Best Day Trips from Los Angeles 2026 — Santa Barbara, Joshua Tree and San Diego Near Los Angeles

Best Day Trips from Los Angeles 2026

Los Angeles's freeway network and Pacific Coast Highway make it a natural hub for California day trips in multiple directions. Santa Barbara is 90 minutes north on the 101, San Diego is 2 hours south on the I-5, Joshua Tree National Park is 2.5 hours east on the I-10, and the ski slopes of Big Bear Lake are under 2 hours inland. LA's Metrolink commuter rail and Amtrak Pacific Surfliner offer car-free alternatives to many destinations. This guide covers the best day trips from Los Angeles in 2026.

Top Day Trip Destinations from Los Angeles

• Santa Barbara (145km north, 90 minutes via US-101): the American Riviera with a beautiful Spanish colonial downtown (El Paseo, State Street), Santa Barbara Mission, and the Santa Ynez wine country 45 minutes inland (Foxen Canyon Wine Trail, Solvang Danish village); Amtrak Pacific Surfliner from Union Station to Santa Barbara 2h20m; San Diego (195km south, 2 hours via I-5 or I-405): Balboa Park's 17 museums (most require separate tickets), Old Town San Diego State Historic Park (free), the Gaslamp Quarter, Mission Beach, and the USS Midway Museum ($34 / AUD 52); Amtrak Pacific Surfliner 2h50m; Joshua Tree National Park (260km east, 2.5 hours via I-10): the extraordinary Mojave and Colorado Desert junction with unique Joshua trees, boulder climbing at Skull Rock and Hall of Champions, the Keys View viewpoint, and star-gazing some of the darkest skies near LA; entry $35 (AUD 53) per car; best October to April; Malibu and Pacific Coast Highway (40km west, 1 hour in off-peak traffic): Malibu Lagoon State Beach, the Getty Villa (free with reservation; classical antiquities), El Matador State Beach (sea caves and rocky coves), and surf culture at Surfrider Beach; Big Bear Lake (145km east, 2 hours via I-10 and Highway 18): mountain lake resort with skiing at Big Bear Mountain Resort in winter and hiking, mountain biking, and kayaking in summer

Day Trip Logistics from Los Angeles

• A car is essential for Joshua Tree, Malibu, and Big Bear; Amtrak Pacific Surfliner from Union Station serves Santa Barbara (2h20m) and San Diego (2h50m); Metrolink commuter rail serves San Bernardino (gateway to Big Bear); LA Metro connects to Union Station; avoid peak-hour freeway travel — LA traffic on Friday afternoons to Santa Barbara and San Diego is severe

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