Theme park · 1 hr east
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
Day Trippin' › California › From Ventura
Day trips from Ventura
From Ventura, Six Flags Magic Mountain is about an hour away, Griffith Observatory under an hour and a half, and Aquarium of the Pacific under two hours. The best day trips from Ventura, by drive time.
149 places within a 3-hour drive, by real roads.
10 day trips from Ventura
- Santa Barbara Zoo 27 min west
- Ojai Valley 27 min northeast
- Six Flags Magic Mountain 1 hr east
- Solvang 1 hr 5 min west
- Universal Studios Hollywood 1 hr 6 min east
- Getty Center 1 hr 8 min east
- Griffith Observatory 1 hr 16 min east
- Mission San Juan Capistrano 2 hr 5 min southeast
- Lake Arrowhead Village 2 hr 30 min east
- LEGOLAND California 2 hr 42 min southeast
Within an hour from Ventura 19 spots
Zoo · 27 min west
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
Small town · 27 min northeast
Ojai Valley
Art galleries, orchards and mountain views in a relaxed valley town.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round
- Free
Landmark · 28 min west
Stearns Wharf
Historic pier with seafood stands, a science center and harbor views.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Garden · 35 min northwest
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
Native California plant garden with trails, historic dams and views.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
State park · 41 min southeast
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 · 51 min west
Refugio State Beach
Palm-lined cove with tide pools and calm swimming on the Gaviota coast.
- 2-4 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Landmark · 29 min west
Santa Barbara County Courthouse
Spanish Revival courthouse with a free clock tower view over the city.
- 1 hr · Easy
- Weekdays and some weekends (confirm before you go)
- Free
1 to 2 hours from Ventura 68 spots
Small town · 1 hr 5 min west
Solvang
Danish-style village with bakeries, windmills and shops in the Santa Ynez Valley.
- 3-5 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Free
Theme park · 1 hr 6 min east
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
Museum · 1 hr 8 min east
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
Observatory · 1 hr 16 min east
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
Aquarium · 1 hr 34 min southeast
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 · 1 hr 37 min southeast
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
Theme park · 1 hr 41 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
State park · 1 hr 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
2 to 3 hours from Ventura 60 spots
Historic site · 2 hr 5 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 · 2 hr 30 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 · 2 hr 42 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 · 2 hr 57 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
Beach · 2 hr 3 min southeast
Laguna Beach Main Beach
A pretty cove beach in a classic art town with basketball and sand volleyball.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round
- Free; parking is paid
Landmark · 2 hr 20 min northwest
Morro Rock and Embarcadero
Sea-level volcanic plug beside a harbor with sea otters and kayak rentals.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Free
Lake · 2 hr 46 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 · 3 hr 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
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Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP 93001 (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.