Photo: Jengod, CC BY-SA 4.0
#1 · Aquarium · 28 min south
Aquarium of the Pacific
Sea lions, sharks, jellyfish and a lorikeet forest in Long Beach.
- 2-3 hrs
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Heads-up: Reserve online for busy days.
Day Trippin' › California › From Los Angeles › Best wildlife spots
Best Wildlife Spots near Los Angeles
Our picks for the best wildlife spots within 3 hours of Los Angeles: 21 places, 7 under an hour away, 10 between 1 and 2 hours and 4 between 2 and 3 hours, counted by road time from ZIP 90012.
We put first the places with a real photo, a well-known name, a family-friendly note and an official site, then list the rest by drive time. The closest is Aquarium of the Pacific, 28 min south of Los Angeles.
Map: wildlife spots within 3 hours of Los Angeles
Under 1 hour 1 to 2 hours 2 to 3 hours
Our top 15 wildlife spots near Los Angeles 21 in all
Photo: Takinzinnia, CC0
#2 · Zoo · 1 hr 49 min southeast
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
A big wildlife park in Escondido with African savannah areas and a tram or safari tour.
- Full day
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Heads-up: Hot in summer. Safari tours cost extra.
Photo: Andrewjames954, CC BY-SA 4.0
#3 · Zoo · 1 hr 59 min southeast
San Diego Zoo
A world-class zoo with pandas, big cats, gorillas and a hillside garden.
- Full day
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Heads-up: Hilly. Buy tickets online. Hot summer afternoons.
Photo: Tuxyso, CC BY-SA 3.0
#4 · Hike · 2 hr 26 min east
Barker Dam
A loop to an old dam with petroglyphs and sometimes water that draws birds.
- 1-2 hrs
- Best Oct-Apr
- See the official site for current fees
Heads-up: Little shade. Water is not always present. 1.1-mile loop; water is seasonal.
Photo: Takinzinnia, CC BY-SA 3.0
#5 · Zoo · 34 min southeast
Santa Ana Zoo
A small, friendly zoo with monkeys, sloths and a petting area.
- 2 hrs
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Heads-up: Hours (confirm before you go).
Photo: Don Ramey Logan, CC BY-SA 3.0
#6 · Small town · 58 min southeast
Dana Point Harbor
Harbor with shops, boat tours and whale watching trips.
- Half day
- Year-round
- Free; tours cost extra
Heads-up: Whale watching best Dec-Apr and summer. OC Parks county harbor; revitalization construction may affect some areas.
Photo: Myrna Litt, CC BY 2.0
#7 · Beach · 1 hr 23 min west
Carpinteria State Beach
Calm, family beach with tide pools and a nearby seal rookery in winter.
- 2-4 hrs
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Heads-up: Dogs allowed on leash in some areas (confirm before you go). Sunrise to sunset; no dogs on beach
Photo: Arnoldus13, CC BY-SA 3.0
#8 · Zoo · 1 hr 31 min west
Santa Barbara Zoo
Small, hilltop zoo with ocean views and animals from around the world.
- 3-4 hrs
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Heads-up: Hills are steep in spots. Buy tickets online.
Photo: Beyond My Ken, CC BY-SA 4.0
#9 · Aquarium · 1 hr 46 min southeast
Birch Aquarium at Scripps
An ocean science aquarium with a tide pool plaza and views over La Jolla.
- 2-3 hrs
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Heads-up: Book timed tickets online.
Photo: Librarybell, CC0
#10 · Zoo · 1 hr 52 min east
Big Bear Alpine Zoo
A small rescue zoo with bears, wolves, eagles and other local animals that cannot return to the wild.
- 1-2 hrs
- Year-round; hours vary by season (confirm before you go)
- See the official site for current fees
Heads-up: Hilly paths. Winter snow can close parts of the zoo.
Photo: Dsyrengelas at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
#11 · Zoo · 1 hr 57 min east
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
A desert zoo and garden in Palm Desert with giraffes, cheetahs and a wildlife trail.
- Half day
- Closed in mid-summer (confirm before you go)
- See the official site for current fees
Heads-up: Opens early in hot months. Bring water and a hat.
Photo: Kevin P. Rice, CC BY-SA 3.0
#12 · Hike · 2 hr 56 min northwest
Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes
Huge coastal dune system with trails and wildlife near Guadalupe.
- 2-4 hrs
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Heads-up: Soft sand and wind. Plover nesting areas close in summer.
Photo: cricketsblog, CC BY 2.0
#13 · Beach · 34 min west
Malibu Lagoon State Beach
Surf beach, a bird-rich lagoon and the famous Surfrider surf break.
- 2-3 hrs
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Heads-up: Check for fire and PCH closures (confirm before you go). Rip currents. Adamson House and lagoon; snowy plover nesting areas protected.
Photo: Mike Quach, CC BY-SA 3.0
#14 · Landmark · 37 min southwest
Point Vicente Lighthouse and Interpretive Center
Ocean views and a good place to spot gray whales in winter.
- 1-2 hrs
- Year-round; whales Dec-Apr
- See the official site for current fees
Heads-up: Lighthouse tours on set days only (confirm before you go).
Photo: Don Ramey Logan, CC BY-SA 3.0
#15 · Wildlife · 37 min southeast
Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve
Wetland trails with herons, egrets and migrating birds, beside the sea.
- 2 hrs
- Year-round
- Free
Heads-up: Best for birds in fall and winter. Bring water. Open daily 6am to 8pm; no dogs or bikes; oil operations may close some areas.
More wildlife spots near Los Angeles, by drive time
Newport Back Bay Loop (49 min), Big Morongo Canyon Preserve (1 hr 39 min), Tule Elk State Natural Reserve (1 hr 57 min), Lake Cachuma (1 hr 59 min), Cottonwood Spring Oasis (2 hr 30 min), Kern National Wildlife Refuge (2 hr 36 min)
Questions about wildlife spots near Los Angeles
What are the best wildlife spots near Los Angeles?
Our top picks are Aquarium of the Pacific (28 min), San Diego Zoo Safari Park (1 hr 49 min), San Diego Zoo (1 hr 59 min), Barker Dam (2 hr 26 min) and Santa Ana Zoo (34 min). The page lists 21 places in all.
How many wildlife spots are within 3 hours of Los Angeles?
21: 7 under an hour away, 10 between 1 and 2 hours and 4 between 2 and 3 hours, by road from ZIP 90012.
What is the closest of these to Los Angeles?
Aquarium of the Pacific, about 28 min south of Los Angeles.
Are any of these free?
5 need no pass or fee, including Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, Dana Point Harbor and Newport Back Bay Loop. Fees change, so check each place.
Are these wildlife spots open all year?
17 of the 21 list themselves as open year-round. Places with a season say so on their card; check hours before you go.
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Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP <class 'zip'> (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner); places under 25 minutes away count as in town. Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.