Interactive Map
Use this map to get your bearings in Los Angeles and see how far popular day trips like Santa Monica, Disneyland, Joshua Tree, Palm Springs, Santa Barbara and San Diego actually are.
Los Angeles
Day trips & excursions
Beverly Hills Beverly Hills travel guide: the luxury residential city near Los Angeles, its car-first layout, its manicured streets and how to visit respectfully. Culver City Culver City is a former studio town turned practical base — close to Los Angeles's core, with none of Hollywood's crowds and easy reach of day trips. Disneyland & Anaheim Disneyland sits in Anaheim, Orange County, not Los Angeles. Plan tickets, driving time, and things to do beyond the parks. Downtown LA Downtown LA is the region's vertical, office and cultural core, and one of the few areas where the Metro genuinely works. Griffith Observatory & Griffith Park Griffith Observatory and Griffith Park: the hiking trails, viewpoints and sunset timing for LA's best panorama and Hollywood Sign views. Hollywood: Inside the Myth of the Movies A guide to Hollywood's film history, its studios and boulevard, and why the Hollywood Sign is best seen, not approached. Knott's Berry Farm: Buena Park's Homegrown Theme Park Plan a visit to Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park: tickets, thrill rides, boysenberry roots, and how it differs from nearby Disneyland. Koreatown, Los Angeles: A Local Guide to LA's Korean Quarter Koreatown is LA's dense, walkable Korean quarter — Metro-accessible, packed with restaurants, cafes and spas, and unlike the city's film-focused sights. Legoland California: The Best Theme Park for Young Kids Why Legoland California suits young kids best among LA's theme parks, plus travel time from LA, tickets, and planning tips for 2026. Long Beach Long Beach travel guide: the LA area's working port city, reachable by Metro, with an aquarium, waterfront and Catalina Island ferry. Los Angeles Travel Guide: How to Plan Your Visit A first-time guide to Los Angeles: how the region fits together, getting around, when to go, and what to book ahead. Malibu Malibu guide: Zuma, El Matador and the Pacific Coast Highway beaches north of Santa Monica, how to get there, and what to actually expect. Manhattan Beach Manhattan Beach guide: the pier, beach volleyball culture, getting there without the Metro, parking tips and how it differs from Venice or Long Beach. Marina del Rey Marina del Rey guide: the boat-filled harbor minutes from LAX, between Venice and Long Beach, with boat tours, paddle sports and waterfront brunch. Pasadena A practical guide to Pasadena, a distinct city near LA known for historic architecture and culture, not film or beaches. Santa Monica Santa Monica travel guide: the pier, beach and promenade, Metro E line access, when the morning fog clears, and how it differs from Venice and Malibu. Six Flags Magic Mountain: Thrill Rides North of LA Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia is LA's roller coaster capital, 45-60 min north of Downtown by car. Tickets, timing and what to expect. Torrance & the South Bay Torrance and the South Bay offer a calm, car-dependent base for indoor activities, cooking classes and escape rooms beyond LA's beach towns. Universal Studios Hollywood Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City: the studio tram tour, thrill rides, tickets and timing, and how it differs from Disneyland. Venice Beach Venice Beach travel guide: boardwalk, street art, Venice Canals, parking, getting there from Santa Monica, and what to actually expect. West Hollywood West Hollywood travel guide: nightlife, design shops and LA's LGBTQ+ scene, plus how to plan an evening-first visit between Beverly Hills and Hollywood. Anza & the San Jacinto Mountains A rugged off-road mountain sector near Palm Springs, best explored by guided 4x4 - practical notes on terrain, temperature swings and access. Big Bear Lake Big Bear Lake is LA's mountain escape: pine forests, a real lake, and snow in winter — a few hours of mountain driving away. Catalina Island & Avalon Plan a Catalina Island day trip or overnight stay in Avalon: ferry times, no-car logistics, seasonal tips and things to do on the island. Dana Point Travel Guide: Whale Watching and Harbor Life Plan a Dana Point visit from Los Angeles: whale and dolphin watching, the harbor, driving times and when to go, without the Newport or Laguna crowds. Death Valley Death Valley from LA: a long desert excursion, not a half-day trip. Timing, heat, fuel, and when to actually go. Huntington Beach Huntington Beach travel guide: Surf City USA's pier, beaches and water sports, how it differs from Newport and Laguna, and how to get there from LA. Irvine Irvine is Orange County's inland, family-friendly city, built around indoor entertainment rather than the coast. Here's how to plan a visit. Joshua Tree National Park: Entrances, Roads and Guided Activities How to enter Joshua Tree National Park, drive its roads and book guided climbing, rappelling and backcountry tours safely and legally. Joshua Tree: Where to Stay and What to Do in Town A guide to the town of Joshua Tree: lodging, dining, stargazing and workshops outside the national park boundaries. Laguna Beach Laguna Beach travel guide: coves, cliffs and art galleries in Orange County, how to get there from LA, and what to plan ahead. Newport Beach: Harbor, Coastline and Boating Guide Newport Beach travel guide: the harbor, beaches and boating, how it differs from Laguna and Huntington Beach, and getting there from LA. Ojai Ojai is an inland Central Coast town built around hiking, nature and wellness, reached by mountain road, not by the sea. Orange County Orange County's beach cities, from Huntington to Laguna and Dana Point, plus the Catalina Island ferry — how to pick where to go. Palm Springs: Desert Resort Gateway Near LA Palm Springs travel guide: desert resort architecture, hot springs heritage, when to go, and how it differs from Joshua Tree and Death Valley. Riverside Riverside is a historic Inland Empire city east of LA — a freeway day trip, not a beach or desert park. Plan the drive, downtown sights and ghost tours. San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo travel guide: walkable downtown, Edna Valley wine country and brunch culture, as a Central Coast road trip stop north of LA. Santa Ana Santa Ana is Orange County's administrative seat and the access point for John Wayne Airport, better known for aerial views than beaches. Santa Barbara: A Coastal Escape from Los Angeles Santa Barbara from Los Angeles: a two-hour coastal drive, Spanish colonial streets, harbor cruises and in-town wine tasting rooms. Santa Ynez Valley Santa Ynez Valley: inland wine country over the hills from Santa Barbara, reached by a mountain road, best explored by car with reserved tastings. Solvang: A Danish-Style Village in the Santa Ynez Valley Solvang is a Danish-themed village in California's Santa Ynez Valley, reached from LA via the coast and a mountain road. Plan your visit. Carlsbad Carlsbad travel guide: Legoland California, the Village for food and walking, and airport shuttle options between LA and San Diego. Las Vegas from Los Angeles How to get from Los Angeles to Las Vegas: driving times, transfers, one-way desert routes and multi-day Grand Canyon combinations. San Diego from Los Angeles: A Day Trip Worth Taking San Diego is close enough for a real day trip from LA, with the USS Midway and Old Town anchoring a full day near the border. Temecula Wine Country Temecula wine country: inland vineyards between LA and San Diego, sunrise balloon rides, and Old Town's ghost-hunt scene. The Grand Canyon from Los Angeles How to reach the Grand Canyon from Los Angeles: drive time, flying, combining it with Las Vegas, and when the rims close for winter. Yosemite from Los Angeles Yosemite from Los Angeles is a 5-6 hour drive best done as a 2-day trip with Giant Sequoias, not a day trip.