weekender.
Weekend trips from Cal State Northridge
Hidden spots near Northridge, day trips and weekend road trips from Cal State Northridge in November, scored 1–10 on price, timing and what's happening, with gas, park fees, a campsite or room and food included.
Plan your own trip from Cal State Northridge →Local finds near campus
Vasquez Rocks
Tilted sandstone slabs where Captain Kirk fought the Gorn, and a hundred other westerns and sci-fi films. Free.
Mount Lukens
A summit hike near campus, found in OpenStreetMap.
Will Rogers State Beach
A beach near campus, found in OpenStreetMap.
Eaton Canyon Falls
A creek-hopping walk to a waterfall, 15 minutes from Pasadena.
Venice & Santa Monica
The skatepark, the canals and a bike ride along the boardwalk to the pier.
Malibu Creek State Park
The M*A*S*H set, a volcanic rock pool for swimming and Century Lake, in the Santa Monica Mountains.
Day trips
Palm Springs
Midcentury pool motels, palm oases in Indian Canyons and a rotating tram up the mountain.
Calico Ghost Town
A silver-mining boomtown on the way to Vegas, with a mine you can walk into.
Ojai
An artsy valley known for its 'pink moment' sunset and an outdoor bookstore.
Palos Verdes
Tide pools, a sea arch and the Portuguese Bend coves on LA's quiet peninsula.
Santa Barbara
Spanish-revival streets, the Funk Zone's tasting rooms and Inspiration Point above it all.
Huntington Beach
Surf City USA: learn to surf by the pier, bonfire pits at night.
Weekend trips
Anza-Borrego & Borrego Springs
Giant metal dinosaur sculptures in the desert, wildflowers in spring and a dark-sky town.
Salvation Mountain & Salton Sea
A hand-painted hill, Slab City's off-grid art town and the eerie shores of the Salton Sea.
Joshua Tree
Twisted trees, boulder scrambles and some of the darkest skies near LA.
Death Valley
Salt flats below sea level, rainbow-colored hills and the darkest night sky in California.
Palm Springs
Midcentury pool motels, palm oases in Indian Canyons and a rotating tram up the mountain.
Las Vegas (Nevada)
The Strip's free shows, the Neon Museum's sign boneyard and cheap Sunday-night rooms.
Long weekends
Anza-Borrego & Borrego Springs
Giant metal dinosaur sculptures in the desert, wildflowers in spring and a dark-sky town.
Salvation Mountain & Salton Sea
A hand-painted hill, Slab City's off-grid art town and the eerie shores of the Salton Sea.
Mojave Preserve & Kelso Dunes
Booming sand dunes that hum when you slide down, and free camping under the stars.
Joshua Tree
Twisted trees, boulder scrambles and some of the darkest skies near LA.
Death Valley
Salt flats below sea level, rainbow-colored hills and the darkest night sky in California.
Valley of Fire (Nevada)
Swirling red and pink sandstone, petroglyphs and the Fire Wave, an hour past Las Vegas.
Personalize it
Set your budget, how many friends are coming, your car (or no car: train and bus), and what you're into (hiking, beaches, camping, stargazing, food and more), and Weekender re-ranks every trip for you, with a day-by-day plan, directions and campsites.
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