Day Trips from Los Angeles

The region around Los Angeles is as varied as the city. Pick by what you're missing: coast, theme parks, an island or desert. All of these need a car or a tour except Catalina, where the ferry takes the strain. The getting there guide covers renting a car.

Malibu

The Pacific Coast Highway runs north from Santa Monica along 21 miles of Malibu coastline. Parts of it were badly damaged in the January 2025 fires, and rebuilding is still under way, so check road conditions. Stop at the Getty Villa on the way, then continue to El Matador State Beach, with sea stacks and coves below a cliff-top car park, and Point Dume for the view. Go on a weekday; weekend traffic on PCH is slow. It makes a natural fourth day after our itinerary.

Disneyland

In Anaheim, about an hour south-east without traffic and often much more with it. Two parks, Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, sit side by side. It's a full day, and tickets are priced by date, with weekends and holidays the busiest. Stay nearby for a night if you plan to do both parks.

Catalina Island

A ferry from Long Beach, San Pedro or Dana Point reaches Avalon, a small harbour town with a round 1929 casino ballroom, in about an hour. Snorkel, kayak or take a tour into the island's interior, where bison roam. Car use on the island is restricted, and golf carts are how people get around.

Joshua Tree and Palm Springs

The desert is two to two and a half hours east. Palm Springs has mid-century modern houses, pools and an aerial tramway up a mountain. Joshua Tree National Park, further east, has its strange spiky trees and granite boulders. It's too far to do well in a day: stay a night, and see the stars. In summer the heat is dangerous, so go between October and April.

If you only have time for one trip, we'd choose Malibu for the scenery or Catalina for the change of pace. Disneyland is its own decision: worth it for families, less so for a short adult trip.