Getaway PinesWeekend Getaways from LA: Desert, Mountains and the Coast
By Travel Planner & Researcher · Updated October 15, 2026
Los Angeles sits between three completely different landscapes, which is the good news and the bad news. The good news is the choice. The bad news is that the desert, the mountains and the coast all demand different gear and different hours. These seven are picked so that each one is worth the specific drive it costs.
The stops, in order
1. Joshua Tree, overnight
- Photo spot:
- The boulder fields at Hidden Valley at the last light, then the night sky from any pull-out an hour after sunset. This is the one trip on the list that genuinely requires a night.
- Eat:
- Nothing in the park. Twentynine Palms or Joshua Tree town, both outside the boundary.
- Cost:
- Per-vehicle entrance fee, valid for 7 days. Check the current rate and whether timed entry is required.
- Note:
- Bring more water than you think. Daytime heat is the actual hazard here, not the drive.
2. Big Bear Lake
- Photo spot:
- The lake from the north shore at first light, with the pines going dark against the water. Two hours from the city, and it feels further.
- Eat:
- Big Bear village on the lake, which is walkable and small.
- Cost:
- Free to drive around. Parking at the popular lake access points fills by mid-morning.
3. Ojai
- Photo spot:
- The valley from the Shelf Road trail at sunset, looking back over the orange groves with the Topatopa mountains behind. Small, quiet, and the least crowded option here.
- Eat:
- Ojai's downtown has a real concentration of good places for a town its size.
- Cost:
- Free.
4. Santa Monica Mountains — Solstice Canyon
- Photo spot:
- The waterfall and the stone house ruins, both within a short loop. This is the trip when you have one day and no appetite for a four-hour drive.
- Eat:
- Malibu, on the way back.
- Cost:
- Free. Parking at the trailhead is small and closes when full.
5. Mount Wilson
- Photo spot:
- The view back over the entire LA basin from the observatory area. Sunset is the shot, and on a clear evening you see all the way to the islands.
- Eat:
- Nothing up there. Pasadena or La Cañada on the way down.
- Cost:
- Free to drive up, with a parking fee at the top in some seasons. Check current access rules and hours.
6. Sequoia National Forest
- Photo spot:
- The giant sequoias, shot from below looking up. The scale does not read in photos unless you put a person or a car in the frame for reference.
- Eat:
- Nothing in the forest. Plan around Three Rivers or Visalia.
- Cost:
- Forest access is generally free; the adjacent national parks charge entrance fees. Verify which area you are entering.
- Note:
- Long drive — roughly four hours each way. Two nights, not one.
7. Channel Islands, for the serious one
- Photo spot:
- The sea cliffs and the kelp from the boat on the way in. Island access is by ferry only and needs advance planning, which is exactly why it stays empty.
- Eat:
- Nothing on the islands. Ventura or Oxnard before you board.
- Cost:
- Ferry fare plus park entrance. Check current prices and the sailing schedule — crossings are weather-dependent.
What it actually looks like
Where this starts
Questions people ask
Which LA trip gives the biggest change of scene for the least driving?
Solstice Canyon in the Santa Monica Mountains. Under an hour from most of the city, and the canyon feels nothing like Los Angeles.
Can I do Joshua Tree as a day trip?
You can drive it as one, but you will miss the reason to go. The park is genuinely a night place, and the drive back to LA after dark on those roads is slow and full of wildlife. Stay one night.
What is the best season for each of these?
Joshua Tree in spring and late fall, Big Bear in winter for snow and summer for the lake, Ojai in spring, and the Channel Islands in summer and early fall when the crossing is calmest.
Do I need reservations for any of them?
Sometimes. Joshua Tree has used timed entry in busy periods, and the Channel Islands ferry needs advance booking regardless. Check both on the official pages close to your dates rather than assuming.