30 Southern California Day Trips You Can Do Without Booking a Hotel

You may know Southern California for its beaches, year-round sun, and perhaps heavy traffic, followed by tacos. After spending years living and vanlifing across the region, I found a completely different side of it. Drive just an hour or two in any direction, and the landscape changes fast: desert canyons, alpine lakes, coastal cliffs, and towns that feel nothing like LA or San Diego.

These day trips in Southern California don’t require hotel bookings or packed itineraries. If you’ve only scratched the surface of what SoCal has to offer, these 20 spots are a good place to start.

Southern California Coastal Day Trips

1. Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara has more Spanish Colonial buildings than any other city in California. It’s a favorite for travelers who want art, sand, and architecture without hopping on a plane.

Start at the Mission and walk State Street from the courthouse to the Funk Zone, where art studios and tasting rooms sit just off the beach. The Santa Barbara Museum of Art and Stearns Wharf makes for a laid-back loop with Pacific views on all sides. Everything feels close here, including the mountains and the wine tastings.

2. Malibu

Head north of LA to spend time along the cliffs of Malibu, cruising on the Pacific Coast Highway. Stop at Point Dume or head to Leo Carrillo for beachcombing, tide pools, and mellow surf breaks.

El Matador might be Malibu’s most photogenic coastline. The beach is down a bluff, tucked between rock arches and tidepools.

Due to the 2024 LA fires, some areas are just now opening but the water quality is not as clean as before.

3. Catalina Island

Catalina draws about a million visitors a year, but you’ll never feel crowded once you leave the dock. The island is 22 miles long, but most of it stays undeveloped, protected by the Catalina Island Conservancy.

Avalon is your launch point, where you can rent golf carts to roam hills or take a semi-submarine ride through the kelp forests. Snorkel at Lover’s Cove or head out on a glass-bottom boat tour. Santa Catalina Casino isn’t a gambling hall but a historic ballroom with a circular theater built in the 1920s. If you’re more into hiking, the Trans-Catalina Trail cuts through rugged backcountry.

4. Channel Islands National Park

The Channel Islands are only accessible by boat from Ventura, which keeps the crowds low. The national park encompasses five islands and their surrounding waters, protecting hundreds of plant and animal species that are found nowhere else.

Santa Cruz Island is the go-to for day-trippers. Paddle through sea caves, spot harbor seals on the shoreline, or hike the Cavern Point loop for coastal cliffs with no buildings in sight. More remote national park options, such as Santa Rosa or San Miguel, deliver empty trails and nesting seabirds. Just be prepared. No food, no stores, and no cell towers. What you bring is what you’ll live on.

5. Solvang

Solvang is a town that looks straight from Europe full of windmills, Danish façades, and shops selling aebleskiver. It was founded by Danish-Americans in the early 1900s and hasn’t changed much since.

Tour the Elverhøj Museum, check out the scale model of Rundetårn, and stroll through walkable blocks filled with old-world signs and wooden shoes. Danish Days in September bring parades and folk dancing. Nearby wineries in Santa Ynez Valley extend the day with scenic drives and rolling vineyard views.

6. Ventura

Ventura is the spot surfers go, and it’s scrappier than Santa Barbara. I once came here to see a demolition derby.

Start at Ventura Pier and work your way inland. Main Street is closed to cars, turning downtown into a pedestrian-friendly mix of antique shops and murals. San Buenaventura Mission sits in the center, dating back to 1782. The beach is wide, the waves are consistent, and the Channel Islands are just a ferry ride away.

7. Newport Beach / Balboa

Newport Harbor is the largest recreational harbor on the West Coast, and Balboa Island sits right in the middle of it.

You can take the ferry across the channel, ride a rented Duffy boat, or walk the perimeter of the island for water views and bay breezes. Balboa Fun Zone adds a low-key carnival vibe with arcade games and an old-school Ferris wheel. On the peninsula side, head to The Wedge to watch body surfers tackle some of the heaviest shore breaks around.

8. Coronado Island

The Hotel del Coronado opened in 1888 and was once the largest resort hotel in the world. The beach here is consistently ranked among the best in California, with wide sand and gentle waves, with downtown San Diego just across the bay.

You can bike from the ferry landing to Silver Strand State Beach without breaking a sweat. The small-town grid of Orange Avenue retains its mid-century charm, featuring theaters, bookstores, and old-school ice cream counters.

9. San Diego

San Diego has more microclimates than any other city in the US, and they all seem to agree on a temperature of 70 degrees. If you want a full city feel in a day, this one’s doable.

Start at Balboa Park. You’ll find over a dozen museums within walking distance, including the Fleet Science Center, the Museum of Us, and the San Diego Museum of Art. From there, hit the coast. La Jolla has sea caves and seals, Ocean Beach keeps things weird, and everyone goes to the Gaslamp Quarter for some nightlife fun.

10. Laguna Beach

Laguna Beach is an artsy coastal town with over 30 coves and beaches, most of which hide below sandstone cliffs and twisting staircases. Explore Heisler Park for a cliffside path with tide pools and sculpture installations.

Pageant of the Masters and Sawdust Art Festival brings creative energy every summer, and local galleries stay active year-round. You can hike from the downtown area into Laguna Coast Wilderness Park in under ten minutes.

11. Huntington Beach

Known as Surf City USA, Huntington Beach has hosted the US Open of Surfing since 1959. The pier is built 1,850 feet into the Pacific, one of the longest on the coast. You may think of Huntington Beach as an extension of Los Angeles. Still, it’s worth spending a day exploring the boardwalk and making a quick stop at the International Surfing Museum.

12. Long Beach

Long Beach is LA’s port city, but it’s also a fun day trip destination with a great boardwalk and unexpected nightlife. There’s a working-class edge, a university-town feel, and a waterfront that’s easier to access than you’d expect.

The Queen Mary is docked here, part ship and part hotel, and a very haunted place. The Aquarium of the Pacific is one of the best on the West Coast, with touch tanks and penguins. Retro Row offers vintage shops and mid-century signage. You can kayak through the canals of Naples or catch a water taxi around the harbor.

13. San Clemente

San Clemente boasts one of the most consistent surf breaks in California, along with a Spanish Revival downtown area. This is the halfway point between LA and San Diego, so it’s a great place to break up the ride.

You can start at the pier and walk the beach trail to T-Street or Trestles. The Casa Romantica Cultural Center is situated on the bluff, offering Pacific views and rotating exhibits. Avenida Del Mar runs straight to the coast, packed with shops and local cafes.

14. Leo Carrillo State Park

Leo Carrillo covers 1.5 miles of beach and backcountry trails just north of Malibu. The park is named after the actor who also served on the California Beach and Parks Commission for 18 years.

The beach is split into sections by rocky outcroppings, with hidden caves and natural tunnels made for low tide exploring. Inland, there are sycamore-shaded trails for hikers and day campers who want more than just sand.

Day Trips in the Mountains & Forest

15. Big Bear Lake

Big Bear Lake gets regular snow in winter despite being just a few hours from the coast. It’s one of the easiest places in Southern California to go from sea level to ski lift.

In winter, Bear Mountain and Snow Summit draw skiers and snowboarders, with tubing parks for non-skiers. In warmer months, you’ve got alpine hiking trails, lake kayaking, and mountain biking on Snow Summit’s lift-access trails. The Village has enough gear shops and snack stops to feel like a real mountain town.

16. Lake Arrowhead

Lake Arrowhead is privately owned, but the town and trails around it are open to the public. It’s often called the quieter sibling to Big Bear.

The Village is small but tight, with shops and a lakeside path that lets you catch glimpses of the water. Arrowhead Queen boat tours run year-round along the forested shoreline. Nearby trails, such as Heart Rock and the Pinnacles, offer short hikes with expansive views.

17. Mount Baldy / Mount Wilson

Mount Baldy is the highest peak in LA County at 10,064 feet. On a clear day, you can see all the way to Catalina from the top.

The difficult hike up Baldy Bowl is no joke, but it’s one of the best hikes in Southern California. The ski lifts also run in summer for people who want alpine views without the climb. Mount Wilson Observatory sits at a lower elevation but still above the smog line. It’s open for tours on select weekends and has short nature trails nearby.

18. Idyllwild

Idyllwild sits at 5,400 feet and has no chain stores, no stoplights, and no ski resorts. What it does have is a small mountain town energy that draws artists, hikers, and anyone looking for quiet.

The town center is walkable and filled with local galleries, handmade goods, and wood-carved signs that have remained unchanged for decades. Trails start minutes from downtown, with access to Tahquitz Peak and Devil’s Slide Trail.

19. Ojai

Ojai is surrounded by citrus groves and mountains, and it has its own microclimate that makes it feel distinct from the rest of Ventura County. Artists and writers have been coming here since the 1920s, and the creative streak still runs deep.

The downtown arcade is a string of small shops, book nooks, and galleries that lead right into Libbey Park. The Ojai Valley Trail runs through town and out into the foothills. Locals swear by the “pink moment” when the sun lights up the Topatopa Mountains right before dusk.

20. Julian

Julian was a gold rush town in the 1870s and never really left that era behind. The draw now is apples and old-time storefronts in the Cuyamaca Mountains.

In fall, the apple orchards open for U-pick, and fresh pies sell out fast. Main Street is about four blocks of antique stores and horse-drawn carriage rides. The Julian Pioneer Museum adds a little depth, while Volcan Mountain offers a short hike with big views of the desert drop-off to the east.

21. Wheeler Springs

Wheeler Springs was once a resort area known for its hot springs. Although the original resort is no longer there, the trails and mountain setting remain some of the most overlooked in the region.

Head up Highway 33 past Ojai, and you’ll find a sliver of the Los Padres National Forest that stays quiet even on weekends. Wheeler Gorge has picnic areas and interpretive trails, with nearby trailheads leading into Matilija Canyon and Rose Valley Falls.

22. Temecula Valley

Temecula produces over 50 varietals and has more than 40 wineries spread across its valley floor. Most wineries are within a 15-minute drive of each other and range from sleek tasting rooms to rustic patios with live music.

Old Town Temecula keeps a Western storefront look but fills it with modern shops and craft tasting rooms. The Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival happens every summer and draws big crowds. If you’re here early, hot air balloon rides take off at sunrise for a slow float over the vineyards and foothills.

Day Trips to the Desert & High Desert

23. Palm Springs / Palm Desert

Palm Springs averages 300 days of sunshine a year and was once the go-to weekend retreat for Rat Pack icons and Hollywood stars. Today, it still delivers midcentury style with mountain views in every direction.

You’ll find art galleries, vintage shops, and more poolside lounges than you could hit in one trip. The Palm Springs Art Museum has rotating contemporary exhibits and sculpture gardens. Day Trips in Palm Springs usually include the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to the top of Mount San Jacinto for a dramatic change in elevation and temperature. In Palm Desert, the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens blend wildlife exhibits with hiking trails that climb into the Santa Rosa Mountains.

24. Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree covers nearly 800,000 acres where the Mojave and Colorado deserts meet. The park’s namesake trees aren’t actually trees but giant yuccas, and they only grow in this region.

Start with the classics: Skull Rock, Keys View, and Hidden Valley are all easy to reach and packed with surreal landscapes. The Cholla Cactus Garden catches incredible light around sunset. Rock climbers head to Jumbo Rocks for world-famous bouldering.

25. Death Valley National Park

Death Valley holds the record for the hottest temperature ever recorded in North America. Despite that, it’s also home to mountains, sand dunes, salt flats, and narrow canyons, but you will have to drive for hours to see it all.

Start with Badwater Basin, which sits 282 feet below sea level. The best sunset spots are Zabriskie Point or Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. Artists Drive is a scenic loop with rainbow-hued hills that shift with the sun. Furnace Creek Visitor Center is the hub, but distances are far, so fuel and water are non-negotiable. If you’re going in summer, be smart about time and heat.

26. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Anza-Borrego is the largest state park in California at over 600,000 acres. In good rain years, the spring bloom draws travelers from all over for just a few weeks of color.

Hike through slot canyons near Borrego Mountain or take a dirt road out to Font’s Point for panoramic views of the badlands. Painted Canyon is one of my favorite Southern California hikes. You also won’t be able to miss the giant metal sculptures scattered across the desert floor.

27. Borrego Springs

Borrego Springs is the only town in California completely surrounded by a state park. It’s also a designated Dark Sky Community, which makes it a favorite for stargazers.

The town is small, and you won’t find any big-box stores. Use it as your base to explore Anza-Borrego trails, slot canyons, and those wild sculptures or to pick up any supplies you forgot to get on the way here.

28. Salton Sea

The Salton Sea was formed in 1905 when the Colorado River flooded a dry basin. It became a vacation hub in the mid-20th century, but ecological decline transformed it into something stranger.

Now, you’ll see abandoned resorts near Bombay Beach and bold art installations in the middle of nowhere. It gives off creepy vibes, yet you can’t look away. Salvation Mountain, located just south of the lake, is a technicolor roadside monument crafted entirely from adobe, paint, and faith.

29. Alabama Hills

Alabama Hills has been the underrated California backdrop for over 400 films and shows, from old Westerns to sci-fi blockbusters. The rock formations sit in front of the Eastern Sierra, framing Mount Whitney like a movie set. If you think Joshua Tree is cool, wait until you see the boulders strewn here.

Mobius Arch Trail is the must-do loop here, a short walk with a perfect natural frame of the highest peak in the Lower 48. The Bureau of Land Management oversees the area, but in recent years, there have been many more restrictions on where you can boondock. Movie Road offers a dirt drive past iconic filming spots, and Lone Pine is close enough for gas and snacks.

30. Vasquez Rocks

The jagged rock formations of Vasquez Rocks were pushed up by the San Andreas Fault and have starred in more than 200 films and TV shows. They’re instantly recognizable even if you’ve never set foot there.

Hiking trails cut through the sandstone, but the most popular move is climbing up the tilted slabs for a view of the valley. The Pacific Crest Trail passes right through the park if you want to stretch it into something bigger. Interpretive signs share the area’s history with the Tataviam people and its Hollywood fame. It’s close enough for a quick hit of the desert without leaving Los Angeles County.

Cat Xu

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Catherine, a seasoned travel writer, has lived in 4 different states and explored 36 states and 28 national parks. After spending two years embracing van life, she's now dedicated to sharing her vast knowledge of day trips across America. Catherine's other works has been referenced in major publications like MSN, Self, and TripSavvy.

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