7 Best Road Trips from LA

Los Angeles is mostly known for its sandy beaches and its entertainment culture. There’s always something exciting happening down in LA. But if you want to take a break, get in your car and take a road trip from LA. Trust me, it would be a journey you will thank us for.

7 Best Road Trips from LA

Planning a road trip from LA? Here are seven of the best road trips you can take from LA:

Joshua Tree

Joshua Tree takes around 2 hours by car from the East of LA. Add in five more hours for a complete visit to the park. Joshua Tree National Park has something for everyone- nature lovers, kids, and hikers. Take along lots of water. It’s a dessert and a very hot one.

If you are planning to visit with kids, be sure to visit Cabazon Dinosaurs. There are over 50 life-size dinosaurs including a T-Rex. Kids can also big bones to try out their love for archaeology. 

Looking for a place to camp? The Jumbo Rocks Campground in Joshua Tree National Park is the perfect place to camp. You might also see aspiring hikers climbing the mini rocks. If camping is not your thing, you might to stay at Joshua Tree Inn. Crossroads Café is the place to go for eating.

Las Vegas

There’s nothing like a road trip to LA to make the most of your holiday. If you haven’t taken a road trip to Las Vegas, have you truly experienced the CA lifestyle? Las Vegas is a three hour trip from SoCal. Most of this is a landscape, but there are a few stops worth exploring. The Mormon Rocks for one is one beautiful scenery. Even if you don’t plan on getting out, this stretch of sandstone rocks can be quite a spectacle during sunset.

Don’t forget to take pictures at the Bottletree Ranch. The pop feel of the place can come out looking great in pictures. And then there is the Mojave National Preserve. This area attracts a lot of hikers.

Temecula

Temecula is another very popular holiday destination for its wine tasting. It will take you around 3 hours to reach Temecula from LA International Airport. If you are looking for relaxation and sun, Temecula is the place to be. And while you are there, don’t forget to try the famous sourdough bread filled with brie by the Maurice Car’rie Winery.

For kids, you can try the Magical Adventure Balloon Rides. These hot air balloons give a majestic view of the wine county. You might also want to give Temecula Valley Museum a visit for a dose of a history lesson.

Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe is an almost eight-hour drive from LA. Lake Tahoe is one of the most preferred road trip destinations for the scenic, Route 395. You might want to extend your road trip by stopping over at the towns of Big Pine, Lone Pine, and Bishop. There are also lakes and mountains spotted along the entire road trip. The Grover Hot Spring and Hope Valley are stops that you might want to include in your Instagram feed. 

Laguna Beach

You can’t have a road trip from LA list without including a beach on the list. It is a one-hour drive from  LA Airport. Laguna Beach is a luxury getaway and is popular among the rich and wealthy LA people. It was here that many television shows were filmed. While in Laguna Beach, you would probably hang around the beach. Enjoy the water rides.

You might want to also try out their Laguna Art Museum or go wine tasting. If you have kids, they might love the ‘LA Tour’, a castle inspired tower. It’s privately owned so you might not be able to visit the inside but don’t forget to take pictures.

Solvang

Solvang is a quaint little Danish village, featuring wineries and some of the best eating experiences. Try Paula’s Pancakes. There’s also the do-it-yourself kind of brewery. The road trip will take around 3 hours of your time, and more if you plan to stop and visit some of the attractions along the way. The most famous is Santa Barbara with its beaches. As you leave Santa Barbara, take Route 154 to enjoy the scenic mountains on both sides.

If you are planning a road trip from LA, visit your mechanic for a car service. Your car should always be in the best shape for a road trip. There’s also the choice of upgrading your car if you see yourself taking lots of road trips in the future. Consider a car rental if you aren’t comfortable taking such a long drive in your car.