up the Figueroa Mountain made it into the list.

The drive to and up the mountain is the experience. The views as you go up and the perfect driving roads on the way through flowering fields as you can see more and more of the Pacific Ocean is what you come here for.

With the other 29 destinations on our list the thing you see when you get there is the reason to go. So take the day, get in the car and get ready for a mini road trip you'll complete before dinner time!

Figueroa Mountain lies on the edge of the Los Padres National Forest and overlooks the Santa Ynez Valley below. You can get here slightly faster along Highway 101, but if you get on the road half an hour earlier, you can take the scenic route along the coast through Malibu.

Places like Oxnard, Santa Barbara and Montecito are all along the way and further up in our list, so there's plenty of great options for stops for a drink or lunch.

A big sign will greet you when you reach the top saying you're at the Figueroa Lookout and from here you get almost uninterrupted views over the mountains and valleys all the way around!

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48-Hour Itinerary

Day Trips From Los Angeles

The 15 Best Day Trips From Los Angeles

It's easy to fill an itinerary for a Los Angeles vacation, even if you never venture outside the downtown-Hollywood-beach triangle. But one of the best things about LA is its proximity to so many different kinds of destinations from snow-capped mountains to farmland-filled valleys, from artist-attracting deserts to laidback beach towns.

Go beyond the borders of the city proper on one of these day trips—all within a four-hour drive—to dive deeper into California's colorful history.

Joshua Tree: The Woo-Woo Wild West

TripSavvy / Chris VR

The desert destination is known for its Seussian trees, scenery seemingly ripped from an old-timey western, and animal skulls-and-macramé aesthetic. The national park is a huge draw, promising dark skies for stargazing, wildlife viewing, and bouldering. The dusty streets of the nearby towns bring nature lovers, hippies, and hipsters together at artist studios (especially in October during HWY 62 Open Studio Art Tours ), festivals ( Desert X ; Joshua Tree Music Festival ), and at the more trippy attractions like the Integratron , a geodesic dome in which sound baths are performed.

Getting There:  It’s a three-hour drive each way along I-10 and CA-62 (Twenty Nine Palms Highway). Leave long before or after rush hour or you'll spend much, much longer in the car.

Travel Tip:  A trip to the high desert isn’t complete until you pay a visit to the Cabazon dinosaurs as seen in "Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure" while drinking a Hadley's date shake.

Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park: Black History

Ted Streshinsky Photographic Archive/Getty Images

In 1908, Colonel Allen Allensworth, an escaped slave and ordained Baptist minister who retired as the Army's highest-ranking Black officer, and four like-minded peers settled a secluded spot in the Central Valley creating the only California town founded, financed, built, populated, and governed entirely by African Americans. At its peak in the 1920s, Allensworth had about 300 residents, a school district, hotel, and many businesses. Sitting on the original townsite, the state park has several recreated buildings including a school and church and a visitor center with a film to explain what led to the town’s demise in the 1960s.

Getting There:  It's about two-and-a-half hours north of LA using I-5, CA-99, and CA-43.

Travel Tip:  McFarland, a small farm town 19 miles away, and its high school's powerhouse cross country program were the subject of a feel-good Disney film , which used the school, almond orchards, the prison, Esperanza market, and Tacos El Cazador , where you should stop for horchata and tacos al pastor, as shooting locations.  

Disneyland: The Happiest Place on Earth

Courtesy of Disneyland Resort 

Sure there are now Disneylands around the world, but you’ll never forget a visit to the very first one. Take a spin on nine rides that remain from opening day in 1955 including Autopia and Jungle Cruise, eat a churro, watch fireworks, buy souvenir ears, and explore the many wondrous attractions that have been built over the past 65 years including the Haunted Mansion, Indiana Jones, and most recently, the Star Wars land, Galaxy’s Edge.

Getting There:  Approximately an hour from LA, a straight shot down I-5, driving is usually quickest. Or take Metrolink from Union Station to Anaheim and connect to the free Anaheim Resort Transportation (ART) shuttle . 

Travel Tip:  Before Oga’s Cantina opened in Galaxy's Edge with a droid DJ and adult beverages, the park was dry; save for the expensive private Club33. Want a Blue Bantha? You must make reservations up to 60 days in advance. 

Santa Ynez Valley: Pastoral Paradise

Heather Daenitz/Visit the Santa Ynez Valley 

Welcome to  Sideways country. Made up of six small towns, farmland, and vineyards, this valley is the best option for a boozy trip thanks to the prized pinot noirs, chardonnays, cabernets, and syrahs that its 120 wineries produce. Many of the wineries themselves can be visited for samples and tours, or sip and shop in Los Olivos where tasting rooms mingle with art galleries and plant nurseries. Grab a bite at Buellton’s Industrial Eats , Los Alamos’ Bob’s Well Bread Bakery , or Solvang’s First & Oak or Mad & Vin . Solvang is an adorable Danish-American village full of Scandinavian architecture, Christmas shops, windmills, and pastries.

Getting There:  Drive north on US-101 until Santa Barbara and then cut over the mountains using the San Marcos Pass (CA-154). Depending on traffic it takes about two hours from LA.

Travel Tip:  There’s plenty to do with under-21 squad members: OstrichLand , lavender farms, horseback riding with Vino Vaqueros , water sports on Lake Cachuma, a virtual-reality arcade, and the Quicksilver miniature horse ranch.

Catalina: Island Time

Courtesy of Visit California 

If a taste of the tropics is what you seek, look no further than the most accessible and developed of the Channel Islands. Take it easy sipping Buffalo Milks (the island’s signature cocktail) at the beach club , sailing, wandering Avalon's quaint streets, or being pampered at the spa. Or have an adrenaline-pumping day riding zip lines, scuba diving, or traversing the dusty backcountry in an open-air biofuel Hummer looking for bison and staring down sheer cliffs.

Getting There:  Most people take a Catalina Express ferry from Long Beach, San Pedro, or Dana Point. If seasickness is a concern, take a 15-minute helicopter flight from Long Beach. 

Travel Tip:  For a more rugged adventure, take the ferry to Two Harbors on the west end instead for hiking trails, campgrounds, excellent kayaking, a dive shop, and a sandy beach.

Presidential Libraries: California’s Commanders In Chief Collected

Courtesy of Reagan Presidential Foundation 

Presidential libraries and museums offer an in-depth look into past leaders of the free world. Southern California has two: Richard Nixon’s and Ronald Reagan’s . The first is set on the land where his parents ran a citrus ranch and contains the house where he was born as well as exhibits on communism and Watergate. Reagan's museum is in Simi Valley, and some of the info even comes straight from him by way of a hologram. Step aboard the Air Force One he logged 660,000 miles on.

Getting There:  Nixon’s compound is about 40 miles from downtown LA in the Orange County city of Yorba Linda off the CA-90 freeway. Reagan’s is almost 50 miles northwest from downtown.

Travel Tip:   Simi Valley and the surrounding countryside offer excellent hiking spots including Rocky Peak, Sage Ranch Park, and Corriganville Park, a former movie ranch featured in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood .

Chumash Indian Museum: Day In The Life of California’s Original Residents

Courtesy of Chumash Indian Museum 

Set on Chumash ancestral land once known as Sap’wi, the Chumash Interpretive Center in Oakbrook Park opened in 1994. The museum houses artifacts and replicas related to the tribe and a recreation of a Chumash village. There are opportunities to play native games, learn Chumash words, make crafts, and walk in nature while learning about their connection to the land and how they used various plants. Inquire about occasional docent-led hikes to see cave paintings. 

Getting There:  Take the 101 freeway 36 miles from Hollywood through the San Fernando Valley to Thousand Oaks.

Travel Tip:   Another important Chumash site is Painted Cave State Historic Park in the mountains above Santa Barbara, where rock art dating back to the 1600s colors the sandstone walls.

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks: The World’s Largest Trees

TripSavvy / Vince Fergus

The woodsy national parks sit side by side in the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains and offer a range of elevations (up to 14,494 feet), landscapes, wildlife, and ecosystems. But the real reason to seek out this forest is to see its trees, foremost of which are General Sherman, the world’s largest living tree, and General Grant, the second largest. There are day hikes at all difficulty levels from casual flat strolls through giant sequoia groves or past alpine lakes to a steep 8-mile trek to Mist Falls. 

Getting There:  The closest entrance point from LA is Ash Mountain in Sequoia. At roughly four hours, it’s a time and distance commitment, but worth it. 

Travel Tip:  Temperatures drop off in the evenings and winter snow can linger until summer. Check the weather and trail conditions a week or two before you go to properly gear up. 

Ventura: Surf And Taco Turf

Afton Almaraz/Getty Images 

It’s a quintessential SoCal beach town with laidback locals, reliable waves, small-town congeniality, seemingly infinite outdoor pursuits, and a spate of brunch spots and outfitters. Spend time on the water, whether by renting a boat or parasailing from Ventura Harbor Village , visiting the marine life tank at the Channel Islands National Park visitor center, or enrolling in lessons with Surfclass or Ventura Makos Surf Camp . Refuel at one of the restaurants that make up the Ventura Avenue Taco District . (Order quesarritos from the secret menu at El Taco De Jerez .)

Getting There:  Roughly 60 miles from Santa Monica, drive north on the PCH (CA-1) through Malibu for scenic vistas or take the quicker inland US-101 route. The Amtrak Pacific Surfliner stops in town.

Travel Tip:  Stay for a spectacular sunset. Trek up to the highest point in town, the 107-acre Grant Park, where you can look out over the town, the Pacific, and Anacapa and Santa Crux Islands. Or watch from the patio at MadeWest Brewing Co. with a cold Sound Sail lager in hand.

Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve: Flower Power

TripSavvy / Amanda Capritto

The landscape here is blanketed in bright oranges (from California’s state flower and park namesake), yellows, whites, and purples from mid-February through May. Enjoy the view along eight miles of trails (some paved for wheelchair access), from picnic tables, or at the interpretive center. Check the live cam to ensure there’ll be something to see that’s worth the drive.

Getting There:  Northeast of downtown by about an hour and a half, take US-101, I-5, and CA-14 to outside Lancaster.

Travel Tip:  Visit Vasquez Rocks on the way there or back. Named after a notorious bandit who used the dramatic rock formations as a hideout in the 1870s and seen in numerous Hollywood movies including Star Trek and Blazing Saddles.

Bakersfield: Basque Feasts and Country Beats

Courtesy of Visit Bakersfield 

When visiting Bakersfield’s Basque Block, a historically Spanish and French area, make sure to go hungry. Many of the dining halls, including Wool Growers , Pyrenees Café , Chalet Basque , and Benji’s have been open for decades. Often served family-style at communal tables, meals start with bread, cabbage soup, beans, salsa, boiled vegetables, french fries, and sometimes pickled tongue and spaghetti before moving on to main courses like roasted lamb, sweetbreads, oxtail stew, pork chops, or fried chicken. Wash it down with Picon Punch, a typical brandy and grenadine cocktail. The annual Basque Festival is in May.

Work off the meal with a little line dancing to the Bakersfield Sound, a country sub-genre of twangy guitar, fiddle, drums, and pedal steel popularized by Buck Owens and Merle Haggard. Most of the original honky-tonks are gone, but the beat goes on at Owens' glossy museum-meets-nightclub Crystal Palace . Learn more about the genre at the Kern County Museum .

Getting There:  By car, it’s just shy of two hours north of LA on I-5. Greyhound also offers bus service between the two cities. 

Travel Tip:   The César E. Chavez National Monument in Keene, about 30 miles south of Bakersfield, salutes the important life and work of the titular leader. La Paz was the home and office (filled with photos, books, and artifacts) from 1970 and is his final resting place.

San Juan Capistrano: This Mission Is For The Birds

Courtesy of Mission San Juan Capistrano 

The 21 missions set up by Franciscan missionaries on behalf of Spain in the 1700s had a massive impact on California’s history, indigenous populations, and the landscape. SJC, founded in 1776 by Junipero Serra, presents an honest, balanced picture of how the mission program changed, challenged, and ultimately almost wiped out the Acjachemen (Ah-HAWSH-eh-men) Nation in interactive exhibits. There’s a draw for birders as well. Mid-March through October, large flocks of cliff swallows migrate 6,000 miles from Argentina to nest and mate in SJC’s eaves, an annual event celebrated with the Swallows Day Parade .

Getting There:  It’s about 60 miles south from downtown on the I-5 just before San Clemente. Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner train stops at the SJC station.

Travel Tip:  The mission is located in the Los Rios Historic District , the state’s oldest continually occupied neighborhood. Explore the area and spot the three original adobe homes that remain from the late 1700s.

Pasadena: Days of Vines and Roses

There’s far more to this old-money city east of LA than the New Year’s Day parade and Rose Bowl. Architecture buffs will admire the Italianate city hall and the craftsman Greene & Greene Gamble House (used as Doc Brown’s house in the  Back To The Future  franchise). Spend a day visiting its museums ( Norton Simon art museum; USC Pacific Asia Museum ) gorgeous gardens (at the Arboretum , Descanso Gardens , and the Wrigley Mansion ground), or pick up a beach read at Southern California’s oldest bookstore, Vroman’s (1894).

Getting There:  Take the Arroyo Seco Parkway (aka CA-110), from downtown or hop aboard the Metro’s Gold Line at Union Station. It has stations from Pasadena to Azusa. 

Travel Tip:  Grab a bite to eat in San Gabriel Valley. Although most known for authentic Chinese cuisine, eaters can also find quality Vietnamese, Indonesian, Taiwanese, Singaporean, and Indian spreads as well.

Lake Arrowhead: Four Seasons of Fun

Courtesy of LakeArrowhead.com 

This getaway is a wooded wonderland boasting fresh air, beautiful forests, and year-round activities for lovers of the great outdoors. Learn to waterski with the McKenzie School, go fishing, mountain bike or skate at SkyPark At Santa’s Village , or take advantage of the natural swimming pool. Fall colors are best seen from hikes or while taking the perimeter tour aboard a vintage paddleboat, the Lake Arrowhead Queen . And winter’s first snow signals the start of ski season at resorts like Snow Valley or Rim Nordic (cross country and snowshoeing). 

Getting There:  Lake Arrowhead Village, which is where you’ll find all the shops and restaurants, is 90 miles from LA on CA-189. 

Travel Tip:  A fun detour along the way is a replica (13752 Francisquito Avenue) of the first In-N-Out Burger . Opened in 1948 in Baldwin Park, the 10-square-foot space was also California’s first drive-thru hamburger stand. 

San Pedro: Port Worth a Call

 Ian McDonnell/Getty Images

LA's port is the busiest in the nation and also offers plenty to do: the World War II-era battleship USS Iowa , several historic houses including the Banning Museum , parks with lighthouses or views to Catalina, the remains of Fort MacArthur’s batteries and bunkers, the Korean Friendship Bell, and the Marine Mammal Care Center , where you can hang with sick and injured seals and sea lions as they recuperate. Another important stop is the Terminal Island Memorial , which commemorates the Japanese fishing village that once thrived there before its 3,000 residents were forced to relocate to internment camps after the attack on Pearl Harbor. By their release in 1945, the village was long plundered and decimated. 

Getting There:  The harbor is 20 miles south of LAX off I-405 and I-110.

Travel Tip:  Stock up on souvenirs at Crafted , a market hall in a converted 1940s warehouse brimming with independent vendors and their handmade art, foodstuffs, and trinkets.

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The 15 Best Day Trips from Los Angeles, California

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What do you think of when you picture Southern California ? Maybe its many sunny beaches. Or perhaps you think of Hollywood and envision movie stars and the Walk of Fame. Likely, a lot of what you picture is found in Los Angeles . 

But what about what’s outside of LA? You’ll still find many pristine beaches, but you’ll also find theme parks, incredible food and wine , preserved historic sites, and vibrant art scenes. 

You’ll also discover Denmark in California, which seems impossible until you set foot in what’s rightfully called “Little Denmark.” Plus, you’ll travel to places bursting with natural beauty, from snowcapped mountains home to the best skiing in Southern California to national parks known for incredible stargazing. 

Planning your next day trip out of LA? We’ve compiled a list of the best Los Angeles day trips, from charming small towns to celebrity-filled retreats. Choose your next destination from this list, and you’re bound to have an amazing time exploring Southern California!

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase or booking through one of our links we may earn a small commission (don’t worry, it’s at no extra cost to you).

The 15 Best Los Angeles Day Trips

Visiting Solvang is like being transported across the world, making a visit to this charming village one of the best Los Angeles day trips. A little under three hours away by car, this unique town is known for its Danish history and whimsical architecture, which earned it the nickname “Little Denmark.”

Take a ride along the horse-drawn Solvang Trolley, or simply stroll down the main street to see bright and colorful facades, stunning windmills, and blooming flowers. Along the way, you’ll be met with wine-tasting rooms and quirky shops with artisan-crafted goods and one-of-a-kind treats. 

Stop by one of the many bakeries for some traditional Danish delights or fill up on chocolate from Ingeborg’s Danish Chocolates . Start your day trip off with Danish pancakes from Paula’s Pancake House or traditional aebleskiver from Solvang Restaurant . And if you just can’t wait for the holiday season to start, visit Jule Hus , where it’s Christmas every day!

If you’re a history buff, you’ll find plenty of museums here to spend your day trip in. Learn about Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen at the Hans Christian Andersen Museum . Or step inside an 18th-century Denmark farmhouse to see a collection of art and artifacts that explore Solvang’s Danish roots at the Elverhøj Museum of History & Art .

Ojai is a place to get in touch with your artistic and spiritual sides, making it one of the most unique day trips from LA. This scenic city is filled with residents that believe in taking care of their bodies, minds, and spirits, making Ojai a great place to go if you want to escape the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles. 

Located just over an hour and a half away from LA by car, you can be at one with nature in the Los Padres National Forest, taste a beloved Ojai pixie tangerine from Friend’s Ranch , or view the famous “pink moment” at sunset from the tranquil Meditation Mount . Go wine tasting at The Ojai Vineyard , olive oil tasting at Ojai Olive Oil , or honey tasting at Heavenly Honey . Then, cook up a delicious meal with your new treats alongside some fresh produce from the Ojai Certified Farmers Market .

Check out the art galleries and collections at the Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts , or make your own art during a session at Firestick Pottery Studio . If you’re a book lover, you’ll find your happy place at Bart’s Books , the world’s largest outdoor bookstore!

3. Anaheim 

Over in Anaheim , you’ll find one of the most popular LA day trips. What could be better than the Happiest Place on Earth? When you visit Disneyland , you’re in for quite a magical day, and it’s only a half-hour drive away.

Disneyland Resort consists of two parks, Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure , as well as the shopping and dining district of Downtown Disney . Choose between spending a day in Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure, or grab yourself a ticket with the Park Hopper option to be able to enjoy both parks in one day.

Both parks have their own draws, but if you can only pick one park, there are a few things to consider before reserving your park day. Disneyland Park is the original Disney park. As such, it’s the park with the most Disney magic. Here is where you’ll find the original Sleeping Beauty Castle and fan-favorite attractions like Pirates of the Caribbean, Peter Pan’s Flight, and Matterhorn Bobsleds. 

You’ll also be able to enjoy spectacular parades, fireworks, and other live shows, as well as meet beloved characters, including the Disney princesses. Disneyland Park is also where you’ll be able to become immersed in the Star Wars universe.

Disney California Adventure might be a better option for those who want to forgo the shows and squeeze in more time on the rides. This park has more rides and experiences built around Disney-owned intellectual property, like Marvel and Pixar, rather than nostalgic Disney-created attractions. 

Here is where you’ll find heart-racing rides like the Incredicoaster, themed after The Incredibles , and the Radiator Springs Racers, themed after Cars . You’ll also be able to meet characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and your favorite Pixar pals. 

4. Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park

For many families, their go-to Los Angeles day trip is a day at Disneyland, but there’s another park nearby that is only a half-hour’s drive away and shouldn’t be missed. Knott’s Berry Farm is one of the best theme park destinations in California, and it all started with its now iconic berry.

In the 1920s, the Knott family was able to make a name for themselves through their berries. But they really took off when they introduced a new berry created by Rudolph Boysen, though he struggled to cultivate them. When the Knott family began growing the new berries, they were an instant hit at their berry market and tea room. In honor of Boysen, they named the berry “boysenberry.” 

In time, what was known as Knott’s Berry Place turned into the theme park we know today as Knott’s Berry Farm. And one of the best times to visit this park is during its annual celebration of the berry that started it all, the Boysenberry Festival, a food and wine festival unlike any other. 

But no matter when you plan your visit, you’re in for a family-fun-filled time. Meet the residents of the Old West Ghost Town, celebrate summer every day on the Boardwalk, experience the vibrant attractions of the Fiesta Village, or hang out with the Peanuts gang at Camp Snoopy. During the summer, you can also cool down at Knott’s Soak City Waterpark. 

Only slightly over a half hour of drive time away, Malibu offers one of the best LA day trips if you’re looking to spend a day by the water. Malibu often gets thought of as a place for the rich and famous, thanks to the stunning mansions overlooking the ocean. But instead of coming here to look for your favorite celebrities, spend the day enjoying the natural beauty of this seaside paradise.

Relax in the waves at Zuma Beach or marvel at the sunset behind the unique rock formations at El Matador State Beach. Alternately, you can go hiking through Malibu Creek State Park or head toward Escondido Falls to see one of the biggest waterfalls in Southern California.

Outside of the natural beauty of the area, you can also spend the day taking in beautiful sights created by those who once called the area home. Pay a visit to the historic Adamson House , the first Malibu beach home. Built in 1929, it’s known for its incredible frescos and huge number of handmade decorative ceramic tiles. 

After that, stop by the Getty Villa , which was originally built to house J. Paul Getty’s personal collection but was later converted into a museum housing all of his Mediterranean artifacts. The museum itself is designed to look like a Roman country home.

6. Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara , which is just over an hour and a half away from LA by car, is a cultural hub filled with preserved historic sites that celebrate the area’s influences. From the Santa Barbara County Courthouse , one of the most beautiful government buildings in the US, to El Presidio de Santa Barbara , the last of the four presidios built by the Spanish throughout California, there’s history everywhere you look in Santa Barbara. 

One of the best times to visit is in August, during what the locals call the “Fiesta.” Its official name is the Old Spanish Days Fiesta , and it celebrates the city’s heritage by honoring customs from the Chumash tribe, as well as Spanish, Mexican, and early American settlers.

But if you’re not looking to step back in time on your LA day trip, how about exploring the food and wine scene of this seaside getaway? The culinary world of Santa Barbara is so well-known there’s a whole festival dedicated to it in the summer. But if you’re visiting outside of the Santa Barbara Food + Wine Festival , you can enjoy it at your own pace through the area’s food tours and wine trails. 

7. Newport Beach

About an hour from Los Angeles is sunny Newport Beach, one of the most fun Los Angeles day trips, especially for families and those who want to spend their day in the sand and surf. There are beaches aplenty here, offering everything from perfect waves to unique tide pools. Newport Beach is also one of the best places in California to go whale watching.

If you’re visiting with little ones or are simply a kid at heart, you’ll want to head to the Balboa Peninsula to have a day of play at the Balboa Fun Zone . This quaint seaside amusement park offers the last arcade in Balboa Village, several kid-friendly rides, parasailing, and boat and jet ski rentals.

For a more relaxing time, hop on the Balboa Island Ferry and visit nearby Balboa Island. Rent yourself a bicycle and spend the day exploring the island’s scenic views and many amenities. Before you go, be sure to grab a Balboa Bar, a candy-rolled ice cream bar that’s an island staple, or a classic chocolate-dipped banana. 

8. Laguna Beach

Looking for a romantic getaway? Laguna Beach makes for one of the most ideal day trips from Los Angeles. Plus, it’s just about an hour away by car. There’s beauty everywhere you look in Laguna Beach, from the streets lined with murals to the pristine beaches.

If you’re looking to spend the day in the sand, you’ll find seven miles of coastline to explore here. Marvel at the wildlife from Crescent Bay, enjoy the secluded coves of Treasure Island Beach, or catch some waves at Rockpile Beach. Whether you want to simply relax by the water or go on scenic hikes with incredible views of the ocean, Crystal Cove State Park is the place to be. 

Other active activities to do in Laguna Beach include stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, surfing, and skimboarding, which actually originated in Laguna Beach. Like Newport Beach, Laguna Beach is also another great spot to do some whale watching.

Laguna Beach is an art-filled town, so spend time enjoying the creations made by local and international artists. Explore the galleries, peruse the Laguna Beach Art Museum , or plan your day trip around local festivals, like the Laguna Art-A-Fair and the Sawdust Art Festival .

9. Joshua Tree National Park

Just a little over two hours away from Los Angeles is Joshua Tree National Park , a one-of-a-kind destination that’s one of the most incredible day trips from Los Angeles. Escape city life and enjoy taking in a natural wonderland instead. Named for the Joshua tree, a unique member of the agave family, you may end up needing more than one day to explore the over 800,000 acres in this stunning park.

The national park is made up of two distinct deserts, the Colorado Desert and the Mojave Desert, the latter of which is where you’ll find the Joshua trees. Although Joshua Tree National Park is filled with spectacular sights throughout the day, including its unique rock formations, it’s known for its particularly breathtaking sunrises and sunsets. 

Also, as a Silver Tier International Dark Sky Park, the park has some amazing stargazing opportunities. You’ll want to spend some time in Joshua Tree after dark, even if it means getting back home to Los Angeles a bit late. Many people see the Milky Way for the first time in their lives when they visit Joshua Tree National Park!

10. Big Bear

In just under two hours of drive time, you could be in one of the best places for skiing in Southern California. Here you’ll find Bear Mountain Resort and Snow Summit Ski Resort, both managed by the Big Bear Mountain Resort . 

The first has over 400 skiable areas and 55 runs, with a whopping 60% of the runs being for intermediate and advanced skiers. If you’re experienced with hitting the slopes, you’ll feel right at home here, especially on the oh-so-challenging Bear Peak, one of the highest and steepest lift-served peaks in Southern California. Its sister resort, Snow Summit, is best for newer skiers, as much of the slopes are beginner-friendly. 

But no matter which season you visit during, Big Bear Lake is one of the best LA day trips. Enjoy the waters of Big Bear Lake in the spring and summer, when you can go kayaking, fishing, canoeing, and swimming. Go hiking through the San Bernadino Forest or take a one-of-a-kind trip down the Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain , Southern California’s only bobsledding slide. 

11. Catalina Island

Santa Catalina Island, often known simply as Catalina Island, is one of the most unique Los Angeles day trips if you’re looking for a romantic, adventurous escape. To get to this island, which is one of the California Channel Islands, you’ll need to take a ride to either San Pedro, Long Beach, Dana Point, or Newport Beach and then hop on one of the ferries, the Catalina Express or the Catalina Flyer depending on the port you choose to depart from.

Catalina Island encourages you to get on “island time,” going at a leisurely pace to take in all the beauty around you. Rent a bike on this car-free island, and take your time exploring. With 52 miles of coastline, you may end up spending the whole day cruising around the beaches. When you’re ready to go in the water, you can go snorkeling, scuba diving, parasailing, and even take a submarine tour !

Stay on land for another unique tour opportunity. In the 1920s, 14 bison were brought to Catalina Island for a movie. Once filming wrapped up, they were allowed to stay, and their herd has grown to over 100 today. They roam around the island’s wildlands, and several tour companies will take you around the island to show you its wildlife, including the bison.

12. Temecula

When many people think of the best wine tasting in California, they think of Napa Valley or Sonoma Valley. But there’s an excellent wine-tasting destination just about an hour-and-a-half drive from Los Angeles. 

Temecula has over 40 vineyards to explore. Not only that, but it has some of the most unique ways to tour the wineries. Soar over the vineyards in a hot-air balloon with California Dreamin’ , hit the open road with your own chauffeur as your designated driver with Sidecar Tours , or cruise around on an old-fashioned cable car with Cable Car Wine Tours .

Beyond unique tour opportunities, there are plenty of one-of-a-kind attractions in Temecula that make it one of the best day trips from Los Angeles. Explore the world of inventing at Pennypickle’s Workshop , a children’s museum filled with interactive exhibits. Or get up close to rescued and rehomed animals at the Sugarplum Zoo , which also boasts a chocolate shop you’re not going to want to miss and, in true Temecula fashion, wine tasting.

13. Huntington Beach

Long known for being a surfing city, there’s plenty to do at Huntington Beach, even if you don’t want to hang ten. This seaside destination is one of the best Los Angeles day trips if you’re looking to spend the day in the sun.

Huntington Beach offers five beaches spread across 10 miles of coastline, each with something different to offer. Huntington City Beach, where you’ll find the Huntington Beach Pier, is where to go if you want to stick around after dark, as you’ll find many restaurants, shops, and other nightlife is an easy walk away. Going surfing? This beach is a great option, as is Bolsa Chica State Beach.

If you like long walks on the sand or bike rides around the beach, head to Huntington State Beach, while if you want to escape the crowds, you should visit Sunset Beach. If you have a furry friend with you, check out Huntington Dog Beach, where your pup can run around off-leash.

Outside of the beaches, Huntington Beach also offers other attractions, like the Huntington Surfing Museum , which celebrates the surfing history of the area, and the Huntington Beach Art Center , offering both exhibits and classes to locals and visitors alike.

14. Palm Springs

Whether you want to live the life of luxury or want to spend your LA day trip exploring beautiful outdoor destinations, you’ll be able to do it in Palm Springs . Located just under a two-hour drive from Los Angeles, this scenic destination has long been billed as a winter getaway for the rich and famous. But you don’t have to have starred in a blockbuster to travel here!

If you’re looking for shops, restaurants, art galleries, and more indoor attractions, visit Palm Canyon Drive. Grab a cup from Koffi , step back in time at the Palm Springs Historical Society Museums , shop the past at Revivals Resale Mart , and much more. On Thursday evenings, this road transforms into VillageFest , a lively street market with over 200 vendors.

To see the natural beauty of the area, there’s hardly a better way than by taking the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway , the largest rotating aerial tramway in the world. You’ll soar over Chino Canyon to reach Mount San Jacinto State Park. At the top, you’ll find two restaurants, two documentary theaters, a natural history museum, several observation decks, and over 50 miles of hiking trails.

15. San Diego

Located about two and a half hours from Los Angeles by car, San Diego is a bit more laidback than its northern neighbor. This sunny getaway is known for its mild weather, sunny beaches, and family-friendly attractions.

To really get a feel for this unique city, visit Balboa Park , spread across over 1,000 acres and home to an array of beautiful gardens, hundred-year-old architectural wonders inspired by the Pueblo and Mayan cultures, and tons of entertainment. 

Explore the hiking trails, take in a live performance, or check out work made by local artists. Visit one of the park’s many museums, from one that celebrates Comic-Con all year long to museums that immerse you in both local cultures and teach you about people all across the world.

Balboa Park is also home to the famous San Diego Zoo . Home to more than 4,000 animals and known for its passionate conservation efforts, it’s considered one of the best zoos in the world.

For more outdoor fun and animal sightings, you can visit La Jolla Cove. It’s a great snorkeling and scuba-diving spot where you just might see everything from sea lions and dolphins to turtles and leopard sharks!

There you have it! The 15 best Los Angeles day trips. What’s your favorite day trip from Los Angeles? Let us know in the comments!

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Jacqueline is a writer and editor pursuing the freelance life to explore the world. Born and raised in New Jersey, she spent her college years in Boston before settling down with her partner and puppy in Monterey, California. When she’s not writing, you can often find her planning her next trip. Road trips are her favorite, whether it’s driving across the country or simply exploring a new city in her own backyard. She loves uncovering the history of every new place she goes. Jacqueline has a restless passion for learning and makes it a goal to pick up a new skill every year. She’s picked up embroidery, crocheting, knitting, and cross-stitching, but she’s hoping to master more languages to help her in her travels. She’s also a published author, with short stories and poetry appearing in several anthologies.

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15 Most Popular Day Trips From Los Angeles

• California / In the City / Los Angeles / North America / USA

Looking for a mini escape from the city? Here are 15 fun day trips from Los Angeles.

As much as there is to explore in LA, sometimes it’s nice to get away from the city, the crowds, and the traffic. We’re local adventurers and all about appreciating and exploring our backyards. There are a lot of gems you can find in your city or just a short drive away. Plus, sometimes that’s just easier than driving somewhere within LA. Am I right?

This post may contain affiliate links, where we receive a small commission on sales of the products that are linked at no additional cost to you. All opinions are always our own. Read our full disclosure  for more info. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Local Adventurer possible.

Last Updated: December 14, 2023

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• The Best Day Trips from Los Angeles
• Map of Los Angeles Day Trips

Best Places to Stay in Los Angeles

Planning checklist, more resources, 15 popular day trips from los angeles.

You can make any of these into weekend trips, but we also put together  a list of trips that are longer drives and require at least a 2 day stay  to make it worthwhile.

1. Catalina Island, California

33.3889062,-118.5950266,  map

Distance:  1 hr by ferry from Long Beach ( map ) Things You Can’t Miss:  Catalina Island Casino, Catalina Island Conservancy, Garden to Sky Trail What to Eat:  The Lobster Trap , Bluewater Grill , Maggie’s Blue Rose

Catalina Island is a favorite getaway for Angelenos, whether you’re looking for activities like scuba diving or snorkeling or a place to relax on the beach.

Local Tip: Did you know there are bison on the island? They also used to do free ferry rides on birthdays, but they discontinued that tradition.

2. Santa Cruz Island, California →

34.0181115,-120.0059172,  map

Distance:  1 hr by ferry from Ventura ( map ) Things You Can’t Miss:  Scorpion Beach, Smugglers Cove, Visitor Center What to Eat:  No food services on the island

The Channel Islands National Park on Santa Cruz Island is incredibly beautiful. You can stay on land and hike and camp or explore the waters on a kayak, scuba diving, or snorkeling.

Local Tip: Keep your eye out for whales on the ferry over. We spotted a couple of them!

See More: Kayaking in Channel Islands National park

3. Palm Springs, California →

2901 N Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262,  map

Distance:  105 mi / 1 hr 45 min ( map ) Things You Can’t Miss:  Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, Palm Springs Art Museum, San Gorgonio Pass Wind Farm What to Eat:  Farm , Trio , The Tropicale

Palm Springs is a popular spot, especially for those of us who live in SoCal, since it’s so close. The glamorous pools and trendy hotels give plenty of reasons to visit. There are even hot springs, golf courses, and spas!

Local Tip: When it’s hot in town, head up the Aeriel Tramway for cooler temps and great views.

See More: 15 Unforgettable Things to Do in Palm Springs

4. Ojai, California

130 W Ojai Ave, Ojai, CA 93023,  map

Distance:  83 mi / 1 hr 25 min ( map ) Things You Can’t Miss:  Ojai Certified Farmers’ Market, Ojai Meadows Preserve, Rose Valley Falls Trail What to Eat:  The Ojai Beverage , Osteria Monte Grappa , The Ranch House

Ojai is full of Spanish architecture, fruit groves, and wineries. It’s relatively close, so it makes a perfect day trip. Although, I’ll warn you it took us more than 3 hours to get out of LA traffic first.

5. Temecula, California

3rd St, Temecula, CA 92590,  map

Distance:  85 mi / 1 hr 33 min ( map ) Things You Can’t Miss:  Hot Air Balloon Ride , Wine Tasting, Old Town Temecula What to Eat:  The Goat & Vine , 1909 , Avensole Winery

Wineries and  hot air balloons  give you beautiful options for a day trip away!

See More: Photo Guide Hot Air Ballooning in Temecula California

6. Santa Barbara, California

217 Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara, CA 93101,  map

Distance:  95 mi / 1 hr 30 min ( map ) Things You Can’t Miss:  Shoreline Park, Old Mission Santa Barbara, Stearns Wharf What to Eat:  Santa Barbara Shellfish Company , Brophy Bros , Boathouse at Hendry’s Beach

Santa Barbara has a great wine scene amidst the beautiful backdrop of mountains, valleys, and beaches.

7. Carlsbad, California →

400 Carlsbad Village Dr, Carlsbad, CA 92008,  map

Distance:  87 mi / 1 hr 30 min ( map ) Things You Can’t Miss:  Beaches ,  Flower Fields ,  LEGOLAND What to Eat:  Blue Ocean Robata & Sushi Bar , Campfire , 264 Fresco

For family fun, you can go to   LEGOLAND . There are also plenty of beaches and the Carlsbad flower fields for adult fun.

See More: Best Places to See Flower Fields in Southern California

8. Big Bear, California →

40971 North Shore Drive/Hwy 38, Fawnskin, CA 92333,  map

Distance:  99 mi / 2 hrs ( map ) Things You Can’t Miss:  Big Bear Discovery Center, Boulder Bay Park, Big Bear Alpine Zoo What to Eat:  Saucy Mama’s , Grizzly Manor Cafe , Tropicali

You can fish, hike, camp, or kayak in the summer and ski and snowboard in the winter. There’s plenty to discover at this beautiful lake, so it’s a place people keep coming back to. We had a short trip here working with Toyota, but we need to go back to explore more of the area.

See More: 7 Best Things to Do in Big Bear California

9. San Diego, California →

Distance:  120 mi / 2 hrs 10 min ( map ) Things You Can’t Miss:  San Diego Zoo ,  North Park ,  Balboa Park What to Eat:  Carnitas Snack Shack ,  Tacos El Gordo ,  Hammond’s Gourmet Ice Cream

We lived in San Diego for a year and still miss it. We especially love all the beaches and hikes to beaches . If you need ideas for your trip, here are  101 Things to Do in San Diego . Save room for all the yummy tacos because you’re so close to Mexico, and they’re better here than most places in the US.

Local Tip: If you’re on a budget, check out these free things to do in San Diego .

See More: 101 Things to Do in San Diego

10. Idyllwild, California →

54270 Pine Crest Ave, Idyllwild, CA 92549,  map

Distance:  109 mi / 2 hrs 10 min ( map ) Things You Can’t Miss:  Mount San Jacinto State Park and Wilderness, Idyllwild Nature Center, Indian Vista Scenic Overlook What to Eat:  Ferro , Cafe Aroma , Idyllwild Brewpub

There are tons of hikes to explore in Idyllwild. If you’re not outdoorsy, you can enjoy the quaint downtown area. Be sure to see if they have any events going on.

See More: Glamping in an A-Framed Cabin in Idyllwild

11. JOshua Tree National park →

6554 Park Blvd, Joshua Tree, CA 92252,  map

Distance:  127 mi / 2 hrs 20 min ( map ) Things You Can’t Miss:  Arch Rock , Cholla Cactus Garden, Keys View What to Eat:  Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace , Crossroads Cafe , The Tiny Pony

Take a scenic drive, hike, or rock climb in this beautiful park. We love visiting in the winter for the climbing.

See More: 11 Amazing Things to Do in Joshua Tree National Park CA

12. Los Olivos, California

2900 Grand Ave, Los Olivos, CA 93441,  map

Distance:  130 mi / 2 hrs ( map ) Things You Can’t Miss:  Wine Tasting, Gallery Los Olivos, Los Olivos General Store What to Eat:  Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Cafe , Panino , Nella Kitchen & Bar

This historic town is tucked away in the Santa Ynez Valley. Check out the scenic views of vineyards, browse through the art scene, go antique shopping, or join in on one of their fun festivals. Also, don’t forget to check out the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail.

13. Salvation Mountain & Salton Sea →

Beal Rd, Calipatria, CA 92233,  map

Distance:  190 mi / 3 hrs ( map ) Things You Can’t Miss:  Salvation Mountain, Salton Sea State Recreation Area, Painted Canyon Road What to Eat:  Buckshot Deli & Diner , Town Pump Steakhouse , Ski Inn

Leonard Knight dedicated his life to  this work of art hoping to show that “God is Love” . Here’s an excerpt from a NatGeo photographer I follow who spent seven years documenting his life and work. I’m excited about his new book,  Where the Heaven Flowers Grow .

The Salton Sea is also nearby, 234 ft below sea level!

See More: Photo Guide to Salvation Mountain

14. San Luis Obispo (SLO)

733 Higuera St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401,  map

Distance:  130 mi / 2 hrs ( map ) Things You Can’t Miss:  Mission San Luis Obispo, Bubblegum Alley, Madonna Inn What to Eat:  Taste , Ember , The Hatch Rotisserie & Bar

315 days of sunshine isn’t bad at all! Rent a bike, hike, surf, taste wine, or dine at the many farm-to-fork restaurants. The photo of us is from our anniversary shoot with Jeff Newsom.

15. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park →

47050 Generals Hwy, Three Rivers, CA 93271,  map

Distance:  205 mi / 3 hrs 30 min ( map ) Things You Can’t Miss:  General Sherman, Moro Rock, Tunnel Log What to Eat:  Sierra Subs and Salads , Ol Buckaroo , Sequoia Coffee Co

Nothing gives you perspective like spending time amongst real-life giants. Take a scenic drive or hike amongst the largest trees in the world by volume.

See More: 15 Amazing Things to Do at Sequoia National Park + Kings Canyon

Map of Best Day Trips from Los Angeles

• Get comprehensive insurance for your trip.
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• Buy a travel charger to keep your devices charged.
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• Buy a Southwest travel guide .
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• Save money on attractions with Go City .
• Rand McNally Large Scale Road Atlas
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Which of these day trips have you done? Any others we need to add?

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“Discovery consists not of seeking new lands but in seeing with new eyes ” – M. Proust

Esther + Jacob

Esther and Jacob are the founders of Local Adventurer, one of the top 5 travel blogs in the US. They believe that adventure can be found near and far and hope to inspire others to explore locally. They explore a new city in depth every year and currently base themselves in Las Vegas.

Follow on Instagram (E + J) , YouTube , TikTok , and Pinterest.

This Post Has 4 Comments

Just be prepared to double any of these travel times depending on the traffic.

haha yeah. I do not miss that traffic .

Hi Esther & Jacob !!! I am a landscape photographer and I have been visiting the L.A. area for 3 weeks now . I have spent ALOT of my time in Venice and little around the city . It’s overwhelming not sure on where to go or what to see. Thank you so much for the time you out in this . This is great .

Now off for my Local Adventures. Hollie Linder

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• Destinations

Sea to Sequoia

Exploring California & Beyond

Destinations , Southern California · February 10, 2023

16 Best Day Trips From Los Angeles

I love finding new spots for day trips from Los Angeles. There’s so much to explore within the Southern California and Central Coast region, and it’s been a lovely way to really get to enjoy my home state! If you’re looking to explore the Golden State, here are some of my favorite day trips in Southern California. 

Looking for an adventure closer to home? Sea to Sequoia was named a top Los Angeles, CA , local expert by Redfin. Check out the article we were featured in: Exploring the City of Angels: 11 Unique Things to Do in Los Angeles for New Locals | Redfin

The Best Los Angeles Day Trips

Heads up: I calculated the drive time to these spots from West Hollywood, since it’s pretty central. Your travel time may vary!

1. Malibu (40 Minutes)

For a day trip that’s super close to home, consider making the quick trek out to Malibu. There’s a ton to do, including hanging out at the famous beaches, hiking some of the best trails in LA, and touring the gorgeous Adamson House. My Malibu day trip itinerary hits the spots you have to see while visiting!

2. Chino Hills State Park (45 Minutes)

If you’re looking for the perfect spot for a springtime day trip, check out Chino Hills State Park . In the early spring (approximately March through early May), the wildflowers in the park are absolutely gorgeous – especially after a good rainy season. The park’s Instagram is a great resource for getting up-to-date info on the blooms. 

When I last visited, I parked near the north entrance . There is parking inside the park that costs $10, but it’s fairly limited (and the park gets popular in the spring!). From there, I walked up Bane Canyon Road until I got to the trailhead for the Bane Canyon Loop Trail . This trail is 2.4 miles long, and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to get up close to the wildflowers!

3. Balboa Island (1 Hour)

Balboa Island is a manmade island in Newport Beach. You can access it via ferry , or just by driving over on Marine Avenue (that said, parking is limited on the island, and it gets particularly busy on weekends and holidays). 

Balboa Island is particularly fun around the holidays, when the residents deck out their homes in lights and decorations. There is also an annual Christmas Boat Parade that happens over a few days in December. That said, Balboa Island is worth a visit any time of the year. Walk down Marine Avenue to check out the local restaurants and shops, and stroll around the neighborhood and along the bay to enjoy the sights. A stop at Balboa Island isn’t complete without a frozen banana – stop by either Dad’s Donut & Bakery Shop or Sugar ‘n Spice (Arrested Development fans: there’s always money in the banana stand…).

4. San Juan Capistrano (1 Hour 10 Minutes)

San Juan Capistrano (located in Orange County) is one of the best easy-to-get-to day trips near Los Angeles. Just hop on the 5, and you’ll be there in a little over an hour!

This beautiful small town is known for its famous mission, which was founded in 1776. Mission San Juan Capistrano is located right in the middle of town, and it’s definitely worth a visit ( tickets are required ). You’ll also want to walk through Los Rios Historic District – AKA the oldest neighborhood in California. Three of the original adobes from the late 1700s and 1800s still stand here. There are mostly private residences in this area, but a few of the homes house shops and cafes. 

After exploring Los Rios, you can walk across the train tracks into the main part of town for some shopping and eating. Two of my favorite restaurants are Cedar Creek Inn and El Adobe de Capistrano . If you’re craving some coastal air, you can also head down to Dana Point (under 10 minute drive) to enjoy the views at Doheny State Beach!

5. Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve, Lancaster (1 Hour 25 Minutes)

During the spring, Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve is one of my absolute favorite Southern California day trip destinations. That said, the blooms aren’t going to be amazing every year, so you’ll need to do a bit of research before heading out. I’ve written up a post on everything you need to know about visiting this poppy reserve – check it out if you’re interested !

6. Ojai (1 Hour 30 Minutes)

The charming town of Ojai is the perfect spot for a relaxing day trip. You can easily explore the entire town within a day, and there’s a variety of things to do, including olive oil tasting, hiking, shopping, and more. Here’s a guide to what to do in Ojai in one day !

7. Oak Glen for Apple Picking (1 Hour 40 Minutes)

Nothing gets you in the spirit of autumn like apple picking (even if it’s still 80 degrees out). While there are plenty of spots to go apple picking in Oak Glen, I personally love Stone Soup Farm. This post has everything you need to know about visiting, but here are two must-know points: get there early and get the blackberry apple cider. 

8. The Flower Fields in Carlsbad (1 Hour 30 Minutes)

If you’re thinking of making a day trip to San Diego from Los Angeles during the spring, I highly suggest visiting The Flower Fields in Carlsbad (which is open from early March to early May). There are over 50 acres of ranunculus flowers to explore, and at the peak, nearly 80 million flowers are in bloom! For the 2023 season, admission tickets cost $23 for adults and $12 for children, and need to be purchased online in advance. There’s also a tractor on-site for those who prefer not to walk – a ride costs $8 for adults and $4 for children. After checking out The Flower Fields, consider spending the day in the town of Carlsbad .

9. Encinitas (1 Hour 40 Minutes)

A day trip to Encinitas – a laidback and funky beach town in San Diego County – is a must if you’re looking for a low-key day of hanging out at the beach, doing a bit of shopping, and eating delicious food. Even if the weather isn’t nice enough to go for a swim, Moonlight Beach is a lovely beach for a walk. There are also tons of cool shops and great eateries and bars along the 101 in Encinitas. The Self-Realization Temple Meditation Gardens is also a must-visit. For more details, I’ve created a guide breaking down the best things to do in Encinitas (and where to eat, drink, and get your caffeine buzz). 

10. Del Mar & Torrey Pines (1 Hour 50 Minutes)

Del Mar is another San Diego beach town that is just a short drive south from Encinitas (you can definitely hit up both of these towns in one day!). It has a slightly more upscale vibe compared to Encinitas, but they offer similar activities. 

To start the day, I’d recommend hiking at Torrey Pines State Reserve — the trails on these cliffs offer some of the best coastal views in San Diego. You can find more about the hikes here in this post — just scroll down to the “Torrey Pines State Beach” section.

If you’re up for a beach day (or just a nice walk!), head over to Powerhouse Park and Beach for a day in the sun. Even if you don’t head down to the sand, the park is a great place to set out a picnic blanket and take in the views. To eat and drink, I’d recommend Board and Brew (a casual sandwich spot), Sbicca (a great restaurant with an amazing terrace that overlooks the ocean), and Viewpoint Brewery (a fun industrial brewery that sits on the San Dieguito Lagoon. They have delicious food, too!).

11. Lake Arrowhead (1 Hour 50 Minutes)

If you want to escape the city for a bit of mountain air, consider heading up to Lake Arrowhead. The drive up Rim of the World Highway is absolutely gorgeous, and there are some great hiking spots in and around town. I have a full Lake Arrowhead day trip guide – check it out!

12. Red Rock Canyon State Park (1 Hour 50 Minutes)

When you think of Southern California desert day trips, the first thing that comes to mind might be Joshua Tree. However, another spot worthy of your attention is Red Rock Canyon State Park – which is closer and far less crowded! This California state park can easily be fully explored in a day. I break down exactly what to do in my Red Rock Canyon State Park guide . 

13. Santa Barbara (1 Hour 45 Minutes)

The picturesque coastal city of Santa Barbara is the perfect spot for a quick getaway. While you’re there, you’ll definitely want to stop by Arroyo Burro Beach for an easy coastal walk. Once you’re in the downtown area, be sure to check out the historic courthouse, explore The Funk Zone (an artsy industrial neighborhood with wineries, breweries, and galleries) and take a walk down Stearns Wharf! For dinner, I highly recommend heading over to Montecito and eating at Oliver’s , a fully plant-based restaurant. If you want a stop-by-stop guide, be sure to check out my Santa Barbara day trip itinerary . 

14. Los Olivos (2 Hours 10 Minutes)

If you want to spend the day wine tasting, make your way to the beautiful Los Olivos – located in the Santa Ynez Valley. There’s tons of great wineries in and around town, but one that I particularly recommend is Koehler Winery . It’s a great casual spot, the property is pretty, and they have emus (!). They have lots of tables spread out around the property, and you can bring your own food if you’d like. As you leave (or enter) the area, definitely check out the actual town of Los Olivos. It’s a super cute small town with lots of tasting rooms, restaurants, and shops. 

15. Solvang (2 Hours 10 Minutes)

Another spot worth exploring in the Santa Ynez Valley is Solvang – AKA the Danish capital of the US. Enjoy the unique architecture in the charming town, eat delicious Danish food, and then check out a museum or two before going wine tasting. Oh…and don’t forget to stop by Ostrichland USA to feed some ostriches and emus. Check out my Solvang day trip guide for the full itinerary.

16. Joshua Tree National Park (2 Hours 30 Minutes)

Personally, this is heading into the “too long of a drive to make a day trip” territory. But I know plenty of people who’ve made the drive from LA to Joshua Tree for a day trip! For a full itinerary, check out my Joshua Tree day trip itinerary guide , which includes the best spots in the park.

Looking for more California travel inspiration? Here are a few more guides you’ll enjoy: 

The Best Things to Do in Idyllwild, CA

• The Best Things to do in Carlsbad
• The Ultimate Santa Barbara Weekend Getaway
• The Perfect Weekend Trip to Joshua Tree National Park

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About Kyra Heenan | Sea to Sequoia

Kyra is the founder of Sea to Sequoia, a site she launched in 2020. As a type A traveler who loves to extensively research destinations to create the perfect vacation itinerary, she’s here to help readers so that their travel planning process is as easy as possible. In addition to running this site, she is a professional content writer in the wellness and skincare spaces, and also works as an actress.

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May 4, 2022 at 4:10 pm

Absolutely love this guide and I’ll definitely be using this heavily when I plan my future Los Angeles trip. Thank you so much.

May 4, 2022 at 8:04 pm

I love a good daytrip, and LA is on my list of potential cities to visit in the coming year, so this blog came at the perfect time. Joshua Tree will be a must visit for me! Thanks for this detailed guide.

May 4, 2022 at 8:07 pm

You’ll absolutely love Joshua Tree! Hope you make it out to LA!

May 5, 2022 at 4:19 pm

All these look like such perfect day trips from LA! It’s so heartening to see more and more destinations begin to rouse back to life, may this list continue to grow through the months!

May 11, 2022 at 3:41 pm

I love all of these day trip ideas, especially the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve! It looks so beautiful and different from what I’m used to seeing in Florida!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

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15 Top-Rated Day Trips from Los Angeles

Written by Lisa Alexander Updated Mar 30, 2022 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

Within an hours' drive of Los Angeles, beyond the halting traffic, the landscape becomes rugged and refreshing. This area of Southern California has gorgeous beaches and a sunny Mediterranean climate year-round that gives the impression of an endless summer.

In the oceanfront community of Malibu, sunbathers bask on sandy beaches, and surfers ride the impressive waves. Other dreamy places to visit nearby include the quintessential So-Cal town of Laguna Beach, the fun-loving seaside village of Balboa Island, and the picturesque coastal city of Oxnard.

For those seeking a quaint and romantic getaway, Santa Catalina Island is the ideal choice. Families with kids will want to visit Disneyland, one of the top attractions in California .

Several places on this list are two-and-a-half to three-hours' drive away but are worth the extra journey: the sophisticated beach town of Santa Barbara, fashionable Palm Springs for a desert oasis retreat, California's only castle along the Central Coast, the unique California desert environment of Joshua Tree, and Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains.

Whether you are seeking outdoor adventures or relaxation by the beach, you will find plenty of options just outside Los Angeles. Plan your getaways from the city with our list of the top day trips from Los Angeles.

1. Santa Catalina Island

2. disneyland, 3. santa barbara, 4. palm springs, 5. joshua tree national park, 6. laguna beach: a quintessential so-cal town, 7. malibu's beautiful beaches, 8. san diego, 9. hearst castle, 10. huntington beach, 12. big bear lake: hiking, water sports, and relaxation, 13. balboa island, 14. san gabriel mountains national monument/angeles national forest, 15. tijuana, map of day trips from los angeles.

Santa Catalina Island has been luring visitors since the 1920s, when it was used as a location for Hollywood films. Today, tourists can still appreciate the island's cinematic seaside beauty.

The moment visitors set foot on the island, the idyllic atmosphere becomes obvious. With its leisurely pace, sunny weather, and soothing ocean waves, Santa Catalina Island is one of the most romantic places in California .

Besides being a delightful day-trip destination, the island is perfect for a weekend getaway, short vacation, or honeymoon centered around relaxation and recreational activities. Hiking, cycling, backpacking, sailing, sunbathing, and picnicking are all popular activities.

The picturesque town of Avalon has the island's largest selection of hotels, shops, and restaurants, along with breathtaking ocean views, palm-fringed beaches, and a botanical garden.

All of Avalon's beaches have gentle crystal-clear waters, and most are ideal for swimming. Tucked away in a sheltered cove, Descanso Beach is prized for its beach club, which offers private cabanas and oceanfront restaurant dining.

More remote in feel, Two Harbors boasts secluded coves and unspoiled sandy beaches with swaying palm trees. Two Harbors draws many outdoor enthusiasts because of its wide array of recreational opportunities. Among the many things to do are boating, camping, fishing, mountain biking, kayaking, paddleboarding, scuba diving, and snorkeling.

Santa Catalina Island is an hour-long ferry ride on the Catalina Express from San Pedro, Long Beach, or Dana Point to the port of Avalon. The Catalina Flyer operates ferry boat transportation from Newport Beach to Avalon, which takes just over one hour.

From Los Angeles, it takes about two hours (a one-hour drive to Long Beach plus a one-hour ferry ride) to arrive at Santa Catalina Island.

Most families with kids will already have Disneyland on their list of places to go. Often it's a destination in itself, however Disneyland is an easy day trip from Los Angeles, less than 30 miles away. This world-famous amusement park is a "Magical Kingdom" that delights children of all ages.

Little kids love the charming rides like the oversized Caterpillar cars of Alice in Wonderland; the big-eared planes of Dumbo the Flying Elephant; the Mad Tea Party, with its giant spinning teacups; and the musical boat ride of "it's a small world" in Fantasyland.

Older kids enjoy exciting attractions like the Matterhorn's bobsleds that careen through a scene of the Swiss Alps; the drama of Pirates of the Caribbean; and the Indiana Jones Adventure that features thrilling rides, a cliff-hanging journey, and a "cursed" temple.

Parents will appreciate that Disneyland has a wide selection of shops and restaurants. Some restaurants feature special ambience or entertainment such as appearances by Disney characters to delight the kids.

For a truly memorable experience, dine at the Blue Bayou Restaurant next to the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at New Orleans Square. This wildly popular Louisiana-themed restaurant serves Cajun and Creole cuisine (including jambalaya and gumbo) in an enchanting outdoor dining patio illuminated by lanterns. The ambience even includes flashes of fireflies and the sounds of chirping crickets and frogs. Because of the restaurant's popularity, it is highly recommended to make reservations well in advance.

Families can stay overnight within the Disneyland Resort at Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel , decorated with a beach vacation motif; the elegant Craftsman-style Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa ; or the Disneyland Hotel , which has a pool and waterslide play area.

Official site: https://disneyland.disney.go.com

Known as the "American Riviera," this balmy beach town, about 100 miles north of Los Angeles, is a favorite getaway destination for Hollywood movie stars. However, almost everyone can appreciate the charm and beauty of Santa Barbara. Handsome historic Spanish-style buildings, towering palm trees, and miles of sandy shores beckon visitors.

The Old Mission Santa Barbara , called the "Queen of the Missions," has a beautifully preserved adobe church that dates back to 1820. This landmark was founded by the Franciscan Friars of Spain in 1786 and is filled with colonial-era artwork. The mission complex also includes a museum that displays paintings and artifacts.

Not far from the Pacific Ocean, the mission is set on 15-acre grounds with luxuriant gardens. A highlight is La Huerta Historical Garden , which features olive, citrus, peach, pomegranate, and peach trees from original mission sites. The Mission Rose Garden is a lovely spot for a picnic.

Other top tourist attractions include the Santa Barbara County Courthouse , a magnificent blend of Spanish, Moorish, Islamic, Romanesque, and Byzantine architectural elements; the Santa Barbara Museum of Art ; the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden ; and the 30-acre Santa Barbara Zoo .

Santa Barbara also boasts many scenic hiking trails , from trails along sea cliffs to paths through chaparral-covered canyons. The hikes range from gentle walks to vigorous uphill treks.

The restaurant scene gives travelers another reason to visit Santa Barbara. Foodies will appreciate the wide selection of restaurants, from gourmet fine dining to trendy eateries.

For French-inspired seasonal cuisine, try bouchon in downtown Santa Barbara's Art District. The menu features classic dishes like duck breast and grilled rack of lamb, as well as locally caught fish and vegetables grown on nearby farms.

Cozy and convivial, Bettina specializes in wood-fired pizzas and other authentic Italian dishes. In the Art District area of downtown Santa Barbara, Loquita treats guests to delicious Spanish cuisine prepared from local ingredients and served in a trendy dining room or on the bougainvillea-draped garden patio.

Sushi aficionados will be wowed by Sushi|Bar Montecito within the historic Montecito Inn . This Michelin-starred restaurant offers an exceptional dining experience, focused on 17-course sushi menus.

If you'd like to try a famous local taco joint, head to La Super-Rica Taqueria for authentic Mexican fare. This tiny, casual eatery almost always has a line of people waiting to order at the counter. You can choose to take out or sit down in the bright, cheerful dining room.

Los Agaves is an award-winning Mexican restaurant with two locations in Santa Barbara. The ambience is inviting yet casual (you order at the counter), but the cuisine is refined and made with high-quality fresh ingredients. Offering a unique twist on Mexican flavors, Mesa Verde Restaurant serves hearty plant-based vegan cuisine.

In addition to upscale restaurants, Santa Barbara also has many luxury hotels that deliver a first-rate vacation experience. For a pampering seaside holiday, treat yourself to a stay at one of the high-end beach resorts in Santa Barbara, which feature 5-star service, ocean views, fabulous swimming pools, chic restaurants, and other amenities.

Palm Springs became a legendary winter resort in the 1930s, when Hollywood movie stars came here to relax in style. Holiday seekers still flock to this desert oasis (107 miles from Los Angeles) to bask in the sunshine at luxury resorts and enjoy recreational activities, especially from January until April when the weather is mild.

The attractive natural scenery makes Palm Springs a pleasant place to enjoy outdoor activities, such as swimming, tennis, and golf. Other tourist attractions and things to do include hiking and rock climbing.

Gorgeous wilderness trails are found at Indian Canyons (a desert oasis outside downtown Palm Springs). This pristine nature site includes Palm Canyon , with its lush flora and dramatic mountain views; Andreas Canyon , a favorite spot for bird-watching; and Murray Canyon , which has a creek and waterfalls.

Another magnificent nature site is Mount San Jacinto , a 10,000-foot, snow-dusted mountain, which can be ascended by an aerial tramway. From the 8,500-foot drop-off point, the views of the desert floor are spectacular.

Considering its quiet location, Palm Springs has a surprising number of cultural attractions and events. The Palm Springs Art Museum boasts a superb collection of California paintings, Native American art, and Western American art, as well as Pre-Columbian artifacts.

A must-see attraction for those who appreciate mid-century modern design, the Palm Springs Art Museum is devoted to modern and contemporary architecture, art, and design. The museum displays more than 12,000 items and includes an iconic modernist building.

Many travelers visit Palm Springs to admire the city's modernist architecture. During Modernism Week , visitors can take guided tours of the town's notable mid-century modern buildings.

Palm Springs is also known for its upscale shopping , from fashion boutiques and locally owned craft shops to outlet malls.

In the sun-parched California desert, Joshua Tree National Park was named after the trees (known scientifically as " Yucca brevifolia ") that are indigenous to the Mojave Desert. Native Americans gathered the tree's flower buds, as well as seeds, for consumption and used the tree's fibrous leaves to make woven baskets.

The moniker "Joshua" comes from 19th-century Mormon pioneers, who thought the tree's twisted spiky branches resembled the biblical figure's outstretched arms leading them to the Promised Land.

Since the park is 131 miles from Los Angeles (about a two-hour-and-45-minute drive away), those visiting Joshua Tree National Park just for the day will want to try one of the shorter hikes or walks . Other things to do at Joshua Tree National Park include bird-watching, bouldering, admiring wildflowers (in springtime), and horseback riding.

The Fortynine Palms Oasis trail is a moderately strenuous three-mile round-trip hike that features strands of fan palm trees and refreshing pools of water.

For a short and easy walk, head to the Cottonwood Spring Oasis , where a permanent spring and shady cottonwood trees provide an inviting environment. One of the best places to visit near Los Angeles for birding, this lush palm oasis attracts hummingbirds, bushtits, and Gambel's Quail.

The Hidden Valley trail is another moderate nature walk that would appeal to day trippers. The one-mile (round-trip) loop trail traverses a valley enclosed by rocks and includes a picnic area.

If you want to turn your day trip into an overnight getaway, consider camping at Joshua Tree National Park. The park has beautiful campgrounds for tents and RVs that generally offer a quiet ambience. The campsites are scattered throughout the park.

About 55 miles south of Los Angeles, this dreamy beach town is blessed with a mild sunny climate and seven miles of sandy shoreline. Nature enthusiasts are drawn to the spectacular scenery, while surfers come for the great waves.

More than simply a place to sunbathe and surf, Laguna Beach has many tourist attractions , including splendid gardens, scenic hiking trails in the rolling hills, art galleries, and cultural events.

The JoAnne Artman Gallery (326 North Coast Highway) displays a collection of award-winning art from museums or private collections. The Laguna Art Museum (307 Cliff Drive) is focused on California art created by local artists or featuring state history as a theme.

About 33 miles from Los Angeles' city center, Malibu is known for its fantastic beaches and opulent oceanfront homes. Many Hollywood movie stars reside here, and the paparazzi are known to lurk around the beaches in hopes of spotting celebrities.

Nestled in the Santa Monica Mountains, Malibu has a stunning 27-mile coastline with striking sea cliffs. The Pacific Ocean waves are ideal for surfing but not for swimming. In this breathtaking natural environment, the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area offers over 500 miles of hiking trails.

Although Malibu has an air of glamour and exclusivity, all of the town's beaches allow public access (up to the "mean high-tide" level), even when bordered by private beachfront property. The public beaches are open from sunrise to sunset every day, while the public-private beaches are difficult to spot from Highway One, as they are hidden from view; many of these beaches bordering private property are only accessible through gates or adjacent beaches.

Malibu Lagoon State Beach is one of the best surfing beaches; it also has picnic tables and a saltwater marsh with abundant birdlife.

A popular spot that feels like a hidden gem when it's not crowded, El Matador Beach is a sandy beach with sea caves.

Malibu's longest stretch of shoreline, Zuma Beach extends for nearly two miles and features a wide shoreline of fine white sand. This expansive public beach has top-notch amenities, including beach volleyball nets, public restrooms and showers, and restaurants.

Year-round balmy weather, beautiful beaches , and a wealth of tourist attractions make this sunny Southern California town one of the most beloved places to visit in California.

San Diego's Balboa Park delights visitors with its gardens, museums, and ornate Spanish Colonial-style buildings, as well as the San Diego Zoo (home to exotic animals and beloved pandas).

Families with kids enjoy visiting SeaWorld , which features killer whale shows, roller coasters, splashy water rides, an aquarium, and close-up experiences with dolphins.

Founded in 1769, San Diego has noteworthy historic areas. The Old Town of San Diego, with its original adobe buildings, is designated a State Historic Park. The Victorian-era edifices of the Gaslamp Quarter have earned it a place on the National Register of Historic Places; this trendy area is now brimming with shops, restaurants, art galleries, and theaters.

Farther away than the other destinations on this list, Hearst Castle is worth the journey because of its unique cultural value and sensational setting. This incredible landmark is perched high on a hilltop at the southern end of Big Sur on California's Central Coast, with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean. Renowned for its dramatic natural beauty, Big Sur stretches for 90 miles north of Hearst Castle.

San Francisco newspaper baron William Randolph Hearst created California's only castle over a 28-year period (from 1919 to 1947), enlisting architect Julia Morgan to construct a lavish Spanish-style mansion with 165 rooms. The castle's architectural inspiration came from 16th-century churches in Andalusia.

The sumptuous interior is adorned with tapestries, paintings, and other treasures from Europe that Hearst purchased to display throughout the castle. In fact, Hearst Castle is now an art museum accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, although it is listed as a State Historical Monument and is operated by the California State Parks system.

Hearst called his secluded retreat "La Cuesta Encantada" ("The Enchanted Hill") because of the sublime surroundings, including 127 acres of lush Mediterranean gardens filled with palm trees, vibrant flowers, fountains, terraces, and decorative pools.

Also on the grounds are tennis courts; Moorish-style guest cottages; and the marvelous Neptune Swimming Pool , which features classical elements reminiscent of ancient Greece. Equally dazzling, the indoor Roman Pool reveals exquisite floor-to-ceiling mosaics of shimmering Venetian-glass tiles.

The Hearst Castle estate is now the property of the state of California and is open to the public for guided tours. Tickets may be purchased at the Hearst Castle Visitor Center , which has casual dining options, a gift shop, and restrooms. Tours include a five-mile shuttle bus ride up into the hills to arrive at the estate property.

For those taking a day trip to Hearst Castle from Los Angeles (231 miles away), a convenient option is to take an organized tour.

Made famous by the Beach Boys music group in the 1960s, Huntington Beach is known as " Surf City USA" because it's one of the best places to surf in Southern California. The town's beaches still live up to their reputation.

Huntington Beach boasts 10 miles of beautiful sandy shoreline in addition to other tourist attractions such as its Main Street, Central Park, and Pacific City shopping and dining area.

Surfers love the crashing ocean waves and the legendary surfing culture. Huntington Beach, with its five public beaches, is also a mecca for other outdoor sports, including beach volleyball, bicycling, jogging, and nature walks. Just a few miles from the beach, the picturesque Huntington Harbor is a great place for paddleboarding and kayaking.

Bird-watchers will find plenty of terrain to explore at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve , home to over 200 species of birds, including cormorants, egrets, hummingbirds, owls, sandpipers, and swallows.

Oxnard is a lovely waterfront city with miles of pristine white-sand beaches and plenty of things to do . It's worth taking the 60-mile drive from Los Angeles to enjoy the town's relaxing atmosphere, fresh air, and outdoor activities.

The beaches of Oxnard draw many surfers and sunbathers. Other things to do include sailing, kayaking, hiking, cycling, and golf.

Sunsets at the beach are incomparable, with the glimmering Pacific Ocean waves and the glowing afternoon light reflected on the Channel Islands in the distance.

In addition to the natural attractions, Oxnard is known for its excellent restaurants, shopping, community performances, and concerts.

At Big Bear Lake, visitors can escape to an invigorating mountain setting (just 97 miles from Los Angeles). Surrounded by pine forests, the lake has sparkling, crystal-clear waters that are ideal for fishing, as well as summertime swimming, jet skiing, canoeing, and kayaking.

Other favorite summertime sports at Big Bear include hiking, horseback riding, and golfing. Many visitors enjoy lakeside picnics and BBQs on warm days.

During winter, Big Bear is one of the best places to visit in Southern California for alpine skiing and snowboarding. Two of California's top ski areas are found here at Big Bear Mountain Resort : Snow Summit and Bear Mountain, together offering around 1,000 acres of skiable terrain and 1,600 feet of vertical drop for exhilarating downhill runs.

Families with kids love the powder snow during wintertime at Big Bear. Snow tubing and sledding are popular activities for the little ones.

Read More: Top-Rated Things to Do in Big Bear, CA

Balboa Island is a tiny island within Beacon Bay of Newport Beach , about 45 miles from Los Angeles. Visitors may arrive by ferry, which drops off near a colorful Ferris wheel .

With its sunny vacation ambience, this quaint seaside town invites relaxation. The town has a sandy, palm-fringed beach with gentle waves and a bustling marina where water sports enthusiasts enjoy sailing, jet-skiing, and paddleboarding.

Visitors will enjoy taking a leisurely stroll down Marine Avenue , a pleasant street lined with enticing restaurants and shops.

During wintertime, whale-watching is a popular activity.

Another attractive beach town, Corona del Mar , is just two miles away from Balboa Island.

Travelers can escape from the Los Angeles metropolitan area by taking a 50-mile drive to the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument/Angeles National Forest, a peaceful wilderness environment.

During the summer and fall season (when the weather is not too hot), advanced hikers can take on the challenge of ascending Mount San Antonio , affectionately known as "Mount Baldy" because of its barren landscape.

During winter and spring, the mountain is usually covered in snow, and mountaineers approach it with ice boots, crampons, and ice axes. The 10,000-foot peak is the highest in the San Gabriel Mountain Range as well as the highest point in Los Angeles County.

Looking for a less extreme adventure? The area has many easy and moderate hikes as well as campgrounds, picnic sites, and swimming areas. A variety of hiking trails wind through the forest, and some trails accommodate mountain bikers and horseback riders.

Hiking Tip : Watch out for "Poodle-Dog Bush," a shrub with bell-shaped lavender flowers that can cause skin irritation and blisters similar to a reaction from poison ivy.

An exciting day trip about a four-hour drive away from Los Angeles, Tijuana gives visitors a taste of a foreign country just across the U.S. border. Tijuana may have a reputation for seediness and crime, however a recent cultural renaissance and government investment have enhanced the tourist appeal. With a measure of caution, visitors can enjoy the highlights of Tijuana .

Tijuana is known as the "corner of Mexico" and has a vibrant downtown area with a historic plaza , a typical Spanish bullring , and a modern cathedral . The urban center also boasts noteworthy architectural landmarks including the ornate Moorish-style Palacio de Frontón Jai Alai .

For a dose of culture, tourists can check out the avant-garde Centro Cultural Tijuana , which hosts art exhibits, music concerts, movie screenings, and cultural performances. The center also has an area designed for children, an aquarium, and a botanical garden.

Shopaholics will want to check out the Avenida Revolución , a bustling street with many retail boutiques. This avenue also has many trendy restaurants, where tourists can enjoy the delicious local cuisine.

More on California

8 Best Day Trips From Los Angeles (2024 Guide)

• Last Updated: February 4, 2024

Use our guide to plan the best day trips from Los Angeles, including charming seaside towns, dramatic national parks, and so much more!

As the largest city in California, Los Angeles is famous for being the world’s entertainment capital.

It is the home of celebrity-rich Hollywood and top-class attractions like Universal Studios Hollywood, the Santa Monica Pier, the Hollywood Sign, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and the Getty Center. 

The palm-tree-lined streets of Los Angeles exude an enriching, inspirational ambiance that has continued to lure in artists, musicians, and actors from all four corners of the Earth. Many individuals choose to get their breakthrough roles and big start in this major city.

Others travel to Los Angeles County to experience its endless array of outdoor activities. Framed by the San Gabriel Mountains and the Santa Monica Mountains, there are so many places to get in touch with nature around the city as well.

If you are looking to escape the city for a day, there are many quick and rewarding day trips that we recommend taking to further explore the local area.

Los Angeles is a city packed with excitement. But there is so much to see and do outside the city center. From stunning beaches framed with swaying palm trees, to islands surrounded by Pacific Ocean waves, to national parks filled with wildlife, here are some of the top day trips from Los Angeles!

Check out our 3 days in Los Angeles itinerary for more ideas of what to do in the city.

Table of Contents

What Is There To See and Do?

Getting there and away, best time of year to visit, the 8 best day trips from los angeles.

Los Angeles is a major city full of entertainment and world-famous attractions, but only a day trip away are some of the nation’s most unique attractions waiting to be experienced.

These day trips from Los Angeles include national parks, hiking trails, islands, and more. Go wine tasting, whale watching, mountain biking, hiking, surfing, sightseeing, and just absorb the beauty of Southern California !

We’ll also recommend the best ways to get to each location. A rental car is usually the easiest option, but public transport is often available as well!

The best way to get around is to rent a car and explore on your own! We recommend Rental Cars , which has the largest range of vehicles for the best value on the market.

Joshua Tree National Park 

• Distance from Los Angeles: 131 miles/211 km
• How Long it Takes: 2½ hours

Mingling two separate desert ecosystems, the Mojave and Colorado Desert, Joshua Tree National Park is one of the best day trips from Los Angeles.

The park was named after the Joshua Trees that grow there. The bristled trees that prosper within the park were given a name by Mormon immigrants in the mid-19th century.

The immigrants named the trees after the Biblical figure, Joshua, and the pioneers used the outstretched limbs to direct them west. 

Though Joshua Tree National Park is most commonly known for the trees of its namesake that root and prosper within its territory, there’s so much more to admire about this prosperous park.

Plant and animal species within its grounds thrive in the two desert ecosystems. One such plant is the teddy bear cholla cacti.

Also called the “Jumping Cholla”, this cactus is infamous for a segment of it jumping off and latching onto unlucky passersby. Therefore, it’s best to admire these impressive plants from a distance! 

Joshua Tree National Park is rich with activities, from hiking and camping to sightseeing and rock climbing!

An International Dark Sky Park, Joshua Tree National Park’s sky is untainted by pollution of artificial light from the city. This aspect makes the park a prime spot for clear views of the stars and sky. 

This self-driving audio tour also provides educational tips and uncovers secrets of Joshua Tree National Park’s history and ecosystem.

While on this tour, tour-goers can discover hidden tales of the McHaney Gang and learn about those who once traveled across the desert lands on their pioneering quests. 

Examples of popular things to see include:

• Cottonwood Spring
• Ryan Mountain
• Lost Horse Mine

The best hiking trails include:

• Hidden Valley Nature Trailhead
• Skull Rock Trail
• Arch Rock Nature Trail
• Cholla Cactus Garden Trail

There are two bus options for getting to Joshua Tree National Park from LA. The first option is to take the Los Angeles Union Station to the Indio Bus Station.

From there, rides are by demand. The other bus route recommendation is from Los Angeles Downtown to Indio and hitching a ride by demand from the station. 

If you are not in a hurry, hop on the L.A. Union Station train to San Bernardino Downtown. Take a 16-minute walk from the San Bernardino bus station to the Indio bus station. Rides from there are by demand to Joshua Tree National Park.

Joshua Tree National Park is open year-round, but the best time to visit is spring and fall. These times of the year, the weather is more comfortable for trekking the great outdoors.

However, the Southern California heat can be intense in the summer, and walking around under its smothering intensity can be uncomfortable. 

Newport Beach

• Distance from Los Angeles: 47 miles/76 km
• How Long it Takes: 1 Hour

Notorious for having one of the world’s best bodysurfing sites, the “Wedge,” Newport Beach is a lovely getaway from Los Angeles. If you’re looking to dip your toes in the sand, listen to soothing ocean waves, and soak in the sun’s rays, then this is the place to do it.

Newport Beach is one of the largest small-craft harbors in the United States. Its Ocean Front Walk competes as one of the most famous boardwalks in the region.

The Newport Beach Pier and the Ocean Front Walk symbolize the local history, an iconic landmark, and a place for people to come together to admire the breathtaking beachside views of Catalina Island and the Pacific Ocean.

Read next: The 25 Best Things To Do In Southern California

In this coastal city, there’s plenty to do and see! 

Newport Beach is rich with outdoor escapades into the sea’s salty waters, from lazing in the sun on the beach, going whale-watching on a boat tour, and hiking the coast.

Then, relish some much-needed retail therapy at Fashion Island outdoor shopping mall. Here, visitors can savor world-class shopping in this premier shopping center or have a romantic dinner at one of the upscale restaurants. 

This ultimate two-hour whale-watching tour gets passengers up close and personal with humpback and finback whales as these giant impressive mammals swim and play through along the Newport-Laguna coastline. 

• Newport Beach Pier
• Fashion Island
• Sherman Library & Gardens
• Upper Newport Bay Nature Reserve

The cheapest way to reach Newport Beach from Los Angeles is by taking the train from the Los Angeles Union Station to Balboa-35th.

The fastest route would be grabbing a taxi or driving a car. Another option is taking the train from Los Angeles to Santa Ana and from Santa Ana, hailing a taxi to the beach. 

Newport Beach is a popular spot to head to in the summer. Unfortunately, it’s also the warmest during these months. We recommend visiting in the spring or fall if you want to avoid the crowd and the heat.

On the other hand, if you’re seeking the heat for a summer getaway, then this is the perfect time for you to visit!

Laguna Beach

• Distance from Los Angeles: 56 miles/90 km
• How Long it Takes: 1 Hour 30 Minutes

The seven miles of golden-sanded beaches, shocking blue waters, and secret coves hidden along the coastline have transformed Laguna Beach into one of the area’s top weekend getaways. And it’s a quick and rewarding day trip from Los Angeles!

Laguna Beach welcomes artists from all over. The city is notorious for its artist community, summer arts festivals, art galleries, and bohemian ambiance.

However, the creativity and the inspiration drawn from its luring atmosphere have effectively made it a place for people to unwind and relax from life’s stressors. 

There are so many fun things to do on this day trip from Los Angeles! Explore the hidden coves, tide pools, and sea caves on its beachside.

Then, sink your toes in the sand and wind back to bask in the warmth of the sun’s rays. Pick from a wide selection of trails set along the scenic coastline to walking or jogging.

The famous Pacific Coast Highway passes right through Laguna Beach as well. So your drive in and out of the town will be especially scenic – this is the most beautiful driving route on the USA’s west coast.

Read next: 21 Best Things To Do In Los Angeles

Things to see and do:

• Heisler Park
• Crystal Cove State Park
• Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
• Victoria Beach
• Crescent Bay Point Park

Examples of popular trails to hike:

• Willow Canyon to Bommer Ridge
• Rock-It Loop Trail
• Carolyn Wood View Knoll from Temple Hill
• Top of the World via Canyon Acres Trail

The cheapest way to reach Laguna Beach from Los Angeles is by driving. However, if you don’t have a car or plan on renting one, there is a second option to consider. From downtown LA, take the train to Irvine. Then, hail a taxi for a 15-minute drive to Laguna Beach.

Summer is the most popular time to visit Laguna Beach. If you don’t mind the crowds, the heat, and the higher lodging costs, the summer is the best time for you.

Spring and fall are less crowded, and the weather is more comfortable for adventuring around outdoors. Prices will also be lower in these seasons. 

• Distance from Los Angeles: 120 miles/200 km
• How Long it Takes: 2 Hours 45 Minutes

In San Diego , the place referenced as America’s Finest City, people relish in the exhilarating theme parks, tan on the beaches, eat fresh seafood, and hike some of the most scenic trails off the coast. It’s one of the best cities in Southern California!

President Ronald Reagan was the first to drive over the Coronado Bridge when it first opened in 1969. The Coronado Bridge was specially designed to allow the tallest ships to pass beneath it. It was awarded the “Most Beautiful Bridge” award in 1970 for its shocking design.

A ride along the Coronado Bridge is one of the top activities for first-time visitors to San Diego to experience the beautiful scenic vistas of the ocean and the city.

Need more inspiration? Check out our list of the top 21 things to do in San Diego !

San Diego features some of the most visited attractions in the United States, including Balboa Park and the USS Midway Museum. The museum preserves and exhibits the USS Midway, one of the longest-serving aircraft carriers of the U.S. Navy, while sharing the impactful history of the ship.

Surfers flock to the city to catch a wave at famous surfing spots like Swami’s Beach and La Jolla Cove.

History buffs love to tour the Gaslamp Quarter, the historic downtown district with over 100 outstandingly well-preserved Victorian-era homes. There’s so much to do here so it’s no wonder it is one of the best weekend trips from Los Angeles!

The San Diego CityPASS will save you money on lots of the city’s top attractions!

Top things to do include:

• Balboa Park
• San Diego Zoo
• Cabrillo National Monument
• Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
• Hotel Del Coronado

The cheapest way to get to San Diego from Los Angeles is by taking the bus. The top bus line choices are Greyhound, Amtrak, and Flixbus. The best option is to take the train from Los Angeles to San Diego. Another affordable option is driving if you have a car. 

Related: This beautiful drive from Los Angeles to San Diego is worth it if you have the time!

We recommend visiting in the spring and fall for lower prices and favorable weather. However, the summer in San Diego is the peak season for tourism, meaning costs will be high for lodging and travel. 

Santa Barbara

• Distance from Los Angeles: 98 miles/158 km
• How Long it Takes : 1 Hour 50 Minutes

Called “The American Riviera,” Santa Barbara intertwines a wealthy heritage from the time the first Europeans settled in the area. Spanish Colonial Revival architecture decorates the city, pairing wondrously with its beachside placement. 

Framed by the Los Padres National Forest, this coastal town is not only full of things to do, it’s scenery is simply stunning.

The Mediterranean climate in Santa Barbara makes it an ideal vacation getaway to retreat from the hustle and bustle of life. Combined with its world-class wine offerings and outdoor recreational activities, Santa Barbara is one of the top day trips from Los Angeles.

Notorious for its populous farmer’s markets, Santa Barbara is where fresh produce and baked goods, intriguing finds, and locally-made items such as artisan cheeses, wines, and blooming flowers are found.

The market’s motto is “What is Grown in California” to guarantee fresh foods and the support of local farmers and business owners. 

Downtown Santa Barbara is rich in history and outdoor activities. From strolling through gardens and art galleries, to wine tasting and exploring, you’ll have a blast in this gorgeous town. Join a wine, chocolate, and history walking tour to make the most of your time here!

• Santa Barbara County Courthouse
• Old Mission Santa Barbara 1786
• Stearns Wharf
• Santa Barbara Museum of Art
• Channel Islands National Park

Looking for more ideas? Check out our ultimate guide to the best activities in Santa Barbara !

A car is the easiest and best way to travel, or you can ride the bus from downtown Los Angeles to the Santa Barbara Train Station. 

The weather in Santa Barbara is mild throughout the year, making it a frequently visited vacation spot.

Even so, summer is the most common time to experience the clog of tourist crowds. The spring and fall offer temperatures that range from the 60s-70s with lower rates for lodging and travel. 

Santa Catalina Island

• Distance from Los Angeles: 46.9 miles/76 km
• How Long it Takes: 3 Hours

Frequently referred to as “Catalina Island,” Santa Catalina Island thrives with natural beauty from land to sea. It is one of the most popular Los Angeles day trips for its many outdoor recreational opportunities and breathtaking scenery. 

The island has two main towns. One is Avalon, a historic town on the island’s southeast end buzzing with tourism. On the island’s west end is the other, Two Harbors, the more rustic of the two that functions as a campground and harbor.

Both islands have unique activities to relish, from snorkeling and kayaking in Two Harbors to shopping and dining in Avalon. 

Santa Catalina Island is rich with natural beauty and activities to participate in. From journeying its many scenic trails to scuba diving through its clear blue waters, this location is beautiful and full of fun activities.

• Catalina Museum for Art & History
• Wrigley Memorial
• Catalina Casino
• Catalina Island Conservancy

The best trails include:

• Trans-Catalina Trail
• Garden to Sky Trail
• Hermit Gulch Trail to Lone Tree Point
• Little Harbor & Shark Harbor Trail

There are only a few options available for transportation as the island is not reachable by land and must be crossed by water.

The first option is to take the bus from the Los Angeles Union Station to Long Beach Downtown Transit Gallery. From there, walk 17 minutes to the ferry station in Long Beach to ride the ferry to Santa Catalina Island. 

Riding the tram from 7th Street and Metro Center Station in Los Angeles to Downtown Long Beach Station is the cheapest option. Then, walk 14 minutes to the ferry station in Long Beach to ride the ferry to the island. 

If you have a car, you can drive to the ferry station in Long Beach for easy access to Santa Catalina Island. 

Read next: 21 Best Things To Do In Santa Monica

Santa Catalina Island is incredibly busy with tourists in the summer. Unfortunately, prices are also more costly during this peak tourism season. The best way to avoid the crowds and the hefty costs is to visit in the spring and fall. 

Huntington Beach

• Distance from Los Angeles: 36 miles/59 km

Stretching almost nine miles along the Pacific Coast, Huntington Beach is world-famous for its beaches that surfers flock to from all over the globe to catch a wave.

A short day trip from LA, the city is called “Surf City” because of its powerful qualities that continue to attract surfers to explore its waters and ride the waves.

However, though Huntington Beach is undoubtedly a hub for surfers, there are more attractive qualities to this California city that are worth exploring if you’re not a surfer! 

The sandy beaches here are beautiful, perfect for lazing back and soaking in the sun’s rays and the sounds of the waves as they crash against the shore. While exploring the city’s beaches, you can watch surfers paddle into the ocean before hopping on their board to ride a wave. 

There are numerous upscale resort hotel selections for the perfect day trip or weekend getaway to sink into the beachside luxury of the city.

Falling asleep to the sound of the waves lulling and crashing against the shore, waking up to the long stretch of ocean colored by the sunset, or ending the day to the vibrant sunrise, are breathtaking and rejuvenating aspects to take advantage of while in Huntington Beach! 

Huntington Beach is full of fun outdoor activities to take part in, from strolling along the beach, swimming in the ocean, and visiting the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve. 

The reserve is a protected coastal estuary home to over 200 avian species, making Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve popular for birdwatching and sightseeing through its freshwater marsh, coastal dunes, and seabird nesting islands.

Within the reserve is a four-mile public hiking trail network with scenic overlooks for opportunities to catch sight of the birds, plants, and other animals that call the reserve home. 

The Shipley Nature Center is another outdoor attraction to consider. It is a fenced nature preserve opened in 1974 to protect a native habitat of hundreds of avian species and eight habitats, including Torrey Pine, Coastal Sage Scrub, Redwood Grove, and Southern Oak Woodland.

The center welcomes walk-in visitors Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays to stroll its self-guided trails, learn more about the sanctuary’s inhabitants at the Interpretive Center, or buy native California plants for planting season!

Exploring more of the Golden State? Check out our guide to the best things to do in California !

The top things to do include:

• Shipley Nature Center
• Bella Terra
• Huntington State Beach
• Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve

The two cheapest ways to reach Huntington Beach from LA are driving a car or taking the bus from 5th Street and Hill to Orange-Main. Another bus route option is taking the bus from Los Angeles to Westminster and then transferring from Magnolia-Bolsa to Magnolia-Bedel. 

Taking a taxi is another option though it will be the most expensive of the transportation options. 

The best time of year to visit Huntington Beach is in the fall. During this season, the crowds are less clogged, and the prices for lodging and travel are more affordable.

Therefore, visiting Huntington Beach in the fall months is recommended to avoid crowds and higher travel costs.

In the fall, Huntington Beach is splendid, with cooler summer temperatures still warming the air, so travelers can continue to relish the beachy vibes of this famous surf city.

Palm Springs

• Distance from Los Angeles: 107 miles/172 km
• How Long it Takes: 1 Hour and 50 minutes

Filled with art, culture, and year-round sunny weather, Palm Springs is another popular day trip from LA.

With a bustling downtown and a backdrop of the San Bernardino Mountains, San Bernardino National Forest, and the San Jacinto Mountains, there is something here for everyone!

Palm Springs is a resort destination that attracts Hollywood stars and travelers from all over the world. Unique architecture, trendy shops, and top-notch cuisine are abundant downtown, and the surrounding nature adds a bit of serenity to the entertainment-filled city. There are also some world-class golf courses nearby!

Read next: 21 Best Things To Do In Palm Springs

For those who want to explore nature and landscapes, there are some incredible hikes in the San Jacinto Mountains , including the breathtaking trek to the peak of Mount San Jacinto Peak via the Deep Springs Trail.

For adventures within the city, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is easily the top attraction. It’s the largest rotating aerial tramway in the world, and on the ride up you can admire the deep canyons and valleys below.

There are also lots of incredible museums, gardens, and eateries within Palm Springs. Start your trip in the visitor center if you need some guidance on where to begin!

• Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
• Palm Springs Art Museum
• Coachella Valley Preserve
• Moorten Botanical Gardens
• Palm Springs Architecture and Design Center

Top trails to hike in the surrounding mountains:

• Tahquitz Canyon Trail
• Deer Springs Trail
• Cactus to Clouds Trail
• Andreas Canyon Trail

It’s a very straightforward journey from LA to Palm Springs. The bus travels between the two cities daily, with Flixbus being the most popular bus company. You can also drive if you have a car or want to rent one!

As with most destinations in Southern California, the best time to visit Palm Springs is in the shoulder seasons of autumn or spring. You’ll find far fewer crowds and more pleasant temperatures at this time of year. Summer can get very hot and crowded!

DISCLAIMER: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, which means if you book accommodation, tours or buy a product, we will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. These commissions help us keep creating more free travel content to help people plan their holidays and adventures. We only recommend the best accommodations, tours and products that ourselves or our fantastic editorial team have personally experienced, and regularly review these. Thanks for your support, kind friend!

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28 Best Day Trips from Los Angeles in 2024

Written By: ThePlanetD Team

United States

Updated On: January 31, 2024

Los Angeles is impossible not to love. From the Pacific Ocean waves backdrop to the intensity of Downtown Los Angeles, it is a city you will want to return to again and again. There is also  so much to do  and see, from the iconic Hollywood Sign to Hotel del Coronado and more than one theme park to get your thrill on. Snuggled into the coastline of southern California, Los Angeles is one of the best-located and world-famous destinations in the US. And if you are visiting, it would be a crime to avoid enjoying some of the day trips from Los Angeles.

Table of Contents

Top Day Trips From Los Angeles

Los Angeles is surrounded by beaches, mountains, and national park choices. The city has tons of organized day trip tours. Or you can brave the limited but reasonably sufficient public transport or opt for the most liberating option – a rental car. You could head to Laguna Beach, San Bernardino National Forest, or Santa Barbara. One thing is for sure; you have many options when choosing which Los Angeles day trips you want to undertake.

Planning Your Trip To Los Angeles Right Now?

Below are some of the top day trip tours from L.A. Don’t forget to plan ahead when  visiting California!

Top Day Trip Activities and Tours from Los Angeles:

• From Los Angeles: Santa Barbara Wine Tasting Day Trip (Most Popular Day Trip from L.A.)
• Los Angeles Coast and Beaches Private Tour (Our Favorite Day Trip)
• Private 10-hour tour to Palm Springs from Los Angeles (Likely to Sell Out)
• Exclusive Malibu Stars Homes & Beautiful Beach Tour (Best Deal)

1. Newport Beach

Newport Beach is a haven of sandy beaches with a clustered, flashy harbor. The coastal city sits south of Los Angeles and is ideal to experience the coast outside of hectic LA. Newport Beach is in the middle of Orange County, a region famed for its theme parks and coastal fun fairs. And true to its area, Newport Beach has the Balboa Pier and Fun Zone where you’ll find a traditional and aesthetic amusement park with a Ferris wheel. Newport Beach is the perfect spot for some light-hearted fun.

You can reach Newport Beach by car in under an hour. Or, if you are really stuck with no rental car or license, you can catch a bus connection to Newport Beach in 2.5 hours. As a quick side note, Newport Beach is a serious hotspot for anyone interested in whale watching – so wildlife lovers take heed. It is one of the only year-round whale-watching destinations the US has to offer, with whales migrating past Newport Beach at all times of the year. This is one of the best whale-watching tours in Newport Beach.

• Distance from Los Angeles: 43 minutes by car or 2.5 hours by public transport

2. Laguna Beach

Laguna Beach couldn’t be more different in Orange Country from the fun-loving and fast-paced Newport Beach. Laguna Beach is much more creative with a more laidback vibe that attracts surfers and artists alongside a steady flow of Los Angeles day trippers. In Laguna Beach, you’ll find art galleries, sandy beaches like the surf spot Aliso Beach Park, and pretty boardwalks along Main Beach. Laguna Beach attracts six million visitors a year, and its chilled atmosphere makes it easy to see why. It is the sort of place where you go to recalibrate or enrich yourself artistically. So if that fits the bill, Laguna Beach is your day trip.

You can reach Laguna Beach easily by car from Los Angeles, so we’d suggest hiring a rental car if you don’t have one already.

• Distance from Los Angeles: 50 minutes by car and 2 hours 20 minutes by public transport

3. San Diego

San Diego is sunshine heaven. The coastal city is right above the Mexican border and is loved by many for its fantastic climate. It is no surprise that visiting one of its beaches on a day trip to San Diego is a top recommendation. However, San Diego is also popular amongst lovers of military history, and the city is home to an active naval fleet.

You can view the Naval Base San Diego from a distance and also visit the USS Midway Museum and the Maritime Museum of San Diego for more insights. San Diego is a brilliant day trip if you want to experience another city while visiting Los Angeles. For us, its beach culture and military history stand out the most. Be prepared for a full day out.

If you choose this day trip, we recommend skipping San Diego Zoo. On day trips from Los Angeles, you can see plenty of animals in their natural habitats, so there’s no need to see them in captivity. If you don’t have a car then you can jump on this day trip that leaves from Los Angeles .

• Distance from Los Angeles: 1 hour 45 minutes by car or 3 hours by train

4. Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park is a famously beautiful national park of 800,000 acres. Think cacti and desert flowers – Joshua Tree is one of the most iconic desert scenes in the US. Open all year round (but admittedly almost unbearable mid-summer with its heat), Joshua Tree National Park is full of hiking trails and scenic drives. Plus, the national park’s namesake tree, the Joshua tree.

The Joshua tree is rather bizarre-looking, with massive trunks and spiky green clumps at the end of each thick branch. A Joshua tree looks quite like JK Rowling’s whomping willow. The Joshua tree was named by Mormon settlers crossing the Mojave desert in the mid-19th century, who apparently found them reminiscent of how Joshua reached up his hands to pray.

These are the  best hikes in Joshua Tree National Park ; we’d suggest allowing a whole day to visit, especially as it is a 2-hour drive one way by car. You can take a guided day tour from Los Angeles if you don’t drive.

• Distance from Los Angeles: 2 hours by car

5. San Gabriel Mountains

You’ll need a car to experience this day trip from Los Angeles. The San Gabriel Mountains make it all worthwhile, though. The peaks are renowned for being rugged and beautiful. They were a favorite spot for the naturalist John Muir, who commented on how inaccessibly rugged they were. The San Gabriel Mountains are really striking visually, with forests of alder, maple, and pine at the low levels, dwindling off towards snowcaps at the mountain summits. The largest of all is Mount Saint Antonio, where you can hike in 7-9 hours in snow-free months to reach the summit and gorgeous views.

The San Gabriel Mountains are impressive for mountain biking and hiking trails. Who needs theme parks when you have so many exhilarating routes to whizz down and challenging trails to tackle? These mountains are a fabulous day trip from Los Angeles for anyone wanting an adrenaline experience in nature.

• Distance from Los Angeles: 1 hour by car

6. Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is no ordinary city day trip. It is easy to think that every small coastal city blurs into one in California, but Santa Barbara proves that wrong instantly. The city thrives in age-old colonial heritage, with a strong Spanish influence that remains evident through architectural styles like white stucco buildings. Downtown Santa Barbara is one of the most impressive (and prettiest) places you can visit from Los Angeles.

And aside from its good looks and characteristic white buildings with red-tiled roofs, it has many attractions. You can visit the Santa Barbara County Courthouse or the Old Mission Santa Barbara to learn more about the religious side of Spanish colonization.

Santa Barbara i s full of culture and stories you can’t miss. Thanks to its strong sense of character and cultural value, it is one of the top places you can visit on a Los Angeles day trip.

• Distance from Los Angeles: 1.5 hours by car or 2.5 hours by train

7. Santa Catalina Island

22 miles off the coast of California, Santa Catalina Island is in its own little bubble. The island is a beautiful, safe space for birds and wildlife – on land and off land. In fact, it is even popular for scuba diving because of its well-protected and preserved marine wildlife. While it was used as a filming location for some underwater scenes in the original 1975 Jaws film, you don’t need to worry. Its most popular wildlife species that tourists see are elephant seals, bison, and blue whales.

And when you want to escape the crazed chaos of the city center and its coastline, Santa Catalina Island is where to head. Thanks to the fast ferries from Long Beach and Dana Point , you can easily reach Santa Catalina Island in an hour. Up to 30 ferries run daily, so you won’t find it hard to organize a day trip.

On Santa Catalina Island, spend the day spotting different animals – either hiking, snorkeling, or scuba diving. It is a super fun place to visit, and its isolated location and ferry crossing make it even more exciting.

• Distance from Los Angeles: 1 hour by ferry from Long Beach

8. Crescent Bay Beach

Crescent Bay Beach is a scenic little beach set against a rocky cliff backdrop just south of Los Angeles. It is one of the shortest day trips from Los Angeles. Crescent Bay Beach is popular because of its quiet atmosphere, brilliant tide pools, and – if you’re lucky – passing dolphins. Crescent Bay Beach is a place for serenity. It is our top recommendation for a peaceful beach day trip from Los Angeles.

Technically, Crescent Bay Beach is part of the Laguna Beach neighborhood. However, it has such a unique character that we must include it in this guide. It is perfectly combined with a trip to the art galleries and a more creatively flamboyant center of Laguna Beach or even a visit to Crystal Cove State Park.

Crescent Bay Point Park is located on the beach’s northern end and is the perfect spot for a beach-view photoshoot. After enjoying time on the sands, head to Crescent Bay Point Park for beautiful beach views.

• Distance from Los Angeles: 1 hour by car or almost 3 hours by public transport

9. Big Bear Lake

Big Bear Lake is a waterside retreat perfect for a weekend getaway. But if you only have a day, don’t worry – we can make that work too. It is a hot spot for watersports, and you can spend a whole day doing anything from a relaxing paddle-boarding experience to a more adventurous wakeboarding attempt. From spring to autumn, it is a top watersports destination; in winter, it transforms into an incredible ski destination.

Big Bear Lake is surrounded by woodland trails, but if you only go for a day, prioritize Castle Rock Trail. Castle Rock Trail takes you up to a scenic rocky outcrop with stunning views of Big Bear Lake and is dreamy at sunset as the perfect finish to your day trip.

You can reach Big Bear Lake easiest by car in just two hours. And while it is feasible to get to the lake in 4 hours by public transport, we wouldn’t recommend it as you’ll spend nearly a whole day traveling on multiple forms of transportation. There’s no direct train or bus. Stick to driving and maximize your time spent on water sports or skiing in winter.

• Distance from Los Angeles: 2 hours by car and 4 hours by public transport

10. Balboa Island

Balboa Island is a funny addition to this guide, located just offshore of Newport Beach. Many people would clump the two together, but we disagree. The little island is such a strong character that we’d recommend treating it as a separate day trip. You can reach Balboa Island by overwater bridge or ferry, and it has a fun, activity-focused atmosphere with a slightly slower pace than the mainland.

The Balboa Island Museum is a must, and it is free to enter. The island is manmade and has exciting history and community to uncover. It even has two trademark dessert recipes, the Balboa Bar and Frozen Banana, which are over 75 years old. Enjoy the beaches, museums, and passionately individualistic food culture.

Balboa Island is accessible by car or public transport. You can take your pick between transportation options from Los Angeles.

• Distance from Los Angeles: 1 hour by car or 2 hours 40 minutes by public transport

11. Palm Springs

Palm Springs is an icon; there’s no doubting that. The city bursts out of the Sonoran Desert with swaying palm trees, steaming hot springs, and a surprisingly vibrant art scene. The metropolis is an easy day trip from Los Angeles. If you drive, you’ll pass between San Bernardino National Forest and Mount San Jacinto State Park – both great detours. This full-day tour is what we would recommend if you don’t have a car.

In Palm Springs itself, you can ride the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, visit art galleries like the Palm Springs Art Museum, and warm up in the hot springs in the Aqua Caliente Indian Reservation. Palm Beach is a brilliant insight into the Sonoran Desert, and the fact it is so close to Los Angeles with so many things to do makes it an ideal day trip candidate.

As a quick side note, Palm Springs is famously close to Coachella. If you are visiting Palm Beach in mid-to-late April, try to bag tickets. Otherwise, just enjoy the attractions scattered around the city’s outskirts.

• Distance from Los Angeles: 1 hour and 40 minutes by car or 2 hours 45 minutes by public transport

12. Long Beach

Long Beach is one of the shortest day trip candidates on this list. The Long Beach neighborhood is on the outskirts of Los Angeles and sits on the coastal shores of the city. We love its accessibility via public transport, and you can reach this day trip destination by taking the San Ysidro FlixBus straight from Los Angeles Union Station. If you are looking for a public transport feasible day trip, Long Beach is your top choice.

So, what makes this coastal neighborhood so fantastic? Well, it is a firm favorite movie set choice in Hollywood, in the top 2% of most expensive areas to live in worldwide. It averages 345 days of sunshine a year. And with this information, you can already understand how glitzy this neighborhood is. You can enjoy Long Beach City Beach, visit museums like the Long Beach Museum of Art and the Museum of Latin American Art, and walk the Japanese-style Rainbow Lagoon Park. But even just appreciating the skyscrapers and water scenery is impressionable enough.

• Distance from Los Angeles: 30 minutes by car or 45 minutes by bus

13. Huntington Beach

Huntington Beach is a must-add-to-your-itinerary for any surfer visiting Los Angeles. The city is incredibly well-respected in the surfing world and is home to the 121-acre Huntington State Beach. You can take to the water at Huntington State Beach yourself or just stroll along the 8.5-mile paved trail while admiring others in the surf.

The surfing attractions don’t stop there either; you also have the International Surfing Museum, the 42-foot World’s Largest Surfboard, and the Surfing Walk of Fame. The museum has everything from longboards to famous surfer memorabilia. Passionate about surf culture and the unofficial sport’s founder Duke Kahanamoku, it is a top-tier attraction when visiting Huntington Beach.

As you can see, Huntington Beach is a fantastic day trip for any surfer. By car, it is an easy 1-hour drive. By public transport, the quickest route is a train on the Metrolink Orange County Line to Buena Park and then the 29 bus to the Huntington-Pacific Coast.

• Distance from Los Angeles: 1 hour by car or 2 hours by public transport

14. San Bernardino National Forest

It’s no secret, and we won’t try to deny it – San Bernardino National Forest is one of the most popular wildlife areas for day trips from Los Angeles. Thick alpine forest sprawls over the San Bernardino Mountains. And if you like active holidays, it is a beautiful place to go hiking or horseback riding. The forest is also huge; it covers an area of over 660,000 acres, so you’ll have to get specific about which trails and activities you want to enjoy before you set off.

Outside of the winter season, hiking and horseback riding are the forest’s forte and should be your top choices. The forest is built for extreme adventures too – there are even campgrounds that welcome horses to stay overnight on multi-day rides. If you are visiting in winter, things shake up a little. Instead of horseback riding and hiking, you’ll be living it up with snow-themed activities like snowmobiling, skiing, and snowshoeing.

San Bernardino National Forest is an hour’s drive from Los Angeles. Depending on your route, you could pass through Whittier Narrows Natural Area or the Cucamonga-Guasti Regional Park – both good stop-off points for a freshen-up halfway through the drive.

15. Channel Islands National Park

Channel Islands National Park is a marine park encompassing five beautiful islands off the coast of California. The islands are so protected, and such havens for wildlife that many coin them the Californian ‘Galapagos,’ and you can see a vast variety of animals on sightseeing tours.

The Channel Islands include Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and Santa Barbara. If you want to get isolated, these dramatic, nature-abundant islands are one of the most striking and ecologically diverse day trips from Los Angeles. You can spot everything from endemic skunks to sea lions and humpback whales. There are also many stunning hiking trails, including Anacapa’s Inspiration Point. And the landscape is nothing other than stunning, with craggy bright green ridges to make Hawaii double-take and beautiful coastlines of sea caves and hidden coves.

You can reach the Channel Islands by a round-trip day-ticket ferry . The ferry trip length depends on which island you choose – Anacapa and Santa Cruz are the closest at just an hour’s ferry ride from the coastline.

• Distance from Los Angeles: 1.5 hours by car or 1 hour 45 minutes by public transport to the visitor center, plus an hour or two for the ferry

16. Malibu Creek State Park

Just 25 miles from Downtown Los Angeles, Malibu Creek State Park is an easy squeeze into a busy itinerary. The park is over 8,000 acres and is perfect for horseback riding, rock climbing, and hiking. Does the landscape look familiar? If it does it is because Malibu Creek State Park was used as a set in a ton of Hollywood movies, including the original Planet of the Apes.

The mix of volcanic rock gorges and pretty pools make the park one of the prettiest and most convenient places to appreciate nature near Los Angeles. Set in the Santa Monica Mountains, this state park is just a short drive from the celeb hot spot of Calabasas. Malibu Creek is an incredible place to go on a day trip, especially with its classic rock pools.

We’d suggest driving to Malibu Creek, which is 50 minutes from LA, by car. Using public transport is much trickier and takes around 2.5 hours on multiple forms of transportation.

• Distance from Los Angeles: 50-minute drive

17. Disney California Adventure Park

Everyone needs to embrace their inner child now and then, and that’s precisely where Disney California Adventure Park comes in. The theme park meets amusement park is a total nostalgia hit. You’ll find everything from hot dog stands to ornate carousels. And with dressed-up Disney characters for ‘meet and greet’ experiences at random throughout the park, this is one of the most magical day trips you can take from Los Angeles. A lot quieter than Disney World, Disney California Adventure Park is a fantastic alternative to its hectic cousin.

The adventure park is set in Paradise Gardens Park – just a 40-minute drive or 1.5 hours on public transport. Get ready to really transport yourself back to your childhood. Or, if you are visiting as a family with young children, recreate some of that beautiful Disney magic for a memorable family day trip. Grab your tickets here.

• Distance from Los Angeles: 40 minutes by car or 1.5 hours by train then bus

18. Malibu Lagoon State Beach

Malibu has that laidback allure – a spot Los Angeles can’t scratch alone. And Malibu Lagoon State Beach is a stunning 110 acres of protected beach and coastal park, well worth visiting just to experience that Malibu relaxation. The surfing community loves the beach area, and you can shred some waves or admire other surfers from the sands. You should bring some binoculars, too, as Malibu Lagoon State Beach has a large estuary that is relied on by migratory birds. The best thing is that you can explore independently or take a guided tour. The choice is yours.

The state beach is next to the Malibu city center and combines well with a trip to nearby Zuma Beach. If you plan to visit both, rent a car to maximize your time.

• Distance from Los Angeles: 1 hour by car and 2.5 hours by public transport (buses)

19. Wine Tasting

You cannot visit wine country and not go wine tasting. While in Los Angeles, you are a short distance from the rolling hills and vineyards of California’s most famous wine district. Just head south 90 miles, and you’ll reach the town of Temecula – renowned for its delicious wines. The region is known for its Syrah wines, in particular, and also for the Sangiovese grape. You can take a wine-tasting tour at each winery for as little as $20 per experience. We recommend this amazing Vineyard and Wine Tasting Trip that leaves right from L.A.

• Distance from Los Angeles: 1 hour and 20 minutes by car

20. San Pedro

San Pedro is another one of Los Angeles’ outskirt neighborhoods well-suited to day trippers. The area has a young professional vibe, with plenty of rented suburban houses and local coffee shops. It was initially formed as its own city but joined Los Angeles in 1909. It is the perfect chance to experience more suburban culture in a Los Angeles coastal district. San Pedro Fish Market and Restaurant is a must for any seafood lover. At the same time, maritime museums are super popular, with the Battleship USS Iowa Museum and Los Angeles Maritime Museum. San Pedro is an excellent choice for a city day along the Pacific Ocean.

• Distance from Los Angeles: 25 minutes by car or 2 hours 40 minutes by public transport

21. Zuma Beach

Remember Zuma Beach? This beach is in Malibu, and the 1.8-mile stretch of sand and surf is popular amongst surfers and sunbathers alike. Zuma Beach has lifeguards, which is a vital safety plus. So you can embrace the rural setting and spacious sands, reassured that there’s safety surveillance in case you get in trouble. Zuma Beach is one of the top Los Angeles day trips for a beach day. And if you get a chance, visit nearby El Matador State Beach and Malibu Lagoon State Beach.

22. Limestone Canyon Regional Park

Limestone Canyon Regional Park is one of the most beautiful day trips from Los Angeles – you’ll just need to be a bit more organized. The park is only open on certain access days, or you can take a guided tour with rangers outside of open-access periods. Limestone Canyon is run by the Irvine Ranch Conservancy, so contact them for bookings and reservations. The park has some stunning hikes past geographical features like sinks and bright limestone ridges. A much lesser touristy option for a day trip, Limestone Canyon Regional Park is where to go to escape the crowds.

• Distance from Los Angeles: 55 minutes by car

23. Crystal Cove State Park

The 2,400-acre Crystal Cove State Park is a gorgeous part beach, part sand dune area just south of Los Angeles. The beach is 3.2 miles, which is open to public access, and has tons of rock pools and coves to venture into. We’d suggest walking the scenic boardwalk before embracing a full-scale lazy beach day. Sitting on the sand and soaking up the atmosphere is a real treat. And the seaside serenity will be a welcome break after a busy Los Angeles.

• Distance from Los Angeles: 50 minutes by car

24. Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is one of the closest – and largest – wilderness areas near Los Angeles. The area has a network of over 500 miles of hiking trails. You can go rock climbing or just enjoy spotting wildlife from the trails. The Backbone Trail is Santa Monica Mountain’s most famous trail and extends 67 miles. If you’ve just got a day, you could pick the most scenic section to hike. While, if you are lucky, you may even spot a big cat, there are estimates of around 10 to 15 mountain lions in the Santa Monica Mountains.

• Distance from Los Angeles: 40 minutes by car

25. San Juan Capistrano

San Juan Capistrano is a beautiful, historic city. It is mainly formed around the Mission San Juan Capistrano, with an aesthetic Los Rios Historic District to admire 18th-19th century architecture. Mission San Juan Capistrano is a historic landmark that reflects California’s Spanish heritage.

The mission was formed in 1776 and now acts as a museum, welcoming 300,000 visitors each year, many embarking on day trips from Los Angeles. The museum has religious and historic artifacts like paintings and even a precious bell that is rung each day to honor Saint Junipero Serra. Whether religious or not, San Juan Capistrano is a cultural destination for a day trip. This guided tour will give you all the history you need about this beautiful city.

• Distance from Los Angeles: 50 minutes by car or 1 hour 40 minutes by bus

26. Angeles National Forest

Angeles National Forest is 700,000 acres of tracks, trails, and attractions. Thought by many to be LA’s ‘backyard playground,’ it is one of the most accessible natural areas to enjoy on a day trip from the city. You can go horseback riding, off-roading, or hiking. Even driving through Angeles National Forest is exciting, with hairpin roads and stunning views of mountainous forest scenery. Angeles National Forest is also free to enter, making it a super budget-friendly day trip.

• Distance from Los Angeles: 1.5 hours by car

27. Whale Watching

Whale watching is one of the best day trips from Los Angeles. From winter to spring, there are averages of 20,000 gray whales passing through Los Angeles’ waters. While if you get lucky, you can also see finback, humpback, and minke whales. And, of course, year-round sightings of various dolphins. If you are visiting Los Angeles in winter or spring, consider whale-watching on a day trip. November until May is the whale season. Most whale-watching day trips cost $50-100 and last a few hours – like this three-hour tour for $60 .

• Distance from Los Angeles: N/A

28. El Matador Beach

Soothing ocean waves against a sandy beach is what you need on some days. El Matador Beach is scenically set below cliffs and consists of three small beaches – cut off from each other during high tide. Located near Malibu, it is the perfect beach day spot and easy to combine with Malibu’s other attractions. The beach has dramatic rock formations along its sands, including stacks and natural arches. If you want a beach with some natural features, it is the ideal solution and a really picturesque choice.

Day Trips From Los Angeles: FAQs

So that’s the best day trips from Los Angeles, but check out these answers to some essential FAQs.

What cities are 2 hours from LA?

Thousand Oaks and Santa Clarita are under 2 hours from LA. San Diego is just over 2.5 hours from LA by car.

What tourist cities are close to Los Angeles?

San Diego is a 2.5-hour drive from LA, while Las Vegas is a 4-hour 40-minute drive away.

Can you do a day trip to San Diego from LA?

Yes, a day trip from LA to San Diego is very feasible. You can take the train in under 3 hours or drive in 2.5 hours.

To Conclude

Day trips from Los Angeles are varied: scuba diving, horseback riding in a national park, or exploring sea caves. You’ve got nearby cities with art galleries and museums in lousy weather, hiking trails, and areas of natural beauty galore for good weather. It is also worth noting that the Los Angeles area is well-known for some great golf courses. So, if you love to golf there are a lot of different course options. We suggest allowing at least a few days in your itinerary to check out some of these amazing Los Angeles day trips. There’s just so much to do, and you should take advantage of it.

Looking for more Los Angeles inspiration? Check out our guide on  where to stay in Los Angeles , including area guidance and hotel recommendations.

Plan Your Next Trip to Los Angeles With These Resources

• 28 Best Beaches In California
• 37 Best Things To Do In Los Angeles – By A Local
• 20 Best Things To Do In Malibu By A Local
• Where To Stay In Los Angeles: Best Areas And Hotels For Every Budget
• The Best Things To Do In San Diego – A Local’s Guide To The City

Travel Planning Resources

Looking to book your next trip? Why not use these resources that are tried and tested by yours truly.

Flights: Start planning your trip by finding the best flight deals on Skyscanner

Book your Hotel: Find the best prices on hotels with these two providers. If you are located in Europe use Booking.com and if you are anywhere else use TripAdvisor

Find Apartment Rentals: You will find the cheapest prices on apartment rentals with VRBO . 

Travel Insurance: Don't leave home without it. Here is what we recommend:

• Allianz - Occasional Travelers.
• Medjet - Global air medical transport and travel security.

Need more help planning your trip? Make sure to check out our Resources Page where we highlight all the great companies that we trust when we are traveling.

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About ThePlanetD Team

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The 20 best weekend getaways from los angeles.

Escape the LA hustle with a weekend retreat to nearby shores.

The Best Weekend Getaways From LA

Getty Images

Explore national parks, beaches, wine country and more away from LA.

If you're tired of sitting in traffic on the 405 or need a break from your Zoom calls in the City of Angels, you're in luck: Los Angeles sits close to a wide variety of vacation spots that are perfect for a weekend away. The options can range from scenic mountain destinations to relaxing desertscapes to small coastal towns – or even to lively Las Vegas. To help you pick the right destination for your much-needed escape, U.S. News evaluated expert and traveler opinion to find the best weekend getaways from LA. Whatever you choose for your weekend trip, it's time to take a break from the bustle of Los Angeles and head out for a new adventure with your best friends , significant other or entire family .

See more of Los Angeles:  Things to Do | Tours | Hotels

Best Weekend Getaways from Los Angeles:

About one hour or less:, long beach, california, catalina island, california, newport beach, california, laguna beach, california, about two hours or less:, ojai, california, temecula, california, santa barbara, california, big bear lake, california, palm springs, california, about three hours or less:, la jolla, california, joshua tree national park, california, los alamos, california, about four hours or less:, san luis obispo, california, paso robles, california, about five hours or less:, death valley national park, california, about six hours or less:, mammoth lakes, california, carmel, california, a quick flight:, puerto vallarta, mexico, vancouver, british columbia.

Long Beach boasts many iconic attractions – the Queen Mary ship and the Aquarium of the Pacific , for example – and thus makes for a wonderful weekend getaway or daytrip. Fill your time in this California city (only about 25 miles south of Los Angeles) with shopping, dining, art and roaming the coastline: Junipero Beach is one of the top LA-area beaches . You can start your trip on Fourth Street, also called Retro Row, to explore offerings such as the famous vintage shop Meow. Visitors can also catch an indie film at the recently renovated Art Theatre before riding a bike through the streets of Long Beach and browsing its other cultural attractions.

Long Beach is one of the most ethnically diverse U.S. cities, with a variety of cultures represented in its food scene. Options span Cambodian fusion at A&J Seafood Shack to Peruvian staples at El Pollo Imperial to fine Italian dining at L'Opera downtown. For an overnight stay, you'll find popular chain hotels around downtown and Shoreline Village, such as Hotel Maya – a DoubleTree by Hilton or other Westin, Hilton and Hyatt lodging options.

See more of Long Beach:  Things to Do | Hotels

Rather than taking a road trip from Los Angeles, how about hopping on a boat? Catalina Island , located a little more than 20 miles from the Southern California shoreline, is accessible from the San Pedro neighborhood of LA or from Long Beach via a Catalina Express ferry. The island is full of adventure, romance, relaxation and sightseeing both on land and in the ocean. Once you arrive in Avalon, the main city, you can take a walking tour at the historic Catalina Casino, rent a golf cart to cruise around or experience the thrill of an ecotour by zip line. Vacationers may also enjoy hitting the beach at Descanso Beach Club or unwinding at the 15,000-square-foot Island Spa Catalina.

Seafood fans can enjoy fresh lobster at The Lobster Trap, among other popular dining options. For an unforgettable weekend stay, book a room at the sophisticated Mt Ada. This romantic bed-and-breakfast features a wraparound deck with expansive ocean views. Guests have access to their own golf cart, as well as complimentary breakfast, lunch and snacks. Just outside of Avalon, Hamilton Cove has private villas perched on a hillside overlooking the Catalina coastline – or, if you want to rough it in the outdoors, campsites are also available at the island's campgrounds.

Newport Beach sits in the heart of coastal Orange County , about 45 miles south of downtown Los Angeles. Getting out on Newport Harbor is a must in this nautical hot spot: Whether you go by yacht, electric boat, whale watching excursion , paddleboard or even on a floating tiki bar, an unforgettable experience awaits. You can dock at dozens of waterfront restaurants along the harbor specializing in seasonal and locally sourced cuisine. Two of the most popular Newport Beach communities to explore are Balboa Island – be sure to try the famed frozen banana dessert – and Balboa Peninsula, ideal for surfing or leisurely biking. Travelers in search of the best shoreline can check out Corona del Mar State Beach to experience firsthand why it's such a beloved spot.

For upscale shopping and dining, the trendy Lido Marina Village is the place to be seen. After enjoying lunch at Malibu Farm Lido or picking up some couture pieces at the elysewalker store, plan for a sleepover at the Lido House to soak in the hotel's Cape Cod -inspired aesthetic. If you have a posh pet with you on your weekend getaway, you can splurge for the Pampered Pooch Package at Balboa Bay Resort , where fur babies and "paw-rents" alike can enjoy a luxurious stay.

See more of Newport Beach:  Things to Do | Hotels

About 50 miles south of Los Angeles you'll find picturesque Laguna Beach, also known as the California Riviera. This chic coastal town in Orange County comes complete with high-end boutiques, five-star accommodations, gourmet restaurants and art galleries galore. If you plan your weekend trip for the summer, you may be able to catch one of the world-famous art festivals hosted by Laguna Beach, such as the Sawdust Art Festival – but art lovers can also take a self-guided walking tour that showcases the city's public art any time of year. Travelers seeking outdoor adventure will have plenty of opportunities, whether you opt to scuba dive in a kelp forest, peruse tide pools in Heisler Park , or head to 7,000-acre Laguna Coast Wilderness Park for hiking and mountain biking.

Laguna Beach has an abundance of upscale dining options, especially if you're looking for waterfront views or a unique atmosphere. Enjoy sushi seaside at Hotel Laguna's Fin restaurant, listen to live jazz at The Drake or sip Champagne while watching the sun set over the Pacific Ocean at the Surf & Sand Resort bar. For a luxury weekend stay, the Montage Laguna Beach resort features seaside balconies and an elegant indoor/outdoor spa. If you're craving a cozy canyon environment, The Ranch at Laguna Beach is tucked into green hillsides and boasts an array of amenities, such as a golf course.

See more of Laguna Beach:  Things to Do | Hotels

If your weekend trips typically include racing around to see all the top tourist attractions, maybe you'll enjoy a change of pace in beautiful Ojai, where visitors can slow down and embrace nature. This small town, tucked into the valley of the Topatopa Mountains about 80 miles northwest of Los Angeles, is an outdoor paradise and a wellness retreat destination. Hike for miles and miles in the Los Padres National Forest (check to see if you need an Adventure Pass), kayak on Lake Casitas, embark on a rock climbing adventure or go horseback riding along the Ventura River valley.

Travelers interested in spiritual and holistic-focused establishments will find plenty in Ojai, such as The Crystal Corner, Center for Spiritual Living Ojai and Meditation Mount. Go for a deep detox with a treatment called Kuyam, which is inspired by the Chumash Native American people, at Ojai Valley Inn 's five-star Spa Ojai. Ojai Valley Inn has plenty more to offer overnight guests, with world-class dining and activities ranging from beekeeping to soap making.

You don't have to go all the way to Napa Valley for award-winning wineries . About 85 miles southeast from the City of Angels, the wineries of Temecula Valley produce more than 50 varietals of wine; this year-round vacation destination pours plenty of craft beers and spirits too. Temecula is also home to a charming Old Town, farm-to-table cuisine, relaxing spas, the massive Pechanga Resort Casino, hot air ballooning and more. The ever-evolving culinary scene, small-town atmosphere, and outdoor recreation and entertainment in Temecula Valley culminate in a spirited destination inspired by the vine. Leave the kids at home for a romantic getaway with your partner in SoCal wine country.

The charming Ponte Vineyard Inn is located in the heart of Temecula Valley, surrounded by nearly 300 acres of mature vineyards and views of rolling hills. During your weekend trip, visit the inn's on-site wine tasting rooms or hop in a motorcycle sidecar for a tour of other nearby wineries, such as Altisima Winery, Fazeli Cellars or Akash Winery.

For serene coastal vibes and seaside views about 95 miles west of LA, Santa Barbara is a great escape in Southern California – especially for pet owners, since it's one of the top dog-friendly beach destinations in the U.S. With its balmy Mediterranean climate, cultural offerings, star-studded beaches and flourishing culinary scene, it's no wonder Santa Barbara draws millions of vacationers each year. Oenophiles will have the opportunity to explore more than 30 local wineries along the Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail – some, like Pali Wine Company, allow dogs. You can unleash your artistic side as you listen to live music or experience the city's colorful wall murals, galleries and museums. Take a sunset stroll along the beach , or head out on the water on a kayak or sailboat during your weekend getaway in Santa Barbara.

The high-end Hotel Californian is just steps from the Pacific Ocean and the vibrant Funk Zone – a bustling enclave of the city's best wine tasting rooms, breweries, boutique shops, art galleries, cafes and restaurants. The hotel boasts a rooftop pool and deck with 360-degree views alongside a Moroccan-inspired spa and myriad dining options, including a new wine tasting room that opened in March 2022. Santa Barbara has a compelling culinary scene overall, with plenty of farm-to-table options that focus on locally sourced ingredients – such as The Lark in the heart of the Funk Zone neighborhood.

See more of Santa Barbara:  Things to Do | Tours | Hotels

For a cold-weather getaway, Big Bear Lake – less than 100 miles east of LA – is a prime winter destination for skiers and snowboards, who flock to Big Bear Mountain Resort. In the warmer seasons, Big Bear Lake becomes a hub for boating, hiking and biking, so this small city in the San Bernardino National Forest makes an ideal trip year-round. You can get out on the lake in a rented pontoon boat, paddleboard, kayak and more – or, for an off-road adventure, the Big Bear Jeep Experience is a popular activity. Fuel up with a poke bowl from Tropicali, dine on Nepalese and Indian cuisine at the Himalayan Restaurant, or sip a craft brew at Big Bear Lake Brewing Company.

Although plenty of visitors opt for a daytrip to Big Bear, consider extending your getaway with a stay at the Viking-inspired Marina Riviera, which has the atmosphere of a vintage ski lodge and features fire pits, lake views and a heated pool. For budget-friendly accommodation, check out the Best Western Big Bear Chateau or the area's numerous cabin and cottage rentals on Airbnb. In the nearby community of Lake Arrowhead, guests of the Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa have access to a private beach and personalized boat tours.

Read: The Top Things to Do in Big Bear Lake, California

If a desert escape is what you're craving, head to the Palm Springs area. Relaxation here may include lounging by the pool, cocktail in hand, at a stylish midcentury modern home or hotel. To explore more of what Palm Springs has to offer, visitors can hike through the desert and mountains, visit Cabot's Pueblo Museum , browse shops on Palm Canyon Drive , or take the scenic Palm Springs Aerial Tramway for an incomparable view atop Mount San Jacinto (where you'll see snow in winter). One buzz-worthy new attraction in this resort city is the Palm Springs Surf Club, which features a state-of-the-art wave pool.

With Palm Springs sitting a little more than 100 miles east of Los Angeles, A-listers flock to this desert destination for much-needed rest and relaxation. You can splurge on your overnight stay to vacation like a celebrity at the Jonathan Adler-designed Parker Palm Springs luxury hotel. Tried-and-true splendor can also be found at The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage , which boasts stunning views overlooking Coachella Valley . If your fur baby is in tow on this weekend trip, the new local hangout Boozehounds is a hit with dogs and owners alike; it offers a pet-friendly menu just for your pooch.

See more of Palm Springs: Things to Do | Hotels | Restaurants

Escape for a weekend to the San Diego neighborhood of La Jolla – one of the top California beach destinations , set about a 110-mile drive south from Los Angeles. Grab a snorkel mask to swim with marine life in La Jolla Cove or hike sandstone cliffs at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve . In addition to experiencing the natural world, travelers can hit some balls at world-renowned Torrey Pines Golf Course or browse the boutiques in La Jolla Village.

When you're not kayaking through a sea cave, admiring adorable sea lions or zipping up the road to Mount Soledad on an e-bike, you can enjoy ocean views and Mediterranean food at La Valencia Hotel , also known as "the Pink Lady of La Jolla," or dine alfresco on California cuisine under century-old olive trees at Herringbone. If you seek a romantic retreat, enjoy the soaking tub in a couples bungalow at Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa . Whatever you do in La Jolla, don't miss the newcomers to town: The world's smallest species of penguins can now be found at the Birch Aquarium .

See more of San Diego: Things to Do | Tours | Hotels

Experience the Zen of the desert and the majestic natural wonders that await in Joshua Tree National Park , about 130 miles east of Los Angeles (and not too far from Palm Springs). Explore the 800,000 acres of desert wilderness through hiking, biking, rock climbing , horseback riding, backpacking and photography. Before you head out, stop by the Joshua Tree Cultural Center in Twentynine Palms, California, to pick up maps, park information and safety tips; this museum space also has exhibits sharing Indigenous stories and more. As you traverse Joshua Tree, be sure to take in sights such as Skull Rock , Black Rock Canyon, Cottonwood Spring and Covington Flats.

With more than 500 campsites in the park – most of which are available by reservation – camping is one of the most accessible ways to experience an overnight stay. Or, upgrade to AutoCamp Joshua Tree, where guests sleep in stylish and modern Airstream trailers, for a glamping experience . If budget is not an issue, you may choose to rent one of the most exclusive homes in the world: the Kellogg Doolittle House.

Los Alamos, California – not to be confused with a New Mexico town of the same name – is a laid-back destination with an authentic Old West heritage; the town was created in 1876 by two ranchers donating part of their land. Only about 140 miles north of Los Angeles, Los Alamos is ideally located for a daytrip or weekend getaway – especially for couples and wine lovers – amid Santa Ynez Valley wine country. Travelers can take time to peruse the one-of-a-kind shops and boutiques that adorn Bell Street, such as the new Elder Flat Farm store.

A major highlight of Los Alamos is the proliferation of top-notch dining options. A great California destination for foodies, the town is home to the Santa Ynez Valley's only Michelin-starred restaurant: Bell's, a French-inspired bistro. The artisanal Bob's Well Bread Bakery and Pico Los Alamos, which serves upscale comfort food, are other popular local eateries. The primary lodging options in this town include the retro motel Skyview Los Alamos, the Western-themed Alamo Motel and the opulent Victorian Mansion B&B.

With 315 days of sunshine, San Luis Obispo (nicknamed SLO) is the perfect year-round weekend destination – and one of the best places to visit in California – with picturesque beaches, a burgeoning farm-to-table culinary scene, rolling vineyards and plenty of small-town charm. Kick off a long weekend with a stop at a pedestrian-friendly farmers market held on Thursday evenings along Higuera Street downtown. Other SLO activity options include shopping for one-of-a-kind items at the JunkGirls shop, taking a surfing lesson or catching a movie at the nostalgic Sunset Drive-In. There are plenty of galleries to sate art lovers, but a more unconventional tourist attraction invites visitors to help make graffiti out of chewed gum in Bubblegum Alley. For a bit of California history, wander through the historic Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa.

One thing you won't want to miss is the wine. Try some Malene rose in a 1969 Airstream mobile tasting room or visit the adjacent Chamisal Vineyards in Edna Valley to sip chardonnay and pinot noir with views of the vineyards. For an overnight stay, The Kinney San Luis Obispo, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, offers a casual college town atmosphere with board games and draft beers. A stylish boutique hotel option is the one-of-a-kind Madonna Inn: Each of the more than 100 guest rooms has a different theme, such as the Caveman, Love Nest, Pioneer America and Golfer's Room.

Head to central California's wine country for a visit to charming Paso Robles, a city about 200 miles northwest of LA that's located along coastal U.S. Route 101. Paso Robles is a community of cowboys, surfers and innovators; travelers can enjoy world-class food and wine as well as inspiring art and whole-body wellness here. You'll find more than 200 wineries in the region, complemented by a variety of craft breweries, cideries and distilleries in Paso Robles. Check out about a dozen craft distilleries on the Paso Robles Distillery Trail. A can't-miss nighttime activity is a self-guided stroll through the Sensorio lights display.

Thanks to the world-class wines and family farms, Paso Robles is a mecca for delicious dining – including The Restaurant at JUSTIN; the Michelin-starred Six Test Kitchen, located inside the Tin City makers market; and Paso Market Walk, a reinvented farmers market. From rustic hideaways to glamping sites, Paso Robles also has lodging options to fit any taste and budget. For luxury accommodations, consider the boutique Hotel Cheval, just off Paso Robles' historic town square. For a unique experience, opt for a farm stay – such as in an RV on an alpaca ranch – or spend a night sleeping in a revamped shipping container at Geneseo Inn.

If an adults-only weekend trip is what you have in mind, head out to Las Vegas, a vivacious and walkable city. Sitting about 270 miles north of Los Angeles, Las Vegas checks all the boxes for a memorable vacation. You can hit the slots at the casinos, catch in-residency concerts from big names such as Katy Perry, indulge in a phenomenal treatment at a world-class spa or enjoy a meal crafted by a celebrity chef. More unique things to do include a boozy Upside Down Tea Party at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, Curio Collection by Hilton, or a spin around the SpeedVegas off-road track. If you're not afraid of heights, you can zip line over Fremont Street downtown or experience LIFTOFF at Area 15's immersive playground for panoramic city views.

Live it up like a high roller with a Sky Suite atop ARIA Resort & Casino , the Sake Suite at the Nobu Hotel inside Caesars Palace or ultra-exclusive The Mansion at MGM Grand. Enjoy a feast for the eyes and mouth with innovative eateries all over the city – Las Vegas' dining scene boasts a variety of culinary choices and the ability to cater to whatever your budget may be.

See more of Las Vegas: Things to Do | Tours | Hotels

From Los Angeles, the closest paved entrance to Death Valley National Park is on California state Route 190; whichever route you take to get there, you'll likely want to budget around five hours for the drive, which is about 290 miles. Death Valley is the largest national park in the lower 48 states. Its 3.4 million acres include some of the most unique landscapes and sites you'll find anywhere – such as the Badwater Basin salt flats, the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Rainbow Canyon and Artists Palette's colorful hills. Download the free National Park Service app to take a driving tour of "Star Wars" filming locations in the park. Death Valley also boasts some of the best stargazing opportunities in the U.S., as an International Dark Sky Park considered "Gold Tier," meaning there is minimal interference from light pollution.

The Oasis at Death Valley – part of the Xanterra Travel Collection – encompasses the romantic Inn at Death Valley and the family-friendly Ranch at Death Valley. The Oasis completed a $150 million restoration in 2022 and now features a revitalized town square and new shops, including an ice cream parlor with an old-school soda fountain. If you're looking for a quirky desert experience, stay overnight in the Pyramid, a one-bedroom glass pyramid bookable on Airbnb, or pick from the seasonal campgrounds, inns and motels in the park.

Read: The Best National Parks in California

If the mountains are calling you, head to the Sierra Nevada for a weekend in the resort town of Mammoth Lakes. From LA, take U.S. Route 395 for a scenic road trip across approximately 310 miles. Winter ushers in world-class downhill skiing, snowboarding, tubing and cross-country skiing in the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area. During the warmer months, visitors can ride gondolas for panoramic views on Mammoth Mountain in addition to hiking and mountain biking there and at the Mammoth Lakes Basin. Other popular lake activities include fishing, paddleboarding and boating.

Located in Mammoth Lakes' The Village, the rustic yet elegant Westin Monache Resort, Mammoth , offers access to dining, shopping and the gondola up the mountain. Dine at the on-property restaurant, Whitebark, for tasty and healthy options. Travelers can also indulge at Gomez's Mexican Restaurant in The Village, visit Tamarack Lodge & Resort for a romantic dinner at the Lakefront Restaurant or stock up on gourmet snacks at Bleu Market & Kitchen.

The 1-square-mile, European-style village of Carmel seamlessly blends history, arts and culture, and stunning ocean views for a relaxing and unique travel experience. Just off of state Route 1 near Monterey , this charming seaside destination about 320 miles northwest of LA is ideal for dreamy weekend getaways any time of year – especially if you have a canine companion in tow. Carmel boasts world-class art galleries, whimsical architecture, nearly 20 wine tasting rooms, the dog-friendly Carmel Beach, a few dozen secret passageways and more restaurants per capita than any other small U.S. city. Enjoy Mediterranean, Italian or French cuisine at quaint local eateries like La Balena, Dametra Cafe, Yafa, La Bicyclette and many more.

Book a stay in one of the historic inns, such as the "Grande Dame of Carmel": La Playa Carmel , a historic hotel with a prime view of Carmel Beach, is perfect for evenings spent gazing out at the sunset or taking a moonlit walk in the sand. If you bring your fur baby with you on your weekend jaunt, Cypress Inn provides an array of amenities to welcome pets, such as its daily "yappy hour."

If you're willing to take to the skies, you can leave California – and the U.S. – altogether for a quick weekend trip to Mexico. Grab your besties or your significant other for a flight to Puerto Vallarta, a resort town on Mexico's Pacific coast, and after about three hours on a plane, you can be sipping margaritas with your toes in the sand. There's plenty to do in Puerto Vallarta: Sail to the Marieta Islands to discover a hidden beach, take a whale watching tour or stroll along the iconic El Malecón boardwalk for souvenirs, ocean views and street performances. Beyond the shoreline, travelers can visit the nearby village of Sayulita for artwork by Huichol Indigenous people or dance the night away in lively nightclubs.

For an all-inclusive stay, Casa Velas is a boutique, adults-only resort that offers laid-back luxury in an intimate setting. If you're traveling with your family, consider Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit , which features entertainment, dining and activities like kids and teens clubs. Try the Hydrotherapy Circuit at the five-star spa or feast on innovative global cuisine at the property's many restaurants.

See more of Puerto Vallarta: Things to Do | Tours | Hotels

Vancouver sits perched on the west coast of Canada, surrounded by water and woods, and is only a three-hour flight from Los Angeles. The beauty of the environment lends itself to outdoor activities, such as boating, fishing, hiking, biking, skiing and more. And, even though the scenery is rustic, there is plenty of luxury in this coastal Canadian city – from top-notch hotels and restaurants to bountiful art and culture. Must-do activities in the area include a thrilling boat ride with Vancouver Water Adventures, a foodie tour at Granville Island Public Market and an outdoor adventure at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park , where you'll experience a 450-foot-long suspension bridge, the Cliffwalk and a treetops excursion. Vancouver is also full of parks and beaches for when you need some relaxation.

Stay at the JW Marriott Parq Vancouver for bountiful amenities and impeccable service; there's a spa, access to a casino and plenty of dining choices. For a city-chic boutique hotel, the DOUGLAS, Autograph Collection , brings the outdoors inside with creative design elements, such as an urban park on the rooftop.

See more of Vancouver: Things to Do | Tours | Hotels

You might also be interested in:

• The Top Romantic Getaways in California
• The Top San Diego Beaches
• The Top Natural Hot Springs in California
• The Top Lakes in California
• The Top Things to Do in California
• The Best Restaurants in Palm Springs
• The Top West Coast Road Trips to Take
• The Best Beach Bags
• The Top Travel Backpacks
• The Top Duffel Bags

Tags: Travel , Weekend Getaways , California Vacations , US Vacations

World's Best Places To Visit

• # 1 South Island, New Zealand
• # 4 Bora Bora

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14 Fun Day Trips from Los Angeles in 2024

Brie Greenhalgh Last Updated: May 3, 2024

Los Angeles is home to an endless supply of things to do and see within the LA basin. Some visitors to Los Angeles rarely venture out beyond LA or Disneyland to see all that southern California has to offer, but we’re here to say they’re missing out. Hiking, wine tasting, horseback riding, sea kayaking, whale watching, and so much more awaits you beyond the city limits. Start planning your next adventure with this list of great day trips from Los Angeles.

14 of the Best Day Trips from Los Angeles

There is so much more to southern California than you might expect. Within a few hours of Los Angeles, you can do just about any activity you can think of. Hike in a national park, scuba dive, ride ATVs, visit an olive oil farm, citrus grove or winery, kayak or surf in the ocean, go star gazing.

You think it. California delivers. It’s truly the gem of the west coast of the United States, which is why one or more places on our list of fun day trips from Los Angeles should be on your list of things to do. There’s something for everyone’s interests no matter their adventure level.

Pro tip: We’ve estimated approximate travel times to each destination from downtown LA, but traffic conditions can get heavy throughout the day. Plan ahead if you book a tour so you have plenty of time to get there.

14. Catch the Surf at Malibu

1 hour (33 miles) | Surf-side Hollywood Vibes | Seafood Lovers | Beaches and Hiking

With 21 miles of coastline that is almost all beaches, there’s room for everyone in the sandy surf. Malibu is known for having some of the best surfing close to LA, so if you’re dying to try it or you can’t wait to get back to it, Malibu is a must. Otherwise, Malibu keeps the Hollywood scene going but with a little more relaxed vibes. Keep your phone handy for celebrity sightings!

If you’re into architecture tours, definitely check out the stunning Adamson House to see a blend of gothic and coastal styles mixed with Spanish heritage. And when you’re ready for a meal to remember, head over to Neptune’s Net for fried scallops or clam chowder. It’s the famous oceanside restaurant that’s been used in countless movies like The Fast and Furious and the original Point Break .

How to get to Malibu

13. Immerse Yourself at a Theme Park

1 hour (27 miles) | Adventure Theme Parks | Family Fun

Of course we have to mention the theme parks located in and around Anaheim: Disneyland, Disney California Adventure Park, Knotts Berry Farm, Knotts Soak City, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, LEGOLAND, and Adventure City. Did you know there were more places than Disneyland here? It’s truly the land of adventure in Anaheim.

While most of these parks focus on rides and attractions, Knotts Soak City is famous for thrilling waterslides 7-stories high. (Open only in the summer.) And adults and kids all love the Cars attractions at the California Adventure Park, but only the bravest love the Incredicoaster which is the longest inverting roller coaster in the world.

How to get to Disney California Adventure Park

12. Help Preserve the Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge

45 minutes (31 miles) | Scenic Views | Limited Tours | Volunteer Opportunity

This 965-acre refuge is what remains of an old Anaheim bay. It’s now mostly marshlands and man-made harbors that make a permanent home to thousands of species—some of which are endangered. What’s interesting is this preserve is part of the Naval Weapons Station so visitors can only explore the area with designated tours that happen only once a month.

How to get to the Seal Beach Preserve

Planning a trip to LA? Check out our list of the top things to do in LA plus where to stay in Los Angeles !

11. experience california luxury in santa barbara.

1.75 hours (95 miles) | Vineyards and Beaches | Relax, Explore, Play

Santa Barbara has it all: wineries, beaches, golf courses, hiking, architecture, and a huge bookstore that bookworms can’t pass up. It’s incredibly scenic here in the Santa Barbara area with white beaches on one side and mountains on the other. Take time to do some wine tasting, then explore the unique mission-style architecture this city is famous for.

And don’t miss the sunset while sitting on the romantic Butterfly Beach near the Four Seasons Biltmore Hotel. After a lovely day here, you’ll understand why it’s often called the riviera of the west. It easily makes our list of great day trips from Los Angeles.

How to get to Santa Barbara

10. Hike or Stargaze in Joshua Tree National Park

2.5 hours (131 miles) | Outdoor Adventure | Impressive Night Views

Head over to the stunning desert national park named for the famous trees that look like the biblical figure, Joshua, raising his arms to the heavens. Despite its close proximity to Los Angeles, this park boasts some of the darkest skies in the area. If you’re up for staying at least one night (or up all night), we highly recommend stargazing in this scenic desert.

You’ll also find plenty of hiking and climbing to do here during the day. An easy 1.7-mile hike takes you to the unique Skull Rock, or you can drive to Covington Flats to find some of the largest Joshua trees. Be sure to stay only on marked trails in your vehicle to preserve the landscape!

How to get to Joshua Tree National Park Visitor’s Center

9. Spend the Day on Coronado Island

2.5 hours (126 miles) | Ultra-Fine Sandy Beaches | Naval Base Happenings | Seaside Fun

Coronado Island sits just off the coast of San Diego and boasts some of the best beaches in the country. It’s just isolated enough to feel like an exclusive resort town, yet it’s close enough to all the city amenities you need. The Hotel del Coronado is an eye-catching masterpiece that you have to check out. Stop at their outdoor Beach & Taco Shack for yummy fish tacos and a cocktail on the beach.

For a fun activity, rent a surrey to explore the island and enjoy wrangling the contraption while taking hilarious selfies with your friends or kids. Coronado may be a longer day trip from Los Angeles, but it’s worth it.

How to get to Coronado Island

8. Get Wild at the San Diego Zoo

2.5 hours (120 miles) | Urban Adventure | Family Fun

If you’re up for an early morning drive, head down to the world-famous San Diego Zoo. Kids and adults all love to get up close and personal with over 12,000 animals here at one of the largest zoos in the country. You’ll find the biggest collection of rare and endangered species here like the Amur leopard or the capybara which is the largest rodent in the world.

For an up-close experience, book the Animals in Action Experience where zookeepers bring animals to you for a more personal interaction. If the animals of the African safari or Australian outback are more your style, opt to spend the day at the Safari Park.

How to get to the San Diego Zoo

7. Get Back to Nature in Palm Springs

2.25 hours (108 miles) | Paradise Getaway | Golfing, Relaxation, Sun

As if there wasn’t already plenty of sunshine in southern California, Palm Springs likes to boast the most sunny days: 350 on average each year. Maybe that’s why there are so many incredible golf courses in this region. As for hiking, we recommend the Araby Trail for a short, semi-challenging hike or head to Andreas Canyon where you’ll find the world’s second largest California fan palm oasis.

We also loved the ranger tours in the Agua Caliente Native American preserve in Indian Canyon. But for the most memorable adventure, book a ride on the aerial tramway to soar 2.5 miles above the valley for stunning views. Adult tickets are $29, kids 3-10 are $17, and it’s best to reserve them ahead of time.

How to get to the Palm Springs Tramway

6. Sea Kayak in La Jolla Cove

2 hours (112 miles) | Wildlife Viewing | Seaside Adventures | Eclectic Street Murals

While the beaches can get crowded at La Jolla (pronounced lah HOY uh), it’s worth heading down here to book a sea kayaking tour . Expert guides will help you explore the huge sea caves at La Jolla Cove. As you paddle along the coast, you’ll also get to see tons of California sea lions lounging on the rocks or playing in the water. If sea kayaking isn’t your thing, you can still see the sea lions by parking at the top of the cove and walking to the cliffs.

For another fun adventure while you’re down here, check out The Cave Shop. Hidden beneath its floors, you can explore the century-old bootlegger sandstone caverns where contraband was smuggled from the ocean into town. It’s super cool, but there are 145 stairs to climb both ways, so make sure you’re fit enough to handle them.

How to get to La Jolla Cove

5. Explore the European Village of Solvang

2.5 hours (131 hours) | Quaint European Village | Unexpected Experience | Wineries and Breweries

Step back in time in this adorable little Danish town in San Ynez Valley that even includes a windmill. You can experience a small taste of Europe from the heart of a California valley. Enjoy wandering the town to find Christmas shops, fairy tale keepsakes, and little bakery shops that are passable Danish imitations. Since Solvang is surrounded by vineyards, there are plenty of wineries and breweries to try as well.

But for an off-the-wall experience, we highly recommend heading over to Ostrichland. You read that right. There are over 100 ostriches and emus that you can help to feed and take selfies with. Finally, Quicksilver Ranch is temporarily closed due to renovations, but when it opens, be sure to stop and see the cutest miniature horse ranch ever.

How to get to Solvang

4. Find the Pirate Tower in Laguna Beach

1.5 hours (56 miles) | High-end Shopping | Stunning Beaches | Plenty of Surfing

Laguna Beach lives up to the hype. It’s a gorgeous little beach town that utilizes every extra inch of space available. For beaches, you can’t go wrong with Crescent Bay Beach, Main Beach, or the hidden Victoria Beach where the old Pirate Tower still looms over the rocky beach. When you’re ready for a sweet treat, be sure to grab a waffle cone and gelato at Gelato Paradiso.

If you have the time, stop in at the Pacific Marine Mammal Sanctuary (currently requires reservations) to see rescued sea lions up close. And if shopping and dining is your thing after a day on the beach, you’ll have plenty of boutique stores in Laguna to explore before enjoying sumptuous chicken flautas from South of Nick’s.

How to get to the Pirate Tower at Victoria Beach

3. Namaste in Ojai Valley

1.75 hours (85 miles) | Artist Community | Wineries and Majestic Mountains | Spiritual Retreat

Ojai (pronounced oh HI) is a fun, artsy community that’s nestled against some incredible mountain vistas. Travelers will find plenty to do here. Our top recommendation is heading over to Ojai Olive Oil to sample some locally made olive oil. You’ll definitely want to take a bottle home. You can also wander through a citrus grove or choose to hike one of the many popular trails nearby.

Ojai also has a strong spiritual vibe, so you might prefer to spend some time doing yoga or meditating in this “magnetic center of the earth.” Be sure to enjoy a relaxing dinner at the indulgent Ranch House where they use a locally sourced, seasonal menu.

How to get to Ojai Valley

2. Play Around at Balboa Island and Newport Beach

1.25 hours (48 miles) | Carnival Fun | Unique Island Fun | Family Friendly

Balboa Island is not one to miss. It’s a man-made island full of fun homes, tiny shops, restaurants, and carnival-style fun. You could drive to the island, but it’s much more fun to park and take the ferry over. Walk the 1.6-mile boardwalk around the seaside homes, book deep-sea fishing or whale-watching tours, then ride the Ferris wheel at sunset. Be sure to try the famous chocolate-covered bananas from Sugar ‘n Spice, too!

Newport Beach is known for its luxury homes (be sure to drive through the neighborhoods!), which is why Balboa is such a cool, casual place for anyone to hang out. And since you’re already down this way, you could also head over to the beautiful Crystal Cove Beach where you definitely need to try the burgers at the Crystal Cove Shake Shack.

How to get to Balboa Island

1. Spend the Day Adventuring on Catalina Island

90 Minutes | Remote Island Adventure | Marine and Land Activities

Santa Catalina Island is a popular destination that offers more than expected on this tiny island. Marine enthusiasts love snorkeling, scuba diving, paddling, and sailing in the beautiful waters here. You can also zipline, hike or take a tour to the far side of the island where you’ll find an unexpected bison herd. Getting back to wild nature is surprisingly easy just 22 miles off the California coast.

You can even choose to stay overnight here for a longer adventure. It’s easy to get there too: hop on the Catalina Express in San Pedro, Long Beach, or Dana Point. Round trip tickets are $76 for adults. Or for a faster ride out there, definitely book a helicopter ride .

How to get to Catalina Island

Where to Stay in Los Angeles

With Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica nearby, there are no shortage of great places to stay in the Los Angeles area. Use our guide to help you decide which hotel to book on your trip to LA.

About Brie Greenhalgh

Writer, editor, teacher, hiker, traveler, dreamer. With a book or pen in hand and a majestic sunset on the horizon, life is never short of fulfilling moments for Brie. She has a background in history and writing, and enjoys writing and editing for BobVila.com, The Tour Guy, and her own business.

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11 Best Day Trips from Los Angeles You’ll Never Forget

As a LA local, I’m constantly on the lookout for fun day trips from Los Angeles. For me that means within a 3-hour drive, so we can avoid spending money on hotels. While there’s no shortage of things to do in Los Angeles, sometimes it’s nice to escape and explore the surrounding areas.

Planning a date? Visiting Los Angeles? Local looking for new adventures? Avid hiker? Traveling with kids? Seeking peace and quiet? These LA day trips are made for you. I’ll help you discover how to plan an unforgettable day.

This post is all about the 11 best day trips from Los Angeles.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.

11 Best Day Trips from Los Angeles

I feel so blessed to live in a place that is surrounded by beaches, mountains, lakes, national parks and the best part…AMAZING food all around it. Honestly, I probably could have made this a list of 50 best day trips from Los Angeles because there is SO much to explore in Southern California.

But let’s stick to the top 11 and dive into why these are the absolute best.

1. Ojai, California

Drive time: 1.5 hours.

If you’re looking for a peaceful retreat from the city, head straight to Ojai, a charming town nestled in the mountains of Ventura County.

Ojai is all about keeping it local and you can really feel the quaint community vibe with a huge emphasis on supporting local business. I felt like I had walked straight into a Hallmark movie town.

Best Time to Visit Ojai

The best time to visit Ojai is Wednesday – Sunday because many of the shops and businesses close on Monday and Tuesday. You can visit year-round as the weather is moderate, making it perfect for agriculture which Ojai is known for.

Things to Do in Ojai

• Visit the world’s largest outdoor bookstore, Bart’s Books !
• Take a leisurely bike ride through the scenic Ojai Valley
• Indulge in a spa treatment at one of the area’s luxurious resorts
• Shop for local goods in the downtown area
• Catch the Ojai Farmer’s Market which is filled with amazing local food
• Visit a local farm
• Catch the “pink moment” at sunset

Places to Eat in Ojai

• The Dutchess – I LOVED this place. It’s a 2022 Michelin Guide restaurant with an incredible menu and fabulous cocktails. Read all about my experience at The Dutchess for tips on what to order.
• Grab a beer flight at Topa Topa Brewing
• Ojai Roti – French-Lebanese style rotisserie chicken
• The Nest – trendy farm-to-table breakfast and brunch spot

Check out my post The Best of Ojai to learn more about how to visit this charming town!

2. Palm Springs, California

Drive time: 2 hours.

Looking for some desert vibes? Plan your trip to Palm Springs, known for its mid-century architecture, old Hollywood throwbacks, hot springs, and stunning natural beauty.

Best Time to Visit Palm Springs

The best time to visit Palm Springs is between October – January. The temperature will be less extreme and you’ll find less tourists. The summer months often see uncomfortably warm temperatures of 100+ degrees.

Things to Do in Palm Springs

• Find a pool to lounge by for the day
• Browse the boutiques and galleries in downtown Palm Springs
• Explore the nearby Joshua Tree National Park
• Ride the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway for an incredible view
• Ride ATVs in the desert
• Take a Joshua Tree National Park Offroad Jeep Tour
• Visit the International Banana Museum
• Visit the Living Desert Zoo & Garden where you can feed a giraffe or have a rhino encounter

Places to Eat in Palm Springs

• Eat where legends like Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra dined at the Purple Room Supper Club
• El Jefe at Saguaro Hotel
• Boozehounds – a new trendy dog-friendly restaurant with major Palm Springs vibes

3. Malibu, California

Drive time: 1 hour.

Okay, I know this one isn’t far outside the city, but it’s truly a highlight among the day trips from Los Angeles you need to plan!

Malibu is known for its stunning beaches and celebrity homes. Sure, there are some epic hikes you could do, and if that’s your vibe check out the two options below! But I’m also a fan of spending my Malibu visit soaking up the sun and waves or relaxing with a drink in hand.

And trust me… you can spend the whole day here and won’t be able to soak in enough of it.

Best Time to Visit Malibu

The best time to visit Malibu is during the summer months (June to August) when the weather is warm and the water is perfect for swimming and surfing. The winter months can be cool and rainy, but they are still a great time to visit for those looking for a more relaxed and cozy vibe.

Things to Do in Malibu

• Take a scenic drive along the Pacific Coast Highway
• Hike Point Dume and catch amazing ocean views – 1.4 miles, easy difficulty
• Hike the Temescal Canyon Trail – 2.6 miles, medium difficulty
• Visit the Malibu pier
• Watch the sunset at Matador Beach (great spot for photos!)
• For a truly unique Malibu experience, groups of up to 4 can book a private Malibu Beach Surf Tour in a Vintage VW Van ! The experience includes a surf lesson from a local and a visit to Point Dome.
• Park at Paradise Cove Beach , grab a cocktail in a pineapple or coconut, and stroll the private beach. (You’ll want to get parking validated from the restaurant for a reduced cost).
• Shop at the Malibu Country Mart

Places to Eat in Malibu

• Paradise Cove Restaurant
• Geoffrey’s
• Sunset Restaurant
• Dukes Malibu

Solvang is a charming Danish-style town located northwest of Los Angeles in the Santa Ynez Valley. It is small and cozy, offering lots of Danish charm which makes it perfect for a one-day trip!

Best Time to Visit Solvang

The best time to visit Solvang is during the spring and fall when the weather is mild and perfect for exploring the town’s outdoor activities. During summer, Solvang can get quite crowded with tourists, so if you’re looking for a quieter experience, it’s best to visit during the off-season.

Personally, I think the cozy Solvang vibes hit just right in the fall. My travel friend Hannah calls it the “ Denmark dupe of America ” and I couldn’t agree more.

Things to Do in Solvang

• Take a stroll through the town’s picturesque streets
• Rent a bike and explore the surrounding vineyards and countryside
• Visit the Elverhoj Museum of History & Art
• Go wine tasting or take a wine tasting tour
• Visit the annual Danish Days Festival in September
• Enjoy local food and Danish pastries

Places to Eat in Solvang

• Mortensons Bakery
• Olsen’s Bakery
• Solvang Restaurant – try the Danish aebleskiver pastry desserts
• Copenhagen Sausage Garden
• Mad & Vin
• Good Seed Coffee Boutique

5. Ventura, California

Ventura is a laid-back beach town that’s perfect for a day trip from Los Angeles. During the pandemic, they closed the Main Street to cars and allowed businesses to expand past their front doors. It makes Ventura much more indoor/outdoor friendly and gives it a European beach-town vibe that I absolutely love!

But Ventura has more than just good beach vibes. There are several hidden gem food spots that you won’t want to miss, so keep reading on. Basically, Ventura is a beach town for foodies and I’m all about it.

Best Time to Visit Ventura

Like most of Southern California, the weather in Ventura is moderate to warm most of the year. But you’ll enjoy the beaches and outdoor dining the most in the warmer spring and summer months when the weather is nice.

Things to Do in Ventura

• Spend your day lounging on the beach
• Stroll along the pier
• Explore the town’s eclectic mix of shops including Vom Fass where you can taste and buy boutique flavored olive oils, vinegars, and liquors. We always get a bottle of their absinthe to make sazeracs at home.
• Take surfing lessons from a local
• Catch a live show at the historic Majestic Ventura Theater
• Do a bar crawl including some of the options below

Places to Eat in Ventura

• Finney’s Crafthouse – gourmet pub food, drinks, and amazing carnitas nachos!
• Bank of Italy Cocktail Trust (photos below) – craft cocktails and apps
• Casa de Soria – best chimichanga ever
• The Saloon Ventura – cocktails
• Rocks & Drams – fun cocktail bar
• Ven Tiki Lounge & Lanai – tiki vibes
• Cafe Fiore – delicious Italian food in a cozy atmosphere

6. Big Bear, California

Nature-lovers, this one is for you!

Every now and then every LA local should escape to the mountains and spend a day at Big Bear Lake. The area offers a wide range of outdoor activities, including hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and boating. In the winter months, you can hit the slopes and enjoy some of Southern California’s best skiing and snowboarding.

The close proximity of Big Bear mountain makes it easy to escape and return in one day. We even did a California double a few years back for a friend’s birthday!

What is a California Double? A California double is skiing or snowboarding + swimming or surfing in the ocean in the same day.

Best Time to Visit Big Bear

The Big Bear area offers a big range of outdoor activities for all seasons. In the spring and summer you can hike, mountain bik, fish and go boating. In the winter months, hit the slopes and enjoy some of Southern California’s best skiing and snowboarding. Fall at Big Bear is a great time to soak in beautiful hiking and nature as well.

Just choose your own adventure on this one.

Things to Do at Big Bear

• Ski or snowboard at Big Bear Mountain Resort
• Sky Chair at Snow Summit
• Go ziplining in the forest
• Walk around and shop in Big Bear Village
• Hike Castle Rock Trail – 2.8 miles
• Hike the Woodland interpretive Trail – 1.5 miles easy
• Walk or bike the Alpine Pedal Path – 3.2 miles
• Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain
• Picnic at Boulder Bay Park

Places to Eat at Big Bear

• Tropicali – Hawaiian food and poke bowls
• 572 Social Kitchen & Lounge
• Teddy Bear Restaurant – order the cinnamon roll pancakes
• The Pines Tavern on the Lake – great views

7. Temecula, California

Temecula is a popular wine region in Riverside County with a charming old town downtown area and plenty of wineries to visit. Although it’s only a few hours away, you’ll feel a million miles from Los Angeles.

Of course, if you plan to visit multiple wineries you’ll probably want to stay overnight or for the weekend. But you can definitely explore the town in one day and enjoy a lot of what Temecula has to offer. This makes it perfect for a day trip with kids, a date, or a girl’s day out.

Best Time to Visit Temecula

For ideal weather, plan your visit for April – November, especially to enjoy a winery. However, you could enjoy Temecula at any time of the year and the winter months will have less crowds.

Things to Do in Temecula

• Olive oil tasting at Temecula Olive Oil Company – this is a surprising must do!
• Visit a Winery – I recommend Miramonte, Europa Village, and South Coast
• Stroll along the downtown shops
• Book a winery tour and tasting
• Take line dancing lessons at Stampede
• Pick berries at Temecula Berry Company in May and June (check for seasonal date and hours)
• Play arcade games at Coin Op Game Room
• Book a hot air balloon ride – if you are one of those people who can wake up super early!

Places to Eat in Temecula

• Goat and Vine (photo below)- omg the Carnitas Pizza is delicious
• Small Barn Old Town – my favorite is the avocado toast with lox
• E.A.T. Marketplace
• Thompson & Twain Prospecting co – super fun saloon-style speakeasy bar
• 1909 Temecula
• Landeros Mexican Grill and Cantina
• Press coffee Shop (photo below)

8. San Diego, California

San Diego is understandably a popular destination for day trippers from Los Angeles. The city is known for its stunning beaches, beautiful parks, and world-class zoo and incredible food scene. Whether you want to spend your day lounging on the beach or exploring some of San Diego’s top museums and galleries, there’s something for everyone here.

Best Time to Visit San Diego

The best time to visit San Diego is March through May, or September through November when the weather is mild and you’ll avoid the peak summer crowds. During these months, the average temperature is in the mid-60s to mid-70s Fahrenheit (18-24°C) or warmer, which is perfect for all of the amazing outdoor San Diego activities.

Things to Do in San Diego

• San Diego Zoo & Safari
• watch the Sea Lions at La Jolla
• Walk around Balboa Park – great for kids!
• Rent Kayaks at San Diego Bay – affordable water activity
• La Jolla Sea Caves Kayak Tour – affordable water activity
• Explore Gas Lamp district
• Book a food tour through Little Italy – great for foodies like me!
• Visit LEGOLand – great for kids!
• Go stand-up paddle boarding

Places to Eat in San Diego

• Tocaya – casual organic California-style Mexican food
• Raised by Wolves – cocktail bar
• C-Level Lounge – beautiful ocean views

9. Mt Baldy, California

I was not expecting how epic Mt. Baldy would be and how insanely close it is to the city. Hiking to the top is one of my favorite memories and this definitely makes the list for best day trips from Los Angeles, especially if you enjoy hiking.

Best Time to Visit Mt. Baldy

The best time to visit Mt Baldy for hiking is during the warmer months, typically from late May to early October, when the weather is generally warmer and the snow has melted. Keep in mind that it is a mountain and weather changes quickly. I hiked once in shorts because it was warm out when we started, but I saw snowflakes at the summit and was super cold!

However, if you’re looking for a winter adventure, visiting Mt Baldy during the snowy season can also be a magical experience. They have snow tubing hills setup in the winter too. Just make sure to pack appropriate gear and check weather conditions before heading out.

Things to Do at Mt. Baldy

• Hike the Devil’s Backbone trail to the summit – the ultimate Mt. Baldy adventure! You can take the lift to Top of the Notch to skip the first 2.5 miles of switch backs if you want, or start from the bottom for a full-day adventure.
• Not much of a hiker? Ride the lift to the Top of the Notch Restaurant for snacks and great views
• Zipline in the summer months
• Snow tube in the winter months

Places to Eat near Mt. Baldy

The only food option on Mt. Baldy itself is the Top of the notch Restaurant at the top of the lift, which is great for lunch, a snack or drink on your journey. If you plan to hike for the day, you should safely pack food for a picnic (be bear aware) or plan to eat at the Top of the Notch.

If you have time at the end of the day, I’d recommend heading down the mountain and heading into Claremont which has lots of amazing food options like:

• Union on Yale
• The Whisper House

10. Anaheim, California

Drive time: 30-60 minutes.

Anaheim may be best known for its theme parks, which can be an amazing way to spend one day outside of LA. But there’s also much more to explore. As one of the closest in location to Los Angeles with plenty to do, Anaheim is an obvious win for best day trips from Los Angeles.

Things to Do in Anaheim

• Visit Disneyland or Knott’s Berry Farm
• Get delicious treats like beignets or crazy shakes and listen to live music in Downtown Disney without paying for park admission
• Visit a top-rated speakeasy, Blind Rabbit
• Catch an MLB game at Angels Stadium
• Medieval Times interactive dinner show – great for kids!
• Shop at Anaheim Garden Walk or the Outlets at Orange
• The Anaheim Packing District is my favorite Anaheim destination, and a popular destination for foodies. There are over 50 food vendors offering everything from Korean BBQ to artisanal gelato.

Check out A FOODIE’S GUIDE TO THE ULTIMATE ANAHEIM PACKING DISTRICT EXPERIENCE to help you plan your visit to the Anaheim Packing District!

Places to Eat in Anaheim

• The Blind Rabbit – my favorite hidden speakeasy
• Anaheim Packing District – check out the link above for info on my favorite food vendors
• Puesto – Mexican Cocktail Bar
• Black Tap – Downtown Disney
• Cabana – trendy Cuban restaurant and cocktail bar

11. Agoura Hills / Calabassas, California

Agoura Hills is a hidden gem of a day trip destination from Los Angeles. Located just 30 miles from downtown, this charming town paired with favorites from Calabasas makes the perfect day trip getaway.

Things to Do in Agoura Hills

• The area is known for its scenic hiking trails, including the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and Malibu Creek State Park.
• If you’re not up for a hike, check out the Paramount Ranch , which was used as a set for many Hollywood Western movies
• Antique shopping at Whizin’s Center and Whizin Market Square
• Drive around in the Santa Monica Mountains
• Spot the resident peacock at The Old Place

Places to Eat in Agoura Hills

• The Old Place – hands down my favorite spot in the Agoura area! Unique spot that’s perfect for hanging out and taking it slow.
• Sage Bistro – delicious vegetarian food that you won’t realize is vegetarian. The buffalo cauliflower pizza is amazing!
• Sugarfish – Calabasas
• Pedaler’s Fork Restaurant and 10 speed Coffee Shop

Check out my post The Old Place Cornell, A Cozy Escape from LA to learn more about how to visit this charming old restaurant and coffee shop!

Which Day Trips from Los Angeles Will You Be Planning?

Whether you’re a nature lover, foodie, or just looking for a change of scenery, these day trips from Los Angeles are sure to fill your adventure-meter or help you unwind. I hope they inspired you to plan an incredible day trip!

Don’t forget to save this post, share it, and let me know your favorite below in the comments.

Happy travels!

This post is all about the best day trips from Los Angeles.

Plate & Compass

Plate & Compass is a food and travel blog written by Hannah Falkosky. After quitting her job and spending 8 weeks in Europe on just a few thousand dollars, she found her love for budget travel and sharing tips to help others explore the world. She also spent 15 years working with award-winning chefs and developed a love for artful food and cocktails. Hannah is now based out of Los Angeles, and when she’s not traveling she makes it her mission to explore the best restaurants and cocktail bars while living life to the fullest.

37 Insanely Good Hiking Quotes & Captions You'll Actually Want to Use

Cozy getaways: 7 incredible yosemite bed and breakfasts, you may also like, the ultimate zion national park itinerary + where to eat, screen door portland restaurant: a southern gem, 10 best things to do in maui on a budget, 15 comments.

I absolutely love Ojai, Temecula, and San Diego! I have been wanting to get to Solvang, so I will have to make that my next trip. Thank you for sharing!

These are great tips for places to visit while in LA. I know I just did the touristy areas, Anaheim, Hollywood etc when I went 30 years ago, but this is fantastic. Thanks for sharing.

Karen Warren

Who knew there were so many amazing places near to LA. I went to Ojai many years ago and loved it. The relaxation offerings that add were incredible. I hope to visit some of the places listed when I venture out to the west coast.

This a great guide for weekend getaways from LA. I would love to explore Temecula and San Diego some day. Thanks for this detailed guide.

This makes me want to book a ticket straight to LA, all these day trips sound epic. Thanks for putting this list together

I appreciate this listacle because it also includes drive times and best times to travel!

I am planning a trip to LA next year so this has been so helpful! Definitely adding a day trip to Malibu and Big Bear to my itinerary!

I too, am a fan of taking day trips. I’d love to visit Malibu, San Diego, or Big Bear on my next trip back to California. Great suggestions on day trips to take!

What a great resource for those wanting to base themselves in LA but explore outside of the city. Thanks for sharing.

I’ve been to LA several times but I’ve only taken two of these fabulous day trips: Malibu and Anaheim. Looking forward to my next visit so I can check out more of your recommendations. Perfect guide!

So many things to do! Only went to big bear so time to visit again and explore some other places.

There are so many good options! I’ve only been to LA once, and we ended up spending a good portion of the time hiking in Malibu (it was sooo fab for trails!) If my husband gets another award and we go back… which of these options do you think is best for hiking? I guess Mt Baldy or Big Bear?

Plate & Compass

Malibu is incredible for hiking! If you come back, I’d definitely recommend Mt. Baldy if you are into hiking. Incredible views 🙂

Supraja Lakshmi N

This is a fantastic article with some amazing suggestions for day trips from Los Angeles. I love how you covered a variety of destinations and activities, such as beaches, mountains, deserts, islands, and theme parks. You have made me want to visit all of these places and experience the diversity and beauty of California. Thank you for sharing your travel tips and photos.

• Destinations

25 Best Day Trips from Los Angeles

Last Updated By VI on May 9, 2024

Dana Point Harbor

Anaheim (1 hour day trip from los angeles), ojai (1 hour 50 min), palm springs (2 hours 35 min).

• Complete List & Map

Unique family attractions include the Ocean Institute, Dana Point Nature Interpretive Center and the Sea Canyon Park. Browse more activities in Dana Point and plan your trip. Map

Knott's Berry Farm and Adventure City are two excellent destinations for anyone seeking a non-Disney theme park experience. Map

During the week, visitors can stop by one of the many local farms to pick up some freshly grown produce or locally produced olive oil. Map

Discover great hikes in LA .

Santa Barbara (2 hours 20 min)

Popular family destinations include the zoological gardens, Stearns Wharf, and Shoreline Park. Map/a>

Malibu (1 hour from Los Angeles)

Plan a day trip from San Diego , from Palm Springs , Santa Barbara and other cities in Southern California .

Disneyland (1 hour Day Trip from Los Angeles)

1313 Disneyland Dr., Anaheim, CA 92802, Phone: 714-781-4565 , website , Map Watch this video of LA resorts and plan a weekend stay.

San Diego (2 hours 30 min)

Attractions for families with children include Legoland, SeaWorld, and the San Diego Zoo, and visitors of every age will enjoy the many museums and gardens in the famous 1,200-acre Balboa Park. Map

Knott's Berry Farm (1 hour Day Trip from Los Angeles)

8039 Beach Blvd, Buena Park , CA 90620, Phone: 714-220-5200 , Map

Legoland California Resort (2 hours)

1 Legoland Dr, Carlsbad , CA 92008, Phone: 877-376-5346 , Map

Griffith Observatory (25 min)

2800 E Observatory Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90027, Phone: 213-473-0800 , website , Map , Video

Joshua Tree National Park (2 hour 45 min)

More ideas: California resorts

Universal Studios Hollywood (25 min)

More ideas: Los Angeles tours

Laguna Beach (1 hour 30 min)

Other large festivals throughout the year include the Pageant of the Masters, Bluewater Music Festival, and Kelpfest. Map

Big Bear Lake (2 hours)

Anyone looking for a more relaxing holiday can spend time in The Village, which is home to a number of excellent shopping and dining options. Video , Map

The Getty (1 hour Day Trip from Los Angeles)

More ideas: Weekend Getaways from Los Angeles

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway (1 hour 50 min)

1 Tram Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262, Phone: 888-515-8726 , Map

Lake Mathews Estelle Mountain Reserve (1 hour 30 min)

Recreational use of the lake has been a controversial topic over the years, and there are currently no public recreational facilities at the lake. The reservoir is fenced off and inaccessible to the general public. Map

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve (2 hours 15 min)

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve , 12600 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037, Phone: 858-755-2063

Los Angeles County Museum of Art (35 min Day Trip from Los Angeles)

More ideas: Free in Santa Barbara

The Cabazon Dinosaurs (1 hour 35 min)

More ideas: Things to Do in Palm Desert

Fort Tejon State Historic Park (1 hour 25 min)

Angeles National Forest - San Gabriel Mountains National Monument (30 min)

Angeles National Forest - San Gabriel Mountains National Monument , 701 N. Santa Anita Ave., Arcadia , CA 91006, Phone: 626-574-1613

Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge (50 min)

800 Seal Beach Blvd, Seal Beach, CA 90740, Phone: 562-598-1024

• 1. Dana Point Harbor
• 2. Anaheim (1 hour Day Trip from Los Angeles)
• 3. Ojai (1 hour 50 min)
• 4. Palm Springs (2 hours 35 min)
• 5. Santa Barbara (2 hours 20 min)
• 6. Malibu (1 hour from Los Angeles)
• 7. Disneyland (1 hour Day Trip from Los Angeles)
• 8. San Diego (2 hours 30 min)
• 9. Knott's Berry Farm (1 hour Day Trip from Los Angeles)
• 10. Legoland California Resort (2 hours)
• 11. Griffith Observatory (25 min)
• 12. Joshua Tree National Park (2 hour 45 min)
• 13. Universal Studios Hollywood (25 min)
• 14. Laguna Beach (1 hour 30 min)
• 15. Big Bear Lake (2 hours)
• 16. The Getty (1 hour Day Trip from Los Angeles)
• 17. Palm Springs Aerial Tramway (1 hour 50 min)
• 18. Lake Mathews Estelle Mountain Reserve (1 hour 30 min)
• 19. Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve (2 hours 15 min)
• 20. Los Angeles County Museum of Art (35 min Day Trip from Los Angeles)
• 21. The Cabazon Dinosaurs (1 hour 35 min)
• 22. Fort Tejon State Historic Park (1 hour 25 min)
• 23. Angeles National Forest - San Gabriel Mountains National Monument (30 min)
• 24. Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge (50 min)

Last Updated on May 9, 2024 in California Day Trips

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Resources: Visit California , State Parks , Channel Islands

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13 COOLEST Day Trips from Los Angeles [2023!]

But within easy rich of this sprawling city are some truly amazing day trips that will have you falling in love with California. Mountains, deserts, lakes and a whole lot of unique history make this US state a hotbed of intrigue.

So we’ve rounded up the best day trips from Los Angeles to make life easy for you when you’re looking for an escape from the city. From day trips for couples from Los Angeles to ones more suited to families, there’s a whole lot of choice.

There are even some iconic train routes, so we’ve included some of the top day trips from Los Angeles by train, too.

What are you waiting for? Discover a world outside of the city limits below…

Editor’s note – Need a place to stay in LA? Check out our 15 best hostels in Los Angeles!

Quick Answer: Best Day Trips from Los Angeles

• Day Trips from Los Angeles by Train – Train Ride from Los Angeles to San Diego
• Romantic Day Trips from Los Angeles for Couples –  California Coast Day Tour from LA: Santa Barbara & Solvang
• Best Day Trips from Los Angeles with Kids –  Round-Trip Daily Transportation to Disneyland California

Best Places to Stay in Los Angeles

Los Angeles may be home to Hollywood and high-end gated communities, but the city is a huge sprawling metropolis and some areas are much less safe than others. Not only that, but you won’t want to end up in a hotel the other side of the city from all of the interesting places that you plan to visit on a day trip.

• Best Hostel in Los Angeles •

Hi los angeles – santa monica.

• Beautiful beach location

Just a short walk from Santa Monica Beach, staying at this hostel is all about living the good life. The surrounding area is busy with shops and eateries – plus the hostel puts on social events like bar crawls. They even serve a free breakfast in the morning to help you with the hangover.

• Best Budget Hotel in Los Angeles •

The big bungalow.

• Laid back atmosphere

A super chilled out and relaxing place to stay, this budget hotel in Los Angeles is a great option for those who want to feel secure. The local neighbourhood may be quiet, but it’s also only a short walk to a lot of top places. The shared kitchen and outdoor spaces are an added bonus.

Looking for something different? Check out our guide to party hostels in Los Angeles !

• Best Luxury Hotel in Los Angeles •

Chateau marmont.

• An iconic place to stay

Why not splash the cash a little for your trip to LA and book a room at this landmark hotel? This place has seen more celebrity guests than you could ever dream of! Built to look like a French chateau, this hotel screams old Hollywood glamour. Select a room, a suite or even a bungalow, put on some fancy clothes and sit in the bar pretending you’re in an old movie.

#1 Best Day Trip from Los Angeles – Train Ride from Los Angeles to San Diego

Day trips from los angeles by train.

• Ocean views
• Spanish colonial history
• Beats the freeway!

Hop on the iconic railway along the Amtrak Pacific coastline and cruise along the coast to San Diego on this top day trip from Los Angeles by train.

And the best thing about this day trip from Los Angeles is that you don’t have to sit on the freeway along with everyone else in their cars: the train ride takes only a couple of hours and also features beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean.  The train even has free Wi-Fi!

At San Diego’s Union Station there’s the San Diego Old Town State Historic Park just a few steps from the train station. Here you can learn all about the history of the original Spanish settlement in the area, as well the history of Christianity in the state.

Exploring around this place is quite literally like taking a step back in time.  But if you get to Solana Beach you can enjoy a day soaking up the sun and walking along the sand.

We are obsessed with backpacks – we’ve tried them all! And our favourite carry on backpack in the WORLD is the Nomatic Travel Backpack.  This backpack has revolutionized the backpack industry and will change the way you travel forever :) Check it out here!

#2 – San Clemente

• Perfect for surfers
• Enjoy boutique shopping
• A slice of classic beachside history

Take the train along the Surfliner Route from Los Angeles’ Union Station and get off at San Clemente , where you’ll be only a few paces from the sand.

Located in southern Orange County, this is a hub for surfers and has grown into a thriving beach destination without all of the development that comes with it. It’s all about a laid-back atmosphere, cute shopping streets with boutique shops and delicious restaurants.

It’s a breath of fresh air from the gritty city streets of LA.

The beaches in San Clemente are pretty spectacular. Enjoy the rolling waves at North Beach or take a stroll along the picturesque historic pier at San Clemente State Park – it’s 1,200 feet long and dates back to 1928 (in fact, the Amtrak station is just at the foot of the pier).

So with the convenience combined with the chilled slice of beach life you get to enjoy at San Clemente, this one makes for a simple day trip from Los Angeles by train.

#3 – San Luis Obispo

• Perfect for train lovers
• Spot dolphins from the train
• Eat a lot of tacos

Sometimes the train ride is more about the attraction than the destination. So if you like train rides that feature sensational scenery, then the day trip from Los Angeles by train to San Luis Obispo is the one for you.

This train ride is iconic. The train carriages chug through Simi Valley – a jagged desert landscape that straight from a Western film – as well as the rolling green fields of Ventura Country, lacing its way across the land until it meets the blue of the Pacific Ocean, where it zips across the clifftops high above the sea. You may even be able to spot dolphins from your vantage point.

Certainly, a train ride to remember.

The destination, San Luis Obispo, is a small town 200 miles along the coast from Los Angeles. There are many places to get some good food here (think burritos and tacos) before you make the journey back as the sun sets.

#4 – Santa Barbara

• Hipster-friendly destination
• Great food scene
• Chance to surf

The perfect day trip from Los Angeles, this one takes the coastal Surfliner Route to Santa Barbara from LA’s Union Station.  Set on the centre of the Californian coast, surrounded by the Ynez Mountains, once you’re in Santa Barbara there’s a lot to do.

If you’re hungry, you’re in luck: there is a whole host of unbelievably tasty Mexican food to get stuck into – from restaurants to street food. And as you chow down, take some time to people watch since the local life here is lively and colourful.

Check out one of the many galleries, wineries or cool coffee shops in the Funk Zone – where you can also rent some surf gear to rent. Then head to the beach to catch some waves.

The beachside eateries serve up fantastic seafood, especially paired with a glass of local wine. And if you’re getting the train you don’t have to worry about driving back after a few drinks!

On this relaxed day trip from Los Angeles, you can while away the rest of the afternoon lazing on the sand before catching the train back to the buzz of the city.

Love Ice Cream? Don’t miss out on the Best Ice Cream Parlours of Los Angeles!

Staying Safe in Los Angeles

While Los Angeles is super safe, no matter where you are traveling, you NEED to have great travel insurance . We have personally tested TONS of travel insurance companies, and World Nomads is our favorite (and most affordable!).

Fill out the form below to get a quote so you can have a stress-free time traveling around USA!

#5 – California Coast

Romantic day trips from los angeles for couples.

• Perfect for architecture lovers
• Lots of Danish food to try
• Plenty of history

For a unique and romantic day trip from Los Angeles for couples, the trip to interesting Solvang – via the laid-back city of Santa Barbara – is the perfect option.

You can discover what the California coast has to offer as you drive northwards from LA along the iconic Highway 1. Stop off at a historic Spanish mission and learn about the early days of Spanish colonialism, before taking a chilled break on the sandy beaches of Santa Barbara.

The highlight of this top day trip from Los Angeles is the Danish town of Solvang, an authentic village complete with European architecture, such as charming houses and idyllic windmills. You can even stop off for some freshly baked Danish pastries.

Round up the day by visiting the magnificent Hurst Castle – an elaborate Spanish style estate built in 1919 by newspaper oligarch William Randolph Hurst. Antique treasures abound in this building, such as Ancient Greek vases dating back to 800 BC!

#6 – Palm Springs

• Perfect for shopaholics
• Ride the amazing aerial tramway
• Iconic city landmarks

Take a trip to the resort city of Palm Springs in southern California for a day of palm-lined streets, shiny malls and luxury hotels in the middle of the Sonoran Desert.

Palm Springs is famous for its shopping, so why not take a romantic day trip from Los Angeles with your partner and hit up the best stores in town? There’s Palm Canyon Drive with its cool boutique stores, but for something more affordable you could buy yourselves a new wardrobe at one of the outlet stores that dot Palm Springs.

But it’s not all about shopping. This is a perfect day trip from Los Angeles if getting away from the city is what you want.

At Palm Springs you can take a soaring aerial tramway ride up the sheer cliffs of Chino Canyon, and float across the edge of the valley to the top, all the while looking upon the valley below from 5,000 feet above.

Hungry? Pop in for lunch at one of the many restaurants on the world-renowned Rodeo Drive.

Not traveling 4-star? These cheap hostels in Los Angeles won’t disappoint you!

#7 – Big Bear Lake

• Watersports to enjoy
• Great for nature lovers
• Beautiful views

The reservoir of Big Bear Lake sits nestled in the San Bernardino Mountains and is surrounded by forests and beautiful natural scenery.  The road trip here is as picturesque as the destination – you might be stopping every few miles just for a photo opportunity on the two-hour drive.

One of the most romantic day trips from Los Angeles for couples, Big Bear Lake is all about calm and serenity and is a perfect chance to spend some peaceful time together walking in breathtaking beauty.

There are, of course, plenty of activities from hiking among the old pine forests and horseriding to canoeing on the lake itself.  You can even try out waterskiing or tubing if you are looking for something a little more adrenaline-inducing.

There’s also a historical museum here where you can learn about the indigenous Serrano Indians that used to populate the area, plus there’s plenty here to educate you about the gold mining days and cowboys.

And then there’s the road trip back. All in all, one of the best driving day trips from Los Angeles you could go on.

In fact, it’s not at all unlikely that you end up loving this magical place so much that you choose to extend your stay. If that does happen, there’s a truly epic guide on how to spend a weekend at Big Bear Lake!

#8 – Joshua Tree

• Perfect for nature lovers
• Plenty of great hikes
• Astounding scenery

The iconic Joshua Tree is famous for playing host to many musicians as they soul search and go on a psychedelic journey in the Sonoran Desert. But it’s famous for its amazing landscape, too.

This easy day trip from Los Angeles to the Joshua Tree National Park can be packed full of interesting stopping off points, too.

There’s the Cholla Cactus Garden, some great hiking routes – such as the Arch Rock Trail with its strange rock formations, and then, of course, there are the thousands of iconic Jousha trees themselves.

When it comes to outdoor day trips from Los Angeles, Joshua Tree is the perfect balance of easy to get to but also rugged and wild enough to feel worlds away from the city.  Take your time in the park to enjoy the scenery and spend a while hiking, and find a secluded spot for you and your partner to eat a picnic in the astounding landscape.

Especially if you’re adventurous, this is the perfect romantic day trip from Los Angeles for couples. Just make sure to bring plenty of water!

#9 – Borrego Springs

• Perfect for petrolheads
• Fantastic scenery
• Classic Americana on offer

A great way to see California is by car – and an even better way to see it is on two wheels. So for a great day trip from Los Angeles for couples, how about a motorcycle tour?

Yes, couples can self-guide themselves from central LA on your very own motorbikes, touring the fantastic and recognisable desert landscape of California, ending up at Borrego Springs – featuring views across the land to the Salton Sea.

Stopping off at Julian is a great part of this romantic day trip from Los Angeles. This town was once a hardworking mining town but has now become renowned for its apple pie. So why not take a break with a slice? You can’t get more Americana than that!

And on the way back loop around onto the Pacific Coast Highway for incredible panoramic views and picturesque beach resort towns. You could even stop off at one of them, maybe Laguna or Huntington Beach, as the sun sets over the sea.

If you are traveling you should ALWAYS have emergency cash hidden on you! Security belts are great because they are affordable and can fit a ton of stuff in them (great for peace of mind!). Check out our favorite travel belt!

#10 – Disneyland California

Best day trips from los angeles with kids.

• Perfect for Disney fans
• Fun rides for all ages
• Magical themed worlds to explore

The first of its kind in the world, Disneyland California opened its doors in 1955 and has been serving up larger than life slices of fun ever since, which is why it makes for one of best day trips from Los Angeles with kids. Situated in nearby Anaheim, Disneyland is easy to get to.

This is the only Disneyland in the world to have been designed and built under the direct supervision of Walt Disney himself, to make sure his vision remained one that was true to what Disney stands for: magic – and plenty of it.

Here your children can meet their favourite characters, classic mascots like Mickey Mouse as well as newer additions to the Disney family in Elsa and Moana. There are also rides, of course! Blast off into the cosmos on Space Mountain, ride the rattling Thunder Mountain or jump into a swashbuckling adventure on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride – and much more besides.

Especially if your children are big Disney fans, this is easily one of the best day trips from Los Angeles with kids, and one that’s bound to make lasting memories.

#11 – Santa Catalina Island Fishing Trip

• Get to see deep sea fish up close
• Enjoy a relaxed time on the boat
• Keep your catch and cook it later!

For a fun family day trip from Los Angeles, a fishing trip is bound to keep everybody entertained. And it’s not just any fishing: this is deep sea fishing, so your children get to see some whoppers hooked from the depths of the Pacific Ocean!

From Newport Beach is Los Angeles, you’ll travel southwest of the city to Santa Catalina Island: a haven for diving, hiking and, of course, fishing.  You’ll get to see ocean fish like tuna, barracuda, red snapper and sea bass – if you can catch them! It will be a memorable experience for you and your children as you struggle to pull in some of these large fish.

Sailing with a friendly crew, the boat comes with a snack bar and kitchen, meaning you and your little ones won’t get hungry as you bob around on the sea.

Though it’s a catch and release fishing trip, there’s also the option to keep your fish and have it cleaned, so if you’re staying in self-catering facilities you’ll be the ones cooking up a freshly caught dinner for yourselves and your children.

#12 – Universal Studios Hollywood

• Great for movie fanatics
• Easy to get to
• Rides and attractions

Set to the northwest of central Los Angeles, Universal Studios is a great option when it comes to looking for a good day trip from Los Angeles with kids.

With a VIP ticket to Universal Studios , not only will you get to skip the lines entrance as well as rides and attractions, but you’ll also be granted a peek behind the scenes of real life, working movie studios themselves.

Here you’ll get to be up close and personal with King Kong in a dramatic 3D ride, run around the literally magical Wizarding World of Harry Potter and watch your favourite Transformers in action. There’s even The Simpsons ride!

So it won’t be just children, but parents who love films and all things Hollywood won’t be bored at this fun day trip from Los Angeles, that’s for sure. There are also plenty of places to eat and drink here, so nobody will go hungry.

When you’re done for the day and you’ve seen everything you can see, it’s an easy route back to your Los Angeles accommodation and time to rest easy that everyone’s had an action-packed day.

#13 – SeaWorld San Diego

• Thrill rides and attractions
• Chances to learn about marine animals

For a whole lot of fascinating and fun times spent with your family, a trip to SeaWorld San Diego is a great option for a day trip from Los Angeles with kids. Not only does this place feature some amazing opportunities for learning about sea creatures, but there are rides here too!

So you can read up about sharks as you watch the fearsome animals swim in huge tanks, watch the rainbow flourishes of coral reefs and the marine life to be found there, and even watch penguins splashing around.

There are exciting rides too, like the snowy simulator of Wild Arctic, and the totally adrenaline pumping Journey To Atlantis water coaster – prepare to be soaked on that one!

A great way to escape the bustle of the city for a day, SeaWorld is an educational and totally fun place where you and your children are bound to have a great time. Easily one of the top day trips from Los Angeles (even without kids)!

Final Thoughts on the Best Day Trips from Los Angeles

Those were the best day trips from Los Angeles. You can have a lot of fun exploring the surrounding area away from the urban hustle and bustle, a world of Western movie backdrops and picturesque towns.

From dramatic train along the Pacific coast to some of the best theme parks in the world, everyone from those who want a relaxed time to those with kids to entertain, there’s so much to see on the doorstep of Los Angeles that staying in the city the whole time would be a waste!

And if you’re on a couples holiday? There are some great romantic day trips from Los Angeles. Imagine you and your partner on a motorbike road trip for the day, or visiting the chilled and luxurious Palm Springs for some retail therapy.

Time to plan your trip to Los Angeles and remember: there’s more to California than the city!

PS If you want to explore more of California, t his list of the 11 best hostels near Yosemite will show you the BEST hostels so you can explore like a boss :)

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My glutes are sore. How about you?

We’ve just finished updating a massive hiking guide featuring 70 of the greatest hikes in the L.A. area. We covered about 150 miles in all, crossing creeks, dodging rattlesnakes and poison ivy, climbing up and around switchbacks. The guide covers hikes that are both easy and challenging; it features remote treks and urban trails; and it spotlights journeys with some of the most dramatic mountaintop and city views.

Travel & Experiences

The 70 best hikes in L.A.

Whether you’re looking for ocean views or desert landscapes or soaring mountain peaks, Los Angeles offers miles upon miles of strikingly different trails.

May 30, 2024

But L.A. is a vast mecca for hiking — we couldn’t possibly cover it all. So we’d love to hear from you. In the form below, tell us about your favorite or little-known L.A. hikes that we may have missed. Is there a particular trail you like to escape to? A waterfall that brings you Zen? What makes it special? We may feature your response in a future story. We may also contact you via email with follow-up questions.

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Deborah Vankin is an arts and culture writer for the Los Angeles Times. In what’s never a desk job, she has live-blogged her journey across Los Angeles with the L.A. County Museum of Art’s “big rock,” scaled downtown mural scaffolding with street artist Shepard Fairey, navigated the 101 freeway tracking the 1984 Olympic mural restorations and ridden Doug Aitken’s art train through the Barstow desert. Her award-winning interviews and profiles unearth the trends, issues and personalities in L.A.’s arts scene. Her work as a writer and editor has also appeared in Variety, LA Weekly and the New York Times, among other places. Originally from Philadelphia, she’s the author of the graphic novel “Poseurs.”

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Memorial Day activities scheduled around Los Angeles

M emorial Day, observed on the last Monday in May, is a federal holiday with its roots in the years following the Civil War, a tradition meant to recognize the sacrifice of Union soldiers who had died in the effort to end slavery.

Over the years it's evolved into a broad remembrance of all those who died while serving in the U.S. military . Memorial Day also marks the unofficial start of summer and is often observed with barbecues and other celebrations.

Here’s a list of some Memorial Day events scheduled on Monday in and around Los Angeles.

Memorial Day Commemoration Ceremony in West L.A.

The Department of Veterans Affairs will host a public Memorial Day commemoration ceremony at Los Angeles National Cemetery, 950 S. Sepulveda Blvd., from 10 to 11 a.m.

L.A. Fleet Week in San Pedro

There will be a  number of L.A. Fleet Week events throughout the weekend and on Monday, including an evening Memorial Day service at the Main Expo Footprint at USS Battleship Iowa, 250 S. Harbor Blvd., San Pedro. The program includes active-duty ship tours, band performances, military displays and flyovers.

MVP Los Angeles Annual Walk to Remember from Santa Monica to West L.A.

Merging Vets and Players, a peer support organization that brings combat veterans and former professional athletes together, will be leading a walk from the Santa Monica Pier to L.A. National Cemetery (about 4.8 miles) ahead of a scheduled ceremony that will include speakers and entertainment. Attendees are expected to meet by the cannon at the Santa Monica Pier, and the walk will begin at 7:15 a.m.

Memorial Day at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum

A ceremony from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. will be held at the library in Simi Valley on Monday and will include live music. The program includes a flyover, a Color Guard, live music, and remarks by Gold Star Family Member Tony Cordero and Robert Kimnach III, the commanding officer at Naval Base Ventura County.

Canoga Park Memorial Day Parade

The 32nd Canoga Park Memorial Day Parade will follow a route along Sherman Way from Owensmouth Avenue to Cozycroft Avenue in the San Fernando Valley. There will be a 10 a.m. opening ceremony, followed by the parade at 11 a.m.

Garden Grove Strawberry Festival

With carnival rides, food and live music, the last day of the 64th annual  Garden Grove Strawberry Festival will run from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday at the Village Green, between Euclid and Main streets, in downtown Garden Grove.

Fiesta Hermosa in Hermosa Beach

The annual  Fiesta Hermosa weekend festival will continue Monday with a carnival, beach concerts, food fair and hundreds of vendors lined along the intersection of Hermosa Avenue and Pier Avenue. Events will run throughout the day in Hermosa Beach. Admission to most areas of the festival is free for the public.

Topanga Days Country Fair

The bohemian festival in picturesque Topanga Canyon is complete with food, music and a Memorial Day parade. The parade will run from about 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. The festival itself requires paid tickets , though it is free for active military members.

Fiesta Days in La Cañada Flintridge

Monday’s Fiesta Days schedule in La Cañada Flintridge will include a 9 a.m. memorial service and a 10:30 a.m. parade, followed by games, food and music, at Memorial Park, 1301 Foothill Blvd.

San Fernando Valley Greek Festival

The 48th celebration of Greek culture, dance, food and music will be held from noon to 9 p.m. at the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 9501 Balboa Blvd., Northridge.

Los Angeles County Fair — Stars, Stripes and Fun

The fair runs 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Admission is available for purchase in advance online; concerts are a separate cost. The event is held at the Fairplex at 1101 W. McKinley Ave. in Pomona.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times .