5 Days: LA and Southern California
Five days is where this stops feeling like a city trip and starts feeling like a real Southern California road trip. Same four days as our 4-day plan , Disneyland, Malibu, Santa Barbara, Catalina, plus a full day in the desert at Palm Springs. Going longer? The 6-day version adds Joshua Tree.
Book these before you go
- A rental car for four of the five days: compare cars in Los Angeles
- Disneyland’s dated one-day ticket: book directly on the official site
- Your Catalina Express ferry seats, outbound and return: check schedules and fares
- A Catalina Island day-trip tour if you’d rather not plan it solo: browse options on GetYourGuide
| Day | Trip | Distance / Drive Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Disneyland, Anaheim | 30-45 mi / 45-90 min southeast |
| 2 | Malibu + PCH | 36 mi / ~1 hr northwest |
| 3 | Santa Barbara | 96 mi / 1h40-2h up the 101 |
| 4 | Catalina Island | ~1 hr ferry crossing from Long Beach |
| 5 | Palm Springs | 105-110 mi / 1h45-2h30 east |
Day 1: Disneyland, Anaheim
Morning
Leave before 8am, budget 45 to 90 minutes each way to Anaheim, and treat this as the full day it is. Single-day 2026 tickets run roughly $104 to $224 depending on the date.
Afternoon
Both parks share one ticket if you’re using a Hopper, budget the whole day for that. Lightning Lane passes are worth it if this is a one-time trip.
Evening
Dinner in Downtown Disney, then the drive back. Nothing else scheduled after this one.
Is Disneyland Worth a Full Day From LA?
Yes, and it’s the anchor day of this whole trip. An early start and a clear plan for one park or both make the difference between a great day and a rushed one.
Day 2: Malibu and the Coast
Morning
North on PCH, free and scenic, with a 25 mph zone through the Palisades fire-repair area between Temescal Canyon Road and Carbon Beach Terrace, work continuing into fall 2026. Current closures are posted on Caltrans’ PCH recovery page .
Afternoon
Zuma Beach or Point Dume, $10-20+ parking, the payoff for the rental car.
Evening
Dinner in Malibu or back toward Santa Monica, watching for weekend PCH return traffic.
How Long Do You Actually Need for Malibu?
Half a day covers it, a full day lets you linger. The most compressible day of the five if the rest of the week runs long.
Day 3: Santa Barbara
Morning
Ninety minutes to two hours up the 101 for coffee on State Street.
Midday
State Street’s downtown blocks stay car-free under a June 2026 city council vote, with a permanent master plan due in August 2026, park in a garage and walk from there. Current closures are posted on the city’s State Street project page . Lunch near the Arts District blocks by the Arlington and Granada theatres.
Afternoon
Wine country inland, or the harbor and waterfront for a slower pace. This is the breather day of the trip.
Is Santa Barbara a Long Day Trip or Worth an Overnight?
A day trip works here, but it’s 4-5 hours of round-trip driving on top of your time in town. With five days already in play, it’s the easiest single day to convert into an overnight if the pace feels rushed.
Day 4: Catalina Island
Morning
Twenty to thirty minutes to Long Beach or San Pedro for your booked ferry, about an hour to an hour and 15 minutes each way, roughly $99 round trip including fees.
Midday
Avalon is fully walkable, golf carts and glass-bottom boat tours cover the rest.
Afternoon
Snorkeling, a boat tour, or a slow lunch on the harbor, depending on what the ferry schedule leaves you.
What Happens if You Miss the Last Boat Back?
You’re stuck overnight at island prices. Know your return sailing time and build in a real buffer, mainland traffic to the terminal is not a formality on a summer Sunday.
Day 5: Palm Springs
Morning
East on the 10, 105-110 miles, 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes depending on Inland Empire traffic. Downtown is free to walk.
Afternoon
A resort day pass with pool access runs $40-75 and up, the smarter call if you’re visiting May through September, when temperatures routinely clear 100°F. October through April, a walking tour of the mid-century architecture works fine without a pool break. Check current conditions with Visit Palm Springs before you commit to a date.
Evening
Dinner downtown before the drive back, or an early departure if you’d rather beat the return traffic through the Inland Empire.
Is Palm Springs Worth It in the Summer?
Yes, but plan around the heat rather than ignore it. Book a resort day pass instead of a walking-only day, start early, and treat the pool as mandatory infrastructure, not a bonus. October through April removes the whole problem if your dates are flexible.
Things to know: rent at LAX and keep the car for four of the five days. Parking runs $10-25 most places, resort day passes are the one real added cost. Pack sunscreen, layers, and extra water for the desert day specifically, it’s a different kind of heat than the coast prepares you for.
Book your Catalina ferry seats and Palm Springs resort pass the same day you lock in flights, both sell out on summer weekends. For the version of this trip that adds Joshua Tree and Big Bear, see our full LA day trip guide .