Day Trippin' › California › From Santa Monica
From Santa Monica, Getty Center is about 15 minutes away, Griffith Observatory under 40 minutes, and Crystal Cove State Park about an hour. The best day trips from Santa Monica, by drive time.
187 places within a 3-hour drive, by real roads.
Observatory · 28 min northeast
Free views of the city and the Hollywood Sign, plus space exhibits and a planetarium. Sunsets here are a classic LA moment.
Aquarium · 32 min southeast
Sea lions, sharks, jellyfish and a lorikeet forest in Long Beach.
Theme park · 37 min north
A big park known for roller coasters, in Valencia.
Theme park · 38 min southeast
Roller coasters, a Western ghost town and famous boysenberry treats in Buena Park.
Theme park · 42 min southeast
The original Disney park with classic rides and character meetups.
State park · 56 min southeast
Beach, tide pools and coastal bluff trails with historic cottages.
Landmark · 33 min southeast
A grand ocean liner moored at Long Beach, open for tours, dining and events. Her 90th year is 2026.
Garden · 33 min east
A huge garden with a Japanese garden, rose garden, desert garden, library and art.
Historic site · 1 hr 5 min southeast
A historic mission with gardens, the Great Stone Church ruins and swallows legend.
Small town · 1 hr 40 min east
A lakeside village with shops, restaurants and a pretty mountain setting. Good for a relaxed lunch.
Theme park · 1 hr 42 min southeast
A theme park in Carlsbad built for kids ages 2 to 12, with rides, shows and a water park.
Zoo · 2 hr southeast
A big wildlife park in Escondido with African savannah areas and a tram or safari tour.
Beach · 1 hr 1 min southeast
A pretty cove beach in a classic art town with basketball and sand volleyball.
Lake · 1 hr 57 min east
A mountain lake with boating, fishing, paddleboards and a lively village. Snow play in winter.
Garden · 1 hr 38 min northwest
Native California plant garden with trails, historic dams and views.
State park · 1 hr 55 min north
Colorful cliffs and canyons where the Mojave meets the Sierra. Easy trails and camping.
Landmark · 2 hr 1 min east
A rotating tram car lifts you from desert floor to cool alpine forest in about ten minutes.
Small town · 2 hr 7 min northwest
Danish-style village with bakeries, windmills and shops in the Santa Ynez Valley.
Zoo · 2 hr 11 min southeast
A world-class zoo with pandas, big cats, gorillas and a hillside garden.
National park · 2 hr 13 min southeast
A historic lighthouse and tide pools at Point Loma with a big view over San Diego bay.
Historic site · 2 hr 15 min northeast
A restored silver mining town with shops, mine tours and a mini train.
State park · 2 hr 50 min southeast
California's largest state park, with palm canyons, badlands and, in some years, spring wildflowers.
Beach · 2 hr 2 min southeast
A sheltered cove with sea lions, snorkeling and sea caves, with cliff views above.
Small town · 2 hr 3 min east
A cool pine-forest village under Mount San Jacinto with art shops, cafes and trailheads.
Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP 90401 (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.