Southern California Road Trip Ideas: 11 Best Road Trips + Itinerary
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Will Suphan
Author
Southern California has some of the most beautiful landscapes for a lovely road trip getaway. Cruising along on a scenic drive along the California coast with dazzling views of the Pacific Ocean or driving through state parks like Sequoia National Park or Kings Canyon National Park with their stunning vistas, beautiful waterfalls, and gorgeous trees will make any day trip on the road an experience you won’t soon forget. Southern California has a lot of areas to explore, from Santa Monica to Santa Barbara, however, these 11 road trips will show you the best of it all.
For road trip planning and packing tips, check out OnlyInYourState’s Ultimate Road Trip Packing List. Whether you’re leaving for a single day or a week-long road trip, you can’t forget the snacks: here are 50 on-the-go snack ideas perfect for traveling.
Table of Contents
1-Day Road Trip in Southern California
- Route: Old Point Loma Lighthouse, San Diego > New Point Loma Lighthouse, San Diego > Lighthouse Cafe, Newport Beach > Los Angeles Harbor Light, San Pedro > Point Fermin Lighthouse, San Pedro > Point Vicente Lighthouse, Rancho Palos Verdes
- Distance: 156 miles
- Trip Time: 3 hours, 31 minutes driving time
If you love lighthouses, then this one-day road trip along Highway 1, also known as the Pacific Coast Highway, is for you! With six majestic lighthouses along the way from San Diego to Los Angeles, this is a wonderful way to take in some wondrous views, lovely architecture, and local history all at once. It takes about 3.5 hours to complete and you’ll want to stop at each one for some magnificent photo opportunities. Make sure to save the last one at Point Vicente Lighthouse for watching the sunset atop the gorgeous cliffs.
3-Day Weekend Road Trip in Southern California
- Route: Ojai > Sierra Madre > Olde Towne Orange > Wrightwood > Crestline > Oak Glen > Idyllwild > Julian
- Distance: 401 miles
- Trip Time: 8 hours driving time
There are charming small towns scattered throughout Southern California, and this weekend road trip will take you to eight stunning locations including quaint towns like Idyllwild and Sierra Madre. It offers scenic overlooks into verdant valleys and mountain roads through lush forests. With a total of 8 hours of driving time, you’ll want to take your time at each location, stay the night at a couple of them and truly explore and soak in the relaxation and beauty of the Californian countryside.
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La Jolla Road Trip
- Route: La Jolla Shores Beach > Scripps Pier > La Jolla Cove > Birch Aquarium > La Jolla Historical Society > Torrey Pines State Reserve
- Distance: 12 miles
- Trip Time: 38 minutes driving time
La Jolla is known as one of the most beautiful coastal towns in the state, and this road trip will take you to the most wonderful locations in the area. Beach coves and cliffs, a scenic pier, a stunning aquarium, and a historical site, and will head north to a gorgeous nature reserve and you can experience it all in a day. Some of these spots are perfect for whale watching on the west coast and the Spanish architecture is a sight to behold. La Jolla is a place that should be on everyone’s Southern California road trip itinerary.
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Orange County Parks Road Trip
- Route: Mile Square Regional Park in Fountain Valley > Great Park Balloon and Carousel in Irvine > Crescent Bay Point Park in Laguna Beach > Pirate Tower at Victoria Beach
- Distance: 34 miles
- Trip Time: 1 hour driving time
The area of Orange County just south of Los Angeles has several lovely city parks that are great places for a picnic, a casual stroll, and for simply relaxing and taking in the beauty of these places. Take a road trip to four of these parks, from Miles Square Regional Park between Santa Ana and Huntington Beach which is filled with eucalyptus trees and walking paths to a mysterious pirate tower by a cliff at Victoria Beach which is just a little way north of Dana Point. These are wonderful places to take your dog, your family, or both!
Best Southern California Road Trip For Spring
- Route: Rim of the World Highway in San Bernardino > Mission Creek Preserve in Desert Hot Springs > Wolf Mountain Sanctuary in Lucerne Valley > Center Stage Theatre in Fontana
- Distance: 201 miles
- Trip Time: 4 hours driving time
Springtime in Southern California is a delightful time for a road trip like no other. Take this road trip to the stunning scenic overlooks along the Rim of the World Highway and the serene desert landscapes of Mission Creek Preserve. Interact with actual wolves at the Wolf Mountain Sanctuary and enjoy a scrumptious meal while taking in some live entertainment at Center Stage Theatre. You won’t soon forget the awe-inspiring sights you’ll see and the amazing experiences you’ll have on a vibrant spring day in Southern California.
Best Summer Road Trip in Southern California
- Route: Unconditional Surrender Statue > Salvation Mountain > International Banana Museum > Ruddy's General Store Museum > Cabazon Dinosaurs > Tio's Tacos > Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch > World's Tallest Thermometer
- Distance: 444 miles
- Trip Time: 7.5 hours driving time
Summer is the time for fun and why not include a road trip that is filled with whimsical, silly, and intriguing places that you’d have to see to believe? Man-made artistic wonders that will baffle you, quirky roadside attractions that will give you a chuckle, and strange museums full of wonderment await you. There’s even a stop at an iconic taco shop that is decorated inside and out with all kinds of oddities and you won’t know whether to gawk or eat.
Best Southern California Road Trip For Fall
- Route: Jackson Lake > Wrightwood > Big Bear Lake > Snow-Line Orchard > Willowbrook Apple Farm > Riley's Farm > Palomar Mountain State Park > Lake Cuyamaca > Balboa Park
- Distance: 318 miles
- Trip Time: 7.25 hours driving time
The Golden State really earns its name during the fall when the trees are awash with gold and rust hues. Fall is when you can get out on a wondrous road trip to see the vibrant natural beauty of this state on a scenic byway, traipse along some stunning hiking trails, and visit farms and orchards for apple and pumpkin picking. See the colorful trees on the shores of Jackson Lake, Lake Cuyamaca, and Big Bear Lake (which is perfect for kayaking), take in valley views at Palomar Mountain State Park, and take a stroll through Balboa Park which is not only home to gorgeous scenery, but the world-famous San Diego Zoo.
Best Winter Road Trip in Southern California
- Route: Hotel del Coronado in San Diego > Balboa Park in San Diego > San Diego Bay Parade of Lights on Shelter Island and Coronado > Temecula Valley Wine Country in Temecula > Festival of Lights at Mission Inn in Riverside > Disneyland in Anaheim > LA Zoo Lights in Los Angeles > Robolights in Palm Springs
- Distance: 303 miles
- Trip Time: 5.75 hours driving time
Winter is when everyone gets out their holiday lights and decorations to put on dazzling displays that are a joy to witness. Take a drive to some of the most multicolored and scintillating shows of light around Southern California. The destinations are just as lovely to behold as the holiday displays. The historic Mission Inn and Hotel del Coronado, the wineries of Temecula Valley, and the Los Angeles Zoo which is right around the bend from the famous Hollywood sign are all must-see destinations in and of themselves. To see them lit up is a special treat.
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Family-Friendly Southern California Road Trip
- Route: Pirate's Dinner Adventure in Buena Park > The Last Bookstore in Los Angeles > Galleta Meadows Sculptures in Borrego Springs > Corvette Diner in San Diego
- Distance: 268 miles
- Trip Time: 5.5 hours driving time
While a solo drive is a great way to clear your head, it’s also a wonderful time when you get the whole family together and take a drive around to enjoy some of the fun attractions and amazing sights in Southern California. Enjoy a pirate-themed dinner and entertainment, see towers and arches of books in a vast bookstore, wonder at massive metal sculptures in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, and tuck into a yummy meal at a quaint 50s-style diner. This road trip has it all!
Road Trip to Southern California Landmarks & Natural Wonders
- Route: Zabriskie Point in Death Valley > Lava Tube at Mojave National Preserve > Arroyo Tapiado Mud Caves in Anza-Borrego State Park > Cedar Creek Falls in Ramona > Sunny Jim Sea Cave in La Jolla > Vasquez Rocks in Agua Dulce > Channel Islands National Park
- Distance: 778 miles
- Trip Time: 14.5 hours driving time
Southern California has some of the most awe-inspiring natural wonders in the USA. This road trip will take you to Death Valley National Park with its intriguing rock formations, a lava tube in the Mojave Desert, a sea cave in La Jolla, mesmerizing islands off the coast, and more. The viewpoints, overlooks, and geological formations you’ll encounter along this trip will delight your senses and invigorate you with their beauty.
Road Trip to Best Small Towns in Southern California
- Route: Wrightwood > Crestline > Lake Arrowhead Village > Running Springs > Big Bear Lake > Forest Falls > Oak Glen > Mt. Baldy
- Distance: 182 miles
- Trip Time: 4.5 hours driving time
The charm and splendor of the little mountain towns in Southern California show a side of this state that many don’t take the time to see. Many people go for the big attractions like Napa Valley, Joshua Tree National Park, or Yosemite National Park, however, the quaint places on this road trip offer views that are just as majestic with a friendly helping of small-town hospitality to go along with it all. Browse the cute shops, eat some one-of-a-kind meals, and enjoy the eye-popping scenery as you wend your way through some of the loveliest small towns in Southern California.
Have you been to any of the scenic and beautiful places on these road trips? Do you have any favorite places that you’d like to see? Let us know about them in the comments. If you’d like to see even more natural beauty and enjoy some top-notch wine, take this road trip to some of Southern California’s best waterfalls and wineries.
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More to Explore
Amazing Attractions in Southern California
What are the most popular landmarks to visit in Southern California?
The most popular landmarks to visit in Southern California include:
- TCL Chinese Theatre. This is the place where some of the most famous movies in the world are premiered and it has the Walk of Fame right in front of it.
- Griffith Park Observatory. This observatory has a scenic view of Los Angeles and has an interactive museum and an amazing planetarium.
- Santa Monica Pier. You’ve likely seen this pier in various movies and it is filled with attractions, rides, games, restaurants, and more.
- Grand Central Market. This market has been around since 1917 and some of the vendors have been selling their food, crafts, and more for over 50 years.
Learn more about the most popular landmarks to visit in Southern California.
What are the most popular state parks to visit in Southern California?
The most popular state parks to visit in Southern California include:
- Malibu Creek State Park. This park was the filming location for the beloved TV show M*A*S*H as well as many films from 20th Century Fox and Paramount Pictures.
- Gaviota State Park. This beautiful park in Santa Barbara County has 34 miles of hiking trails and a historic Southern Pacific Railroad trestle.
- Mount San Jacinto State Park. This place is beloved by locals for its hiking and backpacking trails in a gorgeous dedicated wilderness area.
Find out more about the most popular state parks to visit in Southern California.
What are the major highways in Southern California?
The major highways in Southern California include:
- Interstate 5 - this major highway runs up the entire west coast from San Diego all the way up to Vancouver, BC. It’s a great launching point for side trips to Sequoia National Park to see the great tree known as General Sherman, The Sierra Nevada Mountains, and further up into Northern California and beyond.
- Pacific Coast Highway - Highway 1 is perhaps the most scenic highway in the nation as it follows along the coast through places like Carmel, Monterey, San Francisco, and more with gorgeous ocean views.