Museum · 32 min west
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
Day Trippin' › California › From Pasadena
Day trips from Pasadena
From Pasadena, Universal Studios Hollywood is about 20 minutes away, Knott's Berry Farm under 40 minutes, and Crystal Cove State Park about an hour. The best day trips from Pasadena, by drive time.
191 places within a 3-hour drive, by real roads.
10 day trips from Pasadena
- Getty Center 32 min west
- Knott's Berry Farm 33 min south
- Aquarium of the Pacific 36 min south
- Mission San Juan Capistrano 1 hr 2 min southeast
- Lake Arrowhead Village 1 hr 16 min east
- LEGOLAND California 1 hr 39 min southeast
- Palm Springs Aerial Tramway 1 hr 44 min east
- San Diego Zoo 2 hr 8 min southeast
- Solvang 2 hr 11 min west
- Cabrillo National Monument 2 hr 11 min southeast
Within an hour from Pasadena 55 spots
Theme park · 33 min south
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 · 36 min south
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
Theme park · 37 min southeast
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 · 38 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
State park · 58 min southeast
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 · 30 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
Landmark · 37 min south
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
1 to 2 hours from Pasadena 69 spots
Historic site · 1 hr 2 min southeast
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
Small town · 1 hr 16 min east
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
Theme park · 1 hr 39 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
Landmark · 1 hr 44 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
Historic site · 1 hr 52 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
Zoo · 1 hr 54 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
Lake · 1 hr 33 min east
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
Small town · 1 hr 46 min east
Idyllwild
A cool pine-forest village under Mount San Jacinto with art shops, cafes and trailheads.
- Full day · Easy
- Year-round
- Free to visit
2 to 3 hours from Pasadena 56 spots
Zoo · 2 hr 8 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
Small town · 2 hr 11 min west
Solvang
Danish-style village with bakeries, windmills and shops in the Santa Ynez Valley.
- 3-5 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Free
National park · 2 hr 11 min southeast
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 · 2 hr 36 min southeast
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 · 2 hr 5 min southeast
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
Beach · 2 hr 10 min southeast
Coronado Beach and Hotel del Coronado
A wide sandy beach in front of a famous Victorian hotel, with calm water and tide pools.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Historic site · 2 hr 11 min west
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
Island · 2 hr 20 min south
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
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Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP 91101 (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.