10 Cities Near Los Angeles + Drive Times
The 10 closest cities to Los Angeles, California, ranked by distance — with drive time, flight time and day-trip vs weekend-getaway picks, including San Diego, Santa Barbara, Palm Springs.
The closest notable city to Los Angeles, California is San Diego, about 111 mi (179 km) away — roughly 2 hr 35 min by road. Below, 10 nearby cities are ranked by distance, with real drive and flight estimates and whether each works best as a day trip or an overnight getaway.
| City | Distance | Drive | Flight | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San DiegoBeaches, the zoo and Balboa Park | 111 mi / 179 km | 2 hr 35 min | Drive/rail | Day trip / overnight |
| Santa BarbaraSpanish-style stretch of coast | 87 mi / 140 km | 2 hr 1 min | Drive/rail | Day trip / overnight |
| Palm SpringsDesert resort and mid-century style | 99 mi / 159 km | 2 hr 17 min | Drive/rail | Day trip / overnight |
| AnaheimTheme parks and Disneyland | 24 mi / 39 km | 47 min | Drive/rail | Day trip |
| Long BeachWaterfront, the Queen Mary and aquarium | 20 mi / 32 km | 39 min | Drive/rail | Day trip |
| Woodland Hills | 22 mi / 36 km | 43 min | Drive/rail | Day trip |
| Glendora | 22 mi / 36 km | 43 min | Drive/rail | Day trip |
| Valencia | 34 mi / 55 km | 1 hr 1 min | Drive/rail | Day trip |
| Palmdale | 37 mi / 60 km | 1 hr 7 min | Drive/rail | Day trip |
| Eastvale | 39 mi / 63 km | 1 hr 11 min | Drive/rail | Day trip |
Day trips from Los Angeles
Within about 100 miles and easy to visit in a day: Santa Barbara, Palm Springs, Anaheim, Long Beach, Woodland Hills. These are close enough to go and return without an overnight stay.
Weekend getaways from Los Angeles
Far enough for a change of scene but still an easy hop: San Diego. Worth an overnight or a full weekend.
Getting around
Nearby cities are usually quickest by car or train; for the longer hops a regional flight can save time. Tap any city above for its full distance, driving-time and flight-time breakdown, or plan a specific route with the tools below.
Frequently asked questions
Notable cities near Los Angeles include San Diego, Santa Barbara, Palm Springs, Anaheim, Long Beach. The closest is San Diego, about 111 miles (179 km) away. The table above lists each with its distance, drive time and best use.