Discover the best day trips from Los Angeles. These are incredible cities that you can visit in just one day of your trip.
1. Palm Springs
With a rental car, you can reach any destination from Los Angeles and have an unforgettable trip in just one day. Such is the case with Palm Springs, a California town 1.5 hours from Los Angeles.
Palm Springs has a lot of the essence of Los Angeles, from the beauty of its streets to similar tourist attractions, such as the Palm Springs Walk of Fame, which, like the one in Los Angeles, features stars with artists’ names along the street.
A day in Palm Springs is only best spent visiting the city’s main street: Palm Canyon Drive, with its many stores and restaurants. If you have time, you can also visit the city’s cable car, which offers sensational views. The great thing is that the cable car rotates, so regardless of your position, you’ll see the most beautiful landscapes from every angle.
2. Santa Barbara
One California town that’s a real charmer is Santa Barbara. It’s just a two-hour drive from Los Angeles. Best of all, as well as being charming, the region has plenty of attractions for visitors to enjoy the best of the city.
There are several museums scattered throughout the streets of Santa Barbara that deserve your attention. Another highlight is the Courthouse, a building that offers an incredible view of the city from the top of its tower.
- Important tip: Los Angeles is a city with many tourist attractions, such as museums and tours. That’s why our tip is to always buy your tickets in advance. We buy everything on this website that has the best price.
3. Malibu
You’ve certainly heard of Malibu, one of the most famous beach regions in the world. Its beaches illustrate the city’s postcards, with breathtaking landscapes. A curiosity is that the architecture of the houses in the area always attracts the attention of visitors, due to their primitive, large and luxurious structures.
4. San Diego
Just 2 hours from Los Angeles is San Diego, one of the best places in California, close to the US-Mexico border. The city is home to beautiful beaches such as Pacific Beach and La Jolla. They have spaces for practicing physical activities such as surfing, skateboarding, cycling, hiking and more.
San Diego’s main attractions include SeaWorld, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Coronado Island, Balboa Park and the USS Midway Museum. There’s no shortage of entertainment options.
5. Beverly Hills
Known the world over, Beverly Hills is one of the most touristic areas in Los Angeles County. It has a lot of beauty, charm and incredible attractions for all tastes.
If you’re looking for a pleasant shopping environment, Beverly Hills is the place to be. And if you prefer a place full of delicious restaurants and various artistic centers, you should definitely visit it. Your trip will be unforgettable.
This is where you’ll find Rodeo Drive, a street with the most sophisticated designer stores in the world. And right next door is Via Rodeo, another excellent shopping center in Beverly Hills. Both destinations are perfect for enjoying a day trip to the city in style.
But if you want to do something different from everything else you’ve seen in California, take advantage of your visit to Beverly Hills to tour the homes of the city’s artists and see the former residences of Michael Jackson, Tom Cruise, Nicolas Cage and even Charles Chaplin.
- Important tip: to make the most of your trip to Los Angeles, staying in the best areas is essential. So, if you want, check out our article explaining the main areas, the hotels and how you can save a lot on accommodation.
6. Santa Monica
In just 40 minutes you’ll be in Santa Monica, a beach town in California. The region’s main attraction is its pier, at the end of highway 66, which attracts visitors from all over the world. For your day trip, the best way to enjoy the city in such a short time is to have fun at the attractions on the pier, which has a great amusement park: Pacific Park.
The park was the site of the first roller coaster and Ferris wheel on the entire west coast of the United States. The pier also has restaurants, shops and an arcade that will delight gamers of all ages. Finally, there’s nothing better than enjoying a magnificent sunset there, which makes for lovely photos for your social networks.
How to save on car rental in California?
A great tip on how to plan a trip to California on a budget is to rent a car. Many tourists already do this to make the most of California’s sights and stores without having to take the bus and risk getting lost.
Plus, renting a car makes it possible to travel between all the neighboring cities, exploring Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, etc. And to find the best car rental, we know a great car rental comparison service that will provide you with the best options. So take a look at the tips below and make the most of it.
Book your car in advance
Make your reservation online as soon as possible, because another tip on how to plan a trip to California on a budget, and get a cheap car, is to book as far in advance as possible and online. The earlier you book, the cheaper you’ll pay. It’s well worth it and you’ll save a lot with promotions, paying much less than renting a car on the spot.
Don’t rent a GPS in California
Another good tip is not to rent a car with a GPS, as it costs a lot per day. Instead, you can buy a good American chip, like the one we listed above, unblocked for international calls and with unlimited Internet. That way, you’ll be able to use the map and location apps with your own cell phone.
Use this incredible price comparator
There are some car rental price comparators in California (and throughout the United States) that are sensational and search all the main car rental companies there, finding the best prices and excellent deals.
We recommend one that you can use by going to the website and entering the date of your trip. It then searches for all the best car rental companies in California.
If you want to do the search, click here on Car Rental Comparator. In just a few seconds, you’ll have all the options for renting a car in California from the best companies on your screen, and you can choose the cheapest one. You really will save a lot.
More tips: prefer larger and reliable rental companies, such as Alamo, Hertz, Dollar, Budget and Avis. Take out basic insurance when booking, which is super important and is usually included in the price. But don’t fall for the companies who, when you pick up the car, try to push extra insurance that isn’t worth it.
Save money on your trip to Los Angeles:
Mobile chip: we always use this chip. It’s electronic (eSIM), you install it instantly and you can use your cell phone’s Internet anywhere in the world.
Hotels: our article on where to stay in Los Angeles. You will find out the best areas, as well as tips on how to find the best hotels.
Tickets: find out where to buy your Los Angeles tickets in the cheapest and safest way. You can save up to 40%!
Travel insurance: medical care in another country is very expensive and it is extremely important to take out travel insurance for any trip abroad. This is the website we always take out our insurance on. Reliable and at a good price.
Transfer: do you need one from the airport to the hotel? Find out here how to book and for the lowest price!
