Small town · 1 hr 26 min south
Lake Arrowhead Village
A lakeside village with shops, restaurants and a pretty mountain setting. Good for a relaxed lunch.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round
- Free to visit
Day Trippin' › California › From Barstow
Day trips from Barstow
From Barstow, Calico Ghost Town is about 20 minutes away, Big Bear Lake under an hour and a half, and The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens under two hours. The best day trips from Barstow, by drive time.
172 places within a 3-hour drive, by real roads.
10 day trips from Barstow
- Lake Arrowhead Village 1 hr 26 min south
- Disneyland Park 1 hr 44 min southwest
- Knott's Berry Farm 1 hr 45 min southwest
- Griffith Observatory 1 hr 53 min southwest
- Universal Studios Hollywood 1 hr 53 min southwest
- Crystal Cove State Park 1 hr 57 min southwest
- Palm Springs Aerial Tramway 1 hr 58 min south
- Aquarium of the Pacific 2 hr 2 min southwest
- Getty Center 2 hr 5 min southwest
- San Diego Zoo Safari Park 2 hr 21 min south
1 to 2 hours from Barstow 80 spots
Theme park · 1 hr 44 min southwest
Disneyland Park
The original Disney park with classic rides and character meetups.
- Full day · Easy
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Theme park · 1 hr 45 min southwest
Knott's Berry Farm
Roller coasters, a Western ghost town and famous boysenberry treats in Buena Park.
- Full day · Easy
- Year-round; check calendar
- See the official site for current fees
Observatory · 1 hr 53 min southwest
Griffith Observatory
Free views of the city and the Hollywood Sign, plus space exhibits and a planetarium. Sunsets here are a classic LA moment.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Closed Mondays (confirm before you go)
- See the official site for current fees
Theme park · 1 hr 53 min southwest
Universal Studios Hollywood
Movie-themed rides, a studio tram tour and Super Nintendo World.
- Full day · Easy
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
State park · 1 hr 57 min southwest
Crystal Cove State Park
Beach, tide pools and coastal bluff trails with historic cottages.
- Half day · Easy to moderate
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Landmark · 1 hr 58 min south
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
A rotating tram car lifts you from desert floor to cool alpine forest in about ten minutes.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round; annual maintenance closure in fall (confirm before you go)
- See the official site for current fees
Historic site · 1 hr 58 min south
Mission San Juan Capistrano
A historic mission with gardens, the Great Stone Church ruins and swallows legend.
- 2 hrs · Easy
- Open daily (confirm before you go)
- See the official site for current fees
2 to 3 hours from Barstow 91 spots
Aquarium · 2 hr 2 min southwest
Aquarium of the Pacific
Sea lions, sharks, jellyfish and a lorikeet forest in Long Beach.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Museum · 2 hr 5 min southwest
Getty Center
A hilltop art museum with big gardens and wide views over the city. Entry is free.
- Half day · Easy
- Closed Mondays (confirm before you go)
- See the official site for current fees
Zoo · 2 hr 21 min south
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
A big wildlife park in Escondido with African savannah areas and a tram or safari tour.
- Full day · Easy
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Theme park · 2 hr 27 min south
LEGOLAND California
A theme park in Carlsbad built for kids ages 2 to 12, with rides, shows and a water park.
- Full day · Easy
- Check calendar; some weekdays closed
- See the official site for current fees
Zoo · 2 hr 43 min south
San Diego Zoo
A world-class zoo with pandas, big cats, gorillas and a hillside garden.
- Full day · Easy to moderate
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Historic site · 2 hr 44 min northwest
Manzanar National Historic Site
A moving museum and a driving tour at a World War II Japanese American incarceration camp.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round; hours check
- Free
National park · 2 hr 49 min south
Cabrillo National Monument
A historic lighthouse and tide pools at Point Loma with a big view over San Diego bay.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Landmark · 2 hr 2 min southwest
Santa Monica Pier
A classic seaside pier with a Ferris wheel, arcade, rides and ocean views.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Free to walk on; rides cost extra
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Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP 92311 (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.