Zoo · 29 min east
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
Day Trippin' › California › From Carlsbad
Day trips from Carlsbad
From Carlsbad, LEGOLAND California is about 10 minutes away, San Diego Zoo Safari Park under 40 minutes, and Laguna Beach Main Beach under an hour. The best day trips from Carlsbad, by drive time.
161 places within a 3-hour drive, by real roads.
10 day trips from Carlsbad
- San Diego Zoo Safari Park 29 min east
- Mission San Juan Capistrano 34 min northwest
- San Diego Zoo 39 min south
- Knott's Berry Farm 1 hr 6 min northwest
- Aquarium of the Pacific 1 hr 16 min northwest
- Griffith Observatory 1 hr 34 min northwest
- Universal Studios Hollywood 1 hr 35 min northwest
- Big Bear Lake 2 hr 4 min north
- Barker Dam 2 hr 25 min northeast
- Calico Ghost Town 2 hr 33 min north
Within an hour from Carlsbad 44 spots
Historic site · 34 min northwest
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
Zoo · 39 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
National park · 42 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
State park · 51 min northwest
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
Theme park · 1 hr northwest
Disneyland Park
The original Disney park with classic rides and character meetups.
- Full day · Easy
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Beach · 30 min south
La Jolla Cove
A sheltered cove with sea lions, snorkeling and sea caves, with cliff views above.
- 2-4 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Free; parking is metered
Museum · 35 min south
Balboa Park
A huge park with Spanish-style buildings, gardens and more than a dozen museums.
- Full day · Easy
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
1 to 2 hours from Carlsbad 80 spots
Theme park · 1 hr 6 min northwest
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
Aquarium · 1 hr 16 min northwest
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
Observatory · 1 hr 34 min northwest
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 35 min northwest
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 35 min east
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
California's largest state park, with palm canyons, badlands and, in some years, spring wildflowers.
- Full day · Moderate
- Best Oct-Apr
- See the official site for current fees
Museum · 1 hr 39 min northwest
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
Landmark · 1 hr 45 min northeast
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
Small town · 1 hr 50 min north
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
2 to 3 hours from Carlsbad 31 spots
Historic site · 2 hr 33 min north
Calico Ghost Town
A restored silver mining town with shops, mine tours and a mini train.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Lake · 2 hr 4 min north
Big Bear Lake
A mountain lake with boating, fishing, paddleboards and a lively village. Snow play in winter.
- Full day · Easy
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Hike · 2 hr 25 min northeast
Barker Dam
A loop to an old dam with petroglyphs and sometimes water that draws birds.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Best Oct-Apr
- See the official site for current fees
Viewpoint · 2 hr 33 min northeast
Keys View
A high lookout over the Coachella Valley, the San Andreas Fault and the Salton Sea on clear days.
- 1 hr · Easy
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Zoo · 2 hr 15 min north
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 · Easy
- Year-round; hours vary by season (confirm before you go)
- See the official site for current fees
Small town · 2 hr 45 min northwest
Ojai Valley
Art galleries, orchards and mountain views in a relaxed valley town.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round
- Free
Food town · 2 hr 39 min northwest
Downtown Ventura
Craft beer, vintage shops and good dining a short walk from the beach.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Free
Landmark · 2 hr 6 min northwest
Vasquez Rocks Natural Area
Tilted rock slabs used in many movies and TV shows, with easy trails.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Free
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Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP 92008 (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.