weekender.
Weekend trips from Mount Saint Mary's
Hidden spots near Los Angeles, day trips and weekend road trips from Mount Saint Mary's 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 Mount Saint Mary's →Local finds near campus
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.
Malibu (El Matador & Point Dume)
Sea stacks and caves at El Matador, and whale-watching from Point Dume's bluff.
Day trips
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.
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.
Crystal Cove
Restored 1930s beach cottages, tide pools and the Shake Shack on the bluff.
Temecula wine country
Hot-air balloons at sunrise and relaxed wineries in rolling hills.
Weekend trips
Anza-Borrego & Borrego Springs
Giant metal dinosaur sculptures in the desert, wildflowers in spring and a dark-sky town.
Pismo Beach & Oceano Dunes
Drive or sandboard on the only beach dunes you can camp on, then clam chowder in Pismo.
Mojave Preserve & Kelso Dunes
Booming sand dunes that hum when you slide down, and free camping under the stars.
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.
Long weekends
Anza-Borrego & Borrego Springs
Giant metal dinosaur sculptures in the desert, wildflowers in spring and a dark-sky town.
Pismo Beach & Oceano Dunes
Drive or sandboard on the only beach dunes you can camp on, then clam chowder in Pismo.
Mojave Preserve & Kelso Dunes
Booming sand dunes that hum when you slide down, and free camping under the stars.
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.
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.
Find my trips from Mount Saint Mary's →