If you love a thrilling road trip, then you’ll want to jump in your car right away and hit the road on an adventure to see some of the most captivating abandoned places in Southern California. From a creepy abandoned zoo to a hauntingly beautiful hand-carved tunnel, this fun itinerary will keep you in awe. Ready to hit the road? Gas up and let’s go!

A Southern California road trip to some truly fascinating abandoned places - now that sounds like a journey!
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You can choose to start this seven-hour road trip at any point on the map. But for today, we're going to start from Los Angeles and work our way clockwise to explore each of these creepy places in Southern California.
1. Griffith Park Old Zoo, Los Angeles
flickr/don barrett
4801 Griffith Park Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
flickr/leiris202
Long before the present-day Los Angeles zoo opened, it was originally located inside Griffith Park. From 1912 to 1965, this old abandoned zoo was a thriving destination for locals. Today it sits empty and abandoned with many of the original structures and animal cages still in place. It's quite the eerie place to be, especially after dark, so make sure to visit this spot in the daylight! This lesser-known abandoned zoo in Southern California is an eerie spot you won't soon forget.
2. Burro Schmidt Tunnel, Randsburg
flickr/david seibold

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Burro Schmidt Tunnel Road, Burro Schmidt Tunnel Rd, California, USA
yelp/christine a.
The Burro Schmidt Tunnel, located in the Mojave Desert within the El Paso Mountains, is a breathtaking sight to see. This abandoned tunnel was hand-carved by a lone man during the gold mining days; it stretches nearly a half-mile long. You can see this tunnel in person by heading toward Red Rock Canyon State Park along Highway 14. It's a fascinating slice of SoCal history.
3. Calico Ghost Town, Yermo
flickr/alex
36600 Ghost Town Rd, Yermo, CA 92311, USA
flickr/frank fujimoto
In the late 1800s, the town of Calico was a thriving destination that was known as a silver mining town. Once the industry died, Calico's population dwindled and it turned into a ghost town. Today, this former mining town is now a county park. Many of the abandoned buildings and houses have been restored so people can tour this former ghost town and experience a glimpse of 1800s history.
4. Rock-A-Hoola Waterpark/Lake Delores Waterpark, Newberry Springs
wikimedia commons
Newberry Springs, CA 92365, USA
wikimedia commons
The former location of a once-popular amusement park is now quite a sad sight to see. Located in the town of Newberry Springs, the Rock-a-Hoola Amusement Park sits abandoned, vandalized, and empty. It's sure a far cry from the lively setting it used to be. This eerie abandoned amusement park in Southern California is nightmare fuel for some, paradise for others. Either way, eek.

Driving to see these four abandoned places in Southern California will be quite a full day. Plan on between seven to eight hours, plus traffic, to hit them all. Make sure to grab some snacks, pack your phone charger, and fill up a bottle of water to prepare for a fabulous SoCal journey.

If you’re fascinated by the idea of a road trip, you might want to head out on this fairytale adventure in Southern California that will take you to all of the beautiful castles sprinkled about the region. It’s another fun day out on the road you’re sure to love!

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More to Explore

Abandoned Places In Southern California

Melissa Mahoney | March 24, 2021

Are there any ghost towns in Southern California?

Many ghost towns reside in SoCal, and some are in the most unexpected places. When we think of California, it’s usually white sandy beaches by the ocean that come to mind, right? Well, Bombay Beach was a former town sitting at the second-lowest point in the country at 282 feet below sea level and nowhere near the sea. It was a resort community at the Salton Sea, a large lake, for a while until bad luck struck and most people fled, leaving much of the town abandoned. There are several other fascinating ghost towns in a previous post, Visit These 8 Creepy Ghost Towns In Southern California At Your Own Risk.

What are the most haunted places in Southern California?

Whether you are looking for a haunted restaurant, road, hotel, mansion, or bridge, Southern California has you covered for a potential ghostly encounter. In fact, we have put together a handy Definitive Guide To All Things Haunted And Creepy In Southern California that you can reference and use to plan your next paranormal adventure.

What Southern California road trips can I take?

If scenery is what you are looking for, take a road trip to several natural wonders of Southern California. This trip can be done over the course of two-to-three days and will take you from Zabriskie Point in Death Valley to the Channel Islands National Park. For less time-consuming road trips that you can take for a few hours in one day, try one of our 10 Quick Road Trips In Southern California You Can Take This Weekend. Visit the Ventura Harbor Village for a lovely day of shopping and scenic views, travel along the De Portola Wine Trail to do some wine tasting, or head to The Huntington Library to see art and the botanical gardens.

 

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