6 Days: LA and Southern California

Six days means the desert gets a second act. Same five days as our 5-day plan , Disneyland, Malibu, Santa Barbara, Catalina, Palm Springs, plus a full day at Joshua Tree National Park. Going longer? The 7-day version adds a mountain day at Big Bear.

Book these before you go

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
6 Joshua Tree NP 128-131 mi / 2h15-3h east

Day 1: Disneyland, Anaheim

Morning

Leave before 8am, 45 to 90 minutes to Anaheim. Single-day 2026 tickets run roughly $104 to $224 depending on the date.

Afternoon

Both parks share one ticket on a Hopper, budget the full day for that. Lightning Lane passes are worth it for a one-time visit.

Evening

Dinner in Downtown Disney, then the drive back. Nothing else scheduled after this one.

Is Disneyland Worth a Full Day From LA?

Yes, it’s still the anchor day six days in. Start early, pick one park or both ahead of time, and keep the evening clear.

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.

Evening

Dinner in Malibu or back toward Santa Monica, watching for weekend PCH traffic.

How Long Do You Actually Need for Malibu?

Half a day covers it, a full day lets you linger. The easiest day of the six to compress if the schedule runs tight.

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 a slower harbor walk. The breather day of the trip.

Is Santa Barbara a Long Day Trip or Worth an Overnight?

A day trip works, but it’s 4-5 hours of round-trip driving on top of time in town. With six days already full, it’s the easiest single day to swap for 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 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 harbor lunch, depending on the ferry schedule.

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 getting to the terminal.

Day 5: Palm Springs

Morning

East on the 10, 105-110 miles, 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes depending on traffic. Downtown is free to walk.

Afternoon

A resort day pass runs $40-75 and up, the smarter call May through September when temperatures clear 100°F. October through April, walking 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, or an early departure to beat return traffic.

Is Palm Springs Worth It in the Summer?

Yes, if you plan around the heat: book a resort day pass, start early, treat the pool as mandatory. October through April removes the issue entirely.

Day 6: Joshua Tree National Park

Morning

Leave early, ideally before 7am. It’s 128-131 miles east, 2 hours 15 minutes to 3 hours, longer on a Friday when desert-exodus traffic doubles it. Entry runs $30 per vehicle on a 7-day pass, no timed-entry reservation required for day use. Current alerts are on the official NPS Joshua Tree page .

Midday

Give the park real time among the boulder formations and Joshua trees, this isn’t a drive-through stop. Bring more water than feels necessary, July heat is genuinely dangerous and shade is scarce on most trails. Cell service is minimal and gas is scarce past the entrance, fuel up first.

Afternoon

Camping is an option if anyone wants to stay overnight instead of driving back, reservations open up to six months out, though summer isn’t the park’s peak season for good reason.

Evening

Head back before dark, driving west into a low sun is rough on visibility.

Do You Need a Reservation for Joshua Tree?

Not for day use as of 2026, just the $30 vehicle entry fee. Campground and backcountry permits are the exception, those book up to six months ahead separately, so plan that piece early if an overnight is part of the day.

Things to know: rent at LAX and keep the car for five of the six days. Parking runs $10-25 most places, resort day passes and park entry are the added costs on Days 5 and 6. Pack sunscreen, layers, and extra water for the desert days specifically, it’s a different kind of heat than the coast prepares you for.

Book your Catalina ferry seats and Palm Springs resort pass early, both sell out on summer weekends. For the version of this trip that adds Big Bear, see our full LA day trip guide .