Day trips from Los Angeles
The best day trips from Los Angeles
Catalina Island by ferry, the Malibu coast, Long Beach and San Diego or Santa Barbara: here are the trips that work in one day from LA, with honest advice on travel time, getting there without a car and which bookable tours are worth the price.
See our 5 picks
Short answer The best day trips from Los Angeles are Catalina Island by ferry, the Malibu coast, Long Beach, San Diego and Santa Barbara. Malibu and Long Beach are close enough for a half day. Catalina needs an hour-long boat ride. San Diego and Santa Barbara take about two hours by car, so start early.
Our 5 picks for day trips from Los Angeles
A ferry to Catalina, three short Malibu tours from Santa Monica, and a full day on the Orange County coast with hotel pickup. Prices are per person.
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from €42 per person Our top pick 1.5 hours 4.6 (205) reviews on GetYourGuide
Catalina Island ferry from Newport Beach
A one-way or return ticket on the Catalina Flyer from Newport Beach to Avalon. You choose your own boats, so you set the length of your day.
Best for Anyone who wants an island day without a tour group
Check availability: Catalina Island ferry from Newport Beach on GetYourGuide -
from €35 per person 2 hours 4.7 (110) reviews on GetYourGuide
Malibu beaches and celebrity homes from Santa Monica
Two hours up the Pacific Coast Highway past the Getty Villa and oceanfront homes, with photo stops and a visit to Malibu Pier. Small groups of up to 8.
Best for First-timers who want the coast without driving
Check availability: Malibu beaches and celebrity homes from Santa Monica on GetYourGuide -
from €88 per person 2 hours 4.8 (26) reviews on GetYourGuide
Malibu vineyard tour in a vintage VW bus
A two-hour ride around a ranch and vineyard in the Malibu hills, with wine tastings, snacks and music on the vintage radio. Groups of up to 6.
Best for Couples and friends over 21
Check availability: Malibu vineyard tour in a vintage VW bus on GetYourGuide -
from €28 per person 2 hours 4.7 (26) reviews on GetYourGuide
Budget Malibu beaches tour from Santa Monica
The same Pacific Coast Highway route to Zuma Beach, Point Dume and Malibu Pier, with stories about the stars who live there. Groups of up to 10.
Best for Budget travelers who want a short coast trip
Check availability: Budget Malibu beaches tour from Santa Monica on GetYourGuide -
from €125 per person 1 day 0
Orange County hike, bike and sunset day
A full day with hotel pickup: a guided walk in the Bolsa Chica wetlands, a beach-cruiser ride in Newport Beach and sunset in Laguna Beach. Lunch is not included.
Best for Active travelers without a car
Check availability: Orange County hike, bike and sunset day on GetYourGuide
One-day tours from Los Angeles, side by side
| Tour | From | Duration | Group size | Pickup | Free cancellation | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catalina Island ferry from Newport Beach | €42 per person | 1.5 hours | Not stated | Meet on site | Yes, up to 24 hours in advance | Anyone who wants an island day without a tour group | The most-reviewed pick here, rated 4.6 from 205 reviews, and the only Catalina ferry on GetYourGuide. |
| Malibu beaches and celebrity homes from Santa Monica | €35 per person | 2 hours | Small group: Up to 8 people | Meet on site | Yes, up to 24 hours in advance | First-timers who want the coast without driving | Rated 4.7 from 110 reviews, in a small group, with English and Spanish guides. |
| Malibu vineyard tour in a vintage VW bus | €88 per person | 2 hours | Small group: Up to 6 people | Meet on site | Yes, up to 24 hours in advance | Couples and friends over 21 | The highest-rated pick (4.8 from 26 reviews); you need your own way to the ranch. |
| Budget Malibu beaches tour from Santa Monica | €28 per person | 2 hours | Small group: Up to 10 people | Meet on site | Yes, up to 24 hours in advance | Budget travelers who want a short coast trip | The cheapest pick at from €28, rated 4.7 from 26 reviews. |
| Orange County hike, bike and sunset day 0 | €125 per person | 1 day | Small group: Up to 13 people | Pickup included | Yes, up to 24 hours in advance | Active travelers without a car | The only full-day pick with hotel pickup; it is new, with no reviews yet. |
Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 22 October 2026. Prices are "from" prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
Quick answer: the best day trips by time from LA
Here are the best day trips from LA, sorted by rough travel time each way without traffic. Traffic can easily add an hour, so treat these as the best case.
- Close by: Disneyland in Anaheim (less than an hour), Long Beach (on the Metro A Line from downtown) and Malibu (our Malibu tours do the round trip from Santa Monica in two hours).
- About an hour: Laguna Beach, a little over an hour by car; Catalina Island, about an hour by ferry from Long Beach, plus the trip to the port.
- About two hours: San Diego and La Jolla, Santa Barbara, Joshua Tree and Big Bear Lake.
- Two to three hours: Solvang.
- Too far for one day: Hearst Castle (about 3.5 hours), Las Vegas (about 4 hours) and Sequoia National Park (4 to 5 hours).
Under an hour or so: Disneyland, Long Beach, Newport Beach
The closest day trips are Disneyland, Long Beach and Newport Beach. Disneyland is less than an hour from LA, and all three make good half days.
Long Beach has the Aquarium of the Pacific, the Queen Mary and harbor cruises, and the Metro A Line runs there from downtown. In Newport Beach, the Catalina Flyer leaves for the island from the Balboa Pavilion.
Half-day trips in Los Angeles: Malibu
Malibu is the closest coast trip, up the Pacific Coast Highway from Santa Monica. Our three Malibu picks take two hours each. To plan a beach day there yourself, see our guide to Malibu beaches.
Catalina Island by ferry
Catalina Island is the best day trip for a real change of scene: it lies 22 miles off the coast. Ferries leave from Long Beach, San Pedro, Dana Point and Newport Beach. From Long Beach, the crossing takes about an hour.
Most boats go to Avalon, a small harbor town. You can walk it, swim, take a zip line or a semi-submarine, or look for the island's wild bison. An adult round trip from Long Beach costs $103 with Catalina Express.
San Diego and La Jolla
San Diego works as a long day trip: about two hours by car, or about three hours on the Pacific Surfliner train. La Jolla, on the coast north of the city, is a similar drive.
Go by train if you plan to stay downtown and near the harbor. Drive if you also want La Jolla's coves and beaches.
Santa Barbara and Solvang
Santa Barbara is about two hours north of Los Angeles, and the Pacific Surfliner train stops two blocks from the beach. That makes it one of the best car-free day trips.
Solvang is a small town north of Santa Barbara, about two to three hours from LA. You need a car to get there, so many people pair it with Santa Barbara on a road trip.
Nature: Joshua Tree, Big Bear, Sequoia, the desert
For desert or mountains, Joshua Tree and Big Bear Lake are about two hours away. Joshua Tree National Park lies 140 miles east of Los Angeles. Public transport there is limited, so plan to drive.
Sequoia National Park is a 4 to 5 hour drive each way. That is too far for one day; plan a night nearby instead.
Fun Los Angeles day trips you can book
Only a few day trips from LA are sold as tours, and the table above compares the best of them. The Catalina ferry is a ticket, not a tour: you explore the island on your own. The Malibu tours are short, two-hour drives from Santa Monica.
For a full guided day, the Orange County tour includes hotel pickup and is the only one that does. It is new, so read the latest reviews on its page before you book.
Unusual day trips from Los Angeles
For something different, look for Catalina's bison on a tour of the island interior, or the vineyard tour by vintage VW bus in the Malibu hills.
No car? How to reach each one
Without a car, the train and the ferry cover the best trips. The Metro A Line runs from downtown LA to Long Beach. The Pacific Surfliner train runs to Santa Barbara and San Diego. The regional Metrolink trains reach Orange, Ventura, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
Catalina works with a ferry from Long Beach, a short ride from the A Line. Joshua Tree, Big Bear, Solvang and Sequoia are hard without a car; join a tour or rent one.
Day trips from Los Angeles by car
A car gives you the most choice. Drive the coast to Laguna Beach, inland to Joshua Tree, or up to Santa Barbara and Solvang in one loop. Leave early to miss the worst of the morning traffic.
How to pick: season, time, kids, budget
Pick by how much time you have. With half a day, do Malibu or Long Beach. With a full day, do Catalina, San Diego or Santa Barbara.
- With kids: Long Beach, for the aquarium and the harbor cruise, or Disneyland.
- On a budget: Long Beach by Metro, or Santa Barbara by train.
- In summer: the coast is cooler than the desert. Keep Joshua Tree for the cooler months.
- Wine lovers: the Malibu vineyard tour, or a car to Solvang.
2-day and 3-day trips from Los Angeles
Some trips need a night or two. Sequoia, Hearst Castle and Las Vegas are too far to enjoy in one day. Joshua Tree, San Diego and Santa Barbara also make easy 2-day trips if you want more than a few hours there.
Day trip tips from Los Angeles
Leave early
LA traffic decides your day. An early start can save an hour on the way out.
Check what is included
The Malibu tours start in Santa Monica, and the vineyard tour starts at the ranch. Only the Orange County day includes hotel pickup.
Read the cancellation line
Most picks show free cancellation on their booking page. Check the exact cut-off there before you book.
Book the ferry both ways
For Catalina, choose your boat home when you book. Then you know how long you have on the island.
Pack layers
The coast can be cool and foggy in the morning, even when the city is warm.
Tip your guide
Tips are not included on the Malibu and Orange County tours. Bring some cash if you want to leave one.
Questions people ask
What to do in LA when you only have one day?
Pick one area and stay there, because driving across LA eats hours. A good one-day plan is Santa Monica in the morning and a two-hour Malibu coast tour in the afternoon.
What are the no-go zones in LA?
LA has no official list of no-go zones. Like any big city, some streets feel rough, mostly at night. Stay in busy areas after dark, keep valuables out of sight in your car, and use a rideshare late at night.
What is 1 hour away from LA?
Disneyland is less than an hour away. Long Beach is a Metro ride from downtown, and Malibu is just up the coast from Santa Monica. Laguna Beach is a little over an hour by car, and Catalina about an hour by ferry from Long Beach.
What are the top 10 attractions in Los Angeles?
Most first-time visitors put these on their list: Griffith Observatory, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Universal Studios Hollywood, Santa Monica Pier, Venice Beach, the Getty Center, LACMA, the La Brea Tar Pits, a studio tour and the Malibu coast.
What are some hidden gems to visit in Los Angeles?
Try the canals of Naples in Long Beach, the Battleship Iowa in San Pedro, or Catalina's wild bison. All three are easy to add to a day by the water.
What are the best day trips from Los Angeles?
Catalina Island by ferry, the Malibu coast, Long Beach, San Diego and Santa Barbara. Joshua Tree and Big Bear are best if you have a car.
More day trips from Los Angeles with live availability
More options with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.
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Facts checked on 22 October 2026 against: Travel Dudes: Los Angeles day trip ideas · MLE Travel Diary: day trips from Los Angeles · National Park Service: Joshua Tree directions · Pacific Surfliner · Catalina Express: schedule and fares · Love Catalina: how to get to Catalina Island · LA Metro: A Line timetable · Metrolink: maps.
Written by the Things to Do in Los Angeles editorial team.