Day trips & weekends
National Parks Near SoCal
Curated by Simir Shah
Cabrillo National Monument
San Diego · ~1.5 hrs
Tide pools, a historic lighthouse, and sweeping harbor views on Point Loma.
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
LA / Malibu · ~1.5 hrs
Family hikes, beaches, and waterfalls right at the edge of Los Angeles.
Joshua Tree National Park
High Desert · ~2 hrs
Otherworldly boulders, Joshua trees, and some of SoCal's darkest night skies.
+1 more current notices
Channel Islands National Park
Ventura Coast · ferry trip
Wild islands reached by boat — sea caves, island foxes, and tide pools.
Mojave National Preserve
High Desert · ~3 hrs
Sand dunes, lava tubes, and Joshua-tree forests with almost no crowds.
+5 more current notices
Death Valley National Park
Desert · ~4 hrs
The lowest, hottest spot in North America — best as a cooler-season weekend.
Hours, fees, and alerts are pulled live from the National Park Service and update through the day. Always confirm on nps.gov before a long drive.
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