Zoo · 40 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
Day Trippin' › California › From Temecula
Day trips from Temecula
From Temecula, San Diego Zoo Safari Park is under an hour away, Mission San Juan Capistrano about an hour, and Crystal Cove State Park under an hour and a half. The best day trips from Temecula, by drive time.
164 places within a 3-hour drive, by real roads.
10 day trips from Temecula
- San Diego Zoo Safari Park 40 min south
- LEGOLAND California 46 min south
- Mission San Juan Capistrano 59 min west
- San Diego Zoo 1 hr 3 min south
- Disneyland Park 1 hr 6 min northwest
- Knott's Berry Farm 1 hr 6 min northwest
- Cabrillo National Monument 1 hr 8 min south
- Calico Ghost Town 2 hr 4 min north
- Keys View 2 hr 5 min northeast
- Point Mugu State Park 2 hr 20 min west
Within an hour from Temecula 36 spots
Theme park · 46 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
Historic site · 59 min west
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
Museum · 59 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
Beach · 1 hr 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
Small town · 40 min southwest
Carlsbad Village
A beach town with a lively village, shops, cafes and a long coastal walk.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round
- Free to visit
Garden · 48 min south
San Diego Botanic Garden
A large garden in Encinitas with themed areas, a bamboo forest and a children's garden.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
State park · 52 min northwest
Chino Hills State Park
Rolling grass and oak hills with trails for hiking and mountain biking.
- 2-4 hrs · Moderate
- Year-round; best Nov-Apr
- California State Parks day-use fee per car
1 to 2 hours from Temecula 99 spots
Zoo · 1 hr 3 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
Theme park · 1 hr 6 min 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
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
National park · 1 hr 8 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 · 1 hr 14 min west
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 16 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 22 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
State park · 1 hr 23 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
2 to 3 hours from Temecula 28 spots
Historic site · 2 hr 4 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
Viewpoint · 2 hr 5 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
State park · 2 hr 20 min west
Point Mugu State Park
Mountain trails, sea cliffs and canyon walks along the coast near Ventura County line.
- Half day · Moderate
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Beach · 2 hr 45 min northwest
Carpinteria State Beach
Calm, family beach with tide pools and a nearby seal rookery in winter.
- 2-4 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Small town · 2 hr 46 min northwest
Ojai Valley
Art galleries, orchards and mountain views in a relaxed valley town.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round
- Free
Zoo · 2 hr 54 min northwest
Santa Barbara Zoo
Small, hilltop zoo with ocean views and animals from around the world.
- 3-4 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Food town · 2 hr 40 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 7 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 92590 (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.