15 Best Day Trips From Los Angeles CA
Are you planning a day trip or weekend getaway from Los Angeles? If so, this article’s for you.
Los Angeles is my favorite California city, from the amazing restaurants to the beaches, theme parks, and entertainment venues. But, it’s also the second most populous city in the United States, so you’re not crazy if you need a break from crowds!
I’m a California native, and spent a decent amount of time exploring Southern California while living in Long Beach. This article will cover all of the best day trips from Los Angeles, from Joshua Tree to Big Sur, and more.
Ready to plan an epic day trip? Let’s dive in!
15 Best Day Trips From Los Angeles
Joshua Tree
- Distance from Los Angeles: 131 miles
- Typical driving time: 2-3 hours
If you’re in need of a desert retreat, head to Joshua Tree National Park. This is a beautiful 800,000 acre national park with beginner-friendly hiking trails, unique rock formations, and amazing stargazing opportunities.
There’s no cell service in the park, so it’s a great place to truly unwind in nature. You can camp overnight in the park with a reservation, or stay at an Airbnb or hotel in Joshua Tree.
Joshua Tree is a small town outside of the park’s north entrance that has restaurants, gift shops, and the famous Integratron dome, where you can do a sound bath!
Palm Springs
- Distance from Los Angeles: 107 miles
- Typical driving time: 2-3 hours
If you enjoy hiking, hotel pools, and date shakes, go on a day trip to Palm Springs. Palm Springs is a desert town with spa resorts, and a downtown strip lined with boutiques, art galleries, and museums.
It’s one of the most unique California cities, and only a 2 hour drive from Los Angeles. Additionally, it’s less than an hour’s drive from Joshua Tree.
Here are some of the best things to do in Palm Springs.
- Ride the Aerial Tramway over the valley
- Try a classic date shake
- Relax by the pool at a spa resort
- See the Forever Marilyn statue in downtown
- Visit museums and botanical gardens
- Go hiking at the Tahquitz or Indian Canyons
Big Sur
- Distance from Los Angeles: 300 miles
- Typical driving time: 5-6 hours
If you love the forest and the ocean, take a trip to Big Sur. Big Sur is a gorgeous region that stretches for 71 miles along California’s rugged coastline.
In the heart of Big Sur, there’s campgrounds, hiking trails, beaches, and many scenic ocean vistas. Similar to Joshua Tree, there’s no cell or radio coverage in Big Sur, so it’s the perfect nature retreat.
Before planning a Big Sur trip, make sure to check for current Highway 1 road closures to see which places you can visit. Here are some of the best things to do in Big Sur.
- See purple sand at Pfeiffer Beach
- Visit the Bixby Creek bridge
- Dine with a view at Nepenthe restaurant
- Hike To Calla Lilly Valley, Partington Cove, and Mcway Falls
- Camp at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
- Visit the Hearst Castle and Elephant Seal Vista (San Simeon)
- Hike at Limekiln State Park (south Big Sur)
San Luis Obispo
- Distance from Los Angeles: 190 miles
- Typical driving time: 3-4 hours
San Luis Obispo is the perfect day trip if you want to stay somewhere unique, and enjoy miles of untouched beaches. It’s home to the famous Madonna inn, a historic California hotel with funky architecture.
This inn was built in 1958, and each room was designed with a different theme, so all of the suites are uniquely named (Sugar N Spice, Yosemite Rock, California Poppy).
This is a fun place to stay, and they have an onsite restaurant covered in pink decor that’s famous for their pink champagne cake.
Beyond Madonna Inn, San Luis Obispo has a is less than a 20 minute drive from both Morro Bay and Pismo Beach. Morro Bay has long stretches of sandy beaches, a sea otter viewing pier, and a 581 ft volcanic plug tucked at the edge of the harbor.
Pismo Beach has excellent coastal hiking trails, a monarch butterfly grove, and a sandy beach with a pier. Here are some of the best things to do in San Luis Obispo.
- Stay at the historic Madonna Inn
- See the iconic Morro Rock and otters in Morro Bay
- Hike at Morro Bay State Park
- Enjoy cinnamon rolls at the Pismo Beach pier
- Hike along the cliffs at Dinosaur Caves Park
- Visit the Monarch Butterfly Grove
Santa Barbara
- Distance from Los Angeles: 110 miles
- Typical driving time: 1-2 hours
If you want to admire one of California’s most beautiful cities, go on a day trip to Santa Barbara.
Santa Barbara is a beautiful coastal city with Spanish Colonial architecture, tall palm trees, lovely beaches, and lots of gorgeous places to walk around.
In Santa Barbara, you can visit the zoo, botanical gardens, stroll around the marina, or go for a long walk on Arroyo Burro Beach. Santa Barbara also has many amazing restaurants, wineries, and cute boutique hotels to stay at.
Solvang
- Distance from Los Angeles: 143 miles
- Typical driving time: 2-3 hours
If you want to visit somewhere unique, go on a day trip to Solvang. This is a small Danish village town in Santa Barbara County, around 3 hours from Los Angeles.
The city’s small, but the streets are lined with Danish style buildings, bakeries, restaurants, wine-tasting rooms, and more.
This is a fun place to walk around, shop, and try everything from Danish pancakes to pastries.
Solvang is also home to Ostrichland. This is a large outdoor ranch where you can feed ostriches and emus a bowl of food for a few dollars!
Paso Robles
- Distance from Los Angeles: 205 miles
- Typical driving time: 3-4 hours
If you love wine or are seeking a relaxing getaway, head to Paso Robles. This is a premier wine growing and olive producing region in California, tucked in the rolling hills of San Luis Obispo County.
It has dozens of incredible wineries and tasting rooms, and natural hot springs you can relax in.
You can stay at a vineyard resort in town, or at the famous Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo, which is only a 30 minute drive away!
Long Beach
- Distance from Los Angeles: 24 miles
- Typical driving time: 30-45 minutes
Long Beach is a lively seaside city, only 30 minutes away from Los Angeles. In Long Beach, you can go for a long beach walk, enjoy seafood in the marina, and see the huge Queen Mary ship floating in the harbor.
This is a British ocean liner built in the 1930s that now operates as a hotel and museum that offers tours. It’s supposedly haunted, and you can stay overnight in one of the cruise ship style rooms!
Other fun things to do in Long Beach are visiting the Aquarium of the Pacific, and watching dogs play off-leash at Rosie’s Dog Beach.
Catalina Island
- Distance from Los Angeles: 25 miles from the ferry marina (San Pedro, Long Beach)
- Typical driving time: 30-45 minutes
Catalina Island is a small rocky island, located offshore of Los Angeles that’s perfect for a day trip. On the island, you can go snorkeling, rent out golf carts, or simply enjoy scenic ocean vistas.
Avalon is the island’s city center, and it has restaurants, bars, historic sites, and hotels. If you explore the rest of the island, you can spot everything from wild bison to foxes!
Channel Islands National Park
- Distance from Los Angeles: 68 miles from the ferry marina in Ventura
- Typical driving time: 1-2 hours
Channel Islands National Park encompasses 5 islands off the coast of Ventura that you can visit for a day of hiking, kayaking, and snorkeling.
The most popular island, Anacapa Island is only 11 miles offshore, and has a lighthouse, steep lava rock cliffs, and gorgeous vistas all throughout.
If you’re craving an island vacation, this is definitely the place to go.
Laguna Beach
- Distance from Los Angeles: 55 miles
- Typical driving time: 45 min-1.5 hours
If you want to spend the day at the beach, Laguna Beach is the place to go. Laguna Beach has some of the most stunning beaches near Los Angeles, with turquoise blue water and powdery white sand.
Treasure Island Park and Crystal Cove State Park are two incredible beaches to spend the day at.
Treasure Island Park is a beachfront park with coastal hiking trails, picturesque coves with tide pools, and long stretches of sandy beach.
Crystal Cove is a state park with secluded beaches, coastal hiking trails, and a historic district.
The historic district has restaurants, and charming beachfront cottages you can stay overnight in if you want to be steps from the ocean.
Huntington Beach
- Distance from Los Angeles: 40 miles
- Typical driving time: 30 min-1 hour
If you want to relax on a sandy beach away from crowds, take a day trip to Huntington Beach. This is a popular surfing beach, with a wooden pier, and a long stretch of clean white sand.
You’re allowed to set up a bonfire on the beach, and it’s within walking distance to restaurants, gift shops, and a surfing museum. It’s not as crowded as Santa Monica or Venice, but still has a lively, fun atmosphere.
Newport Beach
- Distance from Los Angeles: 47 miles
- Typical driving time: 30 min-1 hour
Newport Beach is another great Orange County Beach with a long wooden pier, and sandy beach that stretches for miles.
There’s restaurants and donut shops by the pier, and if you drive further down the peninsula you can visit the Balboa Fun Zone.
This is a little amusement park with rides, ice cream shops, and boat charters that offer whale watching tours.
San Diego
- Distance from Los Angeles: 127 miles
- Typical driving time: 2-3 hours
San Diego is an amazing day trip from Los Angeles that offers no shortage of activities.
Whether you want to visit the zoo, enjoy amazing Mexican food in Old Town, or spot sea lions at La Jolla Cove, you won’t struggle finding something to do.
For more ideas on what to do in town, check out our 3 day San Diego itinerary!
Tijuana, Mexico
- Distance from Los Angeles: 150 miles
- Typical driving time: 3-4 hours
If you’re up for an adventure, go on a day trip to Tijuana. You’ll get to cross over the border from San Diego, and explore the city’s culture and history with a local guide.
From savoring street tacos to shopping for souvenirs, this is an epic way to spend the day.
Summary
California is one of the most geographically diverse states, and there’s so many interesting regions to visit near Los Angeles.
Whether you want to stay by the forest and ocean of Big Sur, the desert of Joshua Tree, or in the rolling hills of Paso Robles, there’s truly something for everyone.
For more ideas on what to do along California’s coast, check out our SF to LA road trip itinerary!
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