7 Days: LA and Southern California

Seven days is the full Southern California loop: coast, desert, island, and mountains, all run from one LA base. Same six days as our 6-day plan , Disneyland, Malibu, Santa Barbara, Catalina, Palm Springs, Joshua Tree, plus a closing mountain day at Big Bear. This is the longest version we run; see our full LA day trip guide for how all eight trips compare side by side.

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
7 Big Bear 97-100 mi / 1h50-2h30 northeast

Day 1: Disneyland, Anaheim

Morning

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

Afternoon

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

Evening

Dinner in Downtown Disney, then the drive back.

Is Disneyland Worth a Full Day From LA?

Yes, it’s still the anchor day of the whole week. Start early, pick your park plan 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 seven to compress if the week 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.

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. Over a full week it’s the easiest day to swap for an overnight if the pace needs slowing down.

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.

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 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.

Afternoon

A resort day pass runs $40-75 and up, the smarter call May through September when it clears 100°F. October through April, walking the architecture works fine without a pool. 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: a resort day pass, an early start, the pool as mandatory infrastructure rather than a bonus.

Day 6: Joshua Tree National Park

Morning

Leave before 7am, 128-131 miles east, 2 hours 15 minutes to 3 hours, longer on a Friday. Entry runs $30 per vehicle, no day-use reservation required. Current alerts are on the official NPS Joshua Tree page .

Midday

Give the boulder formations real time, more water than feels necessary, cell service is minimal past the entrance.

Afternoon

Camping is an option, reservations open six months out, though summer isn’t peak season here.

Evening

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

Do You Need a Reservation for Joshua Tree?

Not for day use, just the $30 vehicle fee. Campground and backcountry permits are the exception and book up to six months ahead.

Day 7: Big Bear

Morning

Ninety minutes to two and a half hours up into the San Bernardino Mountains, 97-100 miles, a genuinely different landscape after six days of coast and desert. The lake and village are free to visit.

Midday

Rent a kayak or paddleboard on the lake, or walk the village for lunch. Campfires are restricted to developed campgrounds through fire season, check current conditions with the local ranger station before planning anything with an open flame.

Afternoon

The Alpine Slide or a short hike if the week’s energy allows, this is meant to be the low-key closer.

Evening

Drive back down before dark. It’s the last night, keep dinner simple if there’s an early flight ahead.

Should You Swap Big Bear for San Diego?

Only if you’re willing to give up sleep. Big Bear is 97-100 miles and closes the loop as a half-day mountain trip; San Diego is a genuine city 2-3 hours south that deserves its own overnight, not a compressed round trip tacked onto the end of a road-trip week. If a full week already feels long, keep Big Bear and save San Diego for a trip that gives it a real night of its own. Details on the city itself are on San Diego’s official tourism site .

Things to know: rent at LAX and hold onto the car the entire week, this itinerary runs entirely on driving distance in four directions. Parking runs $10-25 most places, more at Disneyland and in Santa Barbara’s paid garages. Pack sunscreen, layers, and extra water for the desert days specifically, a different kind of heat than the coast prepares you for.

Book Catalina and Palm Springs early, both sell out weekends. If a week of driving feels like too much, cut Big Bear before Joshua Tree, the desert is the more distinctive day of the two.