Best Road Trips from Los Angeles

One of our favorite things about Los Angeles is that you can leave the city life behind at a moment’s notice and immerse yourself in nature all along the famed coastline. We’ve compiled a list of the best road trips from L.A. of varying distances. These road trips from Los Angeles let you experience the best nature and relaxation that Southern California offers.

Catalina Island

Travel time: about 1 hour by boat ride

While this road trip requires both driving and a ferry, it’s so worth it. Catalina Island exudes old-world glamour just as it did when stars like Clark Cable visited. If you depart from the Long Beach ferry, you’ll arrive at Avalon. There, you can play at one of the acclaimed casinos before dining at the Descanso Beach Club, where you can reserve a private cabana at the beach. Alternatively, order a picnic basket from Bistro at the Atwater for a romantic beach lunch.

Laguna Beach

Drive time: about 75 minutes

There is so much more to Laguna Beach than what was shown on the infamous reality show about the city. Laguna is a leisurely road trip from L.A., where you’ll find over 30 beaches ideal for surfing and swimming. Beyond the surf, Laguna Beach is an artsy town and regularly hosts art festivals and art walks. At night, you’ll see a different side of the city as live music plays at the clubs and its premier nightlife scene comes to life.

Palm Springs

Drive time: about 2 hours

Located only 105 miles from Los Angeles, Palm Springs is the perfect spot to stop, relax, and rejuvenate. Thanks to its warm and balmy weather, Palm Springs is known for outdoor activities. Practice your golf swing at one of the 110 local golf courses, explore the Living Desert Zoo and Garden, or hike more than 1,000 miles of scenic trails. Before you go, don’t forget to take a dip in the natural mineral hot springs and soak up the ancient waterfalls.

Joshua Tree National Park

Drive time: about 2.5 hours

Joshua Tree is the closest national park to Los Angeles, making it a popular road trip from the city. The park’s rugged mountains and namesake Joshua trees are the perfect backdrop for photos and vlogs. You can explore them further by hiking, riding horses, or rock climbing through the many trails. Joshua Tree also offers outstanding stargazing opportunities if you wish to spot the Milky Way.

Solvang

Drive time: about 2.5 hours

Located near the Santa Ynez Mountains, Solvang is reminiscent of a quaint village in Denmark— and it’s only about 130 miles from Los Angeles! Begin exploring this small Danish town with a visit to the Hans Christian Andersen Museum, where you can study the author’s career highlights and work. Take time to leisurely walk through the village and see iconic landmarks like the Little Mermaid Fountain and the five windmills. Take a piece of Solvang with you by sampling some Danish pastries and perusing through the 150 boutiques for authentic and unique souvenirs.

Desert Oasis Tour

Drive time: about 3 or 4 hours

Explore one of Southern California’s magical desert oases on your next road trip from Los Angeles. Schedule at least four days so you can schedule many stops along the way. Start at Palm Springs, where you can explore Indian Canyons, which houses Andreas Canyon, one of the world’s largest fan palm oases. Then, travel to Joshua Tree National Park, which houses five desert palm oases. Next, head to Coachella Valley, which features the second largest grove of palm trees in California. On the way home, loop around by the hottest desert in Death Valley. It’s sweltering in the summer, but there are some beautiful wildflowers to see in the spring.

Mammoth Mountain

Drive time: about 5 hours

For outdoor enthusiasts, Mammoth Mountain is one of the best road trips from Los Angeles. You can ski or snowboard down the well-known slopes and the kids will love the high-speed snow tubing park. Book a snowmobile adventure for even more guided fun. In the summer, your entire family will keep busy at the bike park, the adventure center, and jumping and playing in Mammoth Lakes.

Napa Valley and Sonoma County

Drive time: about 7 hours

We couldn’t write a list of best road trips from Los Angeles without mentioning a California wine tour. Since Napa and Sonoma are around seven hours away from L.A., we’d recommend a more extended road trip, at least a long weekend, to fully explore the beauty of this region.

Located north of San Francisco, Napa Valley and Sonoma feature over 600 wineries among the rolling hills. Many of the wineries and tasting rooms in Napa are in grand estates, while Sonoma is known for its wine castles. With so many tasting rooms in the area, you’ll never be able to try them in all in one road trip, so you’ll have to make notes of which ones to return to on a future road trip from L.A.

Lake Tahoe

Drive time: about 8 hours

Situated on the border of California and Nevada, Lake Tahoe is an outdoor paradise to visit in both the winter and summer months. The scenic lake is surrounded by mountain peaks, making it the ideal vacation spot for skiing in the winter and various water sports in the summer.

Plan at least four to five days for your road trip so that you can make the most of this getaway. In the winter, you’ll find skiing, ice skating, sledding, and plenty of places to sit by the fireside and drink hot chocolate or quality craft beers. In the summer, you can try hiking the trails, jet-skiing, or paddleboarding.

While you’re traveling on road trips from Los Angeles, you’re probably only a few minutes from a Hotel by Wyndham. We offer more than 8,900 hotels in 95 countries and cater to everyday travelers as you plan your next road trip.