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

The best day trips from Los Angeles in 2026. From Santa Barbara's wine country and Joshua Tree National Park to San Diego's beaches and the Channel Islands, these are the best day trips from Los Angeles.

By Los Angeles Daily · Published 3 July 2026, 4:37 am

2 min read

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

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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Published by The Daily Los Angeles

This article was produced by the The Daily Los Angeles editorial desk and covers lifestyle in Los Angeles. See our editorial standards for how we use AI.

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