Los Angeles is the ideal place from where you can take long or short road trips. Be it a day trip or a weekend getaway; there are plenty of areas to explore around this city of angels. Some of the best road trips from Los Angeles will take you to Malibu, Ojai, Palm Springs, Santa Barbara, San Diego, and many other places. These places are 50 to 200 miles from Los Angeles, and you can spend either a weekend or a few days here. From amazing national parks, exotic beaches, and lakes to snow-capped mountains, you can enjoy anything you want.
Keep reading to find out the most epic road trips from LA in this post.
Best Road Trips from Los Angeles for a Weekend
Weekend road trips from Los Angeles offer something for everyone. If you are ready to get away from
1. San Diego
If you want a small beach vacation for just a weekend, head to San Diego. It’s only a couple of hours from Los Angeles. So, you don’t need to worry about much travel. Here, visit the San Diego Air and Space Museum. It is also called the San Diego Museum of Art.
You may also explore the San Diego Zoo, which has over 12,000 animals. There’s also the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve. It is situated on many acres of marvelous oceanfront. A drive to San Diego will not take more than 2 hours, but you’ll enjoy every bit of it.
2. Malibu
Looking for the best road trips from Los Angeles that are only an hour long? Head to Malibu. It is 34 miles from LA. You can cover it in an hour on a Friday or Saturday. There are many ocean-facing villas, large parks, canyons, and beaches.
Local parks, such as Legacy Park, Las Flores Creek Park, and Trancas Canyon Park, are some good ones to explore. You may relax at Zuma Beach or participate in any weekend event.
3. Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara is again less than an hour away from Los Angeles. It is known for its wine country. To get started, visit Babcock Winery and Andrew Murray Vineyards. Arroyo Burro Beach, or Hendry’s Beach, is also a popular spot among tourists.
If you are visiting with family for a weekend, East Beach, with its volleyball court and playgrounds, will be ideal. Santa Barbara has a rich Spanish colonial history. To explore it, visit the Old Mission Santa Barbara.
4. Laguna Beach and Orange County
Laguna Beach and Orange County are just 50 miles or an hour away from Los Angeles. Laguna Beach is a great place for couples with its romantic rock-lined coves and picturesque white sand. It also has innumerable hotels and beachside resorts, which makes it one of the best places to stay for a weekend.
Orange County has some of the most exquisite beaches. These are the Spanish Village and the Huntington Beach Pier. It will give you a great respite from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles.
5. Palm Springs
A list of road trips from Los Angeles for a weekend cannot be complete without the mention of Palm Springs. If you always equate deserts with scorching heat and sweat, Palm Springs will change your mind. It’s a city oasis situated in the Sonoran Desert and is a two-hour drive from Los Angeles.
Some of the best things to do here are ride on the Palm Spring Aerial Tramway visit the Palm Spring Art Museum, and the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum. The place is also dotted with various restaurants, shops, and bars.
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Family Road Trips from Los Angeles
Wondering where you can go with your family from Los Angeles? Many destinations offer great opportunities for your kids to explore the great outdoors.
1. Ojai
Ojai is a quaint city in California, northwest of Los Angeles. You can stroll through the center of this city with your kids and explore various shops and thrift stores. Otherwise, book a guided hike or visit the Casabarranca Tasting Room. Here, you can taste popular wines and learn about the process of making them.
If you are with kids, head Bart’s Books, a picturesque outdoor bookstore, or visit the Friend’s Ranch.
2. Catalina Island
Enjoy a great 60-mile road trip from Los Angeles to Catalina Island that will not take you more than an hour. This will be a scenic road trip from Los Angeles as you will get to feel many stunning parks and beaches.
This road trip can be completed with your family in a day. Some good places to visit here include Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, and the Marina Del Ray, the largest manmade harbor.
3. Alisal Guest Ranch, Solvang
This place is 2.5 hours from LA. Staying at the ranch for just a few days will make you feel relaxed and rejuvenated to the core. Fill your days with various activities for your kids, or just relax and enjoy the natural beauty all around.
This place has various suites, guest rooms, and cottages decked with authentic western décor. Besides, there are small homes that can easily house 10 to 12 people. You can spend your evenings on the patio with a glass of wine and look the majestic horses roaming the corral.
4. Santa Ynez Valley
Just two hours away from Los Angeles, Santa Ynez is dotted with picture-perfect towns. They have beautiful hills. It’s distinct mountain range has created such a climate that makes the place grow over 50 varieties of grapes. This makes it one of the best places for every wine lover.
The Solvang Wineries, with its old-world architecture, bakeries with delicacies, and signature windmills, will mesmerize you. The Santa Ynez Wineries have an eclectic mix of shops and restaurants in old Western-style architecture.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Where do people in Los Angeles go on vacation?
People from Los Angeles can go to various places. These include Santa Barbara, Palm Springs, Laguna Beach, and Newport Beach. They are all 2-hour away from LA.
- Which cities are an hour from Los Angeles?
Cities like Huntington Beach, Malibu, Anaheim, and Newport Beach are an hour away from LA. All of them offer relaxing and fun ways to spend a weekend.
- How far is LA from San Diego?
The shortest route between LA and San Diego is 120.35 miles. You can cover this distance in nearly 2 hours and 23 minutes.
- Where can I travel by car from Los Angeles?
You can head to Palm Springs or Joshua Tree. These are within 200 miles of Los Angeles. If you want to go a bit further, head to Mammoth Lakes, San Francisco, or Napa and Sonoma.
Summing up
The list of these road trips from Los Angeles will help you whenever you want to get away from LA for some time. You can go to these places either solo or with your family and friends. Let yourself relax in nature or have some great shopping experiences.
