State park · 25 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
Day Trippin' › California › From Irvine
Day trips from Irvine
From Irvine, Laguna Beach Main Beach is about 20 minutes away, Aquarium of the Pacific under an hour, and Griffith Observatory about an hour. The best day trips from Irvine, by drive time.
177 places within a 3-hour drive, by real roads.
10 day trips from Irvine
- Crystal Cove State Park 25 min southwest
- Mission San Juan Capistrano 25 min south
- Knott's Berry Farm 30 min northwest
- LEGOLAND California 1 hr 2 min southeast
- Getty Center 1 hr 6 min northwest
- San Diego Zoo Safari Park 1 hr 20 min southeast
- Six Flags Magic Mountain 1 hr 21 min northwest
- Calico Ghost Town 2 hr 3 min northeast
- Anza-Borrego Desert State Park 2 hr 19 min east
- Solvang 2 hr 55 min northwest
Within an hour from Irvine 51 spots
Historic site · 25 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
Theme park · 30 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 · 44 min west
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 · 59 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 · 59 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
Landmark · 47 min west
Queen Mary
A grand ocean liner moored at Long Beach, open for tours, dining and events. Her 90th year is 2026.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Daily (confirm before you go)
- See the official site for current fees
Garden · 58 min northwest
The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens
A huge garden with a Japanese garden, rose garden, desert garden, library and art.
- Half day · Easy
- Closed Tuesdays (confirm before you go)
- See the official site for current fees
1 to 2 hours from Irvine 83 spots
Theme park · 1 hr 2 min southeast
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
Museum · 1 hr 6 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
Zoo · 1 hr 20 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 · Easy
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Theme park · 1 hr 21 min northwest
Six Flags Magic Mountain
A big park known for roller coasters, in Valencia.
- Full day · Easy
- Open select days; check calendar
- See the official site for current fees
Small town · 1 hr 23 min northeast
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
Zoo · 1 hr 31 min southeast
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 · 1 hr 33 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 · 1 hr 38 min east
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
2 to 3 hours from Irvine 37 spots
Historic site · 2 hr 3 min northeast
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
State park · 2 hr 19 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
Small town · 2 hr 55 min northwest
Solvang
Danish-style village with bakeries, windmills and shops in the Santa Ynez Valley.
- 3-5 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Free
Food town · 2 hr 1 min southeast
Julian
An old gold-mining mountain town known for apple pie, cider and fall color.
- Full day · Easy
- Year-round; busy in fall
- Free to visit
Hike · 2 hr 19 min east
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 27 min east
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
Island · 2 hr 30 min southwest
Catalina Island Avalon
A ferry ride to a car-free island town with beaches, glass-bottom boats and golf carts.
- Full day · Easy
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Historic site · 2 hr 54 min northwest
Santa Barbara Mission
Large, elegant mission church often called the Queen of the Missions.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
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Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP 92618 (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.